“Stop squirming, wretch!” the Scarlet footman snapped, backhanding the bedraggled Argent prisoner across the face before forcing the hapless man to march up the steps of a nearby stone keep. Little sympathy was shown by the other Scarlets scattered around the compound; most remaining focused on their current tasks with only a handful shooting the prisoner a rather bored look.
The interior of the keep was somewhat austere, with only Scarlet banners and a few religious items and hunting trophies to decorate the bleak grey stone. The footman lead the prisoner down a corridor and into some kind of study–more richly furnished than the other rooms and a blazing fire in the large hearth to keep the cold of Northrend at bay.
“Lord Blackborne!” the footman began, forcing the Argent to his knees before snapping a sharp salute to an armored figure seated behind the room’s parchment-laden desk. “The prisoner, as requested!”
“Dismissed,” came the reply; the Scarlet commander waving a dismissive hand to shoo the footman from the room, without bothering to look up. Several minutes passed after the footman’s exit, before the commander finally rose from his seat–a dour expression on his face as he stalked over to inspect the prisoner. His armor and weapons were well-maintained; accentuated by a strict military bearing and embellished with rich textiles and socketed rubies. Despite the lavishness of dress, this Scarlet had clearly seen his share of battle–his left eye blinded with wicked-looking claw marks and small flecks of premature silver peppered throughout his dark blonde hair.
“Well? Aren’t you going to kill me then, and be done with it?” spat the Argent, shooting an uncertain at the Scarlet.
The Scarlet commander, Morician Blackborne, simply laughed in response–a cruel, mirthless sound. He clasped his hands behind his back, beginning to pace in a circle about the captive. “Kill you? No…not yet…I have bigger plans for you…”
He paused, kneeling for a moment to look the Argent in the eyes. “I saw you fighting for your life against that group of Scourge, and it was I that ordered my soldiers to flay the hides of those fiends and bring you here to offer you a choice. For you see…I too was once in your boots.”
The Argent simply stared at Morician, dumbfounded. Morician smiled coldly as he continued. “Yes…I was an Argent once, and like you I was also sent out on a mission. A mission to die. It was there that I lost my eye, and nearly my life as the Scourge forces closed in. As fate would have it, a contingent of Scarlets happened along, driving off the monsters and saving me before I could bleed out. In return, I was sworn into their service. It has been quite…advantageous…affording me more opportunity and recognition than I ever received from the Argents.”
Morician rose to his feet, gesturing grandly about the room. “Clearly, the Argents have abandoned you, while the Scarlet Crusade has need of stout hearts such as your own in its service of the Light. I offer you the same choice I was offered so long ago: join us! Serve me, and I will ensure that you receive the proper training and equipment to fulfill your true purpose!”
The Argent simply stared, uncertainty flickering across his face. It had been a hard-fought campaign in Northrend…one that had few comforts and seemingly fewer victories some days. The offer was tempting…to have more power…to be free from the worry…“And if I refuse? Then what?”
“Then you die, like all the rest who dare oppose us,” Morician sneered, drawing his sword and inspecting the blade. “I suggest you choose wisely.”
The Argent looked down, debating with himself for a few moments. As good as the offer sounded, he had also witnessed firsthand the cruelty of the Scarlets. To join them would certainly be abandoning the very ideals he had been fighting for. He shook his head in response, peace flooding his mind at remaining true to his moral code.
“Pity…I thought you smarter than that,” Morician scoffed, before driving his blade through the man’s breastplate.
Author’s Note: The story of what actually happened in the canon timeline can be found in my archive thread, under the title Dying Light.