I own Vician Trannyth, Itris Highbinder, Kaxet Botfuel, Ororan Lonesnarl, Elkemin Winddreamer, Uraz'Do, Tibarn Bonefever, Rili the succubus, Death Knight Borgan Van Talen, Shadow Priestess Victoria Painbinder, Lightslayer Hiro Tombweeper, the concept of the Society of Uncorrupted Warlocks, Zachery Lancaster, Taniel the incubus, Rose Oxworth, Faith Nightreaper, the Gilnean Motherland League, Lord Ove, Eria, and The Duke, all else to Blizz

A/N...

I'm very tired. Just read and enjoy :)

Warning, not a lot.

During the three weeks as Kalira tried and failed to control the situation, Zachery and Rose fled the Undercity. They raced down to Stormwind, eager to tell their tale. Kneeling before Varian Wrynn, Zachery and Rose told of the Forsaken and how the Grand Warlock approached them to help awaken the Banshee Queen. They told of the Succubus who blasted a hole in the side of the Royal Chamber and stole the Grand Warlock away with the help of the some of the Horde Heroes. They told of how the Dark Ranger Kalira shot down a zeppelin trying to stop the Grand Warlocks kidnappers.

Stroking his chin, King Varian Wrynn stares down at the paladin and priest before him. The SI:7 agents have already informed him about the situation with the Forsaken and of the zeppelin crash. The Forsaken are a volatile bunch and would ruthlessly hurt anyone who dared to threaten their Queen. "Tell me," Varian says suddenly, "have you heard the recent news?"

Keeping his head down, Zachery shakes it. "No, Your Majesty. Rose and I have been traveling for weeks through hostile territory."

Nodding his head, Varian rumbles out. "I see. That would make sense." He turns slightly and motions over a steward. The steward rushes over and hands the King a piece a parchment. Turning back towards the kneeling pair Varian's voice rumbles out again. "Arise." The pair stands and looks towards the King, respectfully.

Waggling the paper Varian speaks. "Seeing how you two were out of the loop, I'll inform you of the situation. The Forsaken have declared war on the Alliance. They claim that the two of you—under my direct order—snuck into the Undercity, poisoned the Queen, blasted a hole in the side of the wall, stole the Grand Warlock, and caused the zeppelin to crash. It seems that you were their scapegoat." The pair blinks and stands in shock. Before they can speak Varian continues. "Regardless, the situation is grim. The Forsaken have blitzed across the northern territories and now are battling our Dwarven allies at the Sardo Bridge. If that bridge falls, the Alliance will fall with it.

"Since the both of you walked into that lion's den that is the Undercity and managed to escape it alive, I'm giving you a mission. Go to the Sardo Bridge and assist in the defense. The fate of the entire Alliance rests on that bridge. Do not fail."

And so, Zachery and Rose were on the move once more, traveling through the Alliance lands, heading towards the Sardo Bridge. By the time they arrived, the Bridge was a mess. The Forsaken had captured two-thirds and pushing hard against the Alliance forces. The rotting, undead bodies slammed against the Alliance shield wall like the tide crashing against the shore. Zachery helped along the front lines, shoulder to shoulder with Humans and Dwarves alike. They stand tall against the overwhelming odds and kept the Forsaken at bay.

Rose, on the other hand, sought to defeat the Forsaken in another way. "Zachery," she said to him late one night. "I've got an idea and I wanted to run it by you."

Stifling a yawn, Zachery nods his head and motions with his hand for her to speak. "I'm sorry, killing these Forsaken is tiring. Go ahead, Rose."

Standing before the sitting man, Rose paces while wringing her hands. "You know how much of a nationalist I am, Zach. I strive to see Gilneas rise from the ashes and become a major nation in the world. I feel that I am not helping Gilneas by being here at this crumbling bridge." She pauses to look over at Zachery who is sitting up straighter.

"What are you trying to get at Rose? Gilneas fell over a week ago. The Forsaken blitz caught them off their guard."

Sighing, Rose sinks down to sit next to Zachery. "I know that, Zach. What I'm trying to say is that I know of several Gilnean Nationalists who were able to flee the city before it fell. They are holed up in the Dwarven district of Stormwind. I want to go meet them and lead a force back to Gilneas." She glances over at the man next to her while she bites her lower lip.

Zachery stares at her incredulously. "What?!" He exclaims, turning to face her fully. "Gilneas is a death trap. The city is under the firm grip of The Duke; there is no way you are getting in there, Rose." Standing, Zachery moves toward the desk on the opposite side of the room. He opens one of the drawers and pulls out several large tomes before placing them on the desk top. Rolling open one of the tomes, he waves Rose over.

Rubbing her forehead to stall the coming headache, Rose crosses the room and stands next to Zachery. She looks down at the top of the desk at the open tome. It is a map of the Eastern Kingdoms. Several red flags are dotted near the north end of the Sardo Bridge, while less blue flags are near the south end of the bridge. A round red disk the size of a thumb nail sits to the west northwest of the bridge. Due west of the red disk is a small wooden red block sitting where Gilneas City is. And northeast of the red block is a red star where the Undercity is located.

"This is where we are," Zachery says pointing at the blue flags to the south of the Sardo Bridge. Dragging his finger along the left to the red block, he taps the paper of the map twice. "And this is Gilneas City. How do you propose that you get from here to there?"

Nudging Zachery out of the way slightly, she traces her finger from their position south of the bridge down to Ironforge and then towards Stormwind to the southwest. "I'll leave here and head towards Ironforge. Then I'll take the tram to Stormwind and meet up with the nationalists. After we get some supplies and pool our money, we'll buy a ship and land it at Stormglen village." She traces her finger from Stormwind to Stormglen village. "We know Gilneas like the back of our hands; better than any zombie could."

"But can you hold it?" Zachery asks, pointing at the red block. "If you manage to take it, you'll be in spitting distance of the Undercity. No doubt whoever is left in charge there will notice you and send several legions your way. This sounds like a suicide mission, Rose."

Rose looks over at Zachery, her light blue eyes staring into his brown ones. "Then I will die in my homeland," she says simply.

Sighing, Zachery closes his eyes and rubs his forehead. "There is no way I can talk you out of this, can I?"

Chuckling humorously, Rose shakes her head. "No, Zach. I need to do this. What if Lakeshire was taken over by the Forsaken? Would you not do everything in your power to free it?"

Shaking his head, he raises his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine; I get it." Sighing again, he looks back at Rose and points a finger at her. "You be safe, or I'll swim over there and kill you."

Chuckling, Rose nudges Zachery. "Aye, aye, Sir," she says half mockingly.