I am so sorry, the delay in inexcusable, truly it is but with how things are going for me as of late I have been delayed again and again on so many fronts it is not funny. Work and everyday life is often the cause of me not getting things done, hell even when I take my little breaks I am forced to write because if I don't I will be delaying a week or two before I post where I promised to post.

Just like here. I forwent doing the review responses simply to get this to you as quickly as possible.

I know some of you may be mad but please understand that life is never simple, if it was it would be so goddamn great for me, honestly. But life is not like that, truly it is not anything like that. But I have the story for you and it is ready to be read.

Lords of Warcraft

Chapter 30: Remember the Vow

Everything was burning, smoke and cinders fluttered through the air, all around she could see them tumble through the breeze. Yet the winds carried more than the scent of ash and heat, she could taste something else on the tip of her tongue and in her nostrils. The metallic taste of it was eerily familiar, so many times had she smelt it throughout her life, the question was easy to ask what it was, for it filled more than the air.

Joana looked down the street, her eyes peeing past the remains of the awning that she hid beneath. Down the street she could see, despite the darkness the fires gave a great amount of light, it would have been kinds had the fallen canopy crushed her.

Gore littered the ground, turning the dirt red and covering it with a wet layer of freshly shed blood, the well-trodden earth made the thick liquid unable to soak below the surface. But it was the source that made her stomach churn and tears well in her eyes, for the sight of it made her want to turn but she couldn't do such a thing.

Friends, neighbours, family, they all were littered across the street. Blood and gore were everywhere, and so where the people who it was ripped and torn from, people she knew and had loved for so long were gone.

Her father, a short glance and she saw his messy grey-brown hair yet his face was obscured by the remains of his arm. Her mother, a short distance away, short golden hair was now matted with blood along with her pale grey dress. At her side was a bundle, small and brown, the package was smeared with red and still.

Her little brother.

She was there for so long, waiting and watching as her home burnt down and everyone she knew or cared for die and were consumed by fire. Until dawn she watched, as one fire dissipated another rose over the horizon to make the picture even more horrible to look upon.

So many faces, so much blood, she was the only one to survive it and look on unable to do anything.

Joana jerked up with a start, sweat pouring from her brow, the feeling of tightness in her chest as her heart beat uncontrollably woke her instantly. Her eyes frantically looked around the room, apprehension and fear taking hold of her mind, she looked for her weapon and found it.

Within a moment her hand was wrapped around its handle and she brought it up, waiting for an enemy.

None came.

For the next minute she remained standing in the centre of the room, panting and with adrenaline pumping through her veins. But once the fire in her blood cooled and her beating heart settled did she let the tip of her weapon touch the floor, yet the Paladin's breathing did not halt.

"Been a while, since you came to haunt my dreams," Joana muttered, turning and slumping onto her bed.

It had been so long since she had that dream, the Burning of Rainshire, a small town located near the Quagmire that supplies fish and lumber. A small little commune and one of the first place to be razed by the orcish Horde when the invaded from Draenor. Everyone died there, no survivors among the three hundred villagers, all except her.

"I don't need this on my conscious right now, not now," Joana growled, leaning her head against her pummel and wishing the memories away.

So long those haunting memories had been what drove her, giving her purpose and reason to fight and overcome everything, because they gave her something she hated and wanted to punish. Despite everything she believed and did and what others said, that her hatred was wrong and should be removed, it was the only thing that kept her going.

That memory always brought up pain and hatred in her heart, for it made her what she is today and despite her being a symbol of virtue and purity, she always sought retribution for what happened. The orcish horde had destroyed everything, her childhood uprooted by those monsters and torn away, and changed her fate.

But why now? Why come to her like this? A warning from the Light?

Was her absence from Azeroth something to be feared, the inability to fight what she could not reach causing her to feel dread at the prospect that her home was in danger. Was it her? The fear of her home being destroyed by a force she could not hope to fight driving her into despair?

'What are you trying to tell me?' Joana thought, gritting her teeth as the answer was out of her reach.

Was it a sign from the Light? Or something her own mind dreamt up because of her fears and doubts? She had no idea if either was the case but both truly did not sit well with her. She let it churn in her mind for a good long while, appearing to be ready to do so for the rest of the morning, until a knock came to the door.

"Wake up call, breakfast will be served, so get downstairs while we something left,"

Joana looked to the door, hearing the retreating footsteps, and as they distanced themselves from her room so did the memories her last night's dream. Her eyes focused and her clenched jaw loosened, she calmed herself down and took a breath, she let go of the tension.

'I got too caught up in it, focused on it too much,' Joana thought, remembering now that her master always told her not to let herself get to possessed with the moment.

With that thought she moved for her armour, checking it over before fastening each piece upon herself, once she was fully equipped she turned to the door. Grasping her shield and clasp it to her back before sheathing her blade, it was time for her to get moving. She had to return to her journey to Lothlorien, she needed to reach these elves and find a way back home.

A quick walk and she was down the stairs, passing several surprised individuals, and out into the populated streets of Snowbourne. She could see that the refugees were still tickling in; thousands likely now populated the small township, and pushing its already bursting walls to overflow.

A brief feeling of shame passed through her, one that she could easily understand given what she was going to be doing soon. These people were in need of help and she was not going to be giving it to them, despite her previous acts she still had only shepherd them to this town. A town that is still in danger of attack, and with so few warriors and such a large population it was understandable what would happen soon.

Too many people and the food would run out, and they would either risk going south or remain here and starve. Either case meant people were going to die, and from the looks of it, people may already be dying but she had yet to know.

'I cannot, not when I am needed somewhere else,' Joana thought, it was a poor excuse, maybe even an attempt to justify that she needed to leave them for the greater good.

But in a way she felt it was selfish, going back to save her world while leaving the world of these innocent people to burn when she should help protect it. The Light always preached about protecting and safeguarding others, and going beyond personal reasons for doing things, but actually doing what is seen as right.

But she couldn't do that now.

Joana walked down the street, passing by many people who would openly stare at her, some likely aware of who she was or at least know the rumours. Either way she did not pay attention, instead she moved for the stables, they were close to the main gate and she could procure a horse there. If she was able to get a powerful one she could get to the forests within a few days of hard riding.

But getting a horse would be the hard part, these Rohirran love their horses and her attaining one from the King was actually a blessing because his advisor was not of the same mind as the people. So buying a mount, let alone convincing them to part with one, will be the hard part. Besides she was low on funds as it was, ten coins left it would seem, she was dangerously low on money right now and she needed it to survive.

Maybe she shouldn't have been so flippant with giving away the gold coins, maybe she should have asked for some change.

Shaking her head she cast aside the thoughts and entered the stable, her armoured boots brushed aside stray hay and mud as she passed each stall that was occupied by one horse. It was a long walk from the entrance to the stablehand that sat near one of the stalls, wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a long drink of his water skin.

"Sir," Joana said, drawing the man's attention, he squinted his eyes and raised a hand to shield the light from his vision. "I need a horse."

"What? The hell you need a horse for? Playing Rohirran or something girly?" He slurred, and Joana had the thought that maybe he was actually drunk, terrific.

"Yes, I want to play Rohirran, so give me a horse and I will give you a gold coin, buy yourself some more wine or mead, or whatever swivel you drink," Joana replied, murmuring the last part out as not to anger the drunk, she needed him calm and at least thinking he was in control.

"Well, why not pay another game, got a cot back there, and its nice and comfy, more than that armour you got on there," He leered.

Now he was getting a little too tipsy, Joana knew she had to sober him up.

With that thought she quickly knuckled the bastard on his forehead, he fell out of his seat and now seemed to be a lot more alert. He scrambled to his feet, not stumbling for a moment as he rushed to stand back up, looks like that little knock got him a little closer to sober.

"You little…!"

"Don't try it," Joana warned, her fist coated in a layer of holy fire, and as the man stumbled back she advanced. "I need a horse, I will pay you for it, this is not a bargaining tactic, I need a horse and you will provide one to me, understood?"

"Yes ma'am," He replied.

With that he staggered away, the adrenaline being overpowered by whatever strong spirits he had been ingesting this early morning. But at least the damn man is going to be doing what she wants him to do, and if she get a decent horse it will be better. Once she got one she only needed to leave, hopefully the guard will not be an issue.

"Get the horses now!"

Joana wanted to curse at testing her luck, turning she found that the entire aisle was filled with guards who were each taking a horse. One by one they took a horse and led it out of the stable, as one of the soldiers passed her by she grasped his arm, she needed to find out what was happening.

"What is going on? Why are you taking all the horses?"

"Orcs, large war party coming in from the South, we are riding out to take them out before they get to the walls," The man replied, shaking out of the paladins grip and moving for a stall.

Joana's mind worked quickly to figure out what was going on, the attack was simple to understand but the reason surprised her as well as the direction. The South? Beyond the river and within the Western territory? That could only mean that the enemy had taken much more than just the Eastemnet.

"This is worse than I realized," Joana murmured aloud.

The orcs likely had as the Captain suspected been flowing out of Fangorn forest, and in great numbers, but she couldn't think that the Rohirran have not made measures to protect against this. With such a large force they could scour most of the region and contain them at least in the Westemnet and maybe hold them near the Ford of Snowbourn.

'So why are they not fighting? The King, is he actually doing nothing?' Joana thought, wondering if the sickly man was actually unable to understand what was going on in his kingdom.

Before she could contemplate this further she was nudged aside by a horse, the rider passing by her as he guided his stead away. Within a few minutes every single stead had been taken, leaving nothing but an empty stable, and for Joana to curse her luck, that it happened the very moment she was going to acquire a horse.

"Uh. Lady, you want this horse right?"

Joana turned and to her surprise actually found the man had brought up a horse, a pale grey stead. Joana could tell it was a young stallion, likely only four or five years old, meaning it had to have little to no experience with hard riding. If that were the case than this stead would only serve her for a short time, mainly because it likely is not trained properly and she would need to teach it as well.

'Sometimes you can never get lucky,' Joana sighed, before she pulled out a gold coin and tossed it to the man.

She took the reins and led her new stead out of the stables, they both had a long journey ahead of them and she couldn't afford to wait. Leading her stead to the gate she passed many people, all eyes fell upon her and each second that passed was a nightmare for the Paladin. Those eyes may not hold any animosity or hate, instead they held some wonder and surprise, but all the same it felt like knives digging into her.

These people needed help and she was leaving, going off to try and find a way back to her home that may not exist. Maybe that is why she had the dream last night, it wasn't a warning of home, because she was leaving this village when she had the power to save it and everyone here. Her power could protect them, unlike her home and everyone there that was lost, but she was not going to do that.

No.

Joana was going to leave and do her duty, to the Alliance and Azeroth, to face against any threat that assails it and save her people. Even if it means leaving these innocents to the orcs.

Joana shook her head, casting aside these doubts and fears, her actions here would amount to nothing. Protecting one village compared to an entire nation? That would do nothing but saving the few, wars are not won by a single person but by the many. How can she be expected to help everyone here? The Rohirran and the other soldiers can easily handle this, they are a sturdy and well trained force, and they should be able to fight against these orcs.

Her duty was back home, and these people will survive without her, they may be dire straits but she was confident that with time they can push the enemy back. With some assurance that her presence would not alter this war in any way she mounted her horse and called for the gate to be opened, took some words to do it but eventually she was free.

Her horse left in a steady gallop, wanting to first test her new stead before she put him in his paces, within a few minutes she was already a kilometre from Snowbourn. The distance did her some good, no longer having to worry herself over the fate of the people there, they had held out well despite the hardships they suffered. All that they needed now was the courage to leave and go to Erodas, once there they would be protected.

'Stop dwelling on this,' Joana chided herself. 'I know they will be alright, I do not need to continue to pester myself with these thoughts.'

She tried to take her advice, and for the next few minutes she let her mind wander, but it always came back as quickly as she tried to push it aside. The guilt was building up, the feeling of abandoning those people to this closing in on her conscious. Her horse came to a stop, her eyes distant and clouded; she truly did not know what to do.

"Am I really doing the right thing?" Joana thought.

Before she could do any further thinking the grinding of metal on stone alerted her of another presence, turning she found an orc standing on a boulder atop of a small hill. He let out a howl and jumped down from his perch, landing and then charging towards her. Joana reached for her sword and guided her horse around the attacker, and with a quick draw and equally as speedy swing she lopped off the orc's head.

But it was not the last, soon more began to appear all around her, and with a growl she charged into the open. Her stead was worried, the threat and enclosed spaces of the hills and stones was not doing it any good, and she found herself fighting to keep him from bolting in fright.

Passing two orcs she dispatched them in just as many swings, circling the area she was in she located each enemy combatant. Seventeen, with the three killed it would be twenty; this was another scouting party, but why? Catching everyone off guard? Hunting down fleeing peasants and refugees?

'What is their game?' Joana thought, her mind burning as the wheels churned violently to understand what they were doing.

Swinging again she cut through an orcs armor and chest, a spurt of black blood flew in the air with her cleave, and she was already swinging again before that orc had hit the ground. She continued to circle around, weaving between the hide separated orcs and taking them apart one by one. Within less than a minute she had twelve bodies on the ground, with about seven heads a few feet apart from their owners.

"Kill the woman!"

Joana replied with a stab of her blade, piercing the ugly creature through the chest and leaving it to slide off her blade. Four left, and they were being smart about it, all of them huddling together and waiting for her to charge. She did not disappoint them, hastening her stead forward, with her blade held straight at her side Joana waited for the right moment. As she neared the beasts she quickly jerked to the right, but it was a feint on her part, another jerk and she turned left hard and was right in front of the orcs.

Her blade arced around and sliced through the beasts neck, a spray of blood erupted, the foul black liquid staining her armoured greaves and the grey coat of her stallion. With another swing she sliced through the chest of another attacker, but she was left exposed to another orc. It attacked, but did not go for her, instead stabbing its blade towards her stead, and with a neigh of pain her mount was pierced through the side.

As it dropped to the ground, writhing in pain, Joana found her leg pinned beneath it. Her sword lay beside her, but she focused on trying to get herself out from under her horse, yet as she tried to push away the still trembling body a shadow loomed over her. The orc howled as he raised his sword and planned to split her skull, Joana lifted her arm in defence and the titansteel bracer easily held back the crudely made steel.

With a jerk she threw the sword aside and stabbed the orc through the chest, as it crumbled to the ground Joana grunted as her sword was still embedded within its chest. With herself prone on the ground, pulling the blade free was a chore, but as she freed the blade an armoured boot slammed into it and pinned it.

Looking up she found the last orc above her, axe in hand and already dropping towards her. Joana had no defence as the weapon slammed into her chest, she let out a gasp of pain as the thing struck her right along her side. Glaring at the orc above her, who now was pulling on his weapon to free it from the crevice it had made in her armor.

Raising her free arm she bathed it in holy fire and punched towards the orc, sending it flying back with a howl of terror and pain, the beast fell to the earth and writhe as it was consumed by fire. With all the threats removed she quickly pulled herself free from under the horse, who continued to breathe rapidly and jerk in agony.

"Don't worry," Joana said, leaning forward and placing a calming hand over the horse's muzzle. "I will help you."

But first she needed to remove something else, something of a thorn in her side, and with that she stood up and looked down at the crude axe still buried in her armour. Glaring at the weapon she grasped the hand with both hands and pulled, with a little effort she wedged it out and finally ripping it free.

She looked at the edge, it was bone dry, despite the deep red and putrid blood that covered the blade it was dry. Looking down at her side she found that the overlapping armor she wore had been dented inwards just caught between two sections. No major damage, but still she could feel the stiffness on her side now, which would be a problem when she needed to fight again.

Casting aside the axe she walked over and kneeled beside her mouth, ignoring the difficulty her left hand side was giving her, and placed a hand over its snout and the wound. Joana held it down as it jerked from the pain, but soon it was lulled as she channelled her power through it. Golden light passing from the paladin's hands and into the steed, the wounds began to close slowly and the pained whines changed to pleasant sighs.

A few minutes passed and the healing was complete, the stallion jumped quickly to all fours and pranced around happily, the afterglow of her power still flowing overs its coat. Joana smiled as the stead continued to prance around playfully, neighing happily and trotting a good trot. But something worried her, these orcs had come from nowhere, and she found it strange that they would be so close to Snowbourn.

'They are north of the township, yet an enemy is attacking from the South,' Joana thought, already coming up with a possible scenario on what might be happing. 'It can't be.'

Unwilling to risk leaving this to coincidence Joana moved for the high ground, she needed to see the state of the region from on high. Quickly taking her horse by the reins she guided him around and up an incline, moving for the pinnacle to find out what was happening. But she found her sight continually blocked by other hills and uneven ground, forcing her to continually move from one rise to the next.

"Dammit, I don't have time for this, I need somewhere to get a clear view," Joana muttered, charging over another hill.

But as she saw what lay beyond she came to a halt, pulling hard on the reins and stopping her horse. Across the mostly flat countryside was a swath of orcs, all moving in a big black mass of metal and flesh, heading in a singular direction she noted. It did not take her but a moment to realize where they were going, the only other village that existed for them to ransack.

Turning her horse around she forced it into a gallop, there were hundreds of them down there, she had to get back to the people and warn them of what was coming.

She rode hard, unwilling to take the safe route and distance herself from the enemy she made a beeline for the village. If they had scouts around that means they may have already sent someone to attack and open the way, after that the major force charges in and swarms over everything. Her theory was sound, and proven right, for when she went over the crest of a hill she found the front gate already besieged and falling.

"No," Joana growled. "Where in the Nether are the guards!"

Without waiting or thinking of the answer she charged, already taking stock of the enemy's numbers and current armaments. What she noticed however was that they were not all orcs, which she surmised to be around three dozen in strength, because hitting the gate right at that moment was a massive troll.

"Terrific," Joana grunted, urging her horse harder as she saw the troll's club create a nice hole in the wooden gateway.

She would need to go in on foot, with her horse she would be too exposed and with little room to move, and so she quickly leaped off her stead and rushed for the gate. Sword and shield in hand, both glowing with holy energy, and just as the gate was blown off she attacked the nearest orc. Slicing through his chest and armor, flakes of grey metal flew from its body along with a spray of blood, and then in the next second she lopped off an enemies head.

It took the death of two more for the orcs to realize that someone was attacking their backs, some turned to fight while the rest charged into the town. Joana could already hear the screaming, men and woman of all ages were crying out in terror, and it fuelled her vengeful flames more. Her blade burst with fire, and she swung hard, Aesir's Edge cleaving through the orc's sword and armour just as nimbly as it did the beast's flesh.

"Begone!" Joana roared, swinging her blade around and bathing three orcs in holy flame. "I will not let you harm the innocent!"

As they burned the rest retreated, only a few remained outside to stall her and they were not doing anything but keeping their distance right now. Joana skulked through the flames and towards the nearest enemy, blade drawn back and poised for the black heart beneath the chestplate.

Joana did not dally with her fight outside, the enemy was within and they would likely be left unopposed due to the fact the soldiers had rushed off to face another enemy less than thirty minutes ago. So with a few quick strikes and magic she killed all opposition barring her from the entrance, and with the last orc felled she stepped inside.

Finding the bodies of several guards littering the ground at the gates entrance, likely the only remaining contingent still within. But only a few orc bodies were among the slain defenders, a quick tally of her kills and the numbers on the ground got her twenty one.

Nearly two dozen orcs still within the walls killing people, and that is not counting the troll as well, if she was the only one here that could use a sword this village, along with herself, was in trouble. But regardless she strolled in and planned to hunt each and every one of the orcs down and kill them, yet a roar in the distance stopped her.

Glancing back she found to her surprise that the main orc army was now moving right for the gate, less than three hundred yards from the town. There was no way she could hold off an army like that, nothing could, at best she could stall it for a time.

'I need to evacuate the village,' Joana thought, raising her shield and slamming it into the ground.

A pulse of light shined through the crystal and metal bulwark, and as it did so a barrier formed at the gate. A clear golden doorway formed, the shield acting as a lock, the Bastion of Purity was a Draenei shield, designed to act as a seal to block an enemy's advance. It will not hold forever, but it should hold long enough for her to find all the orcs within the settlement and remove them, after that, she would get everyone out of here.

With a shield at her back she charged in, moving along the main street with her blade held deftly at her side, ears open and listening in for anything. She followed the shouting, the best sign to know where the enemy was, and quickly she found her quarry. Three orcs were trying to break into the inn, the beasts swinging at the door as pots and pans flew out the above windows to try and stop them.

Rushing forward she stabbed one through the back, before grasping another by the back of the head and driving it in to the wall. Ducking under the axe of the third, allowing it to slam into the back of the second, she ripped her sword from the dead orc and impaled the last one. Kicking its corpse off her weapon she turned to the door, banging on it loudly.

"Remain inside! I will clear out the orcs! Once I do make for the southern gate! Get to it and head for the soldiers! They are your only chance!" Joana bellowed, before turning and moving back to the street and searching for the remaining eighteen.

Within a minute she had found five more, in half the time she had dispatched them, one stroke of the sword for each orc and she was moving onto the next. Luckily they had decided to split apart and ransack the town, but it also made finding each orc difficult, and if her math was off she may be leaving some unaccounted for, or even chasing after those that don't exist. But she had no choice at the moment, if she killed the majority and the troll the people could get out, and then she had to find a way to keep the orc army from going after them.

Summoning an ethereal hammer in her hand she tossed it towards an orc, a sickening crunch as part of its skull was pulverised and its body sent flying back. Joana charged in and shouldered another before turning and cutting down a third, and when they realized she was among them the last three had been killed before they could even swing their blades around.

Seven to go.

It was only a short jaunt down the street before she found them, along with the troll, moving menacingly towards most of the town's population as they fled further into the south of the settlement. The troll was up front, something she was at least thankful for, if she took out all seven at once and then attacked the lumbering beast while its back was turned she could end this fight instantly.

With that in mind she charged forward, flecks of light sparking along her armour and flowing across her sword. As she drew close she swung hard, her blade making contact with no enemy and from the blade spewed a wreath of fire. The orcs were consumed instantly, crying out in agony as the dark forces within them were burnt to nothing, and Joana barged through them and towards the troll.

Using the head of a orc, its skull crumbling to ash as her boot made contact, as a springboard she launched herself towards the troll. It slowly turned towards the paladin, who drew back her blade with both hands, and as it fully faced her Joana drove her blade home. The troll howled as he plunged her blade through its breast, the hilt of her blade nearly touching its pale grey flesh.

'Dammit,' Joana cursed, despite hitting the monster it was far from dead, and if its howls were anything to go by her strike likely hadn't slowed it down.

True to her throughs she saw it raise its free hand to squash her like a mosquito that bit him, with no other choice but to relinquish hold of her weapon and dropped to the ground. As she landed she heard a loud smack, which was soon overshadowed by another roar of pain, and looking up she found her blade had been even further pushed into the beast.

'Won't be getting that back anytime soon,' Joana grimaced, now unarmed and with an angry troll to deal with, this is not going as well as she had planned.

Rising up she quickly sidestepped, avoiding the club from crushing her, watching as the top of the wooden maul crack the earth to her side and shoot up dirt. Joana was not deterred, she remained calm and focused on a possible avenue in defeating this monster, all the while dodging it second attempt to crush her. Leaping back she evaded its hand, that did not make the troll any the more happier, she kept her distanced as the beast rampaged towards her angrily, swinging club and fist.

'I need to get my sword back,' Joana surmised, it was her only option at this point, there was nothing else she could use.

Glancing down she found the orc's weapons had been cracked and broken by her flames, obviously whatever methods they used also influenced the weapons alignment, they were useless to her. She needed a weapon that wouldn't fall apart in her hands and could handle the raw power of the Light, and then it clicked for her.

Instantly she stopped her retreat and raised her hand, forming nearly instantly in her hand was a hammer of golden light. Grasping it in both hands she rushed forward and met the club head on, swinging hard and striking it with all her might. A burst of light exploded on contact, chips of wood flew into the air and flecks of light actually followed with it.

Joana staggered back, her arms aching, but she knew that this plan would work if she continued. So when the troll made another attempt so did she, swinging her hammer around and striking the club, and this followed on for another dozen strikes. Sparks and wood blew through the air as they constantly battled for supremacy, until finally a victor emerged.

Joana swung hard, despite her arms burning with fatigue and pain she did not waver, and when it made contact with the club it shattered. Splinters were all that remained, the formerly large weapon blown apart leaving on a small block in the hands of the surprised troll. Joana smirked, it may have left her arms feeling like they were doused in fel-fire but she couldn't argue with the results.

'Time to get my sword back,' Joana thought, moving forward and already planning how to bring this bastard to his knees.

But to her surprise the troll did not remain just as astonished when his weapon was destroyed, with speed that caught Joana off guard he swung his massive arm around. With little time to react other than raise her hammer in some form of defence Joana was catapulted backward and into the nearest house.

The stone wall crumbled as her body crashed through it and into another, where she fell to the ground with a heavy thud and remained motionless for a few seconds. With gasp and pained wheeze she jerked back into consciousness, her mind swimming and her stomach feeling as if it was about to leap into her throat.

'I may have… gotten a little overconfident…' Joana mused, groaning still as she pushed herself back onto her feet.

As she stood, staggering with each moment she fought to stand at an upright angle, she heard the thundering footfalls of the troll moving for the house. Joana glanced out the hole on the opposite end of the house, to her surprise she was actually on the second story of the building, and the head of the troll peering inside.

Wasting no time she took off into a jog, slowly building up momentum as she moved for the opening, and summoning two hammers to both her hands. As the troll peeked inside he was met by one hammer, slamming into its nose, blinding it and sending it stumbling back with both hands over its face. Joana leaped from the house and towards the troll, hammer in both hands and raised over her head, and as she landed on the beast's shoulder she slammed her hammer home.

A burst of golden light show as she struck, and many more followed soon after as she continued to pummel the trolls head. As it fell to a knee Joana leaped off, rolling with her landing and charging back in. Slamming her hammer into its stomach, as it lurched forward she took hold of the handle of Aesir's Edge still lodged in the troll's chest. With the hammer in one hand she swung up meeting the troll's chin, and threw its entire body upright once more, as it flew back her sword remained in her hand, blood-soaked but returned to her.

Now with her weapon returned she could finish this within the next few seconds, with that thought she lowered her grip on the hammer and tossed it. The weapon exploded into the troll's stomach, making it lurch forward once more, and as it collapsed to its hands and knees Joana attacked. Swinging her sword upward and into the troll's neck, causing it to choke as her blade dug through the thick skin and fat, before forcefully ripping it back, slicing its throat completely open.

As it coughed and thrashed at its bleeding jugular Joana backed off and let it bleed, there was no way it would survive. So with its death she could see about getting these people out of the village before the orcs surrounded it. Luckily the people seemed to have taken by surprise by her victory over the troll, considering they were all staring in shock.

'That makes it easier I suppose,' Joana thought.

"Everyone! I need you to listen to me!" Joana called, silencing the few whispers that passed through the crowd. "You must leave through the southern gate, go into the Westemnet and escape, it is your only chance!"

Joana turned when she heard something in the distance, the thundering footfalls of hundreds of orcs and the sound of metal striking something. She could feel her shield being put under duress, the orcs were already at the gate and likely were already circling the village, the people did not have much time.

"You must leave now! The orcs are already upon the northern gate! Flee to the south and escape, find the soldiers, they will protect you!" Joana cried out, she knew that it was not a good enough warning or explanation, but if these people got going in the right direction than hopefully she could protect them.

But these people were simply too scared to move, there was no way she could have them go on their own and expect them to go in the right direction. She needed someone to shepherd them in the right direction, but she couldn't see anyone who could do that. There was no one she could trust with this, no one but herself.

Her eyes looked to the ground as the murmuring and fearful cried began to return, these people would have no chance against the orcs. Even she wouldn't be able to face them, her power would not be enough to hold them back forever and these people would all die. That is why she needed to stay here, lure the orcs in and keep them focused on her, they will go for the warrior rather than attack the weak. They liked the sport, and she would give it to them if they tried.

But it would not matter if she did not get these people out of here, they needed to leave so that they could be safe, yet there was no way to do that. She was alone here with no way to get any help, to find someone that could aid her in this.

"Light, dammit, I do not know what to do…" Joana cursed, her hand tightening around the handle of her sword. "I need help, I need someone to help me."

She wished for it with all her being, that someone would step forth and give her the aid she needed, it did not matter who it was, only that they came to help. For so long she had always wanted to fight for herself and prove she could do things alone, her master had always been there to aid her and guide her. Even when she left her tutorage Joana still had those she trusted for council and help, but now she was alone and without anyone to offer advice or aid.

"How am I going to do this?" Joana murmured, glaring at the ground, the cries of the people and of the orcs just beyond the walls growing loader. "Please, anyone! I need your help! I need your help so that you can be saved!"

She shouted to the crowd, hoping that someone would answer, that a person would step forth and cast away their fears to lead these people to safety. But none came, and her desperation grew, how was she meant to protect any of them now?

'I need help, please, Light I beg of you, give me a miracle,' Joana begged, never in her life had she called upon the Light so vehemently.

Always it had been a weapon against evil, a righteous hammer to crush the enemies before her, but never had she gone to beg for such aid. A miracle, one that she had most certainly forgotten that the Light would not grant, it was something that the Light did not do. For it is through the Paladin that the Light is wielded, but it does not take it upon itself to delve into matters of its own accord, for that is not the way of a benevolent force.

"Please!" Joana cried out.

Then she felt warmth, cooling and blissful warmth that poured through her entire being, and as her eyes opened she was shocked by what she found before her. A single pulse of light formed before her, its glow golden and filled her with grace.

Soon a being stood before her, glad in golden armor and silver cloth, wings of gold and eyes burning with blue fire. Joana was awestruck at the sight of the being that had appeared, a man who appeared to be made of pure light.

"What… is this?" Joana murmured, unable to understand what was going on.

Then he took flight, rising above the ground and over the mass of fear stricken peasants, and with a wave of his hand he showered them all in his majesty. Light shined down on the heads of everyone, calming their hearts and removing all fears from their minds, leaving only peace and calm and then he moved.

People from houses, who had remained hidden in the raid, now stepped forth and walked towards the light and joined the slowly massing crowd. He was like a Shepherd guiding the flock of mesmerized humans, bringing his herd together and leading them out of the village. None who moved with his guidance made a sound; they did not protest or cry out, but went along wordlessly with the strange being that had come.

"A miracle…" Joana said, looking at the progression that slowly flowed out the gate to the south, unable to believe that something like this could happen.

A shattering was heard, like the grating of glass, so powerful that it grated Joana's ears. But she knew what that sound was, the barrier she had placed at the gate had been destroyed, the only think keeping the orcs out was gone and now they would swarm this place.

"Well, you don't get miracles for free I suppose," Joana mumbled, she would draw them close and hold them back.

She may not last long, but the every second they stayed fighting her the further those innocent people would get. So right now she would do everything in her power to draw these orcs close and take out as many of them as possible.

The first one came around down the side street a few dozen yards from her position, and half a second later three more joined him. They crashed in through the streets like a wave of dark grey, howling and thundering towards her, but she would not be washed away by this tide. Raising her hand she summoned a Hammer, but it stayed within her grim for less than a second, she instantly threw it at the incoming orcs.

The one struck was thrown back into his comrades, momentarily halting the hordes advance, they fell upon one another and fought to continue their momentum but that is where they halted. A boot connected to the face of one, knocking out his teeth and crushing his nose, as his entire head was used as a spring board.

Gripping Aesir's Edge in both hands she plunged it into the chest of the orc below her, pushing him to the ground and pinning him to the ground. Joana did not look as the orcs surrounded her and moved in to hack her apart, instead she called upon the Light for support.

With a cry of might she ripped her blade free and released the power she called upon, an explosion of light and force expelled itself from her form. The orcs were tossed away, bodies were blown back and flesh was burned and seared, their broken bodies forming the borders of the epicentre for the explosion.

Stepping for Joana eyes the orcs, holy energy flowed across her being, her blade blazed with fiery power, yet that was not what caused them to back away. From her back sprouted feathery golden wings, ethereal in nature and a formation of light, along with a halo that took the form of a crown above her head.

"Who will step forth and faced my judgement?" Joana challenged, and immediately that set them off.

The first that tried to kill her was violently sawn in half, his body bisected from shoulder to hip, her field weapon tearing through his torso and leaving a good portion of his body to dissolve into ash. Turning again she slashed open another's chest, again ash flew forth rather than blood, the gorge of charred flesh was formed along his torso. They were not the last to fall to this onslaught, she swung quickly and violently at anything that chose to attack her.

Orcs fell before her no matter the direction they came, be it by sword, magic or even the wings upon her back, she cut and burned all that came within reach. The orcs were relentless in their assaults, even as they died on droves around her, they did not take the loss of their comrades to heart, instead they were emboldened by it. They started to get clever, attacking in groups, first they attempted to charge from a single direction and when that failed they improvised from there. Call the orcs savage as much as you want, it did not mean they were stupid, and they were proving just how cunning they could be right now.

Joana felt an axe slam into her back, her armour held up nicely despite the brutal treatment she was getting from all sides. But that would not help her for long, she was starting to leave too many openings for herself and she couldn't keep swinging her sword anymore. Charred bodies littered the ground before her, maybe a hundred or so, she had been fighting for maybe fifteen minutes and already she had racked up a body count.

'Not bad, my master would be proud,' Joana thought, smiling slightly at the damage she had been able to inflict.

But sadly her advantage had all but evaporated, because right now she had lost the only thing keeping her mostly intact. Her once proud wings had all but turned to flecks of light over her shoulder, the golden glow was no longer present and the warm feeling within her being was dimmed to nothing. The Light that she had called upon and asked for had dispersed and left her, and she had not the strength of body to continue fighting.

Yet she tried, fifteen minutes did not seem like ample time from her point of view, better see about making it a solid half hour before she died gloriously. Fighting for what little reserves of strength she had left she brought her sword up and ready to drop on the next poor bastard that tried to test her.

That one orc charged in, swords in both hands and ready to plunge them right into her, and like so many before him he was cut down effortlessly, mostly because she simply let her arms drop and let the weight of the sword do the work. Yet when another orc leaped over the first she jolted her blade up and was able to clip the backward along the chest and shoulder. Joana had taken care of the first and second orc, the latter being more of a reaction than anything else, but the third is what got her.

A large blade slammed into her shoulder and sent her staggering back, it did not cut through thankfully, and tripping over the body of one of the many conquered. As she lay there breathing heavily and unable to move a muscle she looked up at the still bright blue sky and waited. She had given it her all, and despite this being where she would die she did not feel sad or hold any regrets.

'I wonder why that is?' Joana mused, wondering how she could feel so content despite being on the verge of death.

This was not meant to be what she was supposed to do, she was meant to fight somewhere else and not die here, this was not what she wanted. Yet here she was, ready for death and meeting it with pride, feeling nothing but satisfaction at what she had done. She had returned to this village and held back an army as long as she could and allowed the innocents to escape.

'Maybe… this is why I feel so free now,'

It came with such clarity that she did not know why she did not think of it before, so long she had felt weighed down by guild and regrets. Originally she had thought that it may stem from being away from her homeworld and unable to help, but that was far from the truth.

It was here, in this land that was under siege with few that were able to defend it.

This land reminded her of her home, before the First War, during a time when her people were ill-prepared for the Horde and their onslaught. Where heroes were far and few between and champions of justice did not march against the enemy. Rohan was suffering as her home had, losing a war that it was unprepared for, but there was a difference now.

That sad girl who had lost everything and experienced all what that meant, family and home ripped away, could stop it. Her guilt did not come from her inability to return home, no, it had manifested because she was turning her back on saving this land from the same horror her own had experienced. It all came from that, she had turned her back not only on her duty as a Paladin but also herself for thinking of leaving these people behind.

'I actually feel it now,' Joana smiled as she realized how foolish she had been, and that is these last moments she could at least die with the knowledge she had done the right thing.

An orc loomed over her, axe in hand, snarling with jagged and rotting teeth. Joana did not drop her satisfied smile, death was here and she would face it with a smirk and laugh, even as the orc howled in annoyance it raised its axe and got ready to deliver the executioners strike. But as the axe made its ways down to her head something snatched it from the air, a large raven taking it within it's talons and flying off with it.

Then the screaming started, the orcs howled in rage and anger, she could hear them fighting something else. She could do nothing but stare up, not even having the strength to turn her head to see, but she could see the surprise and rage in the orcs that loomed over her. Then the skies darkened, a strange twilight falling over the skies as the world darkened around her and the stars appeared.

Soon bright flashes and deafening booms were heard, specks of light fell from the heavens and towards the earth.

'What is happening?' Joana thought, the familiar display triggering something in her memory.

Then the orc was littered with arrows, six in the chest and one in the eye, leaving him to collapse backwards and out of sight. All she could do was stare at the nearly night sky as the stars above her fell from the heavens and hear them collide with the earth. This carried on for minutes, and when the last star fell and the twilight disappeared she could hear nothing.

'What is going on?' Joana scowled, she was more than a little confused and feeling overwhelming relief to be alive, but it still cut deep when you were so willing to accept your end and not given the mercy.

"You do not look well,"

That voice had roused her, the fatigue she felt was all but forgotten as she fought to at least sit up.

"I had thought your master would have at least taught you to fight conservatively, rather than flaunt that power so brazenly,"

Joana turned her head, leaning up just enough to catch the face of the one who was speaking to her, and seeing that pale purple woman above her she couldn't help but laugh. Joy passed through her entire being at seeing the woman, someone she had not seen in nearly three weeks of fighting through this land.

"She did, but as of late I have been a little troubled," Joana replied. "But now that you are here Rosaria, I can say for certain things are looking up."

The Druid returned the smile, before offering a hand to the downed paladin. Joana, despite the pain and fatigue, she took it and allowed herself to be brought to her feet. Joana staggered, her legs shaking as she tried to remain upright, her arm hanging over her comrades shoulder.

"How are you here?" Joana asked. "Last thing I could remember was fighting against that Watcher, and then blackness."

"You and several of us fell into a rift, and found ourselves upon this world," Rosaria replied, before looking around at the Lorien Rangers that scoured the town for any surviving orcs. "Luckily I was found by these elves, and some of our comrades are also in the care of another group."

"Others? Is Tyresa here? Is she alright?"

"She did not fall through the portal with us, Mairne however did and believes that he was able to seal it when he was taken by it," Rosaria replied. "There are eight of us here, but for now you need to rest, you have been through much and when you are ready I will tell you all."

Joana did not disagree with her, even if she desperately wished to know who was here on this foreign world, her eyes were heavier now and her body demanded rest. So with the support of Rosaria she was carried off, hopefully in the direction of a good sleeping cot or bed.