After the dinner in Stormwind Keep, Anduin Lothar bid goodnight to his nephew and Genn Greymane, preparing to retire to his quarters for the evening. Lothar knew he wouldn't be alone for long; and sure enough, just as he finished undressing, there was the sound of wings at the window.

"Took you long enough to get up here," the death knight said fondly. "Belly still too full to fly at a decent speed and altitude?"

The raven cocked its head, making a series of sounds that were half clicking, half warbling. Then it hopped over to the bed, returning to human form once there. "I may have overindulged a bit tonight at dinner, yes," Khadgar chuckled. "I hope the politicking afterwards didn't bore you too much."

"I'm used to it by now," Lothar replied, sliding down next to him and starting to undo the fastenings on the mage's robes. "It hasn't changed much since the First War…different names, different places, that's all."

"True. Still, it wasn't as bad as I'd expected," said Khadgar. "I remember a time when Genn Greymane would have been pumping you for any Horde secrets you might have picked up from the other death knights on the Acherus…as it was, though, he was more interested in your 'Treatise on Strategy'."

"And in you growing your hair out." Lothar ruffled it affectionately. The worgen had remarked that the longer hair suited him. "It's not quite as long as it used to be, but it's a good start."

"Speaking of which, you actually trimmed your beard. I'm impressed. You didn't even do that before you met with me in Dalaran," Khadgar teased, lying back and letting Lothar undress him.

"Well, I wanted to look well-groomed for tonight. For meeting important people and all that. Can't have the undead former regent looking scruffy while chatting with the current king of Stormwind and the king of Gilneas, after all."

"Genn Greymane…he's mellowed considerably since Liam's return," the mage said, shifting position to make his lover's task easier.

Lothar shrugged. "Seeing your child again after so many years can do that to a person, I would think."

"I suppose so," mused Khadgar thoughtfully. "I'm just glad we don't have to worry any more about Genn declaring war on the entire Horde, or launching another unprovoked attack on their forces. His hostility towards them goes back to Liam's death and the fall of Gilneas, but the Horde pulling out on the Broken Shore infuriated him, and many others. And then Vol'jin naming Sylvanas Windrunner as Warchief…" He shook his head. "I never thought I'd see the day when Jaina Proudmoore and not Genn was the one protesting against us working with the Horde. I'm glad whatever bloodlust he may have had is gone."

Lothar paused as his hands reached Khadgar's waist. "For now," he said. "Sylvanas may still be missing, but how will Genn react if and when she comes back?"

"Not well," he confessed. "Unless the Horde wants to keep its current leading council – the racial leaders are making decisions now, as a group. Maybe they'll decide they don't need a Warchief anymore."

"Best to deal with that when it happens, and not make any more problems than we already have." Lothar went back to undressing his lover. He didn't want to add to Khadgar's worries. "I saw your statue, you know," he said, hoping to lighten the mood. "On the way into the city."

"Oh, that." The mage looked a little embarrassed. "They made that when I was still lost in Outland. If they'd expected me to come back, I doubt it would have ever been constructed."

Now that Khadgar was naked under his hands, Lothar smirked. "When we first met, I never would have guessed you'd ever be able to grow a beard like that."

He arched an eyebrow. "I may have taken your initial comments about my facial hair as a challenge."

"And an herb called 'Khadgar's whisker' too…I will never mock your facial hair again, my friend," he laughed. "But maybe they should update your statue. Get rid of the beard, to reflect how you look now."

The mage's cheeks turned faintly pink at that, and he waved a hand as if to wave Lothar's suggestion away. "I always feel self-conscious any time I see it. I don't deserve a monument like that, Anduin."

"I think you do," the death knight stated, finally revealing his lover's naked form. "And even if you don't, well…there is one good thing about that statue."

"What's that?"

Lothar's smile turned wicked, as he recalled a conversation from decades past – a conversation that had demonstrated Khadgar's wit, his inability to be intimidated, and yes, his sass. "When the sun is hot," he drawled, "I would assume that it makes excellent shade."