The next two days went by extremely fast. On the first day we already found ourselves in Dalaran. The next day we found ourselves at the foot of the fallen citadel. Due to the changes in weather, and the absence of dark magic the mages in Dalaran were able to more accurately open a portal to the citadel's foothold.

And so we were here, about to enter the hellhole where I spent too much time. It really pained my soul and mind, being this close to it again. We climbed the massive stairs leading up to the entrance. The gate was completely obliterated by a ram of immense size which still stood in front of it.

We entered the long hallway leading into the domain of the Lich King. I grew more uneasy with every step I took but Aelana was here to support me this time. When we entered the first room I was surprised at how silent it was. It was different than was I was used to. It gave an eerie touch to this place, but it was also a symbol of peace. To be here, a place where undead once thrived, a place that was completely purged of all who would harm the living, was satisfying. It was so because now I finally got to see for myself how those who desecrated my homeland had met justice. A weight was lifted of my shoulders when I thought that. Perhaps coming here wasn't as bad as I thought initially.

We came across a pile of massive bones which I recognised as Lord Marrowgar, it did me well to know that that fiend was one of the first to fall. We moved on through a large open room. The room where Lady Deathwhisper used to teach the necromantic arts to the more intelligent members of the scourge. At the end of it was a circular lift platform that would lead to the upper citadel. Unfortunately for us it seemed to have been disabled, and unfortunately for me I was the one who had to carry both Aelana and Shaestra, and Nora of course, up there.

Shaestra was a bit too eager when we entered the upper citadel's door and I had to perform a reckless action that would have killed me had I not already been dead. She, unaware of the coldfire traps here, carelessly walked into one and I had to jump to her and push her out of the way before she would literally freeze from within and die. I got the full brunt of the trap, coldfire washed over me from within the walls, leaving Aelana frozen in place from the shock. I was thankful she didn't move because there were several of these traps in place.

I was almost completely immune to cold but I could still feel the cold of the trap as I stood up.

"Don't move, these traps will kill you in seconds, let me disable them first before setting a single step further."

I knew the interior here so it was not hard to disable them. It was nearly impossible for any living creature to do so though, most wouldn't even get past them alive, if they did, there used to be an army of undead waiting on the other side. I am thankful none of them remained. I called for Aelana and the huntress to follow me. I still carried Quel'delar with me in addition to my own sword. I could feel its spiritual link become stronger the closer we got to our target.

We passed a narrow metal bridge leading to the crimson halls. Below us was an enormous pit that would be a certain death for any creature that fell down there, and above us we could see a massive pillar of ice reaching up to the sky, on top of that pillar was the frozen throne where Arthas was killed. Or well, He had to be killed up there since that is the only place where he could actually die, the place where he was created.

Entering the crimson halls and finding it empty was something that wouldn't unsettle me much, or so I thought. I stopped abruptly, tears shooting to my eyes. So many of my kind once thrived here, they were all bound to the Lich King's will but they were still my people. To know they had all died here, it was too much for me at that moment. Some of them probably died fighting friends they had in life, I wonder if a small piece of them remained when they faced them. I imagine that was one of the cruellest ways to die, being reunited only to die mere seconds later.

Aelana and Shaestra gave me some time then helped me regain my wits.

"I'm sorry, I'm still here, we should move, we're almost there."

We followed a steep corridor that lead the Blood Queen's chambers, I didn't dare imagine what we would find there. When we finally reached her domain Aelana's face turned green and she quickly turned away.

What we found there was too horrific for words. Her naked body hung against the wall, her large leathery wings held her up, each impaled by an axe. Her hands and legs were bound to the wall, held by shackles of light. Her stomach had been impaled by what I guessed was a spear, a large round hole showed in her abdomen which had clotted itself with dried up blood. Her clothes lay on the ground before her feet, completely torn apart. There were cuts and bruises all over her body, her right leg was bent in such a position that confirmed that it was broken. Then, there was blood. A lot. Everywhere. It had all dried up but it was still a sickening sight to behold. A large brown puddle was formed at her feet. Her eyes were closed and I had no doubt she had perished here in a most horrific and painful way.

"Anar'alah, belore," was the first thing any of us said, it was Shaestra and she had whispered it, conveying my thoughts as well. Aelana dared look once more but was still sickened by the sight of the blood queen. I started wondering why they left here though, we didn't find any other signs of life, or undead except for a few blood spatters in the citadel up until now. As I moved closer to free the corpse from the shackles Lana'thel suddenly opened her eyes.

"Get out!" she yelled, shivering.

I didn't move, shocked by the fact that she was alive somehow.

"Get out! Your queen commands you!"

I could feel the fear in her voice. She was no longer the blood queen, she too was no longer bound to Arthas. I think she may have thought I was here to kill her or something. I felt so terribly sorry for her.

"Lana, we're here to help you," maybe I should have chosen my words better because she started crying.

"what the hell are you doing here? I cannot be helped, certainly not by you, please leave me."

Shaestra stepped forward. "Please listen, we're here to get you out of here."

"And then? Kill me once we are outside? You might as well do so here."

"We are not going to kill you," Shaestra spoke.

"You don't have the guts do you? Just like those bastards who chained me and then tortured me without finishing it."

I stood there and watched as she cried her eyes out while shivering in fear.

"We are here to take you home," Shaestra continued.

"I don't have a home."

"Yes you do, it's with us in Quel'Thalas."

"Why are you even saying this? Haven't I been tortured enough? I was miserable enough without thinking about what I once had and can never return to."

"I'm serious," Shaestra said determined.

"Please just kill me, Please!"

I couldn't blame her, that was the first thing I considered too after I broke from Arthas, I lost everything, including the will to live.

I stepped to her and removed the axes that were holding up her wings. She screamed in pain as I did so.

"We know you're free from him Lana, I am too, I don't suffer anymore and I don't want you to either, please come with us."

I broke the shackled around her legs with ease and then the ones around her wrists, she fell to the floor in a crumpled heap of despair. She covered her breasts with her arms before covering her body in her wings, she was still crying.

I sat down next to her with Shaestra on her other side trying to comfort her. Aelana sat down in front of her and started mending her wounds starting with he broken leg which was obviously causing a lot of pain.

"Why?" she kept on repeating which we didn't answer.

Hours later, we still sat there and Lana'thel was still feeling scared and utterly confused. She did, however stop begging us to kill her. It took a long time before she was calmed down enough so we could talk to her.

I told her how I had broken free after the Lich King died, how I met Aelana and how I found my way back to Quel'Thalas, hoping it would give her hope. I told her that we had her sword with us and that it led us to her. I showed Quel'delar which she stared at for a while. I had to tell her that it was hers before she actually took it from me.

"I don't know if I should be happy with this, it failed me when I fought against him."

"I don't think that was a fair fight, I didn't stand a chance against him either, I don't think anyone did alone."

She stared at her sword.

"I will still wield it in honour of my friend Thalorien Dawnseeker."

Aelana had worked away the massive hole in her abdomen for which Lana seemed thankful.

"How are you feeling?" I asked.

"I don't know," she stared in the distance, "I don't even know what I am."

Shaestra chuckled, "As far as I know Angel is still Angel so I assume you're still Lana'thel.

"Have you looked at me? How am I still Lana'thel?"

"Have you looked at Angel?" Shaestra smiled, "despite the wings and the fact that you can practically see through her, she is still the Angel I knew back then."

"I don't think you can still be your old self," I interjected, "we both have changed, and I don't think it's for the worse, I have been able to save the people I care about several times which I couldn't have done if I had still been alive."

She didn't reply.

"Are you able to stand?"

"I think so."

Lana'thel stood up, her wings hang limply at her sides I don't think those were usable anytime soon.

"Will you allow us to return you home?" Shaestra asked.

"I guess."

I handed her the clothes that were wrapped around her sword which she hesitantly took. was long enough to cover her more private areas.

I couldn't expect her to be fully trusting yet. It already took us hours to get her to the state she was in now. She had been locked up in that position and in pain for weeks, it surprised me we got this far.

Once outside we had to find our way to Dalaran. The magical floating city could be seen from the ramparts of the citadel but that didn't exactly mean it was just around the corner.