Garrosh Hellscream : Heart of War Garrosh Hellscream : Heart of War is a short story in the " Leaders of the Horde " series by Sarah Pine that follows Garrosh in Northrend , his early experiences in Orgrimmar , and his conflict with Thrall before the Cataclysm . Garrosh Hellscream : Heart of War . " You disappoint me , Garrosh . " Try as he might , the memory of those words just would not die . It did not matter how many times he heard the proud shouts of “ Welcome , Overlord ! ” as he passed through Agmar ’ s Hammer , or how long he stood in the ruins before the Wrath Gate and stared into the enchanted flames that still burned there . Even the strike of his blades against the beasts or Scourge that dared oppose him only provided temporary respite . All the hot , sharp splatter of blood against his face could not drown out that voice . The moment he returned to the road , he heard each word spoken in his head with every fall of his great wolf ’ s paws against the snow . Perhaps it was the warchief ’ s continued presence at his flank that caused the words to linger . Thrall had decided to accompany Garrosh back to Warsong Hold from Dalaran . He said he wanted to see their holdings in Northrend . Garrosh felt as if he were being chaperoned , but it was also an opportunity . The Horde ’ s inroads into Northrend were far from trivial . Surely Thrall could see that . Surely he would appreciate all that had been accomplished on this front . Garrosh spat off the back of his wolf , Malak , and into the sedges . Lake Kum ’ uya lay behind them , still as a mirror in the gray morning sky . They would reach Warsong Hold by mid - afternoon , dusk if they were slow . Privately he had to admit that he was eager to see the look in Thrall ’ s eyes when they arrived . Unfortunately they could not admire the hold properly as they approached . In a moment Garrosh knew that the nerubians had , yet again , broken into Mightstone Quarry . He grimaced . No matter how effectively they blockaded Azjol - Nerub , the insects always managed to find a way back west . Their eerie shrieks were unmistakable , carrying far in all directions in the tundra ’ s frozen wind . “ Forward ! Attack ! ” Garrosh ordered the Kor ’ kron riders who accompanied them , forgetting that he was not in fact the commander of the group . He had kicked Malak into a full run and left them all behind before he remembered that decorum dictated he defer to Thrall . Well , decorum didn ’ t win battles . Action did . More sounds from the fight became audible as he approached — shouts from the battleguards , the dull boom of artillery , and the distinctive splintering crack that metal weapons made against nerubian chitin . Garrosh readied his axes , his heartbeat quickening with anticipation . He sailed over the edge of the quarry , Malak never missing a beat . They skidded down the wall , leaped over outcrops and scaffolding , and with a cry Garrosh threw himself into combat . The nerubian before him never saw him coming . Garrosh ’ s first blow cut deep into its thorax , and the second cleaved its entire anterior end from its body . The Warsong guard it had been battling looked up , startled , his axe readied above his shoulder . Garrosh grinned . “ Hellscream ! ” the warrior yelled , saluting . He turned to the others around him . “ Overlord Hellscream has returned ! ” Garrosh raised an axe in response . “ Beat them back ! ” he roared to his soldiers . “ Remind these vermin what it means to assault the Horde ! Lok - tar ogar ! ” Garrosh ’ s rally injected renewed fervor into the defenders , and they surged forward , a chorus of “ Lok - tar ogar ! ” on their lips in response . An enormous beetle - like monster dominated the quarry floor , and Garrosh kicked on his wolf to engage it . Orcish wolves were trained for battle every bit as much as their riders , and Malak bit deeply into the nerubian ’ s tarsus , unbalancing it as Garrosh vaulted down . Advantageous as mounted combat could be , he always felt better with both his feet on the ground . The nerubian hissed and thrust its forelimbs at his neck . Garrosh parried the blow and with a sweep of his axe sent their severed ends arcing to the ground . The insect staggered backward , and Garrosh practically danced after it , swinging his axes with chilling grace . The blood sang in his veins ; the fervor of battle burned in his chest . It would never occur to him to consider the irony that he felt most alive when meting out death . Garrosh hacked at the monster ’ s thorax while Malak harried its legs , keeping it from gaining firm footing . As he readied another blow , a brilliant flash followed by a sharp “ crack " and the stinging scent of seared chitin momentarily disoriented him and announced Warchief Thrall ’ s full entrance into the battle . The nerubian was beaten and had no place to go . Garrosh felt a rush of certainty as he lifted an axe and delivered the final blow , splitting the great insect ’ s head in two . With that Garrosh knew the battle was won . All that remained was for the Warsong forces to dispatch the remaining nerubian ranks still skirmishing throughout the quarry . Seeing the guards ' struggle , Thrall raised the Doomhammer in front of him , murmuring something Garrosh could not hear . At the warchief ’ s command the wind suddenly whipped into a howling fury and the air crackled , making the hairs stand up on the back of Garrosh ’ s neck . Thrall roared and called down a blinding lightning bolt into the last resisting group as the soldiers dived out of the way . The explosion rained bits of singed carapace upon the rocks . Garrosh called Malak back to him and draped his arm across her ruff , surveying the troops , pleased at their success . The fight had been quick , but satisfying . It was unfortunate that the Horde had built its fortress atop such a well - traversed portion of the ancient nerubian kingdom , but the attacks came more and more infrequently , and he was confident that eventually they would cease altogether . His soldiers grew more efficient with each opportunity to defend , and the lines had held . The lines would continue to hold . He made his way up the ramp to the front of Warsong Hold , where Overlord Razgor waited , thick ichor still dripping from his sword . “ About time you showed up , ” he said , wiping sweat from his face . Garrosh laughed . “ Wouldn ’ t miss the chance to slaughter some overgrown insects , ” he answered . Razgor grinned . “ Warchief Thrall has accompanied me from Dalaran , ” Garrosh continued , “ to inspect our holdings in Northrend . ” As he spoke , Thrall climbed onto the path behind Garrosh . Razgor ’ s eyes widened , and he nodded . He turned to face the crowd of soldiers around them . “ Welcome the return of Overlord Hellscream ! ” he announced . The soldiers cheered and brandished their weapons . “ And welcome , ” he continued , louder , “ our warchief ! Thrall , son of Durotan ! ” The assemblage turned almost simultaneously and saluted , every eye resting humbly upon Thrall . Razgor stepped forward and saluted as well . “ We are honored by your presence at Warsong Hold , Warchief , ” he said . Thrall ’ s eyes swept up the fortress ’ s tall stone walls , across the iron ramparts , and down upon the quarry pit where they had just fought , and finally came to rest upon Garrosh , who stared back . “ It reminds me of Orgrimmar , ” Thrall said . “ Impressive . ” “ It is even more so inside , ” Garrosh responded . “ We will show you . ” “ I ’ m sure I won ’ t be disappointed , ” Thrall answered . Garrosh ground his teeth at the words . Orgrimmar . The first time he had seen it , the sight nearly stopped him dead in his tracks . They had not long since left Razorwind Canyon behind , emerging from between its tall sandstone walls into Durotar ’ s unforgiving sun . Before them the red plain stretched endlessly and the horizon vanished into shimmers of heat that distorted the distance . This was a far cry from the rolling green hills of Nagrand . “ There ! Can you see it ? ” Thrall halted his mount and pointed toward the northern horizon . Garrosh pulled up next to him and squinted . Behind them their entourage slowed and milled about . In the distance he saw a tall gate , a wall of sharpened wood pylons , towers roofed in red … . No , his eyes played tricks . He started in surprise . Orgrimmar could not possibly be that large . He glanced over to see Thrall watching him intently , the barest of smiles on his face . Clearly he waited eagerly for Garrosh ’ s reaction . Garrosh felt his cheeks burn . Garadar might not be particularly imposing , but he was the chieftain . He was his father ’ s son . “ Impressive , ” he grunted . “ If it ’ s as big as it looks . ” Thrall laughed . “ Just wait , ” he said , grinning . The gates were not simply tall . They were enormous . The guards saluted elaborately as they passed , recognizing the warchief . Garrosh focused his eyes dead ahead and squared his shoulders . Suddenly his throat felt dry . It was the dust , of course . Thrall had filled his head with imagery of the city during their weeks of travel . Garrosh had believed he knew reasonably well what to expect . He was wrong . Nothing , not all the talk in the world , could have prepared him for what he saw . Buildings rose in front of him two and three stories tall , their fronts disappearing into winding alleys shaded by trees and overhanging rock . If an orc settlement half as large had ever existed on Draenor , it had long since been razed or abandoned . Orgrimmar , however , hummed with life . In the square were dozens upon dozens of orcs . More orcs than he had seen in years , more than he had even known still lived . It was a sight for which he could never have prepared himself . When Garrosh was barely a child , the clans had consolidated to form the Horde and spent months in a fervor preparing for what would become known as the First War . Years later , after the Second War , the Alliance had in turn invaded the orcs ' homeland , and Garrosh had longed to join the Horde ’ s ranks and fight alongside his father . But his chance came and went , and instead he had remained confined to quarantine in Garadar on account of the red pox , barely able to walk , burning with both the fever of his illness and the shame of his weakness . His own father had gone to Azeroth without so much as a backward glance , never to return to Garadar or his son . And he , Garrosh Hellscream , heir to the Warsong clan , had not had the strength to aid his people . The Horde had rejected him . He may have been Mag ’ har — uncorrupted — but he was also unwanted . The Horde had ultimately fallen . The humans had destroyed the Dark Portal and imprisoned the conquered orcs , and the immense wars had ended . The Mag ’ har were utterly alone . Some of the Horde orcs had remained , to be sure , but they had avoided Garadar , wary and disdainful of its sickened residents . The epidemic had run its course , but superstition and bitterness died hard . The orcs had become a dwindling people , fragmented and ever fighting on the edges for survival . Eventually it had become clear that the Horde was truly ravaged , and its enemies had pushed until hope had faded to ashes and survival had seemed an impossible folly . Here in Orgrimmar the Horde not only survived ; it thrived . The square was crammed full of orcs . Merchants barked their wares , hounding their potential customers with discounts . Children darted between the stalls , enacting mock battles against an unseen foe . Grunts patrolled the streets . Garrosh could barely believe the scene before him . Next to him , Thrall chuckled . Garrosh glanced over . “ It ’ s a sight , ” Thrall said . Garrosh nodded , but did not speak . “ You ’ ll see it all , Garrosh , ” Thrall continued . He grinned broadly . “ Welcome to Orgrimmar ! ” In Warsong Hold they walked the ramparts , climbed to the tops of the towers , and toured the forges and tannery . When they returned to the great hall , Thrall spent what seemed like ages examining the enormous tactical map of Northrend draped across the floor . Painstakingly etched and stitched into leather hides , it detailed all of the known holdings and fronts in Northrend , friend and foe alike . Garrosh noted especially how hard Thrall stared at the northern peninsula of the Storm Peaks , where Ulduar lay . Garrosh ’ s mind drifted suddenly back to their brief meeting with the Kirin Tor in Dalaran . You disappoint . He clenched his fists until his knuckles burned . “ Where , ” Thrall said suddenly , “ is the front in Icecrown ? ” He studied the map ; there was only one mark there in chalk . “ On the ground in the southeast , ” Garrosh answered , “ held by the Argent Crusade . ” He pointed to another portion of the map , just north of the Crusade ’ s holdings . “ Orgrim ’ s Hammer was dispatched here . We will mount our attack on Icecrown ’ s ramparts from the air . ” He eyed Thrall . “ Our scouts tell us the Alliance plans the same . ” Before Thrall could respond , another voice rang through the hall . “ The assault has already begun . ” Thrall and Garrosh turned to regard the speaker . High Overlord Varok Saurfang held up a sealed scroll in his hand as he strode toward where they stood . “ This missive just arrived this afternoon , ” he continued . “ It bears Korm Blackscar ’ s personal seal . ” “ Throm - ka , Varok , ” Thrall said . “ Throm - ka , Warchief , ” he answered . “ We came from Dalaran , by way of Agmar ’ s Hammer , ” Thrall told him . He paused a moment . “ We paid homage at the Wrath Gate . ” Varok remained silent . “ I am sorry about Dranosh , ” Thrall said . “ My son died an honorable death , defending his people , ” Varok replied , a bit too swiftly . “ His spirit shall be avenged when we defeat the Lich King . ” Thrall nodded . “ Here is Blackscar ’ s report , ” Varok continued , returning their attention to the scroll . “ Let ’ s see what news there is from the front . ” Garrosh loved Orgrimmar . He loved to walk its streets ; he loved to visit the markets ; he loved the stables and the training rings and the smithies and the shops . Most of all he loved the banners that waved in the wind from atop the posts scattered around the city : the red - and - black banners of the Horde . Standing beneath those flags , he knew where he belonged . He served the Horde , as had his father before him . Nevertheless , he was quite alone , despite being surrounded by his people . Everywhere he went , people stared . The news had spread quickly that the son of Grom Hellscream lived and had come to Orgrimmar , and at first he had assumed that to be the reason for it . But one day he overheard a young child speaking loudly to his mother . “ Look over there ! He looks so strange ! ” “ Shush ! Be quiet ! ” “ But his skin ! It ’ s not green like ours ! What orcs don ’ t have green skin ? ” Garrosh turned toward the child who had spoken . He still stared , wide - eyed , sucking on one finger in the corner of his mouth . Garrosh stared right back , and he briefly caught the mother ’ s eye . She looked away and grabbed her son ’ s arm , quickly hurrying off . Slowly Garrosh slid his gaze around the walkway , silently daring anyone who had overheard - - the street was quite crowded - - to say another word . No , my skin is not green ; it is brown , said his eyes . I am one of the Mag ’ har . When he was satisfied that he had adequately intimidated any onlookers , he turned and slowly continued on his way . He had only gone a short distance before a light hand on his arm stopped him . Garrosh whirled around , surprised . “ Forgive me , young one , but I might explain . ” The speaker was an elderly orc , his hair long since faded to silver but still braided into a knot . The multitude of scars upon his face and arms made clear that he was an experienced warrior indeed . Garrosh glared at him . “ What do you have to say , old one ? ” “ That child spoke the truth , but he doesn ’ t understand it . ” The old orc shook his head . Garrosh shrugged off his grasp . “ I am not interested in your explanation , ” he said , once again turning to leave . “ I fought with your father , Hellscream , ” the warrior said . Garrosh stilled . “ I followed him from the sacking of Shattrath to the forests of Ashenvale . I drank the blood of Mannoroth alongside him , and I felt the curse lift after his sacrifice . “ You cannot know what it means for those like me to see you . Once the curse was gone we were free to remember what we had abandoned , and what we had destroyed . We thought there was nothing left of what our people had once been . Seeing you … " He broke off and looked Garrosh up and down . “ Knowing that our past is not entirely lost … that there is hope for our future . “ Grom was a great warrior . I followed him to the end of Draenor and beyond . Now I am no longer one for the battlefield . But if I were , I would follow you too . ” Garrosh could not possibly have been more at a loss . He stared at the old warrior , unable to speak . He knew that Thrall had been a close companion of his father ’ s , and Thrall had indeed spoken much of Grom . But Thrall had not known Grom for extraordinarily long , and there was much that Garrosh longed to hear , though he was far too proud to admit it . He wanted to know the tales — the good ones . He had grown up with enough of the bad . “ You will do your people proud , Hellscream , ” the old orc said . At last he turned and walked away , leaving Garrosh alone in the street with a number of roiling thoughts that only served to irritate him . He could not now remember what he had set out to do . With a snort he picked a direction and began to walk . It was better than standing still . His feet carried him to the easternmost part of the city , the Valley of Honor , and to the wide pool where the spring water collected . He sat on a rock at the water ’ s edge and watched the falls tumble out of the rock face and splash into the small lake below . The constant flow and the cliff ’ s shade cooled the air and provided a welcome respite from the desert heat . The spray felt good against his skin . His skin . He looked down at the backs of his hands and saw their rich brown color against the stained red of the rock . He frowned . Did the orcs of Thrall ’ s Horde truly not remember where they came from ? Was there really such meaning in his appearance ? A nearby splash made him look up . A young female orc was pulling in a fishing net . He absently watched her work . Her skin , of course , was green . She turned to wade closer to shore , and his two eyes met her one . A patch covered the place where her right eye would have been . To his surprise , she scowled at him ferociously . “ It ’ s fun , isn ’ t it , ” she called , her voice dripping contempt as her net dripped water , “ to sit there and watch me grapple with some fish ? I hope you enjoy it . ” Garrosh snorted at her . “ I don ’ t care what you do . Fish or not as you see fit . Buy it at the markets if you dislike the work . ” “ Buy it ? ” She threw back her head and laughed . “ Are you going to pay for it ? Easy for you to say , Hellscream ! Yes , I know who you are . ” He laughed back at her . “ Of course , you do . I ’ m the only Mag ’ har in Orgrimmar . If you didn ’ t know , you ’ d have to be missing your other eye . ” “ Arrogant as your father was . ” She began to gather her net and stuff it into a burlap sack . “ You are a fool , as was he . ” At her words the blood boiled in Garrosh ’ s veins . He leaped down from the rock where he had been sitting and strode up to her . “ My father sacrificed his life for you and the rest of Thrall ’ s people . It is thanks to him that you are free of the blood - curse ! ” “ It is thanks to him there was a curse in the first place ! ” she retorted . “ And I am none of the warchief ’ s people ! I am a daughter of the Horde , as were my parents before me , but my duty extends no further ! ” Garrosh raged at her words . “ You say you have no duty ? You say you are not of the warchief ’ s people ? As you stand in this city ? Where we can be free to live in our own space without the fear of annihilation ? Where we have everything we need ? ” “ Ha ! ” she snarled . “ Let me ask you this , Hellscream : have you really seen this city ? Yes , the marketplace overflows . But where does it come from ? Where are the farms in Durotar ? ” Garrosh narrowed his eyes . He knew there were a few on the outskirts of Orgrimmar , but they raised mostly swine and certainly brought no harvest of grain or fruit . “ Exactly ! ” she continued . “ There are none . All we have is hauled in from miles away . ” She glared at the bag where she stored her net . “ Or what we can wrest from the desert . As for safety ! ” She laughed . “ The Alliance encroaches farther into our land daily . If you can call this red rock ' land ' anyway ! To the north is Ashenvale Forest , full of everything we could ever need , but did we settle there ? No ! Instead we live in a desert ! So tell me , Hellscream , why would the good warchief , who loves his people so , condemn us to this wasteland when just up the river there is far more bounty ? He is either corrupt or incompetent , or both , and you seem to fit right in ! ” That was the last straw . “ Treason ! ” Garrosh roared . He took a step toward her menacingly . “ You dare insult the warchief ? Shut your mouth , traitor , or I will shut it for you ! ” “ Go ahead and — " she began , clenching her hands into fists , bracing against the anticipated blow . “ No ! Krenna ! ” a new voice yelled . Garrosh looked over : another orc was running toward them . “ Krenna , you hold your tongue ! ” she continued , stepping in between the two of them . The one with the eye patch — Krenna — glared at the person who addressed her , then snorted and stood down . “ I ’ ll be on my way , then , Gorgonna . ” She heaved her bag over her shoulder and left without another word to either of them . Garrosh made to follow her , but Gorgonna immediately turned and grabbed his arm . “ Please stop , ” she said . “ I am sorry about my sister . She does not mean what she says ! ” “ She better not , ” Garrosh growled . Gorgonna sighed , releasing her grasp . “ She and I spent our childhoods in the internment camps after the Second War . She is grateful that the warchief liberated us , but … " She hesitated , then added quietly , “ She thinks he does not do enough . ” “ And you ? ” Garrosh demanded . Gorgonna looked down the path that Krenna had gone and did not immediately speak . “ Our parents fought in the wars , ” she said slowly . “ They drank the blood of Mannoroth like your father did , and they were parties to its curse . They committed terrible acts in the name of the Horde . They attacked and murdered the innocent . ” Garrosh bristled . His father was no murderer . “ They did what they believed necessary ! Do you defile the name of your own blood ? ” “ I honor my parents ' memory — make no mistake ! ” she cried . “ But what they believed was wrong . What all the orcs believed was wrong . We must suffer for it . The warchief understands this , as do I . My sister does not . ” “ That is ridiculous . You never even fought in the wars ! You said you were children in the internment camps ! Isn ’ t that enough punishment ? Why should you suffer any more ? ” “ I bear the mark all the same , ” she said , holding up her hands — green , as were her sister ’ s , as were all the orcs in Orgrimmar , save him . “ I reap what all of them have sown . Is there not some payment owed ? ” “ And who would set the price ? ” Garrosh demanded . Her attitude angered him . Did she have no pride at all ? “ Who could possibly have the right to make that call ? ” “ I will pay what the warchief asks , ” she answered . “ Thrall would never be that unreasonable . We don ’ t owe anybody anything . ” Gorgonna stared at him a moment , then unexpectedly she laughed just as bitterly as her sister had . “ Of course not , ” she said . “ You don ’ t owe anybody a thing , Mag ’ har . But we are not you . ” “ This is an outrage , ” Thrall said . He paced the hall restlessly . “ I cannot believe the sky - reaver would condone such a thing . ” Varok sat at the table , the pages of Blackscar ’ s report strewn in front of him . Across the room , Garrosh picked up a few wooden tokens painted blue for the Alliance , a few painted red for the Horde , and a few painted with skulls for the Scourge . He dropped all of them onto the map of Icecrown , south of Mord ’ rethar , the Death Gate of Icecrown Citadel . With a stick of charcoal he drew a large X onto the cured hide . The report had given this region a name : the Broken Front . The Alliance had attempted to conquer Mord ’ rethar , but a Horde patrol had seen the regiment and successfully prevented its assault … by attacking from the rear . Pinched between the Scourge at their front and the Horde at their back , the Alliance forces had perished — but so had the Horde ’ s . The Scourge too had suffered losses , but the gate remained under the Lich King ’ s control . Blackscar ’ s forces had deliberately waited until the Alliance soldiers were engaged , then slaughtered them . Thrall ’ s face contorted as he read the sky - reaver ’ s words : Though it cost them their lives , their selfless bravery prevented the Alliance from capturing a strategic point . Such courage is worthy of true soldiers of the Horde ! “ ' Selfless bravery . ' ' Courage ' worthy of the Horde . ” Thrall nearly spat the words . “ And the Scourge still holds the Death Gate . Is that what he wants ? Is this what passes for glory among us ? ” Garrosh remained uncharacteristically silent , instead looking hard at the wooden chips upon the map . He could almost feel Varok ’ s eyes boring into his back , and Thrall ’ s would also soon fall upon him . It was good the Alliance did not hold Mord ’ rethar ; of that Garrosh was certain . Still he continued to stare at the little wooden markers , and late into the night , long after the other commanders had retired to sleep , Garrosh reread Blackscar ’ s letter . Such courage is worthy of true soldiers of the Horde ! He summoned a courier . “ Send for Sky - Reaver Korm Blackscar of Orgrim ’ s Hammer , ” he said , handing over a scroll . “ He is to return to Warsong Hold immediately . Tell him Overlord Hellscream wants to see him . ” Garrosh thought that what Gorgonna had said by the lake was absurd . His own father had been the first to drink the blood of Mannoroth , he knew that — by the ancestors , how he knew it ; no one would ever let him forget it — but Grom had in turn slain Mannoroth and ended the curse for them all at the cost of his own life . His debt was paid in blood . What more could anyone want ? It was Krenna ’ s words that truly nagged him . They nagged him when the night elves ambushed lumber caravans from Ashenvale . They nagged him when soldiers from Tiragarde Keep robbed Razor Hill . They nagged him when the dwarves of Bael Modan and the humans of Northwatch Hold refused to leave the Horde territory that they had usurped . None of these things was happening for the first time . Certainly there had been retaliation , and many of the outposts had rightfully acted in their own defense . Garrosh longed to travel and lend them his support . He would gladly fight to secure them . He would gladly teach the Alliance to leave them alone , to let them take what they needed to survive . Unlike Garadar , Orgrimmar had the might and the numbers to defend itself . Well , it would have . If only orc forces were not tangled up at Tarren Mill , aiding the Forsaken — an aptly named people , in Garrosh ’ s opinion . What Thrall had ever seen in them , Garrosh could not possibly comprehend . Still more orcs had been sent to Quel ’ Thalas . Garrosh ’ s own interactions with the elves in Orgrimmar had left him wondering distinctly why the Horde should bother with them at all . Their respect seemed thin . And the trolls . Garrosh could barely stand to think of it . Recruit after recruit had been sent to aid them in reclaiming their land to the south , and somehow all attempts had still failed . Apparently this had been going on for years . What kind of people could not even take down a single witch doctor ? Was it really going to take a full - scale invasion — yet more diversion of Horde troops — to reclaim a few measly islands ? The more Garrosh thought about it all , the more his rage smoldered . With each passing day , what Krenna had said clawed at his conscience . Garrosh ’ s impatience grew . Then the rumors had started . From Ratchet , they had heard , by way of Booty Bay , that something was amiss with the grain shipments . People had begun to whisper . The few Forsaken who made Orgrimmar their home had cautioned its leaders : It is happening again . They were not wrong . These were times like none he had ever seen . Friends turned into foes ; life , into death that yet was not . There could be no hesitation , no mercy , no quarter . This was the plague . This was sorcery of a wickedness that only one such as Gul ’ dan could have conceived of , yet Gul ’ dan had long been dead . It was another who orchestrated these atrocities , Garrosh had learned : a former prince from the Alliance . One who had been too gullible , too weak , and too stupid to prevent his own manipulation into evil . Now he rained death upon them . Garrosh ’ s axes had risen and fallen over , and over , and over again in defense of Orgrimmar . He would protect his people . Then , abruptly , the threat had seemed to cease . The plague ’ s spread had ended . The last of the infected had been dispatched . But this was not the end , Garrosh knew . Far from it . The only recourse against such a brazen enemy was war , brutal and ruthless . He ached for it . He would lead their armies to deliver the Horde ’ s justice . He needed only to wait for Thrall ’ s command . From across the world the reports pour in . The plague has ravaged us , and the flying citadels send their armies to desecrate our lands . Still you wait , Warchief . You call for counsel when you should call for war . Even these … allies … you have allowed into our Horde have gathered here , and the only announcement you have for any of us is to hold . We are holding , Thrall . You are hesitating . “ Mak ’ Gora ! ” The challenge had been issued out of sheer frustration and rage . Thrall would not act . He wanted to scout ; he wanted to consult with the Alliance — with a woman of the very people who had spawned the traitorous prince in the first place . Garrosh would not let that happen . “ You challenge me , boy ? ” Thrall answered in a voice deathly calm . “ I don ’ t have time for this … . ” He turned away . “ So you refuse ? Is the son of Durotan a coward ? ” That caught Thrall ’ s attention . He whirled around , and it pleased Garrosh to see the fury in his eyes . “ Inside ! ” Thrall roared , pointing toward the Ring of Valor . Garrosh could have sung . I will make you act . In retrospect Garrosh knew that he was very lucky the duel had been interrupted , though he would rather have died than admit it . It was no matter . Thrall had come to his senses and finally issued the command to march upon Northrend , a call that Garrosh had taken to with fervor . Now he stood in the front hall of the citadel he had built , set upon the land he had conquered , awaiting the arrival of Korm Blackscar . Thrall had remained in Northrend . Garrosh was certain he desired to witness how Garrosh handled the sky - reaver . Shall you be disappointed once again , Warchief ? Blackscar lumbered in through the doorway , looking around in surprise at his audience . Despite the warchief ’ s presence , he addressed Garrosh . “ You requested I return to Warsong Hold , Overlord , ” he said . “ I ’ ve honored that request . ” Garrosh held up the missive on the Broken Front . “ Here you detail how one of your patrols prevented the Alliance from taking a strategic point against the Scourge . ” Blackscar broke into a wide grin . “ That was a piece of work on their part ! Is it not glorious ? ” Garrosh looked at the report , then back to Blackscar . “ No . ” Blackscar ’ s eyebrows shot up in surprise . “ An ambush on open troops waiting to fight is one thing . To attack a regiment already engaged in battle with another from behind ? What would you do next ? ” Garrosh demanded . “ Would you sneak into their camp and poison their water ? Would you enslave one of their commanders with magic and force him to murder his troops while they sleep ? Would you rain disease upon your enemies , like the Forsaken ? Would you fight the way they do ? ” Blackscar stuttered , at a loss for words . “ There is no combat but honorable combat , Blackscar . ” Garrosh held up the report in front of his face and crumpled it in his hand . “ This ? This is coward ’ s work ! I will not have cowards among my ranks ! ” “ Overlord , ” Blackscar stammered , “ if I have brought shame to our cause , I will leave my post . ” “ Do you admit to being a coward ? Again : I will not have cowards among my ranks . Prove that you are not one , Blackscar . Go back to Orgrim ’ s Hammer and lead your soldiers in a manner worthy of the Horde . Should you fail , it is not your resignation I will seek , but your head upon a pike . Now get out of my sight . ” Garrosh did not wait to see Blackscar leave . He strode out of the hall and up the stairs to the top of one of the hold ’ s bulwarks . Up and down he walked , brows furrowed . He examined the status of the defenses and noted to himself what would need fixing , and who was responsible for letting it lapse . He turned to walk the wall ’ s length again , and he started when Thrall was in his path . “ Yes , Warchief ? ” Thrall eyed him thoughtfully . Garrosh did not like the look on his face . “ I think you handled Blackscar well , ” Thrall said . “ His soldiers ' actions at the Broken Front were unconscionable , but he is still a strong commander . Our advance into Icecrown would suffer for his loss . You made the right choice . ” Garrosh pushed past him . “ He will only get one more chance . I will not have tricksters and deceivers amongst my ranks , ” he answered . “ Indeed , ” Thrall called after him wryly . “ I recall something someone said to me at the top of the Violet Tower not too many weeks ago . ' A true warchief would never partner with cowards . ' ” Garrosh stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned around . Hearing Thrall quote Garrosh ’ s own words unsettled him . “ I am not the warchief , ” he answered after a moment . Thrall chuckled . “ I know . True words , still . Fitting for an overlord every bit as much . ” Thrall looked about , taking in the hold , the gray sea to the west , and the vast tundra plain that stretched all around them . “ This is no small accomplishment , Garrosh . Our holdings are secure , and the front in Icecrown presses forward . You fight alongside your soldiers with courage , and they respect you . You should be proud . ” Garrosh narrowed his eyes . “ I do not regret my choice of commander for this offensive , ” Thrall said . Garrosh blinked in surprise , unsure of what to say . This reaction was unexpected . He shifted from one foot to the other , uncomfortable with the feeling of Thrall ’ s praise , but not disliking it . “ I serve the Horde , ” Garrosh finally said . “ I will do what ’ s best for it . ” “ That I don ’ t doubt , ” Thrall answered . “ And you do well , I am proud to say . ” Garrosh shifted again and looked past Thrall ’ s shoulder toward the wall behind him . The crimson Horde banner draping its face stirred in a light breeze . “ However , ” Thrall continued , “ I believe your attitude toward the Alliance is wrong . We cannot win this war without them . ” Garrosh snapped his eyes back to Thrall ’ s . “ My duty is to the Horde , ” he responded , “ and the Horde alone . ” “ Perhaps , Garrosh , ” Thrall said , “ but bloodshed is not the only way to fulfill that duty . ” “ Bah ! ” Garrosh turned and leaned both hands against the parapet . Behind him he could hear Thrall ’ s footsteps receding back down the stairs . Garrosh looked toward the overcast sky . Thrall did not understand that the Alliance would never leave them be . It would push at the edges — like the orcs ' enemies in Garadar — until the Horde broke . The only counter was to fight , to drive the humans out first . The orcs ' security came above all else . There would be no negotiation until the Alliance understood that . Garrosh would not stop . His people would never dwindle , not again . The Horde would never fall .