Good fortune

After spending a wonderful night with Jaina, Arthas decided to stay in Stormwind City a few more days. The scenery in the south of the continent was well worth exploring.

As luck would have it, Jaina had been granted a short break, so Arthas planned to take her sightseeing around the Kingdom of Stormwind for a few days.

"Are you sure you don't need me to send guards with you?"

Varian felt uneasy about letting the two of them go without an escort. Their status was simply too important. If anything happened, how was he supposed to explain it to their respective royal fathers?

"Varian, are you worried about the safety of a paladin and an archmage?" Arthas certainly didn't want a few third wheels tagging along. "What danger could there be in Elwynn Forest? We're just going to enjoy the scenery and relax."

Well, Varian really couldn't argue with that. He was torn, too, because Arthas clearly didn't want anyone interrupting his time alone with Jaina. Insisting on sending guards would only make Varian seem unreasonable.

"All right, then. But you have to promise me you'll stick to Elwynn Forest and Westfall. Preferably, don't even go into the Redridge Mountains. There are still remnants of the orcs there that haven't been cleared out."

"I understand, Varian. I promise we won't go anywhere particularly dangerous, all right?"

"Good... And remember, don't even think about going to Duskwood or Karazhan. Stay away from them!" Varian emphasized those two places in particular.

After the fallen Guardian Medivh was killed by Anduin Lothar, the chaotic energy unleashed upon his death had transformed the once-sunny woodland into a sinister realm of death. From then on, it was known as Duskwood.

SI:7 had already lost several capable agents there, and now Mathias Shaw only dared let his scouts operate along the outskirts of Duskwood.

Beset by political troubles, Varian had no time to attend to Duskwood's residents. He could only station a small number of troops along the forest's borders to receive the refugees who managed to escape.

According to reports from a few scouts lucky enough to return alive, Raven Hill, the largest town there, had been reduced to ruins, while the cemetery in the woods behind it had become a paradise for the undead.

The dead had crawled out of their graves, and terrifying ghosts drifted through empty rooms. Supposedly, a fearsome skeleton also roamed the area, mercilessly killing every living person he saw.

At the foot of the mountains in southern Duskwood, a band of ogres who had escaped during the Orc War had also settled and multiplied. They, too, were monsters that devoured people without leaving so much as a bone.

In short, it was no place for the living. Who knew what other dangers lurked there?

As for Karazhan, the fallen Guardian's mage tower, it was an even more ominous place. Under Medivh's influence, the once-lush valley had become a barren wasteland of jagged rocks, teeming with dangerous mutated beasts and creatures of darkness.

"We're going sightseeing, not adventuring, Varian. You're worrying too much." Arthas certainly wouldn't be reckless enough to enter Medivh's tower. That would be no different from suicide.

Although Karazhan's collection was undeniably tempting, the time had not yet come to plunder it.

After saying goodbye to Varian, Arthas and Jaina rode out of Stormwind City and began their journey together.

Their first stop was Goldshire, the Kingdom of Stormwind's most important town. Although it, too, had suffered during the First Orc War, the rebuilt Goldshire was just as prosperous as before.

They reached Goldshire at noon, with the sun high overhead, and entered the famous Lion's Pride Inn. Listening to the lively tavern tune, Arthas and Jaina found an open table and sat down.

The tavern buzzed with conversation. Watching the travelers, merchants, and armed adventurers coming and going, Jaina said to Arthas, "It's so lively here. It reminds me of the taverns in Boralus."

"The Lion's Pride Inn is one of the most famous taverns in the Kingdom of Stormwind. You can hear plenty of interesting news here, too."

Arthas motioned for Jaina to listen closely to the conversations around them.

"How are things over at Fargodeep Mine lately? Are kobolds still coming out of the mine?"

"Same as ever. Seems they're recruiting adventurers to deal with it, but the pay isn't very good."

"The road to Westfall is getting harder and harder to travel, and grain prices keep going up! Damn those bandits and gnolls!"

"Exactly. A mug of ale used to cost ten coppers, and now it's fifteen-hey, innkeeper, can't you lower the price?"

"Get lost!"

That last exchange made Jaina chuckle. She tugged at the hood of her cloak and asked with a smile, "Are all adventurers this funny?"

"Sometimes they can be pretty amusing," Arthas replied. "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Jaina thought for a moment. "Stone Cairn Lake."

Stone Cairn Lake lay in eastern Elwynn Forest. Its scenery was nothing particularly remarkable, but a circle of stone monuments stood on the small island in its waters. The names of those who had died in the First Orc War were engraved upon them.

The central monument bore the names of the fearless warriors who had fallen defending Stormwind City, while the surrounding ring of monuments commemorated the innocent civilians who had perished.

Every year, when Winter Veil ended and spring arrived, the people of the Kingdom of Stormwind would make their way to Stone Cairn Lake of their own accord to mourn the dead.

Arthas nodded. "Then shall we visit Northshire Valley first, take a look at Northshire Abbey, and spend the night there before setting off for Stone Cairn Lake tomorrow? Otherwise, we may have to sleep outdoors tonight."

"Of course."

After lunch at the Lion's Pride Inn, they continued on horseback, admiring the scenery along the way. Elwynn Forest was beautiful, with fertile farmland and dense woods. Its mild climate and abundant rainfall made it an ideal place to live.

Unless one ventured deep into the forest, there were few fierce beasts or monsters. With guards from Stormwind City and local town militias patrolling the area, Elwynn Forest was also quite safe.

Jaina said reflectively, "The Kingdom of Stormwind suffered a terrible disaster, but now everything is improving, and people's lives are getting back on track."

Most of the trees the orcs had felled for their war effort had grown back. The peaceful forest seemed to have recovered completely from the wounds of war.

"The forebears of the Kingdom of Stormwind led their people over mountains and across rivers to reach this land. Their willingness to face hardship and danger has long since become part of their blood."

When upheaval swept across the Eastern Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Stormwind, with its uniquely favorable geography and indomitable people, became one of the last surviving nations of human civilization.

Who could have imagined that the newly reborn, fragile Kingdom of Stormwind would become humanity's final bastion over the next dozen or so years?

As Arthas told Jaina about the kingdom's history, he also introduced her to its distinctive culture.

"You know so much, Arthas." Jaina smiled softly, her beautiful eyes reflecting only him. "Who would have thought the prince of Lordaeron was a historian as well?"

Arthas remained as modest as ever. "I only know a little. I'm still a long way from being a real historian-"

"Help!"

Arthas broke off. Looking at the young prince, Jaina frowned. "Did you hear that?"

"It came from the woods to the north." Arthas drew on the reins and guided his horse onto a side path leading into the forest.

"I'm coming with you."

They hadn't gone far before they spotted an old man struggling forward, dragging a burly man behind him. The burly man was covered in wounds, and his leg appeared to have been bitten by some wild beast. Blood streamed from it, and he had already lost consciousness.

When the old man saw Arthas and Jaina riding toward him, hope lit up his eyes. "Please, save my son!"

Arthas immediately dismounted and approached him. A ball of holy light gathered in his hand as he began treating the burly man's wounds. "Sir, what happened?"

"Thank you, honored priest!" The old man hurriedly thanked Arthas. "My son and I went hunting in the woods, but we ran into a pack of wolves. He was nearly eaten while protecting me."

"Your son is very brave." Jaina took a waterskin from her pack and handed it to the old man. "Don't worry. He'll be all right."

After Arthas treated him, the burly man's wounds were largely healed, though blood loss had left his face rather pale.

"He's out of danger, but he's lost quite a bit of blood. You should take him to Northshire Abbey so the priests and physicians there can keep him under observation."

Flesh wounds like these were not particularly difficult for Arthas to treat. The purifying power of the holy light could even remove diseases caused by wolf bites and scratches. Had the man not been bleeding for so long, he would already have woken up and been able to walk on his own.

Arthas thought for a moment, then said to Jaina, "Let's teleport straight to Northshire. Otherwise, this gentleman and his son probably won't make it back before dark."

Before leaving Stormwind City, Jaina had already memorized several commonly used teleportation points in Elwynn Forest. Opening a temporary portal would be no trouble for her.

Azure teleportation light flashed, and the old man found himself standing in bewilderment outside Northshire Abbey, supporting his son. Then Arthas and Jaina emerged from the portal, leading their horses.

A priest soon brought the old man and his son into the abbey for further examination and care.

After stabling their horses, the two met the old man again outside the treatment room. At the sight of his two rescuers, he rose excitedly but could not find the words to speak. Then something occurred to him, and he fished a few silver coins from his coarse clothes, trying to hand them to Arthas with trembling hands.

"My heroes, without you, my son might have died in that forest. I have nothing to repay you with. I was going to take this money into town to buy supplies. It isn't much, but please accept it."

Arthas pushed the old man's hand back. "We only helped because we happened to be there. Even without us, the patrolling militia could have found you. Keep those silver coins. Your son still needs further treatment and rest."

"I... I..."

The old man felt ashamed. They had saved his child and preserved his family, yet he had nothing worthy to offer in return. With a long sigh, he asked, "May I know the names of my two heroes?"

"I'm Arthas, and this is Jaina. We're travelers from Stormwind City."

Unable to offer them anything in return, the old man could only remember their names and bring his family to pray for Arthas and Jaina at the abbey, wishing them a lifetime of peace and good fortune.