True Knight

“Arise, Blood Knight of Silvermoon,” Lady Liadrin spoke as she gently tapped each of Keldren’s shoulders with her longsword. Keldren stood proudly and faced his commander.

Lady Liadrin smiled. “This is a glorious day. For today, Keldren Silverblade of House Aravel has received the full ranking of Blood Knight and will receive all the privileges and responsibilities that the title entails.” She sheathed her blade and placed her hand on Keldren’s shoulder. “Serve the Order with honor and glory, fellow knight.”

There was a roar of applause from the audience. Most of the audience were represented by the scores of adepts who dreamed of one day reaching this level of achievement. Some were veteran knights, now equal comrades who wanted to congratulate a new member of their Order. And of course, there was Keldren’s family, the remainder of House Aravel, a noble house that was decimated by the Third War. Matheus and Lhorynna, both great and respected paladins, cheered proudly for their son. Keldren’s uncle Rommir and his family were there as well.

Eventually the congratulations ended and the other elves returned to their work. Keldren was finally alone, eager to leave Silvermoon and begin his career as a blood knight. He was stopped by Lady Liadrin.

“I wanted to make sure before I left that you have received your mount,” Lady Liadrin said to Keldren. “Were you trained to summon your warhorse?”

“Yes, Lady Liadrin,” Keldren replied. “The trainers taught me the proper way to channel the Light to summon Aramis.”

“Aramis?” Lady Liadrin said. “Already named the horse?”

“Surprised?”

“Hardly,” she grinned. “I named my first warhorse when I started the Academy myself. It’s just good to see another elf so eager to be a knight.”

“It is what I am.”

Keldren entered the throne room of Undercity, his permission for an audience with the Dark Lady approved. The large room was illuminated by eerie greenish flames from wall mounted torches. Sylvanas Windrunner was sitting alone. Keldren wondered why there were no guards but he quickly let that thought pass. It would take a sizeable army to penetrate the bowels of Undercity and the Dark Lady was not a simple or easy target. He knew she could easily strike him down with one blast of her shadowy magic.

“Thank you Dark Lady for granting me your audience,” Keldren said as he bowed to her.

“I knew your father,” she responded. “The son of Matheus Aravel does not need to engage me in such formalities. Speak freely.”

“You are gracious, Dark Lady,” Keldren stood tall and addressed her directly making eye contact with the leader of the Forsaken.

“I hear you dispatched Arugal?” Sylvanas asked.

“His defenses were many but I still managed to defeat him.”

“Very well done,” Sylvanas said. “You are on your way to becoming a Master Knight.”

Unable to figure out a way to present his question easily, Keldren decided on a somewhat direct approach. “I am trying, Dark Lady,” he said, “but it is the matter of Arugal in which I wish to speak to you. He revealed some information but I wish to hear what you have to say in regards to his comments.”

Sylvanas leaned back on her throne.

“Arugal knew he could not defeat me in a fair fight,” Keldren explained, “so he used cunning and treachery to catch me off-guard. He questioned my faith in the Light.”

The Dark Lady looked intrigued.

“He questioned how a paladin of Light could serve Undercity, which he felt was the complete opposite of what the Light represented. Then he mentioned a plague…”

Sylvanas peaked an eyebrow. She now knew why Keldren was here.

“You question your loyalty to the Light and to the Forsaken?” she asked.

“Yes milady.”

She stood up and approached Keldren. “If you were not Matheus’ son, I would not bother giving you any explanation. Your defeat of Arugal did not earn the right to question my motives in such a manner. But I will answer you, just this once only because of your father. Just know that you have used up your influence with me and you will from this day forth earn your right to speak with me through your own actions.”

Keldren nodded.

“The plague was designed to crush our enemies,” she explained. “It would not have been used on the Horde and certainly not against Silvermoon. It was an effort to build the army of the Forsaken so we could strike back at Arthas.”

“But how is that any different from him?” Keldren knew he overstepped his bounds the moment he finished the question.

Sylvanas turned to him, anger fueling dark shadows around her. “Do not compare me with that fiend!” she shouted. “I would have you struck down for your insolence.”

“My apologies. I overstepped my bounds.”

Seemingly calmed down, Keldren almost thought he heard her sigh. Sylvanas seemed melancholy, reflecting over past memories. “The torture and suffering I experienced is beyond anything you know Keldren. Every Forsaken you see endured terrible pain. We are not the same people of life. I am not the Sylvanas of old. She died. You cannot question our motives for you have not experienced what we experienced. You still have life.”

She took his hand. Keldren felt the lifeless cold of her touch. “You still feel warmth,” she said.

Letting go, she continued to speak, “I will not allow the Forsaken to be consumed by Arthas again. If that means our tactics must be more brutal and unflinching, so be it. Mark my words: Arthas will pay for his crimes against our people. That is all you need to know about my motivations.”

“I am sorry I questioned you, Dark Lady,” Keldren replied. “As a paladin, you must understand my reservations.”

“That is an issue you must face personally,” she responded. “It is your decision to make. If you choose not to aid Undercity, that is your choice. But if you still question my loyalty to Silvermoon, you must understand when the Horde objected an alliance with the blood elves, it was I who spoke on your behalf.”

“I do know that,” Keldren said and remembered something his father once mentioned regarding Sylvanas.

“Then leave me and do not question me again, for the next time I will not be so civil.”

“Yes Dark Lady,” Keldren bowed as he made his way out of the chamber. As he left, he left behind a parting comment. “You did not fail Ranger-General. Silvermoon still stands and your sacrifice will always be remembered.”

Alone, Sylvanas whispered, “May the Light guide you, Keldren Aravel.”

“You see yourself a holy warrior, eh?” Arugal said, his tone increasingly becoming more mocking. “Of course you do. I can see the very aura of Light shining around you. It is a pity that a knight like yourself could be so deceived and delusional.”

“Your venom laced words will not shake me,” Keldren said in defiance. Still he was wondering where the corrupted mage was going with this.

“You and I are not very different, Keldren Silverblade,” Arugal grinned with evil delight. “Our methods may be different but ultimately, it is the shadows we both serve.”

“Blasphemer!” Keldren yelled and took a step closer, his sword erupting with holy fire.

“That may well be, but I speak the truth.”

“You dare to judge me?” Keldren responded. “You, who dwell in this house of evil? You conduct foul experiments within these walls, twisting men into fiendish worg. You chain the dead souls of this keep to your will, forcing them to serve you in undeath. This very place carries the stench of death and shadow. I am not like you.”

“And who you do serve, my noble elf?” Arugal questioned.

“I serve Silvermoon and the my people. The sin’dorei have been betrayed and battered but we continue to persevere.”

“You serve another,” Arugal interrupted, “and that is why you are here today. Her powers are as dark as mine.”

Keldren stiffened.

“Yes, now you understand?” Arugal began to circle around Keldren, who seemed to be stunned by the simple revelation. The mage kept his distance, keeping a weary eye on the vulnerable elf, slowing reaching into one of his sleeves. “You serve Sylvanas. She is a creature of undeath. The reasons for her existence may be unfortunate but nonetheless, her essence is joined with shadow. How can a paladin of Light such as yourself willingly serve an undead creature freely? Surely, you have fallen to the darkness as well. There is no other explanation.”

“Sylvanas and her people only seek to survive, like the sin’dorei. She is trying to make the most out of a terrible reality,” Keldren spoke though his determination seemed to fade.

“So, she is a victim and benevolent in her ways?” Sarcasm stroked Arugal’s words. “You are a blind fool. Do you not know of the plague Undercity is preparing as we speak?”

“What plaque?” Keldren asked with genuine confusion.

Arugal laughed. “She seeks to spread a plague across the continents, killing every living creature. They will arise to serve Undercity. How is she any different than Arthas?”

“You lie.”

“Ask her yourself,” Arugal challenged Keldren, taking steps behind the elf, close enough to almost touch him, “that is if I allow your undead spirit to leave Shadowfang Keep alive!”

Arugal pulled out a dagger wrapped in shadowy mist from his sleeve and plunged it into Keldren’s back. The dark blade sank deep, breaking through plate armor and sinking deep into the paladin’s back past his ribs.

Keldren stumbled to the ground dropping his weapon as one of his lungs collapsed. As his breath escaped him, he tried desperately to pull the wicked dagger from his body. Arugal stood over him grinning with satisfaction. The mage was preparing a spell that would finish the elf.

“Light give me strength,” Keldren faintly spoke. A shimmering glow formed around him as Arugal’s shadow blast struck his prone body.

“No!” Arugal shouted as he cast another blast which was again absorbed by the shimmering aura. He began to back away as Keldren managed to get up on his knees, the dagger finally pulled from his back and in his hands. The mage could already see the wound mending as Keldren mouthed a silent prayer.

Knowing the hopelessness of the situation, Arugal turned and ran but every step he tried to make to escape the paladin became a struggle. He was compelled to finish the fight. Arugal knew Keldren’s mastery of Light had prevented his escape.

The Lord of Shadowfang Keep turned around to face Keldren and he tried to counter the blow but the paladin ran his brightly burning blade through his stomach. Arugal stared into space almost in a trance as his life ended. He collapsed on the ground, lying in his own pool of blood.

Keldren stood over him, tightly gripping his sword. Victory was at hand but now Keldren had to speak with Sylvanas herself. He did not relish the thought.