His Perfect Queen; an Arthas Menethil Love Story
Name: His Perfect Queen
Author: HollyEmpire00
Rating: T (may change to M as the story progresses)
Summary: As his army prepares for war, Arthas must fight his own battle. With his heart, a lady and his destiny. Arthas/OC, angst! Reviews wanted!
Warning: Rated T for language (not so much), blood, some gore, character death, and overall theme. Warcraft Themes~!
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, Warcraft 3 Reign of Chaos or Warcraft 3 Frozen Throne (obviously~ If I did, I'd be like…supermegafoxyawesome rich!) . You think I'd be writing this if I did? No! Anyway, they belong to Blizzard Entertainment, the gods of MMORPG's. All of the things you don't know are mine, so characters, creatures, abilities, lands and places and buildings you don't know about are all mine~! =]
Thank you all so much for choosing to read this story, I really appreciate it. Reviews are welcome, flames are not (unless they're constructive), and I want feedback please!
HOLLY: 28/01/13: I decided that I will post this story a few days in advance…also because I did not get QUITE enough reviews, I am a little bit bummed. But oh well! Let's home we meet the quota!
I would like to mention; the characters that I have chosen to use in this next chapter I have indeed researched; while I have not actually met them in WoW, I have indeed warped them to my own expectations; and yes, I understand that generally the being of a Lich is exclusively a spell-caster or a necromancer, however I believe that the way I have portrayed them in this story will be alright…
I would like to thank a few people!
Caerys- Thank you very much for keeping with me this long! Wow, I didn't think I had a long running fan. I haven't abandoned this; I'm going to finish it! Thank you for your support!
Plague's Vengeance- Don't worry about it, I'm glad for the support! Thanks for the review!
Those were…sadly the only reviews I received XP Other than the one I got from GaarasMyBoyzz. Speaking of her, I would like to dedicate this chapter to her; for the near two weeks of conversation. Thank you; you made me laugh each day.
Enjoy the chapter!
HISPERFECTQUEEN
Chapter 5; The Congregation of Servants…
Hours later, the throne chamber of the half-completed fortress was graced with the presence of the highest ranking Scourge from all sides of their ranks; from the few Frost Revenants, and their undead Wraith servants, to the largest, gruesome looking Gargoyle and the Lich representatives. So too, present, was a single, lone Frost Wyrm, serving as Sapphiron's representative while the great dragon rested from the battle that had passed. It had indeed taken a toll on him.
Anub'arak was also present, along with two rather large webspinners who stayed by his side. A single small carrion beetle sat attentively on his great head, its tiny pincers clacking together as it spoke nearly inaudibly to its father.
When the Lich King made his appearance, what little chatter there was in the hall fell silent. Their king's form, wrapped in a long, dark grey fur cloak that seemed to have come from a breed of gigantic wolf, heavy armour and his glacial eyes, was magnificent indeed. He swept down the steps and towards the great silver throne; one of the first things they had crafted when beginning the fortress. Made from the ancient steel gathered by Frost Revenants from the lower reaches of Northrend's ruins, it was both powerful and imposing.
Arthas sat with a flourish of his cloak that could only have come from his days as the prince of Lordaeron, settling himself on his throne with a poise and intimidating grace that only true royalty possessed. The crowd bowed to their king, lowering their eyes in respect. "Rise." Arthas intoned; his voice was low and cold. Had many of the beings before the king been mortal, shivers would have spilled down their spines. Needless to say; the undead did as they were told.
Anub'arak gave a small incline of his head as he slowly scuttled forward slight to speak, the webspinners moving almost in a slither to stay close to him. Their movements were silent against the ice-stone floor, unlike their Nerubian rulers who practically lumbered across the surface. "Before we begin to discuss the matters that you called us here for, sire, I would like to present to you the Lich that you requested of me," Anub'arak intoned, his voice a low rumble that echoed through the great hall.
Arthas gave a curt nod, his ice blue eyes glinting as they shifted across the crowd to land on the figures of the Lich; robes covering their familiar armour. "Yes; I permit it," he drawled, raising a hand to gesture the three figures forwards. "Step up; I wish to see you."
The three figures glided forwards, their movements easy as if they did not touch the ground. And indeed; they did not. Like their master, their powers were so great that they indeed floated, their fell armour glowing in the light reflecting off the ice that covered the half-built walls. Northrend itself was so cold that not even newly built structures were immune from the ice.
The figures fell into easy, simple kowtowing that would otherwise be called graceful; lowing their forms to the stone before the king's throne. One of them spoke up, raising his head. His eyes flowed a dark fell green through his skeletal eye sockets, his robes flaring around him as he spoke. "My liege, I would like to offer my thanks for summoning; we have dutifully awaited your orders since our master, Kel'Thuzad told us that we were to serve you directly," The Lich began, his tone filled with reverence. "We humbly serve your will."
Both Arthas and Ner'zhul were pleased with this answer; the Lich were strong, they always had been a high ranking part of the Scourge. Kel'Thuzad being an example. These Lich, however, were not necromancers, from the looks of their attire. They were comprised more of armour than of robe.
"I thank you for your service, young Lich," Arthas replied, knowing what to reply simply from the connection he had with Ner'zhul. "It is good to know that I have servants such as yourself."
The Lich inclined his head, his long cloak falling over his skeletal face momentarily before he rose it again. "My name is Calis Wraithson, my liege," The Lich replied, holding a hand over his chest in respect. "My comrades are Rak Coldskull and Kali'nej Dethknell, and we stand before you ready and willing to serve your every command." Calis gestured to his left and right respectively, to the dark, menacing orange glow coming from beneath Kali'nej's hood, and the dark blue from that of Rak.
Arthas gave a nod, humming to show his appreciation. "Yes…the three of you shall do nicely for what I have planned," The Lich King gestured for them to rise, and the three of them stood, looking up at their lord and master with looks of fell, powerful eyes. "I assume that Kel'Thuzad does indeed have his own Lich other than you?"
"Yes, my lord," the deeper voice of Kali'nej replied, his tone slippery and resonating. Arthas' gaze shifted to him in an instant and he watched the Lich as he spoke. "He kept two of our brethren at his side. The other Lich in existence in turn serve Kel'Thuzad in the Plaguelands, or travelled with us as our own forces."
The Lich King raised his head, looking over the three Lich with interest. So, these were Kel'Thuzad's students. They seemed rather different from the necromancer; indeed, they were different. Their powers were not so much magical, as physical. Kali'nej did indeed possess some skill in casting, however.
'Kali'nej is indeed a powerful caster,' Ner'zhul agreed, speaking from the front of his mind. 'I believe that Rak is more accomplished in physical prowess; and is better with single hand spells and close combat. I did…indeed observe their development over the years, just as I did you.'
'And what of Calis, master?' Arthas replied, interested in what his other half had to say. 'What of the third Lich?'
'Calis Wraithson…' the Lich King replied, his tone echoing through their shared mindscape. 'If my memory serves me correctly, then he was once the son of a tactician of the Kirin Tor. He did indeed learn the way of the warlock, however he turned his interests towards tactics, and is a rather accomplished swordsman. I believe that you once faced him in battle while still mortal…here in Northrend.' Arthas eyed the single sword at the Lich's waist, it's ornate hilt glowing with a fell infused gem.
'Interesting…yes, I do believe I remember him now…he was indeed a powerful adversary.' Arthas replied, turning his head slight.
The Lich's gaze followed his lord as he took in the sight of his lord and master upon the throne. How they all had been waiting for this moment; when they would finally meet their master; the one who had made their second life possible. And now that he had merged with the prince of the fallen land…he was all the stronger; a new being entirely, one whose power exceeded theirs by leagues…
"I would expect nothing less from Kel'Thuzad," the Lich King answered his newest servants, his flowing eyes searching their forms, taking in their strengths. He then turned his gaze upwards to address the crowd of undead Scourge. "I have called you all here this day to inform you of a task that I have found to be of the utmost importance." He began, his voice holding an grave tone, and a slight excitement that set the Frost Wyrm's tail swinging.
"It has come to my attention that there is something that I have yet to do in order to complete my rise to power," Arthas drawled, leaning to place his chin on his gauntleted hand, a rare, slight smile, unseen by the group before him, gracing his lips. "In order for me to reach my full strength, so that I may take back the land that was taken from me by the Banshee Queen, and crush the rebellions arising in Kalimdor, I must travel across the sea to a land that I myself have never seen, in search of an artefact that shall secure my victory over the vermin."
"My lord," one of the Frost Revenants spoke up, gliding forwards with an unearthly grace, his voice layered with the souls of those past. "Where is this land that you seek to go? And what is this artefact that you seek? We shall serve thee and secure it for you…you need not leave the security that is offered here in North-"
The Lich King stood sharply, his glacial eyes flashing dangerously as the Frost Revenant was hit with the sheer force of that gaze. "Silence, fool!" He bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls, shaking the very foundations beneath their feet. "You believe that I would leave such an important matter as the security of my supremacy to mere servants such as you?"
The room fell silent as the Frost Revenant, the image of proud immortality, slowly crumpled to his knees, falling to the ground for what must have been one of the first times in his undead life. "No, my lord," He croaked, his voice hoarse and pained. "No; I would never suggest such a thing, I was simply thinking of your safety."
"Do not so much as suggest such a thing again, you imbecile!" The Lich King gestured out a furious hand, forcing the dark creatures before him to cringe and shrink back. The Lich remained where they were, their robes fluttering at the influx in power. The webspinners let out quiet, but high shrieks, skittering back slightly, while Anub'arak stayed deathly still, his pincers shuddering in pleasure at the feel of his lord's power. Arthas had indeed been gifted with great power when he and Ner'zhul had become one.
Arthas was furious. How dare such a lowly creature advocate such a thing? He let out his feelings of distaste and anger inside of the mindscape he shared with the Lich King, and in turn Ner'zhul sent his own annoyance back. 'So not fret, Arthas; he was simply out of turn. I think it is time we told them of our plans…'
Knowing that his other half was right, Arthas retracted his hands, throwing back his long, furred cloak and glaring down at the infidel with glittering eyes. "I myself will be accompanying you and your troops to a land across the sea, a land known as Elemire."
Murmurs, clicks and squawks fled through the crowd, and all but the Lich remained quiet. They stood and listened to their master, taking in the information the best they could. In the end, Calis was the one who spoke, his tone curious and in awe of his master. "Is Elemire not the land across the sea which claims to be completely uninterested in the notions of war? The land which has been as of recent times, only so much as traded with in exports in return for animosity in the current fighting?"
The Lich King gave a smirk, inclining his head to the young Lich . Intelligent, he was. "Indeed; that is the land of which I speak." Arthas lifted his hands again in a slight gesture towards their southern coast as he spoke. "The land of Elemire is indeed a rich one; they are entirely self-sufficient, and are currently not in conflict with anyone, instead preferring to keep to their own morals and not interfering with the affairs of any nation. It is a land rich in knowledge, fertile land and gold." He chuckled. "It indeed would be a significantly useful land to conquer…however we shall be travelling there for a different reason.
"In the land of Elemire there is an artefact that I require; this…is the key to the survival of our people; the rise of the Scourge and the beginning of a new age for the Undead. This artefact will be the key to taking back Lordaeron, or the Plaguelands as it is now called. It will be the deciding factor in crushing all who oppose us!" He raised his arms out, gesturing to his troops. "Anub'arak shall remain here with the lesser majority of our army, and build up our defences as well as begin to obtain more troops should we need to deploy them. He shall rule in my stead, but under my command while I myself go to this land with those who I have chosen…those of you who stand before me. We shall find it; and we shall take it from them by any means necessary." Arthas looked over the crowd of undead, and turned his head to look out towards the city through the ice wall that had formed on the unbuilt side of the fortress.
"The nation itself shall remain intact; I believe that if we leave the country without needless bloodshed, then perhaps once we have conquered the rest of the world, they shall join us," Arthas gave a low chuckle.
'More like…they will have no choice,' Ner'zhul replied, his own dark chuckle joining that of his knight, his vessel.
Anub'arak held himself tall, his beady black eyes brimming in excitement, his pincers shuddering as he spoke. "My king…what is this thing that you seek in Elemire? What is it that will give you the power you seek? Tell us…so that we may know your wishes."
Arthas drew Frostmourne from his side, placing the tip of the blade on the silver at his feet, both of his hands clutching the long hilt of the glowing runeblade. It glimmered in the light that reflected off the almost glassy ice surrounding them, and Arthas' eyes glimmered with a hungry power that could almost not be contained. "We travel to Elemire seeking it's crowning glory; we seek the Jewel of Elemire."
HISPERFECTQUEEN
28/01/13
HOLLY: Please read and review! You know how much I love it! I will need it; after all, I start school tomorrow and you know how I get caught up in such trivial things!
Just thought I'd mention it again! My updates will be in fortnights; this is on the condition that I get at least TEN reviews each new chapter. This number may…grow, hopefully as time goes on :) I need interest! It fuels my imagination!
I need some inspiration guys! Fuel my mind with reviews! I beg of you!
Thanks again!
EDITED 29/02/13- added better page breaks!