Chapter 2

Evasion, doesn't help when it's on cool down.

"Why did you do that, Eloise?" Gracie stared in horror at her daughter.

Fox didn't know why she had refused a visit to the Storm Seeker in the company of Jacen Stormblight. When he had, ever so honorably, asked her on what sounded very much like a date. The man had wanted to show off his ship. Impress her with what he had to offer. Which in all honesty was quite a bit. Fox turned to see her mother's very frustrated face. Then she felt her anger rising as well in response.

"I have no interest in Mr. Stormblight or his ship." Fox pressed her back against the door. Unconsciously trying to blot him out with a very real barrier.

"What is wrong with him? Your father likes him. I thought he was handsome. He has good prospects. Eloise, he was perfect for you." Gracie groaned and reached for Fox's cloak. "Go after him. Tell him you were stunned at his offer, but after further reflection decided to take him up in his generous invitation."

"I wont." Fox stared at the cloak. She didn't have time for Jacen. She had one more free day. After that she would be spending her days stalking around after the King of Stormwind. Fox outwardly cringed. She could just imagine what her mother would say, if she found out her unacceptable had been King Wyrnn.

Gracie turned to her husband, "Myles, do something about your daughter."

Myles was thrust into the middle of the argument. He was a reserve man, simply loathed confrontations. Looking down at his plump little wife with confused eyes. "Darling, if Eloise doesn't like Jacen, then she doesn't like him."

"Thank you, Dad."

"The two of you!" Gracie threw her hands up. "Have either of you stopped to consider that she is not getting any younger. That her looks are going to eventually fade, and the time is running out if there are to be any children in her future."

"I do not need children. If I do feel the urge to be motherly, there are plenty of orphans just across the bridge in the Cathedral District that would enjoy my company." Fox shot back.

Gracie paled as if Fox had struck her. "You have to have children, Eloise. You have a duty to see too. Your bloodline demands it!"

"What bloodline? Fulbrights have been Farmers, Lumberjacks, and the like as far back as it goes. Besides, I am a woman. My name wont go on, so it means very little."

"That is enough! You will do what I say, and I say tomorrow you will go down the the harbor to see the younger Stormblight. You will dress prettily, talk like a lady, and pray to the light he forgets how rude you were to him this evening!"

Fox saw red. Anyone else said such things to her, she would have killed them on the spot. The fact this woman was her mother was the only thing that stayed Fox's hand. It did not stop Fox from snarling back, "I will not!" Turning and heading up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Come back down here, girl. This is not over."

"Yes it is!" Fox slammed her door. Rushing across the room. She threw herself on the bed and screamed into her pillow.

Below Gracie looked to Myles. "You should have backed me up!"

"And have her mad at the both of us? That would not be wise."

Gracie scowled at him, Then lifting her skirts moved to the kitchen. Clearing the table with loud banging of the dishes.

Myles followed her. "Gracie, this isn't you. I don't understand why you push her like that."

Gracie glared up. "You know exactly why I do it."

"Can't you forget the past. Just let things be as they are."

"No! I know who she is." Gracie hissed in a low whisper. "I love her just as much as if she were my own, but I will not stand by and watch her bloodline disappear entirely."

"Lothar asked us to raise her. He never said anything about forcing her to carry on the Arathi." Myles reached up and touched the key that hung around his neck.

"You know his wishes, and if you were half a man, you would tell her the truth. Just give her the blasted key." Gracie pulled out a chair and flopped down into it. "I love her. I do, but she needs to take her place in this world. Not wandering around playing with dead animal skins. She was meant for more."

"I will think about it." Myles said quietly. He merely wanted to pacify his wife. He had no intention of giving up his little girl to the Alliance. The dangers were too great. Better she stay safe in a quiet little life making leather bags and pretty shoes.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O0

Varian stared out the large windows down to the harbor. The moon cast a glow on the rippling waters. A deep sigh left him. Fox had not been at the SI-7. Shaw had been as inflexible as steel about the issue as well. He refused to even give the smallest hint as to where Fox had gone. That left Varian with one guess. She was with her parents. That had to be it. Reason suggested, that they must live in somewhere in Goldshire. The housing within Stormwind's walls was far to pricey for any commoner to own. If Fox had been the daughter of a nobleman, then Varian would already know her.

Damn, he wanted to go to Goldshire tomorrow, but that would be foolishness. He had no idea where to go, and wandering around aimlessly was out of the question. Everything would have been so much easier if Shaw would cooperate.

A light knock came at the door. Turning he asked who it was.

"Father, it's me. Anduin."

Anduin? Well, that was a pleasant surprise. "You can come in."

Anduin entered the quite study. Looking around he cocked up an eyebrow in confusion. "It's a little dark for reading, don't you think Father?"

"I get enough reading down in the main counsel rooms." Varian replied dryly. "What brings you to visit me this time of night?"

"I couldn't sleep. To be honest I thought you would like to play a game of chess with me?"

That brought a smile. "Think you can best me yet?"

"I can set up the board, and we will see." Anduin leaned over, and pulled up the large wooden box from a nearby table.

"You seem a bit sure of yourself, son. All that practice with Wrathion must have paid off."

"Don't mention the Black to me." Anduin grouched. "I can't believe he betrayed us."

Varian moved to take one of the chairs next to the round gaming table. "It was bound to happen. Black Dragons and Human kind never mix. I have to admit, I had my hopes for that one."

"Really? Then we were both duped." Anduin sat down as well. "White or Black?"

"Seeing how you feel about Black these days, I will take that." The King turned the board gently, as to not disturb the pieces. "Perhaps I can get you to go on the offensive."

"Speaking of offensive, have you seen your new gryphon?" Anduin made his first move. Hopping a knight forward.

"Ah him. I have heard he is back. I had assumed his training would have improved him somewhat. Am I wrong?"

"Very wrong. They are calling him Seb. When I saw him he was chasing one of the hands around the corral. He seemed quite set on pecking the man's head off." Anduin chuckled. "Excuse my humor. It's not very kind."

Varian moved a pawn forward. "That makes no sense. I was certain Fox could curb his bad behavior so he was more tempered like Besty. Seems she failed."

"The stable hand that spoke with Fox, said that Seb is fine with her. A touch protective even." Anduin hopped his knight again.

Varian laughed, "The gryphon has developed a crush on Fox? That's great. When I see her I will make sure to rub that one in."

"You haven't seen her?"

"No. She went right to the SI-7. Did you expect anything else from her?" Varian lifted his eyes to pin on Anduin. His boy had known Fox much longer then he had. There might be some clue as to what she was doing.

"Well yes. Actually, I saw her when I was leaving the Cathedral tonight. At least, I think it was her. Fox in a dress. I had to do a double take, and even then my guards caught me staring. It was a bit embarrassing. My men got the wrong idea."

Varian's hand froze holding his pawn aloft. "In a dress near the Cathedral?" He set the piece down slowly.

Anduin studied the board. "Yes, she was with three men near the bridge to the Trade District. They seemed to be sailors. One was a sea Captain. I could tell by his uniform. The other was an older gentleman with huge arms. He could have been the body guard to the Captain, I suppose. The last was a younger man. Poor fellow seemed rather interested in our Fox. Seeing as he was practically standing on top of her."

Varian gazed at his son. Wondering, without any rational thought, why Anduin had not punched the young gentleman into the canal?

"It's your move."

Varian grabbed another pawn, and set it forward. "Did she seem to know him? This young sailor?"

"I have no idea, but I got your pawn! You have got me to play offensively. I really can't help it, if you insist on playing this badly." Anduin grabbed up his black prize. Setting it on the side of the table he glared at it. Suddenly moving his fingers to flick it across the room "Black dragon pawn number one, down!"

Sadly the Black King remained unscathed. Varian no longer felt the desire to go easy on anyone after Adnuin's news. The White Pawn dropped in a rapid succession, until he was forced to lay down his king and admit defeat.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O0

Fox came down the stairs in a eye catching blue dress with silver trimming. She stopped and looked at her mother with narrowed eyes. "Where is the brown robes I had last night."

Gracie was folding laundry. She didn't bother looking at Fox. "It is laundry day. So I have it soaking. You can have it back after I wash and dry it."

Laundry day, the statement made her think of Learen, and his stab the random thing here holidays. "It was perfectly clean, mom."

"Really, I didn't notice. It was so drab and boring, no one could." Gracie looked up. An expression that dared Fox to argue with her.

Fox clinched her fists. Why had she wanted to come home again? "It was comfortable."

"Comfortable doesn't catch husbands. And you are welcome for the new gown." Her mother set some shirts in a basket

"I hate it."

"Warms my heart to hear you say that." Gracie went back to her folding. "You look stunning enough in it."

Fox groaned loudly. She didn't want to look stunning. She wanted to look invisible.

"Your father forgot his lunch. I want you to take it down to the harbor. We can't afford for him to collapse from malnourishment." Gracie motioned to a large picnic basket. It was brimming with more food then Myles Fulbright could possibly eat. And was that a bottle of wine?

"Did you pack another drink? Because you know how I feel about alcohol."

"I considered it, then realize that, your adversity to intoxication might just be part of the problem."

Fox clamped her mouth shut. Why had her mother never worked for the SI-7? Heck with this kind of twisted manipulations, she should be advising King Wyrnn! Fox stomped down the stairs and lifted the basket. Thank goodness she was an active SI-7 agent. The thing weight a ton. "I will go deliver it, and come back. We can bake some cookies for tonight. I want to play cards with you and father like when I was young."

"I already ordered cookies from the bakery. They are delivering them this afternoon. So don't rush on my account."

"How about we go out the gates, and pick some wildflowers for the house?" Fox paused, waiting for her mother to answer.

"While you were gone I developed allergies."

"By the Light, I am not going to get you to relent even a little, am I?"

Gracie dropped her hands to her hips, "Eloise, dear, I raised you. The entire time was a battle of wills. So blame yourself for making me into the veritable ogre I am today."

"Point." Fox pushed the door open. Tossing over her shoulder "I will be back soon."

As the door closed she heard Gracie yell, "Over my dead body!" And the lock clicked in the latch.

There was nothing to be done. Fox made her way over to the bridge that crossed to the Cathedral District. She grumbled to herself. Angrily kicking at the skirts brushing against her legs. She was half way across when she was stopped in her tracks. On the other side of the bridge stood a large armor laden charger. She did not have to look up to see the rider. She even considered dropping the basket, and running like hell. All the good it would do in the dress. It was then Fox realized why men preferred women in dresses. They simply could not run! All this time with mages, warlocks, and priests, and she never realized their plight until that very moment. Light forgive her for selfish thoughts, and save her from her foolishness.

"Fox." The sound of her name was said, not shouted. It may as well have been. It caused her stomach to tighten and her heart to leap in her chest.

She turned pleading eyes to Varian Wrynn, sitting so pristine and stately upon his mount. The guards around him, also mounted, looked more like statues. Biting her lip, she made her way over the bridge. Praying once again that he did not say her code name. Not here, so near her home.

"Your Majesty." She set the basket down at her side, and bowed low. Praying he had the good sense to remember where they were. A few citizens and visitors to the great city of Stormwind staring at the King.

He moved so fast at her words. Throwing one leg over the back of his mount. Only two great strides brought him close enough to pull her into his arms. Not a word said as he captured her mouth to his right there in the middle of Stormwind for all the bystanders to see.

Fox leaned in and tipped her head back. She had missed him. The bottled up, blocked out feelings coming back in one sensuous wave. What had she called him to her mother? The unacceptable one? Oh! Right now, that was so far off the mark.

Varian lifted his head to look down into her eyes. Then in a low whisper that tread close to a growl he said, "Varian, you stubborn woman. My name is Varian."

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