Sorry for the mix up with the last chapter, this is why you don't edit stories at 2:30am in the morning.
On a happier note, Happy Blizzcon everyone! If you think that I've watched the Legion cinematic about twenty times and I've already written a follow up scene… you'd be right.
Varian
When Varian awoke in the morning, Auriana was gone, though this time he had been expecting her absence. Given that Auriana was seeking SI:7's help for Lunarfall, they had agreed that she would leave early in the morning and return later to officially petition Varian for aid. While awaiting her arrival, Varian took the time to have breakfast and change into a set of comfortable court robes.
He had just finished his morning meal when one of his guards rapped on the door and announced Auriana's arrival. Varian immediately ordered the guard to enter, rising to his feet to greet her.
"Commander Fenwild is here to see you, Your Majesty," the guard said, ushering Auriana into the room.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," she said formally, obviously well aware of the guard at her back.
It was clear from her tone and posture that she was here in her capacity as garrison Commander. She wore a high necked, long sleeved leather tunic with tight black breeches and gleaming black boots, and her beautiful face was stern. She wore a well-wrought, ensorcelled dagger at her hip, and she practically radiated power and a warlike authority.
"Good morning, Commander," Varian replied in kind. "What can I do for you today?"
"I trust you received my request for SI:7 assistance yesterday," she said smoothly, as if she hadn't personally delivered her request by showing up in his quarters at midnight and spending the night in his bed.
"I did," he confirmed, trying not to smirk. "I'd be happy to escort you to Old Town myself, if you were amenable."
"I would be honoured," Auriana said blithely, though Varian could tell she too was trying not to smile.
Varian turned to the guard hovering awkwardly behind Auriana and beckoned.
"Summon my personal guard," he ordered. "The Commander and I are going for a walk."
Accompanied by a half dozen of his elite personal guard, Varian led Auriana down and out of the Keep and towards Old Town. Many of Stormwind's citizens stopped what they were doing to stare as the King passed, and a fair few of them waved or called out. Varian didn't often walk through the streets of Stormwind, but he always relished the opportunity to stand amongst his people. Auriana looked decidedly less comfortable with the curious glances and shouts being thrown their way, but Varian was proud to see that she was smiling tentatively at any Stormwind citizen that caught her eye.
"Where did you go this morning?" Varian asked quietly, so that only she could hear.
Auriana shot a quick look at their escort, but Varian ordered his guards to stand well back, and to keep their march at a respectful distance.
"Home," she said finally. "I needed a change of clothes."
"You went all the way back to Draenor?" Varian said, though he supposed that for her 'all the way' was merely the blink of an eye and a summoning of will.
"Ah, no. I returned my home in Stormwind, actually," she said. "I figured it was far easier journey to make."
"You have a house in Stormwind?" Varian said, genuinely surprised. "Where?"
"The Mage Quarter, of course," she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Though 'house' is probably too generous a term. I hardly ever use the place, but I needed somewhere to stay when I wasn't gallivanting all over Azeroth."
"When did you buy it?" Varian asked curiously.
"Er… six years ago?" she estimated. "I can't honestly remember."
"How did you afford the place? The Mage Quarter is rather expensive, as far as housing in Stormwind goes."
"My parents left me a reasonable sum of money," Auriana explained. "I'm not excessively wealthy by any means, but I'm well off. To be honest, I'm away fighting so much that I don't really have time to spend most of what I earn… not to mention that shopping opportunities in Draenor are rather hard to come by."
Varian chuckled.
"You don't exactly seem like the shopping type, in any case," he added.
"Yes, well. If I had my way I don't think I'd ever wear anything other than old breeches and comfortable shirts, though it was… pointed out to me... that as a commander I can't exactly dress like a drunken sailor," she said, smiling. "At least not all of the time."
"You do look particularly lovely today," he told her, allowing his eyes to sweep appreciatively over her form from head to toe. "The roguish look suits you."
Auriana smiled happily, and Varian was overwhelmed by the urge to take her hand in his own. Not for the first time, he bitterly regretted keeping their relationship secret. Varian understood Auriana's reasoning, and would support her choice, but a large part of him wanted to have her standing proudly by his side, not hiding in the shadows.
"Well, we are going to treat with spies," she said, shrugging lightly. "I figured that I should look the part."
She laughed suddenly to herself, looking downwards and shaking her head, and Varian stared at her curiously.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I was just thinking how terrible I would be as a rogue. Subtlety isn't exactly my strong suit."
"An excellent point," Varian agreed, well aware of the kind of chaos she could bring to bear. "I think you are well suited to your craft."
"Admittedly, I don't think I could actually do anything else," Auriana said ruefully. "I thank the Light every day that I'm a mage. Could you picture me as… I don't know... as a warrior like you... or a baker, or a noblewoman?"
"To be fair, you are a noblewoman," Varian countered. "If not by name."
"I suppose that's true," she conceded, frowning suddenly.
Varian looked at her curiously. It had been some time since he had spoken to Auriana of her family history, reluctant as she was to ever discuss the past.
"You've never really explained why you've made no claim to your title," he said. "I know you have something of an aversion to nobility, but surely we aren't all that bad?"
"I can think of one or two nobles that I'm fairly fond of," Auriana admitted, smiling slightly. "It's just… the demands of that life caused my mother so much grief, and she worked so hard to distance herself from her father's legacy. As I've told you before, I'm perfectly happy with my life… and I suppose I feel like I would be betraying my mother if I were to take up the title she so desperately eschewed."
"I suppose I can appreciate that," Varian said.
"Would you prefer me as a duchess?" Auriana asked, looking up at him thoughtfully.
"Of course not," Varian said firmly. "I was only curious."
Auriana fell silent for a moment, her pale face contemplative, but Varian was soon able to engage her in pleasant, idle conversation once more. It was a lovely, clear morning, and Varian could think of few places he'd rather be than strolling through the streets of his beloved city with Auriana at his side. Together, they walk in swift lockstep through Old Town, and soon arrived at the headquarters of Stormwind Intelligence.
Varian ushered Auriana into the inconspicuous building ahead of him, and ordered two of his personal guards to wait at the door. The other four followed Varian and Auriana inside, their watchful eyes carefully scanning the room for any threats. Varian's elite guard trusted no one, not even SI:7, and only permitted Varian to be lead up upstairs by an SI:7 rogue after a thorough inspection of the premises.
Varian and Auriana's rogue escort lead them silently to Mathias Shaw's office, her dark eyes watching Auriana suspiciously. Varian supposed suspicion was a required character trait for SI:7 operatives, but he didn't like the way the woman looked at Auriana as if she was a potential traitor. Fortunately, it appeared that Auriana either hadn't noticed or didn't care, even thanking the rogue as she delivered them to Shaw's office.
Upon entering the room, Varian and Auriana found Stormwind's spymaster seated amongst vast piles of intelligence reports. Shaw rose to his feet instantly as they approached, his clever eyes sweeping over each of them in turn. He was a small, refined man, with a thick mop of chestnut hair and a carefully cultivated moustache. He was also a very difficult person to read, as befitted a spymaster, though Varian knew Shaw's genteel and unassuming exterior belied a cunning and ruthless inner nature.
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing swiftly. "What brings you to SI:7? I was not expecting your presence today."
"I need your help, Shaw," Varian said. "Or rather, she needs your help. Auriana Fenwild, might I present the Stormwind spymaster, Mathias Shaw."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Shaw," Auriana said formally, nodding her greeting.
Shaw eyed her thoughtfully, tenting his fingers on his desk.
"Auriana Fenwild. Commander of Lunarfall Garrison and magus of the Kirin Tor," he said, as smoothly as if he were reading from a report. "Daughter of Benedict and Alliana Fenwild, formerly Benedict Whitecrest and Alliana Saevian. Heir to the Saevian title and estates, though you have never formally staked your claim."
Auriana shot Varian a sidelong glance, her delicate eyebrows raised. Varian shrugged. Shaw was very good at his job, though even Varian was impressed by how much Shaw already knew about Auriana.
"In service to the Alliance military for the last ten years," Shaw continued. "You fought in the campaigns in Northrend and Pandaria, as well as against Deathwing. In particular, your actions in the Siege of Orgrimmar were highly praised by Alliance High Command. You have an exemplary record, though you also have a reputation for both audacity and savagery in combat. You were an unusual choice for the command of Lunarfall, given your relative youth, but by all accounts you have risen to the challenge. You are shorter than described."
There was a long moment of uncomfortable silence as Auriana blinked rapidly and tried to process Shaw's speech. The spymaster himself remained inscrutable, waiting patiently for Auriana to speak.
"Well... that was unsettling," she said finally.
"We have complete dossiers on all of the high ranking officers in the Alliance military," Shaw explained, walking around from behind his desk. "Yourself included."
"Your memory is impressive," Auriana said. "I didn't think I warranted such… attention."
"You are the Commander of Lunarfall Garrison, and you are currently overseeing the largest active deployment of Alliance military troops," Shaw countered. "It's my business to know who you are."
"I see," Auriana said flatly, her tone clipped.
Varian knew that the young mage was extremely uncomfortable, being such a private person by nature, and he decided it was time that he directed Shaw's attention away from Auriana herself, and on to the task at hand.
"The Commander has something of an intelligence problem in Draenor," he said. "We were hoping you might be of assistance."
"How so?" Shaw asked interestedly.
"I was nearly assassinated last night," Auriana explained, "And I've had ongoing problems with our intelligence over the last few weeks. For example, in our most recent engagement the Iron Horde strength was far greater than we anticipated, and there were also botani and Vol'jin's Horde in the area. I can't keep acting on bad intelligence, nor having assassins show up in my very quarters. Varian here was kind enough to offer me your services."
"Someone managed to penetrate Lunarfall as far as your quarters?" Shaw said. "I can see why you are concerned."
"Two someones, actually," Auriana said grimly. "I'm fortunate to be alive."
As she spoke, her hand moved unwittingly to the wound on her arm, and she winced slightly.
"So what can I do for you?" Shaw asked.
"I have no experience in counterintelligence," Auriana said. "I need your help to find the weaknesses in my intelligence networks… and identify any traitors, if any such people exist."
Shaw nodded seriously and walked back behind his desk, and indicated that both Auriana and Varian should sit down. Varian gallantly pulled out a chair for Auriana, which she accepted gratefully, before taking a seat of his own.
"I have some questions for you, Commander, if you don't mind," Shaw said. "This will help me figure out how SI:7 might best be of assistance."
"Anything for Lunarfall," Auriana said emphatically, though Varian noted the way her jaw tightened as she prepared to be questioned.
"What makes you suspect that there might be traitors in Lunarfall?" Shaw asked pointedly.
"Nothing in particular," Auriana said, "But we have had problems with traitors in Draenor in the past. I'm sure you're aware of the incident last year in which His Majesty was nearly killed after visiting Stormshield."
She looked across at Varian, and he knew she was remembering their misadventures in Tanaan Jungle. Varian, too, was unpleasantly reminded of how he and Auriana had first met, though admittedly he was strangely grateful for the series of events that had brought them together.
"I am aware," Shaw confirmed. "The traitor was executed soon after, as I recall."
"I killed him myself," Varian said darkly, "With more than a little satisfaction."
Auriana looked away, her mouth drawn into a thin line.
"So, Commander, with whom do you regularly associate? Are there any friends or family with whom you are in regular contact?' Shaw continued, seemingly oblivious to Auriana's disquiet.
"How is that relevant?" she protested, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
"The unfortunate reality of counterintelligence is that everyone is a suspect. Those closest to you are in the best position to betray you," Shaw explained flatly.
"That's a rather grim view of the world," Auriana remarked.
"That's the reality of my line of work," Shaw countered.
Auriana looked over at Varian and sighed.
"I suppose I spend most of my time with members of my garrison," Auriana said slowly, as Shaw took careful notes. "There's Lieutenant Thorn, who oversees the day to day operation of Lunarfall, and Lieutenant Gale, my senior field officer. Delvar Ironfist, my bodyguard, of course… and Archmage Khadgar."
"I see," Shaw said. "What about here on Azeroth?"
"I occasionally return to Dalaran, so… Jaina Proudmoore. And… well, Varian, I suppose…" Auriana added.
"You are friends?" Shaw said, looking between them with great interest.
"After I saved His Majesty's life in Tanaan Jungle, we realised that we have a lot in common," Auriana said smoothly. "Whenever I'm in Stormwind, I usually make a point of visiting the Keep."
Varian was impressed with the utter lack of duplicity in Auriana's tone or face. Nothing she had said was technically a lie, though she had masterfully avoided to confessing to anything more than a platonic friendship. Shaw seemed to have bought her explanation, too, though he made a brief note in his file.
"I'm sure we can consider the King above reproach," the spymaster said, his clever gaze flicking briefly to Varian.
"I should hope so," Auriana said sharply. "Quite frankly, I don't believe any one of these people would betray me. Even if they had no loyalty to me personally, I am confident beyond a shadow of a doubt that they would only ever act in the best interests of the Alliance."
"While I appreciate your loyalty to your troops, Commander, I'm afraid they will still be targets of any investigation," Shaw said. "Your safety is of great importance, as I'm sure the King will agree."
Auriana looked as if she were about to argue, but she bit her lip and said nothing more on the topic. It was clear to Varian that she didn't particular like Shaw's apparent callousness, but she was smart enough to realise that the spymaster knew his business well.
"What else do you need to know?" she said, pointedly changing the topic.
Shaw took her lead, and began to ask a series of questions about Lunarfall's extensive intelligence networks. Auriana spoke for more than hour, until Shaw finally seemed satisfied with the information he had gleaned and placed his quill down upon the table.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Auriana," he said. "I will have two of my best counterintelligence experts sent to Draenor with all haste. With the information you have provided, I am certain we can get to the root of the problem very quickly."
"Two rogues?" Auriana said doubtfully. "That doesn't sound like enough. I have troops spread out over an entire continent and a dozen operations active at any one time."
"I assure you, my rogues are very good at what they do," Shaw said firmly. "This isn't my first mission, Commander. Trust me."
"A man who trusts no-one asks for trust," Auriana said skeptically. "How ironic."
"SI:7 has never let me down in the past, Commander," Varian interjected, reaching out to touch Auriana's shoulder reassuringly.
She looked across at him doubtfully, but conceded the point with a short nod nonetheless.
"Is there anything else you need from me, Master Shaw?" she asked.
"No. I will discreetly send my men to Draenor, and have them quietly begin their investigations," Shaw said. "I will have them contact you when they arrive. Light-willing, I should have answers for you within the month."
"I hope you live up to your reputation," Auriana said, rising gracefully to her feet. "And Varian's confidence. I will not continue to risk the lives of my men on poor intelligence."
"Nor should you have to, Commander," Shaw assured her, mirroring her movements. "SI:7 will make sure of that."
