While Saurfang's troops were still seasick on the road, Thrall repeatedly sent envoys to negotiate over the war in Ashenvale, but Tyrande refused every time. She declared that they would fight the Horde to the bitter end.
She ordered more Night Elves mobilized to the front. Aside from the elderly and children who could not fight, everyone else—regardless of faction, faith, or age—was dragged to the front lines to fill the gaps. They were all Long-lived Races anyway. If Ashenvale could not be defended, the Night Elves would face national extinction.
Naturally, these actions also sparked opposition, especially from those Druid layabouts who loved sleeping and immersing themselves in the Emerald Dream. After all, the Orcs were not the Burning Legion. They were only active around Ashenvale and had shown no intention of attacking the Night Elves' core territory, the World Tree on Mount Hyjal.
So these people sought out the Archdruid Malfurion, intending to have him speak with Tyrande properly, reach a peace agreement with the Orcs as soon as possible, and restore a peaceful life to the Night Elves.
Having just resolved the crisis at An'qiraj, Malfurion was buoyed by these people's support and felt as though he had reclaimed control of the world. He had originally wanted to bring Fandral Staghelm back to Ashenvale with him. Unexpectedly, Staghelm flatly refused, staying in Silithus and refusing to involve himself in other matters.
Malfurion had no choice but to personally lead a large group of idle Druids to Ashenvale and persuade Tyrande to negotiate peace with the Orcs.
Malfurion's arrival caused undercurrents to stir within the elven main camp in Ashenvale.
Some elves thought of their fallen comrades and gritted their teeth as they said, "The Orcs killed so many of our people and occupied our ancestral lands. We