Music: THE RIVERLANDS composed by Brunuhville

@Raidriar93 - for being mad at me for killing more characters than Game of Thrones. Can't recall GoT doing the following with some though... This chapter is especially for you :)

https://youtu.be/976CMf4QpR8

Dawn - and Rishuul's continual growling woke the group huddled under various closely knit shelters. Lhadral called the cat over, but she wasn't for obeying, something had her unnerved. The hunter decided to investigate and moved to his trusty pet's side.

As Sarah's eyes focused, she saw many others rising and looking towards the west. There was an unearthly quiet over the Dark Portal. Then someone called over and pointed to the horizon.

The line between land and sky was shimmering, wavering as if a heat haze had settled. People started moving forward, straining for a better look. Gradually, the cause of the horizon's distortion came into view.

Concerned murmurings turned into shouts of warning. Before long, anyone who had managed to stay sleeping was wide awake, staring at the horizon.

Transfixed, like a frightened rabbit in headlights, Sarah watched helplessly as the world of Draenor started to crumble and float away before her very eyes. The Unfolding had begun. 

Swirling vortexes, thudding on the ground rose hundreds of feet in the air. They spun at a mind-boggling velocity; twisting and swerving around each other, dancing a most macabre, black waltz.

As their destructive hunger tore through the lands, the Azerothians at the portal watched helplessly. Mountains, trees, streams, distant villages, towns and camps, were all uprooted; raped, torn, only crumbling foundations remaining. Like distorted pixels on a computer screen, they warped, twisted and shrank into nothingness.

Sarah's eyes welled as she saw The Void Lords. Gigantic, ethereal, powerful and seemingly indestructible, they crossed the horizon. Their vile vortexes snaked further inland making their way to the portal - towards the world she now called home.

Armageddon had come to Azeroth, and nobody and nothing on the planet could stop it.

She was supposed to know what to do now, but the sight before her had stripped her of the power of thought. Although the vortexes were still far from where the armies were located, the need to act now was critical. 

Illidan, Drew and Bernie stood beside her, their silence saying it all. Perhaps Khadgar had been right, her coming through the portal was pointless. His words still stung. It seemed as though their world was going to be erased sure enough.

She turned her eyes to where the Six, including Khadgar, now stood. His face was set like stone as he observed the devastation before them. In that moment Sarah understood his feelings of helplessness. She was willing him to look at her, so he would see she was there for him in this desperate hour, even though she felt just as helpless. But look at her, he would not. Had he erased her already? she wondered. 

An incongruous thought invaded her mind. If they all survived this, she would be nothing more than the cast-off lover of the Archmage, scorned, destined to live alone for eternity in a world she could not leave. Ocel was her only reason for not stepping through a portal to Earth and ceasing to exist herself.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She dragged her gaze from Khadgar and looked up at Illidan.

"Remember Sarah, this is not who he truly is. The Void is manipulating him, his emotions, his actions, his words. The real Khadgar is still in there, although buried deep." From his words, Sarah realised although Illidan was agitated by Khadgar's treatment of her earlier, he firmly believed the Archmage had fallen victim to the Void's manipulative powers, and therefore genuinely defended the man.

She sighed, trying to keep tears at bay. "Perhaps - but it still hurts. I've never known him like this; so cold. He is like a stranger to me. And how does the Void not seem to affect me, or you, for that matter?"

The demon hunter gently squeezed her shoulder and, after some consideration, offered an explanation. When he had inadvertently made contact with Tiene as he grabbed Bernie, she had told him that as they were infused with the Light, they were exempt from the Void's influence. It was that same light that also enabled Illidan and Sarah to communicate with Tiene and Camnath. Their spirits, in turn, protected Drew and Bernie. 

"Not everyone is affected by the Void certainly," he went on, "but there is a higher chance for others to be manipulated, as opposed to us. We four, or should I say six, are here for a reason. Otherwise, why would we be burdened with such responsibility? With Tiene and Camnath's help, we will defeat the Void. I admit I do not yet understand how, but I know we will do it. I also believe Khadgar will return to you as a result."

She gave his words consideration. They sounded feasible enough, and she appreciated his faith, but she did not share it. The man she loved was as good as lost to her. She could only cling to an infinitesimal amount of hope that he just might still feel for her. 

For now, she had to focus on the approaching threat. She sniffed and straightened herself. No longer riveted by the encroaching Void, her mind started to calculate their options. She discussed it quietly with Illidan -

The Void - shadow, all that is dark and foreboding, wiping out all that exists.

It will destroy all that the Light created. The Light!

Without one, the other cannot exist! Chaos - a necessary evil. We cannot exist without mobocracy - Camnath's words. All good must be balanced by evil and vice versa.

But how?

There is only one option, and as absurd as it seems, it is all we have.

It is time to call the spirits.

     "Bernie, Drew," Sarah shouted. "Come here. We are going to bring Tiene and Camnath forward. I hope we understand the solution."

The four of them stood in a circle. "When we clasp hands, don't let go, no matter what." They nodded. "The rest of you -" she jutted her chin at her friends and the Horde company. "Move back. I don't know what will happen when they both emerge together."

 The dwarves and the others nodded, Lhadral calling Rishuul to his side. The cat growled low but followed her master. All moved away to a safe distance.

     "Wait!" Bernie said. Sarah looked at her questioningly. 

The redhead stepped forward and threw her arms around Drew's neck. "Just in case we don't make it," she whispered to him. Then she was kissing him long and hard. Drew folded his arms around Bernie's waist and returned the kiss.

Sarah lowered her head, her heart hurting. She could not help but feel a touch of envy that Khadgar did not feel the need to kiss her. This could potentially be the final time he would ever be able to. 

She chanced a glance under her lashes in his direction. His eyes were on Drew and Bernie. Was there nothing left inside him that wanted to hold Sarah for one last time? The steel orbs drifted over to her. She felt the corner of her mouth twitch, just a spark of hope - then it was extinguished as he turned away and moved closer to the portal. There, he resumed his vigil of the advancing Void. Sarah swallowed back the pain.

      "We should hurry," Illidan said. Sarah tore her eyes from Khadgar and checked the scene behind her. The Void were making preternatural progress. She could clearly see and hear the ground being ripped up and sucked into the twisting vortexes. Within the noise, other more unsettling sounds were starting to come through; that of people and animals being torn apart and spewed into the Great Dark Beyond.

Another glance afforded in Khadgar's direction, and she witnessed him ordering the mages and priests to cast their shields and barriers over the people in the battlefield. She watched as shimmering walls of arcane and frost powered by spinning runic symbols rose from the ground and stretched wide enough to reach those who had camped a little farther out from the portal.

She turned back to her three companions. "Quickly now," she said. Bernie and Drew reluctantly pulled apart and retook their positions opposite each other. "Ready?" Sarah asked as she flexed her hands to either side of her. The other three nodded. "Let's not waste any more time then. Now!" 

The four of them clasped hands, and an unearthly jolt of power passed around them all, like a pinball machine, bouncing back and forth, building in speed and intensity. "Do... not... let... go!" her voice trembled through her gritted teeth. It was hard to be heard over the hissing and crackling of all the magic in close proximity. 

Their entire bodies shuddered, even Illidan's, whose physique was many times bigger and stronger than any of theirs was buffeted by the force. The golden ethereal wisps burst forth from both Drew and Bernie. They emerged in a rush, swirling, twisting, expanding, surrounding the four individuals who held hands; knuckles white from their grips. Both Sarah and Illidan's tattoos pulsed, growing brighter as the millions of particles coalesced centrally, finally forming the spirits of Camnath and Tiene.

Khadgar stood in silent awe as the seraphic forms of the two blood elves became homogeneous beings. His lips parted slightly, hope just daring to reach through his gloom, but it was swatted away by the evil approaching on the horizon. 

The Void Lords unearthly, almost metallic sounding ululations tore through the din of the whirling winds and erupting ground. The Archmage shuddered. Few monsters had ever frightened him, but these vile lords of shadow and destruction chilled him to the bone.

As Tiene's spirit  became monophonic, Sarah gasped at the rare beauty before her; the golden hair framing delicate impish features enhanced by dazzling green eyes. Emotions already raw, it took little for tears to spill from Sarah's eyes at the sight of the Blood Elves.  

Drew had told her their story and it's unique tragic beauty seemed even more poignant now as they stood amidst the pending obliteration of their world. 

Sarah's attention drifted back to the steel orbs she loved, and for a moment, she thought she saw a look of lost hope swimming within them. It pained her. Tiene leaned close to Sarah's ear. "Worry not, dear friend. He still loves you, he's never stopped. He just needs the veil to be lifted. As do many others, and that's what we are here to do."

Sarah fixed Tiene with a bewildered look. "But how? Two of you against..." She turned to face the on-going destruction behind them. "...that!" She faced the beautiful elf again. 

Tiene smiled. "No, not just the two of us, Sarah. You and your friends have merely opened the door." She turned to Illidan. "And thank you, Illidan, for everything. You contributed greatly to this moment. You did not even realise that your act of kindness in allowing me to be with Camnath had already set the wheels in motion for what is about to happen ."

The demon hunter inclined his horned head. He seemed almost embarrassed.

Camnath took Tiene in his arms."Ready?" he asked her, his smile utterly charismatic.

     "Yes, my love," she replied, tracing ghostly fingers over his mouth.

The male elf nodded to Sarah. "Drew and Bernie should step away now."

"But, we'll lose you again," Sarah exclaimed, tightening her grip on both Drew and Bernie's hands.

 "No, not this time, Sarah. We are here for the duration now." He assured her. The spiritual couple disengaged from their embrace and stood merely holding hands. "Let go."

Sarah knew to trust the spirits. She nodded. Releasing their hands, Bernie and Drew fell back a few feet, joining the others. Drew readily accepted the redhead's hand as she moved next to him.

 "Now what?" Sarah asked.

 "Sorry, but we need to use both of you now," Tiene said, an apologetic look in her eyes.

 "Use us?" Sarah glanced at Illidan, bewildered.

 "Just do it! Whatever it is!" Illidan said, his voice taut, urgent. He was facing the Void as it continued to make its steady advance. "We are running out of time!"

In a blur, Camnath was absorbed into Illidan while Tiene invaded Sarah. Instantly, both of them flared, their tattoos ablaze, brighter than ever before, causing both to scream and roar. Their bodies started to levitate.

Music: WHEN IT ALL FALLS DOWN by Audiomachine

https://youtu.be/VSzv1JyLaHw

From the portal Khadgar watched, his heart beating faster as he saw Sarah rise from the ground. He shielded his eyes as both she and Illidan's illuminated bodies became blindingly bright. 

The ground started to quake, the vibration intensifying, and he stumbled to the portal column to steady himself. Loud cracks and grinding noises arose. With his hand still fanned out to shield his eyes, he squinted to where he last saw Sarah. He whispered her name, a distant longing trapped within his mind. The light was so intense that he could barely make out her shape even though she hovered mere feet from the ground. 

His eyes moved to find Illidan, but even his demonic seven and a half foot frame was difficult to locate. Beneath his other hand, Khadgar felt the pillar shudder. His eyes rose to its apex. If this collapsed, then the Azerothians would be trapped on the Draenor side. There was no time for the creation of new portals in the midst of trying to keep the people safe from harm as well. He needed to form a supportive shield around the structure and call everyone through. They had to leave now.

Fissures ripped the earth from the portal over to where Sarah and Illidan levitated, some of the earth caving underfoot and stretching off into the distance. Some of the make-shift camps were swallowed by the crumbling earth, disappearing into the abyss.  Bodies vanished as the earth tremors made people lose balance and fall to their deaths within the gaping chasms that opened. People started to panic, shouts and screams rose, straining to be heard above the din of the ground fracturing.

To the west of the portal, the Void was hurtling relentlessly towards them. The Void Lords themselves were now clearly visible. Gigantic, deliquescent shades sizzling, rippling with shadow, the magic of doom and destruction. The ground they crossed disintegrated beneath them, violently sucked up by the vortexes following on all sides. Behind that was nothing, just blackness filled with distant galaxies and solar systems. All that remained of the Void Lords' passage was dust and debris tumbling endlessly into the Great Dark Beyond.

Ear-splitting discord and a sound similar to an enormous cry of pain erupted as the ground continued to heave and split. Cracks in the surface ran furiously in all directions like possessed roots of an ancient tree. 

Expeditiously, the light that surrounded Illidan and Sarah leapt into the black sky. It shot out in fierce, prodigious flares, giant luminous fingers reaching for the clouds, pulsing afresh every few beats. Soon, the sky was torn asunder, ripped before their very eyes as it first heaved, then folded, opening a great fissure and stretching towards the cosmos. 

From within the carnage of the heavens, a moving mass of shimmering light started to descend. Down it came, pulsing, steady, bold. Its celestial brightness stretched down, kissing and caressing the dry cracked earth, dispersing the darkness over the land. The sky continued to open, like a huge curtain being drawn aside in a theatre, and still, more of the brilliance came towards the ground. 

Azerothian faces turned upwards, their features being bathed in the radiance from above, a mixture of fear and hope in their eyes.

Khadgar saw the first rupture appear in the portal's pillar and muttered an incantation. A blue transparent dome formed at the base of the portal. It increased in size, its appearance like that of an enormous soap bubble, with runic symbols dancing over its domed surface. He shouted to the people nearing the portal. "Come, you must get through, back to Azeroth! This is going to collapse!" He stood Ateish, his guardian's staff against the pillar, and with a rotating circle of runes emanating from his other hand, he powered the dome. It thrummed and pulsed as the people ran towards him and passed safely through the portal.

Sarah's eyes, though still ablaze with preternatural light, turned to see the people massing towards Khadgar. Her vision blurred as clusters of the light started to take shape in front of her. Her focus altered, and she turned in mid-air, taking in all around her. 

She called out to Illidan. As his taloned hand reached out to her, they felt themselves being lowered to the ground. The moment their feet hit the earth, Camnath and Tiene pulled away from them. Sarah felt as if she had just been twanged and snapped like a giant elastic band. "What...?" she breathed, staggering from Tiene's spirit being expunged.

Her vision adjusted, and as far as her eyes could see, rows upon rows of empyrean beings were lined all the way from the east to the entrance of the portal. As she glanced up, more of the celestials were arriving. 

Sarah smiled. "Nothing and no-one on the planet..." Now she understood Drek'thar's words. The spirits of the Twisting Nether were the warriors and defenders of Azeroth and Draenor, not the living.

Illidan stood, his covered eyes studying all around, head turning to take in the unearthly sight before them.  Raging screams of the approaching vortexes and the penetrating hum of magic surrounded them punctuated with the crackle and hiss of the elements pulled in by the spirits. Illidan leaned closely to Sarah so she could hear above the noise. "We need to get out of here!" 

     "What?" she gasped. "We - we can't just leave them - " she gestured to the spirits. "They - " she faltered. There to her right stood two ethereal visitors she recognised. 

Vindicator Ocel, Khadgar's lifetime friend and confidante, and Tharaei Swiftfeather, the young mage who died in Goldshire during the battle with the Burning Legion. 

Erik nudged Sarah. He, too, saw them. She glanced down at the dwarf. His eyes were glistening at the sight of the young elf whom he had once looked upon as a son. Both spirits turned to face them, heads bowed in respect, then they moved forward with the ever-expanding population of phantoms.

Sarah saw Tiene with three men, one older and hugging the blood elf warmly. She deduced this was Tiene's father. The two younger males had to be her brothers, a ranger, and a warlock. They also embraced Camnath. Tiene turned and smiled at Sarah in reassurance. It was truly a touching moment. Her family and husband all reunited; all ready to do battle to save them all.

Camnath came over. "You must leave now," he said. "Get to the portal. We will stop the Void here before it gets through to Azeroth." 

Sarah was shaking her head, but the elf was insistent. "You have done all you can. It is our time to serve Azeroth. You must get through the portal now." He turned as Tiene joined them.

Illidan yanked Sarah away. She resisted, fighting his grip and digging her feet into the shattered earth. "Wait!" she pleaded, and once she loosened her grip, she ran back to Tiene and Camnath. "What happens to you now?" She shouted above the ever-increasing din.

Camnath smiled mischievously and spreading his arms wide, he announced: "We save the world!" Tiene nudged him in the ribs with a playful reprimand.

Sarah's eyes betrayed her fears for them. Tiene wrapped her arms around her, and although she could not feel the elf's touch, Sarah sensed her nearness by the flow of static running through her. "We will be reborn, somewhere," Tiene explained. "We are blessed. We have not spent millennia in the Nether, so we will live again. If we are lucky, we may even have some recollection of who we once were and of you, brave, sweet Sarah. But this is our swan song for now." Tiene pulled back. "Now go and love Khadgar. He will return to you, I promise."

Music: HERALD OF JUSTICE composed by Brunuhville

https://youtu.be/TpxKvy5T9Uo

Illidan grabbed Sarah again and headed for the portal, but once more she struggled against his grasp. She had to see what was happening. He knew she would continue to fight, so he stood firmly behind her, holding her arms, ready to flee with her if necessary, but he too was soon transfixed by the scene in front of them.

The spirits from the Twisting Nether were still descending, like an endless shower of shooting stars in their thousands before materialising as the individuals, they once were in life. Line after line advanced on the enemy, but the Void Lords still pushed forward, sending in their vortexes to decimate the earth and all who graced it.

Azerothians who had come through the portal in good faith to assist in the war were busy piling back through, steered to safety by Khadgar. The Archmage maintained his shield, propping up the crumbling structure. The rest of the council also provided shelter for those further out in the field. The earth was continuing to heave and erupt underfoot, panic rising again. As the masses moved towards the portal, so did the Six, conjuring more shields as they retreated, protecting all who followed.

The first clash between the spirits and Void halted everyone in their tracks. Massive flares of light ignited the surrounding land and sky as the spirits, blessed with the Light of the naaru, permeated the shadows and twisting vortexes. 

The sound of the approaching storms escalated as the impact occurred and ear-piercing screams of the dark elements filled the air. Lightning crackled in every direction, exploding, flaring, splitting the ground and piercing the sky from its collision with the twisters. With each contact, the spirits in the front lines would disperse opening the way for the next battalion of elysian beings to move forward. And still, they streamed down from the heavens.

The ground behind the Void continued to be ransacked, its components sucked up, defragmented, turned to mere dust. Even enormous stampeding elekks, riverbeasts and wolves were snared by the twisting, dancing winds. Lumbering fungal boglords and giant plantlike mandragoras were being rooted up and torn apart, their agonised roars and shrieks being lost in the winds of destruction. Thousands of smaller creatures never had a chance to outrun the storms and were devoured into the nothingness within a blink of an eye. 

The Void Lords, enormous, armoured shades, continued relentlessly raping the land, their gaping distorted faces mouthing their deadly commands to the elements which they bent to their will. Draenor was being eaten alive, its people, creatures and flora devoured by twisting, elemental weapons of war. Nothing was beyond the appetite of their destruction.

Sarah watched, her heart heaving as she witnessed more ethereal beings descending, replacing those that were fractured, riven, dispersed. The light never waned, no matter how many hundreds fell to the mercy of the shadows. How many more could there possibly be? All these poor souls; people who had once lived and loved, now defended Draenor and Azeroth so the living would continue.

Screams were heard nearby as lines of Azerothians, unable to reach the safety of the Kirin Tor shields, were seen being dragged along the ground, the gravitational pull of the elements drawing them towards certain death within the violent whirlwinds. Bodies were whipped up into the twisters and dismembered by their sheer force. Limbs were spat out from the clutches of the vortexes, body parts breaking apart even further, becoming specks, dust - nothing. Now they too joined the forces of the Twisting Nether and returned to fight in their ethereal forms.

A familiar roar sounded nearby and Sarah turned to see Drew holding on to Lhadral, desperately pulling him back towards the portal. Her eyes shot to her right as she saw Rishuul being dragged towards the vortexes, claws raking, digging into the earth, it's maw open in agony. Tears spilt from Sarah's eyes as the big cat was pulled up into the twister, it's body turned to mush, then matter. Lhadral folded at the loss of his loyal pet and Drew was finally able to get him to the portal.

Demon hunters flew in to rescue those who were still too far out, but they too were sucked into the churning chaos and spat out as unforgivingly as all the rest. Illidan signalled the remainder of his demon hunters to fall back. Too many were being lost, they would be needed on the other side to aid the injured. He ushered the remainder of the group around him towards Khadgar - Bernie, Mel, Mick, Erik, Gwen, and their Horde allies Waquro and the orcs. Grabbing Sarah tightly by the arm he pulled towards the others.

Spells, strengths, abilities other than shields or healing, were useless against the power and destruction of the Void Lords. Only individuals who could offer protection to those fleeing stayed rigidly on the Draenor side of the portal aiding Farseer Drek'thar and his Frostwolf clan and shamans to keep the portal open just a little longer. Khadgar and the Kirin Tor continued to herd the people through.

Sarah glanced frantically up at Illidan, "I can help!" she mouthed. He shook his head. "No," he shouted against the roar of the elements and magic. "We will serve better on the other side. We must get through, Sarah!"

"Oh my god! No!!" Bernie screamed. They all looked at her then followed to where she pointed.

Searing white fingers of lightning struck the pillars and then sparked off the apex of the structure. The supporting pillars of the portal were starting to crumble. Huge chunks of rock and metal were being torn down by the sheer force of the approaching Void and its elemental army. Sarah looked at Khadgar.

He roared at those nearby to make haste and reinforced his shield with the help of the Kirin Tor members who had reached him. His face was taut with unexpurgated conviction. He shouted for his colleagues to focus on the shields while he attempted to teleport some of the stragglers that were still too far out in the field. He managed to rescue about a dozen before Vargoth shouted they needed his power to maintain the shields.

Illidan barked orders for his Illidari to assist in getting the people through the portal. The demon hunters swooped down, picking up two individuals each, where possible, and flew through the watery centre. Within moments the Illidari returned to repeat the rescue process.

Illidan lifted Sarah up and unfurling his wings he made to take flight. A Void Lord materialised nearby. It simply lifted its arm in command and an invisible force hurtled the demon hunter back, casting him into the dirt with Sarah still cradled in his arms.

A group of phantoms descended and placed themselves between the Void Lord and Illidan. The creature of shadow roared, its liquescent form starting to bubble, boil and vapourize as the Light from the spirits invaded its form.

The Lord of demon hunters rose up, stunned, pulling Sarah with him. Kayn, Arcaena and several other Illidari came to their aid and together they formed a living shield as they escorted their Lord and Sarah back to the exit from Draenor. Reaching the portal gateway, Illidan herded his demon hunters and others through.

Khadgar glared at Illidan from the opposite pillar. "You could have saved more people!" he shouted; his eyes dark, accusing, judgmental.

"Too many are lost already, Khadgar. I will not waste my Illidari's lives trying to save the dead," the demon hunter replied sternly.

The Archmage challenged the demon hunter. "You sacrificed others willingly enough in your past, just as you did now with your cowardly retreat!"



Sarah watched in horror as Khadgar started to turn the power of the runes towards Illidan. The demon hunter merely stood, unchallenging. "Stop this Khadgar! You are not yourself," he said, ushering Sarah behind him.

Illidan's protection of Sarah fueled Khadgar's fury and the runes flared, pulsated. He prepared to strike.

"No! Khadgar! You are better than this, old friend!" The unmistakable deep baritone of Vindicator Ocel boomed behind the Archmage. Khadgar turned slowly, a look of shock and disbelief on his face. Ocel stood tall, proud, regal. "He is your friend" the Paladin gestured to Illidan. "... and she is the love of your life and mother of your son."

"Ocel!" Khadgar mouthed. The grinding of the surrounding stone drowned out his voice.

"Go!" Ocel boomed to Illidan and the others, before turning his gaze back to his friend. "You are strong my friend, and you will overcome this dark spell, it is almost extinguished as we speak." The Paladin glanced at Sarah, then back at Khadgar. He held the Archmage's gaze then leaned in and said something only Khadgar could hear. Khadgar nodded slowly in understanding. Ocel pointed towards the Azeroth side of the portal. "Remember. All is not lost. Now go. Move!"

The members of the Kirin Tor fled past Khadgar, the spiritual Paladin, Sarah and Illidan, shouting for any stragglers to follow posthaste.

Fortuitously, brightness like a solar flare spread rapidly through the sky. Shielding their eyes, they tried to see what was happening. Looking out beyond the portal, the vortexes appeared to have halted in their advance. On closer inspection, they were dwindling, shrinking, dispersing.

Sarah stumbled towards the edge of the pillar for a better look. The Void Lords were screaming, fighting against a new flare that was reaching down towards them, it's brilliance oozing, humming with power.

Khadgar appeared beside her, his face laden with relief. His eyes scanned past her. Then, he gazed at her face. In that split second, somehow, amid all the chaos around them; the grinding, scraping, thunderous noise of stone and metal crumbling, the crackle of magic and unearthly forces, the shrieking demise of the Void Lords - he had finally returned to her.

"Sarah!" he said, his eyes full of remorse.

Her heart swelled. With eyes brimming, she reached up to touch his face but, another blinding flash drew their attention out across the ruined land of Draenor. There, coming through the shimmering, heavenly light were the crystalline forms of five gargantuan Naaru, smaller ones following close behind. Their unmistakable song breaking through the din of destruction that had resounded over the land but moments before.

"How is this possible?" Sarah gaped. "They were near extinct."

Khadgar grabbed her hand. Understanding flooded him. "They have been reborn," he replied, hope having returned to his eyes and voice. "The spirits have somehow given the Naaru new life."

Behind them Illidan and Modera were shouting for them to hurry. They could not tear their eyes from the scene and continued to watch as the Void Lords became undone in the wake of the Naaru. Shadows were being sent back to the Great Dark Beyond, the threat of annihilation receding with every passing second. The celestials were pulsing, vibrating, their forms floating above the ground, blessing and healing the land as best they could while sweeping the evil that was the Void, from Draenor itself.

"Sarah! Khadgar! Come on, this is going to collapse." Illidan roared.

Khadgar turned and pulled Sarah towards Illidan. As he reached him he pressed Sarah's hand into the taloned one of the demon hunter. "I'm sorry for - everything. Get her out of here," he said. "Now!"

Without hesitation, Illidan pulled Sarah forward entering the watery centre of the portal. Sarah fought against his grip but as always, he was too strong. "No!" I have to stay with him," she pleaded.

"No! You do not. He is following. Look!"

Music: FOR FREEDOM'S SAKE by Serenity

https://youtu.be/-NfT5URMxLU

She turned and true enough, Khadgar was following but when he caught sight of Ocel once more, he stopped. He engaged the Paladin in conversation, even though it looked like Ocel was trying desperately to usher Khadgar towards the Azerothians and safety.

Panic engulfed her and Sarah struggled again to wriggle free. The demon hunter maintained his grip and pulled her along. The watery gateway was becoming brighter as they closed the last few yards towards Azeroth and the clean air of their world. She tripped as she tried to see behind her. Stumbling, she shouted for Khadgar to hurry.

Daylight hit her, it's brightness unexpectedly brutal for all it was a softer, mellower light than what they had all just bore witness to in Draenor. Illidan didn't release her until they were a good hundred yards from the entrance of the portal.

Drew and the others joined them, relieved to see both safe. Sarah immediately pushed past them, her eyes focused on the entrance to the portal. Her heart was hammering. Then he appeared. She gasped with relief. His eyes found hers and for the first time in days, she saw him smile warmly at her. He had indeed returned.

The deafening crack of solid stone made him look up. The left-hand pillar was starting to slide, a fissure having sliced down at an angle. He turned back to Sarah. Her eyes were wide. "Khadgar! Move!! Come to me now!" she screamed.

Something distracted him. He turned back towards the entrance. "No! Khadgar!" She started to run towards the portal, but immediately demon-hide wings folded around her stopping her in her tracks, pulling her back.

The pillar screamed as the stone ground against itself, cracking and crumbling. The Archmage appeared back at the entrance holding Ateish, his beloved staff; a look of relief and victory on his face.

"Come to me!" Sarah screamed again, both terrified and furious that he went to retrieve the staff. A huge slab hit the ground only feet from where he stood. He looked up. The pillar was starting to slide and break away.

From her right, Sarah caught sight of Drew running towards the pillar. She found herself cast to the ground, rolling over, landing belly down in the dirt as Illidan unfurled his wings, kicking off towards the portal.

The Archmage saw both men approaching. He shook his head, signalling for them to turn back. Drew was almost there, only a few short feet to go. Illidan closed in on the opposite side.

Bernie was beside Sarah now, she was screaming for Drew to turn back. Sarah picked herself up off the ground and tried to run forward. Her feet felt like they were running through molasses, she felt she was getting nowhere. Her panicked eyes met Khadgar's steel orbs. Her heart stopped as she watched him clearly mouth two words -

Forgive me!

With one final ear-splitting crunch of the stone, she drew to a slow, agonising halt.

Helpless, she watched as the pillar collapsed, the rocks, metal and dust swallowing Khadgar whole and Drew with him. Her voice was lost in a silent scream.

All motion slowed to a snail's pace and sound vanished into the vacuum of the noiseless pounding in her ears. People were running past her, their mouths open in silent screams and warnings as they tried to escape the enormous dust cloud that spewed up from the pillar's impact on the ground.

Slowly, sounds started to re-emerge, muffled screams and throaty shouts spun around her head. The sensation of being underwater enveloped her, everything was dulled and she was struggling to breathe. Mindlessly, she started pulling at her hair, clawing her face. Her mouth was still open, screaming Khadgar's name, but she could no longer hear herself pronounce his name.

Bernie's arms surrounded her shoulders pulling her close as Sarah continued looking towards the pillar where she had last seen Khadgar standing. Losing balance the two women slowly stumbled to the ground.

Illidan had escaped the pillar only to be buffeted from the updraught of it hitting the ground. He landed clumsily on his feet but then swiftly made his way to the women's sides as they fell to the ground. He folded his wings over them, protecting them from the outpouring of dust and debris. He roared as some of the rocks, spat out from the collapsing pillar struck him heavily on his back.

After a few minutes, satisfied that there were no more missiles to inflict pain on them, his wings opened and he released the two women. Bernie rose and started calling out for Drew as she shakily approached the rubble. Illidan issued verbal warnings to proceed with caution.

As the dust started to settle, coating both the living and those unfortunate to be victims of the carnage, Sarah's markings started to glow, her senses trying desperately to reach out and pick up heartbeats beneath the rubble.

She fought to keep her tears at bay so she could concentrate. Focusing beyond the agony she felt, her light combed the rubble that was once the pillar.

There! A faint but unmistakable steady beat echoed through her and she pointed to where she sensed its source. Bernie scrambled over the rubble, shouting that she could hear Drew's muffled voice beneath the rock.

Relieved though she was to have picked up his heartbeat, dread engulfed Sarah as her continuing search was proving fruitless. She was becoming frantic.

Another heartbeat was all she wanted.

One beat.

Please!

Time slipped away, as did the chance to locate even a hint of another beat.

The atrabilious consideration hit her hard. There was no mistake. Absolutely none. She just knew.

Khadgar's heart was silent.



A/N - Yes, you have read correctly.  This was actually one of the first (and hardest) chapters I wrote of this book, and it literally took me weeks, continually editing, crying, more editing and more crying with many boxes of tissues purchased and subsequently used.

Although this is sad, I hope you will persevere to the end and share in the other characters' grief and respect for the great Archmage.

PS. Sorry Raid!!