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Chapter 15: Aftermath

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Kael'thas Sunstrider was worried sick, as would be any prince when he suddenly saw injured, women and children appear suddenly in Dalaran; all of them being high elves as well, and hearing that somebody was assaulting your homeland and had breached your capital.

Archmage Antonidas had organized some housing for the refugees, yet from there on they were dragging feet on getting actual military aid to Quel'Thalas. Antonidas and the Kirin Tor weren't ready to send its own forces into an unknown environment, especially against an overwhelming army that had brought Quel'Thalas to its knees - they were currently working on getting aid from the other kingdoms before acting. Yet that made Kael'thas more angrier - by the time they could act it might be too late - and he couldn't just sit and do nothing.

Kael'thas by now had been recruiting any high-skilled mage he could find, which by far had only been high elves who had accepted - it was their homeland that needed help afterall and their own prince was asking it.

"Kael? Where are you hurrying off to?" asked a young voice, that Kael'thas instantly recognized and turned around to see it was Jaina.

"I don't have time, Jaina! My homeland is under attack, the Kirin Tor aren't working fast enough! I need to hurry!" replied Kael a little angry, moving faster towards the centre of Dalaran, with Jaina following him.

"What are you planning?"

"I'm going to Quel'Thalas!" replied Kael, moving swiftly.

"I heard it was dangerous - of the refugees speaking of trolls and undead armies," spoke Jaina, trying to keep up. "I've faced these undead, they are a dangerous force."

"I CAN'T WAIT!" yelled Kael, scaring the young mage, although he calmed quickly as Jaina was just being a worried friend, before he continued his walk. "Sorry, but this is my land. I can't just sit around - call me crazy or suicidal or whatever, but I am going there with some my people."

"C-can I come?" asked Jaina, being the diplomat and helper she was - if Kael'thas was going to against the Scourge then he might need her expertise; being she was the only person in Dalaran, who fought the undead up close.

"You? Well...I..." stammered Kael at Jaina' offer, he had a liking and crush on the young human mage from the day he had met her. While he'd relish at the chance to work and be close to her, he wasn't in the attitude to put Jaina in danger - yet still. "...alright. But stay close and far away from any danger."

"I'm not helpless Kael, I've faced the undead before. Better you keep close to me," smirked Jaina, although kept her worried expression soon.

"Fair enough..." he added, arriving at the centre of Dalaren, where barely a dozen high elves awaited - mages only sadly. "Brothers, sisters of Quel'Thalas! You have heard the call, our homeland is in danger. Unspeakable horrors might await us there, death maybe - if any of you have any second thoughts, then speak up! I understand your fear!"

Nobody uttered a single objection at Kael'thas' short-speech, even Jaina was ready to tag along - being the only human in the group, despite the danger.

"Very well, then to Quel'Thalas!" spoke Kael, conjuring the incantation and they were off.

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The moment Kael'thas arrived in Quel'Thalas he mentally prepared for the worst: mangled bodies, burning buildings, with decaying and dying lands all around them - he had heard of the rumours from the returning mages of the Lordaeron' plague incident and it didn't sound pleasant nor was Jaina' description of the undead and how they fought.

All that combined, then Kael'thas was very suprised to find the exact opposite when he had arrived in Silvermoon. Despite standing on blighted ground with a large, destructive path straight through Silvermoon into Quel'Danas, most of everything was still intact and living. Elves were moving about, carrying wounded, supplies or weapons - yet what shocked Kael'thas was that they weren't alone; human knights and even paladins filled the city, carrying or helping with the wounded, trading weaponry and a few talks, then charged off into the forests beyond alongside elven troops.

"They! They are Lordaerons!" spoke Jaina ecstatic, seeing the insignia and being overjoyed of the safety of the high elven people.

'How's this possible?' thought Kael, moving about the city. Everywhere he saw the blue crest - near the injured, among them and helping them, even their dead being gathered up and layed next to elven ones.

"My prince!" spoke up a nearby priestess from her exhausting sessions, recognizing the young prince immediately. "Lady Liadrin! Thank the Light, you have arrived."

"Priestess. What happened here?" asked Kael'thas, almost dreading the answer.

"We...were attacked..." spoke Liadrin, looking saddened by the whole ordeal. "...foul trolls and undead, humans called them the Scourge. Our forces, defenses...we were helpless, one of our own betrayed us to them...it was too much."

"We heard some rumours not much then, the next hour or so and an entire army is at our doorstep - many of our best fell; the Silver Circle is dead, Grand Magister Belo'vir...even Vandellor..." sniffled Liadrin, taking his adopted father' death heavily. "...King Anasterian too. I'm sorry."

"My? My father is dead?" asked Kael, shocked at the news. A certain blonde mage patting his shoulder at the revelation, trying to soothe his pain which it did to an extend.

"Yes...I'm deeply sorry. He fell in battle against the traitor Dar'Khan, who wanted to use the Sunwell for his own purpouses!"

"The Sunwell? Is it safe?" asked Kael, hearing the second worst thing.

"...its structure and shrine was destroyed..." replied Liadrin, causing almost Kael to freeze up from the shock. "...yet some of it survived, there is still hope!"

"Oh...good," sighed Kael in relief - although he felt a slight pang in his body: it felt weird, maybe shock upon hearing the Sunwell damaged, or just simple worry. No matter, he'd check it up later.

"Go see Lady Sylvanas and the Lordaeron Prince - they are currently near the entrace of Silvermoon. Planning and...by far keeping us alive. Thank the Light, if Lordaeron hadn't arrived then...I shudder at the thought."

"I will, thank you priestess," replied Kael, heading there with Jaina. Then he caught wind of the words - 'Lordaeron Prince', those words almost seemed unlikely to be uttered here, but farther away in the distance over a table with the Ranger-General stood his once-rival, Prince Arthas.

"...the closest villages around Silvermoon have been secured. Now it's a matter of dealing with the undead," spoke Arthas, crossing out a place on the map of Quel'Thalas.

"What about the outer villages?" asked Sylvanas, eyeing the villages at the outskirts of the elven borders.

"One of your, Halduron I remember, went there along with Marwyn, Highlord Mograine and a hundred knights."

"That's good. Then we can cross that out," replied Sylvanas, crossing out the outer villages.

"You might want to send a runner, along with a few soldiers. We don't want them getting between the undead, since most of them would be civilians," added Arthas.

"Lor'themar' closer, I can send an owl to him and request he divert his forces...," said Sylvanas. "...unless?"

"Nono, this is the safest way for the civilians," assured Arthas.

"Yet not for you or your soldiers..." replied Sylvanas.

"We can handle it. We just need to keep the pressure on them," said Arthas. They had won the war, yet now they had to kick the undead out of Quel'Thalas who were holding at the Second Silvermoon Gate, while securing the villages, city and driving the Amani away as well - suffice to say, their forces were divided. "Most of them there seem to be the mindless ones: ghouls, spiders, abominations and a flesh golem. Seemed that the servant-factor: necromancers and acolytes have made a run for it."

"A problem?"

"Not really, they're likely marching straight into Uther' grasp," said Arthas, crossing out the First Silvermoon Gate. "What about the trolls?"

"Maybe a problem - however, I killed their leader so they should be leaderless for now and they lost a good amount of warriors here as well," calculated Sylvanas. "And even then the trolls can't risk attacking both the elves...AND humans at the same time."

"See your feeling better," teased Arthas, patting her shoulder.

"Not in 'distress' anymore atleast," chuckled Sylvanas.

"That you're not," replied Arthas in same humour, while their two watchers approached them.

Jaina was one to be suprised at the sight, she had been in a group with Sylvanas months ago but never got to know her in general. Now she was seeing her and Arthas together, and laughing at something - Arthas seemed different as well, in term of a new armor and a new weapon he had on his hip, yet he looked a different man now: more older and aged, while sporting a beard as well. Kael being equally confused as well - why was Arthas here?

"Oh! P-prince Kael'thas, hello," said Sylvanas gathering up posture, seeing the elven prince approach them.

"Ranger-General."

"Arthas? What are you doing?" asked Jaina the question.

"Well...saving the high elves...per say..." replied Arthas.

"Why? This isn't your war?" asked Kael.

"...actually...it is!" replied Arthas, more stern in his voice. "...the Scourge ravaged my homeland, my people...and I will be damned, before I let it happen to anothers people."

"I heard...it was bad..." spoke Kael.

"It is - most of our best are dead, the magisters...Anasterian. A straight blighted path runs through our land...and we nearly lost the Sunwell..." said Sylvanas.

"How bad?"

"Of the well...only a small pool remains. The traitor attempted to use it, Arthas killed him," replied Sylvanas, and took off a cloth from a blade, Felo'melorn. "...your father's...and he had said something, before his death - 'not to make the same mistakes he did'."

"How can I do that-" sighed Kael, picking up the blade, then dropped it onto the ground. "-when I'm left with my father' mistakes, pieces and burdens."

"...then rise up-" replied Arthas, picking up Felo'melorn from the ground. "-let it make you into a stronger person, and help you make sure this would never happen again. This happened to me once, I was ready to give up, but somebody kept me up and kicking. Time I return the favor."

Arthas then offered Kael the runeblade again, which he hesitantly took up again.

"You aren't alone in this - look to your companions, friends, people to see you through this," added Arthas.

"Who?"

"I consider you a friend Kael," said Jaina,

"Always ready to serve Prince Kael," added Rommath, joining them.

"My service to Quel'Thalas," added Sylvanas as well.

"You aren't as alone as you think. Someone taught me that once," said Arthas, peeking at Sylvanas. "Now get up! You have a kingdom to rebuild."

"My people...we can't do this by ourselves...I might need aid - thus the Alliance..." sighed Kael. "...which I guess they won't be very welcoming to accept, after we left."

"Says who?" asked Arthas, arms crossed. "I'm the prince of Lordaeron, my dearest friend is the king of Stormwind itself, your a Dalaran mage and Jaina' father is the ruler of Kul'Tiras - with the dwarves our close allies as well, a dwarf a dear friend and mentor of me. This isn't as hopeless, as you might think - hope, is the last thing to fall. Will you allow it to fall?"

"I won't allow it," said Kael, more confident than before, eyeing his once rival-turned-hero. "Thank you! Prince of Lordaeron."

"Your welcome!" replied Arthas, shaking hands with him. "We'll stay here until this threat has been dealt with...so I suffice we'll be staying for awhile...and so I haven't seen much of your city, beside the destroyed part. Mind giving me a look?"

"Me..." realized Sylvanas, at his hints, then grinned at his thought. "...I'm sure I can show you around, we have an hour or so."

"After you," said Arthas, bowing at her to lead - after she written a quick message for an owl and send it flying. "Falric - manage any troubles, will you?"

"Aye, sir!" replied Falric, waving them off, as he then returned to sharpening his blade. However their close-ness caught the attention of one mage, namely a human one.

"Excuse me, Falric? A moment?" asked Jaina, approaching the busy Commander.

"Hmm?"

"If you don't mind me asking - what's up with Arthas and the Ranger?" she asked.

"Not much..." lied Falric.

"Your Arthas' close-friend. I know that Arthas went to Northrend and returned changed. What happened there?"

"I can't say much..." sighed Falric at the mage' curiosity.

"Please? I promise not to tell anybody else."

"Fine. Arthas and Sylvanas are a bit...close..." whispered Falric. "...and don't go spreading it. Supposed to be a secret."

"H-how?" asked Jaina suprised.

"Northrend - after you left Stratholme with Uther, Sylvanas had arrived and managed to shake Arthas out of his mad-plan. Then came Northrend - it went bad fast, yet we held strong. Sylvanas kept Arthas, maybe even us from falling apart under the madness - so you'd expect for them to get closer, from that experience."

"Oh..." replied Jaina, a bit saddened as he still considered Arthas close.

"Don't look sad. I saw that new elf-prince giving you a few glances."

"Oh!" blushed Jaina at that statement, glancing at Kael from afar who talking with one of his mage's - he had been showning some interest to her in Dalaran. "...maybe..."

Farther away in the city, Sylvanas had taken Arthas to her own small, yet beautiful house in the city. Despite the heavy fighting, her house was relativly intact - filled with colourful accessories and beautiful silken stuff.

"Whoo!" whistled Arthas at sight. "You elves have a positive outlook on everything."

"True..." replied Sylvanas, removing her hood and cloak, hanging it nearby, letting her long blonde hair lose. "Well...my little kingdom...it ain't Lordaeron, but it's home."

"Kinda small, for someone who protects everything in Quel'Thalas."

"I'm always on the move, usually staying in a Farstrider outpost - I...rarely visit this place..." spoke Sylvanas, feeling bad in her stomach and not due to the wound there.

"Something wrong?" asked Arthas concerned.

"My family grew up here, small...but cozy," remembred Sylvanas. "...then war drove us apart - parents had passed away by then. I was left with my two sisters - my older one, gone...beyond the Dark Portal. My younger...missing somewhere as well, on a journey of her own."

"Hey. You aren't alone," spoke Arthas, hugging her.

"True..." nodded Sylvanas, enjoying the warmth and closeness after everything that had happened.

"-and Falric, Marwyn-"

"-stop it!" giggled Sylvanas, her mood lightened up from that. "You saved us - me and my homeland."

"I still owe you," replied Arthas, stroking her long blond threads. "...and I protect the ones I care about..."

"Thanks anyway..."

"Oh! Almost forgot..." realized Arthas, fishing out a blue-sapphire pendant from his pouch. "...this yours?"

"Oh my-" spoke Sylvanas, feeling her neck - gone. "-I didn't realize that I had lost it."

"Precious to you, yes?" asked Arthas, placing the pendant in her hands.

"You don't know the half of it - this is a piece of three, from a larger pendant of my mother, long ago. My older sister broke it apart and gave each of us a piece - so we'd never feel separated," said Sylvanas, sheding tears at this. "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you."

"Always..." replied Arthas, kissing the teary elf, who looped her arms around his neck.

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A/N: D'awhhh...ain't that adorable? (Arthas and Kael bros now? Ya!)

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