The Icecrown Citadel

«The enemy is approaching! Shield-wall!»
Crusaders formed the shield-wall, blocking the hall's entrance – hordes of undead moved towards them, while their casters chanted their spells to break the defense with curses.
« M'lord, we need to take out their mages, if we don't want to loose people that easily!»
« Lemme do the work fer ye, lads.» 
One of the dwarven riflemen took the aim, rising above the shield-wall.
« Get down you fool!»
Loud «bang!» filled the air, when dwarf shoot his gun – one of the Scourge spellcasters fell down, missing his head. Crusaders turned their attention back to dwarf and let out sigh of grief – nothing, but frozen statue was now this gunner.
« Stand still, champions! Take care of the melee, the Light shall protect us from the wretched spells!»
Group of priests and mages formed the line behind the spearmen – words of prayers and chantings covered up the noises – next frostbolt met the brightly glowing shield, just infront of the shield-wall. Mages began their ranged battle with Scourge casters, while both sides stood still – there was no command to charge, and Scourge forces did not start their attack.
The final assault has begun and now Icecrown Citadel was boiling in fierce attacks of Ashen Verdict – united forces of Argent Crusade and Ebon blade – and both, Alliance and Horde, armies.
« M'lady, we need your aid in Ornatory of Damned.»
Priestess looked up at the paladin, frowning a little. Without giving any answer she then returned her attention to bandaging wounded cleric.
« M'lady...»
« Out.»
« Your Holiness...»
« I said – out of here! Take someone else, don't you see I am busy?» 
Paladin moved back a little, shocked by Cardinal's reaction, and then hurried to deliver «no» back to command. Woman continued with bandaging, not even looking at messenger.
Last days, since the first attacks of assault on Citadel, she became highly annoyed and grumpy. Although her Oath of Silence was interruped due to call of duty, Cardinal still was trying to be silent as much as possible.
Wounded cleric opened his eyes, woken up by their dialogue, and smiled lightly at priestess.
« My dear lady..»
« Hush, keep your energy.» 
Priestess completed bandaging and smiled back at cleric, wiping away sweat from his forehead.
« You'd better go...Help them... You know how we... love your presence.»
« I have wounded here to take care of, my dear,» she shook her head, looking around the infirmary.
« You're priestess... Talented and in power one... Your place is there – chanting prayers... Not here, dealing with blood and tainted corpses...»
Cardinal closed her eyes, letting out long quiet sigh. She was afraid to see some of those she knew, but in Scourge ranks. That thought made her shiver – at one point she understood, that slaying them would bring their souls back to rest, but on other hand she could not slay someone with face of close and dear to her heart.
« Astha!»
Priestess shuddered for a moment, opening her eyes and looking back over her shoulder. Highlord, in his battle-armor – who else would call her that way, indeed. She sighed, turning her head back.
« Why for Light's sake I might come for you personally?»
« It's very kind of you, sir, to pay that great attention to former priest,» she smiled lightly, cleaning blood off her hands in barrel with water.
« Like a child, honestly!» paladin stopped by her side and offered his hand to help her to stand up. Priestess looked up at Highlord, frowning a little, but noticed only calm and soft smile in his eyes.
« Come, Astha. Take a look at Maria's talent with sword and shield,» he smiled again, when priestess accepted his hand and stood up. « Now that's better.»
She nodded lightly, taking gloves on and picking up stave. Both, the Highlord and Cardinal, walked out of the infirmary, where other clerics kept doing their work – mending wounds, preparing burial fires for bodies, that were infected with plague.
« So what is it, m'lord?» priestess stopped by Highlord's side, looking up at him. Paladin gestured towards entrance to the hall, where lift was.
« We promised to secure the lower spire and send our troops to help Alliance and Horde, when they reach the Upper spire. They asked for clerics few hours ago and since then no news from there.»
« Understood. I'll need few spearmen with me and...» Cardinal took a short look around, glancing over clerics' heads. « Six clerics.»
« Path should be cleared till the airships, else we would have waves of Scourge down here already. Ryan and Mera will join you with their men.»
« No, sir, no need. Shields are needed here, for the case,» priestess shook her head, smiling lightly at Highlord. He nodded then.
« Make sure to fall back, if won't find anyone there. No need to risk.»
Priestess tilted her head in agreement, then gestured group to move out – ten spearmen, six clerics and herself. They moved to the lift, only once looking over their shoulders back at the defense group.
Nothing, but clear rampart met them up there – Cardinal took a glance around, trying to make sure, that she's not sleeping and there's noone for sure.
« Shall we return, m'lady?» spearmen's officer took a firm hold on hilt of his sword, peering around and seeming to be nerveous.
« We shall take a look futher, if nothing there, then we shall return,» priestess pointed to left with her stave and started to move there, with group following her. As group passed round corner first time, sounds of fight approached them – priestess frowned at body of Horde mage on their way and her steps became quicker.
« Lady?»
« We shall aid troops, if they have been attacked by Scourge. That's why we've been sent here. Hurry!» 
Priestess started to run, hoping that they won't be too late. But when group finally got to fight's place, they suddenly stopped.
« What the...» one of clerics let out horrified sigh, making sign to avert evil.
There was no Scourge attacking Alliance and Horde troops. There were soldiers of the both factions fighting each other.
« Immobilize those with weapons, we shall interrupt mages and clerics,» priestess steps in, starting one of her spells.
« Lady, we had an order to aid troops against the Scourge...I doubt we shall interfere in factions' confl-»
« Silence! They'll kill each other – is that you want? We will have less and less people, and Lich King will get more and more servants to his own!»
Spearman leaned back, as Cardinal shouted at him – maybe somehow she was in anger, but first of all it was hard to speak trough the noise of battle. Group had no choice but to obey her order, so they charged in, trying to stop the fighting between Alliance and Horde members. But soldiers were in battle rage and paid no attention to Crusade members. Moreover, someone took them as another opposite faction members and attacked. First went down that captain spearman, who was trying to prevent group interfering into conflict – he got smashed by orcish shield. Then one of clerics fell down with lion-painted spear in her belly.
« Stop it! For the love of Heavens, stop it!» Cardinal dodged another spear with her stave, but soldier tried to attack her again, more aggressivly. Priestess shook her head, parrying spear once more – she trained well with monks, but if that human had a sword, she'd have no chances against it.
« Stop attacking me, you mindless maggot, or I'll make your soul suffer for eternity without a chance to find the rest in the Deathworld!» she hissed trough her teeth, leaning to side and avoiding one more attack. But soldier suddenly stopped and priestess was about to let out sigh of relief, though then someone grabbed her by wrist and pulled aside.
« You're so dead, alliance scum.»
It was large back of plate armored orc infront of her and now priestess understood why spearman stopped his attacks – this orc was huge even for his kind. He easily slashed his axe trough air and priestess heard only sound of falling down body. Orc spat to side and turned around, now covering priestess with quickly picked up shield from another attack.
« Not a best moment to risk your skinny ass, Telina. Lets get on Ogrim's Hammer, more or less, but it's safe there, as I have bunch of my folks on it also.»
Priestess could answer nothing and orc wasn't actually up for listening her arguments, if she'd start any. He started to make their way trough the fighting mass, holding priestess close to himself and separating her from the fight with massive shield. She knew that death knight from the fight at Wrathgate, surely she have seen him at the stairs of Ulduar, but it was long time ago and she wasn't sure if he's around still.
When they were close to the airship, air suddenly filled with terrifying screech and flapping of massive wings – troops dropped the fighting and rushed to dispose of just landed frostwyrm, whos presence was threatening the airships. Though some were chasing warriors heading to the airship.
Orc pulled priestess aboard of the Orgrim's Hammer, parrying some Alliance soldier's spear, and gave human a hard punch into face with his fist – soldier rolled over down the ramp the same moment, as Horde airship prepared to leave the dock.
« Crusade's priestess on board?» loud thunder-like voice of Warlord Saurfang flew across the deck, as orc was informed about priestess. He recognized Cardinal and gave her wide grin. « Telina, is that you there?»
« Yes... Yes, m'lord, it is me,» she finally spoke a word, looking over the board, at the ramp where few archers were still trying to make a mess of Horde airship's gunners.
« Some nice fight we picked up, hah?» cheerful laughter crossed the lines of crew and soldiers. Yet priestess wasn't even smiling, so old orc just shrugged. « That happens, elfie, nothing can unite people, who don't want to leave old stuff in past.»
« Childish and selfish it is, m'lord,» priestess frowned, looking across the main deck.
She wasn't feeling good in the flight on the ship, especially when it speeded up - harsh wind was dropping Orgrim's Hammer from side to side, because flight wasn't steady yet. Cardinal noticed few glances, aimed at her paleness, but noone was about to mock her for feeling sick in flight. Instead some of warriors offered her to take a sit on his shield, covered with cloak of fine black fur and priestess gladly accepted it.
Orgrim's Hammer finally caught the wind and now shaking wasn't that bad, so priestess calmed down and was watching that death knight orc instructing his men. She tried to remember his name, but memory failed her, maybe because of stress she got, maybe because of flight sickness.
There were many of men she knew - some by Alterac Valley's times, some by Warsong Defensive weeks, some of the explorers raids to Ulduar, some took part in Tournament. Priestess might have fallen in her memories, that she haven't noticed when her savior came close.
« The fel you got up there, anyway?»
Priestess shuddered of his voice, caught on surprise, and looked up at orc.
« We got a message, that there're clerics needed upstairs...Morach?» she finally remembered his name and now was staring at orc with unsure glance, as if asking of being correct on it.
« Hm?»
« Were is airship heading to?»
« The Upper Spire, where else?»
« Is it safe there?» priestess gave a worried look, seeming not happy about location.
« No idea, but be sure - we will give a hard kick to anything that will oppose us there. Right?» he turned with question to his men, who were listening, and they answered with cheerful noise. « See? No reason to worry.»
« Uh huh... Give men the fight and they become unstoppable... Is there enough space for two airships, though?» 
« Two? We'll get there first, no Alliance scum will be ahead of us.»
« Uhm... What's that then? Over there?»
Priestess pointed towards large shadow, slowly appearing in Icecrown's mist from Hammer's right flank. Orc cursed and it was followed with yells and orders from all around.
« Man the cannons! Now! Prepare for the battle! Move, move or you'll be dead before you'll even think of it! Faster! Man the last cannon!» officers did their best to get crew ready for upcoming battle.
« Your and your men – form the boarding teams if it will come up to it! Others, stay on guard, don't let the halfwits cut us from inside! Watch your feet, shadow of rocket beneath it will warn you to move the fel out of blast way!»
Priestess covered her ears with shivering hands, watching all the running and confusion on deck with wide-opened eyes. Wind became colder and harsher, as a sign for really hot fight.
« C'me here, not a safe spot to sit now,» priestess raised her glance at warrior, that now picked up shield with her on it and moved to one of few safe corners on the airship. It was Forsaken warrior, one of Morach's men, as she recognized him. He easily made her slide off the shield on the sacks with provision between the crates.
« It's your shield...You'll need it now then...» she sounded quiet and seemed to be frightened of air battle, but warrior shook his head, grinning widely.
« No use of a shield on board – not much space here,» he explained the grinning and placed shield above her head, on the crates, trying to fix the laces, so shield won't fall off.
Priestess now was protected from sides by crates and sacks and from above by his shield. She only held out cloak of black fur and once again warrior hesitated. « Need to move a lot, if we'll be boarded by their crew. I trust you to keep it safe for now. Or you can keep it to yourself, if I'll get a cannon ball between my ribs and you'll stay alive.»
« But...»
« Not like it's any real use for me, just a habit. Now, sit quietly, you're safe here, unless a rocket will land right next to you.» 
Warrior grinned again and then turned around, checking sharpness of weapon's blade.
« Light be with you, sir...» priestess whispered quietly, holding cloak of black fur close to self and hiding lower part of her face in it, to avoid the smell of battle and blasting powder in the air.
« Enemy is approaching! Blast the cannons! Now!»
First blast made air tremble and filled it with smell of used powder. Then airship started to shake, as Stormbreaker answered with it's cannonade. Priestess closed her eyes for a moment, trying to concentrate on a prayer, but each cannon volley made her shudder and stare in silent horror at soldiers on the deck. She couldn't hear their yells because of explodes, but she have understood many of these yells – shoot faster, aid the wounded, fix the hole damage, don't overheat cannon, prepare new charges...
But with each minute she could see less and less, because of smoke cloud, slowly surrounding both airships. Priestess tried to understand how long the battle lasted already, but it was a huge mess to count on time. She returned to reality as one of the troll shamans fell down right next to her place, holding on his chest – priestess noticed shard of a rocket, that stuck between broken chains of his mail armor and ripped trough flesh.
Cardinal moved out of her hideout and carefully took troll's hands off the shard, channeling to healing power.
« Hush... It'll be over soon.»
« L...look...»
« Keep a breath.»
« Look out...»' 
Priestess frowned shortly, then turned her head, following shaman's glance, and noticed strange shadow, flying trough smoke cloud towards them both, from Stormbreaker.
« Oh sh- ...»
Cardinal swiftly moved to side, trying to pull troll with her, but next thing, that she felt, was a searing pain and darkness, that took over. Who knows, how long she was unconscious – maybe few seconds, maybe many minutes. But when priestess opened her eyes, she found herself lying at the ledge of the deck, with only upper part of shaman's body in her arms. Woman had no time to be shocked of this, as another shadow rised above her.
It was tall human male in fine mail armor – priestess noticed sergeant's insignia on his chest and Alliance's golden lion on blue background, engraved on his sword's crest. Human raised his weapon to finish elven priestess off with one swift, but hard strike.
And she have resisted her fate this time – although there was order not to pick up fights by side of any faction, now it was an interest of her own life. Priestess let out fierce scowl, letting shaman's remains out of her arms, and rolled over to side, making sergeant miss his attack. Human seemed bit surprised with her actions, but woman left him no time to recover from it – she swiftly jumped up on her two and gave soldier a good kick under his knee's backside. As sergeant wasn't expecting such activity from wounded woman, that kick made him fall on his knee, but he followed with another strike of his sword, hoping to reach priestess before she could do anything else.
« Not so fast.»
Next thing, that sergeant noticed, was a sword, that stopped his attack and shield, slammed into his face. And then burning pain, that came trough body and made him scream in agony – Holy fire was of great power, it could turn a Scourge minion into ashes, but now it's victim was a human, now rolling over the deck in flames. Forsaken warrior, that saved priestess in last moment, kicked human off the deck and grinned at priestess shortly, to charge into group of enemy's boarding team then.
Cardinal picked up cloak, wrapped it around her shoulders, and stepped into fight, chanting healing spells and protective shields. Surely she had furious looks then – her face was covered with ashes and her own blood, that kept spreading out of the wound on her forehead, black hair in a mess and black fur cloak looked even more frightening, as priestess surrounded herself with bright flames of power shield.
She lost count of time once again, not noticing flight anymore – there was just fighting, healing, dodging attacks and covering soldiers with shields. Priestess haven't heard, who retreated – Stormbreaker or themselves on Ogrim's Hammer – just in few minutes airship of Alliance colors disappeared in the mist and flight stopped by Upper Spire.
« Any medics alive?!»
« Need engineer here, this thing gonna explo- ...»
Another blast made airship tremble, making people fall over. Only then came silence – priestess shook her head, trying to get rid off contused feeling, and took short glance around her. She wasn't really good at engineering and all the vechicles' things, but even for her it was clear, that airship was in really bad state. Those, who survived, now were helping others, someone extinguished fires, someone tried to soothe down people in panic.
She found herself being off the ship later, staring at the massive gate of the Spire infront of her, and couldn't realize herself being surrounded with soldiers, that were able to fight straight away. She felt their hatred against Scourge minions and Lich King himself and this feeling made all happening seem even less realistic.
Cardinal rubbed her face, in attempt to bring herself back to sences, and only then turned her attention to High Overlord.
« Sir?... We could fall back, let people gain strenght...»
« No talks, we had enough, it's time to act now.»' 
Priestess shivered under his voice and dared not to argue with orc. Instead woman moved behind the lines, finding herself more comfortable and safe with soldiers infront of her.
« Kor'kon, move out! Champions, watch your backs. The Scourge have been...»
High Overlord haven't finished his sentence, when the gate unsealed and in it's opening appeared massive silhouette. Priestess narrowed her eyes for a moment, just enough to let her elven vision, sharp as eagle's eye, recognize facing them orc.
« Dear lord...» she let out in quiet shock, followed with sigh of unpleasant amusement in the lines.
Dranosh Saurfang moved out of the opening, stopping by the stairs, and rolled his shoulders, grinning fiercely.
« Join me, father. Join me and we will crush this world in the name of the Scourge – for the glory of the Lich King!»
High Overlord finally overcame shock, that kept him off speaking. His voice was now quiet, but sure and calm – as a leader, he kept being powerful and in full strenght. This keeps faith in soldiers.
« My boy died at the Wrath Gate. I am here only to collect his body.»
« Stubborn and old. What chance do you have? I am stronger, and more powerful than you ever were,» - death knight's laugh made almost everyone feel chill sneaking under their skins.
There was a silence for few second, that been replaced with quiet sigh and almost soft words of old orc.
« We named him Dranosh... It means 'Heart of Draenor' in orcish... I would not let warlocks take him. My boy would be safe, hidden away by the elders of Garadar...» he kept a pause for a moment, taking his breath. « I made a promise to his mother before she died, that I would cross the Dark Portal alone – whether I lived or died, my son would be safe. Untainted... Today, I fulfill that promise.»
High Overlord let out thunderlike grunt and charged in, with his soldiers following him...
What happened next, none of the soldiers could expect – Overlord stopped suddenly, holding on his neck, surrounded with shadowy claw of death grip, and then found himself and few of his guards in the air.
« Pathetic old orc. Come then, heroes. Come and face the might of the Scourge!»
None of them dared to move, right till a moment, when someone let out quiet «Stormbreaker!», and attention was drawn to the Alliance forces, joining in on the spire. They can hear Muradin commanding to charge, someone cries outloud to start the attack... And the battle begins. Truly they have seen the true might of the Scourge this day – Deathbringer fought well, showing no mercy...
Priestess was standing there, behind the troops' line, chanting her heals and praying for this to end. She was sure it would end sooner or later, for no soldier, even unliving one, can stand forever. She have seen people, that she knew, fall down, wounded and dying. One of the Alliance clerics fell on her knees right next to Cardinal and priestess stopped her chant, leaning down to cleric and helping her to stand up. Short exchange of their glances between each other, silent thanks, silent appretiation.
« Feast, my minions!»
Voice of Dranosh Saurfang strikes air with hateful trembling – priestess raised her glance from wounded soldier and noticed few blood beasts – horrifying creatures – charging into line of soldiers. Priestess turns around, moving out of the way of falling warrior, and pushes Alliance cleric to side, right in moment as blood beast attacked soldier next to them.
« Run. Now, to the archers,» Cardinal looked up at human cleric, pushing her to move faster. Cleric shaked her head, not able to reply anything, but pointing back, at the fight.
Cardinal turned her head, glancing over her shoulder, and quickly stepped to side, releasing brightly glowing blast of holy fire into opened jaw of blood beast. Creature curls up, hissing and twitching in agony, as holy spell burns it's flesh.
« Go! Now!»
But before cleric could move, another blood beast appears few yards infront of her. Cardinal let out short growl, filled with pain and anger, getting between human and beast with protective shield casted around her.
Beast attacked. His claws ripped the shield apart, creature smelled blood and became unstoppable. Priestess could only raise her dagger and strike it deep into beast's eye, but before she could finish the move – beast closed it's jaw on her arm, twisting it down.
Alliance cleric couldn't see, how beast finished elven priestess – line of soldiers closed up infront of her, someone let out victorious «For the Alliance!», other part replied with « For the Horde!», and cleric knew – it's over. But she couldn't move still, her hands down and tears running across blood covered cheeks.
« Alliance and Horde forces took the entrance to Upper Spire, m'lord.»
« That are great news! Many losses?»
« Quite a lot, sir. They want you up there, not sure wh-» 
Captain's speech got interrupted by the heavy steps of plate armored Forsaken. He, with helm of two horns – one now broken, and shield of a warrior on his back. Highlord Tirion Fordring frowned, noticing body on arms of this Forsaken.
Warrior moved closer, holding elven priestess' body with almost gentle care – if only they could say, that Forsaken can care. He stopped infront of Highlord and glanced up at human. Fordring could see weak glow of his yellow eyes, hear his breath – calm, but slow. Paladin then lowered his eyes and closed them for a moment.
She was smiling, now even in death, she was smiling. Her pale skin seem to be transparent and glowing from inside. They call it Afterlife shine. Frozen tear in corner of her left eye, only sign of pain, that deadly wound caused.
« Prepare the funeral fires...»
Paladin turned around, walking off and leaving Forsaken warrior to stand there, still holding priestess close and in silence.
Category:Story