The Fall of Felo'melorn

*House Felo’melorn garrison, Frostfire Ridge. Midnight.*

The portal flashed brightly, the magic in it swirling with a fel green light as a form emerged from the glow and materialized within the chamber that sat at the heart of the tower in Felo’melorn garrison. The Sin’dorei who had just appeared shook off the effects of the teleportation spell, looking around cautiously before beginning to walk towards the door leading out of the tower.

“Going somewhere, Denissia?” a voice stated coldly behind the Sin’dorei.

Denissia gasped in surprise, spinning in place on her feet to take in the form of Tyavel emerging from the shadows off to one side of the portal room. The Magistrix had a cold, angry expression on her face, her arms crossed as she stood, awaiting an explanation. Denissia gasped, guilt written plainly across her face even as she scrambled to throw the other off, “I’m sorry, Magistrix Felo’melorn, I’m not sure exactly what you mean…”

“Don’t give me that,” Tyavel snapped, striding stiffly towards the warlock, a cold anger stirring in her eyes. “I am quite aware of your recent activities. Did you think you would come to and from a military installation controlled by our House without my knowledge? Hardly.”

Denissia swallowed a lump in her throat, shaking her head, “I-it’s not like that. I was just…the things I’m working on are not subjects that others in the House ought to be involved in.” 

“Do not patronize me, Denissia,” Tyavel responded, turning to look at the portal in the center of the room. “I am aware that you have modified the destination of this portal, and that you were meeting orcs somewhere within Frostfire. Do you think I’m blind, or a fool?” She turned to stare at the other Sin’dorei, her voice menacing now, “More precisely, I know what kind of orcs you were meeting with and what type of magic they practice with. For how long have you been in league with the Shadow Council?”

Denissia gasped, her eyes wide, “N-no! I’m not in league with them! Please, Magistrix Felo’melorn, you have to believe me! I was simply using them to access more powerful spells. Just think on it for a moment, we have here the opportunity to study the birth of the fel arts, to learn the most powerful of 

their spells. How could we pass up such a chance?”

Tyavel’s response was spat out a moment later, “By controlling ourselves. We are not Wretched to suckle on every bit of magic that comes our way. You will be made to pay for working and aiding enemies of this fortification. Why, as soon as my sister Selenthiel awakens I shall bring the matter to her attention and we will see exactly what will become of you. I suspect she will, at the very least, want to cleanse your-“

Tyavel’s words were cut off as the tower was rocked by a massive blast, the entire structure shaking from the impact. Eyes wide, Tyavel’s hands came out before her, an image hovering over one of her outstretched palms appearing after a whispered word. She gasped, staring at the image in horror, “You stupid little girl…I was not the only one tracking your movements it seems. You’ve brought down an entire battalion of the Iron Horde upon us. You’ve doomed us all!”

Denissia stared at the image in horror, backing away slowly as another blast rocked the tower, the sound of distant cannon-fire echoing through the night quickly followed by screams and the blowing of war-horns to call House Felo’melorn’s military forces to readiness. High above them, the sound of iron shredding through timbers with a loud crack could be heard, and the structure rumbled again, the cracking intensifying as some of the support beams above them gave way.

Denissia hurled herself to the ground, rocks and wood plummeting down upon her and Tyavel as the tower partially gave way from the force of the blast. Dust filled the air, choking her as she crawled across the rubble strewn ground. After a moment, she was finally able to see clearly again, dragging herself to her feet to find herself mostly uninjured. She turned and gasped again, seeing that the Magistrix had not fared as well.

Tyavel lay beneath a splintered beam, her eyes closed as the force of the impact had temporarily rendered her unconscious. Blood trickled from her mouth, and it was not clear if she was merely pinned or actually crushed by the heavy wood. Above her, the ruined top of the spirit lodge burned, flames roaring from the explosion that had taken the structure.

Denissia dusted herself off, smirking down at the unconscious Magistrix, “Well…it seems this has worked out to my advantage after all, provided of course I make it out of here alive. I am sorry, Magistrix Felo’melorn, but it appears the same cannot be said for you. It was a pleasure to work with you, but I fear our time is done. Farewell!” With that, she turned and stumbled out of the burning structure, heading into the chaos that had suddenly consumed the garrison’s central courtyard beyond.

A few moments after she had gone, a cough escaped Tyavel, her eyes fluttering open and looking around dully. Pain wracked her body, and she knew she had been badly injured. After a moment of studying her surroundings and realizing with rising panic that she could not get free, she saw the flames above her slowly beginning to consume the tower. Terrified now, she looked towards the center of the chamber, a painful gasp escaping her as she realized the blast had destroyed the anchors that had been stabilizing the portals in the room. They were all trapped in the doomed garrison now, at the mercy of the massive Iron Horde assault she had seen in her scrying spell.

A cold fury passed over her face, and Tyavel vowed silently she would not die alone, nor without having her vengeance. In excruciating pain, she managed to slide one of her hands in front of her face, her palm held up in front of her. In a whisper, she spoke words into a meager spell that had formed atop her hand, her voice strained with pain, “Magistrix Dayfire….please hear my words. I beseech you for aid…”

***********************************************

Biara’s head snapped around as the spell appeared beside her, Tyavel’s words whispered into the air. She had been working in her laboratory, and opened tomes sat strewn across the table in front of her alongside alchemy experiments that were in progress. The whisper of Tyavel’s magic echoed through the room a moment longer, the message repeating two times before fading, the spell dying out.

Biara’s hands came up, powerful magic flickering in the air around her as she reached out, attempting to contact Tyavel with her own spells. Try as she might, she could not re-establish the link nor regain magical communication with the other Magistrix. Worry began to gnaw at her, for Tyavel was not one to call for aid lightly, nor would Biara have ordinarily been her first choice unless it was a dire military emergency and they were calling upon House Sunfire to fulfill its part of their alliance. In a hurry, Biara let her magic fade and then began a new spell, tendrils of her power stretching across space and time, bending it all to her will to form an oval of space in front of her that showed her House Felo’melorn’s garrison from the air. She looked down upon it, a ragged gasp escaping her as she realized what was happening.

A moment later Biara had let the spell expire, her high heels pounding on the stones of her laboratory as she dashed out of the room, her experiments utterly forgotten as she shouted for the guards, for Braeth’el, and for her sister.

****************************************************

Selenthiel cried out as one of her men was impaled by a thrown spear, the Sin’dorei falling back amongst the other defenders, her Light having little effect on such a deadly wound. She brought her hands up, straining to keep her magic flowing as more and more of her men were wounded, arrows and spears flying over the wall towards them as the Iron Horde assaulted the exterior of the fortification. 

Awakened by surprise in the middle of the night to the sound of screams and explosions from artillery landing on their positions, Selenthiel had dashed from her temporary quarters in the garrison and rushed to the wall. As soon as she had arrived at its top she knew they were in trouble, for an endless sea of Iron Horde orcs lay beyond, their forms disappearing into the horizon and their siege weapons already being put into position, a few firing ragged cannon-fire over the wall to strike structures further within the compound.

Light flowed through her, her presence an inspiration to those around her as they valiantly began to return fire, arrows flying down into the advancing orcs with precision that only elven rangers could muster. Dozens and then hundreds of orcs fell in the first barrage, but still they kept coming, siege towers being pushed forward amongst them so that they could take the wall by storm. That so many of them had approached the garrison in the night was astounding to Selenthiel, but she had little time to consider the reasons why as they continued their attack.

The first wave of attackers began to falter under the barrage of elven archery, and Selenthiel’s heart rose as she began to hope that they might hold the enemy from the walls completely. She reached out to touch one of the soldiers beside her, Light flowing into him and staunching the flow of blood from an arrow wound. He sighed in relief, nodding his thanks and retrieving his bow as the soldiers around them continued to fire down on the enemy.

In the distance, a bright red light flared, drawing Selenthiel’s gaze across the length of the battlefield. There, along a ridge top in the distance, a metallic orb had been pushed into position, the object beginning to spin and spitting out flames as it rotated. In horror Selenthiel watched it, her gaze locked on the object as it was released from its moorings, the siege weapon rolling swiftly across the battlefield and crushing anyone too clumsy to get out of its path.

The Iron Star gained momentum, its metallic exterior deflecting arrows as it hurtled towards the garrison, the weapon impacting the walls just to the east of Selenthiel’s position. Instantly it detonated, the massive blast so huge that it hurled all of the defenders on the wall to their knees, debris raining down upon them and the screams of the dying crying out over the roar of flames.

Smoke filled the air, and Selenthiel found herself coughing as she forced herself back to her feet. 

Once her vision had cleared enough for her to see again, horror grew within her. The Iron Star had not only killed many of the defenders on the part of the wall it had struck, but it had utterly decimated the fortification, leaving a gaping hole in the defenses that even now Iron Horde orcs had begun to pour through. Already the ladders leading up to the walls upon which Selenthiel stood were cut off, and it was clear that they would have to not only defend the wall from the ongoing attack waves beyond, but now hold the interior of the wall from the invaders.

And all of this with only a fraction of the garrison’s remaining defenders. Selenthiel shook her head, tears on her cheeks as she realized how many had already fallen and how many more would fall before it was over. Her voice was a whisper on the wind as she steeled herself to fight on, “Light protect us and save us.”

****************************************

Andithiel had been summoned to the garrison’s command center when the attack began. Already irritated by the fact that he had been summoned to the garrison to speak with his sister Tyavel, his mood was foul as he realized he would be forced to deal with the impending threat against the base since his sister was absent from central command.

“Lord Felo’melorn! Iron Horde orcs are moving siege towers up beyond the wall. They’ve got three cannons in position on a ridge over to the south,” one of Andithiel’s captains stated, pointing to a map.

“Aye Lord, they’ve already begun pelting our positions with artillery,” a second captain joined in. “Unless we can form a sortie beyond the wall we’ll be slowly ground down beneath their attack. I would recommend we clear the base of the walls first with reinforcements here and here.”

Andithiel studied the map that his captains were pointing towards, nodding at them, his voice grim, “We will deal with these pests. Prepare the men to deploy as you’ve advised, and someone fetch my bow. Also send a runner to see if you can locate my sister, Tyavel. The Magistrix is nowhere to be found and this is supposed to be her task to handle.”

“Yes, my Lord!” the two captains barked in unison, bowing towards Andithiel. A moment later elves had scattered, heading out towards their duties, orders echoing through the stone building. A Sin’dorei approached Andithiel, his bow in hand and a full quiver alongside it. Andithiel took the weapon and nodded his thanks, arming himself and wishing he had thought to bring his hunting cat with him; he hadn’t planned on engaging in battle or even needing weapons when he’d arrived a few hours earlier via the portal.

He turned, heading towards the entrance to the command center even as a few elves stumbled in through the opening, their clothing covered with soot and a few looking wounded. Andithiel noted one amongst them and approached her, his tone demanding, “Denissia! Where is my sister? Have you seen the Magistrix?”

Denissia blinked, soot staining her face as she shook her head, “No, Lord Felo’melorn. I’ve not seen her at all this evening. I was crossing the courtyard when the attack began. Several of us thought to seek shelter here as this structure is reinforced.”

“Yes, it is. Very well then, stay here and I will go out and rout these creatures from our base,” Andithiel instructed her. Without another word or look in her direction, he strode out into the courtyard.

The scene that met his eyes was utter chaos. Craters littered the open space between the garrison’s buildings, several of the structures on fire from the artillery barrage and the spirit lodge looking partially collapsed. Sin’dorei military forces had begun to gather in the open space, many cheering at him and offering him salutes as he strung his bow, preparing himself for battle. He nodded at the men, his eyes narrowed as he began to decide where to send each unit.

Just as he had begun to open his mouth to speak, the blast from the Iron Star crushed the wall beyond the burning spirit lodge, hurling him and all of his men to the ground form the force of the impact. Stones and bits of wood landed all around them, the cries of the dying echoing out as he coughed and peered through the smoke.

Forms emerged from the flames and ash, orcs pouring through the newly made breach in the wall. In the distance along the wall’s edge, Andithiel saw a flash of Light and knew that at least one of his sisters still lived. He picked himself up off of the ground in a hurry, his voice echoing out to his men, “Hold them back! Retake the breach! For Quel’Thalas! For House Felo’melorn!”

A roar rose up around him as the Sin’dorei with him responded to his commands, elves dashing forward towards the orcs. Andithiel brought his bow up, arrow after arrow leaving his weapon, his skilled eyes sighting down each shaft and taking a foe with each pull. Blades clashed together, and the sounds of warcries rose up over the crackle of flames as Sin’dorei met orc in bloody hand to hand fighting. More orcs lurched out of the smoke, joining in the conflict and creating a mass of writhing combatants, the flow of battle moving first towards the breach and then back away from it as more orcs joined the combat. 

No matter how many Andithiel cut down with his arrows, more sprang up to take their place. Sin’dorei bodies began to litter the courtyard as they were forcibly pushed back away from the breach, artillery continuing to rain down on the combat and sending shattered and dead Sin’dorei flying into the air. The surprise attack, the artillery, and the ferocity of the assault had all conspired against Andithiel’s men, and slowly they began to break, individual groups becoming cut off and dying in a hundred little heroic last stands that no one would remember.

Eyes wide with horror, Andithiel knew that unless they fell back to a more defensible position, they were all going to fall in the courtyard. But if he withdrew, it would leave his sister Selenthiel and those with her on the wall cut off from relief and allow more orcs into the compound. It was a difficult decision, only made when another round of artillery landed amongst Andithiel’s men and cut another dozen down.

Heart heavy, his voice rang out over the raging battle, “Fall back to the command center! Hold the doors! We’ll pin them in the narrow opening! Those who can’t get there fall back to the mines!”

As his men started to obey, Andithiel continued to fire his bow, only praying that their defeat would not become a complete rout, his mood black.

***************************************

House Sunfire’s war room was filled with elves, Kyliska having summoned her best captains to attend the emergency meeting. All of them leaned over a magically illuminated table surface, a vision of what was occurring at House Felo’melorn’s garrison dancing across the surface. Beside Kyliska stood Braeth’el, his gaze grim as he watched the images that Biara was conjuring for all to see.

After a moment, Biara’s chanting fell silent, the vision on the table surface stabilized so that she could speak to the others. Her voice was full of worry as she pointed at the image, “As you can all see, after receiving Magistrix Felo’melorn’s distress call, I immediately found that this was occurring at their garrison. Without immediate relief the entire fortification will fall, and even if we intervene we do not have sufficient forces to do anything but get their remaining men out of there. For some reason, the Iron Horde has launched a full scale assault on this position, almost as if they were attempting to remove some dire threat or had more than one purpose for their assault.”

Kyliska grimaced, staring down at the image as her sister spoke. She looked up at Biara, shaking her head, “There are thousands of orcs there. They aren’t going to last very long. We have to get there right now!”

Biara nodded, “I agree, Kyli. While you were gathering your captains I have been studying the image. I think that our best hope is to relieve them long enough to withdraw to portals and get their men to safety. If you see here in the image, it appears their spirit lodge was destroyed during the initial assault. I know that is where Magistrix Felo’melorn had conjured and anchored her portals, as unstable as they are in that land. Without that structure intact, there is nowhere for them to flee and I suspect their remaining magi are extremely busy attempting to repel the assault and don’t realize the danger.”

Biara paused for a minute, a manicured nail pointing at the image, “I propose that we open a portal to the exterior of the Iron Horde’s positions. We can assault the rear of their artillery and then take several of their siege towers and relieve what Sin’dorei remain on the wall. Kyli, if you do that, I can then open a second portal and slip into the middle of the Felo’melorn garrison. I will try to provide them with magical support to get a portal opened. We can evacuate them to our own fortifications and then back to Quel’Thalas.”

Braeth’el leaned forward, his voice concerned, “Your plan is sound, Biara. If we do this as you suggest, we will need to get in and out quickly. If we get bogged down in our assault…they’ll turn on us as well and they vastly outnumber even our forces.”

“Braeth’el’s right,” Kyliska agreed. “Also I don’t know if I like the idea of you going into the middle of…that…alone. You should be beside us, sister!”

Biara nodded, “I know I should, but if there is a chance that any of the Felo’melorns are alive in the midst of this we need to take that chance to get them out. I will have my apprentices create and maintain a stable portal where your forces will launch their assault. Your men can withdraw as soon as you’ve relieved the Sin’dorei on the walls, and with luck I will have withdrawn those within the central compound and saved as many as I can with a secondary portal.”

Kyliska nodded, worry on her face, “Just be careful Biara. Things have been so good, I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you now.”

Biara grinned at Kyliska, shaking her head, “It’s the Iron Horde. They don’t even have any adequate spellcasters. I will burn them alive if they challenge me. You must take care as well. Remember, you are the Lady Sunfire now and cannot risk yourself as you once did.”

Kyliska smirked and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Biara, “I’ll try to remember! I will have my captains assemble the strike force. We’ll be ready within ten minutes; your plan of creating a rapid assault group was very wise now that we see what can happen on Draenor.”

Biara nodded, hugging her sister back before separating, “Sometimes I regret being right about things, Kyli. I’ll be ready in ten minutes. Let us hope the Felo’melorns can hold out that long.”

With that, Kyliska turned, her voice rising as she began to bark orders. Captains snapped to attention and then jumped to obey, armored and armed Sin’dorei scattering as they headed for the courtyard of Sunfire Estate where Biara would open the portals to begin the assault.

Biara lingered by the map for a moment, studying it and finalizing her plans in her mind. A Sin’dorei stirred behind her, clearing his throat to capture her attention. She turned, an eyebrow raised in question as she took in the form of a Blood Knight standing behind her, his long blonde hair neatly held in place by the black and red helm atop his head, “Yes? Sir…I’m sorry, I do not know all of Kyliska’s knights.”

“Evindar Everstrike,” the knight replied, a hand coming to his heart in salute. “You may not recall, Magistrix Dayfire, but it was myself and my companion Myriel who healed your wounds suffered earlier this week. Master at Arms Braeth’el instructed me to see to your well-being and ensure that your wounds properly healed.”

“Ah yes, thank you for that,” Biara replied, tilting her head. “Was there something you needed, Sir Everstrike?”

“Actually yes. I am simply notifying you that I will be coming with you through your portal,” the blood knight replied.

“What? I fear that will not be possible,” Biara replied, somewhat surprised.

“Lady Dayfire, I have been ordered to attend to your well-being. Your wound is not yet healed and you are about to proceed into a dangerous battle which may result in additional harm to your person,” Evindar said, his voice steady. “I have sworn oaths to this House and to my order. I will see those oaths fulfilled. I am coming with you.”

“You understand that this will be extremely dangerous and that we will be heading into the middle of a battle that we may not emerge from, correct?” Biara said, sounding amused now.

“I am, Lady Dayfire. I will fight by your side as I have sworn to do and no further harm will come to you,” Evindar replied stoically. 

Biara smiled at him, dipping her head, “Very well then, Sir Everstrike, you may accompany me. Be in the courtyard in five minutes so that we can proceed, and be prepared for battle.”

“I am always prepared for battle, Lady Dayfire. I shall meet you as the assigned time,” Evindar stated calmly. He saluted her again, turning and marching sharply from the room, leaving Biara distracted with amusement for a moment. She shook her head, looking back at the map.

“I only hope we’re in time…” she whispered to no one.

*******************************************

Selenthiel cried out as a mace struck the shield of holy Light around her, the weapon held back by only a hair’s width from her flesh. The orc in front of her growled, bringing his weapon up again and then howling as a Sin’dorei blade slid into his gut, his blood spraying as he fell backwards and off the wall.

Chaos surrounded the priestess, orcs and Sin’dorei locked in deadly hand to hand combat as enemies scrambled up the ladders that lead to the top of the wall. Beyond the wall, siege towers had been pushed into position, more orcs pouring across their boarding ramps and slamming into the lightly armored Sin’dorei that held the top of the structure.

Arrows flew through the air, orcs screaming and falling from the wall as Selenthiel’s rangers attempted to stem the flow of enemies onto the wall’s top. Selenthiel’s hands came up, a protective barrier of Light surrounding her men as shrapnel impacted it from a nearby cannon, the Iron Horde so callous that their shots struck their own attackers in the backs. Only through Selenthiel’s intervention had her men not fallen to the same fate.

She was like a beacon of hope to her allies, and like a target to her foes, the flashing Light on her hands drawing their attacks even as the magic healed those around her and fortified them for further battle. Sin’dorei dove in front of her, sometimes literally using their bodies as shields to keep her from harm, their blood on her hands as if she had spilled it herself.

Never had Selenthiel seen such brutality or bloodshed. The battle raged on, thousands of combatants involved all across the garrison. Selenthiel could see the central courtyard had been completely overrun, additional buildings now on fire as the Iron Horde pressed in, setting more of them alight and attempting to burn everything to the ground. Sin’dorei forces fell back towards the central compound, arrows lashing out from the command center to take any orcs foolish enough to approach it.

Selenthiel tore her gaze away from the scene below, concentration knitting her brow as she healed yet more of the elves with her, keeping them up as dozens of fresh attackers rushed the wall from a nearby siege tower, throwing victory into question for a tense few moments as her rangers responded, cutting many of them down but also losing many of their own numbers, their bodies tumbling from the wall to fall into the chaos below. Flames crackled up the side of the wall as a flame-throwing weapon detonated in the courtyard below, an arrow protruding from the tanks that held its propellant.

Selenthiel took a deep breath, calming herself and attempting to bring her emotions in check as she called out to the Light, molding the energies as she willed it, using it to aid her men and to dazzle and blind her foes. It came to her, a powerful tool in the hands of a Sin’dorei that wielded it as a magi might hurl fire. Orcs howled, falling back from her holy form even as her rangers surged forward, renewed hope filling them.

Selenthiel looked out into the distance as the immediate threat faded, her heart sinking and hope fading as she saw another of the Iron Stars being prepared for use, this time the object aimed right at her. She swallowed a lump in her throat, fear rising within her.

And then, curiously, a flash of bright blue light blinked into existence on the distant horizon behind the siege engines.

*************************************

Kyliska surged out of the portal, her blade already cutting into an orc seconds after she had blinked the teleportation spell out of her eyes, his blood splattering her armor and hair. She grinned, her sword coming down on a second stunned siege engineer, blood knights pouring from the portal behind her, roaring battle cries on their lips.

Kyliska howled in delight, her blade dancing in front of her, her fury and rage allowed free reign for a moment. Orcs scattered before her, crushed under her greaves or pierced by her weapon, the entire flank of the Iron Horde assault beginning to fold as more and more of her men charged through the portal. Triumphant, indestructible, Kyliska’s shout echoed above the battle in pure joy, “For Quel’Thalas! For the Horde! KILL THEM ALL!”

Kyliska didn’t pause, her momentum unchecked as she dashed forward, cutting down more and more of the engineers at the rear of the line. An orc surged up before her, a lit explosive in his hand. With a grin she swung her sword, the weapon shearing off the orc’s arm and sending it flying up into the air. The gore-spewing limb tumbled end over end as the orc fell before her, and Kyliska casually turned her sword and swatted the limb with the flat of the blade, as if playing a game with a ball. It tumbled end over end, flying towards a group of cannons sitting nearby, falling between them, the explosive still clutched in its severed fingers detonating a moment later.

An earth-shattering explosion rocked the battlefield as three cannons detonated all at once, chunks of red hot metal and bits of dead orcs peppering the enemy forces, black smoke rising up and the crackle of flames drowning out the screams of those who were dying from their wounds.

For a moment Kyliska paused, sword gripped in two hands as she looked down from a rise on the orc forces below her. Many looked up at her, seeing a gore-covered Sin’dorei, her cape fluttering in the raging winds of the howling flames the illuminated her back, her blonde hair waving in the breezes around her face, a smile of delight on her face as she stared down at them, her feet set to charge again.

On the ridge behind her, dozens and then hundreds of blood knights took up position, Braeth’el slipping beside Kyliska as they looked down on the orcs below and took in the sight of the burning Felo’melorn garrison in the distance. Kyliska brought her sword up high, blood dripping from it as she howled, “For House Felo’melorn! For House Sunfire! DEATH TO THE IRON HORDE!”

With that she dashed down the rise, sword raised high, hundreds of war cries rising up behind her as her knights followed suit, the orcs before her breaking in terror as they were taken from the rear, the blood-raging knight already cutting some of them down before the rest of her men even reach the enemy’s lines. 

They surged forward, Kyliska veering off her original course and slamming into a half-dozen orcs that attempted to block her path, her eyes affixed on a new objective. Orcs circled her even as she cut three down, attempting to stab her in the back only to find themselves facing the lithe and deadly form of Braeth’el fighting beside her. He dashed through their midst, daggers flashing as he slit one’s throat and gutted a second, both weapons plunging into the heart of a third. Kyliska laughed, the concept of having someone fighting at her side like this one she had not dreamed of, bloodlust, delight, and rage all making her heart pound in her chest as she cut another orc down.

Those before the charging Sin’dorei fell back, crushed beneath the advance of House Sunfire, Kyliska dashing ahead and reaching the object she’d sought; the prepped Iron Star. With a grin she dashed around the side if it, her sword coming out and slamming into a mooring on the left of the mounting that held it in place. The deadly, spinning siege weapon tipped sideways as its frame was damaged, the rolling ball of the weapon making contact with the ground and mis-aligning itself, hurtling off of its carriage and right into the middle of the Iron Horde advance, away from its intended target of Felo’melorn garrison.

Orcs were crushed by the massive metal weight as it rolled over them, flames spewing from it and burning enemies alive. It made it halfway down the slope of the hill before it collided with a siege tower that was being pushed forward, the weapon slamming into the tower and detonating.

In the center of the battlefield, a light so bright that it could not be looked upon flared up, metal, wood and dead Iron Horde orcs flying through the air, a massive crater torn out of the ground from the deadly blast. Kyliska waved her sword in the air, laughing merrily as the orange glow of the flames illuminated her features, her howling taken up by the men with her. She dashed around the wrecked siege engine’s carriage and plunged further down the slope, heading towards Felo’melorn garrison and a piece of the wall where she saw flashes of Light atop the barricade. She knew just who that might be, and that it was time to relieve her friend and ally.

Behind her, hundreds of knights charged, carving through the entire right flank of the Iron Horde’s assault.

**********************************************

“We can’t hold them back much longer, Lord Felo’melorn!” a guard shouted through the packed command center. Beyond, the structure was rocked as more blasts echoed across the courtyard, the sounds of screaming and clash of blades coming through the opening of the structure.

“Hold the line dammit! We can’t let them get through the door!” Andithiel shouted. He was leaning over a map table, his fist coming down to slam into the wooden surface as he glared at the men around him, “Are you feeble humans or Sin’dorei? We need to hold this compound at all costs! There is nowhere left to fall back to!”

The men around him saluted, grim looks on their faces as they scurried about to issue orders. Other Sin’dorei in the room, mostly civilians, huddled together in fear, many staring at him as if in accusation, at least that is how he perceived it. As if it were his fault that the Iron Horde had launched a surprise assault. He slammed his fist into the table again, taking a ragged breath and running his hands through his hair, trying to think.

A bright blue light suddenly flared to life in the room, causing Andithiel to turn and blink in surprise. As the light faded, a portal stabilized and held, two figures pushing through it. To Andithiel’s surprise, Biara Dayfire appeared, accompanied by a blonde blood knight he’d never seen before.

“Lord Felo’melorn! What is the status of your defenses?” Biara snapped, eyes instantly focusing on him.

“Biara Dayfire…? What are you doing here-“ Andithiel began.

Biara cut him off, striding towards him, “Lord Felo’melorn, we need to get your people out of here. I need to know the status of security around this structure so I can determine where it is best to keep the portal open.”

“Oh, how very thoughtful of you,” Andithiel snapped, shaking his head, his voice sarcastic and sounding tired, “Did your lovely sister come with you too? Should I have wine and tarts put out? I don’t have time for this; I’ve got to see to my men. Two of you aren’t going to make a difference here.”

Biara’s eyes widened in fury and she lurched towards Andithiel, her hands coming out and pushing him backwards by his chest. He looked at her in shock as she raged towards him, the fact that he was much taller than her having not an iota of impact as she shouted up into his face, “Get ahold of yourself right this minute! Your people are dying out there! This is no time for your pouting or childish moods! I want a status report right now. I’m going to save your people even if you don’t like it, so deal with it.”

Andithiel reeled back in surprise, not expecting the Magistrix to lay her hands on him, her words sinking in rather quickly. Sheepishly, he replied, his tone low, “We’re trapped in this building. They’ve breached the walls. The last I saw Selenthiel she was fighting on the outer wall. Whether she still lives I do not know.”

Biara nodded, her voice low, “Relief is coming to your sister. What of Tyavel? I received a distress call from her. Where is she?”

Andithiel shook his head, gesturing towards Denissia in the crowd of onlookers, “I’ve seen no sign of her, nor has Denissia. She may have been by the spirit lodge when the assault began but I do not know.”

Biara’s eyes darted into the crowd, locking with Denissia’s and taking the other by surprise. In that moment, something passed across Denissia’s face and she averted her gaze. Biara’s hands clenched into fists and she pushed her way through the crowd, leaving a perplexed Andithiel behind as she approached the warlock, "Where is she?”

Denissia blinked in surprise, her gaze returning to Biara, “I-I don’t know. I mean…I’m sure she was in the lodge. That is where she does all of her work…”

Biara snarled, darting forward and grabbing the warlock by the arm. Her hand lashed out, backhanding the other Sin’dorei across the face. Denissia’s head rocked to the side as Biara struck her a second time, and then a third, “Where. Is. She. I can taste the taint of fel magic on you from here. You’ve been using demonic gateways this day. You stink of it. What befell the Magistrix?! If you were involved, so help me you will wish you had never been born.”

“N-no, I d-don’t…” Denissia began.

Biara actually hissed, a hand coming up and grabbing Denissia by the throat, pinning her to the wall of the command center, her razor sharp nails digging into Denissia’s neck and her faces inches from the warlock. In her free hand, flames began to dance along her fingertips, “If you don’t tell me where she is right this instant, I will burn you to cinders, you traitorous little bitch.”

Denissia swallowed hard, her voice coming out in s squeak, “S-she was in the spirit lodge. Part of it collapsed o-on her. She was trapped there. C-can’t get to her now.”

Biara shoved Denissia away, pushing the warlock to the floor, “The fel I can’t. I will deal with you later.”

She turned, striding back to a shocked Andithiel, “Your sister is in the spirit lodge. I’m going to get her. The rest of these people here can be evacuated through this portal to House Sunfire’s garrison. We’ll get them back to Quel’Thalas from there. You will accompany me with your men.”

Andithiel’s lip curled into a sneer and he opened his mouth to speak, before he could reply Biara turned from him, pointing to his men, “You and you. Get me ten or fifteen soldiers right now. We’re getting Magistrix Felo’melorn. We’ll leave the Lord here to have his fit in private.”

With that she turned, striding towards the entrance to the command center, elves hopping to obey her, Evindar a silent armored figure behind her. As she neared the entrance, she could see fighters engaged in melee in the opening. Her hands came up, flames arcing outwards and cutting down the orcs that were assaulting the structure. She pushed forward, Sin’dorei trailing behind her as she emerged from the command center.

The courtyard beyond was a nightmare, flames and debris everywhere. The corpses of many orcs and fallen defenders littered the ground, and the battle raged on. Blessedly, for some reason the artillery had suddenly fallen silent and the Sin’dorei emerging behind Biara realized they would be able to push forward again.

Biara ran into the thick of the combat, flames already lashing out and spells on her lips as she cut down orcs left and right. Beside her, Evindar charged into battle, his shield deflecting orcish swords as his sword cut down one foe after another. Additional Sin’dorei charged into the melee, Andithiel following with a sullen look on his face.

“I’m glad you decided to join us, Lord Felo’melorn,” Biara said merrily, spells slashing into the orcs in front of them. Andithiel merely grunted at her, his bow coming up as he cut down more orcs. In the distance, a horn sounded and more Iron Horde pushed towards them, the surge suddenly engulfing them and sweeping Andithiel’s men backwards from the force of the combat. Lord Felo’melorn fell back with his men, fighting in a compact group that was slowly pushed back towards the command center.

Biara cleared a space around herself, her raging flames cutting down so many orcs that they diverted around her to avoid her. To Biara’s surprise, Evindar stayed with her the entire time, his presence always a comfort at her back as she advanced. Halfway to the burning spirit lodge she paused, four orcs coming from amongst the foes and circling her. She watched them warily, for each of them was unarmored and carried ceremonial daggers; she had finally found the Iron Horde’s spellcasters.

The orcs moved around her in a clockwise direction, their hands held in front of them. Biara felt Evindar place his back against hers, the two spinning in time as they were circled. Biara studied them, realizing that she was about to face a deadly spellduel. Deep within her, she let her control of her magic go, power surging up through her and almost sighing with relief as the pent up energies were finally given outlet.

In front of her an orc began to chant, a second one to her right gesturing while one behind her began his own spell. Biara pointed, counterspelling the orc in front of her while her right hand flicked out, a ball of flames slamming into the orc that had begun to gesture. Behind her she felt Evindar stir, his shield lashing out and cracking the orc behind her across the face, utterly ruining his spell. The fourth orc lifted a wand, pointing it at her and firing the weapon. Bolts of ice flew between them, powerful runes of warding flickering around Biara’s body as they absorbed the magic.

She grinned at the surprised orc, speaking in his own language as she brought her hands up, “For all your power, your magics are as nothing to me. I am a Magistrix. I am a Sin’dorei. I am magic.”

Biara’s hands came up above her head, power flaring to life above her. The very sky above their little cut off corner of the battle glowed red as flames descended from the heavens. The two orcs in front of Biara had time only to cry out as a ball of flames fell from the sky, blasting the ground in a furious explosion that snuffed them out of existence in a heartbeat. Biara whirled, her hands coming up to her lips as she breathed across the palm of her hand, a deadly dragon’s breath spell spewing from her lips and engulfing a third spellcaster just as he was about to let fly with his own spell. Beside her, Evindar ran the fourth of the orcs through with his blade, his greaves coming up to kick the dead orc from the weapon.

For a moment, Evindar turned to see Biara staring at him, a raging inferno of flames serving as a backdrop for her fiery red hair as she met his gaze, the hem of her dress fluttering in the wind of the flames. She locked gazes with him, her voice steady, “The way to the spirit lodge is beyond these flames and fraught with danger. I can ward myself, and possibly you, but you need not come further. I can retrieve the Magistrix.”

Evindar stepped forward, shaking his head, “I swore an oath. I am coming.”

Biara nodded, looking somewhat grateful at this before reaching out and placing a hand on his chest. Instantly he felt cool magic flowing over him, bathing him in her power. Her voice was low as she spoke, barely heard in the crackle of flames, “These wards will protect you only for a short time. We must hurry through the fires. Move swiftly, knight, lest we fall like the others.”

With that, she turned and plunged into the fires, which seemed to bend around her. Evindar plunged into the wall of the inferno behind her, his eyes locked on her flame red hair as they moved through a world of crackling fire, the heat not touching him as the wards she’d placed on him kept him protected. Ahead, he could make out the form of the spirit lodge, most of the top of the structure blackened by fires, but the opening still standing. “There! Lady Dayfire, there it is!”

She moved towards the opening, when suddenly an orc lunged through the fire towards her. She saw the threat at the last possible moment, her hands coming up to cast a spell a second too late. The orc’s shield slammed into her, sending her reeling. Instantly Evindar was there, Biara falling against his chest and steadying herself on his breastplate, her eyes closed as she awaited the orc’s blade to fall.

Instead, the weapon clashed against the shield that Evindar had placed over Biara, his arm encircling her in steel. She looked up at him in awe, watching his golden hair waving in the wind of the fires all around him, his black blood knight armor shining in the glow of the flames, his muscular arm bringing his sword down atop the orc’s skull and shattering it. 

As his foe fell away from them, Biara stared up into his eyes from within the protective circle of his grasp, her arms wrapped around his chest and her mouth half opened. He looked down, meeting her gaze, “Are you well, Lady Dayfire?”

She blinked once, shaking off the dazed feeling she had from the concussion with the shield, or perhaps from her sudden enjoyable encounter with his broad chest? She blinked once, biting her lip and nodding, “Yes, I’m uh…fine, thank you, Sir Everstrike.”

“Good. Let us get out of the flames then, yes? I can feel warmth again and think the wards are failing,” he said calmly. He released her, ensuring she was steady on her feet and offering her a hand over the fallen orc before the two headed into the spirit lodge.

Biara managed to tear her gaze away from the image of Sin’dorei perfection that had just saved her life and peered into the smoke filled interior of the spirit lodge. In the dimness, she saw a shape on the ground and gasped, “There! Magistrix Felo’melorn!”

She hurried inside, Evindar following after her, the two kneeling beside Tyavel. Evindar reached down, whispering a prayer to the Light, healing energies flowing into the wounded Magistrix. Tyavel sighed, not regaining consciousness but clearly breathing. Evindar nodded at Biara, “She’s hurt badly, but she will live. We need to get her out of here at once.”

Biara nodded, rising beside him, her hands coming up and tearing a hole in space, forming a portal back to the command lodge. She turned, watching in admiration as Evindar grasped the likely extremely heavy support beam that had fallen on Tyavel and heaved upwards, his shoulders straining as he lifted the object up and hurled it away from her. Almost tenderly he turned, gently scooping Tyavel up in his arms, lifting her up and carrying her to the portal before passing through it.

Biara sighed, nodding to herself and followed suit, the two returning to the interior of the command center even as Andithiel’s forces fell back to that point a second time, the orcs in the courtyard beyond beginning to overwhelm them again. Within the reinforced structure, Biara began getting the remaining desperate defenders out of the garrison, the Sin’dorei passing through her stabilized portal and to the safety of their ally’s holdings.

**********************************************

Kyliska’s sword came down, cutting down an orc. She pushed past her fallen foe, her hand reaching up to grab the ankle of another orc and pulling him from the ladder above her. Behind and below her, her men pushed forward, climbing the steps within the siege tower as they captured it level by level. Above her, Iron Horde orcs shouted as they clashed with Selenthiel’s rangers on the floor above.

Kyliska shouted, her warcry echoing in the enclosed space as Light flared within her. Golden wings sprouted from her back, made of pure Light, the energy filling her and empowering her blows. Orcs fell all around her, their weapons deflected by her sword, her Light slashing into them as she rushed the last set of steps. An orc above her turned, his weapon coming up and catching hers, his arm reaching out to grab her wrist in an attempt to twist the limb. 

Kyliska grunted, the pain of her arm being twisted only fueling her bloodlust. She lurched forward, her forehead colliding with the orc’s nose, his blood spattering her face and his grip loosening as she jerked her arm back. Her blade came up and then down again, this time with no resistance until it struck the orc’s skull. As he fell away, a smoke-filled starry sky shown through the opening above her, and Kyliska dashed up the last set of steps, taking the top of the siege engine where it met the wall against House Felo’melorn’s garrison.

Atop the wall, elven rangers spotted Kyliska and let out a ragged cheer, less than a dozen of them remaining from the initial force that had been present when the battle started. Amongst them, a soot-stained and haggard looking Selenthiel stepped forward. 

Braeth’el emerged from the siege tower behind Kyliska and he bent to wipe his blades clean on the body of a fallen orc before sheathing them. Kyliska smiled, holding a hand to her heart and saluting Selenthiel, “Sel! I’m so glad you’re okay! We’re going to get you out of here!”

Selenthiel smiled, relief on her face as she leaned forward to hug Kyliska, “Light bless you Kyli. Your House has saved us. I just saw your sister in the courtyard below. She and others were destroying our foes. I cannot thank you enough.”

“There is no need for that, it is what allies do!” Kyliska said happily, flicking orc blood from the tip of her sword. “Now let’s get you down from here and through the portal before the entire Iron Horde descends on us!”

Selenthiel smiled and nodded, “You do not have to ask me twice.”

Kyliska sheathed her sword and offered her hand to Selenthiel as if to help her across the gap to the top of the siege tower. In that moment, Braeth’el lurched forward, his eyes taking in the sight of something that sent a spear of terror through him. His arms wrapped around Kyliska just as a cannon on the top of a nearby siege tower was fired in their direction, the Iron Horde having realized that their siege engine had been captured. The cannonball flew through the air, slamming into the tower just below the top floor, the weapon exploding beneath them.

Kyliska’s last sight of Selenthiel was as she became ever more distant; Kyliska, Braeth’el, and the wreckage of the siege tower fell away from the side of the wall, Selenthiel’s mouth opened in horror as she watched her would-be rescuers fall to the snowy ground far below.

The air rushed out of Kyliska’s mouth in a burst as she collided with something, her vision black as a lance of pain shot through her leg, the bone having snapped in the fall. She coughed, blood trickling from her mouth as she rolled over onto her back, her vision spinning crazily for a moment from the sudden pain.

A sound beside her made her stir, and she turned her head to see Braeth’el lying beside her in a snowy field of flaming debris. He had kept his body around her the entire time, and she had fallen atop him with her plate armored body. Blood covered him, trickling from his mouth and from a cut above his head. The spikes on her armor had pierced his shoulder, and he looked a mess. He turned towards her, coughing up blood, his hand coming out to grasp hers tightly. In the distance, they could see Iron Horde orcs cheering and beginning to advance on their position.

“K-kyli…” Braeth’el coughed, blood coming from his mouth again. “S-sorry, but I don’t think it’s good.”

Kyliska gasped, ignoring her own pain and rolling, grimacing from the shrieking agony in her broken leg, “Braeth’el! No, it’ll be okay! Just hold tight, we’ll get a healer! You’ll be alright!”

He squeezed her hand, his head shaking slightly, “Ribs are broken… pierced things. I-I’m sorry, Kyli. S-sorry I never g-got…”

His voice trailed off and Kyliska forced herself to her knees, crying out in pain, “Braeth’el! Stay with me! I love you! You can’t leave me here alone!”

His eyes blinked and he locked on her face, “Sorry I never got to tell you….that I love you. W-wish I had said it sooner…”

A strangled cry escaped Kyliska and she grasped his hand in both of hers, “Oh don’t say that baby, there’s so much time for you to say it again. You’re going to be okay, I swear it. Just stay with me Braeth’el. Please! I need you!”

He smiled at her, his mouth opening and closing, no words escaping him now, a tremble going through him as he began to fade from consciousness. In a panic, Kyliska dragged herself closer to him, her voice desperate, “Braeth’el! No! Oh Light no! Please no!”

Kyliska began to pray, her eyes closing, reaching out to the Light with all of her being. Unlike all of the times before when she had done it, she did so now out of urgency, out of love, and she could feel the power respond to her. A warm glow filled her, flowing outwards through her fingertips. She pressed her hands against Braeth’el’s chest, Light pouring from her, from her soul and into him.

On the battlefield a brilliant luminescence formed around the fallen blood knight, golden wings fluttering behind her as she used all of her love to power her healing spells. Iron Horde orcs that had been advancing paused, squinting as the Light cut through the darkness of the night. Even as they did so, an even greater shaft of pure Light slanted down upon the two fallen Sin’dorei as Selenthiel raised her hands above her on the shattered wall, her power flowing down and into Kyliska.

Light flared brightly, and Braeth’el sighed, his breathing becoming steady and easy as the worst of his wounds began to knit back together. Atop the wall, Selenthiel stepped forward into mid-air, her own spells allowing her to gently glide down, descending next to the two wounded elves, her own Light forming glowing wings at her back for a moment. Above, her rangers set ropes and repelled down the side of the ruined fortification, surrounding Kyliska and Braeth’el and protecting them as the two Light users continued the healing.

Eyes clenched tightly closed in desperate prayer, Kyliska was startled when a hand came up and caressed her face. Her eyes opened and she saw Braeth’el looking up at her, a smile on his face. A gasp of joy escaped her, and she leaned down, kissing him, her own pain thrust into the back of her mind. 

“Looks like it was you looking after me this time, Kyli,” Braeth’el said, his voice weary. Kyliska merely laughed, kissing him one more time before she fell beside him, laying in the snow.

Selenthiel looked down on her, a tired look on her face, “That was well done, Kyliska. I knew you had the power of the Light within you. We will speak more of this once we’re somewhere safe. Can you walk?”

“No, my leg is broken, Sel,” Kyliska said. “You’re going to have to have your men drag me off the field I fear.”

Selenthiel smiled, shaking her head, “Nonsense…” She reached out, her power bathing Kyliska and easing the wound she’d suffered. As the pain fled, Selenthiel nodded, “You’ll need to rest it for a time, but you and Braeth’el should be able to hobble off the field. Come, let’s get moving before the Iron Horde has time to regroup.”

Kyliska nodded, taking the hand of one of Selenthiel’s rangers, watching as they gently helped Braeth’el up, supporting him between two of them. “Thanks, Sel. My sister has left a portal in place. We can fall back there and regroup. I only wish we could have saved more of your men.”

Selenthiel nodded sadly, tears in her eyes as she glanced back at the burning garrison, “It was not your fault, and I’m grateful that you have managed to save any. I will never forget what you’ve done for us here, Kyliska. You and your sister…you have my gratitude.”

Kyliska nodded, “It is what friends do for one another. Let’s get you to safety.”

With that, the group slowly began to move, more of Kyliska’s blood knights joining them as they withdrew. The Iron Horde kept a wary distance from them as it began to regroup, wanting no part of any additional battle with the force that had just shattered their flank. In a short time, the inviting glow of Biara’s portals was there to greet them, and then they were whisked away to safety at last.

********************************************

In House Sunfire’s courtyard, portals flared to life as tired and weary Sin’dorei were returned to Azeroth from their perilous fight on Draenor. Although the battle had been won, there was no joyous celebration amongst the victors as they slowly dispersed into the estate or were taken to the infirmary. 

Too many Sin’dorei had fallen, too many of House Felo’melorn had paid the ultimate sacrifice for their kingdom. The heirs of both House Sunfire and House Felo’melorn were wounded, tired, and their hearts were heavy as they left the field, for each of them knew that the future was uncertain now, and that everything had changed in the heart of the vicious battle. Only hope remained, hope for the future, and for friendships forged anew in war.