Chapter 5

           Summerwasinfullblaze,andthemercilesssunbeatdownonHisRoyalHighnessPrinceArthasMenethilasherodethroughthestreetsofStormwind.Hewasinafoulmood,despitethefactthatthiswasadaythathewassupposedtohavebeenlookingforwardtoallhislife.Thesunglintedoffthefullplatearmorhewore,andArthasthoughthe’dbaketodeathbeforehereachedthecathedral.Sittingatophisnewchargeronlyservedtoremindhimthatthehorse,whilepowerful,well-trained,andwell-bred,wasnotInvincible,goneforonlyafewmonthsandbitterlymissed.Andhefoundthathismindhadsuddenlygoneblankregardingwhathewassupposedtodooncetheceremonybegan.

           Besidehimrodehisfather,whoseemedcompletelyunawareofhisson’sirritation."Thishasbeenadaylongincoming,myson,"Terenassaid,turningtosmileatArthas.

           Despitetheheatandtheweightofthehelmhewore,Arthaswasgladofit;itconcealedhisface,andhewasn’tsurehecouldfakeaconvincingsmilerightnow."Indeedithas,Father,"hereplied,keepinghisvoicecalm.

           ItwasoneofthebiggestcelebrationsStormwindhadeverseen.InadditiontoTerenas,manyotherkings,nobility,andfamouspersonageswereinattendance,ridinglikeaparadethroughthecity’swhitecobbledstreetstothemassiveCathedralofLight,damagedduringtheFirstWarbutnowrestoredandevenmoregloriousthanbefore.

           Arthas’sboyhoodfriendVarian,kingofStormwind,wasnowmarriedandanewfather.