Warcraft 3: Broken Blessings

Chapter 3

It took another two days for Kael'thas and his group to approach the woods that shielded Perhin away. At the same time, Perhin was judged to be fit enough for travel.

"I'll come back for you," he promised Rosalia.

"You don't have to," she chuckled in her whisper voice.

"But I must," he sighed. "I didn't say this before, but...your father...he had me vow to keep you safe. He had me promise this."

"He did?!" she gasped.

"Yes. He did. So, as you saved my life, I shall guard over yours. I should be back within the week. Your mother gave me a map of the surrounding areas. I may be able to see what we can do for defenses. Your village is on the way to my home, too, so we could use this village as a base location, if we have to. Just don't do anything rash to yourself."

"I could say the same to you," she nodded. He had begun to care for her like a little sister that he never had. He was even surprised at himself for accepting the hug she gave him. "Do be careful."

"I will," he promised and squeezed her. Even as he forced himself away from her, he was fighting the urge to stay with her and guard her. He was given new leather armor to help keep the odd branch and thorn away from his mended clothing, and he was given a heavier cloak of a darker shade of green to protect himself with. What was even stranger was that he could feel the forest watching him. He was being protected, as he moved through it.

As he moved through the growth, he paused at the spot she initially found him at. He saw the pit of thorns, and he managed to move around it carefully to study where he fell. He was hoping to find his satchel, but he doubted it was there. He did find his hunting knife, though, and that was quickly reclaimed. Not finding anything else, he moved further on until he almost reached the outer clearing.

"Perhin!" he heard his name shouted out over a distance. He recognized the tone.

"Prince Kael'thas?! Did you actually come for me?!" the Commander blinked with shock. Within a span of five minutes, he was soon greeted by his fellow people and giving them the story of what happened. None of them were pleased.

"We'll find those humans and finish them off!" an archer growled.

"That's fine. But not near the village south of here. I met some of the villagers, and they helped me," Perhin said. At this news, many of them blinked with shock. When Kael'thas glanced at him, he said, "A young girl from there found me near death and healed me. That's why. And...I did vow to her parents that I would protect her. I need to introduce you to her."

"Why?" Kael'thas asked with a form of irritation. Then he paused at the sensation that he was being watched. All around me...

"If you feel that, then that's why," Perhin warned softly. "This forest...it sort of protects her. I don't think she knows it."

"How can she not know?!" a mystic asked.

"Because she was raised to not know," Perhin said. Kael'thas was stunned at this news. "Her soul can enhance life. It can also enhance death. It's...really hard to explain."

"Enhances?! There is no such thing!" a knight scoffed.

"Then you can stay here. However, I have to fetch her to take her with us. With the Scourge coming here, I can't let her fall into their hands," Perhin said and turned to trek back into the forest. He soon found Kael'thas walking with him. The rest were set to stand watch outside the main entrance to the forest area. Kael'thas didn't want them to interfere with anything that happened.

"I need answers, too," he said. He was led back to the small hut, and Perhin glanced inside. It was empty. Thinking things over as to where she could have gone, he noticed her inkwell was almost dry. He also saw that the berry pot was gone. Chuckling to himself, he quickly moved to head towards the riverbed. He knew she was likely there.