Chapter III
The Darkness Before Dawn.
- - "He is the Highlord now. Last time I heard that title being uttered was in Uther's presence, so many long years ago. The man must have a strong heart to take up so much responsibility in such a short amount of time. I mean, he ordered the Knights renewed, and merged them with the Argent Dawn. Then led this crusade to Northrend, took up the title of Highlord, and even now wields the Ashbringer. Surely knows how to deal with stress. Though, I wonder if he will be alright with the burden that has yet to come; The fight against the Lich King himself. Well, no matter what happens, I wish to be by his side and help him conquer the evil that plagues our land." Lyn just let her thoughts run like water from a mountain spring.
- - "It seems like you have much on your mind, dear. Just remember what he said, and you won't have to worry about doubts", Syri comforted her partner.
- - "Put your faith in the Light, and all is possible."
- - "Yeah, I know. I just worry sometimes. Not so much about myself, but him and the crusade. I hope that we don't fail. Obstacles like this don't appear on any given day, you know. This is the Lich King we're up against. Don't you have any doubts?"
- - "Sometimes, yes. But I have great faith in the man, and in the Ashbringer. As you said, things like this just don't happen on any given day. Fate... No. Destiny leads us and binds us all. This conflict with the Lich King was bound to occur sooner or later, but destiny smiles upon us. We have the Ashbringer on our side. Doubts will only weaken us. You must strengthen your faith. Not just for the sake of the crusade, but for me... and for yourself", the young elf preached to the human girl.
"Thank you for the support, but I don't feel weakness by having doubts. I just worry. Almost like a mother does for her child. I must say that I feel strengthened by it, actually. I want to protect my child, metaphorically speaking. Anyway, don't you think we should get going? Ha. I just realized you aren't even dressed yet."
- - "Hey! Don't get wise with me! I'll make it there on time. Don't you worry."
- - "Hehe. Okay. You know Archmage Aethas won't be happy if you're late. I'll see you at the citadel."
- - The lights brighten as Lyn passes by. A great insect and its rider skitter by her in the lane. As she approaches the Violet Citadel, a great staircase can be seen, with a few heavily armored guards at the top, standing side by side. Walking up the steps, Lyn can hear shouts coming from the interior of the hall. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, she is greeted by the guards immediately straightening up and offering her their salutes. The girl nods at them as she walks by into the citadel's great hall, only to be welcomed by continued shouting of the group inside.
- - "THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! You think while you prepare, the Lich King will wait patiently for you? Are you out of your mind? Are you INSANE? The Scourge will be mopping up the remainder of our troops while the Horde and your crusade still are not ready for an assault!", a rather large and long haired man preaches with a commanding tone. Lyn immediately recognizes him as King Varian Wrynn, and catches his eye with a wave of her hand. Varian turns his gaze back toward the conversation at hand, "Can the Horde and the crusade muster the strength and speed required to meet us on the battlefield? Please, tell me now to quell my doubts, for they are many."
- - "I can assure you, great king, the crusade has already made a breach into Icecrown. Soon we will welcome both the Alliance and the Horde to join us there. Have faith..."
- - Would appear that Highlord Fordring, King Wrynn, Archmage Rhonin, and the Horde Warchief were having a debate about their plans to move into Icecrown.
- - "Faith might be a factor here, Tirion, but our destiny has not changed course. While Varian doubts the Horde's efforts, I can tell you that the events at the Wrathgate did not give us any pause. We are prepared to burst into Icecrown with the Horde's primary offensive. We only need the all-clear from you", Thrall aiming to give the others the confidence they needed to begin planning for the next step.
- - "As bold as such an attack may be, I do not feel such is warranted. We need not force our way into Icecrown for now. We can reach the crusade's base of operations by other means, rather than trying to force our way through countless Scourge. We can easily reach it by going to the sea in the north", Rhonin explained.
- - "You should try to avoid such conversations in the future, Lyn. They are not meant for ears such as yours. Let us men do the dog fighting. Young ladies like yourself do not deserve to witness such hostility amongst comrades. Now forget it and give me the message you were intended to deliver", Varian said firmly.
- - Lyn graciously offered the message, "Yes, my king. I was sent to inform you and our ambassadors that Tyrande will not be making her way to Northrend, but she does endorse the involvement of the Cenarion Enclave, and has ordered the bulk of the Sentinel army to assist the Alliance in every way possible."
- - "Why didn't you show? You were supposed to be there. I'm sure Thrall could have used the intel about the Blood Knights. They were fighting like children at a point. Especially Varian. He seems rather easy to anger."
- - "Haha. You think Varian is easy to anger? You need to meet Thrall's new pet. He's always yelling something about how he's better than someone else. Inferiority complex at its finest", Syri mocked Thrall's prot?®g?® and taunted Lyn.
- - "Perhaps, but you still didn't answer the question, silly bird. Where were you?", Lyn questioned the elf.
- - "While you were eavesdropping, I was busy with Archmage Sunreaver. I visited Thrall and that kim'jael, Hellscream. The message I had for them was delivered punctually. Just because you didn't see me, hun, doesn't mean I wasn't around."
- - "Kim'jael? You know I don't speak Thalassian, silly."
- - "I called him a little rat. Not really much there to explain."
- - "That's funny. It would seem that you share the opinion of many members of the Alliance. Anyway, I have orders to be at the crusade's new grounds in Icecrown by dusk. Care to join?"
- - "Please don't tell me we're going to fly over Scourgeholme. That place reeks an awful amount. Aside from that, I would happily accompany you. I'd like to see the Highlord before my time is finished in Northrend anyway."
- - The air as light as a feather, yet colder than the breath of a great blue drake. It was nearing dusk, and the sun hadn't been visible for hours already. Lightning-filled clouds polluted the sky. Silhouettes of airborne patrols can be seen far to the west. Ahead, there is a glowing half-built structure covering a large portion of the glacier becoming more visible, almost out of nothing. Clearly the air is thicker than it seems. Even the senses of the nose tells lies in this place. Forsaken by the Light, or simply dominated by something sinister. Obvious that the extent of the Lich King's grasp reaches far, to the very edges of Icecrown. The glowing structure is, without a doubt, a construction built by the Argent Crusade. But, what for? Why here? It almost seemed as if it were a direct challenge to the Lich King's rule.
- - The news of conquest in the ancient titan city in the Stormpeaks just arriving. Victory in Ulduar appears to have everyone in good spirits, and the tale spreading about the defeat of Yogg'Saron and Algalon swept through the crusade's construction site almost as quickly as it did Dalaran. It is said that there was a beautiful display of the sky over Dalaran, but still nothing more than dark clouds filled with lightning could be seen over Icecrown. The Lich King's grip obviously still strong after the death of the Old God of Death.
- - "We shall triumph! The time of the Argent Crusade... is now! Keep up the good work my brethren. The tournament grounds are almost finished, and the Horde and the Alliance shall meet with us here soon. We will enjoy our time as we prepare to bring down the darkness", the Highlord's voice echoed about the building that was finally nearing completion.
- - *Almost two weeks later, the great Trial of the Crusader takes place. Both Syri and Lyn being members of the Knights of the Silver Hand and the Argent Crusade, are not permitted to fight alongside the Alliance and Horde champions, but are to watch instead.*
- - "Together, we will see the end of the Lich King. Here, upon these grounds, we shall test our champions and decide who is the strongest and who shall lead us to the gates of Icecrown Citadel", Tirion explained the purpose of the construction to his audience.
- - "Let us get this contest underway, then", Lord Fordring mumbles in a softer tone than his previous speech. "Hailing from the deepest, darkest caverns of the storm peaks, Gormok the Impaler! Battle on, heroes!", Tirion yells once again as loud as he can without losing composure.
- - *The gates swing open and a large, four-legged, beast-man stomps toward the center of the arena. The beast has what looks to be a polearm in hand, and he is swinging it about as he walks. The Alliance and Horde members on the arena floor around the beast obviously have their guard up, but will the be prepared for the challenges to come?*
- - *The faction champions have fought the beasts, demons, and each other valiantly. Fortunately there haven't been too many casualties. Highlord Fordring prepares to introduce the final challenge to the champions, regardless of the mishap regarding the demon summoning, and the fight amongst themselves that it resulted in.*
- - "I wonder what the next challenge will be. Each one is supposed to be increasingly more difficult. I worry for the lives of everyone on the floor down there", Lyn said softly, almost as if she didn't want anyone other than Syri to hear.
- - "Damn it! You are your worries.... You worry way too much, girly. You need to relax, sit back, and enjoy the show! I mean, we didn't get these great seats for nothing, now did we? These people are supposed to be the best of the best. I'm sure they'll do just fine", the elf partially scolding her counterpart.
- - "Yes, I know. But..."
- - "Only by working together will you overcome the final challenge. From the depths of Icecrown come two of the Scourge's most powerful lieutenants: fearsome Val'kyr, winged harbingers of the Lich King! Let the games begin!", the great paladin announced the next fight.
- - *The doors swing open and the Val'kyr can be seen. Intimidatingly large, the twins march their way into the arena. The Alliance and Horde champions, eager to fight, already seem prepared. They take up their arms and charge right into battle with the Val'kyr.*
- - The twins respond accordingly, and charge into battle with the champions, yelling at the top of their lungs the same exact thing, "In the name of our dark master. For the Lich King. You. Will. Die."
- - *The champion's movements are so efficiently coordinated, almost everything seems to be going perfectly. A dance with death, as it were. Each and every move made by the Val'kyr is met with a quick and merciless response.*
- - "Let the dark consume you!" the darker of the two twins yells as she charges an incoming spell.
- - *The Alliance champions who are all around the lighter colored twin immediately move to touch some dark, round, ambient object near the other side of the arena. Just a moment later, the dark Val'kyr's spell explodes, yet seems to harm none of the champions. In the next instant, the lightly colored Val'kyr casts some shield on herself and starts channeling a spell. Almost all of the Horde champions, who are surrounding the darker Val'kyr rush over to the one being controlled by the Alliance and attack her with the utmost ferocity. Her shield goes down almost immediately, and one of the larger orcs in the group knock her clear to the ground. The other Val'kyr just pauses, then drops to her knees and fades away.*
- - "The Scourge cannot be stopped...", the twins yell as they perish.
- - *The champions back off, seemingly exhausted from their bouts.*
- - "A mighty blow has been dealt to the Lich King! You have proven yourselves able bodied champions of the Argent Crusade. Together we will strike at Icecrown Citadel and destroy what remains of the Scourge! There is no challenge that we cannot face united!", the Highlord congratulates the champions on their victory.
- - *A deep and loud voice flares up with a terrifying tone.*
- - "You will have your challenge, Fordring."
- - *The Lich King materializes out of nowhere.*
- - "Arthas! You are hopelessly outnumbered! Lay down Frostmourne and I will grant you a just death."
- - *The Lich King laughs at Tirion's offer, obviously quite amused by the gesture.*
- - "The Nerubians built an empire beneath the frozen wastes of Northrend. An empire that you so foolishly built your structures upon. MY EMPIRE. The souls of your fallen champions will be mine, Fordring."
- - *The Lich King raises Frostmourne with both hands tightly gripping the hilt, and drives it downward with a heavy and violent force, shattering the wooden floor and the ice beneath it, almost on immediate contact. He then vanishes just as quickly as he came while the champions of the Horde and the Alliance fall down below the arena. A few moments later a voice can be heard. It falls on the bystander's ears like nails to a chalkboard. The voice is obviously that of an insect.*
- - "Ahhh... Our guests arrived, just as the master promised. This place will serve as your tomb!"
- - *Inhuman screams and shrieks can be heard along with occasional clashing of metal and explosions down below, but after a few minutes, there is a very loud and ear-splitting cry. Whatever was down below has clearly perished. The mages that accompanied Jaina had already begun to slow-fall down with the Highlord to the champions so that they may be teleported out.*
- - As Tirion lands at the bottom and meets eyes with the heroes, he greets them with great surprise and enthusiasm, "Champions, you're alive! Not only have you defeated every challenge of the Trial of the Crusader, but thwarted Arthas directly! Your skill and cunning will prove to be a powerful weapon against the Scourge. Well done! Allow one of my mages to transport you back to the surface!"
- - *Back in Dalaran that night.*
- - "The Highlord believes that we have dealt the Lich King a heavy blow, but I cannot say that I agree. It feels more like he is testing us. It feels like the Lich King has plans", Lyn spoke her mind as she leaned on the edge of the window overlooking Crystalsong Forest.
- - "Perhaps we have dealt the Lich King a heavy blow, hun. Anub'arak isn't just some random minion of the Scourge, y'know. I'm actually surprised at the turn of events, but our course remains the same. Whether he has plans for us or not, we must meet him in battle. His reign must be brought to an end", Syri explained to the pondering human.
- - "I understand that, but I still wonder if this is a battle intended to be won. Are we meant to defeat the Lich King? If not us, then who? What will become of the Scourge without someone to control it?"
- - "I've said it many time before, and I'll say it again. Dear, you worry too much. Sometimes I fear it is too much for your own good. Time reveals all things. Just wait for it, and destiny will unfold", the elf offering her counsel.
- - "Perhaps. I just look up at the stars. They are beautiful aren't they?"
- - "Yes, yes they are. Though, they are not the only thing that is beautiful", Syri smiles at Lyn.
- - Giggling, the human girl continues, "Sometimes I wonder just how many more times I will get to see them. I don't want to see the day where my vision is blocked like it was in Icecrown. I hope that such a time doesn't come soon. The Lich King, though powerful, I know shouldn't give me pause. But... Arthas was a great man once. He was the best of us all. Now look at him. If such a thing can happen to him, then imagine what could happen to us."
- - "I understand your concern, but when your faith is strong, you are safe from the shadow. Not to mention I will protect you from it as well. Though the darkness descends upon us, dawn draws closer. When the time comes, we will all bask in the glory of the Light. Until then, dear, please do not worry."
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