Ch 9 - The Journey's End

Varian, King of the Alliance, was up early. He had left the comfortable warmth of his bed and the curl of his wife's sleeping body to meet the sunrise. He stood at the eastern facing window of his rooms. As the dawn lightened he looked back at his beautiful wife who loved delicious resting in the coverlets of the bed. She was facing away from him, her long white hair around her head and shoulders like a living thing. Part of her back was bare and he saw a hint of her tattoos.

He had been quiet and moved so as not to wake her. She had come to bed late to find him already there. The King had felt as though he was fighting a cold or some such thing and had retired early. He felt better in the early morning and reached to gently sip his apple cider that he had brought a small pitcher up with him.

The sun felt warm on his back. He was starting to feel his age. He was rapidly approaching sixty and doubted he would have the stamina Highlord Fordring was showing as he approached eighty.

Sighing softly he returned to look back at the buildings of Old Town and the great wall of the fortified town. Deathwing had wrought havoc on the great city, but the new lake and new lands extended into the city had turned into an asset rather than a loss. The island in the middle of the lake had become a shrine to the natural elements in an effort to appease them. Naraat the Earthspeaker lived there and guarded the new portals that had been created to distant lands as well as the shrine itself to the elemental powers. With Deathwing dead much of the anger had left the land, but there still was strife in the elemental plane.

The sun warmed his scarred face. He sighed. It was an odd feeling knowing ones mortality was sneaking up on oneself. He knew it. He felt it in his bones that he was weakening and not as sharp. He wondered if it was from fighting the great leviathan that threatened his child and his kingdom. He really was getting on in years and trying to be heroic has he had been as a younger king was catching up to him. He had several new scars and tender places that were taking far longer than he would have ever guessed to heal.

He looked down at the gashes on his arm he had received from Deathwing. Though it had been several weeks ago when he had received them, they were still fiery red and not healing. His body felt weary, a kind of weary he had never known before.

He looked back at Rhenn, his beloved Queen. Her chest rose and fell as she breathed the soft gentle breathing of sleep. The thin sheet over her body did nothing to hide her form from his gaze. He leaned against the wall just watching the sun kiss her body as it warmed his back. Seconds, minutes, it could have been hours he just stayed there watching, unmoving.

As the sun touched her face she stirred. She turned in sleep revealing her back. She laid out her arm and gasped when she felt the empty cool bed. She sat up rubbing sleep from her eyes as she looked about. "Varian?" She called softly.

"I am here." He said softly. He unfolded his arms and walked to her. He sat down and sighed.

She reached out a hand. "What is the matter?"

He smiled. "Nothing, just tired." He patted her leg softly. "I could not sleep." He was not about to tell her he had vomited so hard two nights before that blood had come too. He felt fatigued. Perhaps it was time for him to go to his hunting lodge in the hills for a few days, get some clean air and some sleep.

"Perhaps you should rest." She offered.

He smiled at her as she sat up drawing the blankets about her. "I have a something I need to ask of you."

"Anything." She said as she combed her fingers through her ice-white hair.

"There is a meeting at high noon with the Earthen Ring. They are meeting in the Goldshire meadow for a neutral area."

"But the Earthen Ring are welcome within Stormwind."

"Aye, but some of the members that are to speak are Horde and though I have little love of the Horde, I do respect those who wish peace as Thrall did." He took a breath. "I have another meeting with the council. Would you be so kind as to go in my stead?"

She smiled. "Do you have to ask?"

He chuckled. "No, but it makes it less of an order and more a request." He kissed her softly.

ZzZ

Queen Rhenn was dressed in some of her most formal attire. She was going to meet with both Horde and Alliance emissaries of the Earthen Ring. She arrived at the meeting place, the meadow outside Goldshire, several minutes early. With her were her two body guards, Gerin of the Home Guard, and Mathias Shaw, master of SI:7. Gerin had been assigned by the King to shadow the queen and keep her safe as one of the elite guards of the royal household. She was a night elf and very adept at being staying close enough to keep the Queen safe, but far enough away to not bother her. Mathias Shaw had self appointed himself as of late to her side. He had heard rumors of a possible assassination attempt on her and he was not about to take any chances, especially with Horde nearby.

The Queen, however, did not fear from the Earthen Ring. Like the Druids of Cenarion Circle, they worked toward a mutual goal of peace and hope to heal the broken world. She looked about and noted that several members were already present.

Two Tauren rose to greet the Queen of the Alliance. Rhenn recognized one by his dark fur to be a Grimtotem, now sworn enemies of Blaine Bloodhoof for the death of his father. The other was lighter furred and smiled in greeting as the queen bowed formally to them in the way of the Tauren people. Such nuances were not lost on the two tauren as they returned the formal gesture.

"Queen Rhenn, this is an honored pleasure." The lighter furred one said. "I am Gotura Fourwinds." He spoke in slow unhurried Common, but his words were clear. "With me is Stormsong." He said.

Rhenn turned to the Grimtotem. "Jevan Grimtotem. Blaine speaks highly of you." She said in Taur-ahe. "It is an honor to meet you. Walk with the Earthmother."

The shaman was taken aback by her speech in his own tongue. He blinked. He was unaware that the Queen dealt with any of the Horde, but he cocked his head. She walked to the fire they had built and dropped onto a blanket. She seemed completely at ease. The tauren, however, noted her guards were less than at ease.

She followed their gaze. "Pay them no mind." She said in Common. "They are just here to make sure you do not slit my throat. How are the elements?" she asked.

The two joined her and sighed. "Restless, but things have much improved since the death of the Worldbreaker." Stormsong said. He looked up at Matthias Shaw who stood brooding behind her.

Rhenn nodded as a Draenei and a Broken approached. Rhenn knew them having met them before as Windspeaker Lorvarius and Seer Kormo. She smiled as they joined the group. "What news of Twilight's Hammer?"

"They continue to try to gain control of the Twilight Highlands where our Wildhammer brothers and sisters strive to fight them back." Lorvarius said. "As are the Druids in Mount Hyjal." He looked at the Queen. "They appear to have operatives all…" He froze as did the Tauren.

Stormsong leapt before the Queen and yelped as a small throwing dagger hit his shoulder. Shaw knelt as he nodded to Gerin to investigate with the others. Stormsong shifted looking down at the human woman beneath him. She looked startled as Matthias looked about. "Even here they found out." He muttered.

Stormsong winced as the queen sat up and reached to remove the blade as Shaw stayed beside her on one side and the tauren on the other.

Stormsong bodily moved the queen to her carriage. He and the master of SI:7 joined her as Gerin and the others secured the area. Shaw removed the blade which thankfully had not been poisoned, but left a deep cut. He pressed a cloth to the wound. The tauren chanted a spell and the wound began to knit closed.

The queen was white faced as they entered the Valley of Heroes an hour later.

Two Home Guard rode to the carriage. "Your Highness, you must come to the Keep."

"Why what has happened?" Rhenn asked. She was shaken at the attempted on her life. The master of the intelligence had been doing his best to calm her. Now she was alert.

"The King collapsed in his study." A third voice said.

Rhenn looked out. Major Samuelson. The others saluted him. He nodded to the carriage driver to stop. He opened the door. "It will be faster if you ride with me, highness. They can join you later."

Rhenn knew by the expression on the royal guard's face that this was all too serious. She moved and stepped out onto the step. He took her hand as he removed his foot from the stirrup so she could climb up before him.

She settled in the saddle before him, side saddle, resting on his thighs as he reached about her for the reins. Shaw looked ready to protest, but Stormsong nodded and watched the other guards ride off.

"She will be safe, friend." Stormsong said.

Shaw narrowed his eyes. He never trusted Samuelson much and though he was still compiling evidence, there was even more credence to him not being as loyal as the Stormwind Guard major had led them all to believe. He would not voice such things yet, but as he watched the major riding away with the queen he knew soon the man would make a mistake and Shaw would have him.

Samuelson held the queen close. Fleetingly he longed to have such a woman in his arms, but he had a greater purpose. They trotted into the outer keep wall and he brought the Queen to the steps. He vaulted down and reached up taking her about her waist and setting her down.

"Thank you." She said as she turned to go.

He stood with his mount watching her go. She could move quickly and was nearly running toward the private quarters of the family, skirts in hand so as not to trip on them. Helene and Anduin intercepted her as she approached the rooms.

"Mother!" Anduin said.

"What happened?" Rhenn asked out of breath.

"Father…collapsed. His court physician thinks it may be due to him overburdening himself."

"Stress? Your father was a gladiator." Rhenn said as they entered the room.

Varian looked at her as she walked in. From the door she could tell something was not right. His color was ashen and he looked pained. It was something she had never seen in him and it worried her. She went to his side and he reached for her hand.

The door opened and Major Samuelson and Archbishop Benedictus both appeared. They bowed and the archbishop moved to king's side.

"Rhenn." He said softly. She took his hand and kissed it lightly.

"What happened?" She asked. His fingers were cool and she rubbed his hand partly to comfort him and partly to comfort herself.

He blinked. "I am not sure. I was thinking about the next offensive that Highlord Fordring had sent me and then I found myself here." He seemed disoriented and confused. This worried the queen perhaps more than anything.

The King rested as the Queen sat beside the bed reading a book. Anduin was with her much of the time, but he also was seeing to the appointments his father was missing. The Crown Prince trusted that the Archbishop and the Queen would be able to get him to recover.

The evening meal was served and the archbishop himself blessed it and even sampled it before bringing it to the King. Rhenn was eating a meal of fish with a delicate sauce. Her husband was being fed broth with a few sparse vegetables and some yeasty bread.

zZz

By the morning the King was paler and the archbishop and the King's own physician, Lord Kymber, seemed to be baffled that the King was losing ground. No one was more confused by the turn of events than the King himself. All his food was being tasted by trusted members of the court, though he was not about to allow the Queen and Prince to touch the food for him.

Rhenn remained at his side, but Varian when Varian ordered the others away she tensed and watched him beckon her to him. She came. His breathing was shallow and his skin was dry and had a wavy feel to it.

"I do not think I am long for this world." He said.

"But why so suddenly?" She asked.

"Perhaps it is my time." He said.

"Don't you dare be so calm about this." She hissed.

He looked up at her. Her face was red with sudden anger, but he knew better than to know it was directed at him. He lifted a hand to her face. Just then the door opened to reveal Anduin. The prince's long blonde hair was tied back with a tong of leather. He approached as his step-mother lifted a hand. He took it and bowed to them both.

"Why…Why is this happening?" She asked. She turned away and walked toward the window.

She knew neither had an answer. A strong arm wrapped about her shoulders as she wept looking out over the great city. She knew her step son trying to comfort her. She leaned back against him a moment before she closed her eyes.

"Perhaps we should take him to the Mountain Spring." Rhenn said. "Do you think we can chance moving him?"

Anduin nodded.

ZzZ

The cloaked form moved through the sewers as if a shadow was given substance. The man with a bishop's miter and clothes of black velvet and silver stood waiting. He ideally kicked at a passing rat that crossed his path.

"Bishop. The plans are going forward." The cloaked form said.

"Indeed. And yet even now the Queen is moving the king to away." The bishop hissed.

"The King will soon no longer be a concern."

"The Queen will be. She has the support and love of the people."

"Are you suggesting we try to turn her?" The figure asked lifting his square human jaw so it caught the light of a torch on the wall behind the bishop. "I have been in her company long enough to know that such a thing would be damn near impossible."

"A charismatic dowager queen would be good for us if we ever could. Perhaps while she is grieving."

"No." The form shook his head.

"We may wish to try." The bishop smiled. "Perhaps she would even favor us with more than her smile."

The man's arm shot out pinning the bishop to the wall. "No, I said." He hissed. "She is too good. If you want a whore find Mia the Rose in the Highlands, though I warn you, she is as likely to stab you in the back as bed you. She is very loyal and I hear has given comfort to several men in the order, but Queen Rhenn will never serve us so. The Hammer feeds on the weak and powerless for members. She is to be held at bay and possible prisoner later, but not one of us."

"As you wish." The bishop said and the arm dropped.

"Good. Cho'gall knows her story and she may yet be of great use to us in other ways."

"What of Varian's lap dog, Master Shaw?"

"We will break him soon enough."

"The bomb is nearly set in the catacombs. I will need to assemble it after the king has the good sense to die."

The figure nodded. "Very well. I will see you soon."

"Yes, yes you will major."

The cloaked form retreated and the bishop watched him go and sighed.

zZz

For two days Rhenn did not move from her husband's side as they settled into the mountain retreat. Varian seemed to have renewed strength and had been able to walk around the room. Anduin was there as well. They had left Crown Princess Ellsa as regent for the few days. She had the leaders of the other races to call upon for help, should she have need of it, as well as the King's other advisors. With Varian rallying and reports of Twilight's Hammer gaining a foothold, Rhenn knew they would be returning soon.

She walked to the window to look out over the high valley. The air here was crisp and clean and she longed to stay here forever. That was impossible and she knew it, but she would always dream.

Once they arrived Rhenn went to the spring that flowed from the mountain. Helene herself blessed the water and Rhenn gave it to her husband to drink. The clean, cool life giving liquid made Varian smile. It was sweet here and he laid back, resting and letting the sun warm his face.

ZzZ

Varian had seemed to rally in the hills, but on their return after being summoned back by Archbishop Benedictus and Mathias Shaw, he did not seem to be himself. He did not wish to eat and seemed moodier than he had ever been since his return to Stormwind.

Rhenn was patiently at his side. Shaw also was a watchful guard. His eyes missed nothing. Though the Home Guard was charged with guarding the royal family and SI:7 were the King's eyes elsewhere, Shaw felt it was his duty to watch over what was happening now.

Varian had rallied in the mountains, but upon his return was ill once more. It puzzled Shaw. The family ate the same foods and none of them appeared ill. It was odd. He did not seem unnaturally unwell. He seemed to have aged. Perhaps his time as a gladiator was finally catching him.

Rhenn sighed and looked down at her embroidery as she watched Varian with his men. He coughed a little and Shaw was there with an arm for support, though he made it seem that he was there simply as a friend talking to Varian in confidence.

Varian came to bed and laid down. He was exhausted and looked about as Rhenn came and sat down at his side. For a long time he was silent and just holding her hand.

Varian looked out the archway that led to the balcony beyond. He looked then at his wife and back. "I hear them, Rhenny."

"Hear what?" She asked him taking his hand.

"The ships. You used to tell me that the Tuskarr believed that death called to them from the sea. The soft horns of ships."

Tears rose in Rhenn's eyes. "Don't go." She whispered.

He looked back at her. "My time has run." He looked at his son. "It is time for the young to take my place." He put his palm to Rhenn's face. "I love you. I always loved you, from the day I laid eyes on you. Rhenny. My Rhenny." He looked back at his son. "Rule well." He said.

"I will father." Anduin said, his voice tight with his own emotions.

"I wished for a merrier world. It is sad that peace has such a cost. But sad or merry, I must leave it now." Varian said softly. His last words were a whisper. Rhenn's face held horror and sadness as tears streamed down her fair cheeks.

Rhenn felt his last breath leave his body and he lie still. Rhenn began to sob as the chamberlain took the state ring from the King's finger and then went to Anduin. "The King is dead." He said shallowly. He then bowed and offered the ring to the Crown Prince. "Hail to the King."

"Hail to the King." The others in the room said and bowed to Anduin who took the ring with unsteady fingers.

He walked to his step mother's side and pulled her from his father's corpse. "Mother, come. This is no longer a place for you."

"But I can't leave him." She sobbed.

He pulled her into his arms and held her as she fought him and sobbed until he felt her knees start to give. He pulled her into his arms and held her close as he too wept into her hair looking back at his father, Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind, King of the Alliance, one time gladiator, and hand of justice.

ZzZ

Varian's body was washed and laid in state in the castle chapel waiting for burial. Rhenn stood nearby the flames dancing on her nearly alabaster skin under the thin black veil she wore. Her thick black clothing of morning was ornamented only by the thin red silk sash about her hips that she wore.

Stormsong walked to her. The candles' flames, four pillars standing at the four corners of the low platform that the king was laid on, dancing as currents of air guided them. Stormsong tall lumbering form came to a halt beside her. He bowed deeply and waited for her to acknowledge him.

She turned after a few moments. "Greetings honored elder of the Earthen Ring."

"Queen Rhenn."

"Are you well?" He said. "You look pale."

"A penance." She said.

"He was a good man and a strong warrior. Will you allow me to honor him as I would a chieftain?"

"Of course." She said slowly.

He nodded and walked Varian's side. The King looked almost like he was sleeping in his best clothing, but his skin was an unnatural pale color. His crown lay on his folded hands at his chest. The Tauren shaman drew a feather and claw. He gently laid them on Varian's chest. He then bent his head in prayer. Slowly be began to chant the prayer of strength to a fallen warrior.

Mathias Shaw stood nearby watching. He did not trust Horde, even Horde that were on side of peace and justice. Though he knew this tauren would not cause any injury to the queen, he had taken it upon himself to be her shadow and guard her.

Stormsong finished and opened his dark eyes before he turned to Rhenn who was standing silently. He knew well she knew the words and came to her. Rhenn was moved by the gesture and bowed to him. Though it was stiff it was heartfelt and he knew it was more from physical pain than from anything else. He doubted she had moved in hours, standing in her silent vigil.

"Walk with the Earthmother, Queen Rhenn." He said.

She straightened. "And you as well, noble shaman."

With that he left her.

The queen stood for two hours more and sighed. Shaw moved from where he had been watching and as he approached her saw her legs buckle. He caught her against him and held her gently, but firmly. "Come, highness, let me take you from this place for now. You will fill better with food in your belly and some sleep." He straightened her and held her upright against his side. He knew she would protest being carried.

She was too tired to protest his gentle urging and allowed him to gently walked with her.

zZz

The state funeral was like none other that had come before it. The entire nation of Stormwind and its allies were in mourning. Most of the great gold and blue banners had been shrouded, marking the mourning of the fallen king. In three days time the great ebony wooded carriage would be pulled through the great capital so that all the people could pay their respects.

Rhenn, the now Dowager Queen, stood on the battlements of the castle looking out over the lake that had been formed when Deathwing had wrought his terror on the capital gem of Azeroth. Tears ran down her cheeks as she stood dressed in black with a long black veil over her face and hair. Her crown rested on her brow. She seemed herself withered, but it was from grief not from any unnatural cause.

The wind rustled her skirts a little. She heard footfalls and ignored them, thinking them a passing guard or Master Shaw who never seemed to leave her side. The footfalls drew closer and she closed her eyes. The tears had made worn channels down her cheeks. The second husband she had outlived, the second. Much of her wished to join them, but she knew well from her upbringing that it was not yet her time. The ancestor spirits would call to her from the ships on the sea when her time had come.

"Ever beautiful as a rose in winter." Came a deep voice.

She turned and saw Highlord Tirion Fordring, the Ashbringer, wielder of the great blade of the same name. She attempted to smile at one of the few men she looked up to in her life. He stood proud in his tabard of the Argent Crusade and shining mail and plate armor. He then shifted and light swirled about his hand before it moved and enveloped her in its warmth and radiance. She felt more refreshed and gazed at him as the light faded.

A paladin was both a warrior and a healer and was adept at knowing which was called for. Sadly, not even the best paladin alive could mend her broken heart, but he could help her feel stronger for the days ahead. He opened his arms and she stepped into them and began to weep again. Tirion held her and felt his own heart breaking for this child whom he had become very fond of and thought of as an adopted daughter.

After a few moments he gently hushed her rubbing her back. "Come you must be strong, your highness, your people, our people need you."

"I am a orphan that somehow became queen."

"Aye. And the people love you. Remember that. You are the Alliance now. You are the Queen of Ages, whether you accept it or not. They will look to you for leadership."

"Anduin is now king."

"He is not Varian and well he knows it. He will need your help."

"He was a boy when I came into his life. A boy nearly a man because of circumstance."

"You were a girl thrown to the waters of the ocean and now you are a queen. Remember. We are not born to what we will become. It is earned and fate puts us there." Tirion said. He bent his head and kissed her brow.

"Come. Walk with me, child. We have much to speak of." He said offering his arm.

She took it gladly and sighed. Tirion was the one person who could likely do as he did and she would gladly walk with him and speak as he willed. Soon Varian would be buried and Anduin would be crowned. Where would that leave her? Tirion was right, however, and she knew it. Anduin would want her support. Even now he was planning what was to happen and planning his coronation as well as looking into his father's death. Though Shaw was complaining evidence, there would be more needed. Rhenn sighed as they walked from the battlements toward the lake. Betrayal was everywhere and she knew, felt in her heart, that this would reveal some of the worst betrayers in the land.

And she would face them all alone.