The war against the trolls had ended.
When Alaric led his army back to Lordaeron, he was met with a hero's welcome.
Flowers and cheers from the citizens in the streets were expected, but what truly surprised him was the sight awaiting him in the royal palace.
In the grand throne hall, the rulers of the Alliance nations had gathered, their faces filled with anticipation as they watched him and the other returning generals enter.
King Terenas of Lordaeron was, of course, present. Beside him sat Lothar, the Supreme Commander of the Alliance, as well as King Llane of Stormwind. Also present were Admiral Daelin of Gilneas and Antonidas of Dalaran, seated around a great table.
Beyond the human rulers, Alaric also noticed two other allies.
The first was a familiar face—Prince Kael'thas of the high elves.
Though he was a member of the Kirin Tor's Council of Six, today he was not dressed in the traditional purple robes of Dalaran but rather in a gold-and-red Quel'Thalas-styled robe adorned with elven patterns.
It was clear that he was representing Quel'Thalas on this occasion.
The second figure was much shorter in stature.
As soon as Alaric and his men entered, this figure eagerly stepped forward, embracing the victorious generals with enthusiasm. It was none other than King Falstad of the Wildhammer dwarves.
Unlike the other rulers, who were shrewd and calculating, this dwarven king was straightforward in expressing his emotions.
After him, the rest of the leaders rose and welcomed the returning heroes with warm applause.
To them, the outcome of this war was more than just eliminating a threat from the rear—it also instilled confidence in their fight against the orcish horde.
Since the formation of the Alliance, the various nations had viewed the orcs as the greatest threat to the world. Often, they compared orcs to trolls.
The similarities between the two were undeniable—both were strong, both were savage, both operated under a tribal system, both commanded vast numbers (at least in the days of the Troll Empire), and both had green skin.
Having never engaged in direct combat with the orcs before, the nations of Lordaeron could only estimate the orcish threat based on their experiences with the trolls.
This was why many doubted their chances in the coming war.
However, the Alliance's decisive victory against the trolls acted as a shot of adrenaline, boosting the morale of many.
Compared to the main forces still gathering and training across the kingdoms, Alaric's army was merely a detachment. Yet, this detachment had managed to wipe out the trolls of both Zul'Aman and the Hinterlands.
Regardless of the strategies Alaric had employed, the outcome of the war proved the strength of the Alliance's forces.
This led many to believe that the Alliance might actually stand a chance against the Horde.
As is well known, in wars fought with cold steel, courage is of immense importance.
The victory against the trolls gave courage not only to the nobles of the Alliance but also to the common soldiers and citizens.
Rumors that had long circulated about the terrifying might of the orcs now began to lose their grip on the populace. This so-called "rehearsal battle" had dispelled many of those fears.
At the very least, the kings were pleasantly surprised to find that, after the troll war, the number of citizens willing to enlist and fight against the orcs had significantly increased.
This, more than anything, was why they were going to such lengths to celebrate Alaric and his men.
All those who had participated in the war were honored by the Alliance and their respective nations.
Even Alaric, who was affiliated with Dalaran, received a prestigious Dalaran Honor Ribbon (a medal of sorts) from Antonidas.
Additionally, the gathering of these rulers served another purpose—at least for Terenas, Kael'thas, and Falstad. They were here to discuss the distribution of the newly acquired territories.
However, this was of little concern to Alaric.
After the victory banquet, Alaric initially planned to visit the Windrunner sisters, but he was intercepted by Daelin Proudmoore.
Unlike previous occasions, the admiral was not drunk this time. Though slightly tipsy, he firmly took Alaric by the arm and led him toward the royal palace's rear garden.
It was said that this was where the Menethil royal family resided—where Queen Lianne and the children of Terenas lived. Typically, even the most esteemed guests would not venture into such a private space without an invitation.
Alaric wondered if the admiral had lost his way in his inebriated state. But before he could question it, the garden came into view, where several children of varying ages were playing.
They immediately caught Alaric's attention.
The eldest was a red-haired boy, around fourteen or fifteen years old.
Next to him was a blonde girl, about eleven or twelve. Beside her was a blonde boy, roughly ten years old, and finally, the youngest—a cute little girl of about eight or nine.
Though just children, their luxurious clothing, noble insignias, refined demeanor, and the exclusivity of their location made it clear that these were the princes and princesses of the Alliance nations.
Noticing Daelin and Alaric's arrival, the royal children approached and greeted them politely.
Clearly, they were well acquainted with Daelin, the leader of Kul Tiras. Alaric, however, was unfamiliar to them.
In fact, they were quite curious about him. After all, there were very few people their age—or at least appearing so—who could walk alongside kings as an equal.
Through Daelin's introductions, Alaric quickly learned their identities.
The red-haired boy was Prince Galen Trollbane of Stromgarde.
The older blonde girl was Calia Menethil, the princess of Lordaeron and King Terenas' eldest daughter. The younger blonde boy was her brother, Prince Arthas Menethil.
And finally, the youngest girl—the one who would become a key figure in history, a brilliant mage, and Alaric's future apprentice—was none other than Jaina Proudmoore, Daelin's daughter.
After Daelin introduced Alaric's name and titles, the royal children reacted in various ways.
But the most enthusiastic reaction came from Jaina.
"Greetings, Grand Mage Sandor," the little girl curtsied gracefully, then gave Alaric a sweet smile. In a soft, delicate voice, she said,
"I am Jaina Proudmoore of Kul Tiras. I have long heard of your great name and deeds. It is truly an honor to meet you today."
There was no doubt—among the children, Jaina was the warmest toward Alaric.
And his first impression of her?
It could only be described as: 'Too cute to handle.'
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