Артас: Возвышение короля-лича

           Theremightbeapriestinanothervillage,butArthasdidn’tknowwhere,andwiththestorm—

           Heshrankbackfromtheanimal,coveringhisearsandclosinghiseyes,sobbingsothathiswholebodyshook.Withthestorm,hecouldneverfindahealerbeforeInvincibleeitherdiedofhisinjuriesorfrozetodeath.Arthaswasn’tevensurehecouldfindtheBalnirhomestead,eventhoughitcouldnotbefar.Theworldwaswhite,everywheresavewherethedyinghorse,whohadtrustedhimenoughtoleapoffanicyembankment,laychurningupasteamingcrimsonpool.

           Arthasknewwhathehadtodo,andhecouldn’tdoit.

           Hewouldneverknowhowlonghesatthere,weeping,tryingtoshutoutthesightandsoundofhisbelovedhorseinagony,untilfinallyInvincible’sstrugglesslowed.Helayinthesnow,hissidesheaving,hiseyesrollingintorment.

           Arthascouldn’tfeelhisfaceorlimbs,butsomehowhemanagedtomovetowardthebeast.Everybreathwasagony,andhewelcomedthepain.Thiswashisfault.Hisfault.Hetookthegreatheadinhislap,andforabrief,mercifulmomenthewasn’tsittinginthesnowwithawoundedbeast,butsittinginastablewhileabroodmaregavebirth.Forthatmoment,everythingwasalljustbeginning,andnotcomingtothisshocking,sickening,avoidableend.

           Histearsfellonthehorse’sbroadcheek.Invincibletrembled,hisbrowneyeswidewithnow-silentpain.