BOOK 4 – The Air of the Soul

Ch 1 Prologue - Breathe Deep – (five years after the end of Book 3)

Rhenn Wrynn, queen consort to the King of the United Alliance, Varian Wrynn, sat in her garden. The garden was only accessible through the Queen's chambers and was her favorite spot to sit and enjoy a peaceful afternoon surrounded by birds, butterflies, and forest green colored ivy on the walls. The flowers were planted about the great old oak tree that was in the center of the garden. Known as "the old man", he was older than the city of Stormwind, or so it was said and the Kings of the great city had built this garden about him of carved stone and mountain rock to keep him safe. The secret garden had been a gift to her as a wedding present from her lord and master, the king. She had had it as a refuge and place to hide from courtly duties ever since.

The Crown Princess, Ellsa was sitting nearby with the Queen's handmaidens about her. Ellsa Wrynn nee Greymane, wife to Varian's eldest son, was sewing together and patching some older play clothing for her children. Her son, four year old Liam, already had the makings of a paladin. He played endless games with five year old Thea and his own younger sister, Elizabeth, about rescuing them from dragons and evil warriors. Thea, though she was more of a cousin being a contemporary of the two younger children, was in fact their aunt for she was the half sister of Anduin, their father. With them also was Lady Helene Mograine's ward, young Shagara, an orc child, who had been orphaned it was said and she had brought home from Shattrath. She was really Tirion Fordring's ward, but since he was still waging war in Northrend he allowed his child starved goddaughter to raise the small orcling.

That of course was a convenient half truth since her mother was from the outlands and had returned there to mourn her mate's passing after she had given birth in the safety of Stormwind. She did not wish to raise the young blue eyed, blind child she had borne for Thrall, the former Warchief for fear of what the Horde would do if they learned that the world's most powerful shaman had an heir. The orc child was small, no larger than Thea and the princess's best friend since she was only a few months younger. Though blind, Shagara sensed things about her through touch, hearing, and smell, that most could not. She also was very in tune with nature and the elements already and had shown her prowess by making the wind stop howling in the trees when it hurt her ears. She, it would seem, was already following in her father's footsteps of becoming a shaman. She already had the blue eyes, a rarity among her kind and a sign of greatness. Her heritage was kept from her as well making it easier to be raised by the human priestess and death knight. She had no lack of love and was secure with them.

Thea, Genn, Shagara, and Lizzy were all playing hide and seek in the under growth of the garden. Elizabeth was only three and still working on speaking, but she liked the game of hide and seek, though when hiding she often giggled giving herself away. Shagara, despite being blind was very good at the game using her acute sense of hearing to locate people hiding from here even by the sound of their breathing.

Rhenn watched then fondly as she pulled a stitch in her embroidery. Aramathea, though only five had her mother's grace and wisdom. She was also a budding diplomat settling disputes in the nursery with her playmates. Her thick dark hair and distinct facial features were the mark of her sire, but her sea green eyes, small pointed ears, and beauty were all her mother's. Rhenn's once thick lush red gold hair was now icy silvery white and was the only mark of her middle age unless one looked into her eyes and saw the wisdom and somewhat world weary look luring there. Even now her hair was in a severe style she often wore for court, though she was at her ease.

King Varian Wrynn had soundlessly entered the chambers of his queen and come into the garden. Varian too was showing his years. Now in his mid fifties, his hair was streaked with gray and his face held the years he had lived on it. The deep set eyes that were always watchful from being a gladiator, the scars that went across his face and vertically over his eye from a naga, and his worn leathery skin from being in the sun for many, many days of the year. He wore his battle armor still, though it looked new and polished. He was more than a decade older than his queen and yet the only sign of her aging was her thick white/silver hair. It was strangely beautiful.

He smiled watching his daughter playing with his grandchildren. Thea was the apple of her father's eye as Anduin had been growing up. Anduin was hardly jealous of the attentions lavished on his half sister and in fact was guilty of adding to it. When they were able he would take her to the barracks and show her how to use a bow and to fight as he would with a brother. Soon he would teach her to ride by herself. Varian smiled. He already had just the horse picked for her. A small beautiful pony named Angelfire who would be just the right size for a young girl.

Varian walked forward his boots making noises in the grass. The first to take notice was Shagara. She turned toward the noise her icy blue eyes unseeing, and yet she knew he was there. She smiled and walked toward him and bowed. The handmaidens and even the crown princess bowed to him. The King walked to her after ruffling the small orc child's red hair playfully. She reached up and playfully batted at his hand as he continued to Ellsa who was bent low.

He put a finger under her chin and lifted her. "You, my dearest daughter-in-law, do not need to bow to me. You are not a handmaiden anymore and in fact you have your own women." He smiled kindly as she straightened.

"Of course, your majesty."

"Varian, here my dear, Ellsa." He smiled and kissed her cheek softly.

She flushed and nodded still unused to the position she was in. She had been the crown princess for several years and mother to Genn Wrynn whom would one day rule after his father, but she was still not used to the attention. She had grown up the sickly cousin who was an orphan and a burden. Now she held court and handled her own affairs and several matters of state. It was daunting, but she was up to the challenge. Anduin had chosen his mate well and she would be a wonderful queen consort to him when it came time for him to rule.

Rhenn had risen to her feet, but did not bow. She only did in public these days as was required for royal etiquette, but here, among her women she did not feel the need. She extended her arm and her husband kissed her knuckles before sweeping her into his embrace.

Remy, Emily, Kallin, and the newest lady to Rhenn's entourage, a wildhammer dwarf named Baela, named for her fiery red hair. The young dwarf woman also had a beard, a mark of beauty due to its rarity among her people, but it did look odd having a full beard on a stout large breasted woman in court clothing. However, the dwarf woman was a good ally to have near the queen. She was a warrior, trained to be an elite guard of King Magni. Since his petrifaction, The Council of Three Hammers, under the instigation of Moira, the elite guards had been turned into an elite group much like Stormwind's SI:7. Several had been trained by the rogues themselves. Baela had been one of Magni's personal guards and when her friend Aerin and the Bronzebeard King himself had died during the mighty upheaval of the cataclysm, she had asked for a new service, unable to cope within the walls of Ironforge. Varian had taken her in knowing that having an elite trained guard for his wife and her household would be an asset.

Rhenn, Varian had observed had only aged in her eyes and hair. The rest of her had gained a few more pounds to the delicious curves he loved to caress and when she looked at him as she did now, he knew such looks were for him only. Even after many children, Rhenn's belly was still mostly flat and her breasts large and full like ripe fruit. He smiled a little. She had not conceived since she had given birth to Aramathea, but perhaps that was all for the better. He now had a daughter to spoil and lavish his love on that he had always wanted. Anduin still had all the affections that were due to a son and heir, but Thea was her father's daughter and there was nothing that she desired that he would not grant. If Rhenn bore him more children he would adore each, but he feared with her advancing age, though elves aged less quickly than humans (she still looked in her late twenties and she was more than forty), health issues had already happened and he would rather have her barren now than perhaps loose her in childbirth.

Varian himself was starting to show his age. He had salt and peppered hair that he still kept long in his top knot. His bipolar personalities between Lo'Gosh and Varian were still in evidence and Lo'Gosh seemed to still have the upper hand. However, with his queen at his side, Lo'Gosh seemed to rein in his anger and need for vengeance, but at times even Queen Rhenn could not control or lessen his temper.

Varian pressed his mouth to his wife's lightly and wrapped an arm about her. She was very small next to the large powerful man whom was large even for human standards. In many ways they were opposites, but their love was something legends are written about and epic ballads. Rhenn stayed in the security of his embrace a moment before stepping away to look up at him. She knew him well enough to know something was on his mind. She looked up questioningly and he half smiled before sighing. "Would you walk with me, Rhenny?"

She nodded. "Ladies, I shall return shortly."

When they had withdrawn back toward the lion pool and fountain at the back of the garden she looked up at him. "What is on your mind, my heart?"

Varian took a deep breath and smiled at his wife. "More rifts have spawned. We fear the Twilight Hammer is responsible." He said. He sat down on the bench before the fountain and stretched his long legs. He looked up at her. "I am remised in my duties to you. Forgive me. The last three nights I have not come to your bed."

She smiled. "I have not minded. It allowed me to actually sleep." She teased and he clicked his tongue at her even as she smiled playful at him over her shoulder.

"Careful, my queen. I could move you behind the Old Man and have a merry time tupping you with your ladies near." He smiled his eyebrows raised as he smirked. She knew he was half serious because the forbidden nature of the act in public made it exciting, though they never lacked in enthusiasm for each other.

She chuckled lightly and sat beside him. He reached over and pulled her into his lap. She resisted only a moment before laying her head at his collar bone. His chin rested against her hair and he sighed. "The cultists have made converts in the city and the elemental rifts that the infiltrators create has caused civilian deaths. I have ordered portals be opened to remove them from the city, but I am not sure it is enough."

"Genn Greymane wishes to speak with us. I told him I would try to arrange a meeting this afternoon. Mia and his daughters are much healthier since they moved here to Stormwind, but they are also homesick." She looked down knowing the feeling well.

He cupped her chin and pressed his mouth to hers again. What was meant to be a soft kiss of reassurance turned into a kiss of passion and he reluctantly pulled away before it went too far. He panted as he rested his forehead against hers. "I will come tonight. Shall we eat dinner in your rooms and see where the night takes us?"

She chuckled. "As you command, my king."

He gripped her face almost painfully and forced her to look at him as she rose to her feet. She looked at him startled. "You are mine to love, cherish, and honor, but I will never own you." He said his grey eyes were fierce. "I command my army, servants, and guards, but you, my love, I do not command." He rose to his feet and pressed his lips to her temple. "Remember that."

He walked away from her and the ladies bowed to him as he walked passed. No, Rhenn thought, I do not own you either, but your heart will always be mine. She returned to the women and noticed Shagara was sitting near a flower bed her eyes closed. The girl was always listening. Rhenn supposed it was due to the fact she did not see that her other senses were higher in tune. Rhenn went to her. She smiled as the girl lifted her arms and several rocks near her moved. They spun lightly in the air before settling. Rhenn smiled to herself. A shaman in the making. It was after all in her blood. The daughter of two shaman she would likely be powerful soon enough.

Rhenn smiled and waved her hand calling to the pool. From it rose a water elemental. It looked at her and then moved beside her leaving a trail of damp earth in its wake. Shagara smiled and her blue sightless eyes opened. "He is bigger than I would have thought." She said.

Rhenn smiled at the young girl. "You will soon be able to summon your own elemental to aid us." She said. She looked at the rocks. "Perhaps ask the stones if they would rise to your call."

Shagara held out her hands. Rhenn felt the earth about them shift in response to the child's query. Nothing happened. The girl's hands dropped and she let her shoulders drop. "I am not as good as you grandmother."

Rhenn chuckled. "You already know more than I did at your age. Come now try again."

"Yes, try." Thea said coming to her friend's side. "I know you can do it. Daddy says when you put your mind to it, you can do anything."

Shagara nodded and then closed her eyes again. She reached out and touched the earth near her. A small pile of stones lifted and assembled into a tiny, but well formed elemental. Rhenn's water elemental rumbled its approval as Rhenn and Thea clapped. The tiny elemental moved about leaving a small trail of dust.

It paused by Shagara's feet looking up at her. She cocked her head. "It says its name is Pebble." She said reaching out her hand. The elemental moved so she could feel it. She felt the sensation of delight from it as it leaned into the caress.

The young blind girl was going to be an Earth Shaman. Rhenn smiled and looked toward the small gated part of the garden where only she and Varian had a key. It was here where she had planted plants from Durotar, Thrall's adopted home named for his father. Also there were plants from Nagrand, a parting gift from Aggra to the queen. The young shaman orc had not been heard from since. Greatmother Geyah was rumored to know where she was, but no one sought her except shaman's in training of the Horde. Though Thrall was master of all the elements, his daughter had picked earth, his primary element. She truly was his legacy and it was a shame he would never know his child.

Rhenn looked up as the breeze stirred her hair and touched her face. It was light, like a caress. She smiled a little. Thrall was not gone, not completely. His spirit remained and she had no doubt would guide his child as he had guided others in life. The air breathed life and life was found in the soul. The soul remained and was eternal as the Tuskarr had taught her. Rhenn knew this to be true as she looked up at the trees. The breeze had not stirred them.