Anduin led a small party up the winding paths of the island. The lush scenery was still scarred by the remains of demonic scenery at some parts and the Death Scar, the path that Arthas Menethil had once left on his path to the Sunwell, was as hideous on the land as ever. It was only him, Liadrin, Vereesa, two of his bodyguards, the four of her knights that had been on the beach, as well as K'ara and Xal'atath, although those two were remaining incorporeal for the moment.
Although many of his companions had advised that he move towards the fortress with a bigger force, for his safety's sake, Anduin had vehemently refused. He had come as a diplomat, not a conqueror, and more troops would have only evoked that latter image.
The townsfolk inhabiting the blood elves' most sacred lands were staring with confusion. Men and women were following the procedure as the leader of the enemy faction strode openly through the red and white streets, the respected Lady Liadrin walking behind him. If she hadn't put her armour back on, their confusion would have been even larger. Anduin feared that things may yet turn out badly, however, and so didn't want her to be without protection in such a case.
A worry well founded. Although they passed through the majority of the island without any hindrances, the gates of the Sunwell fortress were blocked to him by a formation of blood elven troops. They stood tall in their red and golden uniforms, tower shields and double-bladed swords held in perfect parallel.
They were led by a man in an armour of the same colours, albeit more ornate and customized. Large shoulder pads of gold, formed like the wings of a phoenix, flickered with magical power. His long hair was white, flowed either past his shoulders or was bound up in a high ponytail. One of his typically long, elven eyebrows was cut in half by a black eyepatch.
"I knew something was off," Lor'themar growled, fixing his single, green-glowing eye and the tip of his sword on Anduin. "In the last few months, you have been behaving weirder and weirder. What corruption has taken hold of you, Liadrin, that you bring the husband of that witch to the very gates of the Sunwell?!"
Liadrin stepped in front of the High King, her own shield and blade raised. "He is more than her husband, Theron, he is her Master and now he is mine as well," she declared in a firm tone. "Look into my eyes and try to find any of the vile Fel that yet lingers in yours!"
That comment caused the man to hesitate for a moment, noticing the new golden glow that radiated from the paladin's gaze. It was that hesitation that was all Anduin needed. Putting a hand on Liadrin's shoulder, he said, "Let me handle this."
"As you command, Master," the leader of the Slave Knights immediately obeyed and stepped aside.
"Anduin Llane Wrynn," Lor'themar quickly regained his posture, holding his massive broadsword firmly. He had more questions for Liadrin, but it was clear who demanded his attention for now. "You have a lot of guts to show yourself here, in these times especially."
Unfazed by the blade pointing at his head, Anduin walked forwards. "I aim to achieve peace in this world," he stated and stopped when the blade was in thrusting distance. When he extended his hand, it seemed for a moment that Lor'themar would take the opportunity, be it out of caution or opportunism. Regardless, Anduin offered the handshake and the air grew thick with tension. "It's an honour to meet you once again, Lord-Regent of Silvermoon."
Lor'themar's armour rustled when he sighed and lowered his blade. He took one hand off the handle, but made no indication to sheathe the dangerous weapon. "Like father, like son," he grumbled with unwilling respect and took the hand offered. His voice went quiet. "Given Sylvanas' horrid behaviour, I am willing to talk to you in more secretive settings. If it is true that you have pacified that witch, then we might be able to continue where her thoughtless actions forced me to drop things with your father."
Lor'themar wanted to pull out of the handshake, but found Anduin's grasp too tight. "For future consideration," the High King stated in his most serious tone, "as little as I can condone the past actions of my first wife, do not make it sound like she acted without good reason or insult her." Anduin let go and the Lord-Regent of Silvermoon shook out his hand.
"I will take it under advisements," the blood elf hesitantly conceded, feeling the aching under his plate gauntlet. "What is it that you want here, then?"
"You will have heard many things about me in the past months," Anduin started. "Of my perversion, of my unusual paths, of the fact that I wield the opposite powers of our world in equal fashion. I am here to bring that same balance to the Sunwell and your people. Just like Velen once restored the font of your people's power to greatness with the heart of M'uru, he told me to complete things."
"You would invite the void to our innermost sanctum?!" Lor'themar raised his blade again, but Anduin summoned the K'ara infused Shalamayne to knock it out of the Lord-Regent's hand before it could become threatening. The counterstrike happened with such force that the legendary warrior could not keep hold of the blade. It landed in the grass a few metres of the walkway. "Insolent..."
"I don't aim for hostilities, Lor'themar," Anduin said in a calm tone and dismissed the weapon again. "This won't be like the time Alleria accidentally summoned the void, I swear it. To show your people the path I tread, I must do this. Whether you decide to join me afterwards will be up to you and every last one of your people to decide on their own." Anduin then started walking towards the formation of soldiers. "Just know that you cannot stop me."
"Make room for my Master," Liadrin bellowed at the soldiers, who were now in a rather precarious situation with little time to decide. Between Lor'themar's disbelieving gaze, the High King's steady, fearless stride and the order of the strongest paladin their people knew, the guards decided that two outweighed one and split into two groups to let Anduin pass. "A wise decision," Liadrin said with a respecting nod, following Anduin. "Do you not wish to at least witness what will happen, Theron?" she asked the Lord-Regent in passing.
"Once more I'm doomed to be the witness of stronger powers making foolish choices, it seems," lamented Lor'themar, feeling reminded of so many others that had come before. Kael'thas, Garrosh, Sylvanas, to only name the most recent, all people that he had seen descent into corruption and power hunger. "If it must be my task, then I will see it through as you invite yet another monster through our sacred font of power. Let us hope the adventurers of the world are strong enough to beat it back after we meet our demise."
