The Antechamber
Ulduar
The Templar Knights walked proudly through the calm fortress. They descended down the steps after crossing over the battered remains of Kologarn with a collective sense of ease and satisfaction. Though their bodies were worn, muscles exhausted, and minds weary, they were still victorious. Azeroth has been freed from the tyranny of the Old God. That was something worth celebrating.
"So what exactly happened Rayne when you were pulled into Yogg-Saron's mouth?" The mage kindly asked.
"I'm curious as well," Samuel added.
Rayne let out a small laugh through his closed lips.
"It's a long story."
"That's your answer for everything," Weasel scoffed.
"Leave the kid alone," sighed the warrior. "He deserves a little leniency. Hell, we all do."
The paladin was thankful for Marcus' kind words. The truth was, he was more than willing to explain exactly what happened to them all. He just wanted to take care of some personal matters first.
Speaking of which, Narula was unexpectedly walking in the back of the group. She would normally walk beside or even directly behind Rayne but something about her aura was off. The paladin couldn't put his finger on it but he was sure she was hiding something.
The Knights completed their descent. Rayne's attention immediately shifted westward were dozens of Templar soldiers marched down the path. Their armor and tabards were heavily stained in blood. They walked with a depressing but thankful atmosphere. From the back, the paladin could hear the aggressive orders of their commanding officer echo throughout the antechamber.
"Keep moving!" The Captain shouted. "The rest of you regroup with the others at the camp and await further instructions!"
Hearing her stern voice put Rayne's heart at ease. He wanted to approach Lena and congratulate her and the others for a job well done. However, the paladin's sentiments were cut off by an eagerly approaching dwarf with a pair of curious in tow.
"Well if it isn't Rayne Templar!" Brann cheered. "Welcome back!"
"Thank you," smiled Rayne as he always did. "How are you doing? Is everyone alright?"
"Ship shape as far as I can tell," the dwarf grinned with a curiously raised eyebrow. "And you lads? I take it things went well?"
The paladin looked back at his friends. All of the torment and agony they went through today he wouldn't wish upon his worst enemy, if he knew of such people that is. Even so, they performed beyond all expectations today. He couldn't have been more proud to stand beside such great champions.
"Yes Brann," nodded Rayne. "They went well."
"And the prisoner?" He posed. "Back in its cell I take it?"
The paladin let out one quick burst of laughter. It appears Brann still harbored some lingering doubts over the demise of the Old God given his previous interactions with this place. Rather than let the dwarf linger with any more maddening thoughts, Rayne put his heart at ease.
"That you can," he smiled.
Brann's heavy hand slapped the paladin square in the arm. Rayne winced as that was the side carrying his broken ribs but he dared not show any extended fits of pain. Everyone was so happy to know their leader had returned from the unknown with his life intact. He didn't want them to fuss over a few injuries that would inevitably heal in time.
"I knew ya could do it lad!" The dwarf cheered. "Never doubted you for a second. I owe you a debt of gratitude and then some!"
His enthusiasm was appreciated but Brann's way of expressing it left more to be desired.
"And how about you?" The paladin posed. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
"You bet I did!"
The dwarf's grin shined brightly through his matted orange beard. He pulled a large silver disk from his pouch and presented it to Rayne.
"Feast your eyes on that!"
The paladin's eyes glazed over the unique device. Engraved along the edge, the word ARCHIVUM was spelt out in bright runes. This appeared to be one of those data discs Brann had mention through his previous trips into Uldaman. It looked rather impressive but for the life of him, Rayne couldn't tell exactly why such a thing was so important.
"And this has all the answers you were looking for?"
"I sure hope so," Brann nodded. "After everything we'd been through, I'd hate to have to go through another one of these places looking for more answers."
"Wait," the mage interrupted. "What do you mean hope?"
"Well," replied Brann giving his beard a quick scratch. "We found another console inside of a locked room just beyond that path. I was going to start it up but I figured you lads would want to join me for the historic occasion."
Rayne shot a quick glance to his companions. Their haggard expressions told him everything they wanted to say without raising a single word.
"I'm afraid we'll have to pass Brann."
"Well that settles – wait!" Exclaimed the dwarf. "What do you mean? This is the opportunity of a lifetime! Aren't you curious about the secrets held within Ulduar?!"
The Templar Knights brushed past the stewing dwarf without a second look. Brann continued to holler at them in a vain attempt to change their mind.
"Fine then! I'll just learn everything on me own!" He fired back. "More knowledge for me anyways!"
The teleporter leading outside was just down the hallway. The Knights made their way towards it with as much haste as they could muster. Rayne held back and waved to his companions as he headed into a different direction.
"Excuse me for a few moments," the paladin stated. "I'll catch up with you guys outside the entrance."
They acknowledged their leader with a nod and proceeded through the ancient Titan device. The paladin met up with Lena and the remains of the Templar soldiers. Her armor was covered in so many stains and streaks of blood it had practically changed its color entirely. Sweat and dirt coated her neck. Her black hair was a jumbled mess much like his own. The soldiers walked past their commanders, acknowledging them with a salute. Rayne responded in kind, thanking them for their service, and promising a reward later in the evening.
"Alright that's all of you," Lena barked while turning around. "Let's mo-"
Her words were instantly silenced within that big mouth of hers. She almost tripped over the sight of the grand paladin standing before her. It was too good to be true.
"Rayne?!"
"Yo Lena."
The Captain peered past him. She made sure no one was within line of sight before wrapping him up in a tight hug. Rayne let out an audible wince. Her muscles squeezed his sides tightly and reminded him of the tremendous pain that continued to haunt him.
"I'm so glad to see that you're alright," said Lena as she quickly pulled back and stared into his steel blue eyes.
"I as well," he smiled back.
"You look different," the Captain leered. "Not different for you but, different from earlier. Did something good happen?"
Rayne averted his gaze. It was a really long story and instead of boring her with the details, as well as proving Weasel's previous observations as correct, the paladin opted for the simpler answer.
"I guess you could say that."
"Good," she smiled. "I hated seeing you all serious and mopey. If you had come back looking like that I would have kept punching you until your expression changed permanently!"
"T-Thanks?" Cringed Rayne.
They stood in silence together. Their hands were still over wrapped around the other. The paladin could feel the tension in her shoulders.
"How is everyone?" He softly asked. "Are there any injured?"
The Captain nodded. She would not look him in the eyes directly. Something was definitely amiss.
"Half of the men are wounded," she started.
The words carried a tinge of remorse as if it physically pained her to say them. It took her some time but Lena pushed through it.
"Seventeen critically injured," stammered the Captain.
Her report nearly proved too challenging to speak. She was almost trembling in his arms as she gave him the final statement.
"Twenty-one fell in battle."
The paladin's hands clenched around her shoulders. He hated the fact that so many lives had to be sacrificed in order to complete their mission. As much as he wanted to be there to assist them, this was their sworn duty. Rayne could not dwell on his soldiers in such a manner. It was grossly disrespectful to those that perished. Their lives would be forever honored and families taken care of as promised by the Templar household. He loved each and every one of them but as he had learned on this day, the dead cannot hear their words. Only the living mourned and right now, there was one of them in his arms that needed him more than she would ever be willing to admit.
"You don't have to put up this front any longer Lena," Rayne spoke. "No one here is going to judge you for being human."
She began to whimper in his arms. Her eyes continued to avoid his.
"What?" Lena whispered. "What are you saying? I'm not –"
The paladin squeezed her gently once more and pulled her into his chest.
"You are one of the toughest warriors I know," he calmly said. "I couldn't imagine anyone else taking on this role with as much courage and resolve as you have constantly shown."
The Captain's body shook. She buried herself within him so he could not see the saddened expression that had befallen her. The Keeper's word of advice would certainly be useful here in this moment. Rayne gladly offered them to one of his oldest and dearest friends.
"But you are not carrying the burden of this all on your own," he stated. "At times like these, do not hold back what's truly in your heart. It's okay to let yourself go."
She slowly started to break down. The cracks in her hardened shell increased exponentially. This was a side of her that few even knew existed. She couldn't find anyone better to burden them with her own pain, sorrow, and regrets.
"It's not a sign of weakness Lena," Rayne carefully stated. "They may be unable to here you now but for yourself, tell them how you really feel."
The Captain collapsed in his arms. He kept her up with every last muscle of his being as she broke into a frenzied weeping. Lena's tears poured down the paladin's chest. She clutched at him in anger and remorse. Saddened by the fact that her comrades in arms were lost forever. Angered by the realization that she wasn't able to do anything about it other than stand here and cry.
Rayne had never seen her so openly vulnerable before. Throughout their childhood, she had always been the one to stand tall in the face of adversity. She must have been holding in so much pain all these years that releasing it all at once caused her to physically crumble in his arms. He admired that she was able to keep such a brave face in front of the men. For that, the paladin allowed her to pour her sorrow onto him. He was more than happy to comfort Lena in her time of need and promised to keep this moment just between them.
Ulduar
The Storm Peaks
The sun was setting over the horizon. An orange glaze hung above the mountain tops. Cascading purple light drifted high overhead. The stars were coming out. Night was rapidly approaching.
The Templar Knights descended the tall stairway. They looked out upon the vast snow covered landscape that stood before them. Before today, this view would have be nice but not on the top of their list for things to marvel after. After their heroic efforts inside the fortress of Ulduar, they truly appreciated the beauty and wonderment of this magnificent land.
Cayden stood at the edge of the raised platform. His hands channeled the chaotically wicked arcane energies and ripped a hole into the atmosphere. The edges pulled to form a pair of oblique circles standing next to one another. Images within beheld a sprawling city of spires and a lush green landscape.
"Expedited service to Dalaran as requested," the mage smile. "And of course, a direct route for you Narula to Ashenvale."
"Let's go kid!" The warrior grinned with a hard pat on Caryden's back. "The world has been saved, there is still air in our lungs, and we're going to party until the sun comes up."
"Party?!" He vehemently scowled. "But I'm exhausted. There's no way –"
"It's no use Flame Brain," Weasel sighed walking past with his hands resting upon the back of his tiny head. "Once he's got his mind set on something, you might as well see it through."
"I agree!" The draenei cheered. "A celebration is in order. We shall drink until every last barrel in Dalaran runs dry."
Saelena nudged her husband with a sharp but discreet blow to his side. He looked down at her coy expression and could instantly read her mind.
"But maybe it wouldn't hurt to turn in a little early, no?"
"Perhaps we'll join you as well," Samuel added. "Sometimes a little change can be a good thing. Right sister?"
Zariyana clutched her brother's arm and held it tightly. They both shared a good scare today. It was only natural that they wanted to ease their still lingering tensions. Even the Legend twins were able to show a little levity in times like these.
"Of course Samuel," she playfully smirked. "It wouldn't be right for them to commemorate this moment without us."
"You're being unusually chipper," her brother stated. "I didn't expect you to actually agree to this without a word or two of discontent. Why the sudden change of heart?"
Zariyana released her grip on the priest's arm. She looked at him with a sour expression and marched straight towards the portal where the others had already left.
"Samuel," she spoke. "You're one of the smartest men on this planet. I've never known anyone with a sharper mind in all my life."
The female Legend twin stepped into the portal and returned a smile and some final parting words before traveling completely through.
"But sometimes you're too dense to see what's staring you right in the face."
"That woman," sulked Samuel with a small smirk tickling his lips. "Perhaps she's not as easy to read as I originally thought."
All but two of the Templar Knights passed through the mage's portal. The night elf slowly walked towards the opposing path leading to her home. Rayne held back for a bit to admire the serene setting. This place was absolutely perfect. There was no turning back now.
"Narula," the paladin called.
She stopped and turned around slowly. Wind gently brushed against her hair swaying it to one side. Through perilous trials and even facing death itself, she still looked so incredibly beautiful today as she ever did.
"Yes Raymond?" She calmly replied with a soft smile.
"Before you go," he began praying not to stutter over any words. "May I have a moment of your time?"
The night elf casually nodded. Rayne tightened his fist. The Keeper's advice poured through his every thought. To her it seemed like any other simple request. To the paladin, this was the declaration of a lifetime.
"We've been together a long time, haven't we?"
Rayne's eyes found their way to the starry sky above. Wonderful memories of their past journeys came into view. From their first meeting to the tender moments they shared today, every single one of them was cherished in both mind and heart.
"Sometimes I can't help but think what trouble I might get into next," he laughed. "I can get a little ahead of myself and occasionally bite off more than I can chew."
The paladin's piercing blue eyes locked upon hers. His stance firmed. Resolve was at an all-time high. Looking upon her gorgeous presence, he couldn't think of anything else to say other than the feelings ready to burst from his heart.
"However, no matter how hard things get or how painful they may seem," Rayne kindly smiled. "You have always been there to stand beside me."
A rush of soft wind swept between them. They were no more than a couple yards apart yet the paladin had never felt closer to her than at this very moment.
"Despite my best efforts and resolve, I can never seem to get you out of my mind. You're smart, beautiful, strong, but most of all," he carefully paused. "You're kind-hearted."
The paladin felt at ease. Words flowed from his lips without effort. His heart was doing all the talking.
"When I'm with you, I feel as if time has stopped. Even when I was pushing you away, you stood firm like a rock that would not be swayed. I can think of no one else with a bigger heart than you Narula."
Rayne braced himself. His eyes lowered slightly. A gentle numbness flowed through his veins.
"That is why I can't help myself but to ask if I may take it from you," he gently spoke. "As you have taken mine."
That was tougher to admit than he realize but it felt so incredibly good to get off his chest for the first time in nearly twenty years.
"I can no longer bear to spend another moment apart," he affirmed. "My life, my soul, everything that I am has been crying out to you. Only after starring death itself in the face was I able to find the words to properly express my feelings."
The paladin stared back at her; his eyes brimming with confidence.
"I love you Narula."
Rayne stood firm with his bold confession. The blowing wind carried a soft droning whistle in-between them. The night elf looked back at him and slowly clutched her elbow. Her glistening silver eyes left his and gazed upon the ground hundreds of feet below.
"I'm sorry."
Those two words cut deeper than anything a thousand Old Gods could ever inflict.
End of Act III