Later, Vanessa came up to Ginny, who was leaning on the gunnels and staring off into the distance. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Sometimes you remind me I made you my first mate for more than just the fact that you're the most vicious little spitfire I've ever seen."
Ginny smiled, but then her face slipped back into a frown as she looked off into the distance. "How much time do you think we have?"
Vanessa sighed. "It's two weeks yet to Stormwind harbor with this wind. But not long I'd wager."
That was a bet Vanessa would have won. Ten days later, a frozen north wind blew, and off in the distance, lighting could be seen along an advancing squall line.
"That's not natural, captain," Ripsnarl said, gazing through a telescope at the storm. "And…" Ripsnarl lowered the scope, his fur standing on end. "Light save us all…"
"What?" Ginny demanded.
Ripsnarl raised the glass again, but his hands were shaking. "I've seen a storm like that before. When the Scourge hit us at Mount Hyjal. As it got closer, we saw what was making it. Frost Wyrms. A storm that big...there are dozens. Hundreds. I don't know. Too many."
"Glubthok, wind, now!" Ginny shouted, running up to the tiller. "Get every stitch of sail we have up, now!"
"But Red, we could lose the mast with a storm like that coming in," one of the sailors protested.
"That storm gets to us and it won't bloody matter because we'll all be dead!" Ginny said, pointing. "That's the Scourge in that! And we have to get to Stormwind before it."
Soon, the Defiant was flying across the waves and Glubthok chanted and the crew scrambled to eek every spare bit of speed out of the ship. They dumped what meager treasure they had acquired overboard in an attempt to lighten the ship and reduce it's draft so they could make more speed.
For four days, they raced the storm. It started off hundreds of miles off, but slowly, as the days dragged by, the distance closed. On the last day, they drew within sight of Stormwind, less than 50 miles ahead of the storm.
"We've no time to raise the alarm," Vanessa informed the crew. "Ready for action. We're going to attack Stormwind harbor."
"What?! But that's madness!" Helix protested. "They'll sink us for sure."
"No, they won't. But they will raise their defenses and get ready to fight," Vanessa said. "We won't actually attack them. But they know I'm the captain of this ship, and that it represents the Defias Brotherhood reborn. They'll expect a full scale invasion and get every man to their defenses. If they can hope to survive, they'll need that."
"Aye, aye, captain," Helix said reluctantly. "I hope you know what you're doing."
"Raise the banner of the Brotherhood!" Vanessa shouted. "These landlubbers will know who it is that comes to save them!"
The scarlet banner went up, and Ginny shook her head. "This is insane."
"I'm not the one who wanted to be a great bloody hero," Vanessa said. Then she winked at Ginny. "But if I have to go out, I'll die fighting under the banner of my father. The banner of freedom. I'll die a free woman."
"Well. At least we'll have that," Ginny agreed. "Though personally, if it's all the same to you, I'd like to live a free woman instead of dying as one."
As they drew closer to the harbor, Vanessa ordered the guns to fire on the forts at the edge of the harbor. At this distance, even if they struck home, the balls would bounce off the thick rocks and do no harm.
Sure enough, Helix's gunnery struck home, but the shots fell harmlessly into the sea.
"Again!" Vanessa ordered. "I don't think those idiots are awake yet!"
As it turned out, they hadn't quite caught the Stormwind guard napping. They had seen the Defiant coming, and her banner. The guns of the fort fired, and the ship zigzagged wildly to dodge the incoming fire. The Defiants second cannonade went wild, crashing into the surf, but it had the intended effect. Bells began to toll and shouts of alarm could be heard as tiny figures began to race to and fro. Several warships began to cast off, clearing for action.
"Make for the beach," Vanessa shouted over the roar of the guns. "We'll ground her!"
Rigging began to fall as cannon balls slashed through the sails and topmasts. One sailor was crushed by falling timbers, but the crew gritted their teeth and continued on. Ginny looked behind them, swearing. The storm was less than 20 miles away now, and closing fast. Overhead, she heard the roar of flying machines, and ducked as one straffed the deck. Two crew members cried out, falling dead from the shots.
The Defiant ground into the sand of the small beach, shuddering and moaning. Ginny and the rest of the crew were knocked off their feet, and slowly righted themselves. Looking over the side of the ship, Ginny saw a legion of troops racing forward, led by a cohort of mounted calvary.
"Surrender, in the name of the king!" a captain shouted, his drawn sword pointed at the Defiant.
"Fine!" Ginny snapped. "But if it's all the same to you, can that wait until after we've stopped the God damned Scourge?"
"What?" the captain asked, baffled.
Ginny pointed to the coming storm. "That's full of frost wyrms and worse! We've come to warn you you great bloody idiot!"
A lieutenant raised his visor wand frowned. "But sir, they attacked-"
The captain wasn't listening though, having turned in his saddle to watch the oncoming storm. Ginny saw all the blood drain from his face, and the man stood in his saddle. "Come about!" the captain roared. "We're under attack! Scourge! Scourge at the harbor gates! Get those forts to open fire! And get those flying machines after their necropoli!"
Ginny turned about as the soldiers raced back, helping Vanessa to her feet. "Looks like they believed us."
"Wonderful," Vannessa groaned, clutching one of her arms that was bent at an odd angle. "I think I broke something."
"Mrrgggllle," a familiar voice said. Cookie hurried forward, his hands glowing green. A second later, the arm straightened.
"Thanks." Vanessa stood, raising her daggers. "Defias Brotherhood! Defend Stormwind City!"
The crew roared with approval, grabbing weapons and jumping down to the sand below, helped by wild tilt of the ship. Some had even been thrown into the sand, but most stood and joined the rush. Ginny was at the front with Vanessa, and the pirates races forward just as the storm hit.
Biting icy wind struck them first, and then overhead they hurd unearthly roars. Flying machines zoomed about, dog fighting with gargoyles and frost wyrms. Black pyramid shapes appeared out of the gloom, and from them descended a rain of undeath. Ghouls and abominations dropped to the ground, ready to kill.
However, instead of a quiet harbor, the undead found a kicked ants nest. The first wave were slaughtered immediately, and the forts blew two necropoli out of the sky before they could even begin to disgorge their troops. The warships had all successfully launched, and set about firing their guns as well, bringing down the frost wyrms that attacked them, as they made low lazy passes having expected an unawares foe.
The pirates joined in, attacking a batch of ghouls and abominations that had landed in a clear area. Ginny fought desperately, leaping up onto a massive abomination and hacking at its various arms. It spun about, trying to dislodge her, but she managed to cling on, plunging her poisoned daggers in and out repeatedly. As the creature slowed, she climbed up further, then drove her dagger deep into the primary head. The abomination gurgled, then topped over, dead for the last time.
Ginny had no rest though, having to roll away and attack a pair of ghouls that were fighting with Ripsnarl. The worgan sailing master was hard pressed, but Ginny flanked his opponents, cutting at their rotting legs. When one ghoul turned to attack her, Ripsnarl grabbed its skull and crushed it when it's back was turned. The other ignored Ginny, and for that she stabbed it in the spin, twisting her blade and causing it to collapse. It did not die, so Ginny crushed its skull under her boot.
They fought for what felt like hours, but was really more like 15 minutes. Then, out of the fog and mist, a horn sounded.
"SOLDIERS OF THE ALLIANCE!" a deep voice boomed. "STAND FAST! YOUR KING FIGHTS WITH YOU!"
Out of the gloom raced a charger, bearing upon it a massive man in plate, his long hair streaming behind him in a warriors braide. The man bore two glowing longswords, and slashed at an abomination, felling it in one stroke. Then the man turned his horse toward a frost wyrm that was fighting the pirates on the ground, one of its wings torn away by a cannonball. Vanessa was going toe-to-toe with the horror, but she was bleeding from a dozen minor wounds, and was slowing down. Ginny was darting in to strike at the things flank, but she had to be careful of the lashing tale and wicked breath.
The beast reared up, ready to fire off an icy blast. Vanessa tried to dodge, but was too slowed by her wounds.
"No!" Ginny cried.
But Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind, joined his two blades together into one massive sword, and lept from the back of his galloping warhorse. With a mighty roar, he sailed through the air, bringing his sword down on the skull of the frost wyrm. The beast's skull cracked, and it fell over, the sheer force of the blow knocking it off of its feet. As the beast thrashed, Wynn walked over, splitting his sword into two pieces again. With a flurry of blows, he finished off the frost wrym, and the creature lay still, the blue glow leaving it as the bones returned to dust.
"I could have taken it," Vanessa growled, licking blood that had dripped from her nose away from her lips as she lay panting on the cobblestones.
The king turned, raising an eyebrow at Vanessa. "My apologies, then, fair maiden. Come. I am certain there are enough left that you can claim another kill."
"Oh you can fuck right off," Vanessa snarled, dragging herself to her feet.
Wynn laughed, then reached into his cloak. He withdrew a red vial, tossing it to Vanessa. "Come then! For the Stormwind, and the Alliance!" Then the king ran off, bellowing his defiance as he lept at another group of scourge fighting some of his soldiers.
Prying the cork out of the bottle with her teeth, Vanessa downed the vial then ran forward. "I am not letting some jumped up nancy boy of a king steal my kills!"
Ginny sat down, panting. She was hurt in a dozen places herself, but didn't feel such a drive to prove she was the equal of the King of Stormwind.
"Miss, are you injured? Come, I can take you away from the battle."
Ginny looked up to see a concerned looking boy with a blond head of hair dressed in some sort of squires uniform holding out a hand to her. She batted it away. "Piss off. I've already killed dozen Scourge today and I'll go and kill a dozen more. You get to safety, you snot nosed brat."
The boy's eyes widened in shock, and he stepped back as Ginny stood on shaky legs. "But you're injured!"
"It's only a flesh wound," Ginny said dismissively. "And my captain needs me."
The boy looked over to where Vanessa and the King were fighting off another frost wyrm. Wynn distracted it from the front, while Vanessa circled around, using her poisoned daggers to crumble its rear leg, then dive forward to strike at its frozen heart through its rib cage.
"I see. Well, allow me to see to your wounds then." The boys hands glowed, and Ginny felt a surge of strength as the Light healed her.
"Oh, I am keeping you," Ginny vowed, she grabbed the boys arm and dragged him off towards the fight. "I could use a bloody paladin, or priest, or whatever the hell you are. Just keep me healed up and I'll do the heavy lifting."
"But I'm-"
"Heal. Bot. That's all I need. Now shut up and don't die."
As it turned out the boy was good for more than just healing, smiting the scourge with various light spells as they fought. The battle swirled around them, and Vanessa and the king drew away, while Ginny found herself fighting alongside her crew along with the boy. The battle lasted for another hour, but the boy did a good job of keeping the pirates healed up. Finally, a voice echoed through the mists.
"Fools! You may have repealed this paltry attack, but we shall come again! My lord waits in Icecrown Citadel, and he can send forth endless legions of the undead to destroy you!"
"Tell Arthas that I shall climb Icecrown Citadel and tear it apart with my own two hands!" the defiant voice of Varian Wrynn called back. All eyes turned to the king as he stood at the edge of the wall overlooking the harbor, pointing his blade at the retreating necropoli. "The Alliance will end his miserable existence one and for all!"
"And tell that frozen fucker he not only owes me a new ship, but he can kiss my ass!" Vanessa screamed, jumping up on the wall beside the king and making a very rude gesture. "The Defias Brotherhood is coming for your so called king just so I can stick my boot up his icy behind!"
The pirate crew roared with laughter, and several made rude gestures of their own. Ginny went so far as to drop her pants and spank her rear in the direction of the retreating enemy, causing the crew to roar with laughter and more than a few wolf whistles, quite literally in the case of Ripsnarl.
Ginny grinned, pulling her trousers up and sheathing her daggers. She noticed the squire was staring at her, red faced and horror struck.
"Enjoy that look boy," Ginny teased. "It's the first and only look of my precious posterior you're ever likely to get."
The boy snapped his mouth shut. "Um, I should be going, thanks for helping, bye!"
The crew shouted insults and cat calls after the boy, a few of the female sailors offering to show him a lot more if he stuck around, but that only caused the boys ears to go so red Ginny thought they might burst into flames as he ran off.
"Alright, alright, settle down," Ginny ordered. "We'd best be going before these guards realize we're all wanted pirates, and if it's all the same to you lot, I'd rather not be measured for a necktie today."
The crew chuckled, but they agreed, heading back towards the harbor.
"But First Mate Red, the Defiant is beached. How are we supposed to get away?" someone asked.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "We're pirates you daft moron. We'll damn well steal something."
However, that proved to be impossible when two cadres of Stormwind Guards surrounded them.
"Crew members of the Defiant, you are hereby ordered to the keep at once," the captain growled. "Don't try disappearing on us. Drop your weapons, and do as your told."
"What do we do, Red?" Ripsnarl asked, looking around. "They outnumber us, and the boys and girls are all exhausted.
Ginny glanced up, seeing Vanessa standing with the King, his hand gripping her shoulder. Vanessa shook her head, making a face.
With a heavy sigh, Ginny dropped her weapons. "Games up lads. We had a good run of it. See you all in hell."
Despite being locked in a cell, Ginny passed out immediately after the guards let her go. She was completely exhausted by the days long flight ahead of the storm, and the grueling battle. When she awoke, it was to find that healer boy from earlier standing outside of the cell door.
"They put you in here?" he asked, clearly horrified.
"I am a pirate, love," Ginny said, groaning and stretching on the straw pallet. "Wanted for hanging and all that."
"But, you're a hero!" the boy protested.
Yawning, Ginny rolled over to face the wall. "No, I'm Ginny the Red, First Mate of the Defiant and terror of the high seas. I'm no hero."
The boy was silent, and after a few moments, Ginny heard his footsteps echoing away down the corridor. She closed her eyes, and went back to sleep. If she was going to hang, she was going to do so well rested.
After what felt like five minutes, Ginny felt something soft hit her back. She rolled over to see the boy again. "Don't worry, I'll get you out. Here, I brought you a dress. Sorry I don't know if it fits, but its all the maid had that might be your size.
Ginny held up the dress, making a disgusted face. She stood, and threw the dress back in the boys face. "I don't wear dresses! Sweet rum lad do you really think a pirate is going to be hanged in a nice fancy dress?"
"You... don't wear dresses?" the boy asked incredulous. "What sort of lady doesn't wear dresses?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm not a lady. Obviously. They don't hang ladies."
"Oh." The boy turned red and fled, leaving Ginny to slump back down, bored. Now she was too well rested to fall back asleep. The guards soon brought breakfast, which was actually nice warm bread and some hot sausages.
"Not bad for a last meal. My compliments to your chef," Ginny told the guard. "Got anything to drink?"
He tossed her a bottle, which turned out to be filled only with water to Ginny's disappointment. "They're still deciding what to do with you lot."
"What, I don't even get to be present at my own trial?" Ginny demanded.
The guard snorted. "You're a bloody pirate. You don't need a trial."
"Fair enough. Cheers."
Not long after the guard departed, the boy returned with another bundle.
"Wow. You must really have the hots for me. Never seen a girls bum before?" Ginny demanded.
"I...I….I...brought you some trousers. And a shirt. They're mine but I hope they fit, your old clothes are practically ruined."
Ginny dubiously took the clothes, finding them to be of fine mageweave and silk. "Wow. Almost a shame for me to wear these, seeing as I'll be dead soon."
"I won't let that happen," the boy vowed. "They can't kill you, you're all heroes."
"Bit of a big head you've got there eh?" Ginny asked. She shook her head. "Well run along now. I'm not changing with you standing there waiting for another look. Get me out of the hanging and we'll talk."
"That's not why...I didn't…" the boy fled, and Ginny stuck her arm through the bars, waving merrily.
"Goodbye, HealBot. I'll be sure to think of you right before my neck snaps."
Once the boy was definitely gone, Ginny sat down, cradling the clothes and began to sob helplessly. This was it. She was really going to die. Far away from home, never to see her family again. Her parents would never even know what had happened to their daughter. Which, come to think of it, was probably a good thing.
"I'm so sorry," Ginny sobbed, holding her head in her hands. "I just wish I could have told you how much I loved you all. Mum, I was wrong, I should have listened more, tried harder to be a good daughter. Dad, I miss you so, so much. I wish you could be proud of me instead of having become a murderous thief."
After having a good cry, Ginny changed into the new clothes, which were a bit small for her. The boy had looked about 12 or so, the same as her, but she'd had quite the growth spurt and he seemed not to have hit his yet. Drying her face and wiping away the snot with her old clothes, Ginny tossed them in the corner, determined to face death with a brave face. She wasn't Ginevra Weasley anymore. She was Ginny the Red, Terror of the High Seas.
About midday, a man in dark leather with a hooded cloak came for her. "Well, we've decided what to do with you lot. Come- what are you wearing?"
Ginny looked down at her clothes, which had a blue and gold Lion embroidered on it, along with three silver trumpets. "What? The boy gave them to me, the one who was my healer for the battle. Think they're too nice to be hanged in, do you?"
The man leaned forward, revealing bright green eyes, a bristling red moustache and a neatly trimmed goatee. "Do you know who that boy was?" He demanded.
Ginny shrugged. "Some priestly acolyte or paladin's squire judging by the holy magic he was throwing around. I showed him something he liked and he seems to have taken a fancy to me. Hopefully he won't mourn me for too long, he was sort of cute in an awkward sort of way."
"Light have mercy on us all," the man groaned, resting his head on one hand as he heaved a heavy sigh. "I'll never hear the end of this. Too late to have you change now. Come. You're all being called to the courtyard."
Ginny followed the man out, surprised he didn't bind her wrists, though she was flanked by two very large guards. Soon she was with the rest of the crew, shifting restlessly behind a row of armed guards. Most of them looked as though they'd not suffered any ill treatment, which was odd. Normally the guards wouldn't have thought twice about roughing up a few pirates for kicks.
"Where's the captain?" Ginny demanded, elbowing her way forward to Helix.
The goblin glanced at her, and shrugged. "Dunno. But I can see where we're going." He jerked his head towards a gallows that had been erected in the courtyard.
Ginny made a face. "Lovely. We'll even have to wait turns. Thought they normally left us to dangle a bit as a warning."
"Search me. This is my first time getting hanged. Might even survive this," Helix said.
"How?"
"You can't hang a goblin. Our bodies don't weigh enough for our neck to snap. So normally they find another way to dispose of us, and I don't see a headsman or nothin'. Bunch of morons."
"Well bully for you," Ginny muttered.
Just then, the sound of trumpets blared, and the king appeared on a raised dais at the rear of the courtyard. Everyone turned to face him, along with the young blonde boy at his side, and the dark haired lady in a flowing scarlet dress.
"Is that the queen?" Ginny asked, standing on tiptoes to see.
"Nah, queens dead. Maybe she's the kings squeeze," Helix guessed.
"Oh my God. is that... that's the boy who was fighting with us yesterday!" Ginny said. She poked at one of the guards standing in front of her. "Who's the lad with the king and his squeeze?"
The guard half turned, frowning. "Be silent. That's Prince Anduin Wrynn. The king is going to make a speech, so shut it, pirate."
Ginny looked down at her clothes, flushing red. "Oh hell, I'm wearing the prince's clothes?"
"Duh," Helix said, glancing at her tabard. "That's his personal insignia along with the Lion of House Wrynn. Those three trumpets there, that's his personal seal."
"Oh bloody buggering hell," Ginny moaned. "I did not want to die like this today."
"Personally I didn't want to die like anything at anytime," Helix observed.
"Shut up," the guard growled again.
"-and so we condemn these traitors to death, as befits those who would sell out their own kin for wealth and power," the king was saying.
"Not like it's really a surprise," Ginny observed. "Though I don't recall selling out my family."
"Eh, I sold my aunt out for a bounty once," Helix said. "Give it time."
The king finished his speech, and Ginny braced herself to be led to the gallows. Instead, however, a gate opened, and chained and bound men and women were led forward, with hoods on their heads. The hoods were removed on the platform, and their names and crimes were all read aloud.
"The Cult of the Damned?" Ginny said in surprise. "Why the bloody hell do they have us watching them get offed? Just want to build suspense, the sick bastards?"
"-and may the Light have Mercy on your souls!" the priest on the platform proclaimed. "Do any of you wish to repent?"
"I shall rise again, reborn as something greater!" one of the men screamed.
"I'll take that as a no, then," the executioner growled. He yanked the lever, and the trap doors all opened at once. The cultists fell, and Ginny winced as she heard the audible snap of their necks. A few of them did seem to dance on air for a moment, but not for long. Mages hurried forward, and the bodies were set alight as priests and paladins performed exorcisms.
"So much for coming back from that," Ginny said wryly. "Wonder if we'll get the same treatment."
Helix, who had gone purple, shook his head. "Mother of explosions. I sure hope not."
"Now, to other matters," the king shouted, and GInny closed her eyes.
"We of Stormwind owe a great debt to all who would defend us from our foes, even at the risk of their own life. Though they were once lost to us as brothers, we must acknowledge those who returned, on pain of their own death, to aid us in our hour of need. Vanessa Vancleef! Come forth!"
The pirates looked around, then gasped when the lady in the fancy dress stepped forward.
"Sweet Neptulon, I think that's the captain!" someone cried.
Vanessa turned, glaring at her crew, and in that moment Ginny recognized her. It was no surprise none of them had realized who the lady was: her hair was done up in some fancy style, and she wore makeup and fine clothes and jewelry.
"Shut it you sea dogs, and play along if you know what's good for you!" she roared over the crowd.
The pirates as one, raised knuckles to their brows, and kept their traps shut for a wonder.
Vanessa stood before King Varian, glariing defiantly up at him. He drew his great sword, holding it over her head.
"Vanessa Vancleef. You and your crew stand accused of the most heinous crimes. Piracy. Murder. Theft. Rape."
"I object to that last one," Vanessa declared loudly. "Any rapers among us had a long walk off a short plank. After we removed the offending organ."
There were murmurs of agreement from the crew. "Just because we're murderous scallywags doesn't mean we don't have morals," someone called.
"I said stuff it!" Vanessa roared, turning and glaring at them.
The pirates meekly shut their mouths, save for the ones around the offender who mercilessly pummeled the poor man until he was knocked unconscious.
"Very well, the charge of rape shall be dropped," King Wrynn said seriously. "How do you plead to the other charges?"
"We did what we did in our fight against the corrupt nobles and bureaucracy of Stormwind!" Vanessa shouted back, glaring her defiance at the king. Her fists were clenched, and for a moment, she looked as though she were standing at the wheel of her ship in the midst of a storm. "I fought for the people of Stormwind! For my crew! For those that were betrayed by you and your petty nobles and left to die in the wilderness. We fight for the weak and oppressed! And we saved your sorry ungrateful asses, against my better judgement, simply because we couldn't stand by and see the people slaughtered by the Scourge. But as for you, O great king, you can go hang on your own gallows! If you and I fought, I'd come out the victor and we all know it."
Despite the orders to the contrary, the crew cheered and hooted, clapping for their brave leader.
"For the Brotherhood!"
"Defias to the end!"
"Captain Vancleef!"
"You think you could beat me in a fair fight?" Varian asked, raising an incredulous eyebrow once the pirates had quieted down.
"Who said anything about fair?" Vanessa asked, rolling her eyes dramatically. "What kind of a pirate would I be if I fought like that?"
Wrynn threw back his head and roared with laughter, to the shock of the assembled crowd. His son, Anduin, smiled shyly and waved at Ginny, who flushed and turned away.
"Oh gods I'm going to bloody die," she groaned.
"Hey, ain't that the kid you showed your arse too, Red?" one of the sailors asked.
"The next person to mention that is going to have an extra breathing hole in their belly," Ginny snarled, looking up and glaring around. No one said anything else, though Helix was giggling. Ginny let that slide. She felt like laughing like a loon as well.
At last, Wrynn wiped away the tears in his eyes with a gauntleted hand. "I like you, girl. You have spirit." Then he frowned, growing serious. "Your father and his men were wronged. The vile beast responsible for that, the dread wyrm Onyxia, has been slain. On behalf of Stormwind and her people, I apologize for the mistreatment you suffered."
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Wrynn raised the sword again. "Kneel, Vanessa Vancleef, Captain of the Defiant and Leader of the Defias Brotherhood."
Ginny gasped, unable to close her eyes or look away as Vanessa slowly got to her knees, awkward in her long skirts.
But, instead of cleaving her head from her body the king gently laid the flat of his blade upon each of the captain's shoulders. "I name thee Lady Vanessa Vancleef, Countess of Westfall, and Captain of the Stormwind Navy. May you serve Stormwind and her people with the same honor and devotion you have shown thus far."
Ginny jaw dropped open as murmurs of astonishment swept through the crowd. Vanessa staggered to her feet, utterly flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry but… what? Are you mad? Did you just...make me a noble?"
"No one, not even a king, can make someone something they are not," Varian proclaimed, silencing the crowd with his booming voice. "I am merely acknowledging the virtues that are already present." He paused, bending slightly as Aundine whispered. He grinned, clapping the prince on the back and nodding. "I am also reminded that one other showed great valor and virtue upon the battlefield, even convincing Lady Vancleef to come to our aide. "Ginny the Red, come forth!"
Ginny stared in astonishment as the pirates all moved away from her, gaping in shock themselves.
"You mean me?" Ginny said, pointing to herself looking around as if the king could have been talking talking of anyone else.
"Indeed. Come forth!" Varian said, nodding and resting his blade upon his shoulder.
Slowly, Ginny made her way through the crowd and up the stairs.
"Don't screw this up, girl," the hooded man from earlier growled as she neared the top of the platform.
"I don't see how I could do any worse than this," Ginny said faintly. She blinked, taking a few more steps and standing before the king.
"Kneel, Ginny the Red," Varian ordered.
"Um, actually, that's not my real name. Um, sir. Your kingship," Ginny stammered. "I'm actually Ginevra Weasley. They just call me Ginny the Red because Ginevra Weasley is a dreadful name for a pirate."
"Well, then be a pirate no more, Ginerva Weasley. I name you a Knight of Stormwind, and ward of the realm, until such a time as you come of age."
"Oh that's hardly fair! I'm only a few years younger than she is," Ginny protested, pointing to Vanessa.
"Shut up and take it," Vanessa growled, kicking Ginny's feet out from under her. "It's better than being measured for a rope necklace."
Ginny winced as she landed awkwardly, but managed to right herself on her knees.
"Um, thank you, your majesty," Ginny stammered. "I'll um, be sure to help save the kingdom again if it ever needs it."
Then the king issued pardons for the entire crew, with a reminder that any future crimes they commited would result in them having to pay the full price for their past misdeeds. Ginny, however, found herself in a daze as she stood alongside Vanessa, wondering what in the hells had just happened to her.
"Thanks again for helping to save us," the prince said, coming up to Ginny once the ceremony was over. "I told father he couldn't kill you, and he agreed. Stormwind needs heroes like you."
"Er, thanks," Ginny said, blushing furiously. "I, um, I should give you the clothes back. And I guess give you what I promised. I'm not normally a loose woman but right now I'm so relieved I'm not going to die it actually sounds like a good idea."
Now it was the princes turn to blush furiously. "What?! No! I mean, thank you, my lady, but no such payment is necessary. What I did, I did for honor, not lust."
"Just as well for you boyo," Vanessa growled. "My little sister is far too young to be trading her favors for freedom."
"And my son to young to be receiving them," Varian said, coming forward and setting a hand affectionately on Anduin's shoulder.
"If you think I'm going into your bedchamber tonight you overgrown lummox, you have another thing comin," Vanessa snapped.
Varian chuckled, shaking his head. "And I suppose I'm much to old be be receiving such favors from someone as young as you, Lady Vancleef."
Vanessa went beet red. "Now you see here your kinglyness! I'm a full grown woman! I've captained a blood thirsty crew and seen and done things that would make your blood boil and your balls burst!"
"I think you underestimate me somewhat," Varian chuckled. "But come. We have much to discuss. That attack was the final nail in Arthas' coffin. I will no longer suffer the continued existence of the Scourge. And as a captain in my fleet, you will join us in the war room."
Anduin left as well, leaving Ginny to stand about awkwardly as the crew were led away. Apparently, they'd just been pressed into the Stormwind Navy. Which, considering the alternative, wasn't too bad of a deal.
"Well, you're certainly an interesting one," the hooded man said, coming to stand beside Ginny. "Got a lit of fire in your spirit."
Ginny glared up at the man. "I've got a lot more than that if you think you're going to try anything."
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Not at all. My name is Mathias Shaw. And I'd like you to come work for me."
"And if I'm not interested?" Ginny asked. "I'd like to stay with the captain."
Shaw shook his head. "You're too young to head to Northrend, and I have other plans that don't involve wasting you on the scourge. No, you either come with me, or I ship you off to Darkshore to train with my agents there."
"Fine," Ginny said with a sigh. "I suppose you think you're going to make a proper lady out of me or some such nonsense."
Shaw snorted. "That would be a waste of talent. No, girl. I'm going to teach you how to kill a man a hundred different ways, and never be seen while doing it. How to make someone fall in love with you then forget you the next day. How to pick a man's pocket and have him thank you for it. In short, you're going to be spy, and knife in the hand of the king."
"Oh. Well, that doesn't so bad I suppose," Ginny admitted. "I'm already pretty good at the whole killing people thing and I can skulk with the best of them."
"Vancleef is good, especially with poisons. But we're about to take you to the next level, girl. Come along. It's time to introduce you to the cheesemakers."
Authors Note:
Blessed are the cheesemakers, for they shall be quest givers.
