"Lady Gianna......"

The moon was shining in the sky, and the broken Teramore fleet sailed on the dark endless sea, accompanied only by the long song of griffins. Cadene, the captain of the Hammer Knights, landed on the battered Theramore flagship, and he walked towards Gianna. With a sad heart, yes, he had personally experienced the battle a day earlier, and the bloody and tragic scene still lingered in his mind, not to mention Gianna, who had gone through the whole process of the battle. The expeditionary force was almost all her possessions, and the main fleet of Theramore was wiped out in a single day, and no one could accept this reality.

Seeing Captain Hammer approaching, Gianna nodded symbolically. Her dark blue eyes looked at the dark sea, and her wounded appearance was pitiful.

Kadeon didn't know what to say for a while. He just accompanied Gianna to look at the sea, which was a kind of mourning for the dead.

"How did you find out about us?"

After standing silent for a long time, Gianna asked a little nervously.

"Ares knows you're coming, so let's help patrol the waterways to make sure the Theramore fleet can land safely. The view in the sky is wide, griffons can see far away, and, your fleet is smoking, which is easy to spot in the calm sea. If we can't even do that, we're not knights. ”

Cadion said, observing Gianna's expression. He knew that now was Gianna's most vulnerable time and could not say anything that would hurt her. What started as an expeditionary aid has now become a journey of destruction with no return. Thinking of his father's dying appearance and the people of Kul Tiras, who he had been thinking about all his life, Gianna's heart was full of self-reproach.

"I would venture to ask, is this combined fleet the entire force of Theramore and Kurtiras?"

After a long hesitation, Cadion asked the question. On the one hand, he didn't want to provoke Gianna, and on the other hand, he had to know the whole situation. The impact on the Lordaeron Alliance is significant. And it is related to the next tactical tactics and strategic guidelines of the entire Eastern Kingdom.

"Well, it's the main fleet of Theramore and Kurtilas, but not all of them. Combined, about a third of the warships did not participate in the battle. However, they are all new or irregular. ”

Gianna replied sadly.

"You're a hero."

Cadion said. And Gianna just smiled wryly and didn't speak. She was tempted to say - are heroes useful? The hero is the one who gives the most and gets the least. In the end, when people saw your sacrifice, they gave you the title of a hero, a good name. Practically useless. Just like now, all of Azeroth knew that Gianna had paid, and that she was a great hero who deserved to be respected. However, the corps is gone, the fleet is gone. Nothing left. The kingdom and the people he once protected with his life, but in the end he made them pay with their lives......

Gianna looked at the sea as calm as water, and there was nothing more. She just watched silently, watching......

……

The destruction of the combined fleet of Theramore and Kurtilas was also a huge blow to Ares. Lordaeron has lost its most powerful maritime ally, and now, the whole of Lordaeron is truly surrounded and blocked. Compared to the loss of the fleet, Ares was more worried about Gianna's safety.

Two days later, Ares appeared in the Silverpine Forest, where he arrived at the docks with hundreds of paladins and warriors of the Order, ready to take Gianna back to Lordaeron.

It's not a welcoming ceremony, it's more like a mourning party. There was no trace of joy in the reunion, and when Ares appeared on the edge of the dock in military uniform, Gianna's eyes were more sad. She didn't blame Ares, but because too many people died in this naval battle, and her heart was tormented. It took her a week and she couldn't get out of the predicament.

Ares saw her repentance. But nothing can be done. It was a familiar and even somewhat affectionate face, and Ares still remembered their "good" years in Gilneth City. It was the same weather today, the sky was gray and sprinkled with light rain. Sad and quiet. Just like the atmosphere is now.

"I heard about the fleet."

Walking side by side with Gianna, Ares stopped talking. Gianna is the same...... She wanted to say more, but she didn't feel the need. The soldiers died in battle, the fleet was destroyed, and their own men became other people's men...... Everything she cherished, she would eventually lose...... Gianna was a little dazed, she just kept her head down, kept walking along the road of the docks, and got into the carriage that Ares had prepared for her.

"It's going to be a bit bumpy, and I know you can use teleportation, but maybe it's better to be grounded."

Opening the window, Ares spoke to Gianna in the carriage.

Gianna turned her head and smiled. Ares noticed that Gianna's smile was still so melancholy after not seeing her for many years. It was the precipitation of the years, and too many things pressed on this young girl who was only less than thirty years old......

"I don't have the strength to cast teleportation spells."

She faintly returned.

Warm and luxurious, Gianna quickly fell asleep, she was too tired. The groom was careful to avoid the potholes to keep the carriage as smooth as possible. He knew that he was receiving a distinguished guest today.

When she woke up again, Gianna found that the convoy had not yet arrived in Lordaeron, it was daytime, and she had slept in the bumpy carriage all night. Gianna, who used to need a comfortable ship and a well-sleeping herb to fall asleep, found herself asleep in the rocking carriage. You know, the two carriages were jolting and swaying more than the ships on the sea, after all, the ship Gianna was on was the flagship of Theramore, the largest warship. The smoothness is like walking on land.

"Where are we?"

She opened the window and looked out to see a miserable white lake.

"Tabmir Town, Your Excellency Queen, on your right hand is Loch Lordanmere, and we are about to arrive at the royal city of Lordaeron."

The coachman replied earnestly.

"How much longer?"

Gianna asked.

"Two hours, or an hour and a half or so, it's pretty fast."

The coachman continued.

"By the way, Your Excellency, if you feel hungry, there is food in the carriage. It's that little box under your feet. There were some cookies and fruit in it. They are fresh and freshly picked from the grower's tree. ”

"Thank you."

Gianna returned with a smile and wrapped her coat tightly. Winter in Lordaeron is coming......