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Chapter 4: Curiosity

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Alleria couldn't remember a time when she had the chance to lay down on a soft silk bed, a warm drink in her hands and having the chance to tell stories to her two sisters - almost felt like they were just kids again.

Her two younger sisters sitting near the bedside, as Alleria explained their troubled years in this dead-world: constant struggle, the many worlds that exist beyond this plane, their captivity, their son Arathor, the demonic reinforcements, the draenei and much more.

In exchange, her own sisters started to tell their tales of what has happened: Vereesa' journey, corrupted dragonflights, ancient artifacts and orcs. The youngest hadn't escaped the trials of the Windrunners it seemed, yet her middle sister, the most competitive of them, had felt the full wrath of war.

Alleria felt more hurting, when Sylvanas relayed her story: undead hordes, plague, the near fall of Quel'Thalas, damage of the Sunwell and death of King Anasterian.

Alleria wished she could've been there, for both of them - but then stories turned brighter: Vereesa had already two young children, even Sylvanas had gotten a beautiful baby girl. She was an auntie to three kids now, but more suprising was the next fact that Sylvanas told her...

"Wait! Queen?" asked Alleria, almost spilling her tea.

"Yup!" said Vereesa. "Our sister is half-ruler of a kingdom now."

"Seriously?"

"Consort but yes. Get it out of your system," sighed Sylvanas, waiting for the laughter to come.

"How is it?" asked Alleria calmly instead.

"It...is pleasant," replied Sylvanas suprised. "I was shy at first, but it...is such a weird experience, but I'm accepted and heard, I'm learning. Don't worry my skills are sharper than ever."

"Okay - now tell us about your Queen' life, not your bed-life," said Vereesa, causing the eldest and youngest to laugh at her...and she had to admit, that she missed this.

XXX

Down below in the make-shift tavern, three men were exchanging tales of the passed years: what has happened and what have they missed.

"My word - undead? I hadn't seen them since the orcs; and an entire continent of them?!" asked Turalyon shocked.

"Sad, but true!" admitted Arthas. "A time will come in the future, I'm afraid when we'll have to return to that cursed place."

"Not alone, I'm afraid," smirked Varian. "But I'm more concerned about our foothold here - we can't keep watching this acursed gate forever."

"I agree."

"But how? Khadgar had destroyed it twice and it still stands," spoke Turalyon.

"The Kirin Tor is investigating this predicament. They'll have answers for us."

"But what will they be?"

"In my opinion...twenty-three years...I just want to leave this place to any cursed fool, close it and throw away the key," spoke Turalyon. "I've had my fair-share of war."

"I agree," replied Arthas. "Northrend taught that chasing ghosts is pointless."

"What are you planning Arthas?" asked Varian.

"In my opinion? We wait, hear out the mages and keep our forces entrenched, here. I don't plan to send them to their death in an unknown planet, chasing demons and orcs.

"Here-here!"

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Back in Lordaeron, two young kids were busy having fun in the garden, when a wisened figure approached them.

"Uncle Uther?" asked Alleria, seeing the figure, having been tackled to the ground by Anduin.

"Yes...I'm afraid you are needed for something," said Uther, helping the young girl up and dusting-off her clothes. "Follow me."

"Did something happen?" asked Alleria, Anduin behind her.

"You have guests," said Uther, angry at that type of word used.

"Uhh...?" asked Alleria, pointing at Anduin.

"Royal ones, I'm afraid...not that some might consider them royalty..." spoke Uther, leading her to the Imperial Chamber and helping her onto the throne.

"Me? But? What about auntie Calia? Can't sh-"

"She is in Stormwind currently in business, only remaining are you and Terenas-"

"-okay," replied Alleria. She knew grandpa' age and physique - he was getting weaker and older, not that her dad wouldn't mention it. But she had found out on her own. "Send them in!"

"I apologize for this, but it's urgent," spoke Uther.

"I understand," replied Alleria, as Uther left to fetch the 'royal guests', she was smarter than people gave her credit for. "Sorry Andu..."

"It's okay, I'll keep an eye from above," said Anduin hugging her, as he soon headed topside.

Alleria felt smaller and smaller, as the numerous advisors and royal guards arrived into their designated positions - all overlooking her. The half-elf princess of Lordaeron.

'Calm down, calm down,' breathed Alleria, trying to calm herself down. She thought of her mom and dad next to her and even Anduin hugging her again, feeling more confident as she straightened up.

"Let them in!" said Alleria in a low, but commanding tone.

The guards obeyed and pushed open the large doors - letting in Uther alongside two people covered by black cloaks and two soldiers, who wore pitch-black armor; their bodyguards obviously.

"What!"

Alleria picked up that tone - it was an old yet commanding and tough tone. She looked up, her face ironed-up to look into the gray-haired man' eyes - King Genn Greymane of Gilneas.

"Welcome! King of Gilneas," spoke Alleria, suprising the old king, who had appeared to be expecting someone else.

"Is this some joke Uther? I asked to see the ruler of Lordaeron!" said Greymane, feeling like he was being made fun of. "Not this-"

"I am Crown Princess Alleria Lianne Menethil!" spoke Alleria loudly, before anybody could react to the insult directed at her. "The King and Queen are unfortunately away, as is the Regent. But by my birth-right and succesion to the crown I may listen to what you have to say."

Nearly every person in the Imperial Chamber couldn't believe what they heard, a young girl had just silenced the great Greymane. Even some of the advisors who eyed from above were suprised at what they had just heard. Would this be a famous bar-story to be heard.

"Now then, is there a reason for your visit? Other than petty comments?" asked Alleria, keeping up her hardened tone, despite being only five.

"Princess Tess Greymane. Pardon for the insult, Princess Alleria. We have had a rough ride," spoke up the second hooded person, pulling down her hood to reveal a young, black haired woman. "We require aid."

"You dare ask-"

"No!" said Alleria calmly, silencing the insults to come from an advisor. "Explain."

Tess took the floor, once she realized her father was too proud to beg infront of a child; no matter the title or position.

"Our kingdom is under attack from the undead," said Tess, causing not even a change on Alleria' young face.

"This is merely hearsay and rumours!" spoke up an advisor.

"Has the Alliance Fleet, under command of Admiral Proudmoore reported any undead activity?" asked Uther, helping out the young monarch.

"Negative. The reports have been negative," replied one advisor.

"There are undead!" spoke Tess, louder than she wanted.

"Your people say much!" insulted another advisor.

"Settle down," said Alleria to the advisors. "What kind of aid?"

"Military," replied Tess, that was when the floodgates opened and the anti-Gilneas sentiment started flying around with Princess Tess trying to salvage the mess.

Alleria looking at Uther, her face was iron-hard but her eyes told a different story - she was more nervous than ever on what to do. Uther merely shaking his head; they couldn't help.

"Enough!" spoke Alleria, silencing the chaos. "We can't send our armies to an unknown territory, when almost half of it is already engaged in a different campaign."

"What exactly?!" asked Greymane, getting a mild twitch from Alleria, he had struck a nerve.

"Leave."

"Wait please!" cried Tess, when the guards started to let them out.

"Hold!" said Alleria, rising from the throne and walking up to them. She looked so small, yet also so powerful. "What?"

"Is it too late to ask for shelter? My mother is injured, I don't think she'll make it far in her condition," begged Tess, having seriously underestimated the young princess.

"Injured?" asked Alleria, losing her iron-mask and took on her usual face.

"She caught some-kind of plague in Gilneas," said Tess. "Just some time to get her some medicine and rest. Please!"

"Is that so?" replied Alleria, turning around to face Uther. He was troubled at sound of plague. "Very well."

"Really-"

"M'Lady-"

"Enough. We are civilized enough, to atleast provide a warm room to an exhausted royal family from their trip," said Alleria. That answer satisfied them. "Dismissed. Some servants will show you to your rooms."

"Thank you," replied Tess, looking overjoyed. While Genn looked like had been laughted at and slapped too many times.

"Is that all?" asked Alleria, once everybody left the Imperial Chamber.

"Yes."

"Oh..." sighed Alleria, going limp on the throne. "I feel exhausted."

"I'd say you handled that beyond what anybody had suspected."

"Well. I've had some practice - grandpa had talked to me around that and I had gotten some tips from aunt Calia," said Alleria.

"You acted impressively!" came Anduin' voice and form.

"Thanks!" replied Alleria.

"Where did you learn that?"

"Taught..." replied Alleria in her happy tone.

"But you spoke like a true ruler!"

"I have to be...one day..." said Alleria, thoughtful tone. "But enough politics! Lets play! Tag! Your it!"

Uther laughed at scene, as the girl who had stood against Greymane started to be chased by the Stormwind prince.

'Light help us against those two and their mischiefs when they're older,' thought Uther, leaving the Imperial Chamber.

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A/N: Soz about the delay, been on vacation. Anywho...who liked lil' Alleria pwn Greymane at politics?

Please review.