True Knight

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.”