A/N: Chapter Nine. I actually don't like this chapter at all, but I found it to be necessary.
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CHAPTER NINE
DELIVERING THE MESSAGE
The Legerdemain Lounge, (or Ledgerdemain Lounge, depending on which floor you were on), was an inn located in the northern quarter of Runeweaver Square in Dalaran. The extravagant inn consisted of two floors, and a balcony overlooking the northern area of the city. The inn was a sanctuary of sorts for members of both the Alliance and Horde factions. Dalaran was a neutral zone, but the truce was precariously held.
King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind was one of the two patrons currently staying at the inn. He had heard mention of a tauren that was occupying one of the other rooms, but Wrynn had never caught sight nor sound of him, unless you counted the occasional creak of the bed frame.
Wrynn lounged in an overcushioned armchair in the accommodating and comfortable room that had become his home away from home over the past few weeks. Violet crystals adorned the exquisite chandelier that was suspended from the ceiling, as well as decorating each corner of the four-poster bed. The bed itself was draped with a silk curtain the colour of geraniums. A simple quilt cascaded across the bed to just below the pillows that had designs he had never seen before. Paintings of fruit and landscapes hung from opposite corners of the room. He was sitting next to a neatly organized and alphabetized bookcase in an oak frame. A burgundy chest of drawers sat across the bed from him.
King. He mused over the word, stroking the beginnings of a beard on a war weary face. He didn't know what he was king over anymore. His city was ravaged beyond hope for salvation. Mindless Scourge minions roamed the streets of Stormwind now, and the few people that remained were made to suffer. He dimly recalled his lieutenants saying something about a Horde encampment parked outside the city. But the Horde had not done this. It was a masterstroke diversion by the Lich King. While the defenders of Stormwind had prepared themselves for what they had thought would be a simple Horde raid on their city, the essence of the Scourge had skulked through the foundations and created a foothold. The death knights and others that had attacked that day were not members of the opposing faction at all, merely ever faithful servants of Arthas.
By the time he had realized the treachery, it was already too late. Varian had stood tense in the audience chamber of Stormwind Keep, his flaming twin swords an understatement of the rage within him. The elegant throne of Stormwind stood in powerful defiance behind him, but he didn't think he could manage to sit down without twitching anxiously. He was ringed by a circle of Royal Guards that were charged to protect the bloodline at whatever cost. Stained glass windows encircled the vaulted ceiling, the last rays of sunlight drifting hazily in.
A messenger had come running up the entrance ramp, shoving hastily past the guards and falling to his knees before the mighty king. The young man was not very presentable; he was not even wearing a shirt. Wrynn managed to overlook his insolence, given the current state of things. "Lord Wrynn," the man huffed, "the bridge is taken. Jonathan and the others are falling back to the Keep."
Wrynn planted the tip of one of his blades in the stone floor before him, his face fuming. "Those bastards were quicker than I had anticipated. How long until the General arrives?"
The messenger cast his eyes about the floor hastily before responding. "Minutes, sir, minutes only. But sir, there is one more thing. The guards, they found a body amidst all the rubble. It was hacked beyond belief and barely recognizable, but they know a lich when they see one."
Varian's eyes widened in shock at the boy's revelation. Before he had time to respond, the air shimmered in front of him, coalescing into a solid form. Wrynn's head was still reeling with the news he had just learned, too disoriented to notice the dagger that arched towards his ribcage. A guard had called out a brief warning, and then it was all over. The next thing the king knew, he was a patron of the Legerdemain Lounge.
Now, back in the present, there was a hesitant knock on the door to his room. Varian swivelled his head in the direction of the noise, not registering what it was for a second. The knock was repeated a second time, and then a third, growing more insistent.
"Enter," the king said dryly.
A gangly man with eyes that would have been more appropriate on an insect and curly blond hair poked his head around the door frame. "Your pardon, sir, but there are some people here to see you. They're causing quite a ruckus with the innkeeper, sir. They say it's important, sir."
The youth never ceased with the formalities. As far as Wrynn could tell, he was the inn's only form of room service. "Thank you, Terrence," Wrynn replied, just as nonchalantly as before.
The boy bowed out of the room with a mumbled "Yes, sir." Wrynn stretched half-heartedly and sat back in the chair, thinking for a moment. It was about time they showed up. He had spent many sleepless nights, being plagued by nothing but dreams about that wretched night elf and his bloody letter. Shaking his head with a slight smile on his face, he planted his hands on his knees and rose from the chair, departing silently from the room.
The common room of the inn was capacious. It was the size of a small cantina. Half a dozen tables surrounded by chairs were scattered across the expanse of tile. Candelabras sat on each of the table tops, along with an assortment of meat, fruits, and drink from every corner of Azeroth. There were exotic plants on display in every nook of the room. Several bookcases lined one length of wall, separated by oil paintings and lanterns cast in brackets. The wall across the room was reserved for the bar and fireplace, which was crackling merrily to greet the coming day.
Amisi Azuregaze, proprietor of the Legerdemain Lounge, was being hassled by four people that had just entered the inn. The night elf that stood in the foreground held up his hand to stop the innkeeper from what she had been going to say and turned his head in the direction of Wrynn as the king descended the stairs. The quadruplet pushed past the astonished innkeeper, making their way towards Varian.
The night elf that had disturbed his dreams so many times marched right up to his face and stared intently into his eyes before saying, "Varian Wrynn, I have something of yours." The elf reached a hand into his pocket and withdrew a small envelope. Wrynn took the proffered item without looking at it.
The elf stared at him. "Well? Aren't you going to open it?"
In answer, the king pushed his way past the four of them and strode across the room to the stone fireplace, tossing the envelope into the flames. The fire roared anew at the new fuel.
The night elf's eyes went wide. His face contorted in fury. "Why would you do that?" He demanded. The elf's companions had shown no emotion prior to this, but now the draenei female and two humans seemed to grow agitated. "Do you know how long it took us to get here?" The elf shouted at him.
The draenei placed a hand on the elf's shoulder, leaning her head towards his ear and whispering softly. He seemed to grow a bit calmer after that. Varian waited a moment before responding. "I already know what it said, Denmar," he replied simply.
Denmar was taken aback slightly. "How do you know me? And how could you possibly know what it said without opening it?"
Wrynn sighed. "I know you because you have been the spotlight of my dreams for the past few weeks, ever since I had arrived in Dalaran. I don't know why I'm having dreams about you, and quite frankly, it's a little unsettling. I know much more than the contents of that letter. I know what Reney plans to do. I know that he has to be stopped at any cost."
At this, one of the humans spoke up. He was balding and middle aged, with the holy aura of a paladin around him. "Plans to do?" The Paladin said. "He's going back to get our guild member. My wife," he said with a note of sadness.
Varian cocked his head at the paladin. "And in so doing, your friend may bring about the end of this world."
Denmar interrupted. "What are you talking about? You're not making any sense man."
"I will explain everything in good time," Wrynn said. "Now is neither the time nor place for this. We have bigger things to deal with this day. The Violet Hold is losing integrity. The seal on the prison is about to collapse."
The four of them just looked at him with blank faces. This was going to be harder than he had anticipated, Wrynn thought.
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A/N: Comments, questions, praise, critique?
