Liam and Rona ultimately did not immediately return to Gilneas, because they were stopped by Arthas.
"There's no point in you going back now; Gilneas City is temporarily safe. I've already sent someone to contact your father via magical communication. It will take some time for those worgen to break free from Lyral's control."
Lordaeron's army was ready in Silverpine Forest, but to enter the Gilneas Peninsula, they first had to cross another obstacle: the Greymane Wall, which stretched between Silverpine Forest and the mountains of the Gilneas Peninsula.
Even if Genn agreed to open the giant gate to allow Lordaeron's support troops to enter, many of Gilneas's nobles would probably be unwilling to do so, as they had not yet faced a direct threat from the worgen. In their eyes, Lordaeron might be the greatest threat.
It was also very difficult for the navy to enter the Gilneas Peninsula at this time. Before the Cataclysm, the Biting Reefs off the Gilneas coast served as a natural protective barrier, and warships of that tonnage simply could not enter the inland.
Velinde had told Arthas that in half a month at most, the worgen would completely shake off the confusion and disorientation from their emergence from the Emerald Dream. At that time, their instincts would drive them to seek "prey" and expand their kin.
Although the "Wolf Alpha" Lyral had long been imprisoned in a special jail by Arthas's men, new leaders would naturally emerge among the splintered worgen packs, and their goal was clear: the most densely populated human settlements.
The Gilneans were brave and skilled in battle and might be able to withstand the worgen's frenzied assault, but the worgen's greatest threat was never their numbers, but their plague-like method of spreading the curse.
Even if you suffered a shallow scratch or bite from a worgen, you could at any moment succumb to the wild fury.
"Arthas, I will make my father open the gates of the Greymane Wall. Do you truly have a way to stop the worgen's terrible curse?"
In the meeting room, Liam was once again pleading with Arthas to send troops to support Gilneas. Arthas shook his head helplessly, "You should understand Gilneas's situation better than I do. If the gate could truly be opened, we would have been able to support Gilneas long ago. Could it be that all the messengers Genn sent were intercepted and killed by the worgen?"
Liam sighed, "Worgen don't premeditatedly intercept small teams of messengers... they prefer to attack human villages and towns."
"Exactly, and our most important reinforcements haven't arrived yet. Your father also needs time to deal with his current affairs."
As Arthas was talking with Liam, the voice of a royal attendant suddenly came from outside, "Prince, General Nathanos has returned."
"Nathanos? She's finally back. Liam, we'll talk about the Greymane Wall later. Let's go meet a special 'guest' first."
Liam, bewildered, followed Arthas out of the meeting room and saw Nathanos, still in her battle attire, which she hadn't had time to change, with several claw marks on her armor.
"Where is that unruly 'Archmage'?"
Arthas glanced at the empty-handed Nathanos and asked.
"His spirit of resistance is commendable, so to make him quiet, I invited him to sit in the carriage," Nathanos replied expressionlessly, but she subtly ran a hand over the scratches on her armor.
Arthas raised an eyebrow. Judging by the Ranger Lord's demeanor, he guessed that Arugal was certainly not "voluntarily" sitting in the carriage.
"Archmage—you mean General Nathanos?" Liam instantly reacted. He followed Arthas to the open space in front of the camp and saw a pale-faced middle-aged man slumped in a dilapidated "open-top carriage."
"Archmage Arugal, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Arthas Menethil. You don't seem to be in very good spirits."
Arthas's words made Arugal, who had been closing his eyes, reluctantly open them. He forced a smile that was uglier than a cry and tremblingly replied, "Re...Respected Prince."
Seeing how submissive this fellow was, Arthas was quite surprised. He had expected him to be defiant, so why did he look so disheartened now?
In fact, Arugal was indeed very defiant. When Nathanos, with her rangers and spies, tracked him down, he even tried to capture Nathanos alive, showing no intention of surrendering whatsoever.
But when Nathanos's dagger was held to the "Archmage's" throat, he finally understood the saying, "A wise man knows when to retreat."
Of course, passively awaiting death was not an excellent quality for a mage. Along the way, Arugal tried to escape more than once and used special methods to summon worgen for help. Finally, Nathanos grew truly impatient, and during a fight with some worgen, she "accidentally" injured Arugal.
After that, this fellow never dared to think about "escaping" again.
Another reason was that, although this Archmage was "unworthy of his title," he did possess some skill. After studying the worgen for so long, he was still able to sense the changes in the worgen packs.
When Lyral was defeated by Arthas, the connection with the worgen caused Arugal's mind to suffer a considerable trauma, leaving him in a constant state of disorientation, making it very difficult for him to concentrate on casting spells.
In such a state, coupled with his injuries, let alone escaping, it was difficult for him to even walk normally.
However, Arugal had not completely given up hope. Instead, he placed his chances of survival on Arthas—perhaps Arthas would value his abilities and spare his life?
But such a fantasy only lasted until they arrived at the Lordaeron camp in Silverpine Forest. When Liam saw Arugal, anger surged in his heart. Disregarding Arthas beside him, he walked directly up and punched Arugal in the face.
How could the already injured Arugal dodge the punch of the strong and robust Liam? After taking that solid punch, his eyes immediately saw stars, and he almost fainted on the spot.
"This punch is for the innocent people!" Liam's eyes almost spat fire as he looked at Arugal, because of this fellow's foolish actions, the worgen had been able to so easily come to the real world.
After Arugal was beaten senseless, Nathanos made a gesture to Arthas, indicating whether she should stop Liam. Arthas, however, calmly shook his head, "No need. Liam's anger needs to be vented sooner or later. Just be careful not to kill this fellow."
After speaking, Arthas glanced at the half-dead Arugal—the worgen had caused such a big mess in the human kingdom, and an explanation was needed. Conveniently, this fellow, who could be said to have betrayed humanity, was the best explanation.
After temporarily handing Arugal over to Liam's disposal, Arthas was about to leave for a moment but was stopped by Velinde.
And she did bring the news Arthas wanted to hear.
"I received word from Priestess Tyrande. Our fleet will soon arrive in the Eastern Kingdoms."
"Is that so? That's very good news," Arthas nodded. The Night Elves' aid could be said to have arrived very timely. It takes some time to travel from Kalimdor to the Eastern Kingdoms, so it seems the Night Elves are quite concerned about the worgen problem.
"I will personally go to welcome the Priestess and the Arch Druid," Arthas said to Velinde, "Please convey to them that there is a suitable coast in the northwest direction of Silverpine Forest. It is a long beach. Please forgive us, the western part of the Lordaeron continent lacks good ports."