The Light.
Uther's dreams were beyond surreal and bizarre. First he saw the entity of the Lich King, a corrupted and skeletal Orc, screaming in pain as darkness enveloped him almost entirely. The next vision he saw was of Alexstrasza arguing with a mysterious figure, who was blurred from Uther's sight by smoke and fire. His final dream however, gave him hope. He saw Sylvanas kneeling in the centre of a large circular room, being completely enveloped by the Light. But it was more than that; it seemed to him that she WAS the source of the Light.
Uther awoke slowly, and quickly believed himself to still be dreaming, as the Dragon Queen herself was standing over him, looking deeply concerned.
"My lord Uther, you're awake!" she gasped as he stirred and quickly sat up. "Bless the Titans you're awake at last!"
Jaina, Onyxia, Ysondre and Sylvanas quickly rushed to his bedside, smiles etched on their faces.
"How long was I out?" he asked, rubbing the bump on his head where Sylvanas had knocked him out.
"A week," The Sin'dorei woman said simply. "Though we did have knock you out a few times to keep you unconscious." He quickly found the corresponding bumps.
"Why am I not starving if I have been unconcious for a week?" he asked, but he looked around and saw flowers growing out of the stone floor.
"The Blessing of the Life Binder," Alexstrasza smiled. "I could hardly have my lord dying of starvation in his sleep."
"Why did you come all the way to Ironforge my queen?" Uther asked, but immediately regretted it when her face darkened.
"My brother has struck, and your aid is needed." She said grimly.
"Deathwing!" Uther exclaimed, but she shook her head.
"Not yet, but worldwide quakes are becoming more and more frequent, it will not be long until he is free from Deepholm." Alexstrasza said quickly. "The priority now is Malygos, who has begun to siphon magic from across Northrend, and hoard it at the Nexus."
"What would you have us do?" Uther asked, his duty to the dragon queen quickly taking precedent in his mind.
"Head to Northrend, gain access to Malygos' inner sanctum, and kill him." Alexstrasza said quickly.
"That seems rather dark, is there no hope of redemption?" Sylvanas asked, beating Uther to that question.
"I am afraid not," Alexstrasza solemnly stated. "Much like Neltharion, the centuries of isolation have only made his madness more deeply rooted in his mind. However, his kin are not all lost, unlike Neltharion's. Not including you dear Onyxia."
"No offence taken my queen," Onyxia smiled.
"I have found a replacement for Malygos once he is gone, a leader who I will not let succumb to the same insanity." The dragon queen smiled. "I am keeping them safe until the Spellweaver is dead."
"A wise move my queen," Uther smiled.
"Oh Uther, why do we always slip into such formalities," Alexstrasza smiled. "I think for everything you have done, first-name terms should be enforced as a reward."
"Yes, Alexstrasza." Uther said uncertainly. "I guess that the sword has been re-forged, along with your new daggers."
Sylvanas smiled and unsheathed her daggers, which shone brightly in the dim candlelight.
"Though they were unable to do as you asked with Frostmourne, they did some exquisite work with these, even using strips from my ranger garb on the handles." Sylvanas said, pointing at the green grips on her daggers. "They also added some Dwarvish finery to my bow."
"Your bow?" he asked, slightly surprised.
Sylvanas picked up her bow and pointed at the runes etched on to the metalwork which had been added to its elegant wooden length.
"Impressive" Jaina smiled. "It's always a marvel what the dwarves can do."
"What about Frostmourne?" Uther quickly asked.
Alexstrasza smiled and placed a familiar pile of skins on his lap. She slowly revealed a familiar pommel, before an unfamiliar bladehilt atop an unchanged fuller. The Ashbringer Crystal was imbedded just below the cross-bar; The Dwarvish smiths had managed to make it look like the ram's skull was biting the crystal, but it was clear that they had struggled to achieve that goal. As more of the blade was revealed, it began to glow with a light that seemed both holy and unholy.
"The dwarves were amazed by the sword's refusal to change its shape, and they did their best to combat its tendency to reform." Jaina said simply. "But it is clearly not Frostmourne any more, so would you care to give it a new name?"
"Might as well name the sword the dwarves gave you last year as well," Sylvanas said brightly. "It's been a year and you haven't named it."
"Ashmourne," Uther said looking at the reforged Frostmourne. "It seems fitting as the crystal was called 'Ashbringer' by the other Silver Hand paladins."
"What about a name for your other sword?" Jaina asked.
"How about Frostlight, as it destroyed the Lich at Icecrown." Alexstrasza suggested.
"Perfect!" Uther smiled.
'-Gloat all you like, and give names to what you 'own', it does not change anything!-' The voice whispered.
"Is it... still alive?" Sylvanas asked in a hushed tone, as Uther's bare hand clasped the hilt.
'-I am very much alive!-' It said proudly. '-But I am not able to influence you as I did before, that damned crystal has restrained my influence, much like the Sunwell 'did'. However I still have similar powers to last time, but... you have control… Do not think it to be a permanent arrangement.-'
'So you're a force for good?' Uther asked. 'I find that hard to believe.'
'-I still hate you, and long to destroy this world as revenge, but you have not only robbed me of the Scourge, but I fear my master more than this damn crystal's power.-' The Lich roared. '-What I warned you about before is still coming, and though I am not at my full strength, I have little choice but to help you. We will both suffer when it arrives.-'
"Well my lord? Did it survive the re-forging?" Sylvanas asked.
"Yes, but it is not at full strength, and fears something else worse than the crystal it has been bonded with." Uther sighed as he rubbed his temple. "So for the time being it will help us, against the dragon Dragonflights, and whatever it saw coming to destroy us."
"Do you have any idea how it survived its own destruction?" Sylvanas asked.
'-I was dead. I was facing the wrath of my master for failing him in the Nether. But then something happened, and because of our connection I was drawn back into your mind.-' The voice explained. '-But my strength has gone, you killed the piece of me that was in the armour, leaving me only Frostmourne, but now that's changed.-'
"We destroyed most of its power, but something pulled it back from the Nether." Uther explained.
"That is troubling news," Alexstrasza said grimly. "That such an evil was able to return from the dead is grave news; let us hope that it is an isolated case."
Suddenly the whole room shook violently, and they all huddled with the person closest to them out of primal fear instincts. Alexstrasza was only slightly phased by the earthquake, and quickly got to her feet when the tremors stopped.
"My brother is returning!" she said quickly. "I must return to Northrend, and make preparations."
"What can be done before he arrives?" Jaina asked, quickly getting to her feet.
"Tell the Alliance to send their best to the Wyrmrest Temple; I will take charge of marshalling them into a force to face Deathwing." The dragon queen replied, as she too got to her feet. "Though I fear conventional armies will not be enough."
"We stand by your side Alexstrasza," Sylvanas said proudly. "But I feel we should keep our armies in reserve, and use them to defeat this greater threat that is coming after Deathwing."
'-Clever girl-' the Lich chuckled. '-A shame the Light is too strong for me to touch her mind again.-'
"It agrees with the idea," Uther said flatly.
"I am glad of your continued support, my dears. But we need to take care of Malygos before we can face Deathwing." Alexstrasza chuckled. "I know that Nozdormu and Ysera are readying their kin, and that both have unfinished business with you."
"Well we were told in the Caverns of Time that we would be back there at some point," Onyxia piped up. "Maybe that's the matter Nozdormu has unfinished with us; and Ysera…"
"Ysera said I was temporarily in your service," Ysondre interrupted. "It may be that I am to be recalled for the war against Deathwing."
"Even I do not know my sister's intentions, but I do know that she would not ask you back if it were not urgent." Alexstrasza said softly, her hand on Ysondre's shoulder. "I must get going; there are preparations to be made, and forces to awaken before Deathwing returns."
"'Awaken'?" Sylvanas asked.
"There are more than just Nerubians buried beneath Northrend my dear, and the force I intend to awaken will be of use against Deathwing and his ilk." Alexstrasza smiled. "Good day to you all, and good luck with the Spellweaver."
"Thank you Alexstrasza" Uther said as he got to his feet.
She hugged him before showing the same affection to Sylvanas, Jaina, Ysondre and Onyxia. She then walked calmly down the stairs and out of the embassy, several minutes passed before they heard a loud roar growing fainter.
"My lord…" Sylvanas said slowly.
"Yes?" Uther replied.
"How do I know when I am one with the Light?" she asked, and he was momentarily taken by surprise.
"You are not 'one' with the Light until you're dead, but you feel the embrace of the Light when in service to it." Uther explained. "And you know that sensation when all fear is washed away in warmth unlike any fire, and your spirit feels as light as a feather. Why do you ask?"
"Because I've had that feeling ever since I grabbed the crystal, but it doesn't feel strange, it almost feels natural." She said slowly, as if still figuring out how to describe the sensation.
"You have taken your first step into a new world my dear, it is only natural to feel the Light every moment you are awake, and I certainly did when I was a younger man." Uther chuckled. "It was long ago, but I do remember feeling it for the first time."
"I understand, but it hasn't even faltered in how strong it is inside me, and how warm it feels." She said slowly.
He looked deep into her eyes and saw a glowing golden light, which he had never seen before in her. He quickly felt her hand, and an intense, but familiar, heat washed over him from her touch.
"Incredible," he breathed.
"What is it my lord?" Ysondre asked.
"I do believe that our dear Sylvanas has the strongest connection to the Light I have ever seen in my life," he smiled at her, and she quickly smiled back. "I dare say she rivals my own connection to the Light."
"How is this possible?" Onyxia asked.
"My guess is that the exposure to the Light crystal left a lasting impact on you, not just connecting you to the Light, but increasing your power over it." Uther theorised. "But there is only one way to know for sure."
"How?" Sylvanas asked.
"By letting time tell, we have been given a quest by the dragon queen, and we best get to it." Uther chuckled. "Do not lose faith though, for that will cut one's connection to the Light."
"Yes my lord," Sylvanas smiled.
At that moment a lone magi rushed in and signalled for a quiet word with Jaina. The two spoke quietly, before a look of fear dawned on Jaina's face. She quickly returned to the group, the look of fear still visible on her composed face.
"It seems timing is on your side as the azure dragonflight have just launched an attack on Dalaran." Jaina said quickly. "They're attacking from above and through portals inside the Violet Hold. If they succeed, who knows what they could do to Azeroth."
"The Violet Hold?" Ysondre asked, perplexed by the name.
"It is the greatest prison in Lordaeron, where the Kirin Tor contain those they see as threats to Azeroth that are far greater than conventional evil." Uther explained quickly. "I know of its reputation, the Kirin Tor took great pride in caging a few demons and elementals in the aftermath of the Second War. We best not delay if there is any chance of them escaping."
"Get dressed quickly my lord, and I'll port us there in the blink of an eye." Jaina said resolutely, ushering the women to leave Uther to get dressed.