Calm Before the Storm Ch9

Valk moved Fyurie slowly toward the citadel gate, keeping a close eye on the remains of the Argent camp. The fortifications where in shambles, left to die in the icy weather. The ghouls had moved right in to the encampment, dead sheltering the dead now. She cold see the muted glow of their eyes from within the tents but so far they had not made a move to attack her, seeming to be content to watch from their vantage points.

Sliding off her charger she inspected the broken gateway. The Argent's battering ram had fallen outside, the wood rotten away, but the entrance was still barely open.
"Looks like you will have to wait here boy. Let's go Rocky."
She squeezed through the rubble into the dark tunnel. Using the wall as her guide she felt along until she managed to find a wall sconce.

"I don't know about you but fel glow only helps so much in the dark."
She didn't seem perturbed by the fact the fire glowed blue, from Kal's stories of this place she knew there would be creepier things. The paladin paused in the staging area. The forges and tents were still there; a bit better preserved being out of the weather, but it was obvious the area had been cleared out for some time. In the center lay the raised hexagon platform.  

"The teleporter..I wonder if it still works...." She knelt, brushing the dust from the runic inscription. Was it scourge or crusade? Suddenly the runes glowed blue, startling her. She jumped back trying to drawing her blade, but some force slammed the paladin to her knees on the teleporter. The dizzying sense of vertigo overwhelmed her as the icy light of the magic momentarily blinded her.

Valk scrambled off the pad, looking around as soon as the pressure released her. She was now alone within the cold halls, Rocky having been to far back to get transported as well. The giant domed chamber she found herself in had wings branching off; all connected by thin walkways that dropped off into oblivion.
"What the fel...Think Valk, Kal said something about the transporter then going up to the throne..."

A screech caught her attention, drawing her eyes up to the vaulted ceiling. Val'kyr still congregated there, flying like bees protecting a nest. They regarded her but seem to turn away as if she belonged there.
'The gateway....ahead..'
The redhead caught sight of another teleporter as it lit up. Was that the one that went to the throne? Would Kal be up there? Only one way to find out.
-

Kal waited on top of the citadel; a living statue holding vigil from his vantage point next to the throne where Bolvar currently sat. The Death Knight wasn't stupid, he knew that Bolvar was the new Lich King and he would serve him as he did Arthas before him. But Fordragon had also entombed himself, for all intensive purposes he was an absent King, leaving Kaliek plenty of opportunity to grab power.  

The Death Knight finally moved, opening his frosty eyes as he laid a hand over his metal breastplate. Underneath the cold metal the shard of Frostmourne buried deeper in the flesh of its latest puppet. Ever whispering, every demanding, it cried out to be forged anew, to continue the work of its true master. The Blade hungered.
"She should be here soon.." he said to his minions, the rotting corpses were gathered around like dogs at his feet. Some still wore the tattered remains of Alliance uniform others the worn leathers of the Horde.
"When she gets here...you all leave. I do not want a single interruption, do you understand me? Keep the pesky Dwarf from getting up here, but do nothing to the girl." He ordered them.

He trained his eyes on the teleporter pad, eagerly awaiting the foolish girl who believed she could save him. Stupid, Stupid girl; he was beyond saving.
"Soon..my Valkyrae..we shall be together again..."
-

The first thing she felt was the gushing wind. It was so strong here it nearly blew her off her feet, the icy gale pummeled her with snow cutting threw the furs under her plate. How the hell did Kal fight in this? Oh yes...cold didn't really bother the Death Knights. She realized the platform was smaller then one first thought, ice had built up on the platform extending it in a deadly illusion. Another danger to watch for.  

Her gaze was pulled to the lofted throne, now the frozen tomb of the once paladin Bolvar Fordragon and at his right hand sat her beloved master. Her heart ached to see him like this; to see him fallen so far.  
"Kal! You have to stop this! You are turning into that which you hated!"

"Ahh...so the prodigal pupil finally arrives." Kal said taunting the girl.
"I am as I was meant to be. It was foolish of me to try and uphold the tenants of the Light. The Light turned its back on me, and so I shall turn mine on it..." He continued.

His grip on Shadowmourne tightened.
"We were nothing but pawns to it's will. How is it so much different than this?" He gestured around him, "You do as it tells you or it takes everything away...I am done being a pawn...Now I shall take action and be the metaphorical puppet master..." He looked at Bolvar..."And all I need is that crown to do it..."

Her eye's widened looking from him to the entombed human. Dear Light! If he actually took the helm the Kal she knew and loved would be gone forever, lost to the helm's power.
She surprised herself with just how fast she moved. One minute she was standing near the transport pad, the next her holy wings had sprouted from her armor and her hammer of wrath had smashed into the area between the two men. Her goal was to keep him away from that crown, not maim.

She flinched, her back arching as pain raced up her spine. The Paladin took her eyes off of the Death Knight to cast a glance over her shoulder. The normally golden manifestation of the light was now the silver wings of the Val'kyr.
'A deal is a deal sister..'
What the fuck else had that scourge witch changed?! She would have to be on her toes, try not to count on her familiar moves. She braced as the dark plated form appeared in front of her.

With a growl Kal moved swiftly to counter her attack while she had her eyes off him. He grabbed her by the arm and jerking her close.
"Have you learned nothing, wench? Keep your eyes on your opponent at all times..." He spat as he leaned close to her.
His grip tightened, ice forming on the metal with a hiss where held her. The cold seeped threw the furs lining her plate, causing her skin to burn with frostbite.

"I could have ended this now, but I would rather have fun with you first....or..you could accept an alternative."
He let his gaze travel the red head’s form; she had grown lovelier in their time apart, losing some of her girlish features for the mature ones of a woman.
"You would make a fine queen, Valkyrae. Think about it...you and I ruling together as it should be. You could be free from the mortal coils, the lies of the living. Embrace the truth of scourge Valkyrae...be at my side where you belong..."

Her breath caught in her throat at his words, her heart ached. Some part of her away feared one day they would go their separate ways, him off to find another willing to benefit from his teaching; ever in search of repentance for what he had become. Now he was offering an eternity at his side but this wasn't her Kal and that hurt her the most.
"Queen of what? A decaying world filled with the corpses of mindless abominations? I'd rather die knowing you are safe, then be the whore of a monster with his face."

Kal just merely laughed a dark taunting sound.
"Your words hurt so much" he sneered.  
"Pity, I see you are still dimwitted. Perhaps I should have said you will join me either way. Agreeing only makes the process easier. Perhaps I will keep you around as a toy for amusement."
He hefted Shadow high. "Prepare yourself, girl!"

Valk jerked her arm from his grip, rolling away to try and put distance between the two. She drew her own crystalline blade from her back.
"Kal don't do this! The Argents will put you down; don't you understand? Even if you kill me they will destroy you like they did Arthas!"
Shaarde rattled in her hand, the purple blade glowing softly as the light filled the vessel. She desperately tried to think of a way to incapacitate him without harming him. There had to be a way to save Kaliek.  
Valk stood crossing herself in the sign of the light before muttering the holy spell of repentance.

The Repentance hit Kal, dazing him momentarily but he shrugged it off, stalking towards the girl.
"You can to do better than that surely..." He grinned, "Your Argent friends do not scare me. I can handle anyone they send my way..." The male lunged at her, striking Shaarde with Shadow. Shaarde dimmed as the rune blade connected to it. Unbeknownst to the combatants tiny cracks appeared in the crystal face.  
"Do you really think that little blade will stand a chance against the might of Shadowmourne, a blade equal to Frostmourne itself!?"
Kal disengaged his blade from hers and did a low sweep trying to knock the girl off balance.

Valk tried to jump back casting her divine shield. Kaliek was dangerous when holding back but now she was just another enemy in his way. He would do everything in his power to end her life…or worse.
'You will die before you even scratch him at this point. So eager to join us?' whispered the Val’kyr.
As much as she hated to admit it, the val'kyr was right. The red head would tire just keeping him at bay. Valk had no choice but to treat him as she would anyone else.
'The best defense always has been a good offense.'

The Paladin began casting her judgment racing to him to follow with a crusader strike.
The judgment hit Kal, causing him to hiss as the Light burned him.
"Bitch...I see you are finally giving it your all. Good, I was afraid this would turn out boring for me." He growled before quickly brought Shadow up to block the strike.
"Too slow, girl!" He yelled as the ground beneath their feet began to glow with the balefull red light of death and decay.

The tome on Valk’s hip glowed, the sigil for divine protection awaking. At least she wouldn't take such heavy damage as she tried to escape the unholy area as it tried to decompose her. Spinning to face him on the other side of the area, she started canting the spell of exorcism. Yet Kal quickly countered with his Anti Magic shell, absorbing most of the holy energy.

"I grow tired of these games..." He hissed dashing threw the now decaying area to strike the girl with Shadow....
"Just give up...you won't win this!" He growled, pulling an arm back her slammed his plated fist into her side releasing his outbreak of diseases.

The outbreak hit her, slowing her reaction as the diseases raced their way threw her body. She had just enough time to bring Shaarde up to block Shadow. His blow nearly buckled her while the diseases made her arms feel like lead weights.

Shaarde rattled against the rune blade and much to the paladin's horror a crack was making its way over the blade. The forge naaru blade wouldn’t be able to hold against the scourge weapon. Her eyes took in the death knight's face for the last time, her own resigned; she knew what was about to happen.
"Kal...I'm sorry...I broke my promise to never leave you alone again.."

Her blade shattered sending purple shards flying. The rune blade came down; cutting threw her armor like it was tissue paper. Valk jerked, crying out; what made Shadow so deadly was it hunger for souls more then sharp edge. The pull of her soul was agonizing, liking being burned alive and dismembered.

The empty husk of what was once Valkyrae Bloodmoon fell onto the icy platform, fel glow of her eyes fading to empty blue.
Kal stood over the girl's body with a dark chuckle, feeling triumphant. But something was...amiss. Though Shadow had taken her soul...he could not feel it as he could the others....
"Blade...why do you keep her soul from me?" Kal whispered...and he was answered by his own soul being dragged into the blade....