Ch 13 - Stormwind's Muster Against Evil
It was barely breaking dawn when Darion roused his wife from her warm cocoon. He laughed as she fought the sleep and cobwebs in her mind before rising to her feet slowly to dress. It would be a short journey to Light' Hope, but it would take most of the morning to travel there by the gryphons.
They arrived shortly before noon in Light's Hope. The chapel was not surrounded by fortifications and had a proper cemetery with all the names of the fallen on carefully carved markers. Tents and a small stable were there and Darion walked his wife to the Chapel itself where the Argent Dawn members of the Argent Crusade were having a conference over the latest dispatches. These few, but brave men and women were, as all Argent Crusaders, handpicked by Tirion Fordring to keep the interests alive in the Plaguelands and now their new mission to kill and destroy the Risen and the Scourge once more. They had beaten back the Scourge once, but they were appearing in greater numbers.
This was alarming for it meant they were coming for Northrend by portal, most likely within Tyr's Hand. Any whom had ventured there were quickly spotted and dealt with by torture and then blessed death when the Risen felt they had all the information they needed.
Helene went quickly to help treat the wounded while her husband oversaw the plans to fortify the area even more. After that he went to find his bride and told her he would return before night fall. She watched him summon a death-gate, a portal with a skull over it that would take him to the ebon Hold hovering near the coast to the northeast of the Chapel.
Helene was soon covered to her elbows in blood and she comforted the injured as best she could. There was one man that had escaped the Risen torture area. He was a broken shell of a human being. He cowered in the corner of one of the tents and whispered to himself. Helene was the only one he let near him after she had soothed his mind with a blessing of the Light. She treated his wounds, most were infected, but it was clear she was only healing the body and she feared his mind was well past recovery.
His name was Bailey. He could not sleep, would not eat, and simply held himself as she bandaged him. The other Argent Dawn healer shook her head sadly. He was the only one to survive out of group of twelve. There was little that could be done for him. She wished she could do more, but perhaps once broken, the human mind could never recover. She asked about his family and he cried out about blood and death. She wondered if they truly were dead of if the Risen had corrupted his mind to think so.
The fortifications were attacked at dusk. Helene called upon the Light to help her fight the undead that threatened to jump the walls and attack the people. She then watched in horror as Bailey ran from the tent wearing no armor, but carrying a large sword and leapt into the fray killing four Risen before he was cut down.
Helene had been fighting a ghoul as she watched him jump over the barrier and now after killing the ghoul, she watched Bailey's blood stain the earth crimson. The Risen lifted his body and carried it to a small line of bodies and a Scourge necromancer came forward. The skeleton looked directly at Helene as he began to cast a dark spell.
Helene closed her eyes in horror and cried out as Bailey suddenly broke from his body in the form of a flesh ghoul. The skeleton raised all the bodies into ghouls and they hobbled back toward Tyr's Hand with their new comrades. She moved quickly and vomited into the newly planted tree row.
A hand on her shoulder made her turn. Darion was watching her. He had returned. He looked at her and she sobbed and hugged him in relief and pain all at the same time. His hand raised and tangled in her hair. She was upset.
"Helene, you could have done nothing." He said softly, his metallic voice breaking the stillness. She looked up at him. Had he seen?
"But I could have helped him." She whispered. "Taken him to Stormwind to see that his family was not dead, let them care for him…"
"Wife, you fool yourself. He was well past repair. I heard about him from the Argent Crusade. He was a brave man who died a hero." He lifted a piece of paper to her. "Take this to Varian for me." He said.
"But I wish to remain here with you. I can heal and…"
He pressed and gloved finger to her lips before bending to kiss her in quiet possession. "No. Death will only come to pass here. The Chapel is guarded by Holy Powers, but outside the cemetery it is not. The Risen are mounting an attack on the Alliance. You would serve better with your mother in Stormwind."
"But I do not wish to leave you."
He smiled and kissed her brow. "You must. I will return to you when I am able. Be safe beloved. Soon I will hold you in my arms again and feel your warm body against mine again." He said. He then lifted her by her hips and placed her on a gryphon. A Wildhammer was seated in the front saddle. The large male gryphon shifted as Darion fastened her in. He kissed her deeply before stepping back. He slapped the mount on its rear causing it to take flight as a startled reflex. He took the reins a moment and leaned to the dwarf who wore the tabard of The Argent Dawn. "Bring her to safety."
The dwarf nodded. "The lass will be fine. I will have 'r mage at Aerie Park send 'er to Stormwind."
"Thank you." Darion said releasing the reins.
Helene watched her husband grow smaller and smaller until he disappeared. Oddly, though she knew she would miss him terribly, she knew she would be well without him. There was a love there that transcended being apart and she knew in her very soul he would return soon to her side and her bed.
One month later…
Queen Rhenn Wrynn was out enjoying market day. The people of Stormwind loved their Queen and she was very safe walking in the Trade district. Even though no one would dare harm her, she was always shadowed by two Home Guards who were back enough to give her space to enjoy the air and the shops, but close enough to pounce should there be an issue. At this point it was not the Queen being attacked, but the child coming. She was only now within two months from her due date and there were whispers she carried twins and so the babes, as her first twins had, would come early.
Winter Veil was over and the New Year had come. The festival for the elders had come to pass as well. The mountains had been gain snow in feet, but the early spring brought cold rain more often than snow. Stormwind did not see much snow due to the ocean being near. It kept the temperatures warmer, but moister, allowing the mountains to gain snow. The farmers in the valleys needed the melt water for raising crops and this would seem to be a good year.
She was walking in her thick skirts and cloak as thick large snowflakes fell from the sky about her. Her fur hat and muff kept her hands and head warm. It was a cool day, but the snow had already melted in the valleys for the most part.
She watched the thick flakes and smiled.
A young boy came to her holding a small box. She smiled at him knowing it was likely some sort of small cake that his mother had made as a sweet for the queen. The citizens were always making small surprises for their queen from gloves, to cakes, to even clothing and blankets for the coming prince or princess.
She smiled and bent to take the small box and pat his head affectionately when suddenly she looked about. This was Stormwind, but fire raged about them, the little boy whom she had just touched was on the ground his chest ripped open. She had seen this wound before. Scourge ghouls left such marks on bodies. She tasted bile as she looked about. Her city was burning and a great black shadow crossed before her leaving flame and the scent of burning flesh in his wake.
She looked in horror and cried out seeing citizens, children, and soldiers alike were lying about like macabre dolls, broken, burned, and dead.
"Your majesty!" A bark brought her back. Snow was landing on her face, the boy was looking at her somewhere between curiosity and terror, and Alex, one of her Home Guard attendants was holding her shoulders.
The queen swallowed and whimpered allowing the man to hold her and hold her weight as she fought back the horrifying images she had just seen. She had to warn someone. She gasped. "The King. Take me to the King." She gasped.
She was swung up into the arms of Alex and carried back toward the Keep. There was no time for a litter. Alex found though her belly was huge, the queen was still very little to carry. The other guard, a young recruit named Erich, cleared people out of the way, though whispers were already flying about the queen being in labor or ill.
Erich ran to fetch the King as Alex carried the Queen to her chambers. Her handmaidens flocked around him as he half ran, half walked down the hallways. They had all stayed behind as ordered. The Queen had wanted to have some time to herself with her people and so they had stayed in the rooms cleaning and seeing to things that needed to be addressed. Her orderly, Kallin Jonathan, who was also pregnant, was alarmed at the ashen hue to the queen's face as she lay in the arms of the Home Guard sergeant.
Varian burst into the room. He has been in a meeting with his generals, but upon hearing the queen had taken ill, he rushed to her side fearing it was time for the babe to come. Though it was early, they healers would be able to protect it until it was well enough to thrive. Though even then it would only be with the Light's blessing.
Two healers followed him, one was Hartley. The Queen was curled in a ball on the bed. She did not look up at Varian as he entered and went to her side.
"Rhenn…Rhenn…Rhenny, sweetheart, speak to me!" He said taking her shoulders and shaking her. After a moment of her head snapping back and forth almost violently, Varian was trying to be gentle, but was fighting down panic, his shaking became more hard as seconds passed by until she finally clutched at his arms and whimpered as she looked up at him.
Her eyes held tears as she weakly plucked at him. "You're hurting me." She whimpered. He stopped and lifted his hands to her face. She was so pale it appalled him, but he would deal with that after he spoke to her. He caressed her cheeks and sweat drenched hair. Something had alarmed her.
"Rhenn, beloved, what is it? Are you in labor?" He asked quietly. He prayed to the Light that it wasn't so, but…
She was shaking so bad he could hear her teeth chattering. It was not from cold. It was warm in the room. Someone had stoked the fire thinking that the birth was emanate. Varian sat on the bed and drew the coverlet about his wife. His expression was worried and it made his scar more visible.
"No…the baby is well." She whispered.
He was relieved, but it soon made him look back at her as Hartley poked and prodded her gently. "Then what made you swoon?" He asked.
"I saw…" she paused. "Death…burning…ghouls…dragons…" she shivered as if she willed the images away and he cradled her closer.
Anduin burst through the doors as Helene started to mix herbs for a sleeping draft. The Crown Prince was wearing leathers from sparing and behind him was Ellsa whom had been excused to watch him practice in the barracks.
"Is it time?" He asked.
Varian looked at his son and shook his head, but Anduin saw the concern on his father's face. He dropped to the queen's other side and gently rubbed her back looking at her. Her eyes were closed, but she was awake.
Hartley gently mixed the herbs into a glass of wine that was nearby and offered it to Varian to have her drink it down. The sweet liquid would go down easily. The queen was allowed a glass of wine a day to settle her nerves and to sleep better. This would allow her to sleep until past dinner time, but the cooks would have something for her regardless.
Varian pressed the goblet to her lips and the sweet laced liquid touched her lips. She drank willingly and Varian smiled. She drank the liquid greedily and soon had it all down her throat. The King continued to hold her in his arms with her head against his chest like a child until he felt her go limp in sleep. It took some moments since she appeared to be fighting it, but once asleep the King dismissed everyone with the exception of Anduin and Hartley. The others left silently and shut the door behind them.
Varian laid the Queen on her side and lifted her skirts enough to put a pillow between her knees. He kissed her brow and looked at her as he smoothed her skirts back. Idly he caressed her hair in a soothing gesture that not only would calm her, but himself. Her silky hair felt nice against his rough calloused hands. The feel was calming and he closed his eyes even as he rhythmic caressed the tresses.
Anduin settled the sheets about her and they both stayed close. Varian smiled a little that his son would rather be here with his stepmother and coming sibling than court Ellsa, but for now he had a pride in the choice his son made and he was grateful.
Highlord Tirion Fordring nodded to the man outside the door to open it. He just arrived by mage portal and was on his way for a war meeting with the king. However, he had heard that the queen was abed and he knew she would never forgive him if he did not come to see her. Her visions were what had brought him here. He had left the Northrend Argent Crusade in the capable hands of Jamiy while he came to see this current problem. His family seat was still in the Western Plaguelands in Hearthglen. He had reclaimed it after the Scarlet Crusaders had been ousted by what remained of the Argent Dawn.
"Highlord Tirion Fordring, you highness." The chamberlain said as he held open the door.
Tirion shook his head. He was not used to the formality when seeing his friend and doubtless she was not used to it either despite nearly being queen a year. He walked past the younger man and into the well lit room before he was given leave. The chamberlain tried to block him, but Tirion stared the younger man down. The man wisely stepped out of the elder paladin's way.
The queen was in the window looking out at the town below. Varian had restricted her from her duties while he was investigating what his wife had told him. Bound to her rooms she had was occupying her time watching the snow and rain fall and reading from the Keep's vast library.
Tirion noticed she was barefoot with her feet up as she sat sideways along the bench. It was a very informal pose for the regally dressed queen, but as she turned he saw why she sat so with pillows about her body. Her belly was already greatly swollen with her coming child. It was merely weeks now before it would come.
She turned to see him and a smile spread across her face. "Tirion!" she said, her voice full of joy at seeing him. The paladin smiled and came to her as she shifted and levered herself upwards from the window seat. He reached out his hands and took hers to steady her.
"It does me joy to see you, my lady." He smiled and bowed formally to her.
She shook her head playfully. "I have told you before, Highlord, not to call me so." She said her face serious, but her eyes danced.
He chuckled. "Forgive me." He smiled and kissed the back of her hand. "How fare you and the babe?" He asked. "Please sit. Do not stand on my account, dear one." He said. "You are in a delicate condition and you should be off your feet as much as you are able." He smiled. "I saw your swollen ankles." He chided. "I must speak to Varian about easing your schedule with the guilds."
Rhenn frowned. "He already has severely cut my appointments." She said. "I really must have something to do or I shall go mad." She said as she dropped herself slowly to the window seat again. Tirion place two pillows behind her so she could lean back. He then took the seat that Remy had brought for him.
Unbidden he reached out and pressed his hand to her expanding womb. Rhenn had become rather sensitive to her personal space with many trying to touch her so and to feel the royal child move, but Tirion, her adopted parent of sorts, she did not say a word. She smiled at the serene look on his face. "Can you feel her?" She asked softly.
"Yes." He said. He gentle whispered words to the Light and it moved from his hand to her womb and surrounded her belly and then her fully in radiance. The blessing would keep her safe. He bent forward and kissed her brow in a tender fatherly gesture. "Her?" He asked. "Thrall has told you what you carry?"
"No." She said shaking her hand as she lifted her hand to cover his lightly. "I just feel it." She said.
He chuckled. "Varian could easily sire a boy." He said. He was avoiding the issue of telling her the sex, that ht well knew since it was clear she did not wish to know. There were plenty enough whom could have told her including her own son, Jamiy. He smiled then looking at her his thumb moving to hold her finger tips. He knew women, especially women experienced in childbirth often could tell when they had carried both sexes before as Rhenn had. After his audience with the queen and his meeting with Varian about the reports and the Queen's vision, he would go to the shops in the town he could procure appropriate gifts for the coming royal babe. It was very likely he would not see her again until after the child was born.
She knew well that he missed his only son and having her as a surrogate for his paternal needs soothed not only his soul, but her own. Her adopted parents had both passed on. She often wished to visit them and Grekko, but Varian would not allow her to leave Stormwind in her condition for fear of harm coming to them.
Tirion regarded her children as his grandchildren. Jamiy, however, did not have the luxury of nepotism. In fact, Tirion was almost harder on him because he expected so much. Jamiy was very skilled and had earned his titles from his battles. Though he would not have expected so much from the man he regarded as somewhere between second son and grandson if Jamiy did not deliver on the expectations repeatedly.
"What brings you here?" She asked. "Though I am glad you have come, I know you are never in Stormwind socially." She said.
He took a breath and caressed the swell once more before he straightened and nodded. "Aye." He said. "The Scourge are pressing down from the Plaguelands. More arrive everyday according to Mograine since the Azeroth base for the Ebon Blade is in Eastern Plaguelands. He has gone to try to head them off as you well know. He sent me a note to give to Varian on his behalf." He chuckled. "However, I have a personal one as well." He looked sideways where Helene was seated talking softly with the other ladies as they sewed baby clothing for the coming baby. "I am fairly sure the first is about the scourge and the Risen." He chuckled lightly to himself. "She looks so happy after she decided to let him woo her. It was good for them both." He looked to his goddaughter. He leaned to her and passed her the private note. Her husband had sent her back to Stormwind when the scourge overwhelmed the Argent Crusaders and Ebon Blade the first time. Though she healed the injured he was not about to let her stay on the front lines. She was capable, but he was now a wedded man and he would not allow his mate to be in direct danger. He smiled watching Helene read her note as the others crowded in as well. Tirion had noticed, as many had, the change in the young woman. She was more rosy cheeked and happy.
"He is a good man though he tries to hide it under his cool exterior." She smiled a little. "I agree he was good for her and her for him." She cupped the swell and looked up as a knock sounded.
The chamberlain entered and bowed. "The King." He said.
Tirion watched the ladies rise and bow as Varian walked into the room. Tirion rose and dipped his head to the King of the Alliance. Varian dipped his head back to the Argent Crusade leader. "Welcome." Varian said. "I hope your journey was quick."
"Yes." Tirion nodded. "I had to offer my congratulations to your queen before I went to the business meeting." He chuckled. "Though she has me talking business anyway."
Varian nodded. "Little, if anything, gets by her." He said. He walked to his wife as she lifted her hand. Though it was normally customary that she should rise and bow also, Varian had insisted she not bother herself with such details as her belly grew with his child and it was awkward for her to move about. He took her hand and kissed it before stooping to steal a kiss from her mouth. "Sweetheart." He said to her softly as he pulled away. His hand remained on her belly a few extra moments as he looked into her eyes. He let his hand drop as she smiled back.
Tirion watched them and felt a pang in his heart. He had only seen his own wife three times since his exile and never with her knowing of his presence. It had been more than fifteen years since had seen her last. He wondered if she was dead or where she was. Was there any, if she had died, to mourn her since their son had been murdered. To see the couple so happy was bittersweet. Rhenn was timeless. She was far older than she appeared. She looked to be still a youth, but was in fact close to middle aged. The blood elf in her veins made her younger.
Tirion Fordring was not able to sleep. His mind was on the coming war with the Risen and the Scourge. It would come quickly here and not help the Alliance fighting on many sides of the war. This Great War was more uniting than any war before it. The Gilneans were back with the Alliance and were fighting with their brothers and sisters.
Still he feared for the Argent Crusade. He had left some of his top people to administer in Eastern Plaguelands and begin to heal the land, but the demon, Balnazzar, that had possessed his one time friend, mentor, and superior, Saidan Dathrohan, had made the Risen from the heretic Scarlet Crusaders that had remained. They had an uneasy pack with the Scourge that remained. Together the force was powerful. The demon-lord had shed his skin, literally, and now openly led as the nathrezim he was. Reports of him in Tyr's Hand had Tirion thinking as to how best to battle the threat as it spread.
He looked at the stars. It was a cool night, but the days were warming slowly as the land began to wake from its winter sleep. Already small flowers were beginning to bloom in the park with the grass greening. The tiny wind flowers were closed, but would open once more when the sun again touched them.
Tirion heard soft footfalls in the grass near where he sat in the Park of Stormwind. He looked and saw Rhenn, in soft slippers and in a simple dress of white with a blue mantle. She walked to the moonwell and sighed as she sat on the edge.
He watched her close her eyes and talk softly to herself. Then she began to weep.
He gently walked to her and dropped to sit beside her. "Rhenn?" He asked
She looked up startled and her cheeks flamed at being caught. "Don't tell Varian." She whispered.
"I am sure your husband will notice your absence soon enough. Why are you here, child?"
"I wanted to escape my dreams." She whispered. She was sobbing again and the heavy drops were falling down her cheeks and onto her dress front.
"Oh, child." He whispered and pulled her into his arms and held her to him and she started to cry. She held him and quivered as the sobs wracked her body. He caressed her back, trying to soothe her. After a time her sobs dissolved into whimpers.
She sagged against him. He sighed and gently lifted her up to look at her. She was pale and he could clearly read the pain in her eyes. Pain and fear. She touched her belly and closed her eyes as though trying to calm the babe within.
Tirion lifted his hand and pressed the palm to her belly. The baby was rolling and kicking obviously feeling its mother's distress. Gently, Tirion called upon the Light and the baby seemed to calm nearly instantly. Rhenn's eyes lifted and her adopted father smiled. "You should be able to rest for a time. The Light has soothed it to sleep." He told her. He rose to his feet and helped her up. "Come then. Return to your husband's side. He needs you."
She nodded and hugged him once before leaving as quietly as she had come. Tirion watched her leave, wishing, as he had many times, that he had been blessed with a daughter born of his blood like her. Perhaps then part of his line would continue and he would have grandchildren. As it was he had adopted Rhenn's children and thus he was content.
Scouts from Ebon Blade were bring the king updates. Mograine and a small detachment were following the scourge as they went south. The Risen had allies in the thousands. Arthas seemed to have extended his reach once again and the undead army seemed to have one intent, to raze Stormwind and the whole of Azeroth to the ground.
The King was growing more and more anxious, though he did not show it publically about his wife being within the city. She left the protection of the Keep more than he liked and as a meeting with the defense generals ended, he looked over at the Home Guard captain and asked him where his spouse was.
The Queen was rumored to be in Old Town walking with two of her ladies and a Home Guard.
As it was she was in Old Town on the battlement looking out over the forest. There was a black cloud coming toward Stormwind and she drew her cloak close to herself. She looked into the forest.
The King caught sight of her from the ground level and sighed. She often walked along the battlements for fresh air and relief from the noisy streets. Below refugees had already begun to come into the city after losing their homes to Risen and Scourge.
He walked up to her and quickly pulled her to him. He needed to feel her physically, to know she was well and unharmed at this very moment. The queen had stiffened at the king's forwardness, but had relaxed into his embrace as she felt him caress her back. His hand gently caressed her back, but his distant look made her sure he was doing it more to sooth himself.
"Reports have become more disturbing." He said. "They have attacked Horde camps and skinned the bodies. They are walking in these skin suits as though they wish us to think them Horde."
"Perhaps that is the idea. To divide us with future allies even more." She mused.
He nodded. "Though I will not partner with the Horde as long as Garrosh is the Warchief." The King said.
He gently wrapped an arm about her and led her down and into the Trade District. They walked slowly toward the keep. The King moved allowing his wife to set the pace. Her body was very round making it hard for her to move at all or even be comfortable. He spent many night waking and finding her in a chair working on her embroidery since she could not sleep. He often had to sooth her and the baby to get her to rest. That was what she was getting now, naps every few hours when the babe was resting and not moving. The only sound sleep she had had was sleeping after she had returned to bed a couple nights before. Tirion had left for Northrend once more leaving two of his trusted commanders to aid the King in his efforts here. The queen had returned to him in the wee hours of the night. He had presumed she had been stalking the halls. He had woken to find her not in bed and waited for her to return. She had returned and was asleep as her head hit her pillow. He had watched over her and smiled.
For now he was going to help her rest. They entered their rooms and she walked to the bedroom. She removed her soft shoes and revealed her ankles were very swollen. Varian knelt and took a tiny foot in his hand and gently rubbed it to try and have her body reabsorb the fluid in her feet.
Helene came in and gave him a note from Darion Mograine. He smiled at his stepdaughter as she placed a tea of tea near Rhenn with some cheese and bread sandwiches for her to nibble on. He set the tiny foot in his lap as he broke the seal and read.
He looked up at his wife and Helene who were softly speaking to each other. Rhenn caught his look. "What is it, Varian?"
"The Risen have made it to Duskwood." He said lowly. He rose to his feet. He had to act now!
The King glanced at the startled and worried expressions around him. He then rose and went to his office. He quickly wrote up a speech for the crier to call for every able bodied person in Stormwind to heed the call to save the capital and to guard the people. He quickly dispatched it before he went back to his wife's apartments.
She was still seated and watched her handmaidens fluttering about her as they worked on daily chores, worked on packing, and worked on other things that made them appear like butterflies on the wing about the queen.
He looked at his wife. He realized he could not have her here so near her time with undead nearly at the gates. Darion had also asked his wife be removed with the Queen. Varian was going to, as had been planned, to remove all the children and send them by mage portal to Shattrath in Outlands. He would also send pregnant and new mothers. The rest he needed to help defend the city. If Stormwind fell it would break the spine of the Alliance. He went to his wife and pulled her to him almost pulling her off the bench as he pressed his cheek to her womb and he held his arms about her. She looked down at him, but then caressed his head thinking he merely wished to comfort her.
Varian turned his head to look out the window. At all costs his family would be safe. Anduin, he knew, was now a man and he would not be able to send away, but his wife, he would have to before the Scourge closed in. They had three days, perhaps more, for the Scourge to move through Duskwood and the Forest before arriving at their gates. He needed to think how to get her far from the city, and fast.