My apologies for the long wait. Moving past the slow parts is difficult.
Her madness was like a fever that was teetering on the edge of breaking. She hungrily led forces on every attack from Arthas, and sometimes an initiate was throttled when His cold voice caught her.
The Lich still had a hook in her. It was dangerous, Darion knew, letting her lead forces, command troops, have power. But either Thassarian or Koltira could usually be spared to keep an eye on her.
Unfortunately, the day came when she was needed, and the others were already away. Thassarian was opening peace talks with Jaina, who was cautious but always open to new allies, and would begin speaking with the King the following day. Koltira and Malatria were in charge of the Horde peace talks, which were treated with more humor and ease, much to Mograine's peace of mind.
But today… today he was sending Knights to Outland, to win brownie points through the slaughter of the Legion. It would be difficult to win the friendship of the Draenei, who would abhor their past, and he planned on the Elves' curiosity to help their transition.
But who could watch over the banshee-like leader? Had she better mentality, she would be his top advisor.
"Alas," Darion lamented, touching her arm, "you are still lost to us."
"Perhaps sending in the queen the first day would appear as if you were forcing your way." She suddenly said. He jumped, blinking at her, but she was still staring into nothingness. "Perhaps sending a few of the less important and explain that our desire is so strong to open peace that we send a ruler would be safer."
Darion mulled this over for a day, keeping her by his side in case she lapsed into a more violent episode, one that was more Lich swayed. But she was fine, following him around Acherus and staring at nothing. One Val'kyr offered that she believed the madness would lift soon, and Darion begrudgingly admitted that he hoped it would.
The messenger was sent through the portal. Ariki was found, the next morning, arming herself and sharpening her blade next to Corvus. Mograine gently tugged her away from the blacksmith, out onto the balcony where he admired her once more.
A more beautiful harbinger of death never existed, he was sure. Her smooth, eerily calm face was free of the scars that marked her brothers and sisters, her hair somehow unmangled through death. Her lips were pursed as she stared blankly, her jaw tight.
"I will leave this afternoon."
Darion sighed. She was becoming more vocal, though who knew if she even remembered giving him advice from one moment to the next. Settling his shoulders, the Knight shook his head. "I cannot risk you yet."
"Risk or not, you need me out there. I will slay any that would come between me and my desire. Those who follow me fear me. This afternoon."
"I will go with her."
Turning, Darion was slightly surprised to see Kara, one of the Val'kyr. She was not known for involving herself with the undead, in fact, she made a point of avoiding death knights. Her face explained nothing to the commander of Acherus, though Ariki angled her shoulders so she could acknowledge the Val'kyr.
Allies they were, then. Darion wanted to prod their minds for answers, but he instead sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Very well. Take a few more knights. I suppose I can spare Malatria, though she will be needed by Thrall soon enough."
Ariki nodded.
The smells that assaulted Ariki when she emerged from the portal forced her to stop. Her troops appeared around her, Kara floating overhead, and as one they inspected this new battleground.
The Legion was much closer than Ariki had anticipated. The Horde representative stepped forward to speak to Malatria, but watched her leader. The Alliance commander stood where he was, eyeing them all.
"You received word we would be coming." Ariki finally said. The man nodded, but again, said nothing. Kara came down to touch Ariki's shoulder, and the cold that seeped from the connection helped her maintain control.
Oh, but she wanted to cleave this puny humans head from his shoulders.
"Let us deal with the threat at hand, then," Ariki snapped, and turned to her men. With a swift signal, they had their weapons at the ready and were prepping for battle.
Ariki sent a glance at the Alliance representative, then nodded to the Horde one. "If you men would step aside."
It wasn't a request.
Their reinforcements paused in their dash to battle, frozen by the sight of so many Death Knights, the few abominations they brought, the hundred ghouls, and the Val'kyr all moving steadily toward what had been a threat to Azeroth for close to a year now.
The battle was swift and decisive. Demons fell easily to their many blades, and Ariki herself stood before their field commander.
"I would like to send you back to your masters with a message, you fat, useless piece of fel," she called up to him. He blinked and backed away.
She stepped forward. "Unfortunately, it seems you haven't been leaving survivors. We shall repay this in kind."
Malatria yelled as she charged from the side. Distracted from the real danger, the creature turned to her, and the moment his eyes left Ariki's, she was one him. Her blade dug deep into his neck, and he bled slowly to death, thrashing on the red dirt, as spectators looked on.
They returned to both the Horde and the Alliance, not one of their number but a few replaceable ghouls missing. The orc was grinning, and even the human seemed steadier. Though, the paladin still said nothing to her.
"We are heading to Shattrath, to speak to A'dal. I recommend you keep a few forces here, as it seems there are some portals to be dealt with," she waved vaguely at the black and green structures that were already spewing more demons. At the sight of these, Ariki smiled. "Don't worry, we will kill all that we come across on our march."
She bowed to the two men, and they bowed back.
Kara smiled from above. An entire battle, and no relapses. It seemed she was making good headway.