Splash43: You could say that! My initial concepts of Arthas and Sylvanas dynamic was her being his no. 1 hater back then.

Iskendar Hero: True, but Kael's case might be a bit challenging due to how they changed and added his behaviour throughout the years. Arthas still uses war hammers as his main weapons of course, but he's actually capable of conjuring weapons depending on the situation.

Guest: I do intend to reach it at least until the end of WOTLK. I wouldn't say Jaina is jealous. But she would rather feel good that the two worked together as allies.

WeirdBlockPoints: Sylvanas will likely have a larger role in RoC. Her Frozen Throne storyline would be much different though. Added the synergy and their thoughts. Completely forgot about those parts. Arthas would more or less become her therapist after this is all over, but I'm not gonna spoil it too much. As for Lich King's champion, undecided at the mean time.

Chapter 23: Compromised

Meanwhile back at the Capital City...

"Just remember, Princess Calia...", Lord Goodwin tugged her by the elbow. "Just relax and breathe. We'll be able to get through this."

Calia looked at the elderly statesman and appreciated his support. Being appointed as Regent of Lordaeron by her brother who is currently at Quel'thalas was still a shock that remained with her to this day. She has some idea of administrative duties from the spare time reading books about it, but she never had any formal training. And definitely no experience in military as well.

But she was determined to try her best. And she was glad that Lord Goodwin had been appointed by Arthas to be her chancellor and advisor and his help have stabilized the domestic affairs within the unoccupied territories of the kingdom.

For Lord Goodwin, it was his way of penance to the Prince after the fiasco at Stratholme. And he was determined to help his kingdom by becoming the guide Calia would need in these trying times.

"Thank you, Lord Jeremiah.", Calia sighed again as she entered the meeting hall where military and civilian officials throughout the kingdom had gathered to receive new status reports. "I just...never did things like this before..."

The next round of meetings went underway. Muradin had returned to Ironforge to seek more support from King Magni. From the recent reports she had read, Lord Admiral Daelin had sent in Tirassian ships to bolster Lordaeron's coastline from any possible attacks from sea as well as helping improve the country's navy.

There is still no response from Stromgarde and Gilneas as the two had already seceded from the Alliance at this point.

"Your Highness, we have received reports that Kel'thuzad's cultists have hid in Hillsbrand foothills and we await the order to conduct a pursuit.", Lord Raymond George informed her as he sat in the long table along with other officials.

Lord Goodwin knew he had to help Calia somehow, whispering his suggestions to her. "We can't divert our full attention to them yet as we need to safeguard out unaffected farmlands from the plague we're spreading.", she recounted after her Chancellor was done. "Have the army send in a detachment to ensure the safeguarding of the fields and a few Kirin Tor mages just to be safe.", she ordered as the officials wrote down her orders.

Viscount Henry Rathbone cleared his throat. "We would need to ensure that the line of succession is secured should the Crown Prince fall in Quel'thalas and King Terenas unable to complete his duties.", he suggested.

"Meaning...?", Calia tensely asked.

"An heir that would succeed in the throne of Lordaeron to prevent a succession crisis, my lady.", Baron Malcolm Blackwood answered for her. "Should the worse come to pass, you may have to consider getting a suitor of your own to prevent such a thing, don't you think?"

The audacity of these nobles. Just because Arthas and her father are not around, and they would find a way to make her...that! But she couldn't express her dismay fully nor she could tell them of her own private marriage that could potentially endanger her family in the political intrigues around them.

Gavinrad decided to change the subject when he saw that Calia was getting uncomfortable at those suggestions. "The threat of the Blackrock Orcs have been going rampant, and they began to raid villages to kidnap people and according to rumors, have been subjected to human sacrifices to appease whatever demons they worship.", he reported. "Our forces have been stretched thin and we could not afford to divert significant forces all at once.

Calia wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling like she was going to pass out from the constant barrage of issues that they expect her to carry out. Lord Goodwin also felt a bit overwhelmed, as he didn't have the necessary skills in military matters to help Calia, especially as complex as the Scourge or the Orcs.

The door opened to find a newcomer that left everyone stunned. Wearing the polished armor of high ranking official of the army of Lordaeron. His looked haggard, but his commitment to duty was always noticeable. Gavinrad and Saidan looked surprised and inwardly relieved to see him again after all these years, especially as they knew him to be embodiment of their ideals as Paladins.

"Lord Fordring...", Alexandros greeted the man, seeing his son Darion escorting Tirion with a sense of duty. They had known of his exile after he helped the Orc Eitrigg, and they never expected him to come back. "You have returned."

Tirion gave Alexandros a curt nod, looking at Gavinrad and Saidan as he began to make his way close to Calia, who was fidgeting to their seat. Viscount Rathbone raised an eyebrow of the supposedly exiled Paladin, as did the other nobles around them. "Mind if we know what made your return so sudden?", he asked.

Tirion remained calm, unwavering in the stares they were giving him. "The Prince himself has requested that I am to return to the Crown's service in defense against the undead.", he told them, straightening himself. "After the recent attack at the capital city, our homeland needed all the assistance it could get."

Many of them were taken back, raising an eyebrow at his claims. "The Prince himself?", Saidan asked in curiosity.

Tirion nodded at his comrade's question. "Following the capture of Lord Uther and the Prince's departure to Quel'thalas, I have been appointed by His Highness to lead the home guard in his stead, and to ensure the safety of our people in these trying times.", he informed them, which shocked many of the attendees.

"Do we have proof of your claim, Lord Fordring?", Viscount Rathbone questioned in suspicion. "Or are you plotting retribution against the Kingdom who casted you away for protecting an Orc?"

The returned ex-Paladin took a parchment from his tunic and tossed it at them where they read to find Arthas' own seal and handwriting providing proof of the appointment, which essentially made military personnel throughout Lordaeron to answer to him in such matters.

Gavinrad and Saidan nodded at their comrade with their approval, eager to hear out his thoughts against this new enemy. Calia and Lord Goodwin looked at Tirion with both relief and hope, sure that the Kingdom is in safe hands.

The next morning at Quel'thalas...

"Wow, so you went to Northrend, rescued the King of Ironforge's brother AND fought a powerful demon?", Jenalla asked in awe as she and a few Farstriders sat with Arthas and a few of his companions at the stronghold. Said demon in question was Mal'Ganis, though Arthas didn't drop his name.

"Apparently, yes.", the Prince confirmed, momentarily looking at his cursed, covered right arm where he clenched his hand. "It was a delicate rescue, and we have to deal with large groups of undead that threatened to encircle us."

Falric leaned in to share a part of their adventure at Northrend. "Aye, but would you believe us if we have manage to face off against a huge, undead, frost dragon?", he asked with a hint of excitement.

Farstrider Anya was interested to listen. "No way, you did?", she asked in curiosity and excitement.

"It did happen.", Jaina confirmed as she drank her cup of milk beside Arthas. "Taking it down was a handful of we're going to talk about the amount of Frost breaths we have to dodge that day."

"Not to mention, the amount of gunpowder we have to use to put dents on its wings and how both Lady Jaina and Prince Arthas took it down in a marvelous display!", Marwyn further added that made the elves stare at them in awe while Jaina and Arthas bashfully chuckled, as the two knew that they weren't embellishing it either.

As they chatted with one another, Sylvanas and Narhanos looked over to the group and Sylvanas' disinterest and glare, directed at Arthas, was pretty visible. She leaned against a wooden beam of the makeshift command tent, arms crossed tightly across her chest as she watched Arthas regale the Farstriders with tales of his adventures. "You know," she said to the ever-attentive Nathanos, "his stories seem to be getting more and more fantastical every time he tells them."

Nathanos smiled at his partner's haughty attitude, sipping from his mug of tea. "Perhaps they are, my lady," he quipped, "but they do seem to have a way of capturing the audience."

Her eyes narrowed. "He's hiding something," she said, almost to herself. "I know that look."

Nathanos only laughed at her suspicions bordering into paranoia. "And what look would that be?"

"The look of someone who thinks they're outsmarting everyone else," Sylvanas replied with irritation directed at the Prince.

The Ranger-Lord stepped closer to her with a playful look. "Or perhaps he's just sharing his experiences and building camaraderie, Sylvanas," he suggested. "You know, like we do after a successful hunt?"

"Camaraderie?" she scoffed. "With humans?"

"With allies," he corrected for her, knowing that at least that isn't directed at him. "Remember, we need all the help we can get if we are to drive the Scourge out of our lands."

"I'm not jealous, Nathanos," she snapped, her eyes still on Arthas.

"No, no, of course not," he sarcastically replied with a chuckle. "It's just that your plans are always so... predictable, my dear. It's refreshing to see someone shake things up a bit."

Sylvanas shot him a glare, but couldn't help the tug at the corner of her mouth. "Fine," she conceded. "But I'm watching him. And if he so much as twitches in the wrong direction, I'll be the first to know."

Nathanos laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "But for now, let us enjoy our victory. And if our friend from the south over there is indeed plotting something, I suspect we'll be the first to know as well."

Sylvanas couldn't help but smirk at his hanter, despite her reservations about Arthas. "I suppose you're right," she said, her voice slightly lighter. "But I'm still watching."

And so, the two stood, sipping their drinks and watching the camp from afar. "So, Lady Sylvanas...have you spoke with your sister Vereesa back at Dalaran?", the Ranger-Lord suddenly asked.

The Ranger-General's smile fell as she sighed. She hasn't spoken to her younger sister ever since that day with Lirath.

She considers him to be the 'sun' of her life and adamantly refused to train him to keep him safe at Silvermoon to the point that she made Vereesa swear that she won't.

But while her back was turned, Vereesa still decided to train Lirath and he tragically died when the Orcs attacked their home, a loss that Sylvanas still bore to this day. A rift grew between the two sisters as she blamed Vereesa for Lirath's death and the two never had contact with one another for the past fifteen years.

Nathanos knew this too as he had seen the last time Sylvanas was at her most vulnerable and did his best to help her, but hopes that a resolution between the two could still be found.

"Vereesa?" Sylvanas' fone was cold as ice. "Never did, and probably never will." She took a deep breath, and rubbed her face with her palm. "If she's sent another one of her letters, you know the drill."

Nathanos nodded. "I understand," he said, remembering the painful history between the two sisters. "But I've kept them safe, just in case you change your mind."

Sylvanas looked at him with an uncertain look. "Thank you," she replied in a stiff tone. "But I likely won't."

The Ranger-Lord didn't push the matter further. He knew that Sylvanas was still deeply hurt by the events of the past. "As you wish," he said with a nod. "But, she is still your sister."

Sylvanas took a long sip of her tea. "For now," she murmured, " but we have more pressing issues to deal with."

In the command tent, maps sprawled out on the table, Sylvanas leaned over them, her finger tracing the line of the Thalassian Pass. "We need to take the fight to them," she suggested with urgency. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to come to us."

Arthas studied the map with a raised eyebrkw. "You're right," he conceded. "But a full-scale offensive would be costly. They've had time to fortify themselves."

"Agreed," Sylvanas replied, looking for any possible options. "But we can't allow them to build their numbers either. If we strike at their necromancers, we can at least slow their progress in converting any corpses into one of their soldiers."

Falric spoke up. "We could coordinate with the Farstriders and Rangers to hit smaller camps, thinning their forces before they can consolidate."

Sylvanas leaned forward at the suggestion of the human captain. "If so, this is what we're going to do... I'm going to take a group of Farstriders attacking from the right flank.", she pointed her finger at an enemy detachment. "I'll be taking a few warriors and a squad of Rangers. Nathanos and Velonara will provide support from the rear"

"I'll take the left.", Arthas proposed. "I'll be bringing along with a few rangers, Knights and riflemen. We're just going to hope that the damage is maximized enough to force the Necromancers into the fray to try and replenish their ranks where they would he labeled as priority targets."

Arthas then looked over at Jaina. "I'm gonna need you and Captain Falric at the middle. Thassarian and Koltira will help you out there along with a few mortars teams. Okay?"

Jaina readily nodded. "Alright," she said, placing her hand on the table. "I'll coordinate with the mages to prepare a series of teleportation spells. We can use them to infiltrate and escape quickly once we've struck the necromancers."

"Good," Arthas said with a firm nod. "We need to quick but precise in this. Any injuries we sustain will carry over, so we need to minimize our casualties. But so would theirs, except their losses would take more time to replenish."

Sylvanas stared at Arthas for a moment, still wondering how his plans seemed to work every time. "Then it's settled then.", she spoke with finality. "We go through the plan but we'll need to hit them back with what we got. If need be, we'll call in reinforcements from Silvermoon should things didn't go as planned."

Those present in the meeting agreed with the plan with enthusiasm, something that didn't initially happened when Arthas first came up with his plan, as if they're confident that with he and the Alliance having their backs, Quel'thalas had a better chance driving them out of their homeland.

A couple hours later...

To that end, the battle was chaotic, as the Alliance and Quel'dorei descended upon the Scourge camp within the Thalassian Pass. Arthas and his forces approached the left flank with precision, charging against a vanguard of ghouls, abominations and a few Gargoyles above them.

"Stay sharp, men!" Arthas yelled as they approached the first wave of Scourge, wielding Light's Vengeance to score . "Take out the gargoyles first!" he ordered, pointing at the winged creatures that were swooping down from the skies. Dwarf riflemen and elven Rangers took aim and shoot them down by their wings.

His men followed his lead, fighting through the onslaught and cutting a path through the enemy ranks. Meanwhile, Jaina and her mages held the center, their spells lighting up the night with bursts of fire and ice.

Sylvanas, on the right flank led her Farstriders into combat. She moved with a grace that belied the anger within her, her arrows never missing their marks. "For Quel'Thalas!" she shouted, her arrows finding the hearts of the Nerubian spiders that scuttled towards them.

The creatures fell with a wet thud. The two separate groups from the left and right have broken through the Scourge defenses on the main front where the two groups rendezvoused after Alliance and the Quel'dorei enricled and wiped out the detachment. Sylvanas and Arthas stared at one another, giving each other a nod as they saw the plan working as expected.

The necromancers finally came into the fray as they began to reanimate the corpses. The Prince's eyes narrowed as he spotted them in the fray, as they are the main objective. "Now's our chance!" he shouted.

Marwyn saw the signal through his spyglass and he glanced at Farstrider Jenalla beside him. "Now's our chance! Fire on my mark!", he instructed them. Moments later, dwarf mortar teams and elven glaive throwers fired a salvo of their payload at the designated targets.

Jaina's eyes glowed with power as she began to cast the teleportation spell. "On my mark," she called out to the others. The ground trembled as the enemy forces grew closer, but the group remained focused, trusting in the ability of their comrades.

Moments later, the rounds of the mortar teams and glaive throwers met the necromancers, decimating the Scourge forces as the main army struggled to intercept and reinforce their beleaguered line.

"Fall back!" Sylvanas bellowed. "We've done enough!"

Jaina completed the spell, and with a flash of light, the group vanished from the battlefield, reappearing in the relative safety of the outpost. The sound of the battle grew distant, replaced by the gasps of the exhausted soldiers as they realized they had survived.

Sylvanas, panting slightly, turned to Arthas with a grudging respect. "Well done," she said. "That'll slow them down before we can move in and finish the rest"

Arthas offered a grim smile. "Agreed.", he replied. "We'll just have to maintain the momentum."

After they have rested, Arthas looked up to the Ban'dinoriel. He was pleased that it's still activated, which would prevent the Scourge, Blackrock Orcs and Amani trolls from breaking through their defenses and allow the steady flow of evacuating the civilians away from the battlefield.

He could still remember Dar'khan in his previous life, the one who sold out the High Elves to the Scourge by murdering the Magisters who operated the barrier and stealing the Key of the Three Moons for Arthas, which enabled the conquest of Quel'thalas for the Scourge and the tainting of the Sunwell.

He had sent a letter back to Sylvanas when he and Jaina were at Andorhal investigating the plague via the Kirin Tor. So in this case, he hoped that Sylvanas had received his letter from Vereesa regarding the traitorous Magister that would surely prevent the conquest of Quel'thalas. And he was confident that Dar'khan is behind bars, or perhaps executed for good measure.

He turned to Sylvanas with said question. "Sylvanas, have you received the letter I sent months ago? It was about Dar'khan Drathir.", he asked of her, confident that an affirmative would be the reply.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, trying to remember anything of him sending any letters from Arthas. "I don't remember receiving any letter from you, Prince," she replied in confusion. "And why did it involve Magister Drathir?"

The Prince's heart stopped at the response.

...What?

Oh, no...don't tell me...,"But I sent it," he insisted, but it was clear that the nervousness in his tone was becoming unsettling. "I hoped that you have investigated him under the grounds of him and his rather unsettling ambition."

The Ranger-General studied Arthas for a moment before speaking. "That is quite the accusation, Prince," she steadily pointed out. "If Dar'khan is what you think he is, then you will need proof, and we can't act against a member of Silvermoon's Convocation on mere suspicion."

Frankly, Sylvanas never trusted Dar'khan when she first met him during Lirath's performances back at Silvermoon. But Lor'themar, a close friend of hers, trusted him enough to dissuade her from seeing anything suspicious of the Magister. Not to mention, Dar'khan had fought with High Priestess Liadrin and Lor'themar during the war against the Orcs, and Grand Magister Salonar trusted him too. Sure he may have an ego and ambition that is the size of Azeroth itself, but being traitor never crossed her mind.

For Arthas, if Sylvanas didn't receive the letter, then Dar'khan remains free. And he is freed then...

"Please," Arthas urged, now sounding desperate. "We need to go to Silvermoon, now. Maybe the letter was misplaced. We have to find it and present it to King Anasterian before it's too late."

Sylvanas was taken back at his change of demeanor, but her instincts urged her to trust in his judgement. Inwardly, she was becoming unsettled in his behaviour.

"Alright," she complied. "We'll go to Silvermoon and search for this letter and of your claims about Dar'khan. But if your claims are unfounded, you will answer for the accusations."

Arthas frantically nodded. He knew he couldn't find Dar'khan now or he would have to answer to Quel'thalas on acting without any sufficient proof. Not to mention, time. Because he doesn't know where he is or he had made contact with the likes of Tichondrius or Kel'thuzad.

His hopes weighed on Dar'khan being in Silvermoon right now, where once they knew where he is, then they will intercept him and bring him before King Anasterian before he could murder any of the Magisters. "Captain Marwyn and Lieutenant Thassarian will be left behind with the men to hold their line with Jenalla and Velonara. We have to hurry, now."

Sylvanas was growing frustrated at his frantic behavior all of a sudden. "Lor'themar trusts Dar'khan with his life and the safety of the Key of the Three Moons. There's no reason that he would betray Quel'thalas like that."

"And he's a fool for it," Arthas snapped. "Dar'khan is playing him like a fiddle. He'll betray Quel'Thalas, and Lor'themar will be the first to fall."

She frowned at the way he spoke about her right hand in the Farstriders. "Don't push it, Prince.", she warned.

Arthas' face became stormy. "Dar'khan is a snake, Sylvanas.", he pointed out in frustration. "He's capable of anything, especially if it means gaining power. He'll sell his soul and Quel'thalas to the Scourge for a mere ounce of it! And if you won't see that, maybe King Anasterian will!"

He would be fooling himself if he thinks that King Anasterian would listen to him. But he has to take this seriously somehow.

Without waiting for a response, Arthas climbed onto his steed's saddle and galloped to Silvermoon while the others watched him go with concern and confusion.

The Ranger-General watched the Prince's retreating figure with both anger and frustration. "How do you manage to keep up with him?" she asked Jaina, who was in the process in climbing into her own horse with Falric doing the same.

Jaina, who had known about Dar'khan from Arthas before they left, carefully chose her words. "Because what he does is to make sure that no one else would have to be victims to the Scourge," she replied as she stared at Sylvanas, hoping that she would listen to reason. "He's seen so much already. Knew a lot already. And like you, Sylvanas, he's incredibly headstrong and determined to prevent any more people from suffering such a cruel fate."

The elf's eyes narrowed at the mention of her own stubbornness. "And what of your Alliance?" she countered. "Why are you really here? To save us or to secure your own borders?"

The sorceress was calm, but her tone was firm. "We're here because if Quel'Thalas falls and the Sunwell is tainted," she began, "it becomes everyone's problem. We have to trust with one another. And Arthas knew where his heart is."

"It's hard to trust him if he's acting like this," Sylvanas finally said in frustration, climbing onto her horse.

"I trust that he is trying to do what he believes is right," Jaina corrected her. "And that is all any of us can ask of each other."

"Why are you so willing to believe in him?" Sylvanas asked in a more softer tone.

"Because," Jaina said with a sigh, "I've seen the lengths he would go to prevent any more tragedies from happening and his dedication to keep on going despite what people may say."

Jaina's horse galloped, followed by Falric as they followed the Prince into Silvermoon. Shaking her head in frustration, Sylvanas followed suit, tailed by Nathanos and a few of her Farstriders.

"Nathanos, try and find that letter that the Prince is claiming that he sent me.", Sylvanas instructed him. "We can't leave anything else to chance.

The human Ranger-Lord nodded fervently. "As you wish, my lady.", he replied.

At Silvermoon's Throne Room...

"I'm telling you, your Majesty!", Arthas pleaded with the seated form of King Anasterian on his throne with Felo'melorn at his side. "Magister Dar'khan Drathir is already planning your Kingdom's downfall! If you don't apprehend him now, Silvermoon is lost and the Sunwell open for contamination!"

He had been telling them this for the past ten minutes but they wouldn't budge. Amongst those inside the throne room are Grand Magister Belo'vir Salonar (whom he personally sliced off his arm using Frostmourne), retired High Priest Vandellor, High Priestess Liadrin and Magister Rommath.

Lives he either ruined or destroyed when he first invaded with the Scourge that was made possible because of Dar'khan's betrayal.

Behind him, Jaina and Falric were watching as the scene unfolded while Sylvanas was beside Arthas as he tried to give bring forth his explanations and warnings to them. But without anything to give proof, they aren't going to believe an outsider with bizarre claims other than his own memories of his previous life.

Sylvanas stepped forward to address King Anasterian."Your Majesty," she began measuringly. "The Prince of Lordaeron speaks of treachery within our ranks, specifically of Dar'khan Drathir. He claims that the Magister is planning to betray us to the Scourge."

Anasterian remained calm as he regarded the human prince before him. "And what evidence does he have to support these claims?" he asked, skeptical and formal

Arthas's frustration grew with every passing second. "No evidence yet," he admitted, "but you have to believe me! I've even warned Sylvanas for months!"

"And I didn't receive any sort of warning, Prince.", the Ranger-General shot back to him. "You suddenly brought up such claims all of a sudden without any merit."

"Suspicion is not evidence!" One of the elf nobles interjected. "If you still clung onto your baseless accusations, then consider yourself trying to sow discord amongst our Kingdom!"

"Why does Lordaeron even want to involve itself in our affairs? We could have handled this invasion ourselves!", another noble added.

"What are your true intentions, human?", one of them spoke. "Are you here to help us? Or help yourselves?"

Arthas mentally smacked his forehead in utter frustration. Elves and their pompous nature and their arrogance..., he thought, resisting the urge to rant at them that contained behavior not befitting before monarchs like Anasterian.

He knew he had to get to them somehow. "Do you think sending a letter while Andorhal is being torn apart while we investigated the plague that the Scourge had orchestrated is evidence enough to raise some suspicion at least? If we don't act now-"

The King held up a hand to silence him. "We do not take such accusations lightly, Prince Arthas," he bellowed. "If you wish to be believed, you must bring forth proof of this treachery."

"But if we wait for proof, it might be too late!" Arthas exclaimed in urgency and frustrations. "Magister Drathir is already planning on your Kingdom's downfall and allow the Scourge and the Orcs to rampage through your homeland!"

The King was unconvinced. "Your claims are...unnerving, Prince Arthas," Anasterian remarked. "While I do not doubt your intentions, I cannot risk our kingdom based on your intuition alone."

The room was silent and Arthas felt the king's gaze upon him. He clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tight. "You're making a mistake," he warned. "And if Dar'khan does betray you, it will be on your head, not mine."

"If so, then the Alliance is free to leave Quel'thalas", Anasterian bellowed. "With the threat of the undead decimated, the Quel'dorei would be able to route the remaining undead along with their orc and troll allies. We extend our thanks, but as we speak, the Alliance has no obligation to remain in Quel'thalas. Or was it simply a gesture to gain a debt from the elves for your personal ambitions?"

Arthas felt like he was being spat on his face. "You're asking us to leave?!", he asked in indignation. Sylvanas stared at Anasterian in disbelief. Arthas and his men have been a boon in defeating the Scourge several times, and asking him to leave when they're still struggling in holding the line against the onslaught. "And why would I have ambitions like that?"

Anasterian stood up. "Let me be clear to you, Prince Arthas.", the King began. "I will not waste elven lives on another war once the threat of the undead is over. I no longer have any oaths to uphold and we elves owe nothing anymore to your war against the undead."

Jaina and Falric stared at one another with their jaws open in disbelief. Is he fucking serious now?

"If need be, we can send supplies to Lordaeron, but nothing else. We can deal with the Blackrock Orcs and the Trolls as we dealt with their kind countless times, and we don't need to drain our resources any further. This plague is magical in origin according to our Magisters, which we can handle ourselves."

The chamber was in a boiling point. Arthas wasn't going to let that slide, not from an arrogant fool like Anasterian. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Now you listen here, you relic..."

The elves in the room bristled with anger at Arthas's words with offense and skepticism. Only Anasterian remained unfazed as he watched Arthas pushed on, his voice rising with urgency. "You may think that Quel'thalas's fate is your own concern, but make no mistake—it's all our problem," he declared. "If the Sunwell falls into the hands of the Scourge, if Dar'khan turns it against us, it's not just your people who will suffer. It's all of us. And if you refuse to see that, then you're as blind as you are stubborn."

The elven guards took a step forward, their hands on their weapons, but Sylvanas held up a hand to stay them. "Continue," she urged him with gritted teeth.

"We're not here because we want to interfere," Arthas began in a strained tone, restraining himself from outright ranting at him. "We're here because we can't afford to lose the Sunwell or have your people be infected . And if you won't help us prevent that, then you're as much a part of the problem as Dar'khan."

Anasterian leaned forward slightly, his expression still unreadable. "Your words are strong, Prince Arthas. But you stand before us with no evidence, only suspicion."

"That is why I came," Arthas protested in frustration . "I came to warn you of the danger that is already within your walls! Dar'khan is a traitor, and he will not hesitate to sell us all out to the Scourge!"

"You come to us, a human, and speak of betrayal," Anasterian said, his eyes narrowing. "How do we know it is not you who seeks to manipulate us?"

"Because I have nothing to gain from your downfall," Arthas shot back with sincerity . "But Dar'khan does. He's been biding his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike likely speaking to people who are very eager to use your corpses and the Sunwell for their own purposes. If you won't listen to me, then you're dooming us all."

Sylvanas stepped closer, locking her eyes into him. "If your intentions are true, then you will find the proof we require," she added. "But until then, your words are just that—words."

Arthas's patience was wearing thin, his fists clenched at his sides. "Fine," he spat. "I'll get you your evidence. But if anything happens while I'm gone—anything—then I'm free to say that I tried to warn you."

Anasterian signaled his guards to escort Arthas, Falric and Jaina out of the throne room. But before they could, something had happened. And Arthas could only sigh with a groan.

The doors swung open with a bang where it revealed two figures, looking pained, panic and outraged.

Ranger Captain Halduron Brightwing practically stumbled through them, his arm around a visibly injured Lor'themar Theron. His right eye was a mess of blood and bruises, his clothes tattered and his bow slung over his shoulder at an awkward angle. "Your Highness," he gasped painfully, "We have been betrayed!"

Anasterian quickly turned his attention. "By whom, Lor'themar?"

The room erupted into chaos as the elves within drew their weapons, their eyes going to the human prince who had just been arguing with their king.

Arthas could only stand there, his face buried in his hand, feeling the weight of his own words come back to haunt him. "The Magisters operating Ban'dinoriel are dead," Lor'themar continued, his voice shaking with pain and rage. "The Key of the Three Moons are missing. The inner elf gate is compromised!"

Sylvanas's eyes went wide with horror. "What?" she demanded. "How?"

"Dar'khan," Halduron spat out in anger and resentment of the Magister. "He's been in league with someone called Tichondrius. They're already at the gates with the undead, Blackrock orcs, and Amani trolls. They know our locations, our weaknesses."

Lor'themar stumbled forward in both pain and regret. "It's true," he managed to say. "Dar'khan...he's been in contact with a demon named Tichondrius. He's been working with the Scourge, the Blackrock orcs, and the Amani trolls. He knew where we were because..." He painfully sighed. "Because I was a fool to trust him with their locations."

Sylvanas froze as she remembered the exact words that Arthas shouted at her back then: 'And he's a fool for it. Dar'khan is playing him like a fiddle. He'll betray Quel'Thalas, and Lor'themar will be the first to fall.'

For Arthas, trying to help them was a more challenging task compared to slaughtering them in his previous life. But he's not going to bring that up. "I...I did give Sylvanas a letter asking her to investigate Dar'khan. But she claimed that she never received any letters from me.", Arthas spoke out.

"What is he speaking of, Sylvanas?", Anasterian asked of her.

Nathanos rushed forward at the throne room, noticing Lor'themar's injuries before he turned to Sylvanas. "I have not found any letters that are from Prince Arthas.", he reported amidst the pants. "But one of Lady Vereesa's letters coincided with the timeframe that Prince Arthas claimed that he sent them."

Sylvanas took the letter and opened them. From above, was a letter of condolence to the Archmage Rhonin, Vereesa's husband. But the contents below, caused her blood to freeze. "Sylvanas, what is inside that letter?", Anasterian further demanded.

Sylvanas felt a cold sweat break out on her brow as she turned to face the king. "Your Highness," she began, her voice shaking slightly. "Ranger-Lord Marris has searched for any correspondence from Prince Arthas regarding Dar'khan. Unfortunately, he has not found any such letters in our possession."

The room grew even quieter. King Anasterian's gaze bore into her, demanding an explanation. Sylvanas took a deep breath, preparing herself for the revelation that could change everything.

Her hand trembled as she unfolded the parchment, revealing the unmistakable seal of the Alliance. The king leaned forward, his eyes scanning the page with a furrowed brow. "What does it say?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Sylvanas's heart hammered in her chest as she read the damning words that seemed to echo in the silent chamber. "It speaks of an urgent warning from Arthas, sealed with his personal emblem," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "He knew...he knew all along."

And this is the price of pride and complacency: the very idea that their homeland would fall because they refuse to listen or believed in their own infallibility.

And all of a sudden, Sylvanas didn't feel like she was the Ranger-General of Quel'thalas. But the biggest fool of Quel'thalas for not heeding the concerns of outsiders who tried to warn her of the danger and dismissing them because of her own resentment. The letter he had sent those months ago through Vereesa from Dalaran, they weren't ramblings of a paranoid man causing any sort of discord. But a warning from the Prince who had fought the Scourge longer than any of them.

"What is he speaking of, Sylvanas?", Anasterian again demanded at the Ranger-General and she could feel the eyes of everyone darting at her own error of judgement.

She looked around them and then to the King. She could remember as to how King Anasterian spoke highly of her parents, Lireesa and Verath as well as her own missing sister, Ranger-Captain Alleria.

She had always strived to be better than Alleria whom many of her own people felt was better suited as Ranger-General like their mother before her. But it was clear that her reputation and of her own standing amongst the elves is on very thin ice. "The letter-"

"What letter, Sylvanas?", the King pressed on harshly, his own patience growing very thin as he needed answers immediately when the enemy is now advancing through their homeland. "What did the Prince say?"

Sylvanas felt the color drain from her face as she realized how terrible her mistake was. Stumbling over her words, she tried to explain, "The letter...it was from Arthas, months ago. He warned us about Dar'khan, telling us that his loyalty must be put into question and that he must not be trusted, but... I didn't believe it. I didn't take it seriously enough to investigate..."

"And where is that letter?", Anasterian demanded, making it clear that there will be no argument between them.

Sylvanas pulled out a parchment from her pocket and gave it to him with a slightly trembling hand, almost as if preparing to refuse doing so. Anasterian read out the letter in complete dismay where Arthas had written it for her through her sister Vereesa. "Bid your wife, Lady Vereesa, to warn Sylvanas of Magister Dar'Khan Drathir. His loyalty to their cause is in question. He is not to be trusted and to be watched closely.", he bellowed within the throne room for everyone to hear.

The letter indeed looked like it was written from months ago. And the Arthas' own seal was present as proof that he himself had sent the warning to her. And she did nothing to investigate or stop the traitor.

The implications of the letter's existence hit Sylvanas like a blow to the gut. If Arthas had indeed sent warnings and she had ignored them for months because she resented Vereesa that she missed Arthas' warning to her over Lirath's death, the blood of Quel'Thalas's fallen would be on her hands. She could feel the eyes of the court upon her, judging, accusing. "It appears...it appears that Arthas's claims may have merit," she admitted. "And I...I have his warning about Dar'khan for months..."

Sure enough, it went bad really quick.

The accusations flew through the air like arrows, each one hitting Sylvanas harder than the last. The whispers grew louder as the elves, particularly that of the nobility, in the room pointed fingers at her, their faces twisted with anger and disbelief.

"How could you be so blind, Ranger-General?"

"Lireesa and Alleria would be ashamed of you!"

"A human sees the truth before you?"

The words stung, each one a sharp reminder of her failure to protect her people. Falric and Jaina exchanged concerned glances as the room grew increasingly hostile.

"I did not have the evidence!" she snapped back. "I could not act on mere suspicion!"

"Yet a human outsider knew better than you?" another elf sneered, pointing at Arthas.

Nathanos was visibly dismayed and angered as to how quickly they turned against her, as did Halduron and Lor'themar. The human Ranger-Lord was prepared to stand in her defense but one of them beat him to it.

Arthas stepped forward, realizing his decision had led to her people discrediting her. "ENOUGH!" he roared. "We do not have the luxury of placing blame and pointing fingers! We have to work together to face this threat or there will be no Quel'Thalas left to argue over!"

He looked around the room, finding that of Sylvanas and held them for a moment.

Anasterian's expression was one of fury. He took a moment to compose himself before speaking calmly but barely. "You speak the truth, Prince Arthas," he conceded bitterly. "But know that this is not the end of this discussion. Sylvanas," he said, turning to her, "you will face the consequences of your negligence."

The Ranger-General was angered as she looked at the king, but she knew better than to argue in this moment. Instead, she spun on her heel and marched out of the Throne Room, her cloak billowing behind her. Arthas called after her, "Sylvanas, wait!". But she was already gone, the heavy doors slamming shut in her wake.

Jaina placed a hand on Arthas's shoulder, worried as he is. "Let her go," she said softly. "Give her time. But we first have to deal with the Scourge."

The King sighed. "What do you have in mind, Prince Arthas?", Anasterian asked, looking straight to him.

"We need evacuate the population from very exposed village or settlement," Arthas began. "We need to buy time for Silvermoon to prepare its defenses and for the civilians to escape by sea with the help of Lordaeron's navy. Our priority is the survival of your people, not the pride of fighting to the last man."

Anasterian looked at him. "And what makes you believe we would abandon our homeland? We will fight to the last man to protect Quel'Thalas."

"And what will that accomplish?" Arthas shot back. "You'll have a heroic last stand, and then what? A graveyard where your city once stood, and your people serving the Scourge?" He took a step closer to the elven king. "There won't be a Quel'Thalas if its people are turned into an undead horde."

The elven king remained silent for a moment, considering his words. Then, with a nod, he gave his consent. "Very well," he said, his voice firm. "Lor'themar, Grand Magister Salonar, you will fortify the city and hold the line as long as you can. Halduron, I leave the evacuation in your capable hands."

The Ranger Captain nodded. "It will be done, my king," he promised.

Arthas turned to the injured Lor'themar. "I know you want to fight, but right now, your people need you to lead and organize. Trust me, there will be plenty of battles ahead."

Lor'themar nodded, though his jaw was set in anger. "As you say, Prince," he grunted.

Anasterian turned to the two priests present. "Liadrin and Vandellor, prepare the healers for duty. There are bound to be more casualties than we would initially expect."

"It will be done, your Highness.", Vandellor complied, being helped by Liadrin to move to their location.

The elven king's gaze shifted to Arthas once more. "Thank you for your counsel," he finally said. "I hope for your sake, and for ours, that your intentions are as noble as you claim."

Arthas nodded at her. "I assure you, they are," he said. "But we have no time to waste on doubt, not when we have an entire population to safeguard."

Meanwhile at the Inner Elf Gate Outpost...

Civilians are fleeing.

Their troops have begun to mobilize as many of them are panicking on what is happening, when the Ban'dinoriel was shut down. Jenalla and a few Farstriders are in the process of evacuating civilians to Silvermoon, while the humans Captain Marwyn and Lieutenant Thassarian hastily constructed barricades with their men to impede the undead.

Sylvanas couldn't believe what is happening. And this was all coming ahead.

Ever since she was a child, her mother Lireesa, and the Ranger-General before them, had instilled of them values. They were harsh, but it gave them a sense of purpose to protect their homeland at any cost. She had high expectations, and Sylvanas was determined to meet them.

When Lireesa was killed, Sylvanas was thrusted into he role as Ranger-General when Alleria chose to do her duty to the Alliance by heading to who knows where when she and her companions fought the Horde at the Dark Portal. Ever since then, the people's expectations have always grown for Sylvanas as she tried to meet and supercede those of her mother and her sister when it came to duty.

When Lirath died, Sylvanas became cold but she wanted to preserve his memory by becoming the protector that he never got to be. And she did so by fiercely protecting her homeland, and she held her pride up high as a means to hide her inner doubts and fears

And now, her homeland was at the risk of being overrun by the undead, the Orcs and the trolls because of her own negligence by refusing to read her sister's letters.

Somehow, her heart yearned to blame Arthas for humiliating her in the eyes of the people and her King which led everyone to question her abilities as Ranger-General.

Ever since he shown up, he was like some sort of savior that managed to not only save them, but beat back the Scourge very effectively using unorthodox tactics several times, which made her people's opinions of him to be vastly improved.

All Sylvanas felt were anger and embarrassment. She heard the whispers of elf civilians and warriors alike, speaking in hushed tones of the human prince who had helped them. His name, Arthas, seemed to hang in the air, a constant reminder of her failure to heed his warning. She clenched her fists in anger. How could she have been so blind? So consumed by her own pride and grief that she had ignored the very warnings that could have prevented this?

The knowledge that her negligence had led to their current predicament was a knife twisting in her gut. She had allowed Dar'khan to slip past her, all the while her own sister and Arthas had tried to warn her. Sylvanas felt her people's accusations, their doubt in her leadership. The nobility had thrown her to the wolves in front of the court, using her to save face while the truth of her mistake spread like wildfire. She knew Arthas wasn't the smug type, but in her fury, she couldn't help but imagine him watching her with a smirk, knowing that he was right all along.

In her mind, the Prince had humiliated her in front of the king and her people. Arthas genuinely had the best intentions at heart. But by failing to warn them or investigate Dar'khan as Arthas requested her from those months passed, she was viewed as incompetent and was discredited in the eyes of her own people who often brought up that Alleria was a better choice than her.

The Prince had suddenly barged in with the claim that he wants to defend Quel'thalas. But in Sylvanas' mind, he thought the Elves were a burden that they needed to help in order to secure their own borders.

She could imagine Arthas being so smug and looked down on her for her own shortsightedness. But her comrades thought otherwise and saw that Arthas was very genuine to help them. His wish to help them only infuriated her, as if they, the Farstriders, was very incapable of handling themselves without his help.

She looked for any signs of the man who had upended her world. She knew she needed to speak with him, to understand how he had foreseen this betrayal when she had not. But she also feared what he would think of her. Would he look at her with disappointment? Or worse, pity?

No... I'll make this right..., Sylvanas thought to herself. She would not let her people down again. She would not allow Arthas to be the hero while she was vilified. She would prove to Anasterian, to her people, to Arthas himself that she earned her post. She would not let the memory of Lirath be tarnished by her incompetence.

"We will fight," she declared. "We will fight with everything we have to protect our home. Even if it came at the cost of our own lives".

The initial concept of the chapter was Sylvanas receiving the letter and not believing Arthas but that would just make her an absolute jackass. I read her novel, and I decided to take excerpts of it like how Lirath's death affected her and her relationship with Vereesa, which is why she didn't read the letters sent to him. And she couldn't exactly believe Arthas as he became frantic. Open for suggestions. Rate and review!