Sarah rose early feeling surprisingly refreshed from an undisturbed sleep. She had expected to spend the night tossing and turning following her small spat with the Archmage, but sleep had been kind and took her into a land of sublime nothingness.

She washed and dressed hurriedly. Her impatience for things to move forward had her rushing about her room, trying to make sure she had everything before she ventured to the dining area. There she enquired with the innkeeper if Vindicator Ocel had breakfasted yet. Disappointment befell her when she was informed that he had eaten about half an hour earlier and then left on important business. The innkeeper was reluctant to divulge any more even under Sarah's probing stare. He merely told her that the paladin's colleague knew what it was about. She clucked her tongue, trying to harness her annoyance. Of course Khadgar would know! All she could hope for was that the important business entailed her finally being granted an audience with A'dal.

Drew and Erik joined her for breakfast, both a little rough looking.

"What time did you two get to bed?" She asked with a look of antipathy towards them.

"Late!" Drew answered, his eyes puffy and his hair messed up.

Sarah dug in her bag and pulled out a brush. She stood behind him and tugged out the matted mess that was his black mane. He winced now and again, flapping his arms about trying to ward her off. Erik laughed, at Drew's useless attempts at thwarting her rapacious grooming.

"There!" she said, finally satisfied that she had made him a little more respectable. Erik continued chortling until Sarah feigned annoyance and held the brush threateningly; a clear sign that she would sort his hair next. He quickly stopped laughing. They smirked amiably at each other then continued with breakfast.

"Where's Khadgar?" Drew asked hesitantly.

"I assume he is with Ocel," she answered dismissively, pushing her empty plate aside. "Come on you two, I want to get down there and see what is happening."

When they had all finished, they left the inn and took the giant stone lift down to the Terrace of Light. There they crossed the court to the central plaza and in through the arch to where the naaru hovered within their celestial brilliance.

Sarah saw Ocel. Khadgar approached him from the opposite side of the chamber. It seemed they had not been together after all, she mused. She also noted he looked troubled, as if he had not slept. A twinge in her heart served a painful reminder that she still cared. He glanced over then quickly turned away and engaged in conversation with Ocel.

This, she knew, wasn't going to get any easier. She finally admitted that deep down she had really hoped he'd still felt for her. That just perhaps, there was a little glimmer of hope. After his counteraction to her last night however, she was utterly devastated to find it was indeed over. Having said that, attempting to slap him had been way over the mark, and she probably deserved his ire.

Ocel signalled for them to come over. Sarah moved in beside the paladin, while Drew and Erik stayed a little farther back. She looked up at the draenei. "Are they willing to speak with me?" Her voice trembled, nerves acting up for fear she would not be given their divine ministration.

"Yes, Sarah. They are willing to hear you out."

She exhaled audibly. Her knees trembled at the prospect now. She knew very little of these beings other than their existence went further back in history than that of the Titans. In fact, they formed the ying and yang of creation alongside the Void, their opposing force. That snippet of knowledge alone brought home the sheer power these celestial creatures possessed. "What do I do? Do I bow or something?" Her voice quivered a little.

Ocel smiled, "No, just listen."

"But I can't do that telepathy thingy," she whispered.

"We can all communicate that way, child." A soft, soothing voice rang in her head, she looked towards A'dal.

"I have never done it before," she replied out loud.

"You may speak with me using only your mind. I will understand you."

"Like this?" Sarah formed the words in her head, keeping her lips still.

"Yes."

Sarah was entranced, this was utterly incredible. The naaru had a calming effect on her; she felt tranquillity and clarity of thought. "Vindicator Ocel has told you why I wish to speak with you I believe."

"Yes. You wish to find the naaru who spoke with Illidan Stormrage, the one they call Betrayer."

"That is correct."

"Ocel also tells us you have come from another dimension. One in which all of Azeroth and it peoples are but images created by mortals."

"Pretty much, yes."

"Earth."

Sarah was stunned, she had not told anyone the name of her planet. At least, not that she could remember. "You know of it?"

"Yes, we know of it. You are a young race by comparison to all here, but already you have wreaked much havoc on your home planet."

Instantly, Sarah felt a crushing shame on behalf of the human race. "Sadly, that is true. But, there is also great beauty to behold, and much to strive for to help and improve our planet."

The naaru was silent. Sarah, nervously biting her lip, waited for A'dal to speak again.

"You have had quite some impact on this world too. I hear you are largely responsible for ensuring the survival of the Alliance king."

"I did nothing other than inform people of what I had learned from my homeland about the outcome of the Broken Shore. I am no hero."

"And yet here you stand, in a bid to be heroic."

Sarah shifted to her opposite foot, unsure what the naaru implied. She had not looked upon her belief as being heroic. "With respect, I do not do this with some misguided idea of being hailed a hero. I believe in the prophecy and although, yes, Illidan has done things in a controversial way, I know he did it all for the better good."

"He has sacrificed many lives in his drive for power." The naaru's tone had a more forceful timbre now.

"Indeed. But that is what great leaders have done throughout all worlds, universes, the cosmos whatever you call the great out yonder. It is sometimes seen as a necessary means to an end."

"Not all would agree with you."

"No, but without dark, there is no light. Your own existence is proof of that." She gulped and momentarily closed her eyes. She truly hoped that last statement did not come across as flippant. Another pause. Sarah chanced a glance back at her companions. They were all watching with keen interest. Can you hear us? She gestured to Ocel. He shook his head. She sighed. Relieved.

A'dal spoke with her again. "What is it then you wish to ask of us with regards to the Betrayer?"

Sarah had assumed that Ocel had already voiced her plans. Perhaps he had and A'dal just needed to hear it from her directly. "I humbly request that you return his spirit from the Twisting Nether to his body once we find him, so that the prophecy can be fulfilled. We need him to vanquish the Burning Legion."

"The races of Azeroth seek the Pillars of Creation to stop the Legion."

Sarah could not help but wonder why A'dal was coercing her into saying what the naaru as a collective would already know. She somehow managed to suppress those thoughts however, and continue in the vein which A'dal wanted her to go. "Yes, but that only closes the portal and seals it. Illidan will cut down the demons. He will lead the Army of Light and then defeat the greater enemy, the Void."

"You know much, child. Not even Khadgar was aware of this, although he will be... in time."

She had just reached the point where she needed an answer. Curtailing her impatience, she looked up at A'dal, her eyes large and pleading. "Will you help us?"

"I will consult with my people and you will have your answer before midday."

It was as much as she could ask. To try force a decision would no doubt be detrimental to her cause. "Thank you." She bowed before the naaru.

Sarah returned to where Ocel and Khadgar stood. She informed them they would have to wait until midday for the naaru's decision. Ocel nodded and turned to leave. Khadgar followed him.

As he walked away, she felt a lump in her throat. What they once had, was, without doubt, now gone, and she had to let go, admit and accept defeat. All this to-ing and fro-ing of her emotions had to stop. She needed to focus on the task ahead and put her disappointment on the back burner. Truth was she needed Khadgar's help, so she simply had to deal with it.

Her two friends approached candidly. She told them what A'dal had said and that they were to return by midday for an answer. She hoped it was going to be in her favour.

Ocel and Khadgar had returned to the inn, as they assumed Sarah, Erik and Drew would probably frequent the World's End again to pass the time.

"So, what do you think?" the draenei asked his friend.

"It worries me that you were so convincing that we could not hear the exchange between them," Khadgar smirked.

"I just thought it was best that she thought the conversation was private."

"Well, normally it would have been."

"Yes."

"I think Sarah is going to get the help she needs," Khadgar admitted staring at his hands.

"As do I. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

The Archmage proceeded to tell Ocel about the strategy she had shared with him the day before. It had been well thought out, but it did not allow for the dangers they would face en route. Plus, they needed the final section of the Pillars of Creation to be found. Khadgar had received word earlier that the allies had found the second last section and were on the way to the final piece.

"I do not see why, even if it is prophesised, that we need to wait for Illidan," Ocel mused. "Surely once the pillar sections are all together and the portal sealed again, we do not need to worry about more demons coming through. We will simply deal with those that are left on this side of it."

"Yet, that would still leave the possibility of it being reopened again in the future." Khadgar reasoned.

"Not once we seal it."

"You forget, it was already sealed with powerful spells by Aegwynn, Guardian of Tirisfal, and Gul'dan still managed to open it. Perhaps, Illidan is needed to kill the Legion inside Mardum or the Tomb before the portal is closed, that way stopping the contagion from spreading again. Plus this Army of Light and the defeating the Void? There are still some pieces of this puzzle missing."

"True, let us not be hasty."

The paladin waited a few moments before he changed the line of questioning. "So, how are things between you two?"

Khadgar knew only too well not to try and pull the wool over his friend's eyes. The draenei could spot a bluff a mile away. He ran his fingers through his hair, a slightly nervous habit. "Strained, I think would best describe it."

"That is a great shame, my friend."

"As best as can be expected, I guess."

"Hmm. We all make choices Khadgar, not all are the right ones, they just seem to be at the time."

Khadgar recalled Sarah had said something very similar. "What! Are you saying I should not have become Leader of the Kirin Tor?"

"No! I am not saying that at all," the draenei pushed his chair back, readying to leave on an errand. "What I am saying is, you are the leader. It is you who can make certain decisions and changes ... if you see fit." He bid the Archmage farewell for the time being and said he would meet with them all again at the appointed time.

Midday approached and by the time Khadgar and Ocel arrived, Sarah, Drew and Erik had already been there for the past half an hour.

"Sarah, step forward," the voice of A'dal invaded her mind.

She did as she was asked. Khadgar and Ocel glanced at each other. It seemed the naaru has seen fit to break the communication with them for this part of the conversation.

"We have reached our decision," Adal said in Sarah's mind.

"Thank you for giving my plea consideration."

"We will grant you your request. We will return the Betrayer's spirit to his body."

Sarah could not keep the smile from her face as she looked to her friends.

"But, understand, for this there will be a cost."

Sarah turned back to face A'dal. Her smile slowly faded. "I expected there to be one."

"It may change your mind, child."

A slight sense of foreboding crept over her, but she had come this far, may as well go the whole hog. "Tell me."

A few minutes later, Sarah turned to face her friends. She smiled a little nervously, and told them the naaru had offered to help. But that was as much as she was willing to let them know for now.

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