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 15
"Move out!" Prince Kael ordered.
The Elves formed back into a column five deep as they quickly marched out of the palace. Upon reaching the outside, Arlandria could see that the rest of the city was just as destroyed as the palace interior. Rotting corpses of Scourge and Elves alike lay scattered about the city in heaps of garbage and discarded material.
"On the rooftops!" an officer on horseback yelled.
All eyes scanned the roofs to see a few Elves running about to reach good positions to fire from. Many of the Elves had their arrows pointed at the targets on the roof, but Prince Kael did not give the order to fire, instead he said.
"Conserve your arrows," said the Prince.
He gave a nod to his two Archmages as they lifted their staves high and began to rapidly twirl them. Within seconds waves of fire began to engulf the rooftops in a blazing inferno. The Elves had nowhere to escape to as the fire swallowed them completely.
"Press onward! To the Sunwell!" Prince Kael shouted as they all briskly moved again to the sound of fading screams.
It was evident that killing his own people did not affect the Prince anymore. He had hardened his heart far too strongly to feel pity for traitors. The horrible stench within the city was beginning to take its toll on everyone. All of the Elves began tearing off pieces of cloth to cover the bottom half of their faces in an attempt to filter the sickening smell. Though in truth it did very little to lessen the stench.
Arlandria's mind became clouded with the memories of following Sylvanas along the same exact route to the Sunwell. Like so many other things, it seemed like such a long time ago rather then little more than a day. In those moments of recollection she truly dwelled on the loss of her General. Everyone needed her, Arlandria needed her, now more then ever.
"Continue with caution," Prince Kael warned as the column slowed down to approach the shattered gateway.
Everyone slowed as the pathway became even more choked with bodies and debris. An ambush here seemed most likely to those who wished to assassinate the Prince, as there was only one way to and from the Sunwell. But no attack came as the Elves climbed up the tiered levels to form a circular defensive permiter. The once pure and mystical waters now poured out black and putrid. It was obvious now that the worst of the stench they were smelling was the Sunwell's tainted water.
Arlandria rode around the area, trying to find out how the defenses failed. The powerful magical items that lay scattered about, along with runestones, gave no idication of how. None were broken or even damaged, dried blood was upon them, but they still seemed to be in ordinary working order. She was on the verge of asking the Prince and his Archmages how it could have failed when the three dismounted and walked away from her. They walked towards the fountain's edge, looking down at items that lay on the ground along their way.
Suddenly the Prince stopped and bent down to pick up a long heavy sword.
"My father's sword," he said, barely above a whisper.
The two Archmages came to a halt on each side of him as the Prince held the sword in slightly trembling hands. Then Prince Kael suddenly let the sword go, almost as if the handle was so hot that it burned his hands, and he stepped over it, moving closer to the Sunwell.
'If I pick up the past,' the Prince thought to himself. 'Then it shall consume me.'
His hands rested upon the edge of the Sunwell, the water giving off a hazy smoke in the hot air of the day. The water was solid black, but far too putrid and smoggy for him to have a reflection upon its surface.
"Lady Arlandria!" Prince Kael called out loudly without turning away from the Sunwell.
"Yes My Lord!" Arlandria called back with just as much force and energy.
"Instruct everyone to move back and out of this square," the Prince ordered.
Arlandria thought to protest the plan of leaving him alone, and thus vulnerable. But wisely choose not to, she trusted his guidence enough to follow the order unquestionably.
"Back into formation! Out through the gate!" Arlandria barked out in a strong tone.
Arlandria rode out in front of the column, giving a last glance to the Prince and his Archmages as they stood with their backs still turned. Prince Kael set upon the idea of letting the past consume his people no longer.
End of Chapter 15