tormwind days later…
How many were lost?
How many Night Elves were lost to war?
How many were killed by the Horde?
Genn should have known better than to trust that the witch would behave. Anduin's naiveté would be the downfall of them all. The boy can see the good in everyone even when it is not even there, it was a dangerous way of thinking as many had used Anduin's kindness in the past and the king has suffered from it. This time, the Banshee used his generous offer to heal her alleged pain to bring pain and death to others. When the King returns, he was going to put his foot down, there were no ifs and buts about it, Genn was going to set the king straight.
"When has Anduin returned to the Alliance's borders? I need to speak with him now." Genn demanded from the knights.
"He has not, there still has been no word from him. He's completely disappeared without a trace."
What?
"Have any of the knights escorting him reported in since his trip to Undercity?"
"No. No word, no letter, nothing of the kind."
Genn feared the worse as he called for a meeting with the Alliance. If Anduin was alive, then he was a slave to her.
In the Lands where Undercity was days later…
The armies were searching, searching for their king.
They only hoped Anduin was able to escape as he was missing for far too long. The panic was rising, and Genn was beyond worried as he was following the scent of the boy. That child, Varian's child, he vowed to protect and love that boy after his father fell in the war. Though he could never replace Liam, Anduin fills that hole in his heart. If that witch dared to even lay a single hair on his precious head, the old wolf was more than willing to commit a war crime, he'll butcher every undead and move on to the rest of the Horde.
The platoon was searching for any signs of the king, but things were looking bleak. Come to think of it… There were no signs of the undead or members of the Horde anywhere either. No patrol, no warriors, no spies, the territory seemed deserted. Something didn't feel right… It's not like an entire fraction of the undead could be wiped out from the face of the map in the blink of an eye. That would be completely impossible, unheard of, right?
Valeera Sanguinar soon appeared as her coloring was paler than usual.
"Genn, you need to see this."
The wolf ordered his men to follow him as they followed the elf.
At the edge of what was Lordaeron…
Genn was shocked to see that the entire city was gone!
It was just gone! He didn't believe the Horde when they said the city was gone, but the alliance was certainly not responsible. There it was, a giant crater, it was all gone!
"This looks like the work of a Mana Bomb, Sir." One of the Knights reported as they searched for any signs of life.
Or unlife.
"Sir, it seems that the undead was able to escape, but not all of them, but it seemed that they were hounded down by another scent. Anduin is among the undead, I don't know if he's alive." A Worgen reported to the king.
Genn breathed that Anduin seemed to get out of the city in time, but now he was in the clutches of the Horde, with someone trying to kill them.
"Let's go. The sooner we find the king, the better."
And he would wring the neck of the Banshee.
In an abandoned town miles away…
Genn expected many things, the ambush, an attack, the undead at that town.
What he didn't expect was a Light Shield to separate both the Undead and the Alliance!
"Halt!" A familiar voice ordered from within a tower as something was limping down to reach the outside world.
It was the Missing King of the Alliance and one of the most successful healers in all of Azeroth, Anduin Wrynn. Only, he was bandaged, missing his prosthetic leg, holding a poorly made crutch, and burned. From one of his eyes that weren't covered, he lit up with joy as Genn and Valeera. The two were going to hug the boy when they were suddenly pinned down by a strange monster in the moat.
"Hold on, I need to make sure you're not infected." Anduin requested as he began examining the pair.
"Infected? Anduin-?"
The boy hushed him as he looked the two over and smiled.
"They're healthy."
Everyone breathed as Genn and Val were let go.
"Come with me and I'll explain everything. I need to get this medicine to Sylvanas and the others as well." Anduin advised as the two did so, with so many questions in their brain.
From the crater where Undercity was…
One of the Brotherhood Members grinned at the wreckage as the Scarlet Crusaders were pleased.
"Seems this darling little city was the result of an Alliance unprovoked attack."
"It also seemed that the burning of the Night Elves' home is also an unprovoked attack of the Horde."
They looked down below where the Mana Bomb was still fresh, and its energy was still deadly to all forms of life. It seemed that the plan was coming together quite nicely. Soon, there would be no alliance and no Horde.
"Did the infected become what was expected to be?"
"Indeed and with that disease, they can cull the vermin undead and all of this would seem like a plague, where both sides will blame with other."
"That monster-loving wimp of a king won't be able to smooth things over this time. I wonder if they will overthrow him and hang him-."
The Brotherhood member was then punched by the crusader!
"Dare not speak of such things! Anduin is a gift to the light, just allowed his kind nature to forget the monster's evil work."
The two were about to fight when their leader appeared.
"Enough, we have done what we were set out to do. It is time for our deception to continue."
Then, the three teleported away.
At a Campsite in the abandoned town…
With a hobble and a skip, the Alliance group sent to find Anduin followed their leader with the undead to the campground for answers.
There were many of the Forsaken that suffered from wounds, suffered from trauma, and suffered from loss. It reminded Genn of how his own kingdom suffered during their attack, of what they went through long ago. He should be enjoying their suffering as an irony for what his fallen land went through, what his son went through, but Anduin would not have approved. His adopted child, the sweet young King of the Alliance, the heart of the soul of their people, despises the suffering of others and the devastation. He could no longer stomach war and would do anything for peace.
So, it was not surprising that Anduin would be tending the wounds of those who were once an enemy, even when he was badly hurt himself. One of the Abominations was actually carrying him since the injuries got severe and the ache of using his crutch began to irritate his skin. Genn and Valeera despised the condition the boy was in.
How did he get this way if it was not the Forsaken?
"Okay, I think I can make it to Sylvanas's tent. Thank you, Bo." Anduin breathed but the Abomination did not put him down.
"No, hurt. Need rest." Bo refused as Genn was surprised.
This was the first that he would agree with an undead creature, let alone one being more sensible than King Anduin Wrynn himself. Genn would assume a dream if he hadn't gotten the bruises from that tentacle monster that held them so Anduin could examine them for 'Infection', whatever that was. Genn had so many questions, but it seemed that the boy king did not have the strength at the moment to give them.
Nathanos soon came to see the members of the Alliance with the injured king.
"Do you have the herbs?" He questioned the king as he did not care for the members there.
"Yes, I have collected them. They just needed to be crushed." Anduin answered as he looked so tired, "Don't worry, Nathanos. I have already checked them over for the virus."
"I figured." He uttered as he looked at Bo, "Return him to one of the tents. We can't have him dying before the Queen is restored."
Bo nodded as Valeera looked at Abomination.
"I'll go with them."
Genn nodded and she then followed the young king. Nathanos was not interested, so he hailed one of the Death Knights.
"Take them to the center of the base and fill them in on the situation. My queen needs me now."
He then left before Genn could get a word out.
At the Abandoned Town…
Valeera watched the young boy breathing as he was deep asleep.
The poor boy, covered in wounds, patched up, broken bones and so far, can depend on one eye for sight. Why didn't he go back home and get help? Maybe because he couldn't leave the Forsaken injured like this? But how did this happen? Anduin was always careful and was only doing sessions with Sylvanas for some 'treatment' he was so tight-lipped about.
"Anduin, what happened? Who did this to you?" She whispered as she touched his shoulder and saw his memories!
With his hazmat suit on, his medical equipment set, and the doors shut not to be interrupted, the Light of Stormwind was ready to begin his session once again with Sylvanas to find the source of her pain. Then relieve her from it. He entered her room as they both sat on the floor, candles Anduin provided lit, the gong gently rung, and the energy was clear. Both Anduin and Sylvanas were entering a meditative trance as the candle steam swirls around them.
The treatment brought a sense of harmony and sequence.
Through the breath was in of the steam came image as it flowed out as well. In and out. In and out. In and out. Image after image drawn by Anduin's hand and written in his separate notes, still in his trance but as observant and ever studious. As he was copying the images, there came something else, something that wasn't like the others. It was like a whisper in his ear.
Beware, the danger is near.
Anduin gasped as the meditation came to an end and the two fraction leaders were looking at each other. There was a chill in the air as the candles themselves flickered out and the steam they created disappeared.
"What in the Light was that? Sylvanas, did you hear that too?" Anduin gasped as the human king was trying to shake off the headache.
"Like a pair of nails scratching against a chalkboard. It seems that your theory was correct then." Sylvanas answered.
"I wonder what it meant when it said about, danger." Anduin the priest hummed then the two of them heard a knock on the door.
"Um, your highnesses… Forgive me, I-I know were not allowed to interrupt but-." A voice stuttered, trying not to appear to be afraid.
"What is it?" Sylvanas demanded with a sigh.
"Oh, um. There is something for you, your highness. Sent by Lord Greymane."
"Genn? That doesn't sound like him. Why not have me sent things in his stead?" Anduin questioned as he knew the man know enough to notice that something was wrong.
He then looked to the undead woman and nodded to one another, then got up from the floor. Whatever was going on, it seemed to be just coming all at once. Even so, Genn was not the type of person to just send things to his mortal enemy, especially since the boy he called his son, despite his protest was going there anyway.
Could it be a trick?
Outside the castle…
Anduin and Sylvanas came outside as they were stunned by what was outside, a giant wooden statue of Sylvanas being pierced by a spear.
On the plaque was the words 'Tombstone of the Banshee, May the Dead Perish.' Written.
"We checked to see if there was a trap or anything. But so far, nothing." One of the ghouls reported as the human in the hazmat suit approached.
"It seems your mongrel has a sense of humor." Sylvanas sneered as Anduin bent down at the words.
"What is the meaning of this slander-." Nathanos began but then was brought to a grinding halt.
"Genn didn't make this."
They all then looked to the boy.
"I… have seen the way Genn whistles and this is not his type of style, even the words don't match his handwriting. Whoever made this wanted to make it look as much of Genn's design but tried too hard." Anduin explained in detail, then looked to the plaque, "Something isn't right here… 'Beware the danger is near'? Could it be…"
"Did you find out who brought this here?" Nathanos questioned the ghoul, who did not want to get in trouble with the leaders.
"No, it was found near the marketplace. No one saw where it came from or who brought it here." He answered with an attempt of being humble.
Soon, Anduin noticed something behind the plaque. He pries the plaque open and saw the words, 'Goodbye'. Suddenly the eyes opened of the statue as the spear sprung upward like a firework, making a piercing sound! It drilled into the heavens and out into the air, seen by someone from afar!
They pulled the trigger!
Sylvanas sensed the danger coming!
"Anduin!" She screamed as she pulled the boy back, just as the explosion appeared from the ground!
Then one after another, there were blue explosions were everywhere in Undercity! Until the entire city was vaporized! A plan that would bring backfire and a war unlike any other!
She gasped at the memory!
Anduin… he wasn't supposed to be there. Whoever set that trap wanted the Forsaken killed, not Anduin. The assassins probably didn't know he was there. Also… the events which happened… it was around the burning.
Did someone try to set them up?
Force them to kill each other?
She didn't know but she was going to find out.
At the Campsite…
"… The bomb nearly killed us all. But it was thanks to the High King and Lady Sylvanas we survived. She suffered the worst injuries shielding the boy as King Anduin struggled to save her. He did it but she is still too wounded to be awake." The Death Knight regaled what happened that day.
"Why didn't you call for help from the Horde or have Anduin try to reach us?" Genn questioned the dead man.
"Because we are being hunted by the infected."
"Infected?"
"Days after we are ever able to escape death, Anduin sought help from the Night Elves close by. He found a group but… there was something wrong with them. They were mad, mad with disease and foaming, babbling nonsense that the Horde was cancer and when Anduin tried to reason with him, he almost got shot at."
"WHAT?!"
"Don't worry, Nathanos got him out of the way. It wasn't their fault they did this; they weren't right, they were sick in the head. We could all see that, but we were still forced to fight them. We've been trapped since, unable to call for help. Hoping someone healthy can help us."
"By the Light, what the hell is going on?" Genn questioned.
"Don't know but things seemed to be getting worse. Anduin has also been looking into a remedy to help those elves. We did manage to capture one."
"…Take me to them."
"Very well, but you need to wear a hazmat suit."
At the Quarantined Cave…
Genn was appalled.
The elf, foaming, shrieking, eyes red and covered in sores and puss, veins popping out and trying to bite something!
"We need to contact the Alliance. Now."
At Stormwind…
The way back home was a rough one, especially with frantic members of both sides trying to figure out what was going on.
Nathanos finally made contact with the Horde and filled them in on what was going on, while Genn did the same for the Alliance. So much has happened, so many unbelievable things… But once confirmed, they realized the situation was direr than anyone could ever guess. Sylvanas, Anduin, and the injured of Undercity were brought to the medical wing to recuperate and have their injuries looked over. The High King was asleep throughout the entire trip since he was badly injured and tired. Even when he was burned, battered, and badly damaged, he would do anything to help and protect the people around him. It was the symbol, greatest strength, and dangerous flaw of the members of the House of Wrynn.
Genn did not leave that boy's side, fearing he would not make it on the journey. The Worgen ensured Anduin got everything he needed, water, food, comforts, everything! He wasn't going to let this child (no matter how old he was, he will always be a child to Genn) die. He failed Liam, he won't fail Anduin. But the young king was strong, he proved that as they returned to Stormwind. Velen arrived quickly as he healed the boy while the others did what they could to help the undead injured. Also, doctors brought the infected down into the deepest and most isolated parts of the dungeons to be quarantined. It was the only place where they could be taken off without the risk of spreading the infection.
"By the Light, I have never seen a virus like this. She has gone completely mad down there. We had to gag her to keep us from being bitten." A paladin uttered while a priest came out.
"This disease looks like it's mutating too. This goes beyond my knowledge as a healer and doctor. Let us pray that King Anduin gets well soon. This dangerous case is his specialty." The priest sighed as he felt lost.
"Any report on the infected?" Genn questioned the two.
"Yes sir, but we got fairly little. So far, the disease has only spread through biting as far as we can tell. Symptoms included: muscle spasms, fever, delirium, anxiety, excess salivation, mental deuteriation, extreme aggression, sensitivity to light, hysteria, severe anguish, unsteady gait, tremors, and slurred speech. There is more and we fear this disease could grow to be fatal." They reported to the former king.
"Do you know where this comes from?" Genn questioned.
"No. We don't have the capability to do so. In fact, the only one who we can think of who can better study the disease to the nitty gritty-."
"Is King Anduin, yes. But he has to wait until he's fully recovered. Try to do everything you can to find a cure."
They saluted as Genn sighed. He knew that he would have to set up a meeting with the Alliance and Horde.
Great.