The sound of engines came from the south west. They looked up. The King's gunship had reached the coast of Suramar and was almost at their location. It was flanked by smaller flying machines. King Varian Wrynn had come to join his people in the final battle to rid Azeroth of the Burning Legion.

A few moments later Sarah saw Anduin coming towards her, his face smiling. The King strode purposefully behind with his guard at his side. "Anduin!" she said as the Prince hugged her. "What are you doing? It is not wise for both the monarch and his heir to be here."

"Father could not stop me, no matter how hard he tried. And I said to him, how better would I learn how to lead men than to be at his side in battle."

"And he bought that?" she smiled, keeping her voice low.

The prince smiled back. "I learned how to do that from listening to you," he winked, then continued, "I know I look at things differently from him, but I also learned, that sometimes you have to fight for what is important. Negotiations do not always work and I learned much from Goldshire."

Sarah's lips twitched at the memory of seeing him marching through the Keep's corridors in his armour. "You are going to be as great a leader as your father one day, Anduin."

"He will be better, Sarah." King Varian had reached them. His scarred features beamed at her.

"Your Majesty," she bowed.

Varian greeted her and the others warmly.

To the east, the demon hunters were returning. Their numbers had suffered from their battle in the palace, but they still had in the region of two hundred plus, able bodied fighters.

Illidan glided down and stood in front of the King of Stormwind. Varian took in the enormity of the demon hunter before him. "You must be the Betray..." He had began.

"Lord Illidan Stormrage, Your Majesty," Sarah said quickly, unable to stop herself from correcting anyone who used the derogatory title.

Varian Wrynn fought to hide a smirk at her rapid defense of the demon hunter. Illidan on the other hand did not, his fangs glistened as his lips curled in a knowing smile.

"Of course," King Varian acknowledged. He looked back at the seven and a half foot demon hunter. "It is an honour, Lord Illidan. Sarah has vouched for you fiercely, since the day she came to us and her faith in you seems to have been well founded. Your people are brave and loyal warriors, you trained them well." He held out his hand.

The demon hunter stared at the King's hand. The gesture had been unexpected. He looked round at his brother, who slowly nodded. Illidan reached out with taloned hand and firmly clasping the King's forearm, shook in acceptance of his comradeship. "Your Majesty," he replied, inclining his head. Varian's eyes looked at the huge horns protruding from Illidan's skull, but he managed to keep an impassive expression in place.

Sarah smiled. Things had certainly come a long way since first she stepped into the King's court. This was truly a momentous occasion and it was expressed on everyone's face, even that of Tyrande. A small smile lifted the corners of the High Priestess' mouth.

Illidan turned and held out his hand to Arcaena. She moved forward and stood at his side. "This is my first Lieutenant, Arcaena." Illidan introduced her to the assembled group who did not know her. "She has fought valiantly at my side for many years even before the ... unfortunate events at The Black Temple." He then turned and addressed Sarah directly. "I wish to thank you, Sarah Metcalfe, for befriending my wife and ensuring others did the same."

"W - Wife?" Sarah gasped. She turned stunned eyes to Arcaena. "You were married all this time?"

Tyrande's smile faltered a little, but she quickly recovered when Malfurion glanced her way. At that same moment, Khadgar had recalled the story of the unrequited love between Illidan and Tyrande. The Leader of the Kald'orei's fading smile had not escaped his notice either.

"Yes," Arcaena grinned. "And I owe you a debt Sarah which I cannot think of how best to repay."

Sarah stepped up and faced the night elf demon hunter who had become a good friend. "Stay alive! That is all you need do."

Khadgar stood arms crossed, laughing lightly to himself. Sarah had even managed a happy reunion between the once named Betrayer and his bride.

"I must speak with Illidan," Sarah continued to Arcaena. "Well, both of you probably, considering," she smiled, still amazed by the fact that it had been Illidan's wife she had befriended all this time. She had thought the relationship between the two had been nothing more than Arcaena's infatuation, a crush. She proceeded to inform them of her communications and how it would combine with the plans to close the Tomb. They were listening intently when they were interrupted by a deafening noise. The grinding of stone was screaming from the direction of the Temple. The doors to the structure glowed with the eerie fel green leaking from around the frame and large hinges. Shadows of immense demonic creatures shimmered through the green rays pouring forth.

"It is time," Illidan said staring at the Temple.

"Tyrande, are you ready?" Malfurion asked.

The High Priestess tore her attention from the Temple and returned to the priestesses and mages. "Almost there," she replied resuming the incantations with the others.

King Varian shouted the command to ready arms. Everyone fell into place.

Khadgar crossed to Sarah, his steel eyes fiercely protective. "You are sure?"

"Yes," she replied. "Positive. Now please, stay safe and protect Drew and Erik for me." She gave him a parting kiss. "Illidan, Arcaena, good luck." She shouted to them as she moved towards the Pillars.

Khadgar ushered Drew and Erik forward and they made their way across the grounds to the avenue leading to the front of the Temple.

Illidan and his demon hunters readied themselves at the top steps of the building. The doorway continued to pulse green with the moving shadows approaching the entrance.

"She awaits you," came the mystery voice, much closer now. Still, it sounded in only Sarah's head.

"I am here," she replied silently. "Just a little longer."

The doors of the Temple burst open and the first of the demons emerged. The now familiar consortium of felguards, felhounds, succubi, darkhounds, felstalkers, wrathguards, infernals, abyssal poured forth.

Music: One Day composed by Hans Zimmer from Pirates of The Caribbean At World's End

https://youtu.be/cScVoZWVDLQ

The Illidari swooped in and the allies followed, attacking from all sides of the entrance. Illidan tried to stem the flow of demons as once more, with more fury than he had previously demonstrated, he directed the devastating eye beam at the doorway. Warriors and paladins ploughed in cutting down the demons that had passed beyond the demon hunter's point of attack.

Mages, priests, shamans and warlocks cast their healing, protective and shielding spells on the allies and then pelted the demons with arcane, frost, fire and shadow spells fuelled by the power of the elements. Flashes and bolts of amethyst, azure and jade fired overhead, impacting the demons as they forged ahead, swinging axes and swords at the allies. Fiery orange and gold exploded, combusting others still as they maniacally attacked the defenders to the east of the temple entrance.

Casualties were about even on both sides. Blood and innards were sprayed over foe and ally alike. Limbs hacked off were catapulted over the steps into the one time beautiful gardens. The temple steps and walls were soon bathed in both red and green washes. The stench of death rose in the air – copper and sulphur mixing together.

"Tyrande! You must fortify the incantation!" Sarah shouted.

The High Priestess nodded and she and the others pulled together with druids nearby to unify the power of nature through the Emerald Dream. The incantations intensified. The ground began to quake.

The temple entrance still spewed forth its endless stream of demons. They hacked their way through the front lines, leaving countless bleeding and screaming allies in their wake. The demons were not without their casualties also, but their numbers equally seemed unlimited.

Varian Wrynn fought alongside his men, striking the towering doomguards with his sword Shalamayne. The demonic scum knew not how to stop moving forward. They were relentless.

Anduin followed to the left of his father, powering a shower of golden shimmering light imbuing allies with holy power, healing them and strengthening their resolve. He also cut down advancing demons as they blocked his path.

Drew fought hard and valiantly, once more having teamed up with his worgen warrior comrade, Elias. They hacked and sliced their way through, both keeping an keen eye on the King and ensuring others kept vigil also.

Erik stood steady with three other hunters as they worked in a wedge formation sending in their trusty pets to rip and tear at the felguards and their hounds. Once the allied pets had targeted their prey, the hunters sprayed the demons with a barrage of various missiles – some tipped in poison. Traps were launched to deter any others who tried to flank them.

Illidan ordered his Illiadri inside the doors of the Temple to the mouth of the portal from where the demons emerged. They flew en masse and gutted every one of them as soon as they stepped through the swirling green mass that was the portal to Argus. This at least enabled the allies to deal with those that had already reached the grounds of the Temple. Illidan himself stayed above the entrance, waiting to see the signal that would spell the closing of the portal had commenced.

"It is time," the voice in Sarah's head spoke again. "Bring her forth!"

The markings on Sarah's body began to pulse, and glow. It was not without some discomfort, but she fought down the building aches. Her eyes searched in the direction of the Temple, praying Illidan would recognise the signs. She was now well aware of his abilities and the prophecies. She managed a small smile as she caught the glow of his huge form in a similar state as her own. Her eyes turned into the back of her sockets and the opaque glow grew, flared and fired from them.

The Pillars behind her started to vibrate, a deep thrumming noise building steadily. Tyrande looked towards Sarah and the Pillars. She was shocked at the sight of her glowing body, but maintained the incantations.

Khadgar noticed Illidan as his torso was once more illuminated and he shone with the brilliant white gold light of the naaru. It writhed from his fingers, sockets and mouth.

Quickly he glanced towards the Pillars and saw Sarah almost mirroring the demon hunter. She had told him this would happen, but still it momentarily froze him. It was Varian who shouted across for Khadgar to prepare the shields. He snapped out of his entrancement and signalled to his mages, and priests. She had after all assured him she knew what she was doing. Still ...

Restoration druids and shamans laid down their healing circles, spells and totems all over the area where the allies fought. The magical shields started to flow over the allies securing them in dome like structures emblazoned with runic symbols.

Sarah felt the power in her reaching its climax. Her voice was amplified beyond its natural capability and all the allies heard her as she called forth. "AZEROTH! AWAKEN! HEED YOUR BRETHREN."

Behind her the Pillars creaked and groaned. The stone and ore within them began grinding, breaking down. Constellations began to glisten and shift within the structures. The five fingers of the Pillars contracted and pulled together like a giant fist. The ground, even the very air trembled. The vibration grew. A sound frequency built with it, cutting through the din of weapons clashing and firing and voices screaming and shouting. The high pitch reached a crescendo – many clamped their hands to their ears trying to shut the noise out much to their downfall. It was an opportunity for blades to be thrust and bodies carved.

Suddenly, the Pillars imploded, shattered, turning into sand. The billions of grains swirled and rose, sucked up into a huge spinning vortex, gaining speed and power. It started to snake, tapering at its height. Then with alarming velocity it drove back down, thundering towards Sarah. Her glowing form levitated, offering to meet the pending blast.

Khadgar turned to see the spectacle. His heart was in his mouth as the distance between the sand vortex and Sarah's body shortened. The shields were up over all the allies, but he felt helpless. She had no shield. No protection.

A split second before the vortex connected with Sarah's form it disintegrated, vanished, leaving only glistening, ghostly tendrils which snaked around her body, making it glow unnaturally bright.

With an unearthly force, piercing rays projected from her and converged in front of the holy building. She was a cosmic conductor. The allies stared in awe as the image of a titan almost as large as the Temple itself armed with a gigantic staff, materialised in the temple grounds.

Azeroth had arisen.

Illidan utilised his power and from him a halo surged forward and washed out over the sea of demons that populated the temple grounds. They fell like dominoes and opened the way for the image of Azeroth to approach the doorway and commence closing the portal within the temple.

He called his Illidari to retreat from the building. Their leathery wings carried them out and over the shielded allies and the spectral titan.

Azeroth then drew all the power of its brethren and slammed the staff to the ground. The jolt shook the very foundations of the temple, its stone started to crumble and cracks ran on the ground from the staff's base all the way up to the ancient doorway.

The allies started to cheer as the green glow inside the temple's doorway started to flicker and diminish. It was a premature celebration however. The stone continued to crumble but a low rumbling from underneath formed. Soldiers started to panic as fractures skittered across the ground around their feet.

Khadgar, King Varian and the commanders of the battalions called the retreat. The men and women of the allied forces fled back towards Tyrande and the priestesses. The servants of Elune still stood, eyes closed, reciting the incantations with the aid of the druids. They were not to stop, no matter what.

The ground erupted. Stone slabs, rocks, pebbles and earth spewed up in the air causing a shower of missiles to rain down on the retreating defenders. From the depths of the temple grounds arose the fallen avatar of Sargeras.

The gigantic demonic form pushed itself up, earth and stone residue falling from his enormous fiery bulk. The armoured demon stretched up, towering over the allies. His flaming gaze watched all the soldiers as they ran towards the back of the temple grounds. He snatched at some as they passed by, their screams lost in the sizzling grip as it cauterised and welded their armour to flesh and bones. The whoosh of flames filled the air as his mighty arms swung down and he continued grabbing and swiping at the fleeing bodies.

Illidan once more ablaze with the power of the naaru blasted the demon with searing beams of holy light. It caught the titan off guard, one of his horns taken the brunt of the attack. Illidan's halo projected once more but this time it took with it a small number of allies as they fled.

The voice from the image of Azeroth rose above the catastrophic din of destruction. "Be gone Sargeras! You will leave this world and return from whence you came." She slammed her staff again on the ground. The boom shook the temple once more.

Sargeras' balance wavered and the gigantic fiery body slid partially down one of the chasms his resurgence had created. "No, I will beat you all! I claim this world."

"Be gone!" Azeroth slammed the staff afresh. The earth opened further and tendrils from surrounding flora, roots, trees all plant life crawled towards the fiery avatar. They started to curl around his body, but the heat seared them within seconds. They became brittle, dry and snapped and crumbled from his body like blackened ashes in a fire grate.

Khadgar called the mages and shamans to assist. Together they fired frost and water bolts at the titan. Freezing circles were planted around the chasm the avatar occupied. Now nature's gifts were able to rise and slither around Sargeras as gradually his intense heat was being drained.

The soldiers who had reached the rear of the temple grounds moved back again. Their victorious roars as they charged at Sargeras was now the dominant sound in the grounds. Hundreds of allies, Illidari and Azeroth herself worked together to beat the avatar down.

The portal was closing, and finally it dragged Sargeras back to the world of Argus. The temple collapsed completely, massive clouds of dust, gravel and earth from the smashed stone and violated ground erupted in the air.

The image of Azeroth flickered, pulsed and then faded from before the allies eyes. The defenders were left coughing and gasping, their armour and skin coated in the particles still floating down from the powdered nimbus. All that was left in the titan's place were five orbs dancing in constellations, spinning only a few feet above the ground. It was all that remained of the Pillars of Creation.

Sarah's body slumped to the ground with a dull thud. Tyrande quickly knelt beside her. Turning her over she gently swept her hair from her face.

Khadgar ran towards them followed in quick procession by Drew and Erik. Anduin shot past them all and started to heal Sarah's new injuries. Tyrande looked up at Khadgar. His eyes were fraught with worry. The High Priestess nodded. "She will be fine." She smiled.

Immense relief washed over them. Khadgar bent down and picked Sarah up. Gently he cradled her to his chest and kissed her brow.

Varian appeared beside him. "It is over," Varian said, quiet reverence in his voice. "We will stay and help the injured. Take her home, Khadgar. Now she must rest."

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