Jaina appeared in the magic quarter of Stormwind in one of the areas designated for teleportation arrivals. She was glad of Kalec's cloak as a chill wind wound between the buildings. Stormwind was far more temperate than other places, including Dalaran, but the Kingdom's name wasn't for show. Jaina flipped the hood up against the wind. Holding the cloak closed with one hand, her other arm wrapped around her files, she made her way towards the Keep.

Some of the local mages recognized her and nodded in greeting as she passed by, but she was left alone as she walked through the streets. Jaina could have easily teleported to just before the Keep, but she wanted the time over the walk to settle her feelings. She could see the tall statues that guarded the gates of the city just above the houses. She'd arrived outside of Stormwind's gates after Theramore had been destroyed. The gates had been the first teleport locus she'd learned around Stormwind and the configuration had come to her first. Jaina had not intended to take the long way that day, but her control had been savaged and the oldest patterns were the easiest. Looking back, it was a minor miracle she'd been able to make the crossing at all. There had been so much power, so much rage, so many intrusive thoughts.

The mage ducked away from the main roads, stepping away from the light press of people going about their mornings. The park, ruined by Deathwing and long a scar on the city, was finally being rebuilt. Jaina watched as a crew of dwarf shamans moved earth and stone at the direction of a human foreman. On more stable parts of the rebuild site a few gardeners, night elves as well as human, moved about newly planted shrubs and trees. Stormwind finally had some time and energy to heal the wound the city had suffered nearly four years prior.

"You're procrastinating," she told herself under her breath. She could see the Keep clearly from where she stood. The harbor, so new only a few years ago, was still white and shining with good maintenance, but there were weathered edges present now, subtle weatherings and marks made by the was procrastinating again. Jaina drew in a breath and let it out.

She liked Varian. She respected him. He'd become something like a brother over the years, but she knew he could be temperamental. The king of Stormwind had learned something about letting go of his rage, but she'd seen that anger come roaring back to the fore. Would her decisions now bring it about again?

No. No and she knew that. Mostly.

The wind caught the hem of Kalec's cloak and stole a lock of her hair. She tucked the hair back behind an ear and pulled the cloak closer. It smelled like him. Conjured by his magic it felt like him too. Thinking of him drew a small smile as she watched the wind sculpt white crests on the waves. Still procrastinating.

Jaina considered the sea for a moment longer then looked back towards the Keep. She began to walk in that direction again. The mage wasn't afraid of Varian. His response however... he could be supportive. That would be the best response she could hope for. Logically, it was the most likely one. He could be neutral and unsupportive. That would make things hard on her and on Anduin, but it was better than his anger.

Anger was seductive. Rage addictive. She'd been feeding and had fed on Vereesa's rage. It had felt good, too. But there were more important things in the world. She glanced back at the park where the devastation of Deathwing was only now being healed. She looked back towards the Keep. Many more important things than her rage over those dead. Those who wouldn't want her to avenge them with more death and destruction when she could build. Jaina pulled the cloak around her shoulders against the wind and made her way to the Keep without further procrastination.

Jaina was well known by Varian's staff and his people were excellent at their jobs. On arrival she'd been quietly and efficiently escorted to the room Varian used alternately as an office or war room. There was already a steaming pot of the tea she preferred beside a mug of the coffee Varian seemed to live on. Jaina wondered if Kalec would like it, too. While Kalec enjoyed tea well enough, he preferred coffee. She was pulled from her musing as the inner door opened. Jaina rose from her seat but was surprised by Anduin rather than Varian.

"Aunt Jaina," Anduin greeted, hugging her with a smile. It was like the sun breaking through the clouds. Jaina relaxed and returned his embrace. "Father says he'll be finished with his morning meeting in a moment and sent me ahead to make sure you weren't kept waiting."

"He can take the time he needs. I was thankful he could fit me into his schedule."

Anduin looked around then tilted his head closer. "I've tried to do what I could without being specific."

"What do you think?" She asked. Varian could be hard to read sometimes, but Anduin was well practiced at discerning his father's mood.

The young man frowned thoughtfully and studied the floor as he spoke. "He knows there's some sort of plan, but he doesn't know what. If I had to label his mood when we spoke on it, he was curious." He looked back up at Jaina and sighed. "It's been a long meeting this morning though."

"He in a bad mood?"

Anduin's smile was apologetic. "Might be. But he's always glad to see you. That'll cheer him up."

Jaina's reply was stopped by the growl that preceded Varian's entrance into the room. Anduin gave her a quick hug then made a smooth tactical retreat, closing the office door behind him as he left.

As the king stalked into the room, his growl rose into a series of half-voiced curses and complaints. He went for the coffee and downed the entire thing before pouring himself another mug. He sat down heavily enough his chair groaned. He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled a long, tortured groan.

Jaina took the seat across from him. "That bad huh?" She was answered with another groan as he rubbed his temples with his fingertips. Even less verbal than usual; it had to have been a very annoying meeting.

"Mind if I bend your ear?"

"Not at all," Jaina said, crossing her legs at the knee and setting her hands on them. "And you know I'd keep anything said held in strict confidence."

"We're finally in a place where we can devote more resources to Westfall," Varian said without further preamble. "Frankly, the situation is worse than I thought it was and intervention from the crown is long overdue. What's been blocking forward progress has been some nasty business with a few of the local councilmen." Varian's thunderous expression focused on the far wall. "Well placed, hidden agreements and corruption have been bleeding what recovery and security funding we've been sending there," he stated with a growl.

Varian glanced aside at Jaina, grinning suddenly. "We got them though. Seems the son of one of the councilmen is a more honest man than his father was. We've been working with him for months to get all the evidence we need to get rid of the whole lot of them. Three weeks ago we came down hard on the offenders. Cleaned the whole region," he said, waving an expansive hand across his desk. "Started legal proceedings and a few went to the stockade. The council and I made a number of emergency appointments as were needed."

"But now you're left with a number of newcomers?" Jaina hazarded a guess.

"They're good, well-meaning people but they're not entirely up to the task." Varian rolled his eyes. "Oh Councilman Hanumm is a fine young man who saw corruption in his father's seat and took steps to end it when he inherited, but he's so green, Jaina. Some of the men and women he's supposed to lead lost out financially because we've cleaned house. Others-" Varian broke off and shook his head. He let out a frustrated grunt. "They see Stormwind forces and aid as an intrusion."

"Intrusion?" Jaina asked, surprised.

Varian snarled silently. "The men who were running things there had- Light, currently have everyone believing all the problems they're having are Stormwind's fault. That they're my fault. The corrupt ringleaders did a damn fine job of convincing a lot of people that all the problems weren't their doing." He shook his head, disgusted. "At least this time I think we caught it before it became as bad as the Defias."

Jaina nodded agreement, lips pressed into a grim line. "The men responsible are gone now. I know opinions won't change overnight, but they will."

"We're working on it and those opinions could change so much faster if certain people would stop being obstinate." He growled. The king realized what he'd said and met her arched eyebrow with an eyeroll. "I recognize the irony of my saying that."

Jaina chuckled. "Yes, well," she looked down at the floor and kicked her crossed foot. "There's a lot of that going around, Varian. You're hardly the only one." She looked up. "Something specific blocking you now?"

Varian grumbled into his coffee and took another long sip. "Yes," he said, setting the mug down. "We have supply caravans heading there now. One of the key points on the route is controlled by a man who is... not terribly thrilled by the changes in the area. He's being lax in keeping the gnolls back so I have to move more guards into the area which just makes a lot of the more... independently minded steadholders suspicious of the Crown's motives."

"Westfall's had it's share of trouble since the Cataclysm. I imagine the people who've remained or moved into the area are... stubborn?" Jaina picked up her teacup and sipped.

"And I couldn't be prouder of what they've done to reclaim the land, but I should have been more supportive." He shook his head. "And I'm paying for that now." He grunted and sipped his coffee. "It'll get worked out, but half my council thinks we should just march in and straighten it out. Truthfully they're feeling a bit betrayed I'm not agreeing with them."

Jaina winced behind her teacup. She knew that feeling from both sides. Vereesa's angry words echoed in the back of her mind. The Ranger-General had turned in her paperwork but Jaina had only seen her briefly since the Theramore memorial.

"Well I've taken enough of your time with my complaints," Varian said, sitting back in his chair, apparently oblivious to Jaina's thoughts. "What did you wish to speak about?"

Jaina set her teacup down. She pulled the folio of documents onto her lap then sat back, folding her hands on it.

"A... potentially similar situation, actually."

"Oh?"

Jaina tapped her fingers on the folio, collecting her thoughts. "I have been doing a great deal of thinking about Dalaran, Varian," the mage began. "And I realized I needed to look into our current situation more thoroughly before I did anything. I found some problems in the City. Problems with solutions I wasn't terribly happy about but which are best for Dalaran."

"I brought my findings to the council and we had a long discussion." Jaina drew in a shaky breath then let stutter out. Varain sat forward in his seat, a frown creasing his forehead. She offered what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Varian, the council has voted to readmit Horde mages into Dalaran."

"Readmit?" A flash of fury crossed his face before it melted into a softer expression. "And what do you think about this?"

Jaina huffed a quiet laugh. She passed across the folio. "I was the one who brought the issue before the Council."

Varian sat back, eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You did?" He opened the folio and skimmed over the top document.

"That's the preliminary timeline we're going to be working with. Before we can get there we have a lot of things to resolve, but those are the basics. The second page is some of the numbers I'm willing to share about why I feel this is necessary. The third page has some very tentative plans for how we will be moving forward. Very tentative, but I wanted to show you the larger benefits." Jaina sipped her tea, giving Varian a moment to look over the papers.

After a few minutes Varian closed the folio and handed it back. "The Horde back in Dalaran," he mused.

Jaina nodded. "I wanted to give you some forewarning. I know there are going to be people who are displeased with this decision, in Dalaran and abroad, but it's what is best for Dalaran."

"I... appreciate the warning." Varian's eyes found hers. "It's really that bad there then."

Jaina frowned and sipped her tea, considering her words. "It will be without intervention. The council agreed with my assessment and even had some further damning details in their own areas. We need them. That's incredibly hard for me to say, but we do."

Varian leaned his arms on his desk and studied the surface, brow slightly furrowed. "Genn's gonna raise hell."

"I expect his will be the loudest voice on our side. I don't think Tyrande will be pleased either given what happened to Darnassus. I don't expect much protest from anyone in Ironforge. I thought you might be understanding."

"Dalaran is a sovereign nation," Varian agreed. "I know my intelligence and security people will be displeased, but this isn't my decision." He looked up at the mage. "Stormwind will acknowledge and support Dalaran's choices. The Council has made a decision in the best interest of their people and in the past Dalaran being a neutral city has had benefits. Even if my people aren't happy, I can't fault you for doing what is best for yours."

"I appreciate that," Jaina said. Varian's voice was steady but she saw the tightness in his eyes.

"I'll do what I can to rein Genn in. Setting all that aside for the moment and speaking unofficially, how are you feeling about this Jaina? I suppose I can understand the numbers but is that all? You've made some rather bold changes recently." He held up his hands to forestall the retort she was already forming. "I am not saying that is a bad thing. Light knows I have begun to change some of my own inflexible stances. I-" He scowled and looked to the side. Jaina let him collect his thoughts. It gave her a moment to order her own.

"I showed you some of the numbers, Varian." Jaina said. "Reintegration is the logical thing for us to do. Given all that has happened in the last ten years, Light above, even the last five years?" She shook her head, long white hair flowing around her shoulders. "Dalaran has grown and changed. We cannot survive going back to being an Alliance only city."

"The government of Dalaran has to keep the interests of its people first," Varian agreed. "I know how that works. I keep Stormwind in my mind and act for my people. I understand. But you still haven't answered my question."

Jaina winced. "I'm... Varian it's... I know it's right. In my heart I know it's right. And it scares me. Part of me honestly expects to be hurt again, for my people to be betrayed again." She bowed her head, feeling her heart still pounding in her chest. "But I also know this is what must be done for us to have any future at all." She looked back up at him.

"You'll forgive me if I point out this is going to come as a surprise to many. It is in keeping with your decision to declare Theramore a sanctuary area, but that was an abrupt reversal of your feelings over the last year. It isn't a criticism."

"I know," Jaina said, eyes dropping to her tea. "But the council agrees with me something must be done for Dalaran to survive." She looked up at him again and smiled a little. "I appreciate you understand the position we're in."

"Was it Anduin's idea to soften me up or did you ask him?" Varian asked. "I know he made a quick trip to Dalaran yesterday."

Jaina chuckled. "He offered."

"Light above, that boy," Varian rolled his eyes with a fond smile. "Suddenly some of this morning's breakfast conversation makes a lot more sense," Varian said.

"He's not so much of a boy anymore, Varian," Jaina reminded, gently. "And he asked me, very politely, to consider the question. So I did. The state of the city alone would make this move worth it."

"But."

"But," Jaina echoed. "It is the right thing to do. For Dalaran. For Azeroth-" she paused then added, more quietly, "-maybe even for me."

"He's up to something."

Jaina studied Varian's expression and decided this was not hers to tell. "You should ask him what he thinks about the present world situation."

Varian's eyes narrowed. "I see. I will. Was he part of your decision to allow Horde races access to the world tree now in Theramore or did he find you afterwards? You said something at Theramore. You said 'you could do this'. I didn't question it before, but what are you two up to?"

Jaina played with the hem of her sleeve. "He found me before, right after we sent the Garrison shipments off and we had a serious discussion. If you would like to know more I would speak with Anduin." Jaina looked back up at him. "Theramore is mine. I have always tried to do what was best for my people. That is what was best." She smiled, though she knew it was a bit watery. "And I knew if I let the Druids in there without saying something, I'd hardly ever be allowed back on my own island." She shook her head. "I couldn't bear losing it again, even to a more friendly invasion."

"They do get particular and protective," Varian agreed. "And especially about something as sacred as a world tree." He paused then shook his head, clearing away whatever thought he'd been about to say. "Alright I'll speak with Anduin later."

"When you do," Jaina said then stopped. Breathe in and out. "When you do, please listen. Don't react." Her smile was mostly grimace.

Varian's expression was grave, but he nodded. "I see. It's a conversation like that."

Jaina inclined her head. "Just listen to what he has to say."

"Well." Varian sipped his coffee. "Completely changing the topic, anything interesting going on with Theramore?"

"Oh besides the giant tree that's already taller than my tower was?" Jaina quipped. It was a thin joke but it was nice to joke once more.

Varian grinned wolfishly. "Besides that, yes."

Jaina gradually relaxed back into her chair as she spoke. "Ysera contacted me. She'd like to assign some guardians from her flight on a more permanent basis. I'm of a mind to allow it but I haven't replied to her yet. One of the women who ended up adopting some of the children we evacuated wants to move back. She kept the inn there before. Her husband died with the rest." Jaina tapped her fingers on the folio in her lap. "I'm giving her permission and some funds to re-establish a building there. The Cenarion Circle wants to be there of course."

"Of course."

"I've asked them to compromise with my people and everyone else." She drew in a breath and let it out. "I appreciate you haven't asked me to re-establish a garrison there. I- Varian I cannot allow that. I know there is one up the coast, they're welcome to visit as anyone else. I meant what I said."

Varian inclined his head. "I understood. Another item my intelligence people weren't pleased about. I will make it clear to them we are not to conduct operations through Theramore."

"If they wanted to use it as a neutral location to conduct clandestine negotiations to avoid conflict-," Jaina interrupted, "it wouldn't be the first time."

Varian quickly flashed his teeth at her in a feral smile. "No, I suppose it wouldn't be." His expression sobered. "That sword can cut both ways, Jaina."

Jaina leaned back, startled and stung. "Don't you think I know that?" she snarled back, wrath flooding in like a tidal wave. Jaina knew she was opening herself up to pain and betrayal again; she didn't need someone else to point it out to her. She was making this choice fully aware of the potential consequences. She was not the wide-eyed innocent child she'd been, the girl too stupid to understand there were people who would always choose to hurt others. Of all the people to have the audacity to remind her of her own failures and the danger she was intimately aware of, she'd expected it the most from Varian, but not now.

Lips pulled back in a sneer, Jaina awaited the scathing retort, the answering roar of anger. It never came. Varian stared at her, eyes wide. He'd leaned back in his seat, away from her. When had she leaned forward?. There was a patch of ice under the hand she'd placed on the desktop.

In a flash, Jaina understood he'd not meant the comment to be patronizing and she felt her cheeks heat and her stomach twist. She dismissed the ice with a curt word and gesture and sat back in her seat, hands clasped tightly together. Wincing slightly, she drew a deep breath in. It stuttered on the way out. "I'm sorry, Varian. I know it can," she said more calmly. This was the fear that woke her in the middle of the night and what she spoke of with healer Yu-len. She'd made her choices but that did not stop the small, dark voices pointing out how her life could fall apart again. "That's- it's not a truth I am comfortable with yet."

Varian sat forward again, resting both hands on his desk. "I chose poor words," he said, wary of another snapping reaction. "Allowing others opportunity to build trust when they could as easily betray me is a truth I also find hard to deal with. We aren't wrong for trying. And we're not wrong in being on guard."

Jaina nodded in mute agreement, unable to meet his eyes across the desk.

"You declared Theramore a sanctuary area," He continued in the same calm tone. "Do you have anyone yet to enforce that?" Varian asked.

This time she recognized the question as simply that, and not a hidden implication she was incompetent or naive. Jaina shook her head and scowled out the window. "No. I will figure something out." She realized she was clenching a hand in her dress and forced her fingers open, smoothing the fabric.

"Jaina?"

She looked over sharply. She expected perhaps pity from the King or possibly scorn. Varian was a hard man with little tolerance for emotional outburst. Instead she was surprised to see understanding written clearly in his expression. Jaina felt a little bit of guilt to go with the shame of verbally biting his head off and assuming the worse. Varian had been on his own journey as she had been.

"In Dalaran you had the Silver Covenant to balance the Sunreavers. If a contingent from Stormwind would be welcome, they are yours. You could invite some of Baine's braves as well. The Tauren live nearby and have acted in good faith most often among the Horde."

"I- Thank you. I will let you know. Honestly I'm hoping perhaps I can work something out with Ysera. An angry guard is one thing. When that angry guard is a dragon, well, I'm hoping that will be a strong deterrent. Theramore isn't as tempting a target as Dalaran is, either. Well, at least not from the same quarters, I suppose." She shook her head and smoothed her hands over her dress again. "If you would not mind, that isn't the matter I wished to discuss today."

Varian accepted that with a slight bow of his head. He sipped his coffee then set it down on the desk again, evidently mulling over his words. Jaina was grateful for a moment to compose herself.

"Getting back on topic to Dalaran," Varian said, "Genn will howl, literally, and Tyrande will grumble. I will admit I have some concern for a repeat of the Horde using our own portals but- but not as concerned as I might have been, Jaina." He gave her a small crooked smile. "It's been a hell of a year."

"It's been a hell of a decade. More."

"Yes," Varian agreed. He considered his coffee, thinking. About what Jaina was uncertain.

"Vol'jin seems disinclined to conquest," the mage prompted.

"He's got a lot to handle in Orgrimmar," Varian agreed, "but that does go into a point I wanted to raise."

"How the Horde will react to the council's decision."

He pointed a finger at her. "Precisely. You still probably know them better than I do. How do you think they'll react?"

"I'm not sure I do anymore, Varian. But I have someone on that," Jaina admitted. "Draenor is providing us with some opportunities."

"Khadgar."

Jaina gave him a very mild look. "I can neither confirm nor deny the details of what Archmage Khadgar might be doing, only that I have full faith whatever he does he feels it's in the best interest of Azeroth."

Varian's smile bared his teeth at her, wider and sharper than the grin before. "Again you're avoiding answering the question," he teased gently while he poured himself more coffee.

Jaina rolled her eyes. "Being serious, I don't want this getting out to anyone, least of all the Horde, before we have devised our own plans for how to handle things in Dalaran."

Varian lifted his coffee in surrender. "A fair point. I concede Lady."

"Speaking off the record, I think Vol'jin's got enough of a mess at home, he won't care. We have some indications that the Goblins will care more about a reopened market than what happened before. Sylvanas is a wild card, but she can usually be counted on to be pragmatic and I believe she'd see advantage in allowing her mages back into the city. The orcs? I don't know. They have fewer mages in their numbers and reaction to Garrosh was always mixed as I understand it. The elves are the big question." Jaina frowned as she finished her sentence.

Varian grimaced. "Lor'themar was... not happy with how that turned out."

"I don't imagine you were happy. I am sorry for thwarting your plans."

Varian conceded the point with a nod. He sat back in his seat and sighed. "I was pretty damn pissed," he admitted. "And then I realized that this was how you must have been feeling for years. So again, I'm sorry as well."

Jaina smiled a little. He had done much to undo her own more peaceful plans. She shoved the anger down. There was progress here and getting into a shouting match with an ally, a friend, wouldn't help her now. It was likely, she recognized, she was still reeling from her outburst moments before. Jaina forced her attention back to the immediate matters at hand. "I've recently been told all you can really do is recognize the problem, see it for what it is, and move on. It's a damn hard thing but that's what I've been trying to do." She shook her head to clear it then turned to the other thing she'd wanted to discuss.

"One of the items in our plans moving forward is to look for opportunities where the Kirin Tor can be useful as a neutral organization again. We supported the efforts in Icecrown. We'll be looking for ways to do that again." She met Varian's eyes. "That means supporting military operations against the Iron Horde in Draenor on both sides."

Varian returned her gaze. His jaw clenched, the muscle jumping, but he nodded. Jaina understood the reaction. He wanted to say no, but he was forcing that voice aside, forcing the instant rage away. She was intimately aware of that reaction now. She'd just had to set it aside a moment ago; a thought which gave her some amusement. The mage understood her friend much better than she had before. Varian's expression eased as he seemed to come to some conclusion; perhaps the same one she had.

Varian inclined his head. "Thank you for the forewarning. Stormwind understands the benefits of having Dalaran as an ally and we value you. I might not entirely agree, but then I didn't entirely agree at the outset of the campaign in Icecrown and that turned out well in the end. This is the unanimous choice of Dalaran's ruling council. We respect that. We'll continue to support you."

Jaina bowed her head more deeply to the king. "That is appreciated."

Varian blew out a breath. "Damn but we live in strange days." He slouched back in his seat.

Jaina chuckled. "I suppose we do, and likely with many more to come."

"Light above I pray it will be so," Varian agreed. "Fewer of my people are dying and I have a moment to attend to what my Kingdom needs. That has been a blessing." He looked up at her. "I hope you and your mages have the same opportunity, Jaina. And Theramore as well."

Jaina inclined her head, grateful for his support more than she could say. If the most obstinate hater of the Horde could be swayed to the side of non-aggression, if she could find a path back in that same direction, perhaps there was some hope after all. "I've taken a lot of your time and you likely have more to do. Thank you," Jaina said, voice cracking just a little with emotion.

Varian waved a hand, somewhat uncomfortable but his tone was warm. "Any time. You don't bring things up unless they're important, Jaina. I'm working on listening to that." He smirked. "And that's Anduin's doing too."

Jaina chuckled.

"Speaking of my son, as part of his sneaky campaign to soften me up before you arrived in my office with this little political bomb-" he paused as Jaina snickered, "- he reminded me that Winter Veil is coming up shortly and we wanted to invite you and Kalec to join us here if you don't have other plans."

Jaina smiled brightly, feeling warmth in her chest. The holiday always had meant time with family and friends. The year prior had been agony. This year would probably also be painful but the first reaction wasn't the ache of loss this time. "I know I would love that. Let me check in with Kalec, but I imagine we'll be free to join you for at least part of the time."

Varian grinned. "Excellent. Maybe we can get a little snow in the gardens again," he said with a wink. He looked up, expression becoming more formal as there was a polite knock on the door. "And that'd be my keeper with my next meeting," Varian said, rising.

Jaina rose as well, tucking the folio securely under an arm. They said their goodbyes and Jaina left, drawing Kalec's cloak about her shoulders.

"Three, two, one-"

"Auntie," Anduin said as he stepped up to her right.

Jaina grinned. "The meeting went well."

Anduin relaxed and murmured a soft prayer of thanks.

The mage smiled, "His assessment of who is going to be difficult matches mine. I'm going to remind you to keep things quiet."

"Of course," Anduin said, seriously. "So. How can I help?"

Jaina paused in the hall and studied the young man before her. He'd let his hair grow and while it was a bit shaggy now, it was clear he was intending on letting it grow long like his father wore. His expression was hopeful but he was approaching this seriously, his jaw set so much like his father's could be when he was being obstinate. Light above he had scruff on his chin. He'd be seventeen soon. All these changes. And she vowed she would miss no more.

Jaina motioned for him to follow her into the little garden off the throne room. She waved a hand and cast a privacy spell.

"I have given this a little thought. Eventually you were able to get through to me again. You managed to do the impossible and reach your father when I could not after years of trying."

Anduin shrugged, a blush on his cheeks. "Well, I think being his son helped."

"Yes," she agreed. "Genn Greymane is going to raise holy hell. I don't want to be the cause of a political rift in the Alliance." No more than she had been at least. No more than she might become when Dalaran made readmission public.

"Dalaran is a sovereign government-"

Jaina held up a hand, interrupting,"Yes, but Genn will be loud and angry. He's left to go do what he wanted before. He might look at this as Dalaran leaving again. Technically- Technically we would be."

"I don't think the Gilneans will be too happy about another wall."

"No, they won't," Jaina agreed, "And I don't think that's what Genn would want either. Too much has changed. He's changed."

"You think he'd go offensive."

Jaina nodded. "What I think would be most beneficial for me, and for our long term goals, is to work on Genn Greymane."

Anduin nodded, frowning thoughtfully in a way that made Jaina smile; he looked so much like Varian worrying over a problem. She hid her smile as Anduin looked back at her. He grinned slowly and that too was a bit of the wolf.

"I was able to get through to my father." His smile grew further. "Let me see where Tess sits."

Jaina smiled, pleased he'd picked up on the direction she'd headed towards. She banished the privacy shield and gave him a quick hug. "Hopefully this weekend I'll have your hearthstone recalibrated."

"Come for dinner. Bring Kalec."

"Or you and Varian could visit us." Her lips quirked. "We might have a dining room table by then."

Anduin laughed and waved as she created a portal and returned to Dalaran.