Bronze Aspect.
Part IV: Dawn of Victory.
"Uther! Help me! I can't let it go!" Sylvanas wept, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It burns!"
He held her hands and tried to pry her fingers away from it, with little success. He quickly thought of something, and he desperately hoped that would help her.
"I know it does, but listen to my voice," Uther said, looking into her glowing eyes, hoping she could see him. "Do not let it overwhelm you. Instead, focus on channelling it, wield it as you have seen me do in the past."
She nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on channeling the Light through her, like Uther. Slowly she peeled her fingers off the crystal, letting it drop to the floor. Uther quickly picked it up and slipped it into a separate bag on his belt.
"Are you okay my dear?" Uther asked, looking into her eyes, seeing a familiar glow. "Sylvanas?"
"I've never been better Uther!" she smiled, she held out her hand and it glowed brightly. "I'd say that things are absolutely perfect."
"How have you done this so quickly?" Uther said in astonishment. "It takes years for many to have this much control over the Light. Even I took years to learn how to weild the Light as you have seen."
"I was overwhelmed by that crystal at first, but it did not feel foreign to me, it felt natural." Sylvanas said slowly. "I mean... it came to me when my sister was threatened in the last rift, I was able to channel it into my arrows."
"Interesting," Uther said deep in thought.
He looked at the horizon, and his eyes spotted five plumes of smoke to the north-east.
"Looks like we've got an appointment to keep." Sylvanas smiled, getting to her feet and dragging Uther toward the smoke plumes.
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"That went well as can be expected!" Vereesa cursed as they escorted Thrall out of an inferno that had been Durnholde Internment Camp.
"I admit my fire spells combined with those incendiary devices and a strong wind; all meant that a controlled fire got out of hand." Jaina breathed, as they reached Tarren Mill. "But Durnholde was completely destroyed, I guess we do leave a mark. Where's Uther and Sylvanas, I hope they got what can help him with the Lich."
"Why exactly is this Lich so dangerous?" Vereesa asked.
"I do not fully understand it, but basically it is a supernatural evil that commanded the Scourge until we killed it." Jaina said quickly, as Thrall scared off the horse he had ridden to the small town. "But before then, it was bound to Uther's soul, and he fought bitterly to keep control of his body and mind, but he almost lost himself several times."
"Why would he go back and retrieve it?" Vereesa asked. "And why isn't it dead then?"
"I do not know the answer to either of those questions, but I trust Uther, he's been like an uncle to me, and I know he'll do the right thing now." Jaina said, before they followed Thrall into a barn.
Jaina and Vereesa then protected Thrall as he searched the different buildings in Tarren Mill for Taretha. As they approached the inn, they were rejoined by Uther and Sylvanas, the middle Windrunner seeming to have a spring in her step.
"Just in time for the main event?" Sylvanas asked, following Thrall into the inn, as the other three stood outside.
"What is going on with her?" Vereesa asked, giving her sister a perplexed look.
"I will explain later," Uther gasped, having to catch his breath at being put through his paces by his protégé. "Trust me when I say that it is a very positive thing for everyone concerned."
"Thrall! Come outside and face your fate!" An echoing voice roared, they looked up and saw an Infinite dragon swooping toward them. "Taretha's life hangs in the balance. Surely you care for her. Surely you wish to save her..."
Thrall hurried out of the inn, followed by Sylvanas, who had her bow at the ready.
"Ah, there you are. I had hoped to accomplish this with a bit of subtlety, but I suppose direct confrontation was inevitable." The dragon sneered. "Your future, Thrall, must not come to pass and so... you and your troublesome friends must die!"
Several groups of Infinite dragons spawned around them and rushed toward them from all sides.
"Orders my lord?" Jaina asked, blasting one group with fire.
"May I?" Sylvanas asked, nocking an arrow into her bow and aiming it skyward.
"Go on Sylvanas, show us what you can do." He smiled.
She fired the arrow directly up, and it glowed brilliantly as it took flight. Uther and Vereesa attacked the dragonkin on the ground, quickly being joined by Jaina and Sylvanas.
"You cannot fight fate!" the dragon roared, descending toward them.
Suddenly it froze mid-descent and collapsed to the ground, as the Light burned it from the inside out.
"No! ... The master... will not... be pleased." It growled, before it was completely burned away by Sylvanas' holy arrow.
"Well... you certainly have a lot to explain." Jaina breathed, staring in disbelief at the arrow lying on the ground where the dragon had died.
"Let us finish up with the Bronze dragons, then I need to get to Ironforge." Uther replied. "Only the dwarves can help with the next part of my plan."
"Understood my lord," the three ladies said in unison as Thrall ran off into the hills, and Erozion appeared beside the inn.
"Congratulations heroes, you have protected the time stream from the Infinite Dragonflight three times in a row, my father is pleased with your work." Erozion said merrily. "For now your assistance here is finished, but we will require your aid in the future."
"Of course, we are happy to help in any way we can." Uther said, shaking the disguised dragon's hand.
"Shall I return you to the Caverns of Time then?" Erozion asked, to which Uther nodded.
In the blink of an eye they were back in the Caverns of Time, except Erozion had been replaced by Nozdormu.
"Thank you Lord Uther, your help has been invaluable to our charge," Nozdormu said warmly. "Alexstrasza's praise is well justified by your actions over the past three days."
"Three days! But it barely seemed like one!" Sylvanas exclaimed.
"Time works differently in here" Nozdormu smiled. "I wish you luck in your remaining quests, defeating my rogue brothers will not be easy."
"Thank you Timeless One," Uther bowed to the leader of the Bronze dragonflight. "We are headed to..."
"I know your path Lord Uther, and where it leads." Nozdormu interrupted him. "A word of caution, do not approach every new foe as an enemy, as you may find an ally instead."
Before Uther could respond Nozdormu vanished from the caverns, leaving them alone. Onyxia and Ysondre hurried over, they seemed glad to be back in Uther's company.
"Let's get to Ironforge then!" Jaina said quickly, her eyes darting to the two filled bags attached to Uther's belt.
"I've got to get back to Dalaran, Rhonin will be wondering where I am." Vereesa said quickly.
"Of course, I hope we meet again soon." Jaina smiled.
"So do I." Vereesa smiled. "Lord Uther, it has been a privilege to work with you again, I wish you luck in your endeavours."
"You too," Uther smiled, shaking the woman's hand.
"Sylvanas, my dear sister, stay safe." Vereesa said slowly, before engaging Sylvanas in a bone-breaking hug. "And please keep in contact, I'd hate to lose you as well."
"I will sister," Sylvanas said, fighting back tears.
"Good bye" Vereesa said, before vanishing.
"Time for us to go," Jaina said warmly.
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With that they teleported to Ironforge within the blink of an eye, appearing in the throne room. Their sudden appearance made the three leaders of the Dwarvish realms jump back in surprise.
"Blimey Uther!" Magni exclaimed. "You certainly know how to make an entrance."
"Sorry Muradin," Jaina blushed.
"No problem lass, what brings you back to our city, more dragon troubles?" Magni laughed.
"Almost," Uther said vaguely. "It is a long story."
"We're all ears," Falstad said simply, as they approached the three leaders.
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"Not again!" Muradin slapped the palm of his hand against his forehead when Uther had finished regaling them. "You're planning on helping it... again?"
"Not quite" Uther smiled, revealing the Light Crystal. "I need your blacksmiths to re-forge Frostmourne with this."
"What is 'this'?" Magni asked, eyeing the glowing gem.
"A physical embodiment of the Light," Uther said proudly. "A crystal that is pure Light."
"Alright, anything else?" Magni asked quickly.
"I think that Sylvanas is in need of some daggers that would better serve the Light, as her current ones are more designed for hunting." He replied.
"What's wrong with these?" Sylvanas asked, unsheathing her daggers.
"You are well on your way to becoming one of the most powerful and skilled paladins ever, it seems only fitting that you are given blades to better aid you in serving the Light." Uther smiled. "I fear that the Light may destroy your current blades in the heat of battle, putting your life at risk."
"Yes my lord," Sylvanas said, inspecting her daggers closely.
"I understand perfectly. M'boys love a challenge, and reforging that cursed blade into something holy is perfect!" Magni grinned. "And we'll make sure we carry out your requests, as well as not touch it with bare hands."
"In the meantime, rest, recuperate, you are welcome to use my house again during your stay," Falstad smiled. "You must be exhausted after saving the world so many times."
"Indeed." Uther smiled, as Sylvanas placed her daggers with the Frostmourne remains, as well as the Ashbringer Crystal."
'-If that thing kills me, you will regret this foolishness!-' the voice whispered coldly.
"We will retire, and let your smiths get to work," Uther said quickly.
"Rest well heroes," Magni said warmly, as the four heroes left the throne room, and walked to the Wildhammer Embassy.
"Sylvanas, I need you to do something for me," Uther said quietly as they locked the door to the embassy.
"Anything my lord," she said eagerly.
"Knock me out, and keep me unconscious until they have finished re-forging the sword!" he said with gritted teeth.
"My lord! Why would you ask such a thing?" Jaina exclaimed, as the trio moved upstairs, the two dragon-women curling up on the stone floor.
"Because when they are melting it down and re-forging it, the voice will likely be screaming in my head!" Uther said quickly. "I would rather not be driven mad by that, so please keep me unconscious until they are finished."
"I will, my lord." Sylvanas said dutifully. "I can understand your reasoning."
At that moment the cold, piercing scream started in the back of his head, the whispering voice now bellowing an unnatural scream that wiped all other thoughts from his mind.
"Did not take them long to get started!" Uther winced as the pain set in.
Without another hesitation, Sylvanas clubbed him round the head with her bow, knocking him clean out.