Ch 16 - Under the Full Moon

Liam Greymane sniffed the air.

His acute senses from his animalistic side made him very aware of the scent. The scent of rotting flesh. The scent of the Forsaken. He had grown to know the reeking smell of rotting flesh and decomposition of the past years that the Forsaken had been encroaching on his people's lands.

Though a prince of his people, Liam often found himself on the front lines of battles against the Forsaken. He longed to leave and help the Alliance in Northrend, but first he had to protect his homeland. The Forsaken had made a great push for trying to take over the lands beyond Silverpine Forest. They had been repelled by the human force in New Southshore in the Hillsbrad Foothills that was now south of where it once had been. The great wall of Thoradin made the southern wall of the city, though much of it was over grown and in ruins. Hillsbrad to the north was now the capital of the area since Southshore had been greatly damaged requiring a permanent evacuation. New Southshore was much smaller and used its farms as a buffer zone between themselves and the Horde and Syndicate. Because of the smaller numbers of people most of the Horde did not bother with the town anymore and focused more on the more populace Hillsbrad for raiding of goods as well as seeking land holdings.

Liam growled and sniffed again. The Forsaken were close. He could sense there were several of them, a scout party. The force would be behind them. They were to scout and report on the numbers of the Worgen in their path.

He looked to the small force with him. He had called for aide days ago from King Varian, or rather he had sent the letter to his trusted diplomat servants Lady Rhenn and her daughter Helene. Liam still felt the heartache over what had happened to Helene, the lady he was rapidly falling in love with, but part of him could not see her as more than a good friend after her attack. Though no fault of her own she had been brutally attacked and left for dead. He had found her and tried to nurse her back to health with his sister Bess and his niece, Emily. She woke once and had screamed in terror at seeing him. His heart was forever broken from that. She did not trust him enough not to fear him when he only wished to help. What would happen if they were mates and he was in his wolf form because of the moon phase? Though she always looked at him as a person not an animal, he felt the loss deep. Still he did not blame her for his broken heart. It had not been her fault she had been attacked and it was natural to fear any male near her, even friends. She had shied away from even Bess touching her. Only Emily could touch her while she was awake until Highlord Tirion Fordring had taken her.

He swallowed his bitterness and pain of what could have been. Perhaps one day he would open his soul again and perhaps even to her, but for now he needed to heal, as she did.

"Liam." A soft female voice near him said breaking his thoughts. "There!" She said.

He looked at the form of Greta Hollen. She was beautiful despite the scar on her cheek. She nodded to him and suddenly became see-through like the shadows she would now call upon. Greta had returned a Champion of the Argent Crusade, but now fought with her people until she again decided to take her place with Highlord Fordring to the North as was her right by winning the battles of the Tournament. She had told them stories of the Scourge making the people she spoke to wish to know the feeling of winning against the Scourge.

He then charged forward to the first scout. The other scouts closed about him. He felt the shadowy nature of Greta's spells near him. The others attacked as well.

The scouts fell and Liam nodded. "We must ready Duskhaven for an attack. When the scouts do not return…"

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A flashing of metal in the low light. He made to turn as the Forsaken threw the blade, but his aim was fouled. The knife flew past his shoulder and he watched the Forsaken male fall forward revealing a human man behind him. The man spat at the dead form and reached down to retrieve his knife before straightening. The form wore a thick cloak making it hard to see anything other than his braided blonde hair that hung down over his shoulders and the thick jaw line.

"Prince Liam Greymane, I presume." The steady voice said from the cowl.

"I am. Who are you?"

"Sorry we are late, your highness." A second man said to his left. He pulled back his cowl revealing his face.

Greta smiled. "Lord Jamiy!" She said and dipped her head.

"Lady Greta." He smiled at his former teammate and friend.

Liam then saw the large group of men and women materializing from the mists. The force as promised. He turned back to the first man who was cleaning his knife. There was something oddly regal about this man.

"Anduin, we will have blade covered to the hilt before the night is out. Don't waste time cleaning it now, brother." Jamiy said.

The man chuckled.

Liam looked in obvious confusion. "How many have you brought?" He asked.

"Four hundred." The man called Anduin said. "I trust this is a good enough start?"

"Indeed." Liam smiled. "We must make ready. The force will be here soon when the scouts do not return." He said nodding to the bodies about at their feet.

"The first wave has been dispatched Prince Liam." Anduin said lowering his cowl revealing a helm with a ornate circlet about the brow. "We bought you some time to ready your defenses."

Liam was speechless. First these men had taken care of a problem that would have descended on them in only an hour or so and also the man before him, like himself, was a royal.

"You are Prince Anduin of Stormwind?" Liam asked.

"Aye." Anduin said. "Come." He said offering his gloved hand. "Lady Rhenn and Lady Helene tell me your summer squash soup is worth every bite."

Jamiy smiled at Liam. "King Varian thought it best if he send his son to aide you and help with the defenses until we can remove the foothold."

"But he is his own son…" Liam said.

Anduin turned back to him. "I am a general in my father's army because I am a warrior and strategist, good prince, not because I am a Prince."

"I meant no offense." Liam said spreading his hands.

Anduin nodded. "I took none. Come, let us feed my people and then sent about readying the town for the second wave. The dark ranger has surprise in the fog here, but we have the height advantage with the hill Duskhaven is on as well as three excellent generals."

"Three?" Liam asked as they walked together.

"Myself, Lord Jamiy here, and you."

"Me?" Liam said in surprise.

Anduin nodded and paused to look at the stocky man up and down. "Do not sell yourself short Prince Greymane. I know well what you have done here. I am proud and honored to fight beside you." He said offering his arm.

Liam clasped it. It was a mark of respect that he was not expecting. He then looked to Jamiy. "How fairs your sister? I have not been sent word."

"She recovers." He said. "She is still not whole, but Highlord Fordring thinks in time she will again be the Helene we all know and love. For now, I worry for her."

Liam nodded. "I do as well."

Anduin looked at the Gilnean prince. "I was told you found her and brought her here. We owe you a debt of thanks for that."

"We could not save her." Liam said. "We are not owed thanks. We did what we could for a friend. She was the first one who talked to us as humans." He lifted his shirt to reveal an ugly scar. "She treated this bite that we could not stop the infection in. She discovered my niece could not have milk." He shook his head. "By my count we still owe her."

Jamiy and Anduin nodded. "We will tell her you asked about her. She will be glad to hear from her northern friends."

They ate a good meal and then set about placing pikes around the town and readying bowman at the roads. Anduin lined them in three lines and told their captain to stagger them so as one group knelt to reload another would fire and so on. Liam knew the Forsaken were coming by boat as well as by land. The two routes were the only ways to enter Duskhaven. Steep cliffs were on the other two sides. Jamiy set minimum defenses to these sides, a few archers would be able to hold the Forsaken at bay from these two directions. The rocks were slick from moss and the nearly constant rainfall. No one in their right mind would attempt a siege from there, but then they were Forsaken, and who knew how much undead took a toll on the sanity of the creatures. It would be easy to divert forces as needed.

Then it was a waiting game. The rain ebbed, but the cool night air caused Anduin to pull his cloak tighter about him as he stood beneath a platform with Jamiy, Liam, Greta, and a few other Worgen officers. The Worgen all were in their wolf-man forms.

He looked and noted the White Lady was on the horizon under the clouds and was rising from the mountains. He wondered how often one got to see her here. He had heard from Helene the people of Gilneas could change forms at will, but for three days during the month they were Worgen do to the full moon. They had been able to change forms before, but now seemed to be resting in their wolf forms. Several were sniffing the air trying to detect the scents on the soft breeze. The White Lady was indeed full. He looked at Liam and wondered if the wolf form was more powerful. From the force he had seen amassing they would need every man here.

Jamiy shifted a little. He took was cold in the damp air. Northrend was much colder, but here the moisture seemed to sap the life from those unused to it. He looked about. Stormwind men and women were standing together with Worgen brothers and sisters. It was a day that would not be forgotten and it was a glorious day for the Alliance having the vow that Varian had sworn to his allies come into fruition.

Anduin looked about. "The clouds clear and the Lady moon rises. They will not be able to hide."

"The fog is thick yet." Jamiy said. "They may be upon us before we know it."

"We are prepared to defend our lands and die for them if need be." Liam said his dark eyes regarding the Stormwind Prince and the Stormwind general. He absently scratched his muzzle.

"It is too late to kill Princes this day." Anduin said. "Your people are brave. Perhaps my people have much to learn about matters of patriotism from yours."

Liam smiled baring his canine teeth. "Perhaps, but many of my people should learn the tolerance your people have. We have been isolationists for years and expect to be treated as animals. Very few of our southern brethren have treated us so."

"The Worgen curse is not of your doing." Anduin said. "Is not understanding the key to success?"

"Indeed." Liam nodded.

Greta's snout twitched. "They come." She said quietly holding her staff as she then crouched low for battle.

"I smell them also." Liam said. He saw drawn back lips and heard low growls from his countrymen. "Steady." He said. He drew his blade. He looked at it gleaming in the moonlight. Along with men Prince Anduin had brought food stuffs, medicines, and weapons. Some of the Worgen had resorted to fighting with staves of wood or handmade weapons with stone pieces attached since the weapons they had ones had had fallen into disrepair over the years. Here every Worgen had a new sword and some had added armor to the makeshift they had. Anduin had promised over dinner he would see to sending more to help the Worgen allies. They medicines were always needed. Though several Stormwind clerics and healers now resided in Gilneas teaching and helping, it was not enough. The dank weather weakened the people and though they were hearty people, often lungs caught infections and bodies could only fight them off enough to be well for a few weeks even months before it returned, often worse than before.

From the mists walked several Forsaken archers. They moved and ducked behind trees for cover. Jamiy drew his weapon as did Anduin. "Are you ready my brother?" Anduin asked.

"Always." Jamiy said. "What we wagering this time?"

"Five gold?"

Liam turned. "What are you betting on?"

"Who gets the most kills." Anduin smile. "Care to join in?"

Liam blinked. "Surely you jest. Killing these monsters is not a game."

Anduin laid a hand on his furred shoulder. "No it is very serious, but it helps one deal with the mass of death one is about to wrought."

Liam nodded watching the quick blue eyes of the Prince of Stormwind. "Very well." He nodded. "I am in."

The Forsaken attacked on three sides with vigor, but the prepared group fought them back and the broken bodies of the undead littered the ground. The then tried to breech the side wall. This was food hearty but they continued. Two made it into the town only to be cut down by Anduin and Liam who stood ready.

Anduin looked to Jamiy. "I am on forty."

"Forty-five." Jamiy yelled as he buried his ax in the skull of a Forsaken who charged him.

Liam shook his head. "I am apparently not up to the task. I am only at twenty."

"If you need to feed your blade, go to the front." Anduin said. "Come it is where I am headed. I am not about to let my brother win."

"You are truly brothers?" Liam asked.

Anduin shook his head as they trotted together. "No, but since his mother has been a mother to me for many years, I regard his as a brother." He chuckled. "I dare say that if something were to happen to Lord Grekko, she would really be my mother."

"Your father cares for her?"

"If you were to meet the Lady Rhenn as I know her, you would understand why my father holds she in high regard." Anduin smiled. "Helene inherited both her beauty and her diplomacy."

Liam nodded. "Helene was the first human to not to judge our…animalistic side." He said. "I will never forget that kindness or her gentle hands treating the infected bite."

A Forsaken lifted a knife to strike Jamiy from behind. Anduin drew his bow. "Jamiy!" He barked. He notched an arrow and it flew hitting the Forsaken through his chest cavity. It slumped forward and Jamiy regarded the Stormwind Prince. "I can't watch your back always, brother." Anduin quipped.

Jamiy rolled his eyes and shifted. "The next wave will be here soon."

Liam sniffed the still air. "They already are."

An arrow grazed Liam's cheek as it flew by him. Anduin and Jamiy lifted their shields to hide from the arrows as they crouched.

Liam ducked between them. "A new trick." He muttered.

"They are Horde and have the weaponry from the Goblins and Orcs." Anduin said.

Wave after wave was beaten back until finally sunrise came and revealed the piles of dead bodies on the ground. The Forsaken had stopped coming. They were regrouping it seemed. Anduin walked to the inn where he had made a base camp of sorts and dropped into a seat. He winced as he did so. Greta came to him as he looked down. He was covered in blood and other fluids the Forsaken leeched.

The Worgen woman looked at his side. "You are injured, your highness, may I attend you?"

He looked down at the flesh cut from a knife at his side. He then looked up at her. "Yes, thank you." He said as he leaned away so she could work on the wound. He looked up at Jamiy. "Well what is the butcher's bill?"

"Ten and five score losses for the Forsaken filth. Thirteen dead, eighteen injured on our side if we include you, brother." Jamiy said.

Anduin shook his head. "It is a scrape." He said hissing a little as Greta stitched the wound closed. He looked down at her. "Avoided the swing. He had fallen, but had not died. He swung upwards and nearly unmanned me." He said.

She smiled. "You are lucky then, your highness." She then bowed. "I have others I must attend." She said.

"Others, no doubt, that need your attentions more than me. Go to." He said. "Thank you."

Jamiy chuckled. "Sixty-two to me."

Anduin laughed. "You beat me." He said. He turned to Liam who was holding a cloth to his muzzle where the arrow had nearly struck him. "What was your count?"

"Pardon, I was thinking." Liam said. "Seventy-three." He said.

The Prince and Jamiy laughed as they both reached into their coin bags and fetched the money.

Liam held up his hands. "No, I cannot take the money. It was a game." He said.

Anduin grabbed his hand and pressed the coins in his palm. "You won the wager. These are yours." He said. "I will not go back on my word." He said. "My honor as a Prince is at stake." He smiled.

Jamiy nodded. "And my honor as a soldier and paladin." He gave the Worgen Prince the coins owed. He smiled. "It was an honor to fight with you."

"Indeed." Liam said.

Anduin lifted an arrow he had retrieved. "These are not Forsaken crafted. Nor are they Orc." He said. He looked at the point. It was barbed and designed to stay imbedded in the flesh and could not be pulled free lest to make a larger wound. He studied it. "Goblin armory." He said. "The detail and small barbs have to be their work."

"I will take it to my friend in Booty when I return to Stormwind and see what he makes of it." Jamiy said.

"The cartels may have well made it for them." Anduin said.

Jamiy shook his head. "With Sylvanas on the outs with much of the Horde, I do not think she could afford these in mass unless she had an alliance with the new goblins of the Lost Islands." He said.

Anduin chuckled. "The cartels are involved. They have to be. If they are not the makers, than they provided materials." He said. He looked down at a map. "Why you keep that mercenary as a friend…?"

"Because he is at least consistent. Money keeps my information fresh." Jamiy said.

Anduin nodded conceding that point. He looked at the arrow. "Interesting they did not poison it."

"Perhaps it is a trial run before they do." Liam said.

"That is what I am afraid of." Anduin nodded. He looked out the window as the sun rose lightening the misty morning in Gilneas.

The Forsaken were driven back, at least for now. Anduin returned to Stormwind with news for his father and the Generals. The arrow would be a concern going into battle with the Horde. This would be of chief concern to the Night Elves of Forest Song, where the Orcs were ripping down trees and making logging camps to fuel the siege engines of war. These arrows would be deadly of mixed with poisons that rogues favored. He would plead with Moira Bronzebeard, the Queen of Ironforge, to craft a weapon that could go into battle with this new technology. The dwarves always wanted to craft new weapons. This would be a good project for the smiths.