Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say we have come now to the end
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again

~Into The West-Annie Lennox~

Toriona's face drained of color as she stood at the top of the Town Hall stairs, looking down at Cordana who stood alone, her helmet gone and her bladed cloak torn and burnt and hanging in tatters. The Warden shrugged the ruined fabric off her shoulders and it fell to the ground, the blades clanking.

The Ambassador covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes huge and luminous, and sank to the stairs. Limping, Cordana mounted the steps, tears tracking through the dirt on her face, and collapsed beside her friend.

"We...we failed..." she whispered hoarsely.

Toriona could only stare at her, a question in her eyes, and behind it a trembling fear at having it answered.

Cordana's eyes took on a faraway look. "I...I have fought many battles, but...not like this. This was...hell. The Warlock, he...he...murdered...with a mere thought." She coughed, wincing. "I had never seen Khadgar...fight...like that. He did things...I had never...heard of. He tried, so hard...to...save them...but.." She coughed again and struggled to catch her breath. Tears coursed down her cheeks and she closed her eyes.

"So many...dead..."

A sob escaped Toriona's lips, and Cordana was shaken from her memories.

The Warden took the Ambassador's hand and squeezed it. "Don't fear... Jaaral lives. He is injured. They are carrying him back... but he will be fine."

Toriona burst into tears of relief.

Cordana could not comfort her, her own pain was too great. 30 of the best had gone into that fortress and 9 came out alive.

"Tori," she choked. "Khadgar...and Garona...they live. The half orc gave everything she had and I am not sure she will make it. Khad...Khadgar...has gone to Stormwind, to the King." She coughed miserably again and held her ribs. "Gul'Dan was not killed. He was...sent...somewhere by a demon he served. Khadgar knows but... he did not say anything. He told me... to come back... to warn everyone. We must return... to Azeroth at once."

Garona faced Jaaral with tears in her eyes. "I cannot go with you my friend, I am sorry. There is already one of me on your timeline, and I fear what sort of paradox would occur. There is much work to be done here on Draenor and I must make amends for what havoc I have wreaked under Gul'Dan's control. If your people will have me, I will aid them in rebuilding their world. I have heard there are others like me, half Orc, half Draenei. Perhaps there is still a chance that I can find a mate and have a family. But no matter what, I will make a good life for myself, to honor all of you who gave me my freedom."

She handed Jaaral a scroll. "Please give this to Khadgar or Cordana. Give them and their little one all my love but it is better that I go quietly now and start anew. I am not fond of goodbyes. I am going to pretend that I will see you all tomorrow."

She smiled through her tears and the big Draenei took the scroll then reached for her hand and kissed it.

"You have redeemed yourself many times over already, Garona," he said. "I am proud to call you my friend and I can say with confidence that the same is true for my wife, and the Archmage and the Warden. There will always be a way to reach us, if you should wish to."

Garona nodded, picked up her rucksack and walked out of the garrison gates without looking back.

The demon warlock Gul'Dan stepped through the portal, and limped, leaning heavily on his staff as he always did. His face was cloaked in shadows and only his eyes, burning like embers was visible.

Maiev recoiled at the sight of him.

"I trust that you will uphold your end of the bargain, demon?" she asked coldly, doing her best to hide the terror she felt inside.

"And why should that be? You failed to keep Warden Felsong." Gul'Dan towered above her and she fought to remain firmly planted where she stood.

"That matters little. I found another to assist us. That is all that was required of me. Who it is is of little consequence."

Gul'Dan grunted as a figure emerged from the shadows, a slightly shorter warden in her encounter suit.

"Warden Shadowsong," said the new arrival and bowed, avoiding looking at the imposing figure of the demon orc. "I have come, as you asked, to show you to the Vault. I trust that it will be as you promised?" The question hung in the air for a moment.

Maiev withdrew a pouch, round and heavy with gold.

"Here is your payment. It seems a rather small amount for betraying one's clan." She laughed derisively.

The other Warden snatched it and hid it beneath her cloak. "It is what I need to start my life over. I am losing everything I know to help you."

"Then why do it?" asked Gul'Dan.

The Warden looked at Maiev, and beneath her helmet her expression was one of awe. "Because I love my sister," she said simply.

She turned away and Maiev followed, Gul'Dan limping behind her.

The Vault of the Wardens was dark and silent. Only the worst of the prisoners remained here, in a magical stasis field. They wound through the tunnels and came out in a room, pitch black except for the crystals burning in the walls, casting a yellow glow over everything.

In the center of the room stood a large block resembling ice, and inside, a figure could be seen. Maiev walked up to it reverently and lay her hands and her forehead on the stone.

"My love," she whispered.

Gul'Dan gave a low chuckle, a rumble that started deep in his chest. He lay his own hand on the stone and it emanated a bright green glow, spreading around and into the stone prison. From within, symbols began to glow with that same color, symbols etched into the skin of the stone's resident. The ground shook and there came a cracking, splitting sound.

"You will uphold your bargain?" asked Maiev again. "He is to be given to me once he agrees to assist you?"

The warlock laughed, the mirthless sound echoing in the vast cavernous space, making Maiev's heart clench in icy fear.

Khadgar flew as fast as his Raven's wings would take him. He felt each one of his injuries acutely but there was no time to consider them. He wanted nothing more than to hold his wife and his son in his arms, to celebrate the end of Gul'Dan on Draenor. In that, they had been successful. But it was a false victory, a battle won but most certainly not the war.

Gul'Dan had not died.

He had been vanquished, and the Archmage knew all too well what was to come. The dream of an idyllic, quiet life with his family had died along with the 21 brave and dedicated warriors who had fallen to that demon's magic. The Iron Horde had been nothing more than a distraction. He hadn't realized it until it was too late.

Khadgar rested on the precipice of an old crumbling tower, a place he had known all too well a long time ago. He could feel the darkness emanating from it, and didn't stay too long. Flapping his tired wings he rose once more into the air and moved onwards.

On Draenor, old rivals sought to bring Azeroth to it's knees. And while the Iron Tide was quelled, they were but servants of a more ancient foe that has not forgotten our defiance. The vengeance of the Burning Shadow has come. And in our most desperate hour we must wield the power of the enemy against them, for we stand once more upon the brink of destruction.

He flew up the corridor of the Palace of Stormwind, straight to the throne room. King Varian Wrynn and his son Anduin were engrossed in conversation. They looked up as the Raven soared in, landing before them on the stone floor.

With a brilliant shower of color, Khadgar transformed back into his natural form, pounding Atiesh on the ground with a hollow clang to get the King's attention.

The Archmage's face was grave as his eyes met Varian's and the King stood up.

"The Burning Legion has returned!"