Galen, still adrift in contemplation at the threshold of the Moon God Temple, was jolted by a rising clamor in the distance. He lifted his gaze, witnessing a contingent of night elves advancing with palpable fury, their passage a rude disruption of the temple's serene atmosphere, shoving aside Moon God Temple guards and priestesses with blatant disregard.
These were no ordinary night elves. They were the elite of the elite: Wardens. Their dark green, bladed cloaks billowed behind them, their unique iron owl helmets gleamed menacingly, their full metal armor resonated with each forceful stride, and their hands gripped the edges of their thorn blade wheels. Galen, a connoisseur of deadly arts, recognized them instantly: the night elf's assassination squad, silent hunters who dwelled in the shadows. Even his own Hidden Blades, honed to deadly perfection, were a step behind the Wardens in raw combat prowess.
However, their numbers were never vast. Their training was notoriously grueling, and Maiev, their uncompromising leader, only accepted female recruits. Later, Tyrande, deeming the Warden's methods excessively brutal, had quietly curtailed their recruitment within the army.
Oh no, Galen thought, a grim realization dawning. Tyrande's little secret has been exposed with alarming speed. Maiev has come calling... and with a vengeance.
Adding to the ominous spectacle, the Wardens carried a dozen corpses upon stretchers. It was clear: they intended to settle old scores and new grievances in one fell swoop.
The Moon God priest, whom Galen had previously engaged, rushed forward, attempting to intercede. "Lady Maiev! What is the meaning of this? Why do you desecrate the sacred grounds of the Moon God Temple of Nordrassil!"
"Out of my way, Moonshadow!" Maiev's voice, a raw, unrestrained roar, cut through the air, addressing the priest by name. "Summon Tyrande immediately! She led a band of her lackeys into the Warden's Vault, butchered my sisters, and released Illidan!"
"What?!" The Moon God priest recoiled, his face a mask of disbelief. "The High Priestess... freed Illidan?"
The priest's shock was understandable. Illidan's actions ten thousand years prior were the stuff of nightmares. To slay his own kin was treason enough, but his gravest sin was the act of rebuilding the Well of Eternity! The Well of Eternity was a source of arcane energy, but in the eyes of the night elves, it was also the original sin, the dark beacon that had drawn the Burning Legion to Azeroth and plunged their world into chaos. And now, Archimonde once again led the Legion's armies upon Azeroth, his sights set on Mount Hyjal. Many night elves whispered that they were drawn by the lingering power of the small Well of Eternity, hidden beneath the roots of the World Tree! In the hearts of the people, Illidan deserved not life imprisonment, but swift and final judgment.
"That's right! Every Watcher sister who remained in the prison was slaughtered!" Maiev's teeth were clenched so tightly that her jaw seemed to tremble. These were not mere soldiers; these were her sisters, companions who had stood by her side for ten thousand years, loyal subordinates who had met their end not at the hands of demons, but at the hands of their own people.
"Where is Tyrande? I demand an explanation! Anything less is unacceptable!"
"I do not know the High Priestess's current location, Lady Maiev. Please, grant me a moment. I will summon the Arch-Druid!" The priest, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation, could only resort to appealing to higher authority.
Galen, meanwhile, had been observing Maiev, the formidable leader of the night elf Wardens, with a keen and calculating eye. His first encounter with her had been on the shattered shores of the Broken Shore, during the chaotic aftermath of his opening of the Tomb of Sargeras. His initial impression had been one of cold, unyielding aloofness. His second glimpse of her was in the distant past, during the War of the Ancients. At that time, Maiev had been a young, ambitious, and highly respected priestess of the Moon God Temple, widely considered the most likely successor to the position of High Priestess. For a commoner, a woman without noble blood, her rise had been meteoric.
But then came Tyrande, the favored daughter of Elune, the Moon Goddess. And there was also Maiev's brother, Jarod Shadowsong. He had risen from the rank of Captain of Lord Ravencrest's guard to become the leader of the resistance army, a figure of immense prestige, the most likely candidate to become the new Emperor of the Night Elves. Unfortunately, he had been wounded by Illidan and had mysteriously vanished not long after. In the end, it was Tyrande and Malfurion who ascended to the throne. Had fate taken a different turn, had Jarod become Emperor and Maiev the High Priestess, wielding both secular and divine power, the Shadowsong name would have been the most revered among the night elves. But there were no "ifs" in history.
If it hadn't been for his own intervention, his firm control over Eldre'Thalas, and the capable leadership of his disciple Fandral, the night elves would have been under the absolute rule of that power couple.
Seeing that Maiev's barely contained rage threatened to erupt before Malfurion could arrive, Galen stepped forward, breaking his silence. Maiev was taken aback. Despite her fury, she should have been acutely aware that besides the Moonshadow Priest and the two guards, there was a fourth presence within the Moon God Temple of Nordrassil... The Wardens, as an assassination squad, prided themselves on their perception! This was a powerful individual! When had such an expert emerged within their ranks?
Maiev's eyes narrowed, fixed intently on Galen. Only when he was within arm's reach did recognition dawn. "Galen?" Ten thousand years was a vast expanse of time, enough to blur even the most vivid memories. Maiev's recollection of Galen's face was hazy, a fragmented image from a distant past. The only scene that remained clear was his devastating harvest in the Demon Seas. Moreover, Ancagalon, ever meticulous, had subtly altered Galen's disguised appearance when he had refined the Orb of Deception, imbuing him with a more mature, commanding presence, much like his past deception of Terenas Menethil as Lord Daval Prestor.
"Maiev, long time no see. Tyrande is not within the Moon God Temple. I have just exited its sacred halls," Galen stated, his voice calm and measured. He paused before Maiev, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Wardens. Thirty elite warriors, each a master of death. The two standing closest to Maiev radiated power, their auras hinting at a Legend-rank strength. They were the ones carrying the stretcher, bearing the lifeless forms of the Wardens slain by Tyrande's hand. "How long have they been dead?"
Maiev blinked, taken aback by the unexpected question. However, Galen was clearly not aligned with Tyrande. Trusting in their shared history, she chose to answer truthfully. "Less than a day. I retrieved their bodies from the Vault and brought them here immediately."
Maiev glanced at the distant Moon God Temple guards, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "She took Nath's route!" For Maiev, a staunch opponent of arcane magic, to seek the aid of Nath's mages for teleportation spoke volumes about the depth of her fury.
"This is not the place for such a discussion," Galen declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "If you desire the resurrection of your fallen sisters, follow me!" Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode towards the Staghelm family's residence, his destination the stone cave in the backyard, the place where Fandral and Vaestan sought solace in the Emerald Dream.
Maiev hesitated for only a fraction of a second. With a swift gesture, she commanded her Wardens to follow, their silent procession a testament to their unwavering loyalty.
Fandral and Vaestan were both on the front lines, leaving only Vaestan's wife and daughter at home. Galen, with characteristic pragmatism, commandeered the stone cave. After erecting a potent isolation barrier, he dismissed Maiev and prepared to perform the ritual of Resurrection. The slain Wardens had been dead for less than a day. With his formidable power, Galen could easily retrieve their souls from their journey to the Fairy Forest. This was an investment, a calculated move to gain Maiev's allegiance... In the future, he would need her relentless pursuit, her unforgiving hand to keep Illidan in check.