Blood and Bone

[James]

Carden awoke to the sunlight shining through the window into his eyes, he turned to roll left and found something in his way, the sleeping form of Lyrila. Memories began to flood Carden’s mind of last night and the mage began to smile as Lyrila coughed in her sleep. It was then that the mage had the feeling of someone watching him and he turned to his right and opened his eyes.

Lauren was standing next to the bed dressed in her pajamas and a large dressing gown, her hair resting upon her shoulders. Carden could now see that she was short like her mother, which made them look more beautiful than normal. The pair stared at each other for a moment before Lauren slowly said. “Daddy? Dad is that you?”

Carden sat upright, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before answering his daughter. “Yes Lauren, yes it is.”

“Dad!” Lauren screamed before throwing herself into his arms to hug him. The scream awoke Lyrila who sat upright in a second already preparing to defend her daughter. When she saw Lauren nestled in her father’s arm, the pair embraced in a hug she dropped her defenses and shifted over to sit next to them.

“Daddy, where have you been? Mummy said you went to warn the mages but you never came back,” Lauren asked sweetly, talking into her father’s shoulder. Lyrila and Carden shared a glance before he answered her.

“I been all over the place sweetie, I went to Stormwind, the human city and then I went to Karazhan. Do you know what Karazhan is?” Carden asked and Lauren shook her head. As Carden began to tell her the story of Medivh and the tower of Karazhan, Lyrila began to cook breakfast. By the time Carden was finish, breakfast was cooked and on the table and the family began to eat.

“So daddy did you meet Medivh then?” Lauren asked as she ate her breakfast.

“No I didn’t sweetie,” Carden said with a strained grin and clenched fists. The memory of Medivh was far too familiar for Carden. Lyrila sensed the anger in Carden’s face and quickly began talking to Lyrila. Saying that now daddy was back they were going to be a big happy family.

“Is that right? Are you staying with us daddy? Are you going to look after me like you looked after mum and me when the bad people came last time?” Lauren asked. She was exactly like her father, curious to the last and always asking questions.

“I am Lauren, I’m going to see you grow up and make sure you’re safe,” Carden answered, giving his daughter another hug. The young girl squealed with joy and then ran off to her bed to get something.

“I told you she adores you,” Lyrila said with a smile as she took Carden’s hand.

“I don’t deserve it,” Carden replied thickly. While he loved being back with his family he had a constant feeling that he didn’t deserve them in his life.

“That’s not true and you know it. If it wasn’t for you she would have never saw her second birthday,” Lyrila retorted.

“True, but I never saw her second birthday. Nor her third, fourth, fifth…”

“Stop it now! The past is behind us, just be glad we’re back together now and don’t dwell on the fact that you missed her growing up. She still has a lot more growing to do,” Lyrila said, in an attempt to improve Carden’s mood.

“I guess so,” Carden said before Lauren was sprinting back to the kitchen table something shiny in her right hand. The young girl shoved the necklace into Carden’s hand and the mage looked down into his hand to inspect it. It had a small black gem in it and inscribed on the gem was a large R. It was his only heirloom, the only thing his mother left him. Well he actually stole it from her after she died.

“It’s yours isn’t it daddy? Mummy said you must dropped it when we were fleeing from the bad people, I found it when we left the city. It was on the ground hidden underneath some dirt.” Lauren said watching her father.

“It is honey, thank you so much,” Carden said kissing his daughter on the cheek before the putting the necklace back around his neck after eight years of not having it. “Thank you Lauren, it means a lot to me. Now you two need to pack everything you have and we’re going back to Silvermoon.”

“Why?” Lauren asked.

“What? No I’m not taking her back there!” Lyrila shouted.

“We have to!” Carden replied quickly. “The Scourge is coming this way, they have already taken most of the Ghostlands and only the Farstriders are stopping them from reaching Silvermoon. If you stay here we die, we have to get to Silvermoon and then we can leave to somewhere else from there. Alright?”

“I guess,” Lyrila replied quietly before she began to grab whatever she could and pack them away in a few bags.

“The Scourge?” Lauren asked not moving from the table.

“You remember about the bad people that we had to escape from sweetie when you were a baby,” Carden said and Lauren nodded. “Well they are a big army called the Scourge and they’re coming here again to try and well take over the city. So we have to make sure that we’re safe and go back to the city to help them.”

“Ok then,” Lauren said and the young girl began to rush around grabbing her belongings and packing them up, eager to help her mother. Carden meanwhile rose to his feet and made his way out of the house to get the Hawkstrider. As they began to pile bags onto it Carden realized it would only be able to hold two people and Lyrila was thinking the exact same thing.

“How are we all going to get on?” she asked.

“You and Lauren will, I’ll keep up by foot,” Carden answered.

“Got faster in the last ten years? I seem to remember the last time we raced I beat you by quite a long way,” Lyrila said putting Lauren onto the Hawkstrider before jumping up herself.

“Yes I have,” Carden said with a smile tightening the last bag onto the Hawkstrider. “On the count of three I say we race,” he said and Lauren nodded with a grin on her face and Lyrila just shook her head.

“One, two, three!” Carden roared and Lyrila kicked the Hawkstrider into a gallop leaving Carden behind. Carden merely laughed as Lauren and Lyrila yelled back at him. The mage took one step forward and then blinked right past the Hawkstrider and broke into a steady run, blinking whenever he felt the strength to do so again.

“Cheat!” Lyrila roared at him as she kicked the Hawkstrider to go faster, Lauren clinging onto her mother. Lyrila was gaining on the mage when all of a sudden another Hawkstrider flew in front of Carden and caused him to stop. Lyrila eyes the rider as a Blood Elf and rode up to where her husband and he stood.

“Tomathren! What are you doing here? You’re meant to be with the Farstriders,” Carden asked.

“I decided to hand in my message and then spy on them. I told them I was to return to Silvermoon when in fact I watched them just as they were watching the Scourge. I thought it was a good idea in case they were caught by the undead and slaughtered to the last,” Tomathren replied.

“Sounds like a good idea but why are you here then?” Carden said confused.

“They’re coming Carden! The Farstriders lashed out at the Scourge but they were expecting it and ambushed them. Only Amelia and Arras lived, they’re running back to Silvermoon now.” Tomathren said.

“What’s going on?” Lyrila asked as she neared the pair.

“Lyrila! I’m so glad Carden found you in time,” Tomathren said.

“What’s going on?” Lyrila asked again, sensing the dread in Carden’s face.

“They’re coming!” Carden replied, sprinting towards Silvermoon, the two Hawkstriders following him.

[James]

Tay stood in front of the Sun Guard, all eyes on him as he explained that Arcane Magic was the most complex of the three branches. It was apparent within the first ten minutes that the Sun Guard preferred Carden’s way of teaching, dropping snide remarks every two seconds, compare to his own. Nevertheless though they paid attention to him as he spoke.

“The reason why arcane magic is the hardest to grasp is this; whereas you can imagine the heat from a fireball or the coldness from an icebolt you can’t even begin to think of what arcane feels like until you have mastered it. So the easiest way to learn how to cast arcane spell is to imagine a bolt of arcane flying from your hand and striking the target dummy,” Tay said as his students watched him. “So in a line and take it turns to try and cast an arcane bolt and don’t worry if you can’t. I’m not expecting anyone to get it first time.”

Tay moved away from the Sun Guard as they began to try and cast an arcane bolt at the target dummy. As expected not one single person got it first time round but surprisingly two people got it on the second turn. After an hour everyone had manage to complete the task set and Tay went onto teach more of the harder aspects of arcane magic. By the end of the day he was extremely impressed by the Sun Guard’s skill and was sure they would be able to carry their on.

By the following morning Tay was in quite a good mood, the only problem nagging him was that Carden had not returned. However Tay put that out of his mind and went down the hall for some breakfast. The High Elf had just finished his plate when the doors swung open and a group of people swept into the room. First he saw Carden his face set with determination, and then Tomathren appeared his face a mixture of determination and dread. Finally a female Elf stepped through the door and holding tight onto her hand was a young girl, a girl who looked remarkable like Carden.

“Tay! Where is Lor’themar?” Carden said in a loud voice.

“I’m here Carden,” Lor’themar replied from the same door, Carden had just entered from. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re coming my lord, the Farstriders were ambushed and killed. The Scourge are coming, they will reach us by the morrow,” Carden said quickly. Lor’themar for a moment looked like he was going to be ill but the Regent-Lord managed to compose himself and began to make a plan of action.

“Tomathren! Round up all the civilians and bring them here this is where they will be kept safe,” Lor’themar said and Tomathren nodded and run out of the room. “Tay! Alert our Ranger-General of what has happened, tell him to meet us by the front gate in no less than half an hour.” Tay nodded as well and left the room leaving just the Regent-Lord and Carden and his family.

“My lord I beg you please evacuate your people to safety,” Carden said as soon as Tay left the room.

“I’m sorry Carden but I will not see us run again! Also we do not have the resources to evacuate everyone, we would have to pick and choose and I’m not going to do that,” Lor’themar said as he walked towards the door. “Be at the gate in half an hour Carden and we will plan our defense.” Lor’themar left the room leaving just the Boyd family alone.

“Carden what are we going to do? You know we can’t win right?” Lyrila said quickly running up to her husband.

“I know, love. Here’s what we’re going to do and listen carefully. Grab as much food as possible from here and then lock yourselves in my room, I’ll show you where it is. I’m going to try and keep on nagging Lor’themar, if the Scourge breaks through I’ll run back to here and get ourselves out of the city, ok?” Carden replied.

“Ok then,” Lyrila said kissing her husband quickly before running around the room gathering food. Lauren meanwhile was beginning to cry, even at nine years old she could figure out what was going on.

“Sshhh, sweetie everything going to be alright. I’m going to go and help them fight for a bit and then I’ll come back and be with you and we can find a new home,” Carden said picking up the young girl.

“Why can’t we leave now?” Lauren spluttered through tears.

“Because… because we can’t alright. Don’t worry I’ll promise I’ll be back for you,” Carden said softly.

“Promise?” Lauren asked.

“I promise,” Carden answered with a grin before taking the pair up to his room. “Remember honey, only open the door if you know it’s not the Scourge,” Carden said to his wife turning back out of the door. Lyrila merely nodded before she was locking the door and slipping down to the floor, Lauren clinging to her arm still crying.

Carden arrived at the front gate quickly and was surprised to see a pair of panting Blood Elves standing with the group. “Arras! Amelia!” Carden roared as he raced up the street to meet them.

“Carden,” Arras’s reply came. “Carden they’re coming! Many of them, far more than we can seek to win. They have crypt fiends, liches, ghouls and a Death Knight!”

“See Lor’themar! We can’t win!” Carden said as he turned onto the Regent-Lord.

“And we can’t flee either!” Lor’themar roared back. “Enough, we must at least try to win. Halduron what would be our best course of action?” And the talk of tactic began, interrupted every so often by Carden and Tay dropping snide remarks about killing all their people. However within an hour a course of defense was decided.

Upon the gate would be every Elven ranger left firing down at the Scourge when they arrive. Also upon the gate would be a group of large rocks to drop on any battering rams the Scourge might have. Behind the gate would be the Blood Elves main army, spearmen and swordsmen first and then the mages they stole from the Sun Guard. The Sun Guard would wait behind and offer help when needed. If the gate would fall and frontline fell then they would retreat back through the city until they would reach the government house and have their final stand.

By the time everything was sorted, the sun was already beginning to drop below the horizon. “Leave friends and sleep, for tomorrow might be our last day,” Lor’themar said as he marched away towards the government house.

[James]

The city of Silvermoon did not sleep that night and when the sun was rising already the army of the Sin’dorei was getting into place. Carden awoke to a surprise, laying on the end of his bed was a new set of armour. It consisted of a long reddish black robe, large massive shoulders that glowed red, fake skulls spiked on top of it their empty eyes glowing red as well. A pair of long black trousers laid next to the robe along with a pure black belt. Carden turned to see Lyrila and Lauren looking expectantly at him.

“What do you think daddy?” Lauren asked.

“It’s wonderful and looks really evil,” Carden said with a questionable glance at his wife.

“We thought that the Scourge should cower in fear at you today,” Lyrila said a smile forming on her lips. “Lauren thought of it, she said that daddy should look scary if he was going to fight and I agreed. It gave us something to do.” Carden merely smiled and gave both of them a bone crushing hug before putting his new armour on. Picking up his sword and his staff he said his farewell to his family and promised that he would be back for them.

As Carden marched down the hallway he came across another surprise, Tay. It wasn’t the arrival of Tay that surprised him though but rather it was his appearance. The High Elf was dressed in gleaming red and black plate armour. In his hand an Elven blade along with his gnarled staff. “Wow Tay, decided to give in and become a Blood Elf?”

“What?’ Tay said confused and then he realized what the mage was commenting on. “It wasn’t my idea to wear this but Lor’themar thought it would be a good idea to show the Sin’dorei that I am in fact on their side. The armor is nicely fitting and gives me protection and flexibility and the blade is a far finer one, than what the fool Varian gave me so I’m not complaining. And can you talk? You look like the bearer of evil itself.”

“I know, isn’t it great? It was made for me yesterday and I must say it’s a great piece of craftsmanship,” Carden replied happily. “But lets not chat any longer, Lor’themar and Halduron will be already at the front gate I suspect and we must also lead the Sun Guard,” Carden finished walking out of the government house, which had quickly become crowded from the inhabitants of Silvermoon, and onto the roads of Silvermoon.

The pair soon found the others standing on the road leading onto the gate; already Carden could make out a large group of Elves on the gate and the army being prepared for when the Scourge would come. “Carden! Tay! Dress for battle I see,” Lor’themar said to the two are they came into sight. Tomathren, Amelia and Arras were merely stunned speechless by Carden’s appearance.

“Yes we are,” Carden answered smiling at the speechless trio. “Any sign of the Scourge?”

“Aye, there’re right on the horizon. There’ll be here soon,” Halduron Brightwing replied.

“Well then, what are we doing here chatting? Tomathren and Amelia surely you should be on the wall, best rangers we have,” Carden said and the pair was already beginning to move towards the gate. “Arras, I take it you’re going to be at the front leading us?”

“If I’m not at the front it’s because I’m dead,” came Arras’s reply as he marched away to the front line.

“Lor’themar, I take it you’ll be up the front as well?” Carden asked watching the Regent-Lord intently.

“I won’t have it any other way,” Lor’themar replied back coolly.

“Good and Tay and myself will be leading the Sun Guard. And Halduron, you’re just be at the back watching the battle, right?” Carden finished.

“Actually I’ll be on the wall with my rangers,” Halduron replied with a sneer before walking off.

“Excellent,” Carden said before walking over to the Sun Guard to prepare them behind the main Sin’dorei army. It wasn’t long until the thundering of footsteps could be heard as the Scourge marched upon Silvermoon. The leaders of the Blood Elves defense met upon the wall as the Scourge marched ever close, ready to gauge the size of this terrifying threat.

The Scourge’s army was huge, their numbers stretched to as far as the eyes could see. It consisted of ghouls, skeletons, crypt fiends and lords, abominations, liches and many other custom made creations. Then the general of the army itself showed himself, riding out from the middle of the army the Death Knight Baron Wintermaul came into shouting distances of the front gate. “Blood Elves! My master, the Lich King has decided to claim this land back to its rightful owner, himself! Open up your gate and you may die a less painful death!” Wintermaul roared at the gate.

“Or you know we could not open the gate and perhaps win!” Carden shouted back. Wintermaul eyes snapped up to the top of the gate where he made out the mage and his armour.

“You know you cannot win, human! Why do you ally yourself with these pathetic creatures? You could…” Wintermaul began but was cut off by Carden.

“Not to interrupt your evil rant but you might want to check your own army before you call anyone else pathetic,” Carden said as one of the ghoul on the front line began to gnaw on its own arm. “Just head back to your army and get on with it, I have a far better evil rant than you so don’t try!” Wintermaul merely kicked the flanks of his horse and rode back to the Scourge. “Well I say that went rather well,” Carden said as they watched the Death Knight ride back.

At that moment a Blood Elf bounded up onto the wall and ran at top speed towards the leaders. “My lords! My lords! The look-outs have spotted zeppelins flying this way from the west!” the messenger said. Tay and Carden looked to each other before saying the same single word at the same time.

“Thrall!”

[James]

By the time Carden and the rest of the group had made it to courtyard outside of the large government the Horde from the zeppelins were already unloading and getting into formation. At the front of the large army stood a tall and powerful Tauren, the son of the Cairne Bloodhoof, Baine Bloodhoof. The large tauren marched over to the leaders of the Sin’dorei and introduced himself.

“Hello my Elven friends,” Baine began and Carden gave a loud cough. “And human, Thrall received your call for aid and have decided to answer it. I am the leader of the forces, which have been sent to aid you in your time of need. We have brought a medium size army to help, we couldn’t spare too many men.”

“If you haven’t got too many men then what are all the zeppelins for? There’s a lot for a “medium” size army,” Carden commented on, eyeing all the zeppelins crowded up on the ground and even a few in the air.

“Well when Thrall and my father heard that you were not evacuating your people we thought it must have been because you didn’t have the boats to get everyone away, so we have brought enough to zeppelins to take your people back to Durotar,” Baine replied and Carden and Tay burst into smiles.

“You’re a lifesaver Baine! Lor’themar do I have the permission to order the start of an evacuation?” Carden asked.

“No,” Lor’themar said bitterly before marching back towards the front gate. Baine looked confused but went after the Regent-Lord along with Carden, Tay, Arras and Tomathren.

“Lor’themar! Do not murder your people over a matter of pride!” Carden yelled as his back.

“Shut up Carden! Would you have your people flee and lost their home again!” Lor’themar roared back.

“Yes! Instead of seeing them all die painfully! Give it up Lor’themar we have lost! All we can do is too give them enough to time to escape while we battle with the Scourge! I’m going to order them to evacuate, so it depends do you order them to leave or do I?” Carden shouted angrily at the Blood Elf.

Lor’themar considered Carden for a moment, perhaps he was right, perhaps he should order the evacuation of his people but then something happened, which made him decide. A loud crunching noise could be heard as the Scourge’s battering ram splintered the gate; they were about to break through. “Ok then, get them out of here!” Lor’themar ordered and Carden gave a shout of victory.

“Tomathren! Run back to the government house and give the orders to evacuate now! And Lyrila and Lauren are up in my room, make sure you get them out of here too!” Carden yelled at Tomathren before running forward to lead the Sun Guard. Arras and Amelia were already at the front line ready to fight and Tay turned away from Baine to help lead the Sun Guard with Tay. Meanwhile the Horde was already moving towards the front gate and Baine took his place at the front.

“Sin’dorei of Silvermoon! Fight till the last to make sure that your love ones can escape! Fight till the end!” Carden roared as the gate broke away and revealed the Scourge waiting on the other side. However before the undead could even amount a charge, a volley of arrows from Halduron’s and his rangers on the frontline cut down the Scourge entirely. “Good job!” Carden called out to the ranger before a large slab of rock threw from a Scourge’s catapult collided into the wall of Silvermoon.

Rock flew everywhere and many of the Blood Elves dropped to the ground to avoid small chips of stone flying towards them. The Sun Guard meanwhile placed small shields of arcane around them so that they could see what was happening. The Elven rangers laid across the floor just in front of the Elven line and the Scourge were now beginning to climb over the rubble of the front wall. “Charge!” Carden roared and the Sun Guard came forward spells flying everywhere.

The Sun Guard halted the initial Scourge charged again and the rangers were given a chance to make it back into the main army’s line. By now the main bulk of the Blood Elves were ready again and charged forward to aid the Sun Guard. A large abomination forced his way through the rubble and went for the most intimidating person in the Sin’dorei’s army, Carden Boyd.

The large meat cleaver came down but Carden was a second quicker moving out of the way from the blow. The mage then sent a fel fireball at the monster nearly tearing its arm off before another meat cleaver was swinging at him from a different abomination. A shield of ice exploded from Carden and the meat cleaver struck it harmlessly and glanced away, Carden smiled at the two abominations before letting the ice shield fall away the shards flying at the first monster tearing it to shreds.

However the other abomination was already attacking again and sent its meat cleaver swinging at Carden’s leg. The mage jumped over the incoming weapon before unsheathing his own sword, Carden swung his blade creating a large cut in the monster’s arm. The undead roared in pain before releasing its own weapon and instead began to use its own fists, Carden dodged the first few blows before deciding a change in pace was needed. As the next fist flew at him Carden jumped and landed on the actual hand of the abomination, the mage then began to sprint up the arm before lunging at the monster’s face. Sword readied the mage stabbed the monster deep in the face before sending a bolt of arcane down the newly made wound. The abomination gave a grunt before slumping backwards to the ground.

Tay meanwhile was in combat with a pack of crypt fiends, his magic tearing chaos through their legs like a hot knife through butter. A large pincer like leg came through the air and Tay’s blade sliced through it in an instance leaving the undead reeling in pain. Out of nowhere came Lor’themar lunging forward to finish the fiend before giving Tay a nod of recognition. The pair began to work together, remarkable like when the Scourge first came to Silvermoon, slicing through whatever creatures sought to destroy them.

Arras and Amelia were back to back as a pack of ghouls closed in on the kill, however they soon found themselves being torn to pieces by a small group of the Sun Guard. “Told you they be useful!” Carden roared as he was in a fierce melee battle with a large crypt lord. Carden dodged the large legs before getting a nicely timed strike at the undead’s underbelly causing it to drop to the ground. “Sun Guard! Onwards!” Carden roared above the chaos.

Baine Bloodhoof and his warriors were fighting in the fray now, the large tauren a match for even the strongest abomination. Orcs and Trolls were cutting into the Scourge’s rank as well and the Scourge were failing to take any land. However every death the Horde and the Blood Elves were getting weak meanwhile the Scourge’s numbers went on forever and Wintermaul knew it as he sat on his horse at the back surveying the battle.

It was then that something terrible caught Carden’s eyes, in the distance were several dots flying quickly towards Silvermoon. “Frost Wyrm!” Carden said bitterly, if they made it past the Elves then they could attack the zeppelins. The mage quickly broke away from combat and charged into one of the empty buildings to the left, running up the stairs Carden made his way up onto the roof to combat this new threat. Behind him zeppelins began to take to the air full of Elves.

[James]

As the battle raged on below him Carden watched as three Frost Wyrms appeared in sight, their blue skeletal bodies gleaming in the sunlight of the day. Carden turned to face this new threat to Silvermoon knowing that he must make sure that none of them made it through to hit the zeppelins flying away. Muttering a few words in demonic, a wave of fel energy began to weave itself through the cloth of his armour, giving him another layer of protection.

The Frost Wyrms came into range of Carden and the mage caught their attention by sending out a volley of fireballs striking out at their wings, the undead dragons turned towards Carden now enrage by his attack. “Hmm, I should have thought this through,” Carden said as he threw himself to the right to miss the cone of frost aimed at him. The mage pulled himself up to his feet and fought back against the dragons.

A fel fireball struck out at one of the dragons nearly severing its wing completely and it gave Carden a chance to run over to the edge of the battle, arcane bolts firing out of his as he ran. “Arras! Arras!” Carden yelled, still bombarding the dragons as he shouted. “A little help would be appreciated!” the mage yelled as the dragons charged him.

Arras turned to see Carden in combat with the dragons and immediately went about to helping him. “Amelia! Move away from me now!” Arras roared as he shook off his bronze cloak.

“Why?” Amelia said backing off cutting down more ghouls.

“You’ll see,” Arras said with a smile before giving a great roar of sound and the air around him began to shimmer. Sand erupted from the ground and ghouls began to scream as some invisible force tore them to pieces, when the sand settled a large bronze dragon was standing in Arras’s place. “Time to jump Carden!” Arras roared as he took to the air.

Carden heard Arras’s yell as a giant Frost Wyrm’s claw came down at him, the mage threw himself off of the building in an explosion of fire completely destroying one of the dragons. Once the flames settled down, Carden was on Arras’s back and the two Wyrms were circling the dragon. “You take the left one, me the right one!” Arras roared opening his mouth and sending a cone of sand flying at the right undead.

Carden swung his hand around in an arc, arcane flying from it lancing into the wyrm who roared in pain before charging straight at them. “Arras! We have a problem!” Carden roared as the undead dragon charged them. Arras turned his head to see the creature flying straight at him and immediately shot straight up out of the way. The two wyrms followed the dragon and Carden, who had one arm wrapped around Arras to stay on the dragon, brought his left hand around and fired fel fireballs down at the chasing dragons. Most of them sailed past the dragons and landed in the midst of the ground forces of the Scourge, causing the ground to spray upwards from the force of the impact.

Arras then did something, which surprised even the mage, the dragon stopped flying and plummeted towards the ground. Carden seized the chance as they dropped beneath the undead dragons and sent a wave of frozen shards at their wings, injuring one dragon greatly before Arras was flying again away from the wyrms. “One of them is seriously injured now Arras!” Carden yelled above the wings as the monsters gave chase again, one more sluggish that the other.

“Good!” Arras roared, as he swung left to miss a cone of frost flying at him. “Still doesn’t help that much if it can still breathe frost!” Suddenly the injured dragon dropped away and only one wyrm was left. Arras was turning this way and that to avoid the frost bolts and the wyrm was dodging Carden’s spell with eases as well. “Think of something quick Carden! I’m tiring!” Arras yelled and as soon as he said it a bolt of frost clipped his wing from not moving fast enough.

The bronze dragon grunted in pain and dropped a few feet before recovering and steadying himself. Carden then sent a wall of frost to block the wyrm but the undead dragon just tore through it and sent another frost bolt at Arras, clipping his other wing instead. Arras dropped a few more feet again before straightening up. “Carden think of something quick!” the bronze dragon yelled. Carden sent a wall of fel flame this time expecting the wyrm to fly straight through it and it did, the undead cried in pain from the burns the fel fire gave him but still gave chase.

“I’m working on it!” Carden yelled as he sent a couple of arcane bolts at the wyrm, all flying wide of the target. “Do you reckon…” was all that Carden got off because the other wyrm appeared out of nowhere and collided with Arras, dragon claws flying everywhere. Carden lost his grip on Arras and fell from the dragon’s back, the mage flying towards the ground at high speed. Meanwhile the other wyrm was closing in on the bronze dragon for the kill and Carden knew he had one chance to save both of them.

The mage turned to face the wyrm flying towards and Arras and blinked. Carden found himself exactly where he wanted to be, on the undead dragon’s back. Lashing out at the wyrm’s unprotected neck Carden made the dragon turn left and right to try and throw the mage off, completely forgetting about Arras. Carden continued to lash out at the wyrm’s unprotected head and neck with magic and the wyrm began to plummet towards the ground and more importantly towards the Scourge’s army. “Time to abandon ship!” Carden yelled as he jumped from the falling monster, blinking as he neared the ground to avoid breaking every bone in his body.

Meanwhile as Carden landed in the ranks of the waiting Blood Elves, the wyrm crashed straight into the middle of the Scourge’s rank crushing skeletons beneath it. Wintermaul roared at this disaster, the Blood Elves were far more resourceful that what he expected. The Death Knight unsheathed Soulcleaver and began to gallop towards the front gate; he would have to join the battle himself.

In the air however the battle between Arras and the other wyrm was still happening. The pair still tangled, Arras warped his tail around one of the undead’s back legs and tore it off in a great outburst of strength. The wyrm roared in pain before digging its sharp claws deep into Arras’s back, drawing blood. The bronze dragon tried to pull away but it merely made the claws sink deeper but Arras didn’t show any signs of pain however the dragon knew that if didn’t win quickly, he wasn’t going to win.

Arras turned quickly again and this time broke free of the wyrm’s grasp, he swung his tail around whipping the undead’s skeletal ribcage and a loud crunch was heard. “Now to finish it!” Arras roared as he grabbed the wyrm’s head and opened his maw to finish the undead. However the monster brought up its claw and struck out at Arras’s throat landing a near fatal blow but not before the bronze dragon managed to breathe a bolt of poisonous sand at the skeletal dragon ending the enchantments, which kept it alive.

Both dragons plummeted towards the ground, the wyrm unmoving and Arras too weak to even attempt to fly. The more they fell the faster they went and by the time they struck the land they were falling at an incredible speed. The dragons smashed into a row of building and sent bricks into both armies killing many on both sides. As the rubble settled Arrras gave one last shuddered before he laid still for eternity.

[James]

Carden and Amelia watched in stunned silence as Arras passed away from the world before they went into a bloodlust worthy of the orcs. Carden wasted his remaining strength to cut down a group of abominations and Amelia suffered several injuries as she tore a crypt lord to pieces and it was only until Tomathren returned that they were snapped back to the problem at hand.

“Carden!” Tomathren roared. “Carden! It’s done! Everyone is leaving for Durotar, including Lyrila and Lauren!”

The names of his wife and daughter was enough to wake Carden from his bloodlust, he has a promise to keep and now was the time. Baine Bloodhoof also arrived next to the mage and spoke hurriedly to the Elven ranger. “They’re all safe?” Baine asked and Tomathren nodded. “Excellent! I think it’s time we call the retreat and escape from this city. Halduron! Run towards the remaining zeppelins and get them ready for take-off, we’re going to get as many men out as possible.”

As Halduron ran to get the zeppelins prepare Lor’themar strode quickly over to the small meeting. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“The civilians are safe, we’re pulling are men out of the city and back to the zeppelins!” Carden replied quickly, watching the battle over the Regent-Lord’s shoulder.

“Good idea,” Lor’themar muttered, “I hope you all make it back safe.”

“What?” Carden asked quickly.

“I’m not leaving Carden, I told you I’m staying here till the end!” Lor’themar answered. “Now get ready to flee back to the zeppelins, they’re a group of us who will not leave when I give the order. Run quick before we are overpowered. Now go!” Lor’themar said as he charged forward back into the fray and Carden along with Tomathren rushed to grab hold of Amelia and pull her back from the fighting.

“Sin’dorei! And the Horde! You have fought well my friends and have completed your job! Make a break for the zeppelins! Now!” Lor’themar roared as he entered the battle again. The whole front line buckle as people began to run back and the Scourge nearly broke through but then a rush of Blood Elves met the Scourge’s charged and halted it. Tay broke away and ran past Carden and Tomathren, carrying an injured Amelia.

Baron Wintermaul realized what was happening straight away and tried to prevent it. “They’re making a break for it! They’re making a break for it! Stop them!” Wintermaul roared as he galloped right into the Elven lines only to be stopped by Lor’themar himself.

“I’m sorry Death Knight but you go no further,” Lor’themar said as he slashed at Wintermaul’s mount’s legs. The horse’s legs buckled and tumbled to the floor and the Death Knight was force to make a stand from the incoming Elves. Soulcleaver shone in battle as Elves came and died at the hands of the Death Knight. Suddenly a voice called out from the mayhem. “Leave him! Why not let us settle this battle ourselves?” Lor’themar called out at the Death Knight.

“Lets!” Wintermaul replied charging the Regent-Lord, his runeblade making a large arc in the air. Lor’themar parried the blow and brought his own sword flying back at the Death Knight who dodged it with an unnatural quickness. The battle wore on between Death Knight and Regent-Lord as they parried and dodged each others blow until Wintermaul grew bored of the conflict and released his full arsenal.

The Death Knight parried another of Lor’themar’s swings before bringing up his own arm and sending a pack of flesh-eating bugs at the Regent-Lord, Lor’themar screamed in pain as the insects ate his flesh. The Blood Elf dropped his blade clawing at his skin to rid himself of the insects, Wintermaul clicked his fingers and the insects disappeared only to be replace by the Death Knight’s next attack.

Lor’themar felt his blood begin to churn and bubble and the Regent-Lord began to uncontrollable vomit over the floor. The Blood Elf was forced to watch as his remaining men were cut down as he fell to the floor still vomiting uncontrollability. Finally the Blood Elf began to feel his skin die away and slip off of his body, his body decaying as he looked up into the Death Knight’s smiling face.

“None can stand against the might of the Scourge,” Wintermaul whispered at the dying Blood Elf.

“The Sin’dorei will,” Lor’themar whispered. “You have destroyed their city and slaughtered their love ones again. They will seek to kill you and your precious Lich King won’t be able to stop them. He will fall like all tyrants do and when he does you best be careful because then you will experience the fall might of the Elves.”

“The Lich King will never fall!” Wintermaul roared.

“Well then, we must agree to disagree,” Lor’themar said as his body continued to decay but he wore a smile. Wintermaul gave a great roar of anger before plunging Soulcleaver through Lor’themar’s heart, making him drop to the floor a smile still on his face. “The Lich King will never fall,” Wintermaul repeated. Meanwhile a ghoul appeared to tell him that the rest of the Elves escaped them by air. The Lich King’s roar of anger was heard through all Scourge’s minds.

[James]

A month later

Upon the coast of Durotar the last zeppelin from the Elven War was landing, it had told the others that it would be late due to several stops on the way to their destination and a large crowd was already forming to meet the war heroes. The Warchief Thrall and his friend Cairne Bloodhoof were at the forefront of the crowd closely followed by Halduron Brightwind and Lyrila and Lauren Boyd.

Meanwhile on the deck stood Carden Boyd, his face in a smile as he spied out his family. The reason for his late arrival was for two reasons. Firstly, they had dropped Tay Sunspire off at Moonglade, the High Elf seeking answers from the Druids and Elune. Secondly they flew south to the Caverns of Time to tell the dragonflight of Arras’s brave death.

Carden remember the meeting bitterly, he had sought to end his connection with the Bronze Dragonflight that day and instead he now found the connection stronger than ever. For Tomathren and Amelia were both taken into the fold of the Keepers of Time to replace a certain woman who had been allowed to be loose of her bonds. Carden knew that one day the dragonflight would be at his door again asking for aid.

The zeppelin touched the ground and the people on it began to unload, Baine Bloodhoof striding off of it with Carden closely following him, the two main figures on the zeppelin. The large tauren carved a path towards the Warchief and his father and Carden merely followed in his wake. “Father,” Baine said embracing his father.

“Son, I am so glad you managed to survive this war,” Cairne replied hugging his father back. “And Carden Boyd, we hear stories of your bravery in the battle and from your attire it looks like they were true.”

“Hardly,” Carden replied bowing to the great tauren. “Never believe the rumours are my first rule for success.”

“Rumours or not, the Horde owes a debt to both of you,” Thrall said bowing to the tauren and human. “And perhaps a little information is what you seek as well?”

“Well I wouldn’t mind knowing what’s going on now that Silvermoon has been taken,” Carden replied interestingly.

“Well for now the state of the Sin’dorei have been decided,” Halduron Brightwind answered. “The Sin’dorei’s army will stay in Durotar with Thrall and train for if the Lich King decides to attack again. I will remain here as well and keep my place as Ranger-General. Meanwhile the rest of our people will go with the taurens back to Mulgore and establish a settlement there in the shadows of Thunder Bluff. They shall be ruled by the remainder of the Convocation of Silvermoon.”

“Excellent then, it’s good to see that you have everything under control. I think I’m going to enjoy a little peace and quiet for now and enjoy life with my family in a bit of isolation,” Carden replied shaking hands with the two leaders of the Horde. “Send word to Ferelas if you ever need me, it will eventually find me.” Bowing once more, Carden moved away from the small group and towards the running pair of Lyrila and Lauren. Lauren got to Carden first and threw herself into her father’s arms.

“I knew you would keep you’re promise!” Lauren said hugging her father.

“And so did I,” Lyrila said embracing Carden as well. As Carden hugged his family back Lyrila whispered something softly into his ear.

“I’m pregnant.”

Meanwhile in Silvermoon

The former Elven city was now razed to the ground, the beautiful forest of Eversong now resembling the Ghostlands. Instead of Silvermoon there was a dark and hastily built fortress instead, made from woods and odds bit of stone the Scourge had renamed Silvermoon to Razzarmas Keep. The former palace now housed one man, Death Knight Baron Wintermaul, he ruled over Razzarmas with an iron fist.

However there was one small thing the Scourge forgot about, the Naaru M’uru. When the city was razed to the ground the building that housed the Naaru was destroyed, trapping M’uru but also stopping anyone from reaching him. Just a week later, the shadow claimed the Naaru and voidwalkers have begun to spawn all over Razzarmas Keep, causing trouble for the local Scourge.

However at this moment all high-ranking Scourge members were gathered in the courtyard outside of the palace, including Wintermaul himself. They were about to be graced with the presence of the Lich King, himself. Wintermaul stood proud and erect in the center of the courtyard, his armour gleaming in the sunlight and around his neck was Lor’themar’s former pendant. As the Death Knight brought a hand up to it, a Frost Wyrm appeared and landed in the middle of the courtyard, an intimidating figure aboard it.

“My lord,” was the general muttering around the courtyard. Wintermaul fell to one knee as the armour-clad figure walked over to him, a runeblade far grander than Soulcleaver in its right hand. The Lich King Arthas had returned back to Quel’thalas.

“Rise Wintermaul,” the Lich King ordered, his voice cold, icy and conflicted. “You have done well my Knight, you have taken Quel’thalas as your own and you shall be rewarded. Razzarmas Keep and the surrounding area now known as Deadblight Forest shall be yours to command.”

“Thank you my King,” Wintermaul said bowing deeply.

“I may call upon your armies again one day Wintermaul, for the rest of Azeroth shall be bound to my will sooner or later but for now enjoy your reward and make this place worthy to be under the control of the Scourge,” the Lich King said.

“Where do you go now, my king?” Wintermaul asked.

“I’ll return home Wintermaul, to my throne on Lordaeron and to my old friend Kel’thuzad. From there I shall plan the doom of Azeroth and beyond.”

[James]

((Done. My first story posted on these boards.

*sage nod*

Don't bring up the fact that it's an old one. Anyway for those wondering I will get to work on AFS again...

soon.

/flee))

[Radin]

Oct 16, 2008 4:08:00 GMT -5 James said:

soon.

That dreaded word that torments us all...

[James]

Oct 19, 2008 20:44:03 GMT -5 Radin said:

Oct 16, 2008 4:08:00 GMT -5 James said:

soon.

That dreaded word that torments us all...

It will be sometime soon (soon does not suggest a time in the past, present and certainly not the future.). However like I was saying to Taed who was also asking, I'm a bit hampered down by schoolwork at the moment and I've also been working on a website (the future of the Diary of a Writer, keep an eye on the MoB board) and football is up and running again so I'm running out of hours in the day.

BUT IT SHALL BE FINISHED!