A Mission Against the Lich King

When I first met Saurfang, he was just an ordinary soldier. When I saw Saurfang again, he shared the same goal as me. It's hard to believe I even remember him. I feel sorry for him, but I'm also incredibly excited to see him free from Arthas's control. He was one of the Lordaeron soldiers who led the expedition to Northrend; he must know what happened.

I think we'll have a lot to talk about.

It was evening two days later when they arrived at the Spirit Tower. Saurfang wanted to continue, but his soldiers needed rest, for they were all living beings. He hadn't spoken much with them along the way; only one soldier, Luried, dared to speak to him.

"Sir... uh, I heard you were the first Death Knight to join the Alliance."

"As far as I know, I am indeed one; I only recently became a soldier of the Alliance. Although the living still maintain a clear distance from me," Saurfang replied, and the conversation ended.

He didn't intend to continue the conversation. Whether he was the first Death Knight to join the Alliance was irrelevant; Saurfang cared more about the present, feeling this was the reward for his hard work. It was his first time commanding, his first real command since breaking free from the Lich King, and he could hardly believe it... Leading these soldiers into battle felt amazing and unexpected. The Death Knight even forgot how unfamiliar this place was.

The Death Knight had never heard of this place before. It was located in the easternmost part of the Borean Tundra, on its edge. He looked at the map with growing confusion, more and more questions swirling in his mind. He had no memory of this place, so how did Talbert know about it? Both Fortress of Courage and Warsong Fortress were surrounded by the Undead army; it was virtually impossible for scouts to break through the blockade. And why would Talbert send him and these soldiers to attack a city? What was their purpose? If it was simply to fight the Scourge, wouldn't it have been more meaningful to repel the Undead Fortress of Courage?

Before he knew it, Saurfang began to have doubts about the operation, feeling that something was not right.

"Um...sir."

The Death Knight heard someone behind him and turned around. It was Luried. "What's wrong?"

"I just did a headcount and found that Private Braun, who was with us, is missing."

"He betrayed us?" Saurfang asked.

"No, I think... he must have run away."

"Then it's alright." The Death Knight waved his hand, dismissing Luried. He wouldn't pursue those who fled, for they had the right to choose their own fate. When facing the Scourge Undead, the most evil enemy, fear wasn't shameful; on the contrary... it was wise. As long as his soldiers didn't betray him, Saurfang wouldn't care about their fate. Whether they fled, died, or disappeared was irrelevant.

In Northrend, the phrase "not in control of one's own destiny" applies to everyone.

Luried returned to his companions, while Saurfang headed further away from them until he could no longer hear their noise.

He walked and walked until he stopped in a thicket, where there were tracks of shovel-toothed deer on the snow. The surroundings finally quieted down, only to be broken again immediately.

"Oh? There are Death Knight here?"

The voice from behind made Saurfang quickly draw his twin swords and turn around, assuming a defensive stance towards the speaker. Those crimson eyes immediately made the Death Knight uneasy. The other person was also an Undead, but not Death Knight; he resembled a Ranger. Saurfang only remembered that the High Elven Kingdom had such archers; his friend Koltira was a Ranger standing before him.

"Wait, you look familiar..." The Undead Ranger narrowed his eyes. Saurfang sensed danger. If the other party recognized him, it would be equivalent to knowing that he had betrayed the Scourge, and they would definitely attack him.

"Die, Undead scum." The Death Knight raised his twin swords, crossed them, and swung them at the Undead's neck.

"That's a good move!" To Saurfang's surprise and anger, the Undead jumped back to dodge his attack, and his evaluation sounded like a provocation, saying that Saurfang couldn't hurt him at all.

The Death Knight cursed under his breath, quite surprised to see the Undead Ranger had increased the distance to nearly ten yards. He knew Ranger were agile and nimble, but ten yards was an absurdity, reminding Saurfang that his opponent was no ordinary Undead creature.

"Come here!" Saurfang reached out and cast Death Grip on the Undead. But the undead swung its right hand, deflecting the spell and only knocking down a tree.

"How is this possible?"

"Nothing is impossible," the Undead said, the red in his eyes growing even more intense. "My target is also a Death Knight. For years I have been studying his power, searching for a way to defeat him."

"Wait, you said 'also'? What does that mean?"

"Isn't it?" the Undead laughed, a sound like a shovel-toothed deer burying its antlers in a snowdrift. "You should be a Death Knight, shouldn't you? Have you forgotten the oath your Highlord Mograine swore before Light's Hope Chapel?"

"I haven't forgotten!" Saurfang gritted his teeth. "Arthas will be destroyed."

"Therefore, you may take back your weapons. They should be aimed at the Scourge. As for me, I will not pursue your Recklessness and impulsive attack and offense."

Saurfang sneered, "Aren't I targeting the Scourge's minions right now? Or how can you prove you're not a Scourge lackey?"

"I admire you, Death Knight. I also remember who you are, but I've forgotten your name." The Undead Ranger pulled down his hood. Suddenly, Saurfang's eyes widened. He instinctively took a step forward, then another, each step filling him with even more surprise.

"You are... Lord Nathanos." Saurfang recognized him; he saw a familiar outline on that badly damaged face. "How is this possible? Kel'Thuzad said you had already..."

"How much of what the Cult of the Damned says is true?" Nathanos gently peeled a piece of skin off his face from the wound. "I'm glad you still recognize me, but could you help me remember your name first?"

"My name is Saurfang, sir."

"Yes, it's you. I remember everything," said the Witherer. "I was all ready to fight you again. I thought you didn't remember me either."

"No, I can't forget you, my lord," said the Death Knight.

"Why? Did I do something that impressed you?"

"Apart from death, we... all did the same thing," Saurfang explained, his words piquing Nathanos' curiosity. "I participated in the attack on Quel'Thalas, my lord, and I witnessed your ultimate fate..."

"Enough!" Nathanos interrupted him sharply. "Don't mention it again."

"I'm very sorry. It seems you remember what happened back then."

The Witherer closed his eyes and said, "I can never forget how grave my sins are, and you don't need to remind me."

"We are the same, my lord." Saurfang placed his hand on his chest. "My mother, Vivian ... also died at the hands of her son, and it was the Lich King who ordered me to do so."

Indeed, we are the same.

The Death Knight nodded in agreement and said, "I always thought you were dead, my lord. You know, I served in Naxxramas for a time. When you were besieged at Marius Farm by the High Elf and Stormwind City assassins, Kel'Thuzad got wind of it. He sent men to the farm to search for your body, but they only found the charred house..."

"Everyone thought I had vanished completely. But I am still here... and I have been preparing for many years to take revenge on the Lich King."

"Is that true?" Saurfang smiled. "Then perhaps we can work together. I'm currently on a mission, a mission against the Lich King."