A hundred farmers were chopping wood at the foot of the mountain. Because high elves were present, Galen didn't directly construct base structures. Instead, he had the farmers chop wood and then build houses in the traditional way.
On the third day, an elven-style wooden house was roughly taking shape.
The house featured a large terrace facing the sizable lake formed by the waterfall, offering a beautiful view.
"Sylvanas, Alleria, what do you think about naming this building Quel'Danil Lodge?" Galen asked the Windrunner sisters.
Since Galen's private conversation with Sylvanas, their relationship had not only returned to normal but also showed a hint of affection.
Both knew that a major battle was imminent, and until the Horde was defeated, war remained their primary focus.
Alleria's attitude towards Galen had also changed significantly, thanks to a vial of Spring of Life. After all, favors change how people act.
"Quel'Danil... Galen, your Thalassian is not bad!" Sylvanas's praise slightly embarrassed Galen. Thalassian language? Apart from a few phrases used by blood elf NPCs, I know nothing!
Galen scratched the back of his head, hiding his awkwardness. As long as I act confident, no one will notice!
"Quel'Danil Lodge... not bad, a fitting name," Alleria added, prompting Galen to think, Thank you, big sister; you almost exposed me!
"For now, it's just a simple residence. In a few days, we'll be heading to Quel'Thalas. When we have time in the future, we can decorate this place and turn it into a vacation lodge!"
"Good idea!" Sylvanas agreed. "The forests of the Hinterlands are different from the perpetually spring-like Eversong Woods. They have a wildness that's uniquely appealing. Plus, the griffons here are stronger, making flying more exciting than riding dragonhawks!"
"You're thinking about that again? Haven't you tormented the dragonhawks of Eversong Woods enough? Now you're changing targets?" Alleria chided her sister. Sylvanas had always sought excitement, even as a child. Dragonhawks, with their slender bodies and elegant flight, were subjected to Sylvanas's 360-degree aerial spins. Her small frame struggled to handle such maneuvers.
Sylvanas retorted, "Humph! It's not like I'm using your precious dragonhawks. There are plenty of griffons here! I can catch one myself, or, at worst, rent one from the Wildhammer dwarves!"
Watching the two beauties bicker was a form of entertainment for Galen.
Didi, didi, didi!
A series of ringtones interrupted their leisure time.
Galen took out the video communicator. Kael'thas and Rommath appeared on the screen.
"Galen! Can you hear me?"
"I can hear you loud and clear!" Galen adjusted the volume so the Windrunner sisters could also hear.
"The official Quel'Thalas document is on King Terenas's desk. Galen, you can officially set off!"
The military pass is granted. Time to make a move.
"Very good. I need the coordinates for Quel'Lithien Lodge!" Galen requested. This elven stronghold, located on the edge of their territory, near Stratholme, was perfect for meeting Turalyon.
"What do you need the coordinates for?" Kael'thas asked, surprised.
"To teleport there!" Galen replied matter-of-factly.
"You haven't been marching these past few days!" Kael'thas realized Galen was still in the Hinterlands.
"Why rush when we can teleport? Isn't it better for the soldiers to rest and prepare for war?"
Galen's words almost made Kael'thas swear. As the prince of a magical kingdom, I rode a strider for two days from Silvermoon City to Quel'Lithien, and you've been waiting around for a teleport?
"What noble troops!"
Speechless, Kael'thas provided the coordinates and urged Galen to hurry. He feared that a few more words would cause his control over the fire element to slip.
"Impressive magic performance," Rommath praised, examining the video communicator. As a disciple of Belo'vir, the chief mage of Silvermoon City, he was knowledgeable but had never seen such sophisticated communication equipment.
"Gandalf is a knowledgeable and powerful great mage. It's a pity who he's loyal to. Can't Galen be serious for once?"
Kael'thas was anxious. He was busy gathering reinforcements, while this kid was staying in the Hinterlands, seemingly doing nothing.
Everyone else is working hard, and you're waiting to be carried!
"What a big shot!"
"Haha, Prince Galen is, um, unique," Rommath said diplomatically. As the prince's confidant, he understood Galen's importance as an ally and chose not to comment further.
"Alright, Sylvanas, Alleria, gather the army. We should set off, or your prince will be furious," Galen said, putting away the communicator, stretching lazily, and instructing Arluin and Mubar to reorganize the troops.
Alleria sighed at the unlikely friendship between Prince Kael'thas and Prince Galen. Sylvanas covered her mouth, laughing quietly, before pulling her sister away to summon the Farstrider forces.
Galen's plan was to take all combat units. He had already contacted Aragorn, who would bring the Stonewall Legion to take over Quel'Danil Lodge as soon as they departed. The farmers would then begin transforming the lodge into Quel'Danil Keep.
The Wildhammer dwarves had already agreed to let them build a fortress there. Galen intended to seize this opportunity.
Quel'Danil Keep would serve as Galen's foothold in the Hinterlands. The Wildhammer dwarves had a limited population and could only develop a small area in the northwest. Galen had long coveted the vast lands belonging to the trolls, and this was his chance!
Galen first teleported all his troops. In reality, his request for the coordinates of Quel'Lithien Lodge was a pretext. He didn't open a large-scale legion teleportation gate.
Eastweald, a wealthy province of Lordaeron, was home to the holy city of Stratholme. Quel'Lithien Lodge was a High Elven stronghold in the province's northern mountains.
To maintain good relations, King Terenas had allowed the High Elves to use this piece of Lordaeron territory.
A flash of white light appeared, and Galen led his knights into the forest. Then, he waved his hand, and a farmer, who had served as a coordinate marker, left the forest and returned to a nearby village, resuming his role as a refugee.
Galen then made several more trips, bringing the remaining troops and Farstriders.
"Where are we, Galen?" Sylvanas asked. The unfamiliar surroundings made her wonder, "This isn't Quel'Lithien Lodge?"
"We're in the forest south of Quel'Lithien. My skills aren't good enough, and the teleportation gate opened off course!"
If Gandalf were present, he would have struck Galen with his staff!
The news of the Orcish horde heading north was primarily known to high-ranking officials, but the common people weren't oblivious. The increased defenses and curfews in various towns hinted at impending major events.
Galen's group was quickly spotted by the high elf sentries at Quel'Lithien Lodge, but the presence of Alleria and Sylvanas ensured a warm welcome.
The troops stationed there were mainly rangers, as high elf mages preferred the proximity of Silvermoon City. In their view, any location outside the Sunwell's energy field was a remote backwater.
The outpost had a decent defense force, with over three hundred rangers and some civilians, totaling less than five hundred inhabitants. Considering the entire high elf kingdom had only a few hundred thousand citizens, this number at an overseas outpost was respectable.
Hawksbill, a retired ranger lord and a former subordinate of Sylvanas and Alleria's father, led the outpost. Disenchanted with the bureaucratic style of Silvermoon City's nobility, he had left in frustration. Dalaran didn't suit rangers, so he had settled at Quel'Lithien Lodge.
"Oh! Alleria! Sylvanas! Long time no see!" The old ranger greeted the Windrunner sisters enthusiastically. He was a powerful figure with a prominent scar on his face.
"Greetings, Uncle Hawksbill!" Alleria responded formally, acknowledging him as a veteran ranger from their parents' generation.
Sylvanas was more playful. "Greetings, our Ranger-King Uncle, hahaha!"
"Oh, Sylvanas, don't call me that. That's a human misunderstanding. If there were a Ranger-King, it would be your father!" Hawksbill's weathered face flushed, and he quickly corrected Sylvanas.
Despite being retired, the high elf still had centuries to live. Unable to remain idle, he often hunted powerful beasts and sold them to nearby human towns, leading bards to embellish his exploits and dub him the "Ranger-King."
"I've heard the situation has been tense lately. I can sense the aura of war," the perceptive old ranger, having spent his life in the military, easily discerned the signs from the recent military adjustments.
"That's correct. The main Orcish force, allied with trolls, is heading north, and their target is Quel'Thalas!" Alleria informed Hawksbill. Given their shared allegiance and Hawksbill's affiliation with the Farstrider family, there was no need for secrecy.
"Those damned trolls! I want to return home with you! I will never allow them to set foot in Quel'Thalas!" The old ranger, still fiery, believed he could contribute to the defense.
"Then please, General, come with us to Quel'Thalas," Galen interjected, recognizing an opportunity to recruit this talented individual.
"And who is this?" Hawksbill had been so engrossed in catching up that he hadn't noticed Galen. He now realized that Sylvanas and Alleria seemed to be following this human, which was noteworthy.
"I am Galen Trollbane, Prince of Stromgarde," Galen introduced himself enthusiastically, aiming to make a good impression.
"So, you are a descendant of old Trollbane?" Hawksbill murmured, seemingly lost in thought.
"General, did you know my father?" Galen asked, delighted. This connection could be advantageous.
"No, not your father. That was a thousand years ago."
Galen was speechless. General, your seniority just jumped by dozens of generations! A thousand years... how many ancestors ago was that?
Galen bowed respectfully to Hawksbill.
Sylvanas covered her mouth, chuckling at Galen's reaction.
However, the high elves were accustomed to such age differences with humans and quickly settled on a less formal mode of address. Galen called him "Uncle," and Hawksbill acknowledged him as a nephew.
During their exchange, Galen learned from Hawksbill that the human army, led by Turalyon, had arrived at the northern watchtower of Eastweald a day earlier, located not far south of Quel'Lithien Lodge.
They decided to waste no time and proceed to join Turalyon before entering Quel'Thalas.
Before departing, Hawksbill hesitated. "My lady, I met a human with extraordinary talent in Stratholme, and I would like to recommend him to Quel'Thalas to participate in the ranger trials."
"Human?" Hawksbill's request made Alleria slightly uncomfortable, as there was no precedent for humans participating in the ranger trials hosted by the Windrunner family.
Galen's eyes lit up. This is a two-for-one deal! Don't miss it!
"Uncle Hawksbill, may I ask the human's name?"
"His name is Nathanos Marris, a Lordaeronian. His father is a skilled hunter, and Nathanos has been learning from him since childhood. He has a remarkable talent for marksmanship." Hawksbill spoke highly of his young apprentice, but Alleria remained hesitant.
Galen had already identified him: Nathanos Marris, the only human ranger lord and the future loyal subordinate of the Forsaken Queen. Galen resolved to intervene.
"How about this, Alleria? I will take Uncle Hawksbill's apprentice as my subordinate. In the future, he will be no less than a legion adjutant. I wonder if Uncle Hawksbill's recommendation and my reputation would be enough for you to grant him a place?"
Galen's request was somewhat demanding, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to acquire two potential legion-commander-level talents!
With hundreds of thousands of musketeers and infantry under my command, I need capable legion commanders! They are waiting to be assigned!
"It's easy to find a thousand soldiers, but difficult to find a general." Stromgarde's relatively small population of a million is a concern for Galen.
"Alright, sister, don't worry about it. It's just a human. Our Windrunner family has enough influence for this. How could we refuse Uncle Hawksbill's request? Besides, didn't our ancestors teach the Arathi people the ways of the ranger thousands of years ago?" Sylvanas pointed out.
"Alright, Uncle Hawksbill, Galen, I agree!" Alleria conceded.
Hawksbill was pleased, and Galen was even more so.
A win-win situation!