Revenge of Kael'thas
Chapter Two: Totems, Totems, TOTEMS!!!
Man of my dreams.
Tall, cruel, and handsome. Mean enough to keep all the bad guys afraid. And when he kisses…
Kael'thas kissed Saturna now.
My breath, all stolen away.
"Are you alright?"
Saturna snuggled into his warm chest and let herself be rocked slowly. "Never."
"So then," he sucked her bottom lip and smiled. "Does that mean I should give up on you? Or, would you like me to keep trying forever?"
Far, far away…
"Well, the reality is… I am going to outlive you."
"Oh, Saturna, don't—"
"It's true. I've died and Anveena brought me back. This new form, it's sort of unliving, Kael'thas. I'm immortal. I must be."
"Look up at me. I will be right there with you until the end, I promise."
"But haven't we had enough of you making promises that you can't keep?"
Kael'thas released his wife and wandered back to the desk in his office. He leaned a knuckle on the wood and listened. Tempest Keep was unusually quiet this morning.
"I was waiting to save this until we were back in Silvermoon with... Belorim, and you made Queen. Our family absolutely safe. But clearly, you don't feel safe. And when I can just prevent it… Saturna, I'm not sure how to tell you, what I've done."
"It has to do with where you were yesterday, doesn't it? I was afraid for you, and Sorn wouldn't tell me."
"I killed him. Illidan. Illidan is dead, Saturna."
She swallowed. Breathing now was doubly hard.
"I… I did the one thing he did not expect. I came to the Black Temple alone, I bargained with him… but before even that, I had Fennore use his talent with the Soul Link to predict the entire battle. Alright, well it was a good idea at first, but it did little good. Tyrande was there, getting in my way--"
"Tyrande! What has she got to do with any of this?"
"That doesn't matter anymore. I let Illidan get the advantage. I toyed with him until he couldn't take the suspense. He always guesses my every move. This time, I let him guess that I had already started to move on without him, get my kingdom back, and you--"
"He knows that I'm alive? Oh my goodness. Oh no, how could you--"
"Saturna!" Kael'thas yelled at her. It took an effort for him to control his voice, let the rage go. "He panicked, and then I... Well, that is when I stabbed him with the Mageblade."
"Just like that? When he wasn't looking, a knife to the heart."
"Why does it sound like you don't believe me? You're here, aren't you? I would never allow you to reveal yourself in Tempest Keep with the Illidari spies around, with my collar and all, but that's just it. I wanted to give you the comfort of a goodbye before today's battle, when he can't hear me anymore, Saturna. The collar doesn't work. His spies running around on this ship are useless without their Master. That is because Illidan—the tortured man who murdered and raped you, swore that he was my brother, he is finally dead!"
Saturna leaned over and held her stomach. "No… you're lying to me, again. It can't have been that easy? I… he's really gone? For thousands of years… Tyrande and Malfurion were even afraid to… a part of me was so terrified that it would never end…" Saturna's blue translucent skin flushed purple. She went down on one knee and then another. "You… really did this? Then Belorim and I, our family finally has a future."
Kael'thas ran to catch Saturna before she fainted. "I promise."
"Swear to me, Kael'thas… this is real? I'm not dreaming, am I? I'm not still in the grave and dreaming, trapped in the sword…"
"I just promised you, I swore it, didn't you hear me?!"
Saturna flinched at his quick temper. Kael'thas held her close, this time, because he was the one afraid to show his face.
Woman of my dreams.
Sweet, beautiful, and naïve. Loving enough to follow me through any trial set by my enemies. And when she kisses me…
Saturna pulled Kael'thas down ontop of her, and kissed gratefully all over his face.
"I love you Kael'thas Olvi'athon Sunstrider. You are my very sunrise, do you understand? I could not go on without you, I live for you."
Impossible to go astray.
"And so… you see, for that reason, I am going to do my best, Saturna. So don't worry about which one of us will age or pass away first. With this new power I will be able to—"
"Shh… whatever time we do have together, you have made me happy enough to last a thousand lifetimes. I don't need any more explanations."
Even if I must lie a little bit more, every single day.
"I am going to live forever, Saturna." Illidan's stolen power would make it so. But what if he told her that, before the Demon Lord died, he'd joined completely with him, warlock to demon slave, flesh to soul, will to will with her murderer? Truly become Illidan's brother after she fought so hard over the years, begged him to resist the dark promise of absolute, corrupting power. That had been the catch, the trick. It made the Mageblade slide between his ribs so easily...
"Of course you will, dear." Kael'thas did not reassure her any further. No, he could never give Saturna a real reason to hope or ever believe him. The truth stung.
Sorn announced that the Sunfury were ready for their King, soon after.
"Technically, not yet." Saturna smiled gratefully, and Kael'thas helped her up.
"You would be the one to remind me of something like that."
"... Are you angry with me?"
"No. Do I sound angry?"
"Ever since you got back from the Black Temple, you've sounded on the verge of smashing your fist through wall. It couldn't have been easy, Kael'thas, I know that, but aren't you... relieved, that Illidan is dead?"
Kael'thas ran fingers nervously through his hair. His red gloves brushed up a bit, revealing the black veins. He quickly tugged the gloves back down, and walked past Saturna. "Where's... our son? I want to say good bye to him."
"You're not angry at Belorim, are you? If it isn't me. But I don't recall him doing anything naughty recently?"
"Will you get off my back?!! I just murdered my best friend, in cold blood, for you. What else could you possibly want from me?"
Saturna re-ghosted, disappeared. "Oh Sunshine... I don't even think... You realize what you just said to me..."
In the Foyer…
Saturna could not be there. And the nasty look General Blaize gave Kael'thas, even unaware of her existence, confirmed that it had been a sound idea to leave her out of the equation, for now.
"We are going to kill Blood Elves." Kael'thas paced before his soldiers. "Force yourselves to accept that now. I have met with unthinkable success here in Outland, I have led you—along with your General—to glory in Netherstorm, especially. But the nonbelievers, the anti-monarchists and the selfish will refuse to acknowledge that lone fact: I am good at what I do. These disloyal Blood Elves are the citizens of Silvermoon I order you to kill."
More than a few soldiers in red helmets paled.
"That is my throne, and it is our city. Not because I was born to it. Not because we are returning home as conquerors. It is because we are the only ones who know everything that occurred here in Outland. We learned all of Illidan's secrets while we were forced to indulge his madness while at the Black Temple. And, when we returned to Tempest Keep, the Sin'dorei stronghold in this forsaken realm, we saw, first-hand, how the Legion tried, but failed—"
"Failed? He was one psychotic fanboy away from actually being in Kil'jaeden's lap, am I right?" Sunthraze elbowed Fennore hard, from where the Knights of the Blood Nexus had most certainly been placed, at the back of the assembly. Liadrin quickly nabbed Sunthraze by the earlobe and threatened him to stay quiet.
A clearing of Kael'thas' throat, "They failed to take us down, or to tempt us! We used Illidan for his fel magic mana tap technique. We borrowed the Fel Reaver…"
"Ha!"
"Shh, Fennore, I'm surprised at you of all people!"
"We are going home with the truth. Anyone who is not loyal to their King or his army who fought so hard over the years will face his demise. Your brothers, your sisters, your mothers and your fathers have had plenty of time to decide what is right, and what is wrong. Advisor Sorn has sent the word ahead of us. Rommath agreed to implement it on my behalf. Anyone not safely in their homes, anyone out in the streets posing a resistance at the hour of my succession will be killed. FOR THE SUN!"
It sounded evil and vile. But the Sunfury had no other choice. And, of course, to have come this far with Kael'thas in Outland, it must have also sounded precariously right, in their ears.
Blaize drew his sword and stood before them next. "If we have any hope of preventing civil war through upholding the new curfew law in Silvermoon, then it will be necessary to enforce every law from the moment we arrive. Kael'thas will be King. He is the only one who can ensure stability in Quel'thalas. Attention!"
Swords were drawn. Magisters conjured magic and held their staves at the ready. Kael'thas shouted before Blaize could steal all the momentum,
"One more glorious announcement!"
Sorn was beside Kael'thas and nearly dropped his clipboard. "My Liege, perhaps not... right at this moment--"
"Last night, while you were enjoying your final meals, and gratefully, from the silver troughs I set out for you these past three years..."
Blaize smacked his forehead.
"At that very hour, I stood over the corpse of Illidan Stormrage, with this bloodied blade" and it was still stained. Many soldiers gasped and recoiled at the sight of that, "and thought upon all the wonderful things a Blood Elf can do, and will do in the new Quel'thalas."
Something like crickets.
"Didn't you hear me? I killed Illidan! We're all free of his manipulations at last. Raise up a cheer for your King!"
Concerned whispers, now.
"Kael'thas, stop it! No one is going to believe that you single-handedly killed the infamous Bill Blunderage." Blaize snatched his own helmet off angrily.
"Who calls him that? I never did."
"And you didn't kill him either, not without an army, nor strategy, or some kind of amazing trick. If you think this ruse is going to finally win them over for you, boost morale, then you're truly an incompetent like nothing I've seen before in any womanizing, magic-popping, kingdom-wrecking Sunstrider who ever came before you!"
Sorn struggled to readjust his monacle. Kael'thas was giving off very many shades of angry red Bloodmage energy, according to Sorn's reception. "Gentlemen, please. And Kael'thas, don't you dare strike him in front of your army. Wasn't your goal just now to rile them up?"
"But I really did kill him, Sorn! You know I did!"
"Wait, how would he know, when the old man was here all of last night. Is Sorn in on it? What have you two got up your sleeves?"
"Sorn, I want this man dead--"
"...Not yet!"
"Not what?!" Blaize looked from one to the other of them, afright.
"Kael'thas, come to your senses, already! The entire Sunfury Army is watching you. Now, tell Blaize to give the order."
Blaize went, "Oh, I don't have to be told, this is insanity. FORWARD MARCH!" and then privately again, "Sorn, you go and run right now, get him his bottle or latest Bloodknight whore or something. Because I am not going into the thick of battle with our most powerful fighter half-cocked. And don't you raise your voice at me like that in front of the soldiers again, Kael'thas, unless you want us all to be steamrolled by angry peasants." then Blaize marched off.
"Sorn! I am the King, and what I say should never be questioned."
"Need I remind you that we have an elaborate plan? Let's not get hasty and warn our scapegoats before it's time for them to be roasted. Now, get your bearings. What you... did to Illidan before he died, has clearly gone to your head."
"What right have you to judge me and tell me what I am and am not capable of?"
"Your roots are showing." then Sorn went back to inspecting the lines, marking off who was present.
Thousands of elves went through the shimmering portals, afraid to look anywhere else, but home. Kael'thas grabbed off someone's polished helmet to look at himself. Sure enough, the hair at his scalp had turned black. But he never died his hair. "No... it's actually, a very rich shade of fel-green." Perhaps horns and hooves would come next.
Illidan, you bastard! Kael'thas thought angrily, What kind of dark gift is this?
But the Soul Link had been emptied hours ago. No one was going to feel sorry for the new evil King Kael'thas.
At the Sunspire…
Seven Knights of the Blood Nexus stayed with the future King of Quel'thalas. Daphne and Fennore remained on either side of him as they walked through the palace in Silvermoon, and Kael'thas strode with a dangerous, expectant casual gait. His nonchalance made those with him all the more nervous. Suddenly, a palace guard raced into the throne room, raising his shield, but Kael'thas shouted how disloyal it was and cast a fireball before his new personal Bloodknight guard could get to the man.
"Rommath and Lorth'remar are up in the balcony, Kael'thas!" Daphne warned.
…waving white flags.
Kael'thas flashed a smile at both men. It was only clear what the arrangement between a cousin to the new Sunstrider King, or between mages had been. "Where's Halduron?"
Lorth'remar managed to speak with dignity though he was being patted down by zealous Bloodknights at the moment. "The Ranger General is over on Quel'danas Isle with… Anveena."
"I see. Rommath, are the people compliant?" Kael'thas stood in front of his throne. There were a few more defiant palace guard that Tempestraven and the others took down quickly.
"The people are with us. I worked very hard over the last two weeks to sway them. It seems, however, that some of the palace guard felt they would rather die with honor."
"They've adopted Horde values? Let's hope the rest of my subjects aren't so stupid."
Pyorin came running down a red carpeted spiral staircase, from the East wing of the palace. "It's odd, the whole place is secure. There aren't even any more palace guards. In fact, I don't see anyone else around, Kael'thas. No maids, no stewards, nothing."
A relieved smile. "Good job, everyone. And to Rommath especially, thank you for keeping it warm for me." Next, Kael'thas consulted a scrying orb beside the royal seat. "Blaize? What of the fifth and sixth legions?"
General Blaize's voice returned through the magical device, The streets are clear. But Kael'thas, the scouts keep coming back with reports that the houses are empty too.
Lieutenants Dacian and Falx each checked in next. Both of Blaize's second commanders expressed concern that, though Silvermoon City was peacefully under curfew, it seemed that not one person was around to oppose the returning army, not even the drunks or the vampire-catgirl-whore sorts who seemed to enjoy stalking eternally at all hours in Wayfarer's Rest.
Kael'thas wanted to sit down. Badly. He was so close to having absolutely everything, but something was definitely wrong.
"Kael'thas Olvi'athon Sunstrider, apsha kakkak nam grom'ka!" the shout seemed to come from everywhere at once.
Kael'thas really did sit down now. "No... There is no way... Someone here, translate that!"
Tempestraven tried it, "It's Orcish! Cool, I love green Orcs... Something about 'Your reign of terror is at an... end.' Uh oh."
Daphne the Weaver tapped her healing mace lightly to her chin. "Curiouser and curiouser… Kael'thas, is it entirely possible that the Horde, in support of the Blood Elves, evacuated Silvermoon City on purpose before we all arrived and without Rommath's knowledge—"
"Rommath?!!!"
"Uh… would you believe another round of sleeping pills, my King?"
Lorth'remar standing beside Rommath smacked his forehead. "How did ever you fall for that again?"
A lone, soulful howl silenced any more fearful banter. And then another joined the first. Now, several more. Finally, a pristine, complex note followed by an explosion of Orcish warcries. Threatening grind and slash of metal against stone.
"No fucking way…" Kael'thas sank even lower into the throne, gripped the plush armrests. "The Kor'kron Elite? Really, Thrall? REALLY?!"
Sunthraze whined pathetically. "Anyone here know how to fight a Shaman?"
Pyorin shrugged, "Something about… standing near the totems, and waiting for the Earthsock?"
Toooooo late.
Wolfriders rode down both the East and Western stair cases and into the throne room from its grand entrance. The orcs clad in black and gold armor dismounted immediately and let their wolves run loose. Axes whistled through the air and sunk, sick-sounding, through plate and into surprised Sunfury soldiers. The big, slavering wolves sent even more of them running in a panic. More shouts in Orcish from outside confirmed that Orgrimmar's elite force was already out in the city. How had they ever hidden from the Sunfury?
Kael'thas, still in shock, leaned down and picked up a vial of something that rolled near to his feet. "Invisibility potions… really, Thrall? DAMMIT!" He let loose a round of fireballs all around.
Even with his new stolen powers, however, it was not enough. More and more shaman emerged from within the palace. Some came smashing through the red stained glass windows. How had they crossed the deep moat? Walking on water... Kael'thas found himself fighting out of fear and desperation. Maybe he could simply light the place ablaze, conjure ten phoenixes this time... but then the palace would be lost. His soldiers and friends would be obliterated.
It was clear that the soldiers themselves were just as completely demoralized, having to face an enemy that they did not know anything about, and with so much at stake. They were prepared to enforce Thalassian law, not start a war with the Horde. More harrowing, was that the Warchief Thrall had made his stance immediately clear before the Sunfury Sin'dorei could even gain a foothold at home. Kael'thas had never been welcome, and those disloyal to the King, the anti-monarchists were the ones safe right now, refugees in nearby Undercity, no doubt. The Sunfury had been baited and trapped like wild animals within the treacherous political and magical machinery of their own kingdom. The Orcs were now the masters in what was fast becoming nothing less than a slaughterhouse.
"Blaize!" Kael'thas snatched the scrying orb up with him and ran from the throne room. Three Bloodknights peeled off with him.
Kael'thas! We're being ambushed. Thrall must have even pulled the elite forces out of Shadowmoon Valley to make this kind of stand against us!
"Yes, that is entirely possible. As I already told you, I KILLED ILLIDAN!"
Well, dammit, I believe you now. What are your orders? The clash of a sword and axe passed across the orb's surface.
"Hold them off." Kael'thas waved his hand when they turned into an open doorway and a white panel closed, cutting off the attack of a screaming, fanged Orc. The magical door sealed Kael'thas and the three Bloodknights into a tiny room. "I am going to activate all the wards. Rise." As he said it, the tiny room jolted upward, with a start, and then it felt like they were moving up. This was a hidden elevator.
Kael'thas peeked over his shoulder to see who he'd been stuck with. "Sunthraze..." a groan, "Tempestraven," double-groan, "... and Mavia? Where's Fennore, how on Azeroth did you two get separated?"
"My life for my coven master."
"Wow, no healers. This is a new low, even for us." Tempest, despite the confined, airless space, commenced to smoking.
"Kael'thas, you gon' die." Sunthaze snickered.
As for the King? Kael'thas wanted, very badly, to turn around and shake them all in that moment. "AAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGH!"
Finally, the elevator stopped. Kael'thas pushed out first, a screen of cigarette smoke and Tempest came second, and Mavia kicked Sunthraze out, literally and with her hoof, last. "There is no wasting any time! Master wants us to secure the area."
Kael'thas turned disoriented circles, hugging the scrying orb. Blaize's muted voice was conveying how terribly the Sunfury were holding out, down in the streets. "...Do as she tells you."
"I'm not listening to an Illidari Maneater! Especially not when the Demon-lover who really has control of her leash isn't around to--"
Kael'thas threw the scrying orb at Sunthraze's head. "Do it, or I KILL YOU!"
Tempest caught the scrying orb easily and tossed it, behind her back, in return to their leader. "You go East Smartmouth, and I'll go West. Mavia, stick with Kael'thas..."
Then, they separated.
Mavia stalked ahead of Kael'thas, sniffing and holding her whip out, at the ready.
"Blaize? Can you hear me?"
Just... barely... Blaize was certainly fighting on all sides, by now.
"I am going to ignite both the ancient and restored wards in Quel'thalas. Every single one."
But you'll kill us all!
"Just the weaker of us, who haven't been taking care of their magical addictions over the years. Everyone else, the people who listened to me, will survive the surge. But, the point of course, is to eradicate the Orcs."
Reconsider it. Too many good men will be sacrificed, and we'll be left with no protection whatsoever along our borders. Or even from the Amani Trolls within our lands. We would lose the entire country!
Mavia had stopped walking, and Kael'thas bumped into her. "Master, you smell like Illidan."
"...So? Why is it so hard to believe that I killed Illidan Stormrage, with my own bare hands?! Blaize, do as I say. Tell your men to brace themselves."
"Master... you also sound like Illidan. And you are beginning to look like Illidan."
Kael'thas just barely glanced at himself in the scrying orb. Green runes peeked above the high red collar of his robe. Even more of his hair gone black. Fangs.
"Never mind that. The room we want should be on the right."
Mavia lowered her voice. "Even if you did enslave him, before the end... it should not affect you like this. I have served him long enough to know better."
"We haven't time for this. I will handle it later."
"The power and curse of Gul'dan. It has passed to you." Mavia's eyes flashed red. She raised her whip at Kael'thas, he cursed at her, stagged backward. Directly into a wall of warm plate.
Earthshock. It took Kael'thas a while to realize that is what burned Mavia's limbs and sent her crashing through a window at the end of the red gilded marble hallway. The concussive force of it exploded the scrying orb in his hands, cut Kael'thas' fingers, left him staggering around seeing only green for too long. Then he was grabbed by the arm--the hands were so large and strong Kael'thas feared it was Illidan coming at him at first. Ragged guilt caused him to yell, and lash out. Try to find the Mageblade again...
"Thrall!"
The Farseer and Warchief, the undisputed leader and savior of the Horde races, pushed Kael'thas aside and smashed the glass runestone in the center of that coveted room. The door of the tower room slammed closed, Kael'thas couldn't get it to unseal. He turned back around. Thrall dragged his war-mace a few paces. Studded gold at the edges scratched the pristine white floors and created sparks. They were in the palace's highest tower. No windows in the room, but they both sensed how powerful and important this place was. Kael'thas mourned the glittering destroyed pieces of the glass runestone, which had controlled all the other runestones in his kingdom.
Thrall had a look in his clear blue eyes--the eyes of a Frostwolf--that convinced the Blood Elf that this Farseer knew magic more intimately than anyone born addicted to it. This shaman did not own the elements. He sympathized with them, he loved them like brothers and sisters. And he was pained to see such magic abused. Kael'thas had not just crossed a line with Thrall's friends today, by commiting crimes in Netherstorm and daring to come back. He had insulted Thrall's own family. That was how he regarded both the natural world, and the Horde.
"Your people. They never were your people, Kael'thas. The Blood Elves are free. They want to be ruled justly, and are willing to do it themselves if necessary. I came and I asked them that, and when Rommath fell alseep after the meeting, I made arrangements for them all to leave. Not one person is left in this city who is susceptible to your lies and magic. Shaman line your streets as far as the eye can see. Now, would you like to tell me how you ran off to Outland to save my country, cure my addiction, and how, now, I owe my soul to you? Would you like to lie to me about the babe who isn't mine, make me feel guilty about the body I sacrificed, for your sake--"
"Are you preaching to me about Saturna?"
Thrall smiled. "I see. So, she is alive. I am a Farseer, yes, but I could have only ever sensed it. No, Kael'thas, I am telling you about your own fears. All of your secrets, all of your pain and guilt, it is wafting right off of you. And here you are, changing into the very Demon you thought you'd conquered, before my very eyes."
Kael'thas fought to stifle his thoughts. "I am not afraid of you, Thrall. In fact, I am more powerful than you. Than anyone else could have ever dreamed."
"Because you killed Illidan Stormrage? Do you think the Sha'tar simply had not got around to it yet? I told them to wait."
"Why?"
"I wanted to wait because Tyrande was also waiting. Somehow, that woman had convinced all of the Alliance to lobby A'dal, and tell him to stay his justice. At first," Thrall hefted his mace up onto his shoulder, with two hands. "I thought she might be pregnant, with Illidan's son."
"Well, you were way off."
"Yes I was. But I showed her mercy, anyway, for what I did not yet know. That's the kind of guy I just happen to be."
"Lucky me."
"It gets better." Thrall frowned, and his bottom fangs really leant something to that mean look. "I wanted A'dal to target Tempest Keep instead, do something advantageous while we gathered what information we could about the Fel Orcs and Illdan's destiny in Shadowmoon Valley. But I never brought it up. Because Jaina Proudmoore--"
"Oh, come on! She dumped me ages ago."
"She is a sweet and loving woman, that you clearly missed out on. Jaina felt that you weren't acting normally. She believed that, free of Illidan's influence, you would not behave the way that you did, torturing innocents, lying to people... So, I waited for her too. I waited for both women to make up their minds, while my people's homeland wasted away. All... because... of you. Because, somewhere along the way, these two amazing women and my own shamanistic senses convinced me that there was still good in you, Kael'thas Sunstrider."
Kael'thas inched up along the wall, trying to stand. Thrall grunted, and he sank back down again.
"And then, two weeks ago, I hear that you have plans to seize the city from your own people so that you can have a new evil lair, outside of Netherstorm. You don't come offering peace or asking for forgiveness either, and there were still a great deal many people holding out hope for that, after you buried the White Blade on Sunstrider Isle three years ago. No, you ordered Rommath to tell the people that they would have no choice; they were either patriots and loyal to you, or they were treacherous swine who deserved to die. That is not how we do things in the Horde."
"You were willing to let me come back? Well, some things... considered."
"I took care of the other two Bloodknights in this tower, and there will be no exterminating the Orcs or the weak Blood Elves on the streets of your own city, Kael'thas. I've had another vision of you."
"...You have?" Then, Kael'thas corrected his voice, so that it didn't sound so startled.
"Well, I'm looking at you right now. You look bad, Blood Elf Prince. And, you stink."
"How classy of you. Thank you, Thrall."
Thrall spat into both hands, and rubbed them together. Kael'thas tried not to be impressed that the big war mace balanced easily between just one muscular shoulder and the Orc's thick neck.
"How is, Jaina doing, anyways? Before you pummel me." Kael'thas said, as Thrall closed in. Kael'thas played with something behind his back.
"She's cute." Thrall smiled. "By the way, you're still an idiot."
"Excuse me? Have you seen Saturna Whiteblade?"
"Ah, so you actually convinced her to marry you. I had my doubts about that too. It must be why you first came to Quel'Danas, before attacking Silvermoon."
Damn, he's good!
"One last little observation, before we get started."
"That's an honorable final request; I don't mind at all."
"I do, actually, regret that I enslaved and then killed Illidan Stormrage--oops, you didn't know that, did you? That I have the power of Gul'dan within me, and I also have thousands of years', practically the lifetime of Azeroth's worth, of primal magic running through my veins at the moment. Well, whether you knew that already with your super secret special shaman powers, matters little. What I want to say is, I am a little regretful right now, that that is the sort of ass-whooping you're about to get. Really, if I had known you craved a final showdown, I would have let the bastard live, gone directly to Kil'jaeden first, and then returned to Azeroth to finish the job he started with your people!"
Thrall charged at Kael'thas, "Spawn of Evil! Why did I ever show compassion for the likes of you?"
Kael'thas blinked and reappeared across the room. "First, I would have used Legion magic to corrupt your women, make them even more grotesque than they are right now--"
Thrall smashed a gash in the white wall. He heaved up the mace again, and turned to the far side of the room. "Don't test my patience, MY patience of all the wise and just leaders in this world--"
"I'd set up something like a Sunwell, but brimming with Demon blood. A little sweet-spice to get people excited about it... no, what is it that you Orcs like to eat all the time? Disgusting, filthy swine? Well, I guess I'd make my Bloodwell ham-flavored."
Another angry smash. Kael'thas disappeared in a column of flame. Thrall swore and shuffled comically through it.
"And then everyone could have a drink and give up their souls again, re-ignite their fel-magic addictions, the Bloodlust, and BOW BEFORE ME! In fact, I like that idea. When you are dead, it won't be so hard to manage. I can have my revenge, my half of the planet with the help of loyal Sylvanas, and the Legion can take the other half. The Horde half!"
A white-hot phoenix rose up in the center of the room, spread its wings and cornered Thrall. The flaming mouth opened wide, conjuring some dark spell. It looked like so many mouths howling in torment, souls writhing and begging to die, or else, take someone else with them. Fell someone powerful, someone that would please their master, bolster him up...
Thrall wiped sweat from his brow and cast a single totem.
Kael'thas reappeared, cackling. "That curse I just placed upon you is one of my greastest yet! A foul Bloodmage conjuring that only the power of Gul'dan could make so perfectly vile. You'll never again see the light of precious day, you... where'd it go?"
Thrall nodded and tapped the totem at his feet with a finger. "Grounding totem."
"...Huh?!"
"It eats spells."
"But I... I could only imagine a spell like that, for years! I only just now had the power, Illidan's power, to bring it into existence. You can't just 'eat it' with a friggin totem?!"
Thrall just shrugged and the used wooden totem wiggled its way into the ground in a gust of gray ash.
"Well eat this!" Kael'thas cast a fireball directly into Thrall's face. Thrall hadn't enough time to react, he blinked afterward and wiped fingers across his eyes, to clear the soot.
"That all you got?"
"What the fel?! Do you know how hot that was? I never made one that hot before..."
Now Thrall tapped another totem on the floor. This one was ice blue. "Fire-resist."
Kael'thas tried an ice spell.
"Nope, try again, Poindexter. Frost-resist totem. What part of 'master of the elements' don't you understand?"
"Shadowbolt!"
"Oooh good one... Earthshooooock!"
"Gaah!"
Kael'thas cast one spell, and then another and another.
"Earthshock, earthshock, earthshock!"
"I'm getting out of range of these stupid little toys..."
"FROST SHOCK! Ha, that's my favorite one, Kael'thas."
"I swear to the Sun, if you don't pick up your mace and fight me like a man--"
"Ho! Haha... I just got this mental image of you squaring off with Illidan Stormrage, calling out these lame Nerdboy rules about who gets to use magic or why, or do what when? What do you think this all is, some old-fashioned game between dungeons and dragons? You're such a loser, Kael'thas."
"What did you just call me?! Korgammon! Take care of him."
"Oh, what a cute little fel-puppy. And freshly resurrected too, I see. Aww, poor thing, are you scared? I bet you are, 'cause the last time Daddy let you out, a mean old Demon lord went and killed you, didn't he?"
"Stop using your Farseeing... thing. This isn't fair."
"Here, you can play with one of my dogs." But Thrall conjured two ghost wolves and one of them went directly for Kael'thas.
"Gaah! Get this thing off of me. Korgy! Obey me!"
But Korgy was busy being licked to death by a happy ghostwolf.
"What the fel kind of name is Korgy? That one's Bone-eater and the other one is Marrow-basher. Nerdboy, can't you even resist naming your pets in such a lame fashion?"
Kael'thas hopped around the room trying to get away from Thrall's ghost-dog. "Suddenly, I think I see why Jaina likes you so much. You bully-jerk! Stop calling me names."
"Make me."
A giant blue voidwalker was summoned next. It had to brace the ceiling with its manacled, smoky arms, to keep from tearing it off with the momentum of its--
"Oh, come on!"
"Earth Elemental Totem. Sorry Kael'thas. You're going to have to try again."
Both men paused, watching the two conjured monsters duke it out. Thrall's finally raised two rocky fists together overhead and smashed Kael'thas' voidwalker into nothing but a cobalt stain on the floor.
"This is ridiculous, I ENSLAVED Illidan Stormrage, for gods' sake! I am stronger than you!"
"Oh, but you just got these brand new amazing abilities, and you have no idea how to use them. These are all some of your old Bloodamge tricks. You came to take Silvermoon half-cocked, without testing your powers first. But, hey, I'm not gonna judge you. Maybe it was too hard to keep so very many lies juggled up in the air. Perhaps stealing back the throne, really, really fast before too many people found out you didn't deserve it, that you lied and manipulated your way to get this far, was really the best course of action."
"But I didn't expect you to have stupid totems for like... everything!"
"You know what, I think I'll take your advice and use my mace after all." Devlish snarl. "...And now I kill you."
Kael'thas fell to his knees. "This is so stupid! I can't believe I'm about to do this... Wait!"
Thrall waited. There were puppies playing in the background, which sort of ruined the fateful moment, but Thrall didn't seem to mind much.
"You could have killed me when I first came in here, but you didn't. You still want something from me."
"Do I? I don't think so. Maybe I just like playing with you."
"This is almost an exact copy of the strategy I used against Illidan." Kael'thas thought quickly. "You used your stupid fore...sightful shaman powers to out-strategize me."
"Stupid what?"
"Aah, don't frost shock me again! That was painful and embarassing... Look, whatever you want, Thrall you can have it, just don't torture me like this. I've learned my lesson, already."
"Which is?"
"I..." Kael'thas curled a lip, annoyed. "You're my Warchief."
"Wrong answer!" Thrall raised his mace again, smashed with wind whipping around him, and Kael'thas raced to get away in time.
"I... then what do you want from me?!"
"Figure it out, or die from excessive and liberal use of frostshock."
Kael'thas staggered around the room, was forced to his feet again and again, as he tried, went red-faced and truly struggled, to figure out what Thrall wanted from him.
"Oh, don't cry Nerdboy... I bet you haven't done that since the last time Arthas stuffed you in a Dalaran Academy locker. Jaina and I thought you came such a long way, too."
"I'll help you kill Arthas!"
"Me? Just me?"
"You, Jaina, Sylvanas, Bone-eater, whomever, I don't care, just stop freezing me like this!"
"When?"
"Right now!"
"Wrong answer!" Thrall got in Kael'thas face.
"When you say so! Sir."
"Good, now stop your crying. And get up." Thrall waited until Kael'thas, and he was so angry to have to do it, wiped his eyes with his long red sleeves and pulled himself together.
"If you want to live in this Horde, then you are going to play by my rules, got it? There will NEVER be a day, when you've tested your powers enough, or told enough lies, controlled enough people, to ever displace me. The people of the Horde follow me for a reason that you are about to learn, even if it takes the rest of your life, you Peon! Out of respect. Out of honor. Because of a Blood-Oath. Do you hear me, Peon?"
"Yes, Sir. And I don't know how you're doing this to me..."
"Because your daddy took you to see me battle, about a lifetime ago, back when I was just a Gladiator forced to earn my right to live every single day in Hillsbrad. I remember you from way back then. You were a scrawny little thing without any hope, and you're still the same way now. I have your woman, and I have your kingdom, and I hold your future in the palm of this fist."
"Um... I'll go along with the 'I'm going to help you with your Daddy issues' speech, but let's set the record straight on one thing. My wife, Saturna Whiteblade, I really do love her. I am not interested in Jaina. We just have... memories."
"I'll believe it when I Saturna here, settled, and with that son of yours. But you haven't earned that right yet. Kael'thas, the cold hard truth is, you respect me. I inspired you. And if you doubt that, I demand that you account, right now, for why you did not get upset and take this sort of action against the Horde when you first heard the Blood Elves had allied with me?"
Kael'thas had nothing to say to that.
"I began earning your respect so many years ago, when you and your father saw me struggle against those Human fighters and win. And when news got out that I escaped... I hear that there were a few Humans and Elves who cheered across the country side. They had seen the fire in my eyes, they knew that I deserved better. Respect."
"Either treating people fairly really does earn you loyalty, or you used magic back then to divine that we'd need to be allies now, against Arthas."
"Both. Trust me when I say, once again, that I've seen it."
"Fine then, we're allies. Now will you kindly call off the Kor'kron Elite--I still cannot believe you went that far--so that my better soldiers don't die in the streets of my city?"
"Not yet. I may have forseen, all that long ago, that I would need someone like you by my side, that you were capable of great evil, but also great good, if given the chance... but there are no guarantees in this life. If I was a prophet, if I worked in absolutes, then I would not have needed to evacuate your city, or work up a sweat teaching you a lesson. I want proof that I can trust you."
"But you just said..."
"You're a backstabbing, arrogant, selfish prick. That hasn't changed. I know that you're worth it, but I won't call off this war against the Sunfury until I'm absolutely assured that I can trust you."
"You can have access to all the land I've claimed in Outland."
"And further polarize the conflict with the Shatar? You forget what side of the war you're on. The Horde is about fighting side by side allies, and with honor, not stabbing them in the back when it suits us."
Kael'thas paced, and Thrall held out his mace, to measure that distance. "You're staying right here."
"The Sunwell... I'll share its energies with the entire Horde."
"That's very generous. But also very addicting."
"Really... heh, that Bloodwell comment earlier was just a joke."
"I need a better offer."
"Don't you already know what I am going to offer you?"
"People are dying, Kael'thas. Your General, especially, the one you pegged to be your scapegoat is really in a bad way. And I sense that you can't afford to lose him at all."
"You can have Outland! No... I mean... Nagrand. Isn't that what you want?"
"Everything except for the Legion camps, yes. Well done. You sure you're not a Farseer?"
"I assure you, Sir, that I am not. Or else I would have never let myself be embarassed like this. Ugh, I don't think I can feel my ass anymore, it's numb!"
"You can keep Netherstorm, I have no clue what use Tempest Keep is, and you worked hard for it anyways."
"Not a fan of Dranei either?"
"Heck no. But Kael'thas, you've forgotten something. How, exactly, will I deliver the ancestral lands back to my people? You don't personally own so much of Nagrand, Zangarmarsh, and so forth. They don't belong to you."
Kael'thas made fists. "Don't. You have no idea what's at stake for me, if you force me to--"
"I don't care about the complications it creates in your love life. I don't even care about the complications it makes in your mind. Those lands belong to Illidan Stormrage, the Master of Outland, the Lord of the Black Temple. The Shatar won't finish their expensive conflict in Outland until it's clear what can be done in Shadowmoon Valley. Tyrande will not allow her allies to comply until she is happy. Illidan is the lynchpin. But more importantly, Malfurion, Tyrande, all of Darnassus--"
"You care about those freaks?"
"You tried to save Tyrande from Illidan, in the end. I can see that now, too. This is about a man facing a just trial at last, and paying for his crimes before the people he wronged. Illidan always was an outlaw on the run."
"Don't talk to me about fair!" Kael'thas pushed the heavy weight of Thrall's mace away, "Illidan murdered my Saturna... he raped, her Thrall. I can't let him live."
"I am a man too. I know the pain of not being able to have the one you love, because she is still torn about the past. It's horrible." Thrall paused, and closed his eyes for a moment. "But, regardless of whether or not you agree, I have found in my many trials as a man, as a shaman and Farseer, and as a Warchief, that the answer, the best answer is always to fix the future. And, if at all possible... to forgive."
"I could never forgive Illidan Stormrage! And that is my choice. You will not instruct me in the matters of my own soul, Shaman!"
"Nor do I intend to. I want what's mine, what I would have had if you hadn't decided to take a joy ride all around Outland these last three years. You've made things very difficult for the Shatar, and more painful for the Horde than they've needed to be. Do you know that you essentially divided your people into three factions that are still fighting against one another? The High Elves headed by Vereesa's Silver Covenant in Dalaran, the Blood Elves loyal to me here on Azeroth, and then your Sunfury, they're all killing each other because a few years ago, you didn't want to sit on that throne and do the right thing!"
"Well, if you want some kind of apology--"
"SHUT UP! Be a man, grow a pair, and fix it!"
Kael'thas looked Thrall in the eye. Then, he walked to the center of the room. He gazed at the ceiling for a long time. Praying, meditating, giving up... it wasn't clear what. And then, Kael'thas shut his eyes. He opened his palms and reached out, drawing the violet magic to himself. The burden was great. Pulling that hard on the dead link was an amazing strain. It stole the flush from his face, made his hair go black, grew talons at his fingertips. And then the powerful wind blew his robes against his lean form. Thrall wrapped strong arms around his mace, bracing himself. At last, the shade of the creature appeared, his heavy, graceful horns, the burnt wings, the hooves. Bowed head drifted up and suddenly awake. Then, the dark magic faded, and Illidan Stormrage looked down at himself, felt his restored body.
"...Thrall?" Illidan looked to Kael'thas and then all around the room, trying to understand. "Master Warchief." he knelt.
Thrall stood near Illidan. "There is going to be justice for Tyrande as well. I know what happened with you and your brother."
Kael'thas raged, "What the--"
"Be quiet, Kael'thas. But there is something else going on here... I couldn't believe it when I first sensed it, that Kael'thas would do something so stupid. You are the only one who can keep him in check."
"I'd kill him again first--"
"If there is no Illidan, then there is no deal!" Thrall asserted. Kael'thas snapped his mouth shut.
"Illidan, this one's bitten off more than he can chew. You need to keep an eye on him."
"Yes, Warchief."
"I did have a plan, Thrall. It's not as if I went into this wrecklessly. I needed Illidan's power to make everything. I needed to live forever for Saturna. But I couldn't survive suchc a long life if I was constantly being tempted by Illidan. If he is alive then he will make me want more and more of his power. He's manipulated me and used me already, for years. Did it never occur to you that Tyrande might be biased? And when in the world did you get to have a private shaman session alone with her?"
"If you know your history, Kael'thas, Tyrande's and Malfurion's secret isn't really that hard to figure out, not just for a Farseer like me. But from a more political standpoint... the Alliance just lost the power of Illidan Stormrage. They compoletely mishandled the situation, in my opinion. Illidan, in my eyes, you are a hero who saved the world from the Legion. What you did before and after that... Darnassus should try you for. When we are ready to do that." Thrall offered his hand, and Illidan shook it.
"It's also more than convenient, isn't it, when the green Orcs have suffered in Outland too?" Illidan worried.
"I don't think it's feasible for you to stand trial in both cities though that would be nice, but believe me, you are going to work it off, Illidan. And then some."
Thrall focused back on Kael'thas. "Kael'thas, in his greed, somehow managed to save you from eternal madness. And now, I am going to save you, Illidan, from Kael'thas' passion and foolishness. Will you agree help us to end the threat in Northrend?"
"When?"
Thrall laughed heartily. "You see, Kael'thas? That is the way a grown man answers a question, when there is work to be done, lives to save."
Thrall conjured blue magic and became as clear and ethereal as Saturna was. Then, he morphed into a wolf. This wolf threw his lupine head back and let forth a singular howl. This was joined by other howls across the kingdom. They could hear it through the walls, even up in the the tower-room. Kael'thas marvelled at what he heard and sensed, that fighting, everywhere in the city, had stopped.
"Welcome to the Horde, boys." Thrall wagged his tail once, and sharp, then had a seat in front of them. He spoke with a clever snarl and show of razor-teeth. "Arthas is very powerful. He has... spies among even our ranks. I won't reveal who I think they are, but for now, you two are men that I can trust, absolutely. You two could never stomach helping Arthas, and being Soul Linked, master to slave, you won't betray one another."
Kael'thas crossed his arms.
"Your partnership is more important than even this cause. Life itself in Azeroth depends on you two, working together. I have forseen it. And certainly, the Horde needs you too."
"It's safest if I... put Illidan back at the Black Temple and transition power over to you gradually. Or else, it'd be impossible to keep the Alliance off my back here in the Eastern Kingdoms. And... there are some of my people who would be outraged to know that they were still working with Illidan."
Illidan was quiet, focused.
"That makes sense. Let your alliance be a secret. Even to other leaders of the Horde. They wouldn't be to pleased with me if they knew I recruited you two... mostly as spies. But in time, you'll fully gain their trust. And mine as well."
Illidan said, "I am a part of something meaningful again. Thank you, Thrall."
"...and let him see Tyrande, Kael'thas."
Illidan cocked his head to the side and blinked his burnt out eye sockets in what, we can only hope, was meant to look like some kind of sad puppy-dog look.
Kael'thas harrumphed, and after desummoning Illidan, the Orc and Blood Elf went down into the throne room, to share the news. It turned out that Mavia had flown to safety but been caught up in pitch battles on the street. And Thrall hadn't actually 'taken care of' Sunthraze and Tempest. They'd found a spare room upstairs, and Liadrin was red enough in the face now to suggest what the two of them had got up to, even with a war going on.
Sorn was there beside the throne when, at last, Kael'thas took his proper seat. "My King, I really can't wait until we replace them all... those two especially."
Kael'thas smiled innocently at Thrall, and shushed his advisor. Thrall wisely ignored them anyway. "People of Silvermoon... today is a grand day for the Blood Elves. King Kael'thas Sunstrider has agreed to return, peacefully to his city, as is his birthright. It will be an uneasy truce, but, with time, and under Horde martial law..."
"Martial Law?! You never said--"
Sorn quieted Kael'thas. "We're lucky to get off with that."
"Silvermoon City will once again be restored to its ancient glory. Three cheers for the noble and gracious King!"
The Orcs cheered at the noble blood sacrifice that had been shed. They shouted for thunder of success. The Blood Elves sang praises to the Sun.
And in Shadowmoon Valley...
Illidan re-appeared on the dark mountain top. He helped Tyrande to her feet and kissed her hands. "Your prayers have been answered. Today, Love has won."
Tyrande cried with joy and hugged Illidan tight. He rocked with her in that desolate wind, until she stopped trembling. Then, when they were ready, he took her in his arms and flew with Tyrande from the mountain and back to the Black Temple.
Azeroth and Outland were amazed at the miraculous return of the Demon Lord, and Tyrande's sudden loyalty to him. And, that Thrall never saw fit to return the Kor'kron Elite to their outpost in Shadowmoon Valley, the odd retreat of the Fel Orcs to their strongholds, and the peaceful opening of the storm-gates to Coilfang Reservoir... these were all greater mysteries that the Shatar could not explain. Peace, suddenly?
There was another rumor that Prince Arthas was shocked and desperately angry to have it all happen. In turn, Thrall joked that poor Prince Arthas' temper-tantrum was so hot, it was finally causing Icecrown to melt, just a little.