Chapter 22 – Closure

Hundreds of demons and Azerothian corpses lay scattered throughout Elwynn Forest. The numbers being most concentrated near the lake. Clutching Arcaena's arm, Sarah looked at the carnage below with increasing sadness. As they neared the camp which had been erected to tend to the wounded and dying, she realised this was but a mere taste of what the Legion was capable of. She choked back a sob as Arcaena landed with a small bump, and set her down.

"Thank you, Arcaena," she said with eyes cast down.

The demon hunter was grateful that she had not looked at her face. For all demon hunters had no eyes, there would be no mistaking the tautness in her jaw as a sign of disapproval. If Sarah had noticed, she would undoubtedly have asked what was the matter. Arcaena simply muttered "Welcome," then moved away.

Sarah moved between the bodies with due care and respect. Her eyes welled as she looked upon some of the faces of the brave Azerothians. Some however, were so horribly mutilated she had to look away; the pain of their loss so intense it burrowed into her heart. Words escaped her. All this death and misery brought about from keeping her world safe as well as protecting their own was truly devastating. An overwhelming sense of guilt washed over her. She had only ever imagined what the battlefields would be like - having only seen the cartoon versions on screen; no real blood or guts, no sorrow on the faces of the living. Harrowing did not begin to describe it. The sheer horror of it all was now emblazoned on her mind.

A few feet away, she saw Erik, kneeling next to the body of a night elf. She faltered. No! It couldn't be. Stumbling, she made her way towards him. The kind face of Tharaei, lay lifeless, eyes closed and blood trailed over his cheek. She fell to her knees, crying openly as she put her arms round Erik. The dwarf finally released his sorrow fully and cried against Sarah's shoulder. She ran her hand repeatedly down his course red hair like a mother comforting a crying child. She had to pull her eyes away from the elf's serene features. Tharaei had a special place in her heart, and the pain she felt on seeing his listless body was too much too bear.

"He was a good lad," Erik wept. "A bit rough around the edges ..." He floundered; his voice strangled by wracking sobs. A few moments passed. "He said to let you know that he finally got to meet Khadgar."

Her breath hitched. It took all she had to answer. "I'm so, so sorry, Erik," she whimpered. The dwarf simply nodded.

Footfalls from behind made her turn slowly. She looked up. Khadgar loomed over them. He stood at first surveying all the death surrounding them, then as his eyes met hers. He managed a mournful smile. He held out his hand to help her up. She shared a final moment with Erik, who nodded, letting her know he would be fine. She wiped her eyes, then rose, accepting Khadgar's hand.

As they moved away from the grieving dwarf, she witnessed the priests, shamans and druids tending to the wounded. It was impossible for her to gauge how many had fallen this day. Even a small number of the demon hunters had barely escaped the Legion's wrath, although they recovered quicker than most as they continued to collect soul essences. They glanced silently in her direction as she and the Archmage passed by, exhaustion etched on the eyeless faces.

Khadgar stopped as they reached an outcrop of shrubs and rocks, a little way from the mass of bodies. Sarah turned to face him and moved closer. She placed her palms on his chest, as if to steady herself. "I had no idea," she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief of the bloodshed she was witnessing.

"No," Khadgar said quietly, his hands came up to cover hers. "Then again, few of us had, Sarah."

She looked up into his eyes. His steel orbs were distant, misted, bearing the pain from the day's losses she supposed. She caught a glimpse of Arcaena over his left shoulder, and a few mages to his right including the Archmage Modera who still eyed her with disdain. At that moment, Sarah graciously accepted the scorn afforded her. Her guilt ran rampant.

"I'm so sorry, Khadgar, I didn't mean ..."

"Sarah!" He spoke firmly but not unkindly. "This was not your doing." He gently squeezed her hands and she heard a sigh escape his lips.

"Well it sure as hell feels like it," she cast her eyes down. Remorse had her in its grip, refusing to release her.

He lifted her chin and kissed her mouth softly. She melted against him, all decorum abandoned; she cared not who saw them embrace and share a moment. As he ended the kiss and leaned back, with eyes still closed a tremor occurred in her heart. Perhaps it was due to their standing amid so much death and sorrow, but there was a feeling of finality in that kiss. He suddenly pulled her close, wrapping her in his embrace. She listened to the beat of his troubled heart. For a fearful moment she thought she caught a sob in his chest.

"I do love you," he whispered. There was an underlying agony in that statement. Her fingers curled around the folds of his robe, seeking reassurance, but he pulled back creating an arms-length distance between them. She watched helplessly as he gave the briefest of nods to his left. Arcaena appeared at her side. The demon hunter placed one arm around her waist and lifted her into the air. Sarah gasped. Her eyes looked down, pleading. "Khadgar? What is this?"

He simply looked at her, his lips parting but offering no utterance. He nodded once more to Arcaena. The Illidari turned and flew towards the centre of the lake. Sarah struggled against her grip but the demon hunter held fast, refusing to let go her quarry. Ripples in the air caught Sarah's eye.

Her eyes widened. No! He wouldn't! She looked back to where Khadgar stood. "Why?" her voice broke and still she struggled against Arcaena's grip. "Why!" Tears stung her eyes.

The magi had assembled by his side. She could see them starting to form spells; azure and violet threads wrapping and misting around their hands as their fingers flexed, their mouths uttering low incantations.

Panicked, she turned to the Illidari. "Arcaena! Stop this! Put me down! Please!" She tried prying the demon hunter's fingers away but to no avail.

"I cannot, Sarah. This is for your own good. He does this to keep you safe."

"Safe? No!" She turned her eyes to Khadgar again. Still he stood, his face set with a fierce determination. "He is doing this to punish me." Sarah's voice pitched, racked with sobs. She faltered as her chest burned from the painful knowledge of what was about to happen.

"You are wrong Sarah. There is nothing to punish you for."

Sarah stared and pointed at the corpses below. "No?"

Arcaena followed her gaze. "This is not your doing. The Legion laid in wait, preparing for this for many years."

"My world was unknown to you then. If I had not come here…" No! She did not want to think like that. Only hours before she had laid in the arms of the man she had loved more than any other. That much was real, beyond doubt. She had believed him when he said he loved her, even a few moments ago when his breath caressed her hair as he uttered those special words.

Sarah glanced one more time at the Archmage. His eyes were fixed on her. She could still make out his features, the furrowed brow and thinned lips the sorrowful eyes. But, why then was he sending her away? To somewhere where she would never return. If he had to banish her for her crimes, why could it not be to a neighbouring region? Even another continent such as Northrend or even Kalimdor had to be better than across umpteen universes where they had no hope of meeting again. Was it possible, that he had spoken an untruth? Her heart started to crumble. "You lied to me?" she shouted down at him. "Why would you do such a thing? What did I do that was so wrong?"

His lips parted but he failed to answer. Then she saw it. A flicker passed over his face. Regret. Just like that which he had described in his private journals in Dalaran. She felt as if her very soul was breaking apart.

Arcaena shook her a little to get her attention again. "You have done no wrong, Sarah. He simply needed you to see what he wants to protect you and your people from. He does this out of his love for you."

Sarah stared at the demon hunter in disbelief. "He does this out of love? Oh, please!" she hissed, still trying to wriggle free though not knowing why she was bothering any more. But, Arcaena was many times stronger and she knew it was a pointless struggle. Khadgar had made his decision, and he had chosen his messenger well.

Arcaena's tone was gentle. "You believed in me and my love for Illidan. Why can you not believe in Khadgar's love for you?"

Sarah gradually stopped kicking and scratching. Defeated. It felt as if a fel-reaver had reached into her chest and crushed her heart in its vice-like grip. Though she tried not to let the memory invade her mind she could not fight the image of their closeness, their passion, the way he'd held her. It took a concentrated effort to dismiss the images. Her mouth tightened as she looked straight into the demon hunter's cloth bound sockets. "You do not tell someone you love them Arcaena, then coldly discard them only hours later."

And that look, she thought. Somehow, that look of regret in his eyes was the killer. She fought back the tears that burned behind her eyes until she felt them recede. "That's why I don't believe, Arcaena. I thought I meant something to him. I was wrong. I feel like such a fool." Again, she voiced in her head.

Once more, she locked her gaze with the Archmage. Her eyes were now soulless, almost as empty as the sockets of the Illidari. Mentally, she doused the fire that burned her shattered heart and carved a protective, icy wall around it. Never again would she allow someone to get so close to her. She bore down his stare. With just a hint of cold satisfaction, she saw that he had noted the change in her. His lips parted again, his brow furrowed just a fraction, but it was noticable enough for Sarah. I can be cold too, she thought, willing the sentiment to reach him.

Still, it would take immense effort to recover from this. She knew with the utmost certainty this pain would not diminish easily.

Regardless of the agony Khadgar's callous decision inflicted upon her, she nonetheless acknowledged that love was very real for her friend. Arcaena still felt the deepest of love for Illidan, and Sarah would never belittle that. Without taking her eyes from Khadgar, she quietly spoke to the Illidari. "I hope you find Illidan soon," she said, her voice indicating the fight had left her completely. "Hold on to him Arcaena. With all your might."

Finally she severed her contact with the Archmage and looked straight at the Illidari. "I pray you never feel this kind of betrayal."

The demon hunter lowered her head, deeply saddened that Sarah felt the way she did. "I will miss you," she said. "And I thank you, Sarah Metcalfe, for trusting me, after ... you know..."

Sarah understood and managed a wan smile.

The demon hunter pulled out a small gem from the pouch strapped to her waist. It was a most unassuming and yet strangely precious jewel. Green, with what looked like more fluorescent green shards in its centre it almost rippled in Sarah's hand. "Take this. It is a … keep sake." She smiled, folding Sarah's fingers around it. "Think of us when you look at it."

Sarah nodded then took a moment to survey the land she had grown to love. Even in the aftermath of war, it was still serene and utterly beautiful. But, her journey had reached its end. She tried her best to ward off the feelings of hurt and disappointment, attempting to be brave in imagining it was nothing more than her consciousness in her own world rushing back to the surface. It was time to go home. Reality beckoned. Tomorrow it would all look different.

Facing Arcaena once more however, she knew that this was something she could never forget. Having spent weeks in the magical world of Azeroth, and time with so many different individuals, races, made friends, even sparked a few hostilities - from females in particular - enjoyed various hospitality, shared their laughter – and love; she knew it was not something which would be lost like a dream on waking.

With a huge sigh, she whispered, "Goodbye, my friend."

Arcaena gave one of her lop-sided smiles although it was tinged with sadness and mouthed a silent farewell.

Sarah afforded the briefest of glances at the Archmage unable to look into the steel eyes she adored. Then she turned and reached out towards the ripples in the air.

Arcaena reluctantly released her and watched as she slipped through the void between worlds. The demon hunter pulled back as the magi instantly cast their spells of sealing at the rift. Her bound sockets turned towards them and her mouth twitched with the hint of a sneer. Her fondness of the Earth woman however made her turn her attention back to the healing rip. She remained hovering as she witnessed the edges of the doorway to Sarah's world fuse until finally it was completely closed.

She glided down to where Khadgar stood. With his eyes still locked where Sarah had vanished from his life, she wondered if he was even aware of her presence. The demon hunter cleared her throat. "I hope you have done the right thing Archmage, and that you will not live to regret this."

Khadgar forcefully tore his eyes away from the now healed rift. His breathing was ragged. "I just want her to be safe," he said, hoarsely. "There was no other way to ensure that."

The demon hunter seemed to consider his words. But her reply conveyed no empathy. "There is always another way, Khadgar. You would do well to contemplate that." She flexed her wings then stepped away and rejoined her comrades.

Ocel had watched the whole thing from a distance. He was mystified by Khadgar's decision. Quietly, he approached him. As he levelled with his friend, he saw Khadgar's pain etched clearly in his steel eyes. It had been the hardest decision he had ever made, and it was killing him. Still, the draenei looked at him questioningly.

The Archmage met the paladin's questioning gaze. With a deep shuddering sigh, he spoke. "It was unanimous and I accepted." Khadgar's lips tightened once more as he fought a twitch threatening to make them quiver. A solitary tear ran down the side of his nose and onto his top lip. He banished it with a quick wipe of his hand and his gaze returned to the sky where the rupture between his world and Sarah's had been but moments before.

Ocel slowly acknowledged the news with a nod. He now fully understood why his best friend had chosen to send the woman, Sarah Metcalfe, home. The draenei placed a consoling hand on Khadgar's shoulder before moving away to help tend to the wounded.

Countless blue flashing lights lit up the night sky as fire-engines, ambulances and police arrived on site of the road accident near Kingsknowes roundabout. Rain battered the vehicles, roads and surrounding grassy bankings offering no sign of relenting. Big bold orange lettering emblazoned on the road side electronic billboard warned travellers of surface water on the A7 between Selkirk and Galashiels.

The sound of hydraulic Jaws of Life working on a nearby vehicle to extract a trapped driver and passengers, droned on into the night air. Shouting and hollering of the emergency service officials rose above horns still compressed and panicked voices of other road users who witnessed the accident.

Her fingers clawed into the sodden earth around her, water forming pools around her bottom and outstretched legs. Hair clamped to her face, her eyelids fluttered against the constant pounding of heavy rain. Oblivious, to the goings-on around her, Sarah's vision shifted from a blurred outlook on the wet, darkened world to a crystal clear vision of vehicles parked up on the grass verge. Her own Astra was amongst five other cars which ran nose to tail in a crumpled line like a giant concertina. An artic-truck lay jack-knifed in the mud along from the cars, its rear doors lying open, contents strewn across the road and wet grass.

Her head raised to the open heavens and she stared at the last torn seams of the rift between Azeroth and her world. They seemed strangely more visible on this side, she noted. Perhaps it was attributed to beams of magic the magi fired at the rip to seal it. Whatever, it was knitting together so very slowly and the temptation to leap up and burst through again was strong until she visualised Khadgar's face. There was no point. He had dismissed her. She was nothing but an open wound; seeping, oozing, bleeding from a broken heart.

Distantly a voice was calling her name. It was familiar, but it didn't matter. She didn't care. She had expected to find herself in a hospital bed, wired to the hilt with every conceivable beeping machine known to the medical world surrounding her. Instead, she sat in a pool of mud, drenched and fully conscious watching the doorway to Azeroth close before her eyes. She had not even been given respite from her experience; a chance to return to her normal life knowing that she had merely dreamed the whole thing or perhaps had no recollection whatsoever. She was cursed to remember every single moment. Every touch. Every kiss.

"Sarah! Oh my god! Sarah!" Drew came sliding across the mud and slumped down beside her. "Are you in any pain? Can you understand me?"

Her eyes turned to him, a look of pained longing residing within. Her mind had recalled the moment she had woken in Stormwind, when Khadgar had asked her the very same questions.

"I was about five cars behind you, I saw everything!" Drew spoke hurriedly. He was looking her over, searching for any obvious signs of injury. He was in a state of utter panic. "Where the hell have you been though?" He yanked off his coat and wrapped it round her shoulders. "I've been up and down this banking god knows how often and you were nowhere to be seen."

He shouted behind them for the paramedics, indicating Sarah was one of the injured. They waved compliance and gathered what they needed before heading over. Police close by also started to come towards them.

"I saw you get shunted by that truck," Drew said to her. Her eyes had glazed over. "Sarah?" He waved a hand in front of her face. Her head turned away and she looked back up at the sky. At the rip.

"I saw everything! Well...I think I did, I'm not sure what I saw. Actually, I..." Drew's eyes had followed hers and his voice dwindled. Azure and purple threads of light moved across a small section of sky like the warp and weave of a loom. His eyes widened.

An odd little sound came from his left. He looked to find Sarah still staring at the phenomenon, but she was laughing softly. "Sarah?" He laid a hand on her shoulder. From the corner of his eye he saw the paramedics nearing. Sarah's laughter escalated but then turned into a sob. He watched helpless, as she tipped over on her side, curled up in a tight ball in the pooling mud, and cried her eyes out.

Thank you for reading this, the first in The Sarah & Khadgar Chronicles, I hope you enjoyed it. To those who also took time to comment, a huge thank you and I hope all my responses came through to you OK.

If you would like to travel back to Azeroth with Sarah, then please feel free to read Book 2 of the Chronicles called "The Dark Times Will Pass", which I will start posting probably towards the end of this coming week. This time, Sarah "Introduces A Friend" and they go in search of The Betrayer, Illidan Stormrage.