Eve of the Storm
Silvermoon City has always been Quel'Thalas's transportation hub, from which orders can be issued to other places simultaneously and quickly. Establishing the main camp here is the best option, but all military operations of the Elven Kingdom require the King's permission. Alleria is probably putting up with Anasterian's bad temper again. Nathanos only hopes that the King will remember the lessons of the Second War and not wait until the enemy comes knocking before resisting.
Are you alone?
The familiar voice calmed Nathanos's agitated heart. He turned to look at Sylvanas's face, and for a moment he wished she were Alleria, and that he could tell himself some good news, such as the King having agreed to put Quel'Thalas on high alert, but she wasn't.
"Alleria went to Silvermoon City."
Sylvanas nodded thoughtfully. She knew this, but simply wanted an opportunity to get close to Nathanos. With her sister not around, she could approach him and speak to him without any reservations.
"Is everything you're saying true?" the Female Elf raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Will Arthas, and that so-called 'Undead' army, really come?"
Nathanos's expression darkened upon hearing the name, and he also caught the barely concealed worry on Sylvanas's face. "You... are you worried?"
"Aren't you the same?" She smiled, her eyes fixed ahead. "If there's anything else that can make you think right now that's here alone, it's the impending war."
"Perhaps I'm thinking about my wedding with Alleria."
"Ah!! I get it, you must not love her, right?" Sylvanas's teasing tone surprised Nathanos, who looked at her with a puzzled expression.
The Female Elf sensed the strange gaze from the other party, but remained calm as she stared into those dark eyes and replied, "Who would look gloomy when thinking about their wedding? Unless they don't love their fiancée, right?"
Nathanos's confusion slowly turned into embarrassment. Sylvanas was right; what he had just said was utterly terrible. The only one who unsettled him now was Arthas, a fact he couldn't hide.
The two of them would fight, and then... he might even kill him. In a daze, Nathanos realized that he had more than one worry. He had never imagined that he would one day be fighting the Prince, and if he really did defeat Arthas, could he bring himself to kill him?
"It's okay, you're not alone in facing him. You have me, and you have Alleria."
The sweet comfort reassured him considerably and brought him back to his senses, but... he was startled— Sylvanas's captivating face had appeared before him without him noticing, and Nathanos could even feel her breath, her hand caressing his face. When...?
Nathanos hastily retreated, accidentally knocking over a vase on the cabinet. The sound of the ornament shattering was accompanied by Sylvanas's melodious laughter. Although she had teased him many times before, Nathanos still couldn't be on guard, and for some reason, he had never truly been angry at her actions. At this moment, his only reaction was to look around, hoping no one had seen what was happening.
"Didn't you say Alleria isn't here? What are you afraid of?" Sylvanas leaned against the window, her eyes and movements exuding charm.
Why do you always treat me like this, Sylvanas?
The Female Elf played with her hair and smiled slightly. "Do you remember what I told you, Nathanos? Nothing will change my attitude towards you, whether you marry my sister or not. Nothing between us will change."
Nathanos pretended not to hear her. He tidied up the ground slightly and then changed the subject, saying, "It won't take long to get here from Lordaeron. If Arthas were to bring an army, it would only take six days. The Undead are a greater threat than the Orcs and the Windrunner. I don't know if we can win, but I hope you are safe and sound."
Having said that, he turned to leave, or perhaps to escape his awkward situation. His earnest words would likely only make the Female Elf laugh even harder. But as he reached the door, his arm was grabbed by the Female Elf from behind. Sylvanas pulled him back forcefully and embraced him tightly. Nathanos hadn't expected her to be so strong and was stunned by her actions, even forgetting to struggle free.
"Call me Sylvanas, Nathanos," she murmured, savoring the brief moment with him. Sylvanas had always believed she was more attentive to Nathanos's movements than Alleria, only that her sister had more authority to act.
If you were to ask her why she treated Nathanos so differently, she would never admit to liking him, but the feeling was almost identical. That was enough; Nathanos never harbored any resentment towards her, never!
"You too, are safe and sound."
Arthas continued to speak with Kel'Thuzad's spirit, trying his best to conceal it. The necromancer told him many things and helped him build up his army.
The plague-born Undead, the Abomination stitched together from severed limbs, the fallen ghosts—their arrival was just as Arthas had anticipated. But a new group of servants was unexpected, and one he had never seen before.
The army encountered them on the way; they moved by the regular movement of their four legs.
"Spiders?" Arthas looked at them with considerable confusion.
"This is the Lich King's new Warrior to you," Kel'Thuzad's voice came from beside him again. Only he could see the necromancer's ghost and hear his voice.
"Did he send these... guys to me? What are they?"
"You can call them Crypt Lord," Kel'Thuzad explained. "Their ancestors were an arrogant race known as the 'Qiraji,' who, in their lifetime, possessed great intelligence and were dedicated to eliminating any alien creatures."
Arthas looked at the spider-like creature before him and shuddered with disgust. "Very well. Now what?"
"Now? No, they were defeated by our master many years ago. The Lich King transformed these Crypt Lords and their leader Anub'arak into undead. Now they are here to help you, Prince Arthas, for your and our master's glory."
"Crypt Lord?" Arthas muttered. These spiders were enormous and hideous, looking incredibly dangerous. They nimbly and skillfully merged into the army of zombies, ghosts, and Abomination. Yes, his power had increased again.
Heading east from Andorhal, the Meat Wagon creaked in pursuit, passing Felstone Farm and Dalson's Farm, crossing the Thondroril River, and entering eastern Lordaeron. Everywhere were Undead creatures spawned by the plague, easily summoned like loyal dogs with a simple mental command. Nothing could stop Arthas, except once when he tightened the reins of his Invincible army midway. At Marius Farm, he had imagined Nathanos still there, surrounded by his men. But his servants, following his orders, searched the entire farm without finding him, yet...
... The Prince's idea made him laugh.
"Your idea is interesting, Prince Arthas. The Lich King agrees, but I must remind you that Nathanos poses a great threat to us, even more so than Uther."
"Of course I know, Ghost." Arthas glanced at Kel'Thuzad beside him, the man's ethereal appearance obscuring his expression. "However, this is a gift I've prepared for Nathanos; he'll like it. And I will defeat him and turn him into the Lich King's servant."
"In that case, the master will be very happy."
The Prince nodded and said to his lieutenant, Marvin, who was attending him, "Make sure that woman is safe and sound. I want her to enter Quel'Thalas alive."
"Yes, Your Prince."
Kel'Thuzad watched Marvin leave, stroking his beard as if to himself, and warned Arthas, "From now on, when you talk to me, you'd better make sure there's no one else around, nobody."
"Marvin is my faithful servant."
"That won't do either, it's too unsafe," Kel'Thuzad insisted stubbornly. He had been quite talkative lately, and he had previously told Arthas not to trust Tichondrius or the other demons.
"Demon Lord are not to be trusted; they are responsible for monitoring the Lich King. I will tell you everything... after I am resurrected."
This suspense displeased Arthas. If only he could hear Kel'Thuzad's voice, why not just tell him directly? Did the Lich King suspect he couldn't keep a secret?
This unpleasant thought was quickly dispelled by the whispers of Frostmourne. The fallen Prince, leading an entire army, continued his journey. Near the borders of Quel'Thalas' territory, he encountered Elf scouts. These long-eared creatures were renowned for their formidable reconnaissance abilities. It was likely that news of the invasion had spread before Arthas even discovered them. But that didn't matter; the Undead army had grown to an astonishing size, and despite Kel'Thuzad's repeated warnings, he remained confident he could break through and successfully traverse this magical, eternal land to reach the Sunwell.