The frigid cold wind of Icecrown didn't affect her anymore. She had abandoned the need for warmth at her death seemingly ages ago, when she was turned into this mostrosity. Even if she could feel the cold, it was not something that was worth bothering about. All she wanted was to get away from that place. She flew away from Icecrown Citadel as fast as her wings could carry her, clueless and filled with sadness.

She had been a val'kyr, a pawn, nothing more than a slave when she was bound to the will of the Lich King, ruler of that citadel. With his death at the hands of brave heroes from all over Azeroth she regained her free will and long lost memories. She also regained part of her Elven appearance as it once had been. Except for her hair that was forever to be silver white instead of the bronze it used to be and the wings that carried her further and further away from the hell she lived her undead life in. She also remembered the days she spent in Quel'Thalas, the magical kingdom of the High Elves. Although she still considered herself to be one she could, of course, never return. she despaired at the thought.

Part of her just wished to end it all, for real this time. It might had very well been what she would have done was it not for the resurfacing of her paladin thoughts. Especially the parts where you should never lose faith had always intrigued her. It continued to do so even in this pit of despair. She was too lost in her own mind to notice the mountain she had been flying to. a frontal collision followed. She screamed out in pain and sank to the ground, pulled her knees to her face and started crying.

After weeping over her current state for several minutes she glanced into the direction she came from, in the distance she could still see the vague outlines of that hellish heart of Icecrown, altough it was impossible to get vengeance anymore, with her tyrant being dead, she wanted to find redemption for herself, for all the horrible crimes she had committed under that fiend's command. Although they were probably unforgivable, she still wanted to try, even if it was just for a little peace of mind. Little did she know that a chance would be thrown at her very shortly.

After soaring high without purpose for a while she was suddenly surprised to see something shining in the endless frozen wastes of Icecrown. A golden glow emitted from the snow albeit very dim, it was there, and picked up by her keen eyesight. Knowing there was nothing of scourge origin that could emit such a glow she decided to land and investigate. She quickly found out that it was a golden staff with a huge gemstone set in the end radiating an immense amount of colours. What shocked her was that the weapon was attached to a hand, that of a High Elf, judging from the ears protruding from under her auburn hair. She quickly dug the elf out of the snow and turned her around to find out she was still breathing, her green eyes wide open as she mumbled incomprehensible words. She was stunned for a while just looking at those eyes. As far as she knew High Elves only had blue eyes, not green. That was just trivial at this point though, she needed warmth, and fast, or she would not be for this world for long.

A/N for those of you wondering how an elf could become a val'kyr, it is explained in a later chapter.