Lost Lion

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Volume 3: Chapter 21

***Ironforge – The Commons ***

The promised meeting with Magni ended up being delayed. From a political standpoint, I could see why they felt the need to push back the meeting. The man—well, dwarf—had just woken up after all, and the last thing he needed was to be influenced by my version of events. No doubt, they wanted to brief Magni on what happened from their side first.

Of course, that didn't mean they were bad hosts or gave us the cold shoulder.

"How's your venison?" I asked my dining companion as I cut into my own.

"It's... adequate," Alleria replied as she daintily cut at the venison steak.

Muradin had taken us to a decent restaurant so that we could get something to eat. Pretty much, Alleria and I were spending on the kingdom's dime in the interim while Magni got caught up. I did find it pretty odd that the restaurants, inns, and taverns were still up and running despite the siege they had been under, but upon further reflection, maybe it was to create a sense of normalcy.

The restaurant we ate at was crowded, but with Muradin's authority, we pretty much cut the line and had guards stationed around us for security reasons.

That didn't stop the other patrons from looking at us and whispering under their breath. Just like how the guards were there to prevent the dwarves from approaching us, I was pretty sure we weren't meant to interact with the dwarven civilians yet.

The restaurant itself wasn't closed off like the other establishments, but had an open view of the entire area. I distinctly recalled that there had been a similar kind of restaurant in Europe that was carved inside of a mountain overlooking the sea.

Of course, while that Earth restaurant had a sea view, mine was of molten lava. The little ditch holes where the magma vented up from were a lot wider than in its in-game rendition. To be honest, it gave me the heebie-jeebies; it was like dining on the top of a very active volcano. Though, somehow, the molten lava wasn't releasing poisonous gases, which I had assumed would have been the case. But, as I had learned after living in Azeroth for two decades, if it looked impossible but was working, chalk it up to magical bullshit.

"How do you find the view?" I asked the elfette to make small talk. "I know elves are more nature-oriented, and well, while this is nature, it's not quite the forest of Quel'thalas, is it?"

The female elf stopped cutting into her food and looked out at where we could see the lava flowing through the safety net.

"It's quite..." Alleria said after a moment. "Such an environment is not conducive to creating a habitat for the beauty of nature. You cannot hear the forest songs this deep under the mountains."

"Yeah," I agreed. "But... the earth has a beauty of its own. Look at all the sparkly gems in the stone walls."

Left unsaid was that the Earth had a voice of its own too, in the form of Azeroth. I planned on telling my dad about that particular conversation later.

Looking out at the area again, I did find it amazing that this area was supposed to be the section known as 'The Commons,' which pretty much functioned as the commercial district of Ironforge. In fact, across from us was the entrance to the city itself.

From my higher elevation, I was granted a better look at the various shops that littered the area. Unlike the few dozen I had known, there were hundreds of shops, though they had clearly seen better days. Many passing dwarves eyed Alleria and me as they passed by on the street. Though, I wondered, would it be more correct to call it a walkway instead?

The dwarven children, fearless as they were, would openly point at us while laughing and making exaggerated motions of people being tall. In response, I waved my hand at them and saw them laugh before running after their parents. The dwarven civilians knew something was up, but without their leaders explaining, all they could do was speculate. Had Stormwind been under siege and Lordaeron soldiers showed and received V.I.P treatment, I would still take it as a hopeful sign even if I didn't know what was going on.

"They look like they've seen better days." Alleria, unlike me, did not interact with the passersby. That didn't mean she ignored them either. "The children's clothes look worn and torn."

I was about to comment on her observation when a commotion at the entrance arrested my attention. Pretty soon, the source of the commotion made itself known as the familiar figure of Saidan Dathrohan walked into Ironforge in the company of several dozen heavily armored knights. The sight of the taller armored men made the people of Ironforge back away, while some were actively looking for weapons. However, directly on their heels were dwarven soldiers in plate armor and poleaxes. Seeing as how the dwarven guards weren't attacking them, that relaxed the civilian population's defensiveness.

At first glance, one might have thought the knights all came from the same kingdom. Terenas wanted to promote true unity, and so for the Alliance Legion, all of us wore the same type of armor and flew a unified banner. It was that very same banner, with all the kingdoms' symbols, that allowed the more knowledgeable dwarves to know that this was not just a single kingdom coming to their aid. Now gripped by curiosity, the citizens remained still and watched on in trepidation as the human soldiers funneled in.

Luckily for them, a certain royal dwarf would make his presence known with possible answers for their questions.

"Sons and daughters of Ironforge!" Muradin's voice cut through the apprehensive atmosphere.

For my part, I wondered when the dwarven guards had notified Muradin. The middle Bronzebeard brother walked with a steady gait toward the Alliance knights until he stood right before them. Then he turned his back to them and spread his arms wide to the people.

"Behold!" Muradin's head swept from side to side. "The allies my brother risked his life tae bring fer us!"

A crowd began to form around the knights.

"As yae can see, these are human knights hailin' from all seven human kingdoms!" Muradin explained. "And they have lifted the siege and routed the Horde!"

At first, there was stunned silence, but only for a moment before the Commons let loose a riotous cheer. The news spread like wildfire as shop merchants, residents, and other dwarves who hadn't heard Muradin's declaration rushed over, quickly filled in by those who had.

Maybe it was my long exposure to the political side of things from my old life, but I sensed an opportunity to make the moment even grander. With that in mind, I got up from my table and jumped from the dining area down to the Commons. Most of the dwarves didn't see my little feat, their attention fixed on my knights. I could have pushed my way through the crowd, but my fight with Kaz, the Laughing Skull Orc, had made me realize something about myself—something I hadn't considered before. To test that theory, I sprinted toward Saidan, and just when I was about ten yards away, I jumped.

"Hargh!" I grunted as I took to the air, a jump that would've made any basketball player from Earth jealous.

I easily cleared the dwarven crowd and landed right next to the paladin. My body shook as I hit the ground, but there was no pain. Heck, even my breath stayed steady—but I knew I couldn't replicate that jump again without letting my muscles rest for a few moments.

"Hierarch!" Saidan exclaimed. He was about to bow, but I held out a hand to stall that. I needed to capitalize on the moment, and small talk would break people's attention.

Executing my plan, I took an Alliance Legion battle standard from a nearby knight and turned back to the surprised dwarves. Then, calling upon the Light, I saw my body become covered in a slight golden outline. With the special effects in place, I hoisted the flag as high into the air as possible and looked at the dwarves.

"People of Ironforge!" My voice boomed. "The kingdoms of both humans and elves stand with you! Our Alliance will not rest until we drive the foul Horde off all of our lands!"

The dwarves parsed my words, but it pretty much boiled down to me declaring that this was not a one-time thing. Without directly using such words, I was asking the common people of Khaz Modan to approve of not merely defending their homeland, but striking out against the Horde itself. The dwarves only needed a moment before I received their answer.

"Not without us, yer not!" a dwarf who had seen better days answered first, but that was just the start as others began their own declaration.

"Aye! Yer not be fighting any greenskin without this daughter o' Ironforge!" a mother with her child shouted.

"Yae have my axe until the job's done!" An elderly dwarf raised his weapon in response.

"Any who fights the greenskins is a friend of mine!" a dwarf with a rust-colored beard shouted.

On and on it went as the civilians pledged themselves to the fight. Naturally, this wasn't official, but the sentiment was there. My knights and Saidan appeared taken aback for only a moment before they pounded their fists proudly to their breastplates. No more words needed to be said, but I could see the proud looks at the reception they were receiving. I felt eyes on me and found their origin to be Muradin, who was giving me a considering look before nodding his head.

"Now that we've given the humans a good ole Ironforge welcome, get back to yer business, yae lot! I got tae have words with our newest allies!" Muradin jokingly said in an admonishing tone.

The people of Ironforge obeyed their city commander and began spreading the news to the new arrivals who had come too late.

"Lord Muradin, may I introduce you to Saidan Dathrohan." I motioned Muradin over to the massive knight. "Knight Champion of the Alliance army and a Paladin of the Order of the Knights of the Silver Hand."

"Your Highness." Saidan took off his helmet and bowed to the shorter dwarf. He was massive for a human; if he had been Kul Tiran, he would still have been considered exceptional. Muradin, however, was no slouch; he too was bigger than the average dwarf. Yet, the former made the latter look like a regular size dwarf with his height.

The two took a moment to size each other up before the royal dwarf spoke first.

"Nice hammer," Muradin complimented. "Hope yae took out a bunch of those fleeing greenskins with it."

"Aye," Saidan replied with a vicious grin. "All who crossed our path up to here are dead now."

I raised an eyebrow at his declaration. I knew the fleeing Horde forces would have a bad time, but I didn't expect them to all be killed.

"No prisoners?" I asked the paladin to confirm.

"None." Saidan didn't sound too heartbroken over it. "Our knights came in at a dead charge and mowed them down while trampling on the injured in their wake. Lord Muradin's army finished off the stragglers."

"...I see," I muttered as I tried to think if it would have made any difference. We had other prisoners; losing these ones here shouldn't be a big deal.

Well…it couldn't be helped.

It was then that something occurred to me: Saidan was already here when it should have taken him longer. If I remembered correctly, the trek up the slope should have taken at least a few hours. To confirm my thoughts, I dug underneath my armor to where my pocket watch was and checked the time. However, upon seeing where the long and short hand were, I inhaled sharply. I had literally lost track of time!

'Did the interaction with Azeroth screw up my sense of time?' I thought worriedly, though I didn't want to dwell on it. 'Let's hope there are no lingering effects.'

"Hierarch?" the paladin cut through my thoughts.

"Ah, I'm just—" I began, when suddenly, the full weight of the day hit me all at once.

I struggled to suppress what was coming but failed, letting out a pretty loud yawn in my current company. Actually, thinking about it, I did a lot today—from the Mak'gora to healing Magni. Heck, there was that conversation with Azeroth herself. No wonder my body and soul felt so damn tired. Still, I felt mortified for making it so obvious, but none of them seemed to judge me for it. In fact, Alleria put a reassuring hand on my arm and looked to Saidan.

"You have done much today already, Hierarch. Give us your orders, and we will carry them out in your stead," Alleria said soothingly before turning to Saidan. "Is that not right, Sir Dathrohan?"

"Aye, milady." The large paladin nodded as he stared at me. "You should get some rest, milord. I will carry your orders without fail."

"No," I countered with a frown. I couldn't be seen resting when my army was still working.

"Ah, right," Muradin suddenly injected. "The reason I came out here was because Magni is ready to see yae now. Shall I tell him yae have things to sort out?"

I turned to look at the ranger and paladin after hearing Muradin's words. We exchanged knowing looks and silently communicated. Organizing our army was important, but an audience with the leader of a nation took precedence, especially when we had capable people who could handle the other tasks.

"Saidan and I will communicate what is needed with Knight Champion Aloman and the rest," Alleria spoke my thoughts aloud. "You should go with his royal highness and meet his majesty."

"Then..." I looked at the two. "I'll leave it to you two, then."

"Your will shall be done, Hierarch," Saidan pounded his fist to his chest, while Alleria gave a knowing nod.

"Oy, Baelgun," Muradin addressed a dwarf who looked to be the leader of the dwarven army that followed Saidan.

"Aye, Commander," the heavily armored dwarf with a long two-sided poleaxe stepped forward and saluted.

"Go with our newest allies and secure the immediate area," Muradin commanded the other dwarf. "We need information on everything and divert at least half the army to the Dun Morogh entrance."

The second Bronzebeard brother then gave his lieutenant a solemn look.

"Keep the door shut," he said in a grave tone.

"With our lives, if need be. We'll not fail again," Baelgun replied before giving his superior a salute.

"Wait a moment," I chimed in, before looking to Saidan. "Have Aloman send the second Legion to support them in securing the entryway to Dun Morogh."

"I shall see to it myself, Hierarch," Saidan pounded a fist to his chest. He then turned to Alleria. "Lord Daelin and Lady Modera will take another day or so to make their way up here. You should stay with the Hierarch and support him as you always have."

Alleria raised one of her well-manicured eyebrows before giving him a soft nod.

"Seek my lieutenant, a ranger by the name of Verena," the Ranger Captain said. "Tell her she is to carefully scout into the next area, Loch Modan, to assess the situation. Under no circumstances is she to engage the Horde. At the first sign of them, pull back."

"I shall do so, Ranger Captain," the large paladin inclined his head to her. He then gave me one final salute before he left with Muradin's second-in-command. At least, that's how it appeared to me, anyhow.

"Alright then, ready to see Magni?" Muradin asked, looking at me.

I glanced down at my armor, which had definitely seen better days, especially after everything it had been through. As if reading my thoughts, Muradin, the middle Bronzebeard brother, chuckled.

"Dannae worry, laddie. If anything, the state of yer armor is proof of yer effort tae help us," Muradin smiled. "Trust me, that'll impress him all the more."

Once again, we made our way through the tunnel passageway connecting the Commons to the Great Forge. Unlike before, when I arrived, there was now a throng of dwarves already in the tunnel, heading in the opposite direction. On their faces were expressions of hope and amazement. I knew news traveled fast, but the fact that the siege had been lifted just a little while ago made it all the more impressive. Upon seeing us with Muradin, many of the dwarves stepped aside, but not without shooting me looks of gratitude.

Eventually, we emerged into the Great Forge and were greeted by silence. The Great Forge blacksmiths and workers were no longer at their benches. It was as though the news of the siege being lifted had allowed the heart of the great dwarven city to take a well-deserved rest.

"This way, laddie, just like before," Muradin reminded me as he led us toward the High Seat—aka the dwarven throne room. Unlike the first time we arrived, royal dwarf guards now lined the walls on either side. They weren't alone, however; in the center of the room, before the throne, two groups stood, dressed in intricate finery.

'Dwarven nobles,' I identified right away.

The dwarven version of nobility and wealth was represented through intricately designed armor, encrusted with rare gems. Where a human noble would wear finely threaded clothes, the dwarves wore chainmail made from a very bright, shiny material. I'd seen it before—most would mistake it for silver, but I was fairly certain these dwarves were wearing mithril. Some even appeared shinier and more valuable than mithril, like metal stones. Those, I presumed, were Thorium and Arcanite. I guessed the mid-level nobles wore the former, while the wealthier ones adorned themselves with the latter.

The empty middle path was covered by a bright red rug that stretched all the way to the throne. On that throne sat a large, weary-looking dwarf, one who had clearly seen better days, but whose eyes still hid a powerful will. Upon my entry, the dwarven nobles fell silent as a soldier by the entrance slammed the butt of his axe several times and announced me.

"Introducing Marshal Callan Lothar of Stormwind, Hierarch of the Templars of the Order of the Radiant Star, and Commander of the Alliance Legions!"

Magni Bronzebeard, king of the dwarves, stood from his throne under his own power and spread his arms wide.

"I welcome our human allies tae Ironforge and declare that the sons and daughters of Khaz Modan will NEVER forget what yae have done fer us!" Magni's voice boomed, then he looked directly at me with sharp, assessing eyes. "On a personal note, I want to thank yae for saving my life."

I drew my rune blade, purposefully injecting it with the Light so that the runes would glow. Then, stabbing it tip-down into the ground, I knelt before the dwarven king as the ultimate sign of respect. The dwarven nobles were taken aback by the magic and my gesture.

"No thanks are needed, your majesty," I declared. "This was all commanded by the Alliance. Though, this is but a start, and there is much more to be done. Dun Morogh is once again yours, majesty."

Magni gave me a long, hard stare before letting out a small chuckle.

"Humble when yae dae not need tae be," the dwarf king grinned. "Well then, lad, I hereby declare that the lines of Bronzebeard will forever call the lineage of Lothar, friend."

W... was that another promise, like Thoradin had with the elves?

"Now that the stiff formality is out of the way," Magni sat back into his chair heavily and sent me a wink. "What say yae tell me everything yae know about our enemies?"

And so, I did.

I told them everything I had told Llane—the dark origin of the orcs, the butcher of the Draenei people, their covetous hunger for unspoiled lands... our lands. At some point, as my throat began to dry during my rundown, a dwarf servant brought me a cup of ale. The dwarven nobles, unlike their human counterparts, did not speak out of turn but sat by, listening with rapt attention. Finally, I got to the current events, skipping over the smaller details involving myself.

I told them how the Alliance was formed, how the elves joined after honoring an ancient pact with the humans. It was my intent to gloss over that part, but who would've known it would be Alleria—of all people—that corrected me.

"I beg your pardons, my lords," Alleria cut in. "But I feel it would be remiss not to specify that the elves are only allied with Stormwind, who in turn is allied with the Alliance."

"What's the difference?" Moira, who was standing by her father's side, asked. In reply, Alleria gave a short, polite bow before turning her gaze upon the lords in attendance.

"We High Elves long kept to ourselves," Alleria began. Only because I'd known her so long could I detect the subtle dissatisfaction over that particular policy. "Had Callan here not used the ancient pact between the lines of Sunstrider and Thoradin, then I'm afraid that we, the High Elves, would have chosen a more passive, more observational approach than we are now."

"Ya—Yae nae help the humans?" Moira looked appalled.

"There would be those who would render aid, of that there is no doubt," Alleria replied. I knew that to be true; in fact, in another timeline, she would have been one of them. "But the full might of Quel'thalas would not have been mustered."

"What dum—"

"Moira!" Magni cut off his daughter. "Mind yer manners!"

"Da..." the princess of Ironforge looked properly chastised, though a bit unwilling.

"How other nations dictate their policy is their own issue," Magni's tone carried a hint of warning to others not to act out. "That they are active now is all that matters. No matter how it is done."

"You are wise, your majesty." Alleria gave a respectful standing bow.

"Yer words honor me," Magni replied before turning back to me. "Now, my brother Brann had told me the gist of the war, but it's my understanding that yae've been in the thick of things from the beginning."

The dwarven king then leaned forward in his chair, giving me a serious look.

"In particular, Brann read and heard rumors that yae defeated a giant fire elemental at Stromgarde." The dwarf leaned forward even more. "One that is supposed to be bigger in scale than the one yae fought in front of Kharanos. Is that true?"

Was he talking about Ragnaros? Why would he need to know... Oh! The War of the Three Hammers. The cause of the dwarven split and the Dark Iron mistake. It was that same being that turned the Searing Gorge and Burning Steppes into the wasteland they were today. Looking at Magni, I decided to just tell him the blunt truth.

"It called itself Ragnaros," I confirmed. "I was lucky enough, with the Light's grace, to strike him down before he could fully enter the world."

Some of the dwarven nobles, younger than their older counterparts, looked confused at why this would be significant. However, those who were older widened their eyes in stunned silence at my revelation.

"Laddie," Magni said in a grave tone. "Do yae understand the significance of what ya've done?"

I sorta did, but at the same time, I couldn't be one hundred percent sure that Ragnaros was dead. So, I did what I did best; I played dumb and shook my head.

"If that was truly the Firelord Ragnaros, then perhaps the curse that is on the Dark Iron would be no more," Magni explained.

"Preposterous," a dwarf noble suddenly said. "They are still enslaved by the foul elemental lord. They took part in our attack after all!"

"I thought so too, but—" Magni turned to Brann, then back to the noble. "My brother has reported the Dark Iron numbers, and they are nowhere near the full might that the Dark Iron could bring forth. As much as we don't like to admit it, their strength rivals ours."

Magni's truth bomb did not sit right with many of the proud dwarves, but none could really gainsay their king. For my part, I was sure that if push came to shove, the Bronzebeard clan could defeat the Dark Iron in an all-out war. It would just be that the price to destroy the Dark Iron would make it a pyrrhic victory at best. Though, in another life, a forty-man group of crazed 'murder hobos' did slaughter their way from the entrance of their fortress all the way to its depths. Yet, despite the slaughter, the Dark Iron still had enough power left over to form a third of the dwarven forces in the future.

"But why does it matter if Lord Lothar—" I winced at being addressed that way by the dwarven noble. As cliche as it was to protest it, Lord Lothar was my father, not me. "—truly struck down the Firelord?"

"Because, if true," Magni began, looking at each dwarf. "They would not tolerate these foul greenskins on their lands."

Once more, a stunned silence permeated the room as the same dwarf noble who had questioned Magni now looked incredulously at his king.

"The threat these Orcs, this Horde, represent is greater than anything we've ever faced," Magni said, looking at all of us. "This is not a war of kingdoms, but one for our very existence against a genocidal foe. The fact that the Dark Iron, our most hated enemy, never took the chance to attack us with their full might could only mean one thing."

"Yae can't be seriously thinking that's true, my king!" the same dwarf noble spoke up.

"Perhaps yae need tae rest more, my lord," another noble, a female this time, gently suggested.

Magni weathered their gentle rebuke with ease before pounding his fist on the armrest of his throne, demanding silence.

"The humans have a saying I always found fascinating," Magni said, addressing the quieted nobles. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I never understood it until today, but now, I do."

Standing up from his throne, Magni looked down at all the dwarves in the room.

"I cannae explain it fully, but I feel it in my very bones." Magni's voice was filled with conviction. "Dagran, the Dark Iron Emperor, would never submit to the Horde, nor would he tolerate them on his lands."

Magni turned his face in a certain direction, almost as if he could see something we couldn't.

"I am willing to wager this very throne itself that—just like how our Wildhammer cousins are being besieged in the Wildhammer Highlands—the Dark Iron, and those loyal to Dagran Thaurissan, are being besieged as we once were."

"Madness!" a dwarf shouted.

"Yer majesty, there is no proof," the female dwarf from earlier said in genuine concern.

"Yae doubt me, but I tell yae now, in my long slumber, I have seen visions," Magni began slowly. "I saw how our people were slaughtered, our land desecrated by the goblins, as surely as if it was being done to me."

He then turned his gaze to me, giving me a deep look as if I would understand.

"I also saw other visions," Magni's eyes remained locked on me. "Visions of us Bronzebeards and Wildhammers fighting side by side with our lost Dark Iron brethren."

My eyes widened at Magni's words as pandemonium erupted among the nobles. It took me but a moment to realize that while Azeroth hadn't taken him, she had touched him during our communication. Did... did my memories leak over to Magni? How much of it was he aware of? Shit, how much of it did he see?

As I chewed on Magni's words, the more I realized that the Dark Iron forces we faced here were but a mere fraction compared to what the Dark Irons could bring to bear. If Dagran had truly allied with the Horde, he would never have left Ironforge under siege with such a small force. The Laughing Skull also wouldn't even need to be here to fulfill the role that Kilrogg of the Bleeding Hollow once had in another timeline.

Much like how the Trolls abandoned the Horde to continue their fight with their most hated enemies, the High Elves, the Dark Iron would have never followed the Horde to the Arathi Highlands when they had their proverbial boots on the Bronzebeard throats.

Perhaps, it was true…

'Holy shit!' I thought, discreetly covering my mouth in disbelief.

If what Magni suspected was correct then that meant that the Dark Iron were free. The Dark Iron, though latecomers to the Alliance in the future, became one of their steadiest allies. They were the ones who volunteered to fight alongside Varian during the Pandaria campaign and were also the ones to defeat the invasion of the Ice Trolls, spilling their blood to protect the people of Ironforge while the Wildhammer and Bronzebeard factions refused to move due to mistrust. Not to mention, they were the first ones through the portal alongside the Alliance forces to fight the Iron Horde in an alternative version of Draenor.

Though enemies they had been, if freed, they could become one of our most reliable allies.

"Lord Callan Lothar," Magni began, his gaze never leaving me. "I, King Magni, hereby pledge here, in the halls of our ancestors, that all of Ironforge's sons and daughters are willing tae join the Alliance and throw the Horde from this world!"

I stood tall, pounding my fist to my chest in a show of respect and commitment, ready to speak my own affirmation, when suddenly, a voice interrupted me.

"Hey! Don't forget about us gnomes!" a squeaky voice chimed in.

A small figure dashed from the side of the dwarven throne, stepping boldly forward. It was Gelbin Mekkatorque, High Tinker and King of the Gnomes. His workman's attire and a pair of goggles perched atop his greying head gave him the look of someone always on the verge of an invention. He wore a wide smile as he approached me.

"I've heard a lot about you from Brann," Gelbin said with a warm smile. "You have my thanks for saving my kingdom and my friend."

Then, with a shift in demeanor, he stood straighter, a twinkle of resolve lighting up his eyes. "I, Gelbin Mekkatorque, High Tinkerer of Gnomeregan, also request to join the Alliance in driving out the Horde from this world!"

Amused but fond smiles spread across most of the dwarven nobles' faces as they turned to look at me, awaiting my response.

Right. Ahem.

"I, Marshal Callan Lothar of Stormwind, and Commander of the Alliance Legion, hereby accept, on behalf of King Terenas, Patron of the Alliance!" I declared.

As if on cue, the nobles erupted into applause, but Magni held up a hand to stop it.

"I also request, in addition to helping our Wildhammer cousins, that we attempt to assess the Dark Iron situation," Magni said, his voice filled with conviction.

"Da… you're not saying..." Moira trailed off, her words too unbelievable to give voice to.

"Aye, just like how the humans put aside their differences to unite and combat this vile threat, perhaps it is time that the Three Hammers of the Dwarves reunite once more to face a greater threat," Magni declared.

I looked at the people around me. The dwarves looked unhappy, but their king had spoken. Gelbin didn't seem to have an opinion on things, while Alleria had no context for what Magni was proposing. However... if true... if true… then... Blackrock Mountain, which I had assumed was the heart of the Horde's power base, was on a very, very shaky foundation.

That was a game changer.

*** Arathi Highland - The Gathering ***

Orgrim Doomhammer stood at the highest point of a nearby hill, surveying the gathering clans, easily identifying them by their markings. The smaller ones didn't concern him, but the Thunderlord, the Bleeding Hollow, the Warsong, and others did. It had taken a long time, but here was where he would reforge the Horde anew, giving them purpose once more.

"Warchief," Ner'zhul approached him cautiously, his shoulders hunched in a sign of submission. "The sacred hour is almost at hand. Are you ready?"

"Yes," Doomhammer said without missing a beat. "The Horde will be united in common cause once more. To have been stalled so long by the humans..."

"They are... formidable," Ner'zhul ground out.

"Indeed they are, my former master." Gul'dan appeared in a blaze of green fire. It was a short-range teleportation skill he had picked up from a human magi he had tortured.

"Gul'dan," Ner'zhul growled out, but did nothing else. The pact Doomhammer had made with the Old Shaman was still being honored.

"Is Cho'gall ready?" Doomhammer asked, turning to the leader of the Orc Warlocks.

"He is, Warchief, but I bring other news," Gul'dan replied. His smile turned cruel as he revealed his tusks. "Garona has been caught by your—our allies."

Doomhammer turned to Gul'dan. Garona, while a half-orc, had proven herself a skilled assassin and had been Gul'dan's primary tool in maintaining his power. However, they had thought her dead after he had sent her off to assassinate a human Draenei magic user. The Chieftain of the Blackrock Clan understood the implication right away.

"She betrayed us," he said.

"She was found in the company of pinkskin spies," Gul'dan grinned. "How would you like to punish the traitor?"

Doomhammer looked south, toward the distant human kingdom of Stormwind. The Shaman and Warlock remained quiet, watching their orc ally as he stood as still as a statue. Only the expansion and contraction of his body armor signaled that he was still alive. Finally, after a few long moments of silence, the massive orc's face morphed into a devious smile.

"She was once our blade." Doomhammer grinned. "She could be it once more."

"The humans' warlocks have put a spell on her." Gul'dan frowned, as if personally insulted. "She would die before I could compel her to kill their leaders."

Doomhammer's grin only grew wider. "There are more than one way to use a blade, Gul'dan. I never intended for her to do that in the first place."

The orc warlock looked confused but did not speak up.

"Come, it is time for my ascension."

The larger orc then looked into the distance and began walking down the hill to his destiny.

TBC...

AN:

First off thank you to Icura who help me edited this chapter while workinn on his own. Thanks hoss!

Secondly, thank you to all of my supporters, without them…well bad things would happen without them XD Thank you again!

As for this chapter, this is the aftermath and the effect. You guys didn't think interaction with what was basically a deity would be let a mortal, isekai/transmigrated or not, get away with it scott free right? That say, thank you for reading and I can't wait for the response, if any (never is guarantee a response to a story. An author worse nightmare XD)

Once again, please consider supporting us on patron at "icuraandvahn" , Thank you!

Finally, as always, CC and discussions are always welcomed!