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 20

Arlandria swiftly gathered her bow and supplies and ran out with the entourage of Rangers. They led her into the nearby glade a short distance away that many Elves recently retreated to for religious purposes. Once within, Arlandria saw a vast area of slaughtered undead. She counted perhaps fifty, all skewed in mad disarry, arrows covering them.

"They came out of the west," a Ranger said still breathless. "While we were on patrol."

"Is this an isolated incident?" asked Arlandria.

"So far there has been no other activity as far as we know of, My Lady," another Ranger said.

"What of the civilians? Has word of this got to them?" Arlandria asked.

"There were a few witnesses, My Lady," said the same Ranger.

"What of the Prince?" Arlandria asked, fearing the answer.

"He was informed at the same time as you, My Lady," the Ranger said as Arlandria sunk her head.

"Drag the bodies out of the glade and burn them. Be careful not to contaminate yourself with the blood or smoke. Keep your eyes vigilant," Arlandria ordered.

The crew of Rangers saluted as Arlandria turned and ran back towards the encampment, fearing for the worst. As soon as she came within sight of the stone builidings, Kael's voice was already ringing heavily through the air. With all haste she closed the distance and reached the back of a panic stricken crowd. Kael'thas was on the stage, giving a frenzied, crazed speech about the Scourge closing in around them.

"We are no longer safe!" sceamed the Prince to the fearful crowd. "We can no longer sit idle and wait for nothing in these cursed lands! I have been working tirelessly to preserve our future, you must heed my call!"

The Prince had to continually raise his voice to be heard over the screaming, panicking mass of Elves. Arlandria struggled to make her way through the crowd and onto the stage. So many were on the verge of a nervous breakdown and shouted for the Prince to save them. Kael screamed his solution over their heads as Arlandria finally reached the edge of the platform. The two Archmages that were always at the side of the Prince moved quickly to restrain her from getting onto the stage.

"You have to let me up there!" Arlandria screamed to the Archmages, though it was barely heard over all the noise erupting around them. "He is making a terrible mistake!"

Kael stopped speaking and the crowd seemed overjoyed at his porposal. Cheers and shouts of praise were heard throughout the crowd as they swayed to the Prince's idea. Arlandria shouted again for her to be let on the stage. For the first time Kael'thas looked down and saw her, he stared coldly at her for a moment and said nothing.

Arlandria then turned her attention back to crowd and tried to get them to listen, but it was futile. Many were preparing to leave immediately, as the Prince ordered. All of her calls fell on deaf ears.

Fear is a powerful weapon. Once a mass has grown hysterical with it, they will do nearly anything they are told to regain a sense of normalcy. Decisions and actions are usually reached that would have otherwise been impossible to convice to those who were not in literal fear for their very lives.

Prince Kael walked off the stage and headed for the temple to gather everything he would need for the exodus. Arlandria tried fervently to follow him but the Archmages held her back. She struggled but it was useless to try and bypass them any longer. If the struggle became violent, then she knew that she would not stand a chance of defeating both of them.

Instead Arlandria ran back towards groups of hastily preparing Elves and soldiers. She tried as best as she could to convice them of Kael's madness against their still panic stricken, fear filled state. Few listened to her, even fewer took her advice to not leave. Many were her soldiers that trusted her, though some were Elves that Arlandria had never even met before. They listened and knew not to give in to the corruption of fear.

Within minutes Kael, his two Archmages, and many of the high commands and politicians were on horseback at the front of the encampment. Arlandria took control of the stage and called for an appeal to reason as frightened, magically deprived Elves carried everything they owned to join the Prince's column. Kael did not seem to notice Arlandria's efforts as he waited with the rest of the hierarchy at the entrance. Vupila joined Arlandria's side on the stage and used her voice to aid her friend. A small gathering was beginning to grow larger and larger around the stage before the column began to move.

Their voices slowly died down as the exiled Elves passed beyond their sight. It was clear now that whatever happened, they made up their own minds.

End of Chapter 20