Windbinder

"You should know that the Red Dragon does not kill life."

A cool breeze slipped silently into the Elemental Altar, as if mocking the Queen of Dragons's words. Nathanos's gaze darted around, wary of anyone else. His eyes were sharp. Alexstrasza smiled faintly and said, "I am alone too."

"I thought Christalyssa was here too; she promised to keep the Forsaken's secrets."

"Please don't blame her. I only recently learned of your identity myself." The Queen of Dragons moved closer to Nathanos, making herself appear entirely harmless. The Forsaken leader also withdrew his power. "Thank you for saving me in Twilight Highlands, and... for what happened in Grim Batol many years ago."

"So you still remember." Nathanos was somewhat surprised, and he couldn't resist provoking Alexstrasza. "There's no need for thanks. In return, I've already enjoyed your body."

Enrage nearly caused Alexstrasza to instantly revert to her dragon form. This mortal, dead for many years, was blaspheming the dignity of Life-Binder. The Queen of Dragons stared intently at Nathanos, whose calm gaze seemed oblivious to the impending doom he was about to face.

Why does he seem so fearless? Has he not witnessed my power? Or... is he deliberately trying to provoke me? Alexstrasza stared into Nathanos's eyes, and then... her anger vanished abruptly, replaced by guilt and regret for the soul before her. The human of the past is dead. Alexstrasza realized then that no matter how many great achievements Nathanos had made, how many stories worthy of being told, once people learned what he had become, all those ethereal things would shatter.

The Lifebinder heard that he had a beautiful wife, and that she and their child had recently done the Dragons a great favor. The vibrant Elf boy, however, knew nothing of his father's identity. His father could not see him, and his mother chose to keep it a secret. This shows just how heavy the curse upon Nathanos was.

A silence followed. The energy flowed silently within the Elemental Altar, unnoticed by anyone.

"The past is meaningless." The Life-Binder tried to find words of comfort, but this is what he said.

"Yes, it's pointless now." Nathanos' tone was slightly sarcastic. He was thinking about why the Shadowblade's intelligence was wrong. The most reasonable explanation was that the Guardian Dragons had done a good job of keeping things secret, and even their allies were on guard.

"So, what are your thoughts on the arrival of the esteemed Queen of Dragons in my territory?"

The Elemental Altar didn't seem as calm as it appeared, Nathanos could sense it.

Alexstrasza was pleased that the Witherer had put an end to the conflict between death and life. She extended her hand in a friendly gesture and said, "I have come only to invite the Forsaken to join the alliance against Deathwing. To stop the Cataclysm alongside the heroes of this world."

"I refuse." Nathanos almost without hesitation, his bluntness and resolute tone leaving the Queen of Dragons speechless. "Since its inception, the Forsaken have never allied with any power, regardless of whether we share a common goal. Furthermore, some of your so-called 'warriors of this world' are also our enemies."

"The Alliance and the Horde are also enemies, and there are members of their ranks in the Earthen Ring and the Cenarion Circle. In times of crisis, they can put aside their past grievances. There are no absolute enemies, Nathanos. Everyone will accept you."

Fury and the Witherer's eyes echoed each other, his gaze like molten lava about to erupt, possessing an unstoppable force. "Everyone will accept us?" Nathanos glared at Alexstrasza. "Do you know what I've been through?" He took a step closer to the Queen of Dragons. "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard. The living only curse us to hell! They firmly believe our rotten minds can no longer distinguish family from love. Do you know why Nathanos Marius died? Do you know how Nathanos the Witherer was born? Life created me, forging a terrible enemy."

Alexstrasza listened to Nathanos's roar, sensing his long-simmering rage. This man, whom Christalyssa praised, was not the powerful ally the Red Dragon had described; he might even be an enemy.

"I am sorry for what happened to you, but please do not involve innocent lives."

"The Forsaken are not the Scourge," Nathanos emphasized, "But they are ruthless and decisive!" In the blink of an eye, Alexstrasza saw a bone bow imbued with dark power appear in Nathanos's hand. The Queen of Dragons thought he was going to attack her, but the arrow was aimed at a giant rock within the Elemental Altar.

The arrow pierced the rock with astonishing force, followed by a agonizing scream as a figure collapsed to the side. It was an Orcs dressed as Twilight's Hammer assassin, and Alexstrasza realized there was more than one.

"You've brought me trouble." Nathanos had his back to the Queen of Dragons, but she had already seen the slight tremor in his hand that had just fired the arrow. Just as Alexstrasza was about to ask, the earth suddenly rippled like waves, almost knocking them both to the ground. Laughter echoed from around the Elemental Altar. Alexstrasza and Nathanos looked up simultaneously, only to see a female Orcs, her body enveloped in elemental power, slowly descending on a floating disc. More Twilight's Hammer minions surged from the shadows; surprisingly, these were no longer living beings, but elementals—earth elementals twisted into a pale purple.

A Shaman? As Nathanos confirmed the other's identity, the earth trembled again, even more violently than before. The Witherer only managed to stand firm by plunging Sulfuras into the ground.

"Who are you?"

"Hagara the Windbinder".

"This is impossible..." The Queen of Dragons's eyes widened, and the shock in her voice made Nathanos's heart tighten. "You are Deathwing's men!"

"Do you really think you can fool the Worldbreaker, you pathetic lizard? Your master knows everything you do."

"If that's the case, why doesn't Deathwing come in person?" Nathanos asked with a laugh. "He's afraid, isn't he? He knows that the person Alexstrasza wants to see is me, the mortal who made him flee in panic in Twilight Highlands."