Resurgence of the Light ch 17

Sylvanas entered the command room, her sharp eyes taking in the scene. Uther and the Light’s Chosen were engaged in conversation, their expressions serious yet determined. She observed Uther for a moment, noting the absence of any resentment lingering from their past encounter.

Despite their occasional clashes, she held no grudge against him. In her eyes, Uther remained a figure of integrity, a beacon of leadership and righteousness.

In retrospect, she understood the complexity of Uther’s position during Arthas’s ascent to power. He had been a loyal soldier of Lordaeron, and his choices were bound by duty and allegiance. Sylvanas pondered over the past, acknowledging the challenges faced by Uther and the difficult decisions he had to make.

“Ah, Sylvanas, good,” the Light’s Chosen acknowledged her presence, his tone resonating with confidence. “We are just finishing here.”

“As I mentioned earlier, I will be departing shortly,” he continued, his voice carrying a sense of trust in their abilities. “I have full faith in both of you to carry on without me. I trust you know how to proceed. Hopefully, Tirion will manage to persuade the Alliance to send reinforcements soon. Additional support would significantly strengthen our position.”

Sylvanas couldn’t help but be intrigued. “And what exactly will you be doing?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued. The last time he left, he had played a mysterious role in her homeland, an action whose purpose she still didn’t fully comprehend.

He turned to face her, his gaze distant as if lost in contemplation. “I will be returning something,” he said cryptically, his mind seemingly occupied by other matters. “And securing potential allies,” he added, his tone indicating a sense of purpose and determination.

The room hung heavy with tension as Sylvanas exchanged a puzzled glance with Uther. Both were equally bewildered by the Light’s Chosen's cryptic words, and their curiosity begged for further explanation. However, before they could voice their questions, the Light’s Chosen chose that moment to exit the room, his movements purposeful and resolute.

“Wait!” Uther's voice cut through the air, firm and commanding. “We are in enemy territory; you cannot simply leave whenever it pleases you. While I didn’t question it in Lordaeron, we cannot afford to lose you here. I have no doubt you can take care of yourself, but this is not how matters are handled in the midst of war.” Uther's tone was exasperated, laden with reprimand, reflecting the concern etched across his face.

Light’s Chosen paused in his tracks and turned back toward them, his expression silent yet expectant. Sylvanas found herself nodding in agreement with Uther's sentiment. The weight of leadership could not be shrugged off, not even for someone as formidable as the Light’s Chosen. He had acknowledged his own limitations in leadership, yet Sylvanas didn’t fully concur with that assessment. It seemed to her that he was attempting to evade the burdens of responsibility that leadership inherently carried.

This incident starkly illustrated his current behavior, highlighting his tendency to retreat without explanation. Despite being a beacon of hope for their troops, he couldn’t simply come and go as he pleased. His absence, without clarity or communication, cast an unsettling shadow over their endeavors.

“Uther is right,” Sylvanas chimed in, her voice firm yet laced with concern. “Regardless of whether you delegate the position of leadership to the two of us, it does not absolve you of all responsibilities. You are a symbol of hope. You cannot leave and return when it suits you without a word of explanation. The uncertainty of your whereabouts, your actions, and, Light forbid, if something were to happen to you, all of our efforts would be in vain.” Her words echoed Uther’s previous admonishment, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Following her statement, an uneasy silence settled in the room. They stood there, waiting for the Light’s Chosen's response, their eyes locked on him. The longer the silence stretched, the more Sylvanas began to doubt herself. Had she and Uther overstepped their bounds? She cast a quick glance toward Uther, searching for reassurance, unable to withstand the weight of the Light’s Chosen's silence and stillness.

Uther maintained his unwavering gaze, yet beneath his stern exterior, there was a palpable sense of unease. Finally, the Light’s Chosen spoke, his words deliberate and controlled, carrying the gravity of his presence, demanding their attention.

“While I admire your resilience, do not assume the authority to command me. If I must stay and guide you at every step, then perhaps I have overestimated your value and wasted my efforts here. Is that what you're implying?” His words held no kindness or warmth, leaving Sylvanas feeling incredibly insignificant. It echoed the harsh scoldings of her past, reminding her of parental disapproval and stern instructors.

Uther's jaw clenched, and he stood taller, clearly affected by the words as well.

“However,” Light’s Chosen continued, his tone softening slightly, “I am not entirely without reason. To ease your concerns, I will bring a ranger with me.” He paused, lost in thought for a moment. “Velonara will accompany me.” With his decision made, he turned and exited the room, leaving Sylvanas and Uther to reflect on what had transpired.

Their familiarity and the Light’s Chosen’s typically composed demeanor had led them into the folly of thinking they could challenge his decisions. In their complacency, they had forgotten his true nature and the fact that, despite their perceptions, they needed him far more than he needed them.

It was a lesson Sylvanas vowed not to forget, and from Uther's resolute expression, she knew he felt the same.

~~~~

As Sylvanas and Uther stood in the courtyard, waiting for Light’s Chosen, who had withdrawn to his chambers before his departure, Sylvanas took the opportunity to gauge the overall mood and mindset of their troops upon learning about Light’s Chosen’s exit.

There was an undercurrent of tension, but it was less pronounced than Sylvanas had anticipated. Most soldiers kept their emotions hidden, revealing nothing. Some seemed unfazed, accepting the situation without concern. Sylvanas wondered if perhaps his previous departure and subsequent return had acclimated them to such event. Maybe she and Uther had been mistaken; Light’s Chosen’s absence didn’t seem to dampen the troops' morale. Quite the opposite, in fact.

It appeared that most soldiers interpreted Light’s Chosen’s departure as a signal that he had confidence in their abilities, that they had the situation well in hand. To them, his leaving was a silent acknowledgment of their efforts and faith in their ability to remain resilient even in his absence—a morale boost of sorts.

The unexpected reaction surprised Sylvanas. As for Uther, he seemed lost in thought, undoubtedly mulling over the recent reprimand. While Sylvanas still stood by her words, she could now understand Light’s Chosen’s perspective better. Soldiers who couldn’t act without explicit orders were as much of a liability as those who didn’t follow orders. It was a delicate balance, and she realized that perhaps both she and Uther needed to reassess their assumptions about the troops' independence and confidence.

The palpable aura of Light’s Chosen’s presence disrupted Sylvanas from her contemplations. Whatever he had attended to before his departure was evidently completed, for his unhurried yet confident strides resonated with everyone present. A subtle shift occurred among the soldiers; their postures straightened instinctively as they felt his influence.

As he approached, Velonara fell in line beside him. Her movements were silent, unobtrusive, blending in seamlessly with those of the Light’s Chosen. But what captured Sylvanas’s attention, as well as that of everyone else, was the gnome that Light’s Chosen held captive in his hand. The gnome, bound and gagged, exuded a fierce glare and unmistakable discontent, vividly expressing her desire to be elsewhere.

Recalling his recent reprimand, Sylvanas held her tongue, though her curiosity was evident in her eyes. The current situation baffled her entirely.

“My Lord?” Velonara’s voice, soft as a whisper, resonated like the chiming of bells in the courtyard. For a moment, it seemed as though she might be ignored. However, Light’s Chosen subtly turned his head toward her while continuing his stride.

He raised the gnome to eye level, halting his steps. “Do not mistake her for a mere gnome, Velonara. If not for my restraints, she would have erased us all,” he declared, his tone betraying none of his personal sentiments regarding his words.

The weight of his revelation hung heavily in the air, causing fear and confusion to permeate the atmosphere. Light’s Chosen turned entirely toward Velonara and rested his hand on her shoulder. “However, do not hold her actions against her. She is as much a slave as you once were.”

An unbidden surge of pity stirred in Sylvanas’s heart, yet fear persisted, overshadowing her emotions. Despite this, her confusion remained paramount.

“We are set to encounter her kin, beings with significant power, who can return this one to her people. We may negotiate for our lives and perhaps even secure their assistance,” Light’s Chosen elaborated, his words reaching the ears of all despite his focus on Velonara. “Should you wish to stay behind, I will not hold it against you,” he added, his voice suffused with understanding.

For a moment, Velonara froze upon learning of their destination. The ordeal in Azjol-Nerub had demonstrated their lack of knowledge about the world. The prospect of meeting those possessing far greater power filled her heart with trepidation. Yet, from the corner of her eye, she spotted her Lady, standing tall and unyielding, devoid of fear. A newfound determination took hold of her, and she straightened her posture, gazing upon their savior without apprehension. “I will accompany you, my Lord,” she proclaimed, her voice resolute, revealing none of the tumultuous emotions that had previously consumed her.

“Then we depart, to meet She who is Life – Alexstrasza, the Queen of Dragons,” Light’s Chosen declared, mounting his steed and riding out through the gates.