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Chapter 9: Return II

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One month later

Home. They were back home finally, as Arthas couldn't take his eyes of the lush countryside around him, his home - like he was from another kingdom and just visiting by. All in all, Arthas was just glad to be back; Muradin and his dwarves were heading back to Ironforge on one of Lordaeron' ship, that would return after depositing the dwarves on shore.

The entire land seemed to be in festivity, as his carriage passed numerous cheering villagers and civilians. Nearing Capital City, he could hear the cheering from inside the city - they were happy to seem him returned...and Arthas was glad to be back.

"Well...looks like somebody missed you," teased Sylvanas, sitting next to Arthas, with Marwyn and Falric sitting opposite of them.

"...I can't help but feel, that they welcome me for the wrong reasons..." said Arthas.

"Getting cold feet, M'Lord?" asked Falric.

"Had that already," replied Arthas, hinting of their Northrend journey.

"Didn't we all?" said Marwyn, causing the four people to laugh away the nervousness.

"Well don't be..." added Sylvanas, patting Arthas on his hand - it wasn't a suprise to the occupants that the Prince and Ranger had gotten closer on the way back. With both Falric and Marwyn promised to keep it between themselves, when they found out - although that didn't stop the two men from chatting about it to their amusement.

"We have arrived!" spoke the carriage driver, as he got down and unlocked the door to them. Falric and Marwyn exiting first, then Arthas and Sylvanas.

"Look proud," added Arthas, as they headed towards the city, the gate opening infront of them, the bell above them announcing their return. Slowly the bridge lowered and with a hard thud opened their way to the joyous people of Lordaeron.

Flowers rained from up high, people were cheering for the return of their Prince, from above the rafters. Even the sun shone their way - Falric and Marwyn walked ahead of them, standing tall and their polearms gripped tightly, Arthas waving to his people as they continued towards the Imperial chamber..and through it all Sylvanas was the one who shyly walked through it, trying to hide her flushed face under her leather hood, of the many grateful people of Lordaeron as she got showered in flower pedals like the rest - you didn't ever get a welcoming like this back in Quel'Thalas. Luckily she was walking next to Arthas, otherwise she would've ran away immediately.

Fortunately it ended, as Falric and Marwyn pushed opened the Imperial chamber doors and they went inside. Suprising the aging man who sat on the throne, King Terenas. But he seemed happy to see his son again, dismissing the gathered advisors, as the throne room doors closed behind.

"Ah, my son-"

"No...father..." said Arthas, stopping his father mid-sentence. "...no need for titles or royal welcomes. I've been away for a long time and...I just want to speak to my father."

"As you wish, my son," replied Terenas with a warm smile, as he rose up and left the throne room.

"Well this it."

"Ah! Don't act that way, makes you look like your old self," replied Sylvanas, knowing he'll likely miss her.

"Oh, well I don't want that," chuckled Arthas, as they kissed. Marwyn scratching his helmet and Falric coughing at the show of affection. But unknown to the remaining four occupants in throne room, a young female eyed the couple from behind the curtains and giggled at the scene, before retreating away. "Don't forget to write!"

"How can anybody forget your face?" replied back Sylvanas, causing Arthas to check his face - he felt the underlines of a beard growing on him.

"If you say so," chuckled Arthas, giving her a last hug. "Falric, Marwyn would you mind showing Lady Sylvanas to the Royal Mage, so she can return home?"

"As you wish M'Lord," nodded Falric, as they followed their request. Arthas keeping his eyes on the leaving figure, until she finally disappeared behind a door and Arthas headed to speak with his father.

XXX

It had been almost three months, since Arthas had seen his father and...his older sister Calia. She would likely be happy to see him, if not tease him like she used to usually. Nevertheless, they were his family and he missed them most.

"Arthas. Good to see you back," said Terenas, who had changed into some simpler clothes, as Arthas arrived in his private quarters.

"Father. Good to see you too," replied Arthas, hugging his dad as they soon sat down.

"You've been away for a long time, my son. I've heard rumours surrounding you," spoke Terenas worried. "Are you alright, my son?"

"I have been, challenged, tried, beaten and tested, father. I've have lead my forces to dark shores and almost done things I am not proud of," replied Arthas, sighing. "Yet I have returned a changed man, one who banishes those very ideas now."

Terenas could agree that Arthas had a more rugged look to him, he was growing a beard and his hair was a bit messy, battle-scarred seemed the right word to describe him - Terenas was atleast hopeful, that Arthas wasn't changed in a bad way.

"Arthie!" giggled a familiar voice, as Arthas found himself hugged from behind, by a red-haired Menethil, Calia. "So my little brother is finally back?"

"Yes, I am," replied Arthas, patting his sister' hand on his neck.

"You really shouldn't do that. You gave daddy a jump-scare with your whole crazyness and chase-revenge," said Calia, trying to emphasize her point.

"I'm fine, my dear," replied Terenas.

"Yeah...but still..." answered Calia worried about her father. "...you spend so much time ruling the kingdom, even for your age...I'm worried."

"I am aswell, and now I promise to start acting like the Crown Prince I am," said Arthas.

"Where were you weeks ago?" asked Calia, annoyed.

"Chasing a mad-man, who wanted to turn our lands into an undead graveyard," replied Arthas, calmly.

"Oh...right..." said Calia, having heard about the plague.

"Take a seat Calia, I want you both to hear this," replied Arthas, as his sister took a seat and waited for Arthas to tell them both about his journey. "It started in Brill..."

An through the half hour, he explained the most parts of his travel: the undead, plague, threats, and so worth. Although he left some parts out, regarding a cursed object and him going almost mental, as Arthas didn't want to worry his father or sister out.

"...and though we returned, I suggest we keep our ears open for any similar dangers now," said Arthas, finishing his story. Calia having listened through the story with a shocked expression, while Terenas thought about every word uttered.

"So you still think there is danger out there?" asked Terenas.

"We can't be sure, but it wouldn't hurt to increase our patrols, and recruit more soldiers," replied Arthas, keeping the meeting with the Prophet unknown, as Terenas would dismiss it and be more worried about his sanity.

"These are troubled times," uttered Terenas, as he realized up the dangers to his kingdom.

"Father, you won't be alone in this. This was my war and I intend to keep the undead off our lands," said Arthas. "But for now, this is just a precaution. I do know were suffering from the after-effects of the plague. How is it?"

"After Stratholme, Uther had organized similar endeavours to other places were the plague had touched," replied Terenas.

"You saved us from the plague, lil'bro," teased Calia.

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Arthas. 'If only that was the truth.'

"...so?" started Calia, in her usual inquiring tone.

"What?"

"You going to comment about that woman, I saw earlier?" asked Calia, a grin on her face.

"Oh no!"

"You are seeing someone?" asked Terenas, curious.

"Yeah," sighed Arthas, he hoped that he could keep this a secret longer, yet knowing Calia that would be impossible.

"Oh please, I saw you two smooching - you like her," teased Calia.

"Your a royal-ass Calia," said Arthas, annoyed.

"I'm your older sister," replied Calia.

"Who is this woman?" asked Terenas, pleased that his son was courting a future wife and queen.

"She isn't from here..." said Arthas. "...she is a high elf, from Quel'Thalas... Ranger-General of Silvermoon...Sylvanas...Windrunner..."

"Wow..." replied Calia, suprised that Arthas had gotten together with a Windrunner, as one of them was an Alliance hero. "...didn't take you for an elf lover..."

Arthas merely groaned and rolled his eyes at the bravado of his older sister, yet he was worried on what his father might say.

"Dad?"

"Do you love her son?" asked Terenas.

"I do," replied Arthas seriously.

"She isn't from Lordaeron," he added.

"I know," replied Arthas. "...and I don't care, she saved my life countless of times...she came up with the plan to save Stratholme. I don't care if she is royal, elf or otherwise...I won't break-off with her, no matter what!"

"I never wanted that," chuckled Terenas, feeling the old age of his time. "I am an old man, and you can't help for an old man to be interested in grandkids."

"Dad!" replied Calia, red in her face.

"You don't mind?" asked Arthas.

"No," replied Terenas, chuckling under his breath. "I met your mother the same way - she was a young baker at the time, barely a noble."

"Mom wasn't a noble?" asked Calia suprised about her heritage.

"She wasn't and that didn't held me back. Your mother' pastry was blessedly sweet, hooked me to her and I couldn't stop sneaking back there all the time, in my youth. But my father was adamantly against it, so just one day I brought her to my father and demanded him to marry us."

"I bet granddad didn't take it lightly," replied Calia.

"He didn't...until Lianne brought him one of her pies...and the rest is history," said Terenas, eyeing at Arthas. "Do you believe she is worth it?"

"Yes," replied Arthas.

"Then I hope you treat her well," said Terenas, patting his son' hand.

"Sap..." teased Calia, rolling her eyes as she hugged her brother.

"Yes...well...is Uther here?" asked Arthas, remembering his second duty.

"In the Imperial hall," said Terenas.

"Thank you. If you'd excuse me now...I have a mistake to fix," spoke Arthas, as he left the quarters.

"Well...he seems better," said Calia, as soon as Arthas had left.

"Indeed my dear, the people need him," nodded Terenas. "...his trip has changed him..."

"...and snared him an exotic consort..." chuckled Calia, Terenas merely shaking his head at his daughter' antics.

XXX

Uther was busy checking out the several maps and documents surrounding Eastern Lordaeron and of the plague in the Imperial hall, as it was a quiet place to think and only used to discuss and greet ambassadors, most of the times it was empty. So far the plague was mostly brought to heel, Arthas' plan of dispelling the magical properties from the plague worked; without it, the plague was reduced to simple disease that the Light could purge away. If only they knew of this sooner.

Yet they had their problems still: grain needed to be imported in now, until Andorhal was rebuild; mages were requested from Dalaran, to help end this plague for good; and finally there was the hundreds of people who were either missing, dead or needed a new home, due to the devastation ravaged by the Scourge. There was a lot that needed to be rebuilt.

Then he heard the chamber doors open and an armored figure walk in, looking up he saw Arthas.

"Prince Arthas..." responded Uther, as he rolled up the maps and documents. "I hea-"

"No, Lord Uther!" interupted Arthas, as he approached his mentor. "I wanted to apologize for my actions months ago, it was unjust and unfair. I banished your loyalty and respect, due my personal vengeance and anger, for that I am deeply...sorry. I don't deserve your respect, but I'll do my hardest to earn it back in any way I can and hear any advice you might grace me with."

By far Uther was shocked, as Arthas finished speaking - he knew Arthas to be willed, determined and always wanting to succeed. But he never heard him speak in such an apologizing tone, not since he had been a child.

"I understand...and accept your apology," replied Uther, glad to see Arthas back.

"I thank you...my friend," said Arthas, yet looking troubled. "...yet there is something I need to tell you about as well."

"About your journey?" asked Uther, to which Arthas nodded and they took a seat, as Arthas started to relay his story, the full version.

In the while, that Arthas relayed his story, Uther listened with cold calmness, focusing on every detail and word like he did during the Second War. He listened the first time at Stratholme, this time he'd make sure not leave any chances of mis-communication or conflicted opinions to drive them apart. Yet he was very intrigued through it all: ancient spider kingdoms, cursed items and lands, fear of secession and abandonment - Uther felt like he had almost caused some of his problems to escalate, but luckily Arthas had remained calm through it all. And the name Windrunner caught his ear, he had known of the valiant elven ranger Alleria Windrunner, who had been the great general Turalyon' closest ally and lover, during the Second War. Seemed that another Windrunner had helped save someone again.

"Does Terenas know?"

"I told my father the eased version, I didn't want him to worry," replied Arthas.

"And what of this Lady Sylvanas?"

"Are you against it?"

"Just...suprised," replied Uther honestly.

"I am not ashamed, nor willing to part with her."

"So it would seem," replied Uther. Arthas had changed indeed, according to his story, he carried a different aura with him now - once he had the bravado of a young man and the will of it, now he seemed calmer and carried a different aura...seemed...wiser. Seemed that his trip to Northrend was similar to a baptisement, one of fire and steel - once a boy, now a man. One who was already courting somebody special. "What now?"

"I want to continue my training with you, if you will accept me and...more," replied Arthas, as he showed Uther the shards of Light' Vengeance in his pouch.

"Oh...well then, I can think of a few dwarves who might be grateful enough to help you," said Uther, with a smile. Things were looking up in Lordaeron, after everything that had happened.

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A/N: Arthas is back; next chapter he will get a new weapon...and Sylvanas breaks the news to Anasterian. Wonder what will happen?

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