VII
"He has outsmarted me!" Neltharion bellowed loudly. "How could that guy outsmart me with my own damned tricks?"
The entire cavern quaked with his bellow, his booming voice echoing through the vast expanse under the island of Theramore. Neltharion pushed himself through the enormous chamber, his tail slamming against a sparkling, amethyst crystal jutting out from a slate gray and black, rocky wall. The pools of lava bubbled and popped, roaring and spouting fountains through the black, caked-over layers in agreement to the Earth-Warder's fury. Black dragons watched from gold veined ledges as their lord and master raged. Kalecgos sat upon a glowing, blue-green, blocky crystal, watching with wide eyes as his fellow Aspect continued to fume. His arms were bound, his legs tied tightly. The Blue Dragon looked up at the much larger Black, slightly haunched over, and he swallowed.
"We should have realized that there were some Twilight Hammers left," said Serinar. The once guardian of the Black Dragon Shrine was standing beside Kalecgos in his human form. "Apparently you weren't thorough in your utter destruction of their numbers, Lord Neltharion."
Neltharion paused, snorting a cloud of black ash from his nostrils: "Of course, it's always my fault. Keep telling me I suck again! I'm afraid I didn't hear you the first time. You know, I'm not perfect. I know I'm not perfect."
"I know you're not perfect," said Serinar. He looked down at the bound Kalecgos. "Ahem..."
"What?" Kalecgos asked.
Serinar grunted and slapped him on the back of the head.
"Hey!" Kalecgos called. "What the hell did I do?"
"What the hell didn't you do?" Serinar asked.
Kalecgos sighed and wagged his head: "Alright, I'm not perfect too. We both suck at being Aspects."
Neltharion paused and swung his gigantic head around to the disguised Blue Dragon.
"That made me feel a lot better," he said. "Thanks, Serinar!"
"It's what I'm here for," said Serinar. "Emotional support."
"Whatever!" Kalecgos said in a growl. "Can someone please untie me? My nose is starting to itch and I wanna scratch it."
He looked up at Serinar.
"Don't look at me, I'm not sticking my finger in your nose," said the disguised black dragon.
"I'm looking at you to untie me," said Kalecgos.
"As much as I love to help with that," he began. "That knot was made by our Black Queen Calia––and no amount of dragon strength can untie that knot." Then, Serinar looked up at his own lord, cocking a black, fuzzy eyebrow. "Now what sort of skills has she learned in order to figure out how to tie up an Aspect in rope and keep him bound?"
"What goes on in our longhouse stays in our longhouse," said Neltharion, leaning back on his haunches to cross his muscular forelegs.
"I mean not to pry, my lord."
"I don't even want to know what crazy fetishes you two do on your free time," Kalecgos said.
Serinar smacked the Blue Aspect on the back of the head again.
"Will you quit hitting me?" Kalecgos asked.
"No," said Serinar.
Neltharion combed his claws through his beard, looking down upon Kalecgos. The Blue Dragon looked up at Neltharion, swallowing hard again when he felt the heat off those emerald orbs. He took in a deep breath.
"Well, are you going to help me find the Focusing Iris?" he asked.
"Yes," said Neltharion.
"How can you help me anyways?"
"I'll show you," Neltharion said. "Tell me, who took the Iris in the first place?"
"I don't know," said Kalecgos. "They barely left a trace behind. The dragons responsible of protecting the Focusing Iris all died. There were scorch marks and what appeared to be bullet wounds, but I don't recall any sort of ballistic weapon that can pierce dragon hide."
"Did you save the slugs?" Neltharion asked.
"Yes," said Kalecgos. "They were––made out of elementium. And I sensed a darkness to them, as if they were enchanted by shadow magic."
Neltharion's eyes narrowed as he looked away. His wings stretched only so slightly open and Kalecgos could catch a glimpse of the Great Black's elementium-plated digits. The Earth Aspect lifted a claw to his chin, rubbing it with a single finger.
"This is starting to sound rather familiar," he said. "Serinar, go get the dagger."
"Yes, sir," said Serinar as he leaned up, disappearing behind a rugged, rocky pillar. Kalecgos turned to where he went, watching the dragon disappear into the shadows, and then he turned back to Neltharion, his blue eyes wide with confusion. He tugged at the ropes and swallowed dryly.
"What dagger?" he asked.
"You'll see," said Neltharion. He followed Serinar as he came out from the shadows, carrying a small chest decorated in elementium with strange runic carvings. Kalecgos' eyes widened when he looked upon the runes. They were written in the Titan language and placed upon the chest as some sort or ward. Serinar pulled a key out from his pocket and unlocked the chest. Spilling out was a blanket of purple and black mist and strange, eerie light. Serinar waved his hand over the opened chest to clear out the mist coming from it. Then, he reached inside and pulled out a jagged dagger pulsating with all sorts of dark energies. Kalecgos could sense it, even from here. Then, he heard something whisper to him, something that tickled his ears but then began to drive into his mind like powerful thick nails hammered into his skull. Archaic runes were engraved into the dagger, and Kalecgos recognized they were a part of some sort of horrible ritual.
"What is that?" he asked.
"A dagger that was used by a Twilight Hammer assassin," began Serinar.
"That dagger was used by many assassins sent to kill me," said Neltharion. "It happened one night when Calia and I were on the run from the Twilight Dragons and the Hammers. We stopped at an inn in the Crossroads. That's when they attacked us. That dagger was enchanted to pierce my hide and then poison me so that my death would bring about the Hour of Twilight."
"The dark magic coming from it," said Kalecgos. "The––whispers. I could hear the same from the slugs."
"Yes," said Neltharion. "I have reason to now believe that the Twilight Hammers were responsible for taking the Focusing Iris. Somehow they knew you were going to move it and they struck your envoy. If they could create a dagger that was designed to pierce my hide, then they could easily create a gun to kill your dragons." He rumbled, shifting his weight. "The Twilight Hammers are the only few mortals I know who know more about dragons than any other mortal all because of Deathwing's actions. That dagger is enchanted with Old God energies. The ammunition from the guns that shot down your dragons may have been enchanted with the same energies. And right now, the Twilight Hammers are working for Garrosh Hellscream."
Kalecgos gasped, his eyes bulging out of their sockets in utter shock and disbelief. His heart pounded into his chest.
"Garrosh?" he asked. "Garrosh––he stole the Focusing Iris?"
"Well, score one for the Earth-Warder," said Neltharion. "Told you I could figure out who took it better than Jaina. You should have come to me in the first place."
"Why would he steal it?"
"Probably to make a weapon," said Neltharion. "What weapon, I don't know. But that's who's got Mal's Iris."
"But, where did Garrosh put it?" Kalecgos. "You've figured out who stole it, but you haven't figured out where it is. That's the part I need. I don't care who stole it, Neltharion, I just want it back!"
"Alright, here's the secret that's been kept from you since you hatched out of your egg, little Kalec," said Neltharion. He rose upon his all fours and flexed his wings. Then, he turned to the ground and began to stomp, rapping softly, but rhythmically upon the rock. As he stomped, Neltharion looked back to Kalecgos and smiled. "I want you to listen to me do this. Listen very carefully."
"Okay," said Kalecgos. He closed his eyes and started to listen to the rhythmic pulse of Neltharion's feet. Neltharion closed his eyes as well and his stomping ceased. Instead, there was a single sound, the sound of a great heart beating, echoing through the chamber itself. But then, there was a ringing that flowed out from the beating heart, a shimmering song, radiating with a melody that touched Kalecgos. The melody echoed the beating heart, kept in time with it as if the heart only set the tempo for the song. Both danced together in an ancient, but lovely song. Kalecgos opened his eyes, breathing softly as he looked upon Neltharion.
"I––I never knew," he said.
Neltharion looked upon him, his eyes sad. Drops of tears fell from his eyes as he looked upon Kalecgos.
"Now, you know why Malygos was so––destroyed by Deathwing," he said. "He and I––we were more than brothers. We were connected. We could speak to each other like no other Aspect could. It was our secret, our song. And it is through this song that I will help you find the Focusing Iris." He looked all around the chamber, basking in the heat of the lava pools. "The leylines around Azeroth, their arcane energies have an effect upon the rocks. Though this effect, I can detect that energy. The Focusing Iris has a particular pitch, Kalec, and through that song, I can see where it was."
"But what if it was not on the ground?" asked Kalecgos.
"It doesn't need to be," said Neltharion. He leaned over and his claw scraped upon the ropes that bound the Blue Aspect. Kalecgos felt his bonds loosen around him and he was able to wiggle himself free. Neltharion stepped back as the Blue Dragon's body radiated with a vibrant glow, his form growing larger and larger. Then, as the glow subsided, the form of the half elf was now replaced by a tall, statuesque dragon who's scales gleamed with shifting colors of azure. Though, he was no match for Neltharion's hulking size, only barely coming up to the Earth Aspect's shoulder. Neltharion was nearly three times his size due to the effects the Dragon Soul had upon him. The Black Dragon knew he could never regain his smaller size, no matter how hard he tried. He was always going to be swelled up, bigger than his brothers and sisters. Neltharion looked around. "Down here, we'll get the best sound. The Focusing Iris radiates power, I'm sure the ones who have it don't know its range. Though the further the energies radiate out from the source, the softer the sound. They decay after a certain distance."
"Right," said Kalecgos.
"Alright, let's see I can get that song to pick up again," said Neltharion, looking back behind to his tail. He raised it up and slammed it upon the ground, the elementium blade upon its tip striking the rock with a spark of orange light. The ringing echoed through the chambers and he closed his eyes. Kalecgos closed his eyes as well, listening once more to the sound of the beating heart and the melodic song that kept in tempo with it. He could hear the sound of something pulsing through the air, striking the ground with radiating light. But the thing was not on the ground, it was indeed flying. Neltharion and Kalecgos could hear the sounds of arcane energies fluctuating as strange beings attempted to mask the song radiating from this particular object.
"The same as the Twilight Hammers," Neltharion rumbled. "They are sending out a buffering signal, trying to cloak the song."
"That is the Focusing Iris," said Kalecgos. "I think I can hear it."
Then, he heard something strike the ground and a horrible noise rang forth. Neltharion bellowed as the feedback from the noise battered his eardrums and he reared back, holding his paws to his ears. Kalecgos as well roared in agony at the sound, falling back to his side.
"What is that?" he asked.
The high pitched ringing continued on, and Neltharion's head throbbed.
"They're on to us," he said in a grunt.
Then, Neltharion's eyes opened up as the ringing sound began to fade, being muted by another sound, a frequency of static and a white noise. Neltharion gasped as he laid down upon the ground. He looked back to Kalecgos, who laid against his huge wing, clinging to the digits.
"That was horrible!" said the Aspect of Magic. "What was it? Why did it stop?"
"Garrosh," said Neltharion. "His army is on the move. The Twilight Hammer shamans, they're creating that static frequency again. He's cloaking his armies." He swallowed. "Garrosh doesn't want me to know he's moving again."
Kalecgos rose up, shaking his scales and giving a good flap to his wings.
"Neltharion, I have to leave," he said. "I have to go find the Focusing Iris. You gave me a lead. Thank you. But I have to find it. If Garrosh really does have it, I have to find it before he has a chance to use it for whatever plan he has."
"Right," said Neltharion, holding to his chest as he gasped, still awestruck by the horrible feedback. "Right." He craned his head up. "You may go. Nothing more that I can give you right now. But be careful of what Garrosh has guarding it. If he was able to take down your dragons with those weapons, he could kill you too. And it'll be another 430 years before the next Embrace. I don't think Azeroth's magic can wait that long."
"Yeah," said Kalecgos. "Don't tell Jaina what you found out, okay? Or that you held me prisoner down here."
"Don't tell Jaina?" Neltharion asked, his brow cocking up. "Why would––" His eyes narrowed upon the Blue Dragon and he noticed Kalecgos dipping his head. His cheeks looked a little rosier than usual when Neltharion questioned his request. "Is there something going on between you two?"
"Well, she's––she's nice––" said Kalecgos. "It's been a while since a human's––um––did you know I kinda had a crush with a human who had the Sunwell inside of her?"
"Are you telling me that you and Jaina––you––like-like her?" Neltharion asked as he rose up. "Does she like-like you too? You gonna take Jaina out on a date? You know I have to tell Arthas." He swerved his head down. "Arthas, Kalec's taking your girlfriend."
"Tell Arthas?" Kalecgos asked. "He's dead, isn't he?"
He is dead, rang a familiar voice in his mind. But what is dead these days, hmmm?
Kalecgos knew that was Malygos speaking, recognizing the rather cheerful voice of his predecessor.
"What?" Kalecgos asked.
"Not only do I have Malygos following me around, but I have Arthas too," said Neltharion.
"What?" Kalecgos asked. "You're being haunted by two ghosts?"
"Yup," said Neltharion, grinning. "Well, hearing ghosts talk to me is better than hearing Old Gods talk to me, right?"
"Well, yes, but––why Arthas?"
Because Arthas is his brother-in-law, Kalecgos.
"Yeah, I knew that, but––oh gods, Nel, you're getting creepier by the minute," said Kalecgos.
You know, just because I'm dead, doesn't mean you can move in on my girl.
Kalecgos' head swerved down when he heard that voice in his head. He looked down to see a pale-skinned human with white hair and striking sea blue eyes looking back at him and pointing a familiar long, rune sword at him. The human was dressed in the armor of a Death Knight.
"Oh, Auntie Sindragosa's frosty bones, that's Arthas," said Kalecgos. "Neltharion, how did you get him?"
"He's been following me around since I defeated Ultraxion," said Neltharion. "In fact, he sorta helped me defeat Ultraxion."
"I'm not even going to ask how. I'm just going to smile and nod."
Stay away from Jaina, said Arthas.
Oh, let him have his fun, said Malygos. You are dead––and not even the moving kind anymore. What exactly are you going to do about it now?
Well, I could say that Jaina was right and I was an idiot.
Why is there always a rule that in death, there must be closure. It's better that she doesn't find out.
Why? Ever since I've returned, I've been dying to say how much of an idiot I was. Hi, Jaina, I'm an idiot! Becoming the Lich King was one of the stupidest ideas I had. You're right, I'm wrong. I'm an idiot. She'd love to hear that.
"What am I going to do with those two?" Neltharion asked. "Behave yourself. If Kalec wants to go out with Jaina, there's nothing wrong with that. I think it's cute."
"We're just friends!" said Kalecgos.
Neltharion chuckled, wagging his head.
"Denial is just going to hurt more," he said.
"I respect her as a skillful mage," said Kalecgos. "Even if she was once a member of the Kirin Tor."
"You do like her!" said Neltharion. "Oh, looks like I'm not going to be the only dragon with a human for a––significant other. You know, we should get together, you and Jaina, me and Calia. It'll be fun!"
"Stop it," said Kalecgos.
"Oh, Kalecgos," began Neltharion, leaning back upon his haunches, placing his claws together close to his heart and his voice sounding exactly like Jaina Proudmoore's. "Your crystalline spines looks so pretty! I want you to whisk me away on some moonlight flight!"
"Enough," said Kalecgos. "How are you able to make your voice sound like Jaina's?"
Neltharion cleared his throat, his voice returning to normal: "It's an old Black Dragonflight trick. How else do you think my flight's been deceiving everyone these last thousand years?"
"Oh, Jaina, I want to run my talons through your silky, golden tresses!" said Serinar, using the voice of Kalecgos.
"I really don't like you," said Kalecgos.
Neltharion chuckled.
"And you!" Kalecgos said. "Shut up!"
"Big words from a tiny dragon," said Neltharion.
"I'm only smaller than you because you're so goddamned fat!"
"Look who's talking," said Neltharion. "I'm not the one with the potbelly dragging on the ground. My stomach's nice and flat, and concave."
Kalecgos groaned loudly.
"Alright, alright," said Neltharion, lifting up a black paw. "I'm sorry. We won't make fun of you anymore, Little Kalec. Okay?"
"Fine," said Kalecgos. "I––need to get back to my search." He turned around, slowly lumbering away from the Black Aspect. "I have to find it before Garrosh does something––"
"Something stupid?" Neltharion asked. He wagged his head. "That's not the way out, Kalecgos."
"Then tell me, where is the exit?"
The Great Black rumbled and lumbered towards the smaller Blue Aspect. He dipped his head and motioned for him to follow. Kalecgos rumbled a sigh and started walking along side him. Neltharion paused and dipped his head to Serinar.
"Danny is in the camp, my lord," said Serinar. "And a piece of yourself is with him."
"There is only a fools hope that this plan will work," said Neltharion. "I don't know if my troublesome brother is right––about me."
All I know is that maybe you could do what many of us failed to, said Arthas.
Be that medium that all mortal races need, not for just guidance, but to remind them that the great power they strive for––can destroy them if they are not careful, said Malygos.
We all had the right idea, but our methods betrayed us.
"All three of us," said Neltharion.
But only one of us has a chance to set it right, said Malygos.
"One..."
Neltharion growled as he lead the Blue Dragon through the winding tunnels. Before Kalecgos laid a labyrinth of shifting shadows and stark, crystalline spires. He felt cool air rush in and the sound of water running. Kalecgos looked on, seeing over the ledge a great waterfall pouring into an even larger chamber than the one he was in. Strange golden light, like the rays of the sun, shined from the ceiling above, and down below, a forest of strange, underground vegetation. Over to the side was another chamber, this one, he could feel the cold winds blowing from it. Ice formed along the walls as snowflakes fell. The ground was a blanket of white. They headed right into the icy chamber.
"How, how––where did this all come from?" Kalecgos asked. "This was Onyxia's lair, I don't recall it being so––fertile, or-–snow covered. What I saw back there, that looked more like the lair she was in. Lava, heat––"
"Experimentation," said Neltharion. "If I am truly to heal this world, I must figure out how to use my powers again."
"With the fight against Ultraxion, I thought you pretty much had it all down by then," said Kalecgos. "Those––ice tendrils––commanding that kind of power––"
"That was the beginning," said Neltharion. "Though in my veins flows the blood of the planet, magma, my heart is its fiery core, I found that I have much in common with water. Like earth, water makes up a great percentage of this world's surface. Air makes up the rest." He paused and reared back upon his hind legs, his forepaws pulling fluidly as if they were a stream flowing. Neltharion waved his paws and the snow rose around him, spreading out like tendrils. Then, the snow melted into liquid, still suspended by Neltharion's command. He turned to Kalecgos and moved his paws around, the water following his motions. The water rose up around the Black Dragon's body, encasing him inside of it like a suit, only leaving his head exposed. Then, the water froze into ice, but Neltharion was still able to move, and it moved with him as if it was now a suit of armor around him. The ice that covered his claws looked almost like thick, blocky, hands. Neltharion curled both hands together into fists and slammed them against each other. He looked to Kalecgos with a grin. "The Black Dragon of fire and rage is now cool as ice."
"Bad pun, but very neat ability," said Kalecgos.
"Living beside an ocean, I've had some time to refine my understand on how water works," said Neltharion. "I've focused my skills to commanding earth and water. Nothing more devastating than a heavily, rainwater-saturated mudslide. I found it's more destructive than any fire bomb made, and harder to rebuild from." The ice suit melted from his body and splashed upon the ground, returning to the blanket of snow. "But water has some other properties as well. I've learned how to use it to heal wounds. Mortal bodies are made of water. I've used it to mend broken bones, clear out blockages, and restart a heart beating after an attack. I've been able to pull water from almost any place, even from the air, if it's humid enough. And I've had Arthas to smack me a few times with the cold to get me to appreciate it. It's almost like I'm remembering what I used to be like then––before Deathwing. Deathwing barely had control of my earth powers, but he had great understanding of fire––but––in actuality––using fire––there really isn't any fire, just a chemical reaction. There's only heat and the absence of it. Even ice has heat, it's hotter than space, and it requires a certain level of air pressure to form its crystalline form. In the end, that's all earth really is as well, frozen––like ice––just requires more heat to melt it, unlike water."
"It's all related," said Kalecgos. "And here I was teaching Jaina how magic is just a form of understanding of mathematics, I just learned something about––matter."
"That's the secret behind my power, Kalecgos," Neltharion said. "I don't manipulate the elements. I never did. Shamans manipulate elements, fire, water, air, earth. I manipulate matter and its forms, solid, liquid, and gas. But you––as the Aspect of Magic, you manipulate energy. That is why Malygos and I had a special connection with each other and why you and I have it now. Matter and energy go hand in hand. I can hear the leylines because the energy affects matter. And it doesn't matter how well they attempt to cloak the Focusing Iris, without true understanding between our relationship, they can only hide it for so long. I only hope this revelation can help you find it more quickly."
"I think so," said Kalecgos. "I did feel something when you and I were searching for the Focusing Iris. I don't know what it was––"
"It's the same thing Malygos felt when he and I worked together," said Neltharion. "I don't quite understand it myself. I don't think I did back then either. That part is still fuzzy. Malygos and I––we––clicked."
"I don't know if that'll happen with us," said Kalecgos. "I––I thank you for helping me. But––"
Neltharion lowered his head, rumbling a sigh.
"Don't think I haven't forgotten what you said that night when I first awoke from my prison in my mind after Deathwing had vanished," he said. "He is all you have ever known."
"I'm sorry, there weren't many blue dragons who were left before Deathwing started his genocidal campaign," said Kalecgos. "I just can't forget that. And in my mind, I know you're not him, that it was some parasite controlling your actions. But what I saw was your body at work, your voice."
"I know," said the Black, his head lowering even more. His wings drooped lower, his tail barely even wagging now. "I've done my best to make the world forget about Deathwing."
"You're not going to do it in two years, Neltharion," said Kalecgos. "Maybe in a hundred years, every mortal would have forgotten. But, not in two years."
"How silly of me for having some hope," he said.
Neltharion touched the rock wall to his side and a great maw of jagged formations yawned open. The moon shined through the haze of the marsh and Kalecgos made his first steps out into the surface world. Neltharion followed him, the ground quaking beneath his heavy steps. Kalecgos turned back to the Black Dragon Aspect.
"I won't be long," he said. "I'm not going to leave Theramore Isle to its fate either."
"Now why would you do that?" asked Neltharion.
"Because––if you are right, and Garrosh was the one who stole the Iris––then, this is my fight too. He has to pay for his crimes against the Blue Dragonflight. What better way of doing that than just having him walk right in and capture him?"
"Oh, I thought it was because you like Jaina," said Neltharion.
"Well, there is that."
The Black Dragon dipped his head, lifting a claw to his big, box-like chin as he chuckled. Kalecgos's scales blushed a bright blue again.
"Oh, stop it," he said.
"I think it's cute," said Neltharion.
"You would."
"Well, you do name a nice couple with her," he said. "You two have so much in common."
"Like what?"
"Magic?"
"Then, I have lots in common with every mage on Azeroth," said Kalecgos. He huffed and spread his azure wings wide. With a kick of his muscular legs, the Blue Dragon took to the skies, only the wind leaving behind his wake. Neltharion sighed and tapped the ground with his paw, sending forth the vibrations. He pause to listen once more, the earth returning his reply. He closed his eyes so that he could see through the rock again. Though, looking towards Northwatch Hold, all he could see was static. But the static was moving south.
"I may not be able to see your numbers, Garrosh Hellscream," Neltharion began in a deep, low thrum. "But I can see you move. And when you stop, I will send forth my own feedback to your Twilight Hammers. I will blind them as they have blinded me."
He paused when he heard the footsteps of another walk up from behind. Neltharion opened his eyes, looking down to find Serinar.
"Yes?"
"My lord," Serinar began. "We should make preparations for when the Horde comes. Protect our land from them."
"All of Azeroth is the land of the Black Dragonflight," said Neltharion.
"But this swamp––"
"I know," he said. "I don't know what Jaina plans on doing. Since we share this swamp with the people of Theramore, we must pull our resources with them. Surely, they would need our assistance in getting civilians out of the city before the Horde comes. The tunnels are our best bet. Get every able-bodied dragon, drake, and spawn ready. We'll need supplies for our mortal civilian friends when they come down here. I'm sure Jaina is planning for a successful battle, but––I intend to plan for failure. I've grown too accustom to it. We have to have a backup plan just incase plan A does fail. They will be safe in the oasis chamber and there's plenty of clean water for them."
"Right," said Serinar. "And the young whelplings?"
"Send them with the civilians," said Neltharion. "I don't want Garrosh finding them and slaughtering any more of my children. His Dragonmaw Clan has done enough damage to my family."
"I would love to crush their leaders under my claws," said Serinar. "And I'm sure that many others feel the same."
Neltharion growled and the ground below him rattled with his growing anger.
"Thrall," he said. "He bid me to stand there when two Dragonmaw shamans showed up at the meeting––riding on my children like beasts of burden. He told me to stand there and do nothing!" The Black Dragon's ire radiated as shimmering heat from his body, the ground cracked and splintered under his feet. "There are times when I wonder if he brought me back from my madness just to watch me suffer another way––to sit on my hands while his Horde uses my children for their war. I could have feasted upon those barbaric monsters for such transgressions, but I was told to sit like a dog and obey a lesser being!"
"Who is Thrall to make an order to an Aspect?" asked Serinar.
"Good question," said Neltharion. "Though I respected him, I thanked him for saving me––for giving me a second chance to change––but he––like my sister Alexstrasza––he thinks he can keep me tamed and make me watch others walk all over me." He looked away, his eyes downcast. "Maybe there were some truth in N'Zoth's words all along." The Black Dragon growled, lowering his head. "No, stop thinking those words. What am I saying? I won't betray my duties again."
"I would say that this is not our fight," said Serinar. "If there was no other reason to fight it."
Neltharion looked down upon the dragon in human form, his eyebrow cocking up.
"Nozdormu said there is one who will have no choice but to take a side in this war," the Great Black began. "My wife is the last of the Menethil line, the daughter of kings. He who called me brother was the former Warchief of the New Horde. And I am a Dragon Aspect. But Garrosh's actions––if his own people refuse to stop him––then I will aid the faction that will."
My lord, Lady Jaina Proudmoore requires your presence. She's about to call King Varian.
"No time like the presence," said Neltharion. He dipped his head to Serinar. "Keep an eye on things, will you?"
"I shall," said Serinar.
Neltharion spread his wings and launched into the air, flying swiftly back to Theramore Isle. Upon his return and sudden shift back into his smaller size, he was swiftly ushered back to the manor. Neltharion saw Calia standing there and Ruthian standing beside her, dipping his head. The Aspect could not get the sound of two heart beats out of his mind, and even now he could hear them thumping from Calia. However, he could not think about that now, there will be time to discuss that later.
He came into Jaina's room where she was now fully dressed, combing through her hair so that she could be at least presentable when she calls Varian.
"Are you sure you need me here to talk to Varian?" Neltharion asked. "He doesn't particularly like me."
"I need you to explain to him what you plan on doing when Garrosh comes as well," said Jaina. "And tell him what we had discovered about the Dragonmaw."
"Why would you think he'd care?" Neltharion asked. "Thrall showed some concern, even if he was unwilling to back me up, but Varian? Need I remind you who it was that kidnapped his son, split him into two different personalities, and attempted to control him with a spell? The last group of people he would ever want to help is another black dragon!"
"But Garrosh holds a powerful weapon," said Jaina. "The Demon Chain, which is controlling black dragons for the Horde's needs. He would agree that taking away such an artifact would benefit the Alliance."
"He's going to ask how you know that," said Neltharion. "And what are you going to tell him? That you let me bring in a Horde spy?"
"He wasn't a spy."
"I know that and you know that," said Neltharion as he pointed at her. "But Varian doesn't know that, and Varian is a hot-headed racist. So, even if we explain it, no fucks on the matter would he even attempt to give."
Jaina sighed, wagging her head.
"I swear, with all this worry, you're going to turn your beard white," she said.
"I have something else, though," said Neltharion. "Something I managed to figure out. I know who stole the Focusing Iris from Kalecgos."
"Who?"
"Garrosh."
Jaina's eyes widened, turning back to Neltharion.
"This keeps getting better," she said. "I'm not telling him how we know about the Horde coming, Neltharion. I am going to say we discovered it when from refugees at Northwatch."
"Good enough," said Neltharion. "Still, why am I here?"
"I'll be honest, it's more to show that you're still around and not attempting to murder all of us in our sleep."
"Lovely."
"Here we go," she said as she waved her hands in front of the mirror. The mirror began to glow with a pale blue light and the face of King Varian Wyrnn filled it. The king was dressed in a simple tunic rather than his usual armor. His scarred face looked somewhat pleasant and he smiled when he looked upon Jaina.
"Jaina, it's good to see you!" he said.
"And you," said Jaina. "I hope Anduin's studies are doing well."
"They are," said Varian. Then, his frosty blue eyes rolled over to Neltharion and his pleasant smile turned into a disgusted frown. "What's he doing here?"
"I was asking the same question!" said Neltharion.
"You be quiet, dragon!"
"Is that any way to insult the person who, with just a snap of his claws, can send the rest of Stormwind into the ocean?" Neltharion asked.
"Nel, don't even start!" said Jaina.
"I'm only telling the truth," said Neltharion.
"Don't you dare threaten me, Deathwing," said Varian.
"What threat?" asked Neltharion. "I'm stating a fact. And don't call me Deathwing, Fido!"
Varian locked his jaw and gritted his teeth, growling at the Black Aspect.
"Please, Neltharion, just stop it," said Jaina. "I can see why Calia has to keep you in line." She looked back to the dragon. "Can we just drop it and get right to the point?"
"Okay," said Neltharion.
Finally, Jaina began to inform Varian of the situation, the fall of Northwatch, the Molten Giants, and the army that was now moving its way south. Varian listened, his face stern, but concerned.
"These Molten Giants," he began. "How did you––"
"I sensed them," said Neltharion. "And I stopped them."
"Why didn't you stop them before Garrosh summoned them?"
"I––Garrosh has found a way to blind me of his movements," replied Neltharion, making a decision to leave out the deception his own brother decided to make by drugging him. "There were shamans at Northwatch on the Alliance side. It was their call that alerted that something was amiss. However, I did feel their summoning. The Molten Giant's caused me a great deal of pain."
"I see," said Varian. "And since you were there, you got a good look at the army, but you didn't do anything to stop it?"
"I wasn't really there, I just sent an avatar to stop them," said Neltharion. "Besides, need I remind you that I am neutral in this war? I can't get involved with your squabbles against the Horde. I went to Northwatch to stop the Molten Giants, after I had done that, my presence was no longer needed. Besides, when I arrived, the worst had happened."
Varian wagged his head, his bushy, brown ponytail wagging behind him. He then looked back to Jaina.
"And now he is moving south?" he asked her.
"He wants nothing short than all of Kalimdor, Varian," said Jaina. "Once he takes Theramore, he will launch his attacks to every Alliance stronghold, all the way to Teldrassil."
"And he could very well do that," said Varian. "Damn it, Jaina, you see what this Horde you're so fond of can do? You think you can tame a wild animal––but it will eventually bite back."
Jaina wagged her head: "It's clearly that Garrosh is the mastermind behind all of this. He's driving the Horde to commit these atrocities. This would have never happened under Thrall's leadership."
"And now because of him, Theramore and perhaps all of Kalimdor may pay the price!"
"Thrall thought he was giving them a warchief the Horde wanted," said Neltharion.
"Yes, that's exactly what they want," said Varian. "And all of them are as much to blame as he is. You got what you asked for!"
Jaina lowered her head and then looking rather defeatedly back at Neltharion. The Black Dragon shook his head in dismay.
"Alright," said Varian. "I will divert the 7th Legion's naval fleet towards Theramore and I do know of several generals who aren't doing anything important at this time. Things have been rather quiet on the front. I suppose the reason for the quiet is because Garrosh's been busy amassing his armies to march upon Theramore."
"That would be a good reason," said Neltharion.
"I shall call upon my finest generals to be there at your disposal, Jaina," said Varian, ignoring Neltharion's comment. "We'll send the Horde dogs limping back with their tails between their legs."
Jaina smiled gratefully: "Thank you, Varian!"
"Don't thank me yet," said Varian. "It'll be a few days. Some of the generals I want to send you are stationed in distant places."
Neltharion heard Jaina sigh as she heard this news. This was not what she wanted to hear.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "It is a great host that has gathered at Northwatch."
"If they are still gathered, then it will be a while before they march," said Varian.
"If I may inform everyone of what I have heard," began Neltharion.
"Yes?" Varian asked.
"Though Garrosh has figured out how to blind me with static, that static is mobile," he continued. "Which means that anything that will fall into the static should inform me of his distance. Garrosh thinks he's tricking me, but I've seen through it. I have checked so far, the static has not moved, but it will and soon. The distance between here and Northwatch is six hundred miles. It'll take them maybe a week to get here."
"Moving an army that size would force them to move very slowly," said Varian.
"Yes," said Neltharion. "However, there is something I need to tell you––something that will pose a small problem in your attempt to gather your finest."
"And that is?"
"Well," the Black Dragon began. "I heard something, a ringing sound through the rock, and it came from the Barrens."
"And why is this important?"
"It's important because––I can sense arcane energies when it affects bedrock strata," said Neltharion, trying to gather up the right words to explain so that Varian could understand. However, part of what he was saying was coming from Malygos' wisdom as the ghostly dragon whispered into his ear. "To create the powerful sound I heard––as at the time I was in Tanaris and the sound was produced about three thousand miles away from me––I can only come to one conclusion. That sound came from Garrosh's army, and they had performed a massive spell."
Jaina held her breath, placing her hand to her mouth in shock.
"What sort of spell?" she asked.
"Well, considering where they were at the time when the spell was performed, they were somewhere near Ratchet," said Neltharion. "Then, the spell rang again about ten miles from Northwatch, and that was exactly three seconds after the first ring. Northwatch and Ratchet are about three hundred and fifty miles from each other. So, it would lead me to believe that Garrosh told his mages to create a massive portal for his armies to walk through."
Varian's eyes now lit up in horror.
"So," Neltharion continued, noting that he now had the King of Stormwind's attention. "Who's to say that Garrosh would not do it again? This time, creating that portal between Northwatch and Theramore Isle."
"You've made your point," said Varian. "Please tell me you can hear that ringing if it happens again."
"Yes," said Neltharion.
"Then that is what I want you to do!" said Varian. "So, what are you planning to do, Earth-Warder? Is this war above you as well?"
"Theramore is my home, Varian," said Neltharion. "Of course I plan to defend it. But only that. I won't be on the offense."
"Fair enough," said Varian. "Jaina, I will try my best to get what you need as fast as I can."
"Thank you," said Jaina.
Varian wagged his head, running a shaking hand through his shaggy fringe. He took a deep breath in order to collect his thoughts over the news he had heard. No thoughts, no words to mind that he could quite think of. Then, his eyes came back to Neltharion and he took another deep breath.
"These giants––"
"Garrosh has now a few violations on his head for their use," said Neltharion. "This gives me more than enough reason to get involved. The giants themselves are powerful enough to create their own Cataclysm. And if Garrosh is willing to push that envelope, then I will be there to smack him down off the pedestal when he does."
Varian sighed and nodded.
"You'll have to trust me sooner or later," said Neltharion.
"Never thought it would come down to this. Keep me posted. Call me in a couple of hours, I should have an answer then."
"Right," said Jaina.
Varian's face vanished from the mirror and Jaina opened the door, leading Neltharion out.
"Thank you," she said. "I'll keep everyone on their toes until I hear back from Varian."
"I hate to rush things on you," said Neltharion. "But, as you can see, I couldn't tell you when––the shaman was there. I didn't want him to betray too much of his people already, but also keep him in the dark on what I knew Garrosh was capable of. The teleportation ups the ante a bit. He could very well use it again."
"That is what I'm afraid of," said Jaina. "The only thing I can think of is have the civilians down in the tunnel at least by midday the following morning and rations provided just in case he does appear out of nowhere."
Neltharion bobbed his head and then headed back down the finely carved wooden and stone hall. Just a little ways, Calia and Ruthian were waiting for him. The Black Aspect smiled at both of them.
"We have some time," he said.
"Good," said Calia. "Because I need to tell you something."