A/N: Please note that this is of course Fan Fiction, therefore the events described would be slightly deviated from the orginal telling.
And nope, I in fact do not own Warcraft or anything else I write about.
Chapter 7 Surrounding Death
The overall mission was a success. All four units were assembled back in the main square of the palace just before the break of dawn. All of the Elves willing and able to leave the city were already passing through the tunnels and down the pathways. Without having the time to count the fallen, Sylvanas ordered the entirety of her forces out of the city to protect the rear of the refugee column.
Arlandria and Sylvanas were among the last two out of the city. With the help of the surviving Mages, they sealed every doorway and made many distractions to keep the Scourge off their trails as long as possible. Though the hopes were high that the Scourge would now leave Quel 'Thalas, having taken what they desired.
And take it they did. All felt the moment of the Sunwell's curruption. All felt so weak and instensly drained of energy, a few of the weaker, more exhausted Elves fainted and never woke up again. The drag that they all felt became more pronounced in the following moments, as it became a struggle to keep their breath. It was as though the gravity had more than doubled in intensity.
They carried on through the tunnels until at last the final passageway in the forest was spellbound. The pace of all the Elves was slowed as they walked towards the old shelters. Everything was quite peaceful on the slow march until pure tragedy struck at Arlandria's heart. As not far off the path, a few children stood in a semi-circle, looking down onto something. Arlandria's hope rose slightly at the possiblity of seeing her children among those few.
Without asking for the approval of her General, Arlandria sprinted off the road, Sylvanas and the following Mages followed suit. Her hopes were dashed to not see her children, though the sight they crowded around was of a dead Ranger, lying stiff in the tall grass. Arlandria shooed the children away towards the path and bent down to look closer at the fallen Ranger. Within a moment's time she recongized the Ranger, it was the one of the few that she had sent to lead the Elves into Silvermoon and specifically to find her children. The Ranger was not killed by the undead, as it was four arrows that pierced the center of her chest, her bow was still strung to her back.
Panic coursed through Arlandria's veins as she stood up and began to search around the area frantically. Sylvanas and the others stood close by the body, not fully understanding the reasons for Arlandria's sudden sense of urgency. Arlandria did not talk to explain anything as she ran quickly looking in larger areas within sight of the fallen Ranger. As the cruel twists of fate would have it, she would not have to use words to explain why, as not far ahead of the dead Ranger lay the bodies of two Elven children.
Arlandria felt all the breath leave her body at once as she sank to her knees in front of her daughter Jullena. Her son Foinus lay out a few feet ahead, both had two arrows shot into their back. Sylvanas and the Mages moved quickly to her side. Out of maternal instinct, Arlandria lifted her daughter to her chest and rocked back and forth, crying softly. With a nod Sylvanas dismissed the Mages back towards the path and laid her hand on Arlandria's shoulder as she shook.
In those quiet moments, Arlandria focused to fray off the hysteria that tried to engulf her. She gripped and held on tighter to her child, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. Sylvanas kept her own grip tight onto her shoulder, she went to one knee and whispered softly.
"Arlandria," said Sylvanas, "We can give them a proper burial, but we cannot linger here."
Within a few seconds Arlandria nodded in between streaming tears and wordless sobs. Setting her child back down gently, Arlandria rose back up to her feet with Sylvanas's help. Arlandria lifted a cloth satchel to her face to muffle the sound as she screamed into the fabric with all her might.
End of Chapter 7