Chapter 8
The short answer is, It's MINE, and I want it BACK!
The little office room was crowded. Shaw stood with Sheylann and Goya just behind him. Mr. and Mrs. Fulbright sat on a cushioned bench. Khadgar was removed from the rest. His back to the room, arms folded tight around him.
Varian was silent in his chair. Everyone had been summoned. The moment Khadgar had said the name Lothar, Varian had turned off. There was no way he was processing things correctly. But now it could all be explained. He looked around the room. Everyone here held a piece of of this puzzle. By the time Varian was done he would have the full picture. No one would leave until he knew exactly who Fox was from start to finish.
"So who cares to start?" Varian leaned forward. Prepared to hear it all.
Khadgar turned to face Myles Fulbright, "Before I say anything. I want to know just where in the nether Eloise is?"
Myles adverted his eyes, and Gracie lifted her hand to her mouth as tears formed.
Khadgar let his gaze move across the room. The somber expressions causing him to feel uneasy. "What is going on here? Someone please answer my question."
"Eloise is gone." Shaw heaved a deep sigh. "If I am to be more clear, she died three days ago in the Cathedral of Light after protecting his Majesty from an assassination attempt."
Khadgar stumbled forward. Reached out to grab hold of a table. "No." He looked up to Varian, "Do you know what that means?"
"I am hoping you could explain it to me." Varian's voice was impassive. Wondering just could cause Khadgar this sort of reaction.
"Eloise was Anduin Lothar's daughter! A child from an affair with one of his high ranking officers Ondrena." Khadgar turned in a circle before sliding down in the chair. He was almost stammering in horror. "The Arathi line." He whispered low, as if he was prophesying the apocalypse. "We have lost it."
Varian was seriously considering that Khadgar might have lost his mind. "Fox was Lothar's daughter? How is that possible?"
"Who is Fox?" Khadgar looked up at Varian.
"Eloise Fulbright was one of my top SI-7 Agents. She went by the name The Crimson Fox, while serving. That is why the King knows her as Fox." Shaw spoke up. Still reeling himself, at Khadgar's suggestion. "Can you prove this claim of paternity?"
"If my word isn't enough, then there are other ways of proving it. Lothar kept a chest for her. A time capsule of sorts that I have kept in my possession. Myles Fulbright was given a key to it. He was to pass it to Eloise when she was ready to claim her birthright." Khadgar cast accusing eyes at Myles, "An Si- Agent, man? Are you mad? She was to be protected from dangers of this world, not tossed to them."
Myles slipped to the floor. Great sobs wracking his body. "I had no idea! I failed her, as I have failed Lothar in my duty to watch over her. I just wanted her to have a quite life. A happy life."
"How could I not know that Lothar had a daughter?" Varian broke in. Horrified at the implications of this revelation. "He was like a father to me. I am sure he would have said something, or to my father at least."
Khadgard sighed deeply before looking to the King, "Ondrena had a hold on Lothar stronger then any other force. She is the one who refused to expose Eloise's existence."
"To what cause?" Varian asked, what everyone in the room wanted to know?
"Ondrena disapproved of," Khadgar struggled to put it to words with out offense. There was just no way of doing so. "you."
"Me?" Varian cried out. Everything being said becoming more and more complex. "Try to make sense Kahdgar, because I am losing my patience at a rather high rate of speed here."
"Ondrena was a noble daughter by birth. She had been matched with a marriage of position, not love. She not only refused it, she made a plead to your Grandfather. King Adamant granted her request to be come a soldier of Stormwind. After Eloise was born she greatly feared that Anduin and your father would dissolve your betrothal to Tiffin Ellerian in favor for Eloise. Anduin told me of this the night we handed her over to the Fulbrights. himself."
The room remained completely silent yet again. Every single person present knowing it was a plausible truth.
"But that does not explain why did Anduin not keep her with us when we fled Stormwind? He had no reason to hand her over once my father had been killed." Varian pointed out. Hating with every fiber of his being that the story was starting to make sense.
"My son had died from wounds he received while fleeing the city." Gracie sniffed sadly, "I was beside myself with grief. Myles feared it would kill me."
"I was sure she would die too. I could not live without both of them. When the crew was preparing to toss my son's body into the sea, I tried to follow him. It was Archbishop Alonsus that pulled me back. He brought me to Lothar, and they offered me Eloise to raise. She could fill the whole in our hearts, and give us purpose. He said that he could not devote the attention the girl needed. He had to form an army to get Stormwind back and would be consumed with raising our King." Myles explained.
Varian's brain felt like it was melting. "Are you saying that Anduin Lothar, Hero of the Alliance, threw his only child away so that he could devote himself to me?"
"She was not thrown away, your Majesty! He provided the golden belt you now wear. Did you not find it odd that you found it in Orgimmar?" Myles looked up with tear burned eyes, "I sold it in Booty Bay. We have lived off the money ever since. There is no way I could afford a house within the Stormwind walls as a dock worker. When I heard you returned in Lothar's belt I assumed that they Goblins of Booty Bay sold it in Ratchet and from there moved up the river to Orgimmar. Lothar made sure Eloise would want for nothing."
"King Wyrnn, do not go hard on the man for speaking the truth. I was there. I argued against High Lord Lothar at peril to my own life." Kahdgar admitted. "But it matters little now that Eloise is gone. She was literally a walking human treasure. The last Lothar, a true Arathi, the only bloodline that could claim leadership over all of the human race."
Goya started to move forward, but Sheylann grabbed her arm. The druid frantic shaking of her head.
The motion drawing Varian's attention. "Do you have anything to add to this Sheylann?"
"No, your Majesty." Sheylann caught herself to late. The respectful tone causing Varian to instantly suspect.
"Sheylann." The low growl emitted from Varian caused Shaw to step before her.
"I can't! I just can't do this!" Goya blurted out. She threw her hands up before her. "It was one thing when she was a meaningless rogue, but you heard them! She is Anduin Lothar's daughter for Light's sake!"
"Paladin, if you know something, you had better speak out now." Khadgar came to his feet. A seriousness encompassing his being.
"The Crimson Fox, Eloise, is still alive!" Goya confessed. If she had thought her confession was going to help her feel better, she was wrong. A look to the face of Khadgar, and Fulbrights was bad enough. Then she made the mistake of looking toward King Varian. That caused her to step back pressing into the wall.
"Where is she?" Varian's voice was full of royal command.
"I don't know." Goya squeaked.
"I hate you so much right now." Sheylann hissed. The glowing eyes locked on Goya.
Varian moved across the room, and grabbed Sheylann's arm in a crushing grip. "Druid, tell me what you know. Now!"
"Varian! Let her go. She did it to save Fox's life. The Noble's high counsel had put an execution order out on Fox. We did it to save her!" Mathias tried to intervene.
"That doesn't hold water with me, Shaw! I could have protected her from anything they tried. All you had to do was tell me." Varian stopped. Not letting go of Sheylann as Shaw's words came clear, "We? You had a hand in this as well?"
Shaw skirted the question."You would have tried to out maneuver them. Fox knew that as well, but they threatened her family. Look at her father's leg, my King! That is not an accident. It was a very real symbol of the danger she was in."
"Shut up!" Varian shouted as he shook Sheylann like a rag doll. "Where is my Rogue?!"
"I sent her to Kalimdor. She was aboard the Storm Seeker that sailed three days ago. It will dock in Ratchet. After that, good luck finding her." Sheylann wrenched her arms free.
Khadgar sighed with relief at the news. Then said with emphasis, "We have to go after her."
"And there is no doubt we will." Varian was seeing red. Fox had taken part in this duplicity as well. How could she do that to him knowing how he felt? By the Light, he had said he loved her. Sneaky little wretch! Varian moved to his desk. Opening a drawer he paused only a moment before pulling out a large parchment. Rolling it out over the desk. "The Storm Seeker is landing in Ratchet?"
Sheylann rubbed her arm and nodded begrudgingly.
"What do you think she will do after arriving, Shaw?" The look Varian shot the Master Rogue demanded action.
Mathias moved to look over the map. "I doubt she will waste any time in the town."
Varian nodded, "She hates Goblins, so I agree."
"You can rule out any area's with a strong Alliance presence." Shaw stared hard at the map. Clearly going to work in his mind on where Fox had missions before. Places she would know the lay of the land. "I think she will head north along the river."
"Orgrimmar?" Varian choked out. Not liking the idea of her so close to more danger.
"She can stealth. My guess is she will skirt around the city." Shaw nodded putting his finger to the map, "Chances of detection are most minimal so near the Horde. I trained her for the last eight years. Danger doesn't matter to her. Not getting caught is the priority here."
"Good. Now that this is settled." Varian rolled up the map and moved around his desk. He strode with determination to the door, "Guardsmen! Detain Mathias Shaw, and escort him to the Stockades. He is to be held for the crime of treason against his King."
The guards flooded the room and Shaw was seized.
Sheylann turned angry eyes on Varian, "How dare you! He isn't at fault for this, if anyone is in the wrong it would be me."
"Exactly which is why I am banning you from the city. I intend to send a message to the Alliance Leaders detailing your crime, and asking for their aid in expelling you from the Alliance." Varian glared at the Night Elf.
She growled low, then turned away, "Fine. I can accept that, but if anything happens to Shaw, you know I will not sit still." With that she stalked out of the room.
"Paladin!" Varian looked to Goya.
Swallowing hard she peeked up. "Yes ,your Majesty?"
"I leave you to return to the Order of Light and inform your command of your actions. They can met out your punishment as they see fit."
That was all Goya needed to hear before she scrambled to get out of Varian's presence. Worried that he might change his mind at any moment in his rage and kill them all for what they had done.
"How do you intend to go about locating her without Shaw's further aid?" Khadgar pondered. Thinking that the action taken against the Master Rogue was pure over kill. Not to mention poorly timed. "A lone rogue will be impossible to locate with a small detachment. You can't take a stronger presence into Horde Territory. It would be taken as a clear sign of aggression. We cannot afford to be fighting with them while engaging the Iron Horde."
Varian narrowed his eyes, "I wont need but the fastest ship in the fleet, and a small contingent of men. I am heading to the harbor. Tell Genn, I sail on the tide. He is in control until I return with the Lady Lothar."
"What do you think you are going to do?" Khadgar rushed to the door. His eyes following the High King of the Alliance.
"Isn't it obvious? I intend to call in a favor from a powerful Troll."
"You are going to Orgrimmar?"
Varian shouted back "Fox is in Horde lands. So only the Horde can capture her. Of course I'm going back to Orgrimmar. The third time is suppose to be a charm right?"
O0O0O0O0O0
Ratchet was Kalimdor's answer to Booty Bay. Although on a much smaller scale of the famed port city. This town was still as infested with Goblins.
"I got what you need!" The Goblin yelled at Fox.
"No. You don't." Fox glared over at the little green fellow. A hand went to her hip. The fingers drumming on the hilt of her dagger. There was no open justification for her aggressive stance. Simply made her look like a villain.
The goblin looked over and frowned, "You shouldn't be like that around here. Not many of your kind to back you up, if you catch my meaning girlie."
"That's why I am here." Fox narrowed her eyes, "My kind don't like me either."
Sufficiently cowed, the Goblin turned away. He would be much happier finding a different, less threatening mark to peddle his over priced wears too.
The Storm Seeker had stayed the night in port. The trip had been eventful. They had run against a storm that had tossed the ship on tremendous waves. Still they had been lucky in the end, the winds had blown them more quickly to Kalimdor's shores. There had also been a lack of Naga or other aggressive sea folk to tamper with their passage. All and all, things were going more smoothly for Fox.
Jacen had given her enough supplies when he had seen her off. The young sea Captain had even stuffed some gold in her packs with out her knowledge. Fox had to admit, her mother had picked a good one. If only she had fallen for him instead of King Varian.
Fox flinched visually at the thought of her King. She leaned a hip on the fence to look out to the ocean that separated them. Closing her eyes to hear his voice in her head, "The very hint of my name brings you back to this moment." A smile inched on her lips. Yes, Varian had spoken true. The moment she gave in to the tiniest thought her heart filled with a bitter aching.
But there would be more time for impassioned memories in her future. Right now she needed to head north out of Ratchet, and away from the irksome Goblins. The last thing she needed was to get caught in a moment of weakness and murder one of them. That would be no way to start her new life. She wanted to avoid the Barrens. Slipping past Orgrimmar was the most appealing. She had spent time in Ashenvale and knew how to survive there. So it would be her best bet until some time had passed and she was free to enter an Alliance held town again
"Do me eyes be deceiving me, mon?"
Fox turned toward the voice. She knew the timber if not the speak. "Zak'sora!"
The Troll Shamman slapped his knee and pointed at the little Alliance Rogue.
"Zak'sora!" Fox cried again and rushed to him. She stopped just short of a hug. Wanting so badly to ask how he was. The language barrier was painful at times.
"What you be doin in Ratchet, Rogue?" He muttered and looked for his wife. A Troll Mage by the name of Boani. She could translate the Rogue's speech with her arcane tongue.
It didn't take long to see Boani haggling with a Goblin. A second later the mage transforming the little fellow into a sheep, before stomping away angrily. She came up short, her bright orange hair commanding Fox's attention. "I donna be belivin my eyes! Fox?"
Fox waved over, "Yes, it's me! Who else would try to steal away your husband in broad day light?"
Boani rushed over to them. "If ya be wanting him, ya need to get to takin 'im."
The women laughed and seeing Zak'sora's confused expression Boani translated what Fox had said. The Shaman nodding and tossing a wink at the Human.
"What are you doing in Ratchet?" Boani asked. She was glad to see the human rogue doing so well. They had worked together to take out many targets that could have reinforced Garrosh's Horde. The missions had been perilous, and Boani knew that their little rag tag group would not have succeeded with out this Alliance Rogue's assistance. Over their time together they had all become friends. Well all but Cherbrane, the Orc Death Knight and Crimson Fox. Those two had squabbled to the last moments of their mission.
"Escaping the Alliance for now. It's a long story, Boani." Fox smiled
Boani reached out to take her hand, "Tell me, it ain't been dat bad for ya?'
"No, it's been worse."
Zak'sora looked at his wife expectantly, and once again the translations had been made. The Shaman shook his head and spoke quickly with his wife.
She laughed and looked at Fox. "He says that we be knowin the Allies be takin to many blow to da head to be angry with ya."
Zak' sora took his wife's arm and spoke again. Boani snapped something back about common. While Fox waited for the translations.
"Zak'sora wants me to be tellin ya, dat he don't care how ugly a troll ya be. He ain't gonna abandon our troll baby." Boani shook her head and said, "But if ye be travelin wit us, one of ya gotta learn to speak somethin da other be knowin!"
"Oh no!" Fox put up her hands and waved them before her, "I can't impose on you like that."
"It be no imposition. Dis be Horde Lands. No Human is gonna be getting very far wit out us." Boani was quite firm in her decision.
"But you don't even know where I am going." Fox pointed out.
"Ya be headin to Ashenvale. Dat be what Zak'sora be sayin."
Fox shifted on her feet and nodded. "What gave me away?"
"HA!" Boani laughed loudly, "He be a Shaman, dear. It's not for just show."
Fox laughed along. Boani had an infectious laugh, and she had really missed it. "So tell me what happened with Rygen Stonehorn?"
"Da Paladin be meeting up wit us in Orgrimmar." Boani confided.
"Meeting us? Oh Boani, I don't think so. I might just be to ugly a Troll baby to be accepted there. No matter how much Zak'sora argues it." Fox shook her head.
"Ya be right on dat account, but we not be goin dare until we has too. He still be just as stubborn." Boani agreed. "I can port Zak'sora over to da city. You can meet us on the Barren side on Seb?"
Fox drew her breath in quickly.
"Oh don't be tellin me ya lost da Gryphon, gal? Dat be such a shame." Seeing the look on Fox's face the Troll shook her head. "Please be tellin us dat he be killed in combat, and ya no lost him in no game o cards?"
"Actually, Seb belonged to someone important. I was merely borrowing him"
"Who be dat one?" Boani wanted an answer, and Fox knew it had to be supplied or they were going no where.
"King Varian Wyrnn."
Zak'sora's eyes flared wide at the name and he pointed at Fox. Clearly demanding to be told what was up. The Trolls bickered for a moment.
"He wanna be knowin if he had ta get his friends to be takin out da High King for ya. I told him it no be da King dat be de crazy one. Of all da people ta be stealin from, gal! Ya had to choose ya own King? Rogues be stupid at times, but dis be over da top even for ya."
Fox shrugged, and was fully comfortable to allow Boani to believe this was why she was in exile.
Author Note: It came to my attention today as I was musing that no one told Learen that Fox was not killed by the Forsaken. The mere thought made me think, "Poor Sylvanas!" She really was innocent this time. Hope you are enjoying the story. Review and let me know what you think! It really makes me happy to read what you have to say.