Following the Princess's departure, the Grand Admiral immediately ordered the remaining Kul Tiran fleet to consolidate their defensive lines while he himself took command of Theramore.
The Grand Admiral was highly satisfied with this port city. It was an excellent naval stronghold; his daughter certainly knew how to pick a location—or perhaps it wasn't Jaina who had chosen it.
.............
One month later, a substantial party of Druids led personally by Malfurion departed from Moonglade by ship and arrived first at the port of Lordaeron City, where Rhodes was stationed.
According to the reports, Calia's fleet was still a day or two away. Malfurion and his Druids quietly arrived on the outskirts of Lordaeron City, stepping onto the land that had recently been purified by the Light but still appeared desolate and barren.
Rhodes went out of the city personally to greet them. Seeing Malfurion's figure, a great weight finally lifted from his heart; he hadn't expected the Archdruid to lead the team himself. Not seeing Tyrande by his side made Rhodes breathe a sigh of relief. He finally didn't have to face her; "Grandma" Tyrande put far too much pressure on him.
When I return to ten thousand years in the past, I'll definitely stay far away from Tyrande and avoid any contact with her.
"Thank you for your timely assistance, Archdruid. It is an honor to have you here in the Eastern Kingdoms," Rhodes said sincerely.
Malfurion nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowds working hard to till the land and the newly turned fields. A hint of gratification appeared in his eyes. "We bring nature's blessing, Rhodes. We are both disciples of Cenarius; there is no need for thanks. Let us begin! Time waits for no one; I will help you harvest your crops immediately."
Rhodes nodded and led Malfurion and the gathered Night Elf Archdruids to the wasteland that had just been tilled and sown with seeds.
Malfurion placed his palm upon the barren earth, as did the other Druids, sensing the land deeply.
"I can feel it, Rhodes—this land is weeping. It has been cursed. You purified it with the Light, but that is not enough. It requires the power of Nature to restore its vitality, and perhaps even the aid of the Emerald Dream," Malfurion said to Rhodes after inspecting the soil.
The situation in the Eastern Kingdoms was more severe than he had imagined. The land had been simultaneously corrupted by fel and death energy. Although the Light had cleansed much of it, the situation remained grim.
"This land has endured too many tribulations, Malfurion. Can you resolve the issues here?" Rhodes asked.
Over the past few days, many Priests and Paladins had suggested increasing the intensity of the Light's purification, even proposing that Rhodes's Angels, Light Elementals, and Sacred Fire Phoenix join in. However, Rhodes had strictly refused. While the Light could clear fel and undead energy, it would leave behind its own essence. In recent history, the Light had been known to infect plants, turning them into aggressive "Light-bound" organisms. The most appropriate cure for this land was the Druids.
"Do not worry. I will work with the other Druids to infuse this land with life energy. Afterward, we will return to the Emerald Dream to heal this land from within the dream," Malfurion said, nodding to Rhodes.
In truth, if that Great Goddess were willing, she could heal it in an instant, but she was still deep in slumber.
"Then I shall leave it to you," Rhodes said.
Under the curious and awe-struck gazes of countless refugees and soldiers, the Druids scattered across the various cultivation zones. They leaned down, pressed their palms to the earth, and softly chanted ancient, mysterious Druidic incantations. Green nature energy flowed from their hands like warm streams seeping into the soil, bestowing the land with new life and nutrients.
A miracle occurred—on the land where seeds had just been sown, tender green sprouts broke through the soil at a speed visible to the naked eye, unfurling leaves and growing robustly. The land that had been hardened and greyed by fel and death energy quickly regained the dark brown luster of fertility, even emitting a faint fragrance of fresh soil.
"The power of life... is this the power of a Druid?" An elderly Lordaeron farmer knelt by the field, tremblingly touching a stalk of wheat that had already grown to his shins, his eyes filling with tears. "We're saved... Lordaeron is saved!"
The combined power of over a hundred Druids casting plant-growth spells was terrifyingly effective. The crops changed before their eyes. What should have taken months—germination, growth, and ripening—was completed in moments. This scene stunned the Lordaeron farmers; they never imagined food could be grown this way. It was nothing short of divine.
Malfurion stood by a field rapidly turning golden and said to Rhodes, "These crops will ripen within a few days, enough to alleviate your current food crisis. Afterward, we will help you further purify the wider lands and guide them back to natural balance. But to completely heal the torn wounds of this land will take time, and it requires the people living here to guard it with their hearts."
Rhodes nodded solemnly. "I understand, Senior Brother Malfurion. This kindness will be eternally remembered by Lordaeron and the Alliance."
With the Druids' dedicated help, the reconstruction of Lordaeron City entered the fast lane. The food crisis was eased, and the people's morale became increasingly stable. Malfurion smiled and ordered the remaining Druids to continue assisting the farmers and resolving infection issues in the surrounding areas. Meanwhile, he accompanied Rhodes to the reception hall of Lordaeron Palace.
"I read your letter. You mentioned you've teamed up with Illidan. It seems you two are plotting something?" Malfurion asked.
"We formed a temporary alliance to seize a fel artifact from the Tomb of Sargeras and then used it to strike the Frozen Throne. The reason we were able to reclaim the capital was due to that artifact; otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to take this city back from the undead," Rhodes explained.
"Rhodes, fel is an extremely evil power. I don't object to your use of the Light or magic, but try to touch fel as little as possible. Especially anything related to Sargeras; it carries severe corruption and curses," Malfurion said meaningfully.
"I understand, Malfurion. I know the artifact called the Eye of Sargeras is very sinister. It held a shred of Sargeras's consciousness; I was nearly beguiled by it when I first touched it. Luckily, I had two High Archangels with me. But rest assured, that fel artifact has been completely destroyed. No one will ever use it again." Rhodes gave Malfurion his word. The Eye of Sargeras was powerful, but once was enough.
"Then I am at ease. Tell me about your time in Outland. And how is Illidan? Has he truly decided to become a demon completely?" Malfurion asked.
"Of course, Malfurion. Illidan and I..." Rhodes recounted their actions in full, explaining how they took the Black Temple and how Illidan was currently using it as a base to fight the Burning Legion.
"Are you certain Illidan won't defect to the Legion? It feels to me as if he is working for Kil'jaeden."
"Rest assured, Illidan has had only one goal from the beginning: to destroy the Burning Legion," Rhodes stated.
"Then I leave my brother in your hands. If he is in danger, I hope you will assist him. Tyrande and I can no longer protect him," Malfurion sighed.
Back then, Illidan's reconstruction of the Well of Eternity was a capital crime. He and Tyrande had barely managed to save him from death, opting for imprisonment instead. Later, Malfurion had banished him.
All of this was done out of personal affection; had they followed normal procedures, Illidan would have died ten times over. No Druid would ever forgive a Satyr, and in the eyes of the Druids, Illidan was no different from those fallen Night Elves—perhaps even more evil.
"I will. Illidan and I have an alliance. He will keep an eye on the Legion in Outland for me, and I will provide him with assistance," Rhodes nodded.
"Understood. I will stay here for a few months to help heal this land before returning to Kalimdor," Malfurion said.
"Malfurion, if you wish, I can actually open a portal for you to see Illidan. Perhaps you two could talk," Rhodes offered. Having mastered portal magic, Rhodes could easily link Azeroth and Outland.
"No. I have nothing to say to him. If he were going to listen to me, he would have done so ten thousand years ago. Meeting him now would only lead to an argument," Malfurion shook his head decisively.
Rhodes smiled but said nothing. After chatting a while longer, Malfurion took his leave.
By noon the next day, a massive fleet slowly sailed into the port of Lordaeron City. A year ago, Princess Calia had led the refugees away from this land, but now, exactly one year later, the Princess had returned.
"Lordaeron, my home... I have returned," Princess Calia said, her voice thick with emotion. Beside her, Uther patted her shoulder in comfort.
On the docks, Rhodes stood with Dathrohan, Old Mograine, and the gathered officials of Lordaeron to welcome them.
"Welcome back, Queen of Lordaeron."