Ch 20 - The Icy Citadel Where the Lich King Reigns
Helene worked quickly to tie the bomb to the Saronite bomb she had been directed to under the citadel. She was dressed in black so she could move within the shadows. It was all part of Highlord Tirion Fordring's master plan. Blow up the bomb stash and return to the front lines.
The men had all wished to do it, but Helene was the lithest and quickest. She found her greatest supporter in her taking the quest was Highlord Darion Morgaine of the Ebon Blade. Grudgingly both her brother and her godfather agreed to allow her the duty. Since her capture she had not been allowed on the front lines and this, she felt would be a way to prove herself as well as prove to herself she still had her edge.
She ducked behind the stack noticing a guard walking by. It was a being made of shadow with two glowing red eyes. It seemed to be floating rather than walking and it hissed lightly as it looked over the stack before turning away. Helene took a soft breath. She had been holding it as she hid. The unearthly shadow stirred the dust upon the ice below it. It was a shade, the fearsome shadows that crept about Naxxramas murdering many from behind because they were often soundless as they moved. This one, however, was smaller than those were rumored to be and seemed to muttering about something, perhaps work conditions under the Lich King.
Helene looked about. It was quiet about her. It was now or never. Taking a breath, she lit the fuse with a small matchstick. The fuse ignited instantly and she realized the fuse was far too short for her to make an escape. She looked over the railing and down into the pit whose fathomless dark worried her as well. She looked back at the fuse. She would die standing there and she noticed the shade was returning toward her. No help for it.
She took a deep breath and jumped over the top bar of the railing and into the abyss, praying that she would not die from the fall. She fell for many seconds and forced herself to take a breath and then another. She then cast slow fall on herself.
Breath.
Breath.
She watched the inky blackness wondering what the bottom was. She gasped and blinked as suddenly she saw lights. Blinding lights. She blinked letting her eyes adjust to the beauty of the cavern. She looked about the room and saw faceless ones, the deep drudges of the Lich King. They, however, seemed to be no threat as she landed lightly in a shallow pool.
She pulled off her back facial cover and looked about. What is this place, she wondered.
*Naz'anak.* Something or someone in her head said.
"The Forgotten Depths." She whispered. She looked about as she walked into the cool water. The area reminded her of Azjol-Nerub and the Old Kingdom located far beneath the surface of Dragonblight and tunneling into Icecrown. She had gone to both areas with her brother and sister to see if the once amazing libraries were still intact. Most of the books had been beyond repair and had been so damaged in the conflict long ago that they were little more than dust. However, the few that were saved offered clues to the old ways, the old gods, and how evil had come to reign in the Northern continent.
She looked about and saw something in the water near her. She head a soft voice and felt oddly drawn to the object. The object is not a crystal at all, but some form of organ, encased in ice. As she touched it, her hand reels in horrible pain. She gasped as she felt as if her hand has been cut, yet there is no visible wound. As she collected her thoughts, she heard a young boy's voice nearby.
"You really shouldn't have done that. He's not going to like it," came a soft whisper. It sounded like a young boy. She whirled and came face to face with a small blonde boy. She blinked and realized she was looking through him. "I saw him get rid of it, you know? He threw it all the way down here. Said he wouldn't need it anymore. Said it made him weak," the ghost continued.
"You're a ghost." Helene whispered. "How are you here?" She looked about. "Does that mean I am dead?"
"No." The ghost child said. "You are not dead." He took a step toward her and she gazed at the boy as he watched her. His eyes were timeless unlike the rest of his body that seemed frozen forever in the body of a child who could be no more than seven. "You shouldn't have touched it. But now that you did, he's going to come looking for you. And he'll find you. Unless you hide yourself from him. Bring me blood from the faceless ones if you want to live!"
Helene was dumbfounded. She was a priestess whom never attacked anyone unless she was under duress. She looked at the boy. "But…"
"No time. Hurry!" He barked.
She turned to the faceless ones whom seem to be paying her no mind. She took a breath and let it out before raising her hands to cast smite upon the nearest. It turned toward her with a howl from somewhere within it and she quickly cast again dropping the poor creature at her feet. She collected the blood in a large vial after taking a deep breath and cutting deep into the fallen creature. This seemed more a task for a butcher, but the boy watched her and looked about nervously.
She them lifted the vial to the young boy as she turned to him the blood on her fingers and wrists. He shook his head. "What are you waiting for? You have to rub it on you! Quick! Or he'll see you!" She could not quell her displeasure and disgust at the request, but did as she was told. She grudgingly painted herself. It was a macabre task, but if it kept her from being found she would do it and escape to wash herself.
She turned to the boy. "Who are you?"
"Matthias Lehner." He said. "You should leave now. You'll find a portal behind me. It'll take you to the surface. We'll meet again. He'll be looking for you. It's only a matter of time until he finds you." He said and nodded to the portal before disappearing.
"Who he?" Helene asked, but no one answered. The air was still. She walked to the portal and stepped through it.
She blinked when she found herself in a safe corner of the top of the pit. Before her were several Knights of the Ebon Blade fighting. One turned after felling a shade before him and saw her there, blood covered, and confused.
"Lady Helene!" He said. He was a night elf, tall and lanky with the metallic voice all the death knights seemed to possess
She looked at him somewhat in bewilderment.
"You succeeded. You blew the bombs. Where were you? We have been trying to find you for an hour."
"Naz'anak." She said softly.
"Why are you covered in the blood of the deep realm dwellers?" He said reaching up to touch her cheek with his gauntleted hand. She allowed it. She looked at his glove. The blood had an odd shimmer to it like water.
"I was told to." She said distantly.
"It makes you invisible for a short time. Who told you?" He smiled. "And where did you find them?"
"A…" She paused. "Someone who knows the secret." She said and smiled at him.
He nodded. He nodded to a gryphon made of bones standing nearby. Like its master it was undead. She looked at the glowing eyes and looked back at the tall night elf death knight beside her. He nodded to the captain nearby nearby. It was Captain Kendall whom she had received the orders and the fuse from. "I found the Lady. I am going to return her to the Skybreaker."
The captain nodded "Good to have you her, my lady. Your brother and Thassarian are awaiting you." He turned back to the fighting and the night elf mounted the undead bird. Helene joined him and the bird rose in the air. She held onto the death knight. The man had no warmth to his body much like the surroundings of Icecrown.
They spent several hours flying over the wastes and the great scourge forces. She wrapped her cloak about herself feeling chilled. The Death Knight before her looked back. "I am sorry I cannot help you, my lady." He said. He was sincere.
She smiled. "Thank you." She said.
He turned and pulled his cloak to be more about her. "I forget how cold it is here since I no longer feel. Does that help?"
"Yes, thank you." She said, trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
Soon the Skybreaker was in view. The great bird landed on the deck and the death knight helped the lady off. She walked toward the cabins. She needed warmth and to process what she had seen. The death knight kept his arm about her as he quickly helped her to the warm area onboard. He nodded to the tall Vindicator and Captain of the vessel standing together in the room.
"Helene!" Vindicator Maraad cried seeing her. "You live?"
"Of course she does. Do you think we would let her die?" The death knight asked sounding rather affronted.
"No. Find Thassarian and Commander Jamiy." Justin Bartlett said.
The death knight nodded and went to fetch the two.
Maraad knelt by the shivering Helene. He enfolded her in a blanket to warm her. He then poured a cup of tea. He had been sharing the tea with the captain when she had come to them and she needed the warmth more than either of them. Her hands quivered as she sipped the warming liquid.
A skeleton warrior walked into the room first. It held a great ax and leaned on it as he stepped to the side allowing the tall human death knight step forward. Its master it seemed, as it nodded to the human before relaxing into a guarded pose nearby. The death knight had twin blade strapped to his back and his face was forever frozen in time as a man in his early twenties. He would have been considered handsome if it had not been for his white eyes that glowed softly and the strange tattoos over his eyes and on his cheeks. His skin was pale as if it never was warm.
He regarded Helene a moment. "It's you, Helene! We thought you were a goner! Your brother was recalled to Crusader's Pinnacle." He said watching her or at least she assumed he was. It was hard to follow his gaze when he had no pupils. It was the gaze of the undead, hard and cold, but oddly there was warmth there as if he was somewhat fond of her in his own way. "That explosion of yours put quite a bit of hurt on the Scourge. Nearly took Captain Kendall's eyebrows off in the process... " Then he smiled.
She looked up at him. "So you are Thassarian. King Varian and Highlord Morgaine has told me about you." She regarded him. "The first death knight to rejoin the Alliance." She said softly. She took another sip of her tea. "Your humanity remains, even if it is small."
"Death Knights are all brothers in undeath even if we were enemies in life." He regarded her. "You are as beautiful as your brother said you were. I have had the honor of serving with him." He bowed. "If there is anything I may do for you while you are aboard the airship, please let me know and I will do all in my power to make it happen."
"You are kind, Thassarian." She said. She rose to her feet and looked to the skeleton. "What do you call it?" She asked taking a step toward the undead standing bones.
Thassarian lifted his hand. "HE is called Lurid." He said. "Be easy." He said speaking to the skeleton who seemed to not like being watched by the woman.
"Yes, master." Lurid said in a raspy voice that came from his mouth.
Helene looked back to Thassarian. "I did not know Death Knights could keep minions like warlocks."
"He is the reanimated bones of a fallen crusader." He said simply.
Helene nodded. "I see." She nodded to Lurid. "Forgive me. I have not seen a skeleton on our side."
The head cocked to the side as if he was unused to be spoken to.
Thassarian lifted a hand. "She was staring is all Lurid."
"Ahh very good master." Lurid said
"Does he only answer you?" She asked.
"I have never heard him speak to anyone else." Thassarian shrugged.
She nodded accepting that. She then turned to Maraad and the High Captain. "I would return to Dalaran and Highlord Tirion Fordring as soon as possible." She said.
Justin Bartlett looked at the woman. "You will not be able to return to Dalaran tonight and possibly for a day or more. There are storms near the Pinnacle and it would be suicide to fly through the clouds on a mount."
She nodded. "Thank you High Captain." She said. "Then I suppose I am at your command until the storms clear."
He laughed. "More I am at yours, my lady, but for now we are relaxed. Orgrim's Hammer is some distance off and we will not engage unless they fire upon us. " He nodded to her. "We will have a cabin prepared. Until then feel free to wander the ship."
She nodded and set down her now empty tea cup and drew her cloak about herself. She walked out to the side of the ship. They were passing a large ice covered hanging valley above the floor of the greater Valley of Lost Hope. She held her arms about herself and looked down. The ice was cracked where they were flying over. She saw frostwyrms flying about. They were the scariest dragons known and they were common within Icecrown. They were the reanimated bones of fallen dragons risen to serve Arthas the Lich King.
"A whole brood of blue dragons fell here. And now, one by one, they're being raised by his servants. He raised the biggest of them all himself. Bring me some bone dust from the whelps and I'll show you exactly how he did it. " Came a familiar voice. She looked down and the blond ghost child was next to her.
She nearly jumped and looked about. "Matthias." She whispered. She looked about Maraad arched an eyebrow at her before he returned to his post. She turned after a hesitant smile to the paladin. He shook his head in dismissal.
Did he not see the boy? She watched him leave.
"You have a lot of questions, Helene. You're the only one who can see me because you touched something that once belonged to him... don't you remember? You don't know what it is? Well I can't just tell you... that would make him really mad. He's not just a prince anymore... he's the king!" The child said. "I will show you what he did." He smiled. "Let go. Just relax."
"What?" She asked.
"Let go." He said.
She let go of the rail and suddenly felt lighter. It was a curious feeling. She looked down. Her body lay on the deck. Thassarian was kneeling beside her. She could not tell him she was fine. He did not hear.
She felt herself lifted and carried to the side of the great crack in the glacier. She watched the Lich King walk to it and he struck the ice with Frostmourne, his great sword. The ice cracked and suddenly bones rose from within.
She took a step back and watched as the great dragon rose from its frozen tomb. It was Sindragosa, the once beautiful blue dragon consort of Malagos, whose death drove him to madness. She took a breath as the great bones lifted into the air. With her under his control he controlled all the dead blue dragon flight. She gasped and covered his mouth in horror. What if the Lich King killed members of the red and bronze dragonflights. She had to warn them.
"Warning them will do nothing. This is in the past."
"Then how am I able to see it?"
"The object allowed me to speak to you. I have more to show you."
He blew a whistle and she recognized the Court of Bones. She blinked. "Before the prince became a king, he fought many battles... but only one where he came close to dying. It was fought right here. After you let me show you what happened, you'll understand everything. Find a bloodstained stone and pick it up from the floor. You'll see what happened."
"Why are you showing me this?"
"To help you see." He said.
Helene found the stone and touched it. "But whose blood is this on the…"
Suddenly a tall man with green glowing tattoos, great curved horns, and purple skin came into view. "Illidan." She gasped. Illidan Stormrage from the Outlands where he had been made a prisoner. She swallowed. The demon spread his great wings and took a hold of his glaives. The fearsome weapons made the priestess's blood turn cold.
"They can't hear you. These are shadows in the past." Matthias said.
Helene nodded as the Arthas stepped to the night elf demon. The two fought and fought for what seemed like hours. The demon was able to injure Arthas and Helene watched in horror as the demon/once night elf fell to the earth dead.
After that fight, the prince realized what was holding him back was that he was still human... he could still feel... he could still bleed. He still had a heart.
"The first thing he did when he became king was to rid himself of it. He threw it down the pit where we first met. And you, Helene, were the first person to touch it since." Matthias said.
Helene took a shaky breath. "His humanity. That is the heart. Arthas took out his own heart?" She said barely above a whisper.
"Now you know what you're up against, Helene. An opponent who no longer knows pain... remorse... or humanity. An opponent who will do anything to get what he wants. The heart was his weakness and now he knows you've found it. If you're going to go back for it, you'd best bring help. He will not leave it unguarded again."
She looked at the child next to her. "You are his heart. You are his humanity. The ghost of who he was." She said. She took a step back. "I must…I must tell Tirion."
"This knowledge is a blessing and a curse. I leave you to do with it as you will, Helene. Farewell." The boy said and disappeared.
"Wait!" Helene gasped. "You can't leave me here."
"Wake up." Matthias said.
"What?"
"Wake up!" A sharp bark said near her. "Helene!"
She opened her eyes and saw Thassarian looking down at her. Her cheek stun from where he had apparently struck her to wake her. "Thassarian. I need to find Tirion. I have news that may help us. I must get to him!" She said as she struggled to sit up.
He pressed her back and wrapped her cloak about her. "I think the cold has addled you head a bit, my lady. Slow down. Why don't you start again... from the beginning?"
She took a breath and nodded. He lifted her in his arms as though she weighed nothing. "I am fully capable of…"
"Hush, you fainted for no reason. I am not about to let you out of my sight. I owe your brother that much." Thassarian said. He carried her to her cabin and sat her on the small cot.
She looked at him. "I found Arthas's weakness, Thassarian!" She said excitedly. She then told him everything she had seen.
Thassarian sat back regarding the young woman after she had spoken about what she had seen. "It's not the first time I've heard that story about Arthas and his heart... always thought it was some made-up tale to impress the rank and file. We must act on this information immediately. Unfortunately, we must do so in secret. Arthas's agents are everywhere and if he finds out, our plan is dead in the water. We need to take this to the Argent Crusade. Every single paladin in that order was hand-picked by Tirion himself. If there's anyone free of cultist infiltration, it's those guys."
She nodded. "But the storms…"
" Yes." He nodded. "We will wait a day and then you will fly to the Pinnacle to inform Highlord Fordring."
Two days later Helene raid a gryphon to Crusader's Pinnacle. The small outpost she had visited many times. Her godfather presided there. It was the forward camp of the Argent Crusade and Highlord Fordring was at the front of his campaign against the scourge.
Helene landed and dismounted. The camp was muddy from the recent rains that had melted the snow leaving mud and rock behind. Rain was unusual in Icecrown, but when it fell it fell without mercy. She wrapped her cloak close about her body. The storm had left behind a wet chill that went straight to the bones of any living creature.
She walked to the large tent that served as the Highlord's quarters. She looked about at the Crusaders about her going about their daily work of making fires for cooking and drying off tools that had gotten wet in the storm. She coughed outside the tent lightly before speaking. "Jamiy. Is it safe for me to speak to Highlord Fordring?"
Jamiy stooped as he opened the flap. "Of course." He said. He hugged her and pressed a kiss to her cheek. He then followed her into the front room of the tent where Tirion was reading the latest dispatches from the Argent and Ebon Blade camps in the Icecrown and Storm Peaks.
He looked up at his goddaughter as she entered the room and bowed to him. He chuckled at her formality. "Hello, my angel, how are you?" He asked using the endearment to show he was at ease and she should be as well.
"I bring you news godfather." She said. "Urgent news from Icecrown."
He sat back regarding her. His eyes were deep pools. His face had weathered some from the Icecrown elements, but he was still a paladin few would cross even despite his more than sixty years. His body and mind belayed his age in years and yet to look into his eyes was to feel him looking deep into the soul. It unnerved many, but Helene and her twin were able to face him knowing his softer, family side as well as his born leader side.
Jamiy regarded her as she dropped into a chair before the Highlord as he waited for her to speak. She was suddenly nervous and she closed her eyes to gather her thoughts.
"Are you well?" Tirion asked softly in almost a fatherly way.
"Yes." She said. She opened her eyes. "I found it Tirion. I found Arthas's humanity. It is in his heart. He cut it out of him after he battled Illidan because the demon night elf was able to inflict pain upon him."
Tirion leaned forward. "How do you know this, child?"
"I fell into Naz'anak." She said. She watched Tirion's eyebrows rise as did Jamiy. Her twin who served as orderly, protégé, and commander under Tirion seemed as surprised as Tirion by her words.
"Matthias Lehner told me."
"Who?" Jamiy asked.
"He is a ghost. I think he is Arthas's humanity trapped forever within his heart." She said.
Tirion sat back and regarded his goddaughter. "Heavy words, Helene. If it were somebody else saying them, I'd be likely to judge them insane."
She took a breath. "I know it seems farfetched, but…" She looked down. "No one could see him because I touched the heart. Only me." She crossed her arms and hugged herself feeling cold and suddenly very unsure of herself.
Tirion rose to his feet. "I did not say I did not believe you." He said. Just this morning, my scouts informed me of a Cult of the Damned procession leaving from Icecrown Citadel to the Cathedral of Darkness, bearing an artifact. And now I learn that it might be Arthas's own heart... a thing containing the last bit of his remaining humanity. This is a sign of the Light. As long as such an artifact exists, there is a chance that Arthas Menethil can become a man again! Meet me at the cathedral's entrance tomorrow. Be sure to bring a cultist's hood - we're going incognito." He grinned lifting his own cultist outfit from a trunk nearby. He had been stealing them from corpses when the crusaders managed to kill the zealots of the Cult of the Damned. He looked at Jamiy. "I will leave early tomorrow morning. I leave the outpost to you. Helene will join me and I vow to keep her safe."
Jamiy nodded reluctantly. "I will send her to you midmorning." He said. "Will allow you time to see the happenings and blend in as new recruits before she arrives."
"Indeed." Tirion said.
Helene walked up the Cathedral of Darkness stairs. Her brother had brought her to the Court of Bones and made sure she was safe before he allowed her scale the steps in disguise. She found Tirion at the top of the stairs with two other Crusaders beside him. All were dressed and adorned as cultists. Helene walked to them and dipped her head a little before reaching to warm her hands at the fire.
"There you are. Are you ready then? Once we start, there is no turning back." Tirion warned.
Helene nodded. "I know." She said. "I am ready."
"It is time. May the Light give us strength." Tirion said looking up at the sky that had barely lightened with the sun returning.
The party pauses outside the cathedral proper for just a moment before continuing.
"Keep your heads down and follow my lead. Here it comes. Stand ready." Tirion led the party to one of the pews as they waited for the Chosen Zealots to walk in and approach High Invoker Basaleph, laying the heart before him.
As the zealots leave...
We lost many to the faceless ones, my lord. But we succeeded in retrieving the heart from Naz'anak.
"Something's wrong... I sense a dark presence." Tirion said looking about.
Helene looked up. "I sense it as well." She whispered.
"The Lich King is here. May the Light guide our blades." Tirion hissed.
The Lich King stood blocking their escape. Helene swallowed and turned with Tirion to face him. "Uninvited guests! Did you think you'd go unnoticed inside my dominion? I must confess... you were not altogether unexpected. I hope you find your final resting place... to your liking." The voice rasped from behind the Helm of Domination.
Tirion smiled coldly. "You sound a little too confident. Especially considering the way our last encounter ended."
The Lich King took a step forward. "Last time we met, you had the advantage of fighting on holy ground. You'll find that our situation has been... reversed."
"That might be, but I don't need to stand on holy ground to run that disembodied heart of yours through with the Ashbringer."
"I call your bluff. You're a paladin after all. Your obsession with redemption goes beyond the inane. You surely wouldn't destroy humanity's only chance to redeem its most wayward son. You'd sooner die!" The Lich King said.
"The heart... the last remaining vestige of your humanity. I had to stop it from being destroyed. I had to see for myself. And at last I'm sure... Only shadows from the past remain. There's nothing left to redeem!" Tirion said suddenly casting his robes away and drawing Ashbringer from beneath them. He charged the heart and ran it through with Ashbringer, knocking himself out, killing Basaleph and blasting the Lich King away as the heart explodes, dropping the Lich King down to 30% health.
Helene watched in horror as her godfather dropped to the ground unconscious. "Tirion!" She cried.
"Arrrrggggggggggggh! " The Lich King screamed in pain stepping backward and holding his side.
"Tirion's down! Defend him with your lives!" One of the crusaders said as they threw back their cultist garb as well and stood ready to defend their leader. Helene dropped beside Tirion looking him over. He was not without injures.
"You... will pay for that, old man. Slay them all!" The Lich King growled.
Helene gasped as the room suddenly had them surrounded.
" I hope you fellows don't mind if we crash this party. I brought some old friends with me!" A familiar voice called from the door. Helene nearly cheered when she saw Thassarian and several death knights with him including Highlord Darion Morgaine.
The friendly death knights and crusaders dispatched the room in fairly short order. These new zealots had not been taught much of the dark magic and so were easily dispatched. Darion then opened a Death Gate to the Crusaders' Pinnacle in order to transport everyone from there to Dalaran with ease.
"Quick, through the portal! He won't stay down for long." Morgaine said nodding to Helene that she should go first.
"Looks like whatever Tirion did put some hurt on the Lich King. It's too bad we can't finish him off..." Thassarian said.
Darion turned as new enemies appeared. "Patience... we will get our chance soon enough. Be content that for once, it is Tirion who is in our debt." By his tone he was happy to finally have someone owing him a favor. He nodded to Helene. "You first, my lady."
She reluctantly went through and was soon followed by the crusaders holding Tirion between them. Next came Thassarian, Lurid, Koltira Deathweaver, and finally Highlord Morgaine and the other death knights.
She nodded for the crusaders to take Tirion to his tent. They laid him down on the bed and pulled much of his armor from his body so she could treat his injuries. Jamiy paced in the other room waiting to hear a report of what happened. Koltira and Darion had both suffered minor injuries and both were waiting for their turns to have the young woman tend them.
Tirion was resting comfortably when she finally was able to treat Koltira. He has a nasty cut she bound on his arm. He left with a smile leaving Highlord Morgaine to her care as he went to talk to Jamiy.
Darion regarded her as he held a cloth to his thigh. He had removed his mail pants and hiked the under clothing to his upper thigh above the cut to give her a clear view. She fingered the cut to check for foreign bodies within it. She stitched it closed, noting he did not even flinch and then bound it gently.
He regarded her. "Gently done, my lady. I thank you."
"I am a priestess." She smiled. "How did you get a cut like that?"
"A zealot sliced me while he was lying on the ground dying. He sliced under my hauberk and nearly unmanned me." He smiled at her as she blushed a little.
She coughed a little and finished binding the cut with due skill. She resisted telling him that because he was undead the state of his manhood was not an issue. He pulled the linen pants down and watched her before looking back at Tirion. "I hope he accomplished what he wanted. Now the Lich King knows of me again and I must be ready for his strikes against me and the Ebon Blade."
Helene rose to her feet after washing her hands free of blood. "Always on the move. To be a Highlord and work hard."
He smiled at her. "You are a healer. You work far harder than I ever will." He bent and kissed her cheek softly. His lips were cool, but gentle. "Farewell, my dear one." He said before leaving her.
My dear one? Her mind mulled that until she heard her godfather stirring. He was an interesting man. He seemed to still have humanity in brief moments like this. He treated her as an equal and as someone he held in respect.
"Helene?" Tirion's voice was strong as his bright eyes looked about.
"Here." She said coming to him. Jamiy followed and stood back as Helene looked the paladin over. "Are you in pain?"
"No more than I can handle." He smiled looking at her. "I do not view what we just went through as a failure, Helene… quite the opposite. By allowing me to peer into his heart, you allowed me to confirm what I needed to know. There is no Arthas Menethil anymore - there is only the Lich King." He said firmly. He watched her reaction and nodded knowing she knew it was the truth.
She bound his burnt arm and treated the cut on his chin with skill. "What do we do now?" She asked.
"War. Total and full war on the scourge." Tirion said firmly.