The atmosphere in Khadgar's office was so thick, Malfurion could have cut it with a dagger. He wasn't sure what the Archmage was up to, but so far, it wasn't looking like a good plan. Anduin, the new King of Stormwind had taken a seat on one of the sofas, his hands on his knees, while Sylvanas, the Horde's Warchief had chosen to remain standing, her arms crossed over her leather tunic. Both of them watched the door, waiting for Khadgar's arrival. Neither of them looked happy.

Malfurion wasn't happy either. For two days, he had been kept in comfortable isolation by the Council of Six, Khadgar had said it was for his protection, but the Archdruid wasn't so sure. Yesterday Khadgar had come to visit him, asking him to attend a meeting with the leaders of Azeroth's factions, and when Malfurion agreed, Khadgar asked him not to mention anything about Tyrande having travelled to the Twisting Nether. When Malfurion asked him why, Khadgar clammed up, politely. Malfurion pressed the Archmage, but trying to get an answer out of him was impossible. Malfurion sighed as he sipped his wine, the Kirin Tor were always so secretive, it made him wary. He wished Khadgar would hurry up.

The door opened and Khadgar walked in, solemn. He bowed. "Thank you for joining me."

Anduin stood up, his clear blue eyes earnest. "I am always happy to oblige you Archmage, but how long must we stay here? I cannot leave my people for very long."

Sylvanas nodded. "Indeed, the logistics are fast becoming difficult."

Khadgar didn't answer, instead he began to cast a spell, two blue-runed circles extended from his hands. Anduin took a step back, uncertain. Sylvanas, as always, took a defensive stance, she reached for her bow and nocked an arrow, her lips thin.

Malfurion was the first to step forward. "A portal, to where?"

Khadgar eyed each of them for a heartbeat, his expression stern and unbending. "Follow me, there is someone else who has requested to join us."

Sylvanas sneered. "We are the leaders of Azeroth, let them come to us."

Curious, Malfurion stepped closer and peered into the portal. The interior looked almost the same as Khadgar's office, except the ceiling was much higher. A warm, white light suffused the walls with an ethereal glow. He glanced at Khadgar, astonished. "Xe'ra? A Na'aru wishes to join us?"

Enigmatic as ever, Khadgar lifted a brow, and held up his hand, inviting them to enter. Without hesitation, Anduin strode forward, and stepped into the portal, Malfurion turned and waited for Sylvanas. "My Lady?"

She stepped, light, towards the opening. Suspicion emanated from her. She trusted no one. Not even a Na'aru, it seemed. Malfurion glanced at Khadgar, who remained impassive, waiting, still holding his hand out. She glared at Khadgar, but entered the portal, her bow held up in front of her, defensive.

Malfurion followed, to find the others had already approached the glimmering being. Anduin knelt, filled with awe, and despite her grudging look, Sylvanas had at least lowered her bow. The light played over her silver-grey complexion. Her dark lips parted, softening her fierce expression. Malfurion couldn't stop himself from staring. Under her forbidding mask, Sylvanas was a beautiful woman.

Khadgar appeared beside Malfurion and closed the portal. He cast several more spells--wards, Malfurion presumed--before saying anything. When he was done, the Archmage moved in front of them.

"I won't repeat the reasons you were asked to reside in Dalaran, but I am grateful you have decided to cooperate. Today I will tell you what the Council has learned. First the worst news, then once you have digested that-the bad."

Malfurion glanced at Anduin. The young man rose up, his whole attention fixed upon Khadgar. Sylvanas turned to face Khadgar, her demeanour once more harsh and suspicious. Malfurion rested his hands on his hips, and braced himself. He had waited in his quarters for two days to have answers to what the mages had gained from searching his memories. Now, finally, he would have the truth, or at least the truth according to the Kirin Tor's Council of Six. It troubled him he would have to hear about his wife's fate in front of the others, and that he had to keep certain facts to himself, but he could not get her back on his own, and if this was the way he would have to do things, so be it.

"We have less than one month left before Azeroth will lose its last opportunity to stop its destruction."

Malfurion felt the blood drain from his face. So soon? He glanced at the others. Anduin looked deeply troubled, but Sylvanas was unimpressed.

"I doubt that," she scoffed. "My spies report nothing is happening at the Broken Shore. No reinforcements have arrived, the portals to the Legion ships are silent. All is quiet."

"Quiet is when the enemy is at its most dangerous. It means they are ready to strike," Anduin murmured.

"Says the boy-king," Sylvanas muttered, dismissive.

Anduin rounded on her, his jaw clenching. "Said my father."

Sylvanas took a step back, startled by the young man's sudden ferocity. She bowed her head. "Your father was a wise man. Forgive me."

"King Anduin is correct, Gul'dan is at his most dangerous right now," Khadgar said. "He has Illidan's body--stolen from the Warden's Vault--and has found Illidan's spirit. He is draining it from the Nether back into Illidan's body, corrupting it for his own purposes."

Sylvanas arched an eyebrow, but whatever she was thinking, she kept it to herself. Anduin paled. Varian's son had trained as a priest, and Malfurion suspected the young king was already piecing together Gul'dan's dark intentions. Malfurion crossed his arms over his chest, preparing himself for what he knew was coming. Soon he would hear about Tyrande. He willed Khadgar to continue.

"It is this purpose which will become our downfall should we do nothing to stop it."

Anduin stepped closer, the Na'aru's light reflecting off the polished clasp of his cloak. "He's creating an avatar for Sargeras, isn't he?"

Khadgar nodded, terse. Sylvanas hissed, and lunged at the Archmage. Malfurion caught her and held her back. Though small, her strength was astonishing. She pushed away from him, her anger palpable. "And so, knowing such a thing was unfolding, instead of calling us to action, you decided to bring us here to talk? Typical."

Khadgar's eyebrows lowered. "Need I remind you the last time we rushed into battle without due consideration how much we lost?"

Under his severe look Sylvanas retreated a step. She glanced at Anduin, who watched her, his blue eyes darkening, veering toward hostility.

She lifted her chin, defiant. "Speak then, the Warchief of the Horde is listening."