Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

~In The Air Tonight-Phil Collins~

In his entire life, Khadgar had never known such joy and gratitude as he did for the few weeks after Cordana awoke. He created a pocket dimension for the three of them, and for the first time ever he thought only of his little family and nothing else. Only Jaaral would be able to reach him, should the world suddenly be turned on its ear and only Archmage Khadgar could save them. He knew that would not happen, and revelled in the time with his family.

Cordana went through a range of emotions. She had loved feeding Khaidric, but due to her lengthy absence her body had stopped producing what he needed and as he was now several months older, she had to contend with feeding him other foods. This saddened her deeply, but she came to accept it.

Their son was so interactive. He laughed and he reacted to their words and imitated simple actions, and was so delighted at seeing his mother again, at being held and snuggled by her. The little boy gripped a lock of her hair or her clothing and refused to be put down, willing only to go to his father when Cordana needed a break. He soon returned to his old self, the happy, amiable Kaldorei child that they had first come to love. His parents anticipated his needs as perfectly as they had before, and Khaidric's insecurity faded into the past.

Khaidric slept between them as Cordana wanted him to know that both of his parents were there for him. The beautiful little boy thrived on their love and attention, and it was all they did to provide him with it.

"Khadgar," said Cordana one evening as they sat on the stairs counting stars, the baby sleeping in his father's arms.

"I wish to address the Council."

"That is an odd request, Cordana. What is on your mind?"

"I have information that I feel they must have, and Jarrod also. Will you set this up for me? I would rather tell you all together. It is not good news and I am now prepared to speak of it."

Khadgar looked at his wife with concern. "I will send a message to them tomorrow. I suppose it is time that we resume our duties. However, now that the Fel has been removed from the Tower, Khaidric need not leave our side."

That made Cordana very happy.

The Chamber of Air, where the Council of Six met with those not of the Kirin Tor, was a strange place. It was a platform of marble, whose sides and roof were completely invisible, and seemed to be floating in mid air high above the clouds. An unheard wind moved those clouds past, giving the illusion that the entire thing was moving through time and space. Visitors to the Chamber of Air were often intimidated by it, and some even got ill. In those situations the mages would simply create a different illusion.

Cordana was amazed by it. She stood at a small podium. Behind her were seats for other guests and Jarrod and Jaaral sat there. In front of her, on a raised platform, sat the entire council, Khadgar included, with Jaina in the center.

"Thank you for agreeing to hear what I must tell you. It is not good news."

"We are pleased that you consider us worthy of this information, Cordana," said Jaina kindly. "Your journey has been a terribly difficult one. To have you back is a great victory indeed."

Cordana looked away for a moment. "I am sorry for the pain I caused you," she said.

"It was not you who did anything to me," responded Jaina. "We lay all of this at Gul'Dan's feet and nowhere else."

Cordana looked back at Jarrod. Her news would hit him the hardest and she didn't envy him. Her eyes then met her mate's and she saw the deep love in his expression. By Elune, how could I have ever doubted you my love? she asked herself. His smile encouraged her and gave her strength.

"With Gul'Dan's influence upon me vanquished, my memories of the time I spent with Maiev have faded considerably. This is why I requested an audience with you. What I still remember will also fade and you must know come to know it now before it does. Maiev is not corrupted by the Fel. At least not in the traditional sense. She was never under the control of an Orb nor of a Cultist as I was. She is suffering from madness yes, but not for the reasons you may think. "

"What has gripped her then?" asked Khadgar.

"To put it simply, Maiev is in love."

Without exception, all of them gave her a puzzled expression. "Love is hardly a reason to run about and try and kill people, Cordana," said Karlain.

"Indeed," she responded. "As you all know, Maiev's life was lived for one sole reason: the capture of Illidan. Her dogged determination set the standard for all of the Wardens, but slowly, over time, what was just another mission turned into a lifestyle, a reason for being. When Illidan was struck down and imprisoned, Maiev lost her reason to live. Illidan himself told her so. They needed one another. Without him, she was nothing. She was appointed as his jailor, his watcher, and the chase became something else entirely. She was his constant companion, and he hers. It is not a stretch to realize that the many hours they spent together changed the relationship from one of hate, to one of love."

Jarrod gave a strangled cry. "Are you telling us, that my sister fell in love with her prisoner? That is absurd, Cordana! Who told you this, where does this information come from?"

She turned to him and regret filled her eyes. "I shall detail everything Jarrod, but know that my words are truth."

Khadgar gestured and created a pitcher of water and a glass for Cordana, floating it beside her. She was grateful. Her mate always seemed to anticipate her needs.

"Maiev begged me to release her from prison, as she had something to show me, something that would make me understand why she had done what she did. I was already so deeply entwined by Gul'Dan, so angry at Khadgar and everyone, that the only people I trusted were Garona and Maiev. When Garona was freed, Maiev made it clear that she was a betrayer and no longer worthy of our loyalty. It was not hard for me to release her, she cleverly forced me to remember how close we had been, how she had loved me and I her. With my emotions frayed and my mind twisted, the pain I felt was soothed by those memories. Maiev brought me to a place, but she blindfolded me and led me by moonsabre. I know there were portals involved, but nothing else. It was there that I met her son."

A collective murmur rose.

"The child is Kaldorei, and his father is none other than Illidan himself."

"By the light!" gasped Jarrod, and the others murmured their shock in unison.

"The problem is that when Maiev disappeared, intent on hiding her pregnancy, no other Warden would take her place, so Illidan was placed in a magical stasis field and relocated to the deepest and most terrible part of the Vault. When she returned and discovered this, it drove her over the edge. It was determined that Illidan, as dangerous as he was, would remain in stasis indefinitely. Maiev, facing the loss of her position and her lover was driven insane. She blamed her brother for the decision and hates him with a fierce passion, but will not kill him because Jarrod is the only one who can undo the spell that holds Illidan. Or so she thought."

Cordana took another long drink. The Council was riveted to her every word.

"There is another who wants to see Illidan freed. This other needs someone to lead him into the Vault and he found a very willing participant in Maiev."

"Who would that be?" asked Khadgar. "Illidan is of no use to anyone anymore."

Cordana's response brought down a silence that screamed. "Gul'Dan."

"He means to reestablish the Burning Legion, and coincidentally Maiev discovered him and his power. She wants her lover released and he wants Illidan's power under his control. She believes he will honor his word...but he will not. He will enslave Illidan and Maiev both in body and soul to his will."

"How do you know this, Cordana?" asked Modera.

"Garona," she replied.

"But how?" asked Khadgar. "You never had a chance to know her before you...were...taken by the Fel."

Cordana sipped her water and nodded. "That is true, but Garona and I were linked remember, by your magic. There were moments when Gul'Dan was not prevalent in her mind, and she begged me to hear her. Sometimes she was lucid and wanted to be freed from him." Her brow furrowed as she remembered. She looked directly at Khadgar. "It was terrible...she would beg me for aid, then Gul'Dan would twist her mind and she would tell terrible lies, which he made me believe." Cordana looked down, trying to shut off emotions attached to the memories.

Khadgar stood up. "Let us pause a moment," he said softly to Jaina, who nodded with a soft smile. Leaving his place with the Council, Khadgar went to Cordana.

"My love, are you alright? Do you wish to stop and come back another time?"

She shook her head and touched his face gently. "No, I must do this. I know Gul'Dan and Maiev for what they are, and I know they have no claim on me any longer. It is behind me now and we must continue our mission."

Khadgar smoothed her hair back from her face, then placed a tender kiss on her lips. "Would you prefer that I stand down here, with you?" he asked.

She smiled and shook her head. "I am fine. The memories are hard, but it will get better with time. Please return to your place with the Council."

Khadgar nodded and turned to go, but then turned back and kissed her once more. Cordana laughed softly as a feeling of warmth flooded through her. The feeling of being truly loved, no matter the circumstances. Cordana looked towards the Council once Khadgar had taken his seat.

"Garona has been trying to help us all along, but there was no way for her to succeed as long as Gul'Dan had her in his clutches. She warned me about Maiev, and she was right."

"How can we stop this?" asked Ansirem.

"There is only one way," said Cordana. "We don't know when this dreadful plan is going to happen. The only solution I can see is that Gul'Dan needs to be destroyed. Quickly. We must continue with our original mission and attack him with everything that we have."

"What of her son, my nephew?" asked Jarrod. "He is innocent in all of this! Does he know who his father is? Has he been taught to hate me, hate us all? Or is there hope for the child?"

Cordana faced her friend. "I do not know where he is, Jarrod. He is a young man, no longer an elfling. Maiev has taught him to fight and to survive. I cannot tell you if he has been taught to hate anyone but unfortunately given Maiev's strong feelings he is well versed in her philosophies. His life is not destined to be a happy one no matter how things turn out. He will be the ultimate loser of this war and for that, I am so sorry."

Commander Jaaral turned sympathetic eyes to the Kaldorei sire. "There is no foreseeable solution to this problem my friend. We must do what we can to save as many as possible and pray that the light will have a hand in your nephew's life."

Jarrod slumped visibly. "Must I not try? If something befalls her, will he not be left wondering if he is alone in this world, why his only family does not come for him? Would he not go to the Wardens for help?"

Cordana shook her head. "He does not know you exist as family, Jarrod. And he would not go to the Wardens, as he knows his mother's feelings on that subject. He will turn to the forest, and survive as all our kind always has. I do not believe Maiev has ever told him who his father is. He is a full blood Kaldorei and I am sure the story she gave him was enough to sate his curiosity. Things would only change if her plan comes to fruition and I do not intend for that to happen. In her madness, Maiev thinks that Illidan will be overjoyed at the knowledge that he is a father, and she will get to play happy family. We all know that is not going to happen."

"Gul'Dan has manipulated her to achieve his own ends," said Khadgar. "How could she not realize that a demon never keeps the promise that one thinks it will."

"Indeed," agreed Jaina. "It is time we prepared to take him down. Commander Jaaral, what are our first steps?"

"We must know what we are up against, and that will determine how many warriors must be prepared."

Khadgar nodded. "I must speak with Garona. She alone knows what is inside that fortress, but I can tell you that we will not be going in with an army. It will be only a few of us, and only the most powerful."

His eyes met Cordana's and Jaaral's. There was no joy in them.

For one full week the garrison was on high alert. Mission specialists were dispatched at Garona's command to ensure that her information was still current and accurate. There was concern that with her loss, Gul'Dan might have changed his plans. But the warlock's arrogance, as well as Garona's information, remained intact.

Khadgar and Jaaral both interviewed all potential warriors for their army. There were several criteria to be met, and not all of those chosen qualified. Because the numbers came up too low, several were chosen that did not match up perfectly. Both of them preferred to take only those who had no ties, who would not leave behind a husband, wife, or children. Unfortunately there were not enough of those who had the skill required, and sacrifices were made. It burdened the Commander and the Archmage's hearts, but it was not to be helped. War was a terrible thing.

For 12 hours, locked in the garrison war room, Jaaral, Khadgar, Cordana, Garona and the chosen army went over the attack plan.

Everything was set. But for Khadgar and Cordana there was one thing still left to do.

Toriona wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at her friends. "I am honored that you would ask me to do this," she said tearfully. "But it will not happen!"

Cordana was fighting back her own tears.

"We just need to know that if we do not return from the battle, that our son will always be loved and looked after. I cannot think of two better people than you and Jaaral."

"Wouldn't you rather have one of your people, Cordana?" asked the Ambassador.

"My people can be rigid and unyielding, and Khaidric is only half Kaldorei. Khadgar's people, like you, are more accepting, and with Jaaral Khaidric will receive knowledge of another culture as well. That is what we wish for him. I do not want him raised as I was, cloistered and intolerant, but rather like Khadgar was, with open curiosity and compassion for all living things."

Toriona nodded through her still misty eyes. "I promise you that if anything ever happens and neither you nor Khadgar can look after Khaidric, that Jaaral and I, collectively or alone, will raise him and love him as our own."

Khadgar smiled, and put his arm around Cordana's shoulder. It was all too real to them now, there was no more delaying the inevitable. Everything was now in place to mount an attack on Gul'Dan's fortress, and destroy the dreadful warlock himself and end his Iron Horde.