Lothar arrived in Stormwind an hour or two after midnight, landing directly in front of the palace. Karandra was still asleep in his arms as he dismounted, keeping her against him, not wanting to wake her up.
Guards quickly surrounded them, shocked and silent as they could see their King's dead body on Lothar's saddle.
"Two of you get the body to the throne room. One of you go and get the Queen there too. I'll be right behind you," Lothar instructed.
The guards nodded and did as they were told, not daring to question their Commander.
"You," Lothar said to one of the guard that hadn't been assigned to anything yet. "Do you know where Khadgar, the young mage, is?"
The young soldier merely nodded.
"Bring him to the throne room as well".
The man left quickly, and Lothar turned to the remaining ones.
"I'll need a healer, quickly. And I want the army to stand ready for the day after tomorrow. We're at war now".
They all left in different directions. Lothar rushed inside the palace and to the throne room. He arrived just behind the soldiers that were carrying Llane's body. He ordered them to lay the body in front of the throne. He gently laid Karandra on the ground down the few steps that were leading to the throne, and she groaned lightly in her sleep. He heard light but quick footsteps, and inhaled deeply to face his sister.
When Taria entered, she looked relieved to see her brother up and standing. She turned towards the throne, expecting her husband to be sitting on it. Her eyes widened once she saw the body, and she fell on her knees with a terrifying cry of pain and sadness.
She had to support herself on her hands, sobbing, shaking.
Lothar slowly approached her and knelt down beside her. He embraced her and rubbed her back comfortingly.
"I'm so sorry Taria," he whispered. "I've failed you, I've failed everyone. I didn't make it on time".
She cried for a long time, before she finally raised her head to meet her brother's gaze.
"Tell me what happened," she said in a harsh voice.
"I wasn't there... But from what I know, the Guardian died, so the troops were surrounded at the Black Gate with no way to escape. The Orcs killed them until Llane, Garona and Karandra were the only ones still alive. Garona saw her chance to join the clans and she murdered Llane with her dagger. Karandra was about to get killed and that's when I arrived. I killed the Orcs' war chief in single combat, so they let me leave on my griffin with Karandra and Llane's body. That's all I know".
"Is she d-de... Well, is she, too?" Taria managed to ask.
"No. Just exhausted, and she had a dislocated shoulder, along with a few little injuries. She'll be fine."
"Good. We'll need as many fighters as we can."
Lothar was about to answer when the doors banged open, Khadgar arriving in the room panting as if he'd run all the way there.
"Lothar! Your Majesty," he added when he saw the Queen. "What happened? Where is..." he started to say before his eyes fell on the two bodies lying on the ground.
He paled visibly and swayed slightly.
"A-are they...?" he gulped.
"The King is," Lothar answered, fighting against the lump in his throat. "Karandra's just exhausted."
Khadgar nodded. Lothar asked him to stay with the Queen for a moment as he was taking Karandra outside of the room. He crossed paths with the healer as he was getting out of the room. He didn't hesitate as he laid her down gently on the ground in the corridor.
YOU ARE READING
Golden Eyes
FanfictionWhen Lothar saw the mesmerizing golden eyes, he knew his whole world had just changed. She is half Orc, like Garona, and they are chained together. After Durotan freed them after the ambush, they meet the humans, and she finds much more in this new...
