“Ahn Karanir Thanagor,” Tirion Fordring whispered. He took his hand from Arthas’s head, hoping to bless the dead lich king and forgive him for his sins.
One day. Tirion was called to meditate by Deathwing. At that point Deathwing was still under the control of King Arthas. For unknown reasons Tirion became a grudge seeker and found him. Tirion recognized him as Deathwing the Destroyer, and he wanted to find answers about his mother, Angrathar the Wrathgate. What follows is an excerpt from the memories of Tirion and Arthas at that time, into the Frostmourne.
“Father?” Arthas started to break the seal. “This is it,” Arthas said to Tirion. “The final moments of my eternal fall. I will reach out to you. Uniting our two halves and bringing you face to face with my future self. Fight me in any way you wish. Take the dead souls I have gathered for you and banish me to the Shadowlands once again. But remember: I am your father, and you will never, ever turn against me. Promise me that.”
“As promised,” Tirion said. “But what then?”
Arthas put on his mask, and appeared once again.
Arthas was now using the full powers of the Lich King and seemed to be much stronger than before, while Tirion was extremely weary.
“What is this? Where is he?” Tirion asked, walking up to Arthas and seeing that he was aware of his son’s presence.
“I have you now,” he said, letting out a terrifying bellow. “Come, little one, let us continue our journey to the Vale of Eternal Blossoms.” He lowered his voice so that only the two ofthem could hear him. “I will set you free, and return you to the human world, the only world you have ever known.”
“But Father,” Tirion said, “There is no one here to save you. We have all run away from the Scourge. Lordaeron is overrun, and we all know it.”
“And your friend Arthas?” Tirion asked, wondering.
Grommash buried his face in his hand, and his features grew grim. “I would be doing nothing else than aiding Arthas. Would that all men, including his sons, had such a purpose.” He turned to Tirion. “You will do what I have asked, boy. For the Lich King’s sake,I request that you stand up and tell him that he has finally found someone to save the world from. Then fall asleep, and rest when I am done. You know what he would like to hear.”
Tirion nodded and reluctantly stood.
Then a shadow fell over him and he fell onto his knees. The group heard his snores and ran off to find a more secure place for the dwarf to sleep.
