Planning

A few days had passed since Sylvanas told her daughter they would come up with a plan to free Athrodar together and the Princess was now on a similar situation to the one she found herself in before she left.

"My Lady," Sera began, standing next to the Princess who sat on the wolf skin draped throne in Grommash Hold, "no offence, but how is this different to the last two months?"

"Because, Captain, my mother may be out on a hunt, but she has promised me we will come up with a plan to break Athrodar out of the Stockades." Victoria stroked one of the wolf pelts. "She should be back any minute now, and then we will begin."

Sera was about to argue, but bowed her head instead. "Very well, my Lady."

A few minutes passed by of complete silence in Grommash Hold with Victoria continuing to stroke one of the pelts. This was interrupted when Sylvanas returned from one of her many hunts in Ashenvale, making her way over to Victoria and kissing her forehead.

"How are you?"

Victoria stood up from the throne so Sylvanas could sit on it, standing in front of the Banshee Queen with a smile on her face. "Excited, prepared. I want to plan right away to get Athrodar back."

Sylvanas took the first report of the day off of Seliana who had already gathered at least twenty. "I don't know. We just got back and I have all these reports to look through." She began to scan through the first one, not noticing the upset look on Victoria's face.

"Oh... Okay then." She began to walk away, holding up her hand when Sera began to follow. "No... I want to be alone." She told her.

"Understood, my Lady." Sera replied, sounding professional whilst keeping her anger from boiling over, knowing that the Princess' running away done little to change the every day goings on with Sylvanas.

Leaving Grommash Hold, Victoria began to wander the city streets of Orgrimmar, keeping her hood up and avoiding any contact with civilians or soldiers that recognised her. She headed straight for the Cleft of Shadows and the darkest part of the area, looking to hide from everyone.

"I hate it here!" She yelled, letting her frustrations be known to those that could hear her. "I just want him back..." She then muttered, falling to her knees and gently weeping. "And nobody will help me!" She yelled again, this time letting out a long, loud banshee scream.

Everyone in the Cleft of Shadows covered their ears, though the young Banshee continued to scream and wail, suddenly finding it hard to control her emotions.

One of those covering their ears was Viraleth who was visiting the Cleft of Shadows to pick up a few poisons from the rogues inside, looking around the darkened areas and finding either Sylvanas or Victoria on their knees, hidden from everyone.

"My Lady!" She yelled, trying to get through to whichever one it was, stepping closer and slowly moving a hand down to their shoulder. "My Lady!" She yelled again, pulling on the shoulder and turning Victoria around so she was looking at her.

Viraleth stared at her for a few seconds, knowing that if she does what she's thinking, it may calm the Princess, but she will also fuel the rumour mill that Sera is churning to tease her. "Fuck it..." She muttered, hugging the Princess and rocking her back and forth.

Victoria held onto her tightly, crying into her shoulder. "She hasn't... Hasn't changed!" She cried, continuing to hold onto her tightly. "I want to get him back."

Viraleth closed her eyes and continued to rock her back and forth. "Shh, I know. Let me talk to her." She said calmly, pulling her hood down and stroking her hair. "Let me talk to her." She repeated, feeling Victoria's grip loosen and knowing she was calming her down.

"I want him back." Victoria whispered, closing her eyes as well and just hugging the Ranger-General. "I want my dad back, I don't want him to be so far away."

By the Gods, she is the most innocent undead I've ever met. Viraleth thought, pulling the Princess off her and looking into her eyes, not seeing a young women, only an upset little girl. It's wrong, it's so, so wrong. She thought this time.

Victoria looked the Dark Ranger-General in the eyes and began to believe what Sera told her, she may just have a crush on her. She leaned forward slowly, only to have Viraleth cover her lips with her hand. "My Lady, no. I... We better not."

Victoria sat in silence whilst Viraleth stood up and offered a hand down. "I'm sorry." She eventually said, being helped up by the Ranger-General. "I wasn't thinking."

"Don't talk about it. You'll make it worse." Viraleth tidied the Princess' uniform, avoiding eye contact. "Come on, let's go talk to the Queen."

Varian stood outside a lone house in the middle of Elwynn Forest along with his Royal Guards behind him as well as Genn and Anduin. "Are you sure about this, my King?"

"He's the only one who can help." Varian said, nodding to the Captain by the door who knocked on it shortly after.

"I'm not in!" A voice yelled, followed by a low grumble. "Now go away!"

Varian looked back to both Genn and Anduin, the pair of them wearing a frown on their faces. "Matthew, we need your help."

The Mage opened up the door a little and peered out of it, looking at the Royal Family, especially Varian, and glaring at them. "No." He shut the door behind him, shuffling back further into his house.

"You're the only one outside the Kirin Tor who can help us." The King then told him.

"Then go ask one of them. I no longer practice magic."

"We can't. This is an Alliance matter, the Kirin Tor won't get involved. Their leaders are close to the prisoner we need escorted." Varian stood closer to the door. "It's the Prince of Death. Arthas' second in command and now the second in command of the Horde."

The door slowly opened again, this time the Mage was watching the High King very closely. "I'm listening..."

"We need him transported to Theramore, away from Stormwind and the remaining Alliance on this continent." Varian looked directly at the Mage who continued to watch him closely. "If we do this without your help, he will escape and it would have all been for nothing."

"And why should I care?" The Mage then asked. "I may be a human, living in Elwynn Forest and despise the Horde. But why should I care what happens to him? Let him escape, be with his Warchief or whatever. Just leave me out of this."

Varian watched the Mage close the door again, sighing and turning to face Genn and Anduin, the latter moving forward and banging his fist on the door. "Matthew, why won't you help us? Why do you hate the Royal Family?"

Matthew opened the door and looked at the Prince, figuring the young lad wasn't even born or was too young to remember. "My wife died serving your father, my son too. So you want to know why I won't help you? Because I never got to say goodbye to them and I think keeping that Death Knight locked up and away from his family is the most cruel thing you can do."

Anduin watched the door close, shocked at the answers the old Mage gave him. Genn however, was becoming angry and moved towards the door this time. "His whore murdered my son! Why should we hand him over to her when I never got to say goodbye!?"

"Then you should understand what I'm saying." The Mage told him behind the closed door. "Let him spend time with his family, before fate rips them apart for good."

Varian placed his hand on Anduin's shoulder. "There's no getting through to him. Come on, let's go back and come up with a different plan."

Anduin shook his hand off his shoulder. "He was arrested for being in Alliance territory during a war."

"Was he fighting back when you arrested him?" The Mage asked.

Anduin looked back to his father who shook his head. "No."

"Then have you all considered the notion that he wanted to be arrested?"

Anduin shook his head. "But he spoke to me. He told me he didn't attack because of civilians."

"How honourable of him." The Mage opened up his door completely, looking out at the three of them. "It was convenient that he just appeared in Alliance territory, I'm assuming alone?" Varian nodded. "Didn't attack anyone and then said it was because there were civilians."

Varian frowned at the old Mage. "What are you saying?"

"That he got himself captured for a reason. You just have to figure out what that reason is." The Mage began to shut the door, shaking his head. "Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who sees these things."

Genn and Anduin looked back to Varian who nodded slowly. "I think it's about time we gave our prisoner a little visit."

Athrodar sat on one side of his cell, staring at the other side and whistling out loud as he was overcome with boredom. He had yet to speak since his Anduin encounter and the Sergeant made sure that he was punished every day for keeping silent.

He was waiting for today's beating, knowing it was running late by a couple of hours and was strangely missing the sadistic bastard. I wonder what's keeping him.

He looked towards the door when footsteps were coming closer to his cell. Finally, time to get this over with. He thought, standingjj up and preparing for the struggle he was going to give them.

Once the door was unlocked and opened, Athrodar saw the Royal Family step in, flanked by Royal Guards and Genn at the back, kept at a distance to the Death Knight for both of their safety. "Are you willing to talk?"

Athrodar looked over to Varian who stood on the opposite side of the bed to the Death Knight who just smirked at him. "Apparently not." The King said, nodding over to the two guards flanking him.

Athrodar didn't struggle against their attempt to hold him down, being pulled to the floor and sitting down in front of the King. "Why were you in Lakeshire?"

When he didn't respond, Anduin decided to try something. "If you help us, we can help you. Just answer this simple question."

Athrodar looked over to the Prince then to the King, finally looking over to Genn who looked disgusted at the Death Knight. "Tell him to leave." Athrodar told them, staring at the old wolf.

Varian looked back to the Gilnean King. "Go back to the keep."

Genn bowed to Varian after a long minute. "My King."

Once he was gone, Athrodar looked towards Anduin and decided to answer to the Prince more than the King. "You want to know why?" The Prince nodded, making the Death Knight grin. "Because I was bored."

"I don't believe you." Varian said, though Athrodar didn't respond to him.

Anduin repeated what his father said, making Athrodar grin when they actually made Anduin the main interrogator. "Good, I'd have been surprised if you did."

"So why were you in Lakeshire?" Anduin asked again.

"Waiting to get captured." Athrodar told them, this time sounding more truthful than the last answer. "Waiting to get captured to then be taken here in the middle of Stormwind, the Alliance capital."

Anduin looked over to his father who narrowed his eyes at the Death Knight. "Why do you want to be here? You're alone in the Capital, locked in our Stockades. Whatever plan you have, it won't work."

"I'm almost certain it will." Athrodar told him, leaning back against the wall. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to rest."

Varian placed a hand on Anduin's shoulder. "Leave us."

"But father-"

"Now, Anduin." Varian looked down at Athrodar who had closed his eyes. "I need to talk to him alone."

Athrodar opened his eyes when the door to his cell shut behind Anduin's departure, grinning up at the High King. "Is it wise to be left alone in here with me?"

Varian sat down on the bed, looking at Athrodar. "You tell me. Will you attack me whilst we're alone in here?"

"Oh, now your majesty, that wouldn't be very honourable of me now, would it?"

"Cut the crap." Varian said, his face a mask of seriousness. "You haven't spoken for two months and now you want to talk? Clearly you want something."

"There's no fooling you." Athrodar sat forward, smirking at the High King. "I want to leave. Go home and spend time with my family."

Varian laughed at the demand. "That will never happen, you're not leaving here until this war is over." He stood up from the bed and walked to the cell door. "Unless, you can convince Sylvanas to a ceasefire. We will then talk over terms of her surrender."

Athrodar laughed this time. "She will never surrender, not even if it means she gets me back. The Horde are winning this war, Ironforge is ours, nobody has seen the leader of the Gnomes since we took their city as well." Athrodar sat back against the wall. "Your Alliance is fragile. The correct deal could see the Draenei and Kaldorei on our side."

"They won't join the Horde. There's too much bloodshed between them and the orcs."

"Perhaps." Athrodar closes his eyes again. "You know what I want now, so unless you're going to give it to me, this conversation is done."

"Fine." Varian knocked on the door, hearing the two guards outside unlock it and open it for the King. "I'll see you again soon. You best come up with more realistic demands if you want them met."

Viraleth stood at the entrance to Grommash Hold, uncomfortably shifting her weight from her left leg to her right as Victoria stood beside her. "My Lady, can I have some room?"

Victoria only just noticed their close proximity and took a big step right. "Sorry..." She mumbled, not quite sure on how to act around her now.

"Just don't mention what happened to your mother, okay? Titans knows she will skin me if she finds out what almost happened." Viraleth entered Grommash Hold, being followed by the Princess shortly after.

Once they were in the Hold, Sylvanas looked over to them with a frown. "Viraleth? Why are you here?"

"Collecting poison. But the other reason is because, you lied to your daughter."

Sylvanas raised an eyebrow at the bold accusation, handing Seliana the report in her hand and standing up from her throne. "Excuse me?"

Viraleth straightened her posture, keeping Victoria behind her as Sylvanas got ever closer. "That's right. You lied to your daughter about planning for Athrodar's prison break... Thing."

Sylvanas stood in front of the Dark Ranger-General, looking down at her. "You're accusing your Queen of lying?"

"Well..." Viraleth looked away at the intensifying gaze from her Queen, becoming uncomfortable as she knew Sylvanas was getting increasingly angry. "Maybe not lying... But you're not doing what you promised your daughter."

Victoria placed a hand on Viraleth's arm, moving her out the way so she was standing in front of Sylvanas now. "She's right. You threw away my offer to plan for Athrodar's freedom the moment you came back."

Sylvanas' expression softened the moment Victoria stood in front of her, slowly moving a hand to her cheek and being stung when she moved away from it. "Honey... You don't understand.."

"What I understand is, you don't want to get Athrodar back. You avoid talking about him and planning to get him back." Victoria looked down at the floor. "Why do you avoid it?"

"You don't understand." Sylvanas repeated, looking behind Victoria and towards Viraleth. "Neither one of you do."

"Then tell us." Viraleth blurted out.

Sylvanas sighed, placing a hand on Victoria's face. "Have you noticed something missing in this room?"

Victoria and Viraleth looked around the room, though it was the Dark Ranger-General who noticed it. "Athrodar's Rangers aren't here."

Sylvanas nodded. "Very good. That's because they're moving south, from Undercity." She saw Victoria look at her with widened eyes. "They're moving south to break Athrodar out of the Stockades."

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Victoria asked.

Sylvanas cupped Victoria's face in her hands. "You left before I could. I was going to tell you after I read through a few reports." She leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I know how much it meant to you."

"Can they do it with just five?" Victoria asked, being dragged to the throne as Sylvanas aimed to sit back down.

"They're Athrodar's chosen Rangers, he wouldn't have chosen them if they couldn't do it." Sylvanas sat on the throne and pulled Victoria onto her lap. "They should arrive outside Stormwind in a couple of days. They will then sneak into the Capital and into the Stockades, find Athrodar and break him out."

The Banshee Queen hugged her from behind, kissing her cheek. "They will then go to the harbour and meet up with Velonara and the Forsaken aboard your ship that left at Menethil Harbour and sail straight to Durotar."

"And back to us."

Sylvanas smiled, squeezing her tighter. "Precisely. He will return to us and then we can prepare for the attack on Stormwind."

Viraleth stood in the middle of the room, looking at both banshees. "Why wasn't I told this?"

"Because I told nobody about it, to keep it a secret. Now that you two know, it is fine. They've already left and word won't travel as quick as those five." Sylvanas took hold of Victoria's hand, looking at Viraleth. "Now I need you to answer me something."

"My Lady?"

"Should I listen to Sera?" Sylvanas looked over to the Night Elf. "She is very talkative about you and my daughter."

Viraleth widened her eyes, shocked at the Night Elf's betrayal. "My Lady, nothing has happened. Sera is just teasing the two of us."

Sylvanas narrowed her eyes at the Dark Ranger-General, making her become uncomfortable once more under her gaze. "I know." She said, grinning at her. "She told me it would make you both uncomfortable, I didn't believe her until I saw it."

Viraleth began to laugh along with the Banshee Queen, though deep down she was calming herself at dodging a bullet. Victoria however was easier to read, though she was luckily facing away from the Banshee Queen.

"But if you do have something to her and act on it," Sylvanas began, her tone one of seriousness, "I will hunt you down. Even if you are my friend."

Viraleth bowed to her. "There's nothing, my Lady. As I keep telling Sera, I am her mother's friend, I will treat her like I treat you, my Lady."

Sylvanas stroked Victoria's hair, having the Princess lean back into her. "Good. I don't want anyone to hurt her."

"They won't." Victoria told her. "Not whilst I have my guard."

Sylvanas smiled at her. "I know. I still have to make sure."