Fandom: Warcraft III
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[b]get up[b]


After taking revenge on Mal'Ganis, Prince Arthas wandered out into the icy wastes of Northrend.
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos


~ Arthas, my warrior! ~ The voice in his head shut out all other noises, even the wind, which as if with icy fingers reached for the young man who had entered his kingdom against all permission.
"Go, go and never come back!" the gentle breezes seemed to whisper.
"Come on, come to me!" was the news the storm brought from the icy peaks of the Icecrown Glacier.
But Arthas didn't hear either. For days he had only heard the disembodied voice of Frostmourne in his mind.
Even in his sleep the sword did not let him find rest.
~ Arthas, come to me! My warrior Fight for me! ~
Exhausted, the man stumbled through the snow. He didn't know how long he hadn't rested.The voice in his head drove him on and on.
He had long since lost his orientation and he wanted to rest in a warm tent. But the voice drove him on, on and on. Step followed step and when the young paladin wanted to sit down he heard the punishing words of the voice.
~ Arthas, Arthas. Wasn't the vengeance sweet? ~
Yes, it was probably. A smile crept unconsciously on the young man's features. The feeling he had when he finally caught Mal'Ganis and brought him to justice could truly be described as sweet.
~ My warrior, you enjoy it. ~
Why shouldn't he? Arthas' thoughts ran more slowly than they had a few days ago. So he no longer answered the voice. But she still seemed to know what the young man was thinking.
~ Mal'Ganis is judged. You have achieved your goal. ~
The voice was right there too. The demon was dead, his body at the mercy of the angry elements of Northrend.~ I helped you! ~
“You helped me.” Without realizing it, the paladin repeated these words before stumbling and falling into the knee-high snow.
~ Get up, now it's me who needs your help. ~
"It is you who need my help ..."
Arthas closed his eyes wearily. Finally he was lying. He didn't even notice the cold anymore. His limbs were frozen to death days ago, it seemed.
"You need my ..." The young man's words were completely drowned in the howling of the storm, but the voice did not leave him calm. It seemed like she didn't even want to let him die.
~ Get up, Arthas. Stand up. Come to me. ~
A comforting breeze blew over the exhausted man and with it some strength seemed to drive again in his limbs.
~ Arthas, come on. I need your help! ~
Arthas struggled to get on his forearms and narrowed his eyes. The blizzard was still raging around him with undiminished force.
~ My warrior! ~
Frostmourne's voice reproached the man's mind again."I'm coming ..." He mumbled these words softly and stood up.
It almost exceeded his strength, but somewhere he took the strength to hold his own against the howling wind and to stand up straight.
~ Come on! ~
Almost like a sleepwalker, Arthas put one foot in front of the other again. Lowered his gaze, he went on like the days before.
How much time had really passed since the battle in Mal'Ganis' camp, he didn't know. Days had turned into nights, had turned into days.
But time wasn't important. All that mattered was Frostmourne's voice.
The paladin bowed his head. A useless gesture from when he'd still felt the chill of the winds. Now all that movement brought was a brief uncertainty, as he was overlooking a rock and almost ended up in the snow again.
~ You are almost there! ~
But even that was of little importance to Arthas and so he did not notice how the ground slowly rose beneath him and led him to an ice dune.In the distance a citadel seemed to jut out into the horizon and the icy winds came from its battlements.
~ Now your eyes are looking at Icecrown and it's time you understood. ~
At these words the young man lost the strange strength that had resided in him since Mal'Ganis' camp and had made him wander continuously. So weakened, Arthas collapsed into the fresh snow.
"Now I'm dying," he muttered, but it no longer meant anything to him. So he just closed his eyes.
But instead of the expected calm, once again only Frostmourne's voice received him.
~ I am Ner'zhul, the Lich King. Created by Kil'jaeden, enthroned on the Frost Throne and ruler of the Scourge of the Undead. I am your master! ~
Arthas listened. He was too weak to do anything else.
~ I forged the runeblade Frostmourne with my will. I made your revenge possible with her. Now it's up to you to help me with mine. Lead the Scourge, strengthen it and lead your crusade against all life of Azeroth.Arise, Arthas, my champion, my death knight. ~
Arthas did not know how long Ner'zhul had spoken, but now he felt the strength return to his limbs.
~ Get up and do my job. ~
A smile as cold as Northrend's wind played on the young man's lips as he sat up in the snow and finally rose completely.
"Yes, my King. I will not disappoint you!"
As if in response, the horrific storm subsided and an almost threatening silence fell over the Icecrown Glacier.
~ Then go. You know your orders! ~
At these words Arthas bowed a little and turned around. It was finally time to return to Lordaeron.


~ + ~ The End ... or is it? ~ + ~