Blake walked further into the Dreaming. Or at least she thought she was. She had been walking the fields for days, or had it been weeks, or minutes? However it didn't seem to be making any progress. Watching from the distance were many animals. A great stag, that stood level with lowest branches of the trees. A snake, big enough to crush her whole, hung from one. A great falcon soared above, the beating of its wings so great that the grass flattened. Blake got the distinct feeling that they were all watching her.
Locking her eyes on her goal, one of the many massive trees that grew around the Dream. This one drew her attention because the corruption that was crawling up it.
"Why can't I get there!?"
"A better question, is why you wish to go there."
Turning, Blake stared up at a giant wolf.
"A mortal," the Wolf bared its teeth, "What is a mortal, of all things, doing in the blueprint of creation?"
Blake took a step back, as the Wolf took a step forward. Breathing in through her nose deeply, the Wolf started to speak.
"It has been so long since I tas-" The Wolf breathed in again, "Tell me, how is it that you, mortal, smells of the Forgers?"
"W-What?"
"The Forgers, girl. Those who came so long ago? Those who promised to help us, and then abandoned us, leaving us to watch our children be corrupted? It may have been many millennia, but I still remember Eonar's scent."
Blake searched her memories for the name, but couldn't find anything.
Thud-Thud.
"I don't know what you are talking about!"
Thud-Thud-Thud.
"Do you think me a fool? You smell of her, you speak their language."
Blake reached behind her shoulder, grasping for a sword that wasn't there.
Thud-Thud-Thud-Thud.
Maybe? She hadn't tried it since the breach. But it was the only trick she had up her sleeve.
Falling to all fours, Blake felt scales start to push their way out of her skin.
Thudthud-Thudthud.
Next came the- CRACK!
Blake gasped, rolling onto her side, as her arm snapped.
The scales receded, as the Wolf walked over her. Blake looked at her arm, and could see the bone, stained red, peeking out.
So that's what it looks like when attempting to shape-shift backfired.
Thudthudthudthud.
"Even if you are telling the truth, this is a mercy. They," The Wolf flicked its snout in the direction of the tree, "wouldn't grant you a death. I've seen what they do, lost litter after litter to them."
The Wolf's fur was pushed down, the Falcon passing over head.
What would happen if she died in the Dream? Would she wake up in her bed at Beacon? Or was that the end?
"Please-"
The maw opened, and Blake could count the teeth. Wasn't this ironic? Saved from the fangs of a Grimm only to be eaten by something else-
The Wolf was lifted off its feet, and carried a ways off. The Stag cantered around, it's head bent to gore the Wolf on it's great antlers again.
As the Wolf stood, the Snake burst from the grass, digging fangs the size of Blake's forearm into the Wolf's throat.
The Falcon swooped down, grabbing her (and ignoring her cry of agony) before taking to the air again.
The Falcon spoke, "Hold on, this will be uncomfortable."
The Falcon dived again, but didn't stop as a lake approached.
Blake closed her eyes, bracing for the feeling of being submerged.
The feeling of impact, and the beating of the wings, but no water.
Opening her eyes, Blake looked around. She had never been here before, never needed to, and even if she had, she didn't know how to get there.
"The Dreamways?"
"Is that what you call it? I like it."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere that Luperca won't find you until Actaeon and Asclepius calm her."
Blake focused on the surrounding, not on the pain as her broken arm was jostled.
"What's your name?"
"Amenti. And yours?"
"Blake. Why was that wolf so angry?"
"Luperca has a long memory for things that have wronged her. She blames the Forgers for everything going wrong."
"Who are the Forgers?"
Amenti landed, letting go of Blake.
"Your arm."
Blake looked at it, and called upon the healing spell she had learned.
The bone slid back into her arm with a sickening noise. She really didn't want to know what happened if she returned to the waking world with a broken limb.
"Come, we're almost there."
"What about-"
Blake turned to the way they came, only to see it blocked of by brambles.
"They won't find us. The Dream is always shifting. There's only one place it doesn't."
"You never answered my question."
"The Forgers. They were so large that the blotted out the sky. They built their great city, far to the north from where your body lies. From it marched a great army of stone."
Blake followed along as Amenti hopped forward.
"The Stone-born marched against Their army. Came to us, and shattered our bonds so we could help. We pushed Their forces back, and shackled them beneath the earth."
"Them?"
"I… do not wish to speak their name, please, do not force me to."
"Ok. What happened after that?"
"Eonar made the Dream, a plan for things to come, and taught us to speak. But, another Forger came. Aggramar, they called him. He was injured, great rivers stained his body. They gathered, speaking in hushed whispers. Whatever they spoke of worried the Forgers. They said they would be back, and vanished, never to return. We're here."
Blake looked up at the swirling vortex of wind.
"Where are we?"
"This is where I spoke of before, the one place that never changes. Eonar created it, and sealed it away before they left. No one has gotten through since."
"So why did you bring me here!?"
"Because, whether you know it or not, every spirit can sense Eonar's power on you."
Blake breathed in, planning to ask the spirit, or Ruby, or whoever, if they knew anything about this.
"What do I do?"
"Try walking into it."
Blake stepped forward, and the wind seemed to bubble away from her, she took another, and it became a gateway, she took a third, and it closed.
Hoping they were telling the true, and the Wolf wouldn't be waiting for her, Blake woke up.
-X LINE BREAK X-
"You're all here, good."
Pitwick rolled his eyes. Of course they were here.
"Darmus, Scroll." it wasn't a question.
"Dead end, belonged to someone who died three years ago."
"Pitwick, Paladins."
"Still working on dismantling one without getting blown to pieces."
"That can wait. I want Acherus retrofitted for artillery, and I want it done as quickly as possible without cutting corners. We've put it off long enough."
"Why didn't we do that before now?" Thalanor questioned.
"We always had something supplying it for us." Came Darion's response.
"I miss Avernus," Darmus's sighed, "she always served us well. Until someone decided to use it as a beachhead."
"Continuing on," came the hurried response from Ruby, "Darmus, I want eyes on Beacon at all times. I doubt whoever performed that attack on the CCT is done."
"Of course."
"Thalanor, I want patrols at all time, nothing is getting on or off Acherus without us knowing about it."
"By your orders."
"Darion, pick five Death Knights, take them, and don't leave a single stone unturned. I want to know all the major players in the underground, I want to know when eat, where they eat, what they eat, and the easiest poison to hide in their food."
"Malag, Croc, Munch, Stefan, and-"
"You'll forgive me for inserting myself as the fifth member," came a voice from the doorway.
Pitwick watched as Ruby seemed to lock up, and shared a bewildered look with Darmus.
"I feel like I should be insulted. You gathered almost everyone else, but I didn't get a goodbye?"
"You have a sister-"
"And she understands why I stand with the Ebon Blade. And more importantly, you, Deathlord."
"I don't use that title, in fact, I want to find who came up with it and kill them."
"You'll forgive this soldier for his impertinence, my lady."
"Flattery gets you nowhere."
"When you took charge of our order, I swore you an oath, that you would not embark on your trials alone, that I would stand by your side, go where you command, and kill-"
"-whatever I told you to kill." Ruby straightened up, sighing, "I think, out of all of us, you were always most deserving of the title of Knight, Thass."
The white haired Death Knight finally left his place in the doorway, settling in on Thalanor's right, and looking at the maps.
"Where are we? I only just got here."
The Dread Commander pointed out The Ebon Hold's approximate location, swiftly settling into the old rhythm.
"I take it they got the portal opened?"
"Less than ten minutes ago, I used a Death Gate to get here. There were still fluxes last I saw."
"Hmm."
"Ruby, do you mind if I borrow a couple of your wolves?"
"Hmm."
Pitwick followed Ruby's line of sight, she was locked onto a spot directly to Thassarian's right. Why? Oh.
The old gnome could practically see the ghost, standing beside his friend.
Pitwick coughed, snapping Ruby out of it.
"Any other orders, Highlord?"
"New girl."
"Ilyanaria."
"Yeah. There's a man down in your village, names Tukson. Lean on him a bit, try to convince him to give us information on the White Fang."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Don't call me that. Finally, Velann."
Ruby rubbed her temples, sighing, "Velann, seeing as everyone else is busy, I'm naming you acting commander of Acherus until further notice."
"What." Velann seemed to have lost all capability for emoting.
"You heard me. Dismissed."
Ruby turned and walked from the room, leaving Velann mouthing wordlessly behind her.
Thassarian followed her quickly after.
-X LINE BREAK X-
"Ruby, can I speak to you?"
Ruby quickly veered into a room, looking at the undead wolves she kept there. Reaching down, she ran a hand over one. It's worn hide and lack of any fur told her it was Uther. She hadn't had any reason to use the pack recently.
"What do you want?"
Thassarian settled beside her.
"I saw where you were looking."
Ruby didn't respond, scratching the wolf behind the ear.
"What happened to Koltira wasn't your fault."
"It was, we should have rescued him sooner, or been more thorough."
"I didn't think about it either."
"But it's my job to think of these things Thass."
The fact that she had gone through the same at Kel'thuzad's hands, that until Light's Hope, she hadn't been able to entertain the thought of betraying the Scourge, went unsaid.
Memories of that dark chamber, of having bones and organs wrenched out of place, of being burned with Fel Fire, surfaced, and with them, the scars.
Ruby could feel the criss-cross of surgical scars appear across her body, as they always did when she thought back to that time.
A growl rose from her throat, and with it more memories. Of slaughter and laughter. What the hell had she been thinking? How many people had died because of her? That, had been something that she could never fault Garrosh on. She had killed the woman who raised him.
"Ruby!"
Torn back into the present, Ruby looked up at Thassarian.
"What?"
"I understand you're dealing with some problems, but can you not cause half the undead on Acherus to freak out?"
Sure enough, Ruby could hear the cacophony from the rooms around her. The wolves were baying loudly.
Ruby sent a silent order, and her forces quieted down.
"If Koltira's death was your fault, shouldn't it also be mine? I'm the one who dealt the killing blow."
"No, that's different, you didn't have a choice."
"And you did? You couldn't have known, or stopped Sylvanas."
"But I could have. After I found out about Liam, I went to talk to her. I should have killed her then, and taken control of the Val'kyr. But I didn't, and Koltira died because of that, and I'm going to have to live with that.
Ruby stood up, and walked out of the room, two wolves following her.
-X LINE BREAK X-
Jaune grunted as he was sent flying again. The sword he had been training with clattered to the ground.
Across from him, his… unconventional trainer, and current opponent, brought the great ax he used up. Jaune rolled out of the way as it came down, rending the earth.
Grabbing the sword, he brought it up to guard from the blow.
Feeling his bones quake from the blow caused Jaune to think very, very hard about the life choices that got him here.
Jaune quickly switched sides as the ax moved faster than a chunk of metal that large had any right to.
Jaune felt his bones groan in protest against the force being applied to them.
They had spent the three days since he had agreed to prepare with Lam'Guld practicing on how to block blows.
Jaune would admit, nothing honed your skill at blocking like a seven foot tall, three hundred pound mass of muscle trying to lodge an ax into your chest cavity.
Jaune was ready for the third blow, reinforcing his body with Aura. This time, he was able to push Lam'Guld back.
"Interesting."
Jaune looked over at the origin of the voice, and was sent flying yet again.
"Did I say we were done?"
"He's right, you should never allow yourself to be distracted in a fight."
The man grabbed Jaune by the arm, and yanked him back up and settling him on his feet.
He towered above Lam'Guld by a good foot, with short cropped black hair. A massive axe sat on his back, and a smaller sword at his back. Looking over to the green skinned man, he spoke.
"You wouldn't mind if I borrowed your student for a moment would you, uh?"
"Lam'Guld, sir. Of course not."
The man gave a wane smile before guiding Jaune away, swooping down to grab the great sword in one hand.
Walking through the trees, they stopped before a giant horse, it's hair as white as snow.
"You haven't used this before, have you?"
The giant looked at the sword.
"No."
"Where is your weapon then?"
"Ruby took Crocea Mors."
"Is it important to you?"
"Well, my great-great-Grandfather used it in the war."
"I'm going to stop you right there. I asked if the blade was important to you. Not your family."
"There's a difference?"
"Of course there is. Take this blade for example," the giant drew the sword at his side, "Its' name is is Trol'kalar, it has been in my family for over a thousand years, but I always preferred my axe. So is the blade important to you?"
Jaune thought about it for a second, before nodding, "It is."
"Then I will try to convince Ruby to return it to you, though," he handed the sword back to Jaune, "You might want to continue training with that, Ruby is less than happy with us right now."
"Thoras!"
The giant grunted, before climbing onto his horse, "I best go find Whitemane, before she causes a incident."
The horse galloped off, and Jaune gripped his sword, turning back to meet up with Lam'Guld.
-X LINE BREAK X-
Darion lay on the table, with Ruby bustling around him.
"Are we almost done?"
"It's only going to take longer if you ruin the stitches."
The son of the Ashbringer grew quiet, allowing Ruby to continue fixing the hole in his body.
"For what it's worth, it is good to see you again Darion."
Darion smiled at that, "It's good to see you too."
Ruby grabbed a pair of scissors, and cut the thread.
"All right, sit up, I need to do your back."
Darion sat up, letting Ruby get to the exit wound made by Ashbringer.
"I've got to say, you've grown quite a bit, you're not the little kid I used to help train."
"Eight years will do that to a person."
Ruby grew silent, and Darion felt the needle work stop.
"Ruby?"
"I hadn't thought about that."
"You hadn't thought about it?"
"I knew, but, I guess it never quite sank in. We don't change here Darion. Twenty years from now, when the Scourge rules Azeroth, we're going to look the same as we do today."
"You think the Scourge will win?"
"Once we crush the Scarlet Crusade and Argent Dawn, nothing is going to stop us Darion, we're going to call Avernus back through the Dark Portal and use it to spearhead an assault from both sides, Khaz Modan, Stormwind, Gnomeregan, Lordaeron. They'll all be crushed between the jaws of the Scourge. Once they're out of the way we just need to deal with the savages on Kalimdor."
Ruby cut the second set of stitches, before throwing a shirt at Darion.
"You're good, now, get down to training, Lord Thorval and Amal'thazad will start drilling you in the arts of blood and ice."
"What about you?"
"I have some private things to deal with, then I need to meet with Arthas. I'll be joining you after I'm done with that."
Darion grabbed Ashbringer, and started to head to the door.
"Darion!"
"Yeah?"
"Try to stay away from Kel'thuzad, ok? Whatever he wants isn't good."
"Alright."
"Good. I need to go get Despair."
-X LINE BREAK X-
Gérard Lacroix stood at the top of Sorrow Hill, guarding the tomb of Uther. He was the youngest of the five honor guard, a duty he, and his wife, were extremely proud of
Squinting down the hill, he saw someone coming closer. Stepping forward, he grabbed the spyglass they kept on hand.
A wizened old crone, limping along. Gerard stepped down the hill, his sword in hand.
"What are you doing here?"
"I have come to pay my respects to the Lightbringer. He saved me from some Orcs during the early days of the Third War. Would you be so kind as to assist?"
"Of course."
Gérard took the woman by the arm, and assisted her up to the tomb.
The other four stood at attention as they passed. The old woman looked down at Gérard's hand, before meeting his eyes. Her eyes were a strange color, not quite grey, more silver.
"Married?"
Gérard smiled, joy welling up in his chest.
"Yes, two months ago."
"Good, good, it's always something special to find someone to be with."
Gérard allowed the woman to step forward, into the tomb proper.
"I must return to my post."
"Understandable. Go, do your duty."
Gérard stepped away, returning to the front of the road.
Everything was quiet for several minutes before the sound of footfall came behind him.
"Done already?"
Turning, he gaped, before drawing his sword.
The other four had been killed, the first had his head twisted clean around, and the other three had their throats cut.
Wearing the same clothing as the old woman was a young one, a bloody knife in hand and glowing silver eyes.
"How-"
"I'll admit, I expected this to be harder. A glamour never holds up on close inspection," the characteristic ring of a Death Knight came with those words.
Gérard charged forward, only to stop as a wall of fire to spring up.
"You have a wife. I would suggest leaving to be with her."
"And let you defile the tomb of one of humanity's greatest heroes? I would sooner die."
"As you wish."
The flames surged forward, and Gérard didn't even have time scream before they incinerated him.
-X Line Break X-
Ruby watched the pale green flames burn, the necrotic energy in them rapidly destroying the body.
"Did he really think I wouldn't do it?"
Ruby turned back to the tomb, and walked to the door.
Smashing it down, Ruby walked into the burial chamber, and stared at the stone likeness of her guardian.
Running her fingers along the edge, she pushed the slab aside, and stared down at the shroud covered figure.
What would he look like? How would eight years of decay have ravaged his body?
"Ruby? You're the one who did this to my tomb?"
Ruby turned, staring at the floating form of Uther.
"You're trapped in Frostmourne."
"And you too are bound to the blade, yet here we stand."
"I'm not bound-"
"But you are, you only felt the grasp of the blade for a moment, but it will forever stain you. So long as that cursed blade exists, your fate will be bound to it."
"Well, that isn't menacing."
Ruby ran her fingers across the top of the sarcophagus.
"Has Arthas finally decided that I must serve him too? Is that why you have come here?"
"No. He doesn't know I'm here. I, I wanted something to remember you by, even though I don't have any right to it."
"Why would you say that?"
"I've defiled everything you held sacred. Stratholme belongs the the Scourge, Lordaeron city is desecrated, as is all of the kingdom. Also, in case you had somehow forgotten, we're in your tomb and I'm standing above your body ready to rob it. I really don't think I could so much more when it came to defilement."
"You are not yer too far gone, that mark on your head shows it."
Ruby's hand lept up, covering the spot where Xe'ra had branded her.
"I am a leader of the Scourge. Over the next fortnight all that remains of your Order of the Silver Hand will be crushed under my might."
"Or will it? The winds of destiny move in ways that neither of us can understand child. Your heart is shrouded in the Void, but there is a glimmer of Light in it. Take my mantle, you always liked it."
Ruby frowned, looking as the first Paladin faded away.
"It shall be awhile before we speak again, but remember this. I am proud of you, and no matter what people may say to you, I never regretted taking you in when Alexandros asked me to."
The Lightbringer faded completely, and with him gone, the room felt so much darker.
Ruby gently moved the shroud, and looked down at the body.
The muscles that had once held storn had long since succumbed to atrophy.
Ruby unclasped the mantle before gently removing it. Folding it, Ruby moved to place the shroud over the body, before pausing. The Death Knight took the hammer from clasped fingers, and replaced the shroud. Closing the sarcophagus, Ruby stepped out of the tomb and headed to where she had left Despair. Nothing but five dead bodies and a broken door to tell she was there.
-X LINE BREAK X-
"Radulf! Ya made it, mon."
The undead warrior looked up from where he was running a whetstone down his axes.
"Tal."
The troll walked up, the tailcoat she wore swishing around her heels.
"It's good ta see ya!"
"Same."
Radulf's eyes locked onto the small girl standing behind Tal.
"Weren't you the Gnome whose brother nearly got himself killed by Ruby?"
"My name is Mitnus."
"She works for me now!"
Radulf looked around, before growling out a response, "Quiet down. We don't need the Night's Watch finding us."
"He has a point Tal."
"And speaking of them, is there any reason you wanted me to meet you this close to Stormwind?"
"Ya, that, over dere!"
Tal pointed to the tower in the distance.
"What about it?"
"Right, so, ere's da ting, ever since da War of the Shifting Sands, we ain't been making much money. Everyone's in Outland, which means no one be wanting a privateer. We been making a bit of money smugglin' but even dat isn't paying much."
"The crew isn't happy."
"So, I get a brilliant idea! Da Dark Riders ain't been seen in months. They've taken plenty of rare stuff over da years. So why not raid Karazhan?"
"She's completely ignoring the fact that it used to inhabited by the strongest mortal magic user, which means it's probably riddled with traps."
"But I ain't, someting like dat has to got plenty of treasure for anyone who survives it."
"I don't care about treasure."
"But dere's probably a hell of alot of thing to kill in dere, which is why we called ya. We want ya to be part of da muscle on dis job."
Radulf stood up, and grabbed the axes.
"Show me the rest of your team first."
-X Line Break X-
"You're late."
Ruby kept an impassive look on her face when Kel'thuzad spoke.
"I was busy with the Knights of Acherus."
"When your king calls you, there is nothing more important."
"Kel'thuzad. I believe that is the King's decision."
"You are to soft on her, my lord. She betrayed us once already."
"And has shown no sign that she intends to do so again. In the last seven years of service, Ruby has distinguished herself. Ruby, please at least send us a messenger if you are going to be late."
"Of course, my lord."
"Now, I have gathered you here for a reason. A show of force. Despite of Kel'Thuzad's victory at Light's Hope, and the attacks performed by Lana'thel's San'layn the Scarlet Crusade has seen it appropriate to build three towns on my land. The five of us will crush one of them, 'New Avalon'. They will learn to fear the might of the Scourge.
"Of course, Death God."
"As you wish, my king."
"Your will shall be done, my lord."
"Ruby?"
"They won't know what hit them."
