Dedicated to NicoleSilverlance@NicoleSilverlance & Sara@Finfychan for continuing with me during my journey through Azeroth & gifting me with their encouragement

The throne room and it's many off-shoot chambers were filling with the King's advisors, dignitaries, generals, lieutenants, as well as Kayn Sunfury and his demon hunters.

Khadgar made his way to the top of the steps. He intended to meet Sarah, Drew and Erik when they arrived. The unmistakable deep growl of Erik's Mekgineer's Chopper echoed round the plaza and up the steps on approach.

Erik parked at the bottom and then leading the way, along with Drew and Sarah, he slowly ascended the steps.

"Thought you weren't going to get on that thing again," Drew teased Sarah.

She glanced up. The Archmage was nearing the top of the steps. Her heart contracted a little. "Well it was either that or have Khadgar come and portal me here."

"So, you felt safer on that death trap of Erik's?"

Erik grunted on hearing Drew's comment.

Sarah glared at Drew. "You talk to me about being safe when you're carrying that thing?" She pointed to the sword strapped to his hip.

Drew huffed. "I'm pretty good with these you know."

"No, I do not know! It's the first I have heard of it."

"Well, I thought you'd laugh if I told you." He sulked.

"And why the hell do you think I would laugh?"

"Will you pair quit it!" Erik grumbled over his shoulder. He was incensed that his bike had been referred to as a death trap and had also grown tired of their bickering over a sword. "The lad has every right to want to defend ye lass and tae dae his bit in whatever battles lie ahead o' us."

Sarah came to an abrupt halt. "Need I remind you Erik, we lost a very dear friend the last time because he was trying to defend us too?"

The hunter spun round and faced her. He was bristling. his voice low, almost aggressive. "No! Ye dinnae huv tae remind me! Tharaei wis like a son tae me. But he died daein' summat he believed in and trying tae help save a' o' us includin' keeping yer hame planet safe." 

Sarah gasped. 

Instantly, the dwarf regretted having mentioned the part about her home. He hung his head. He did not mean to imply the elf mage had died because of her. "Sorry, lass. I didnae ..." He couldn't finish.

Silence. 

Sarah's eyes stung. Quietly she responded. "I just couldn't bear losing Drew as well. That was all I meant Erik. I wasn't being disrespectful or ungrateful to Tharaei, or any of you."

Erik reached out and patted her arm. "Ah ken," he said, forcing a smile. "Come on now. Khadgar will be wonderin' whit the hell's gan oan."

Drew looked up at Khadgar as they approached. The Archmage's face showed concern. Erik moved ahead.

"Is something wrong?" Khadgar whispered to the dwarf.

"Nah, she's jist worried aboot the lad. Feert he gets hurt."

The Archmage nodded understanding, then he turned his attention back to the approaching Earthlings. He was pleased to see that Erik had done as he'd asked. Erik outfitted the two Earthlings in appropriate attire for the season with the gold Khadgar had given him when they were in Shattrath. He'd doubted Sarah would have accepted anything directly from himself.

He studied her as she neared. She looked quite the Azerothian in her red burnished leather pants and tunic, knee length boots trimmed in soft wolf fur and fingerless mittens. The woollen cape billowed as the breeze played with it folds. Her rich auburn hair rippled behind her. A small smile of approval crossed his lips.

Drew too, had chosen well. He had settled for dark green leather but he had also chosen armour for his shoulders, chest and legs. A glint of steel beneath his cape indicated he also carried a sword. The questioning look on Khadgar's face was answered once Sarah leveled with him.

"Yes, I know." She said as her eyes flitted to Erik then quickly back to Khadgar. "It surprised me too. Turns out I do not know him quite as well as I thought I did. He apparently has been tutored in fencing and sword play back home for a number of years. He didn't tell me in case I thought he was an idiot." She then glanced at Drew, who stood looking a little cocky with himself. Sarah returned her gaze back to Khadgar once more. Her concern for Drew's safety had not lessened for all Erik had barked at her on the way up the steps. "And he is an idiot! He'll just get himself killed."

Drew huffed.

Khadgar laughed lightly. "He looks like he can take care of himself, Sarah. Sometimes when we think we know a person well, they still surprise us."

He turned to lead the way. Sarah lightly touched his arm to stop him. Erik nodded for Drew to move on and the two of them walked ahead, allowing Sarah and Khadgar a moment. "Thank you," she said softly with a small smile. "I suspect this came from you." She indicated the clothing.

He smiled back at her. "You are most welcome."

She took a deep breath, glancing ahead. "Once more to the fray then, Khadgar. Lead on."

Reconvening with Erik and Drew, they entered the Keep as a group. The whisperings and mullings of the gathered individuals gradually ceased as all eyes were on the four people approaching the throne.

Sarah bowed before Varian and acknowledged Anduin who smiled confidently at her. Drew and Erik followed suit.

"Well, Sarah Metcalfe. We meet again," King Varian boomed.

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am glad to see you are well."

He nodded thanks. "And you have brought a companion this time I hear," he said looking at Drew.

"Well, I didn't so much bring him, as he snuck along, Your Majesty." A few titters were heard in the crowd. "This is Drew Stewart, a fellow player of World of Warcraft, and my..." Drew stared at her, daring her to say the thing he disliked the most. She continued. "... my dearest friend." They shared a smile and touched hands.

Varian welcomed Drew, who bowed his gratitude.

A crystal silence pursued until Varian spoke again. "I have been given an outline of your intentions," he said to Sarah. "There appears to be many in favour of your plan and already some ..." He looked towards Kayn Sunfury and the Illidari. "...have been amassing in great numbers to aid in the mission."

Sarah was well pleased. If there were troops already in place, it should not take long for the march to proceed.

"Not all are in favour!" A deep voice from the gathering to the right of the King spoke. Malfurion Stormrage pressed forward, followed closely by Tyrande. "You are making a grave mistake, Sarah Metcalfe." The Archdruid towered over her.

Sarah looked at the King. He seemed unsurprised by Malfurion's objection, and had no reason to disallow him his chance to voice his opinion. Sarah waited until a subtle nod from Varian permitted her to counteract the statement.

"I make no mistake Archdruid, my colleague here will vouch for that."

"Another game player?" He then turned and addressed the court. "Do you think the future of our lands should be placed in the hands of people who play games?" Mumbled responses echoed around the hall.

"Need I remind you of what a game player achieved the last time she visited?" Sarah said defensively. "Look to your left, Malfurion. He still sits on the throne of Stormwind." Sarah's retort also got a supportive murmur from a few of the attendees.

Drew stared around the room. Many heads nodded in agreement while others were close together in debate. He turned to face the front again. His heart was pounding, this was quite unnerving.

"That as may be," Malfurion said, his voice deep and powerful. "But what you propose this time is foolhardy. You will be undoing what we worked hard to accomplish."

"You consider your brother's defeat a decade ago as an accomplishment? Of what exactly?" Silence. Sarah waited a beat before she continued. "If that were so, then why are we at the mercy of the Legion yet again? Did he not predict they would return?"

She heard the demon hunters agreeing with her.

Tyrande stepped forward. "Illidan is dead, Sarah. What you seek is merely a husk encased in its own felblood poison."

"You are wrong, High Priestess! Illidan is immortal, as are you. He cannot be killed by mere mortals. And ponder on this if you will, why then would Gul'dan have stolen his body if it were a useless husk?"

Tyrande remained silent, but Sarah pressed on. "His spirit wanders the Twisting Nether as do all demon souls, but, the naaru have prophesised he is destined for great things. Their agreement to help me with this quest confirms that I am right!"

"And if you manage the impossible, then I will imprison him again!" An sharp, unfamiliar voice shouted from the rear of the hall. All eyes watched as a green armour clad Watcher, approached the throne. Sarah knew straight away who she was. Maiev Shadowsong.

Drew's heart plummeted. Sarah was up against much opposition. Why did the King or even Khadgar not intervene? Yet, when his eyes rested on his friend again, he saw she seemed unperturbed. She soldiered on in Illidan's defence.

"You, Maiev, became as twisted and hateful as you thought your quarry was."

"Thought?" The Watcher came to a halt in front of King Varian and after she bowed deeply to him, she swirled her cape and turned to face Sarah. "He slaughtered thousands. He betrayed his own people!"

"I could say the same of you, Maeiv! Your own soldiers suffered at your hands as did countless elf populations in your quest to incarcerate Illidan. And let's not forget it was one of your own who aided Gul'dan in finding his body as well."

Although Maeiv's helm hid her features, the slight shift of her body told Sarah the warden was looking accusingly at Khadgar. Sarah immediately followed on. "Ah yes, you blame Khadgar for Cordana's failings." She heard a grunt from beside her. Khadgar had not expected that to be revealed. He had not even been aware that Sarah knew about it.

The warden shifted uncomfortably. "How do you know such...!"

"I just know," Sarah spat. "Truth is you made hunting Illidan a personal crusade and you did not heed the lives of your own in your hellbent pursuit. You did not see how they were losing faith in you or your methods. Well here is how it will play out if you so much as try to recapture him. You and you alone, will be solely responsible for the complete annihilation of Azeroth!"

There was an enormous intake of breath throughout the hall. Sarah was near dancing with rage and she struggled to compose herself. In a gesture of support, Khadgar placed a hand on her shoulder. She inadvertently covered it with hers, lightly squeezing his fingers. She waited for her breathing to regulate.

Finally, she stepped towards Malfurion and Tyrande again. "I am not your enemy. Nor is Illidan, nor these good people who fight in his name." She gestured the Illidari. "Together, with Alliance and Horde, surely putting politics aside for the time being, we can combine efforts to save this world." With a wistful look at the Archmage. "For the love of Azeroth." She finished.

An uncharacteristic, and very unexpected clap was heard amongst the crowd. Steadily more followed until the whole gathering applauded Sarah. She was acutely embarrassed and her face flushed.

Drew and Erik both felt the sting of tears welling at the passion with which she delivered her argument. The response from the people around them and the sentiment she had so beautifully put as she had glanced at Khadgar had moved them deeply. The Archmage himself also appeared moved, although he was obviously trying to conceal it. Drew shook his head at the man's stubbornness.

King Varian stood and gestured silence. Once the applause had died down, he spoke. "These have been desperate months in which we have lost many of our loyal and brave men and women fighting the Legion. I for one, have good reason to believe in what this woman, Sarah Metcalfe, tells us. I say we follow her plan and defeat the Burning Legion once and for all. In the words of our dear comrades the draenei The Dark Times Will Pass. For Azeroth!"

 All comments, advice and suggestions are welcome. Should you like this chapter, please be kind enough to vote, it would be most appreciated.