Returning to Orgrimmar

Two ships had left Tirisfal one week after the celebrations had ended in Undercity, marking one year since the Lich King was defeated. One of them held their best sailors, guarding the second ship which held their Queen, her consort and her guards whilst they sailed to Durotar.

"Do we know why he had summoned us to Orgimmar?" Athrodar asked Sylvanas, sitting on the steps leading to the helm of the ship.

"No. But I got a feeling it's not going to be good news." Her gaze drifted from the open water to her consort, watching as he flipped a knife around in his hand. "How has your recovery been?"

"Agonisingly slow." He stopped flipping his knife to look over to her. "Having you ban me from doing everything has helped speed up recovery, but it has also made me bored out of my mind."

"Then follow my orders and don't go rushing into danger on your own."

Athrodar kept his head down, knowing better to argue with her, especially when he knew he was in the wrong. "Can I ask," he began, standing up from the steps. "Why don't you let someone else take the wheel of the ship?"

"I like it here." She replied, watching him walk over to her. "What are you doing?" She continued to watch him walk over to her, losing sight of him when he stood behind her. "Stop!" She cried when his hands moved around her.

"Shh.." He whispered to her, hugging her from behind and smiling at the two royal guards who looked over to them. "Let someone else steer this ship for a while."

"But... It's my ship." She muttered to him, being slowly rocked side to side by him. "I'm not going to cave in." She told him, feeling him kiss her neck.

"It's a long trip to Durotar, my Lady. You don't have to remain at the helm the whole time." He looked down to Serathea who sat on a few crates, watching the two of them. "Our little Kaldorei friend is watching."

Sylvanas scanned the deck, finding the elf in question and watching her look away from the two of them. "Not any more." When she felt his continued attack on her neck, she closed her eyes and began to fall for it.

Feeling his Queen begin to lean her whole body against him, Athrodar slowly moved an exploring hand down to her stomach. "I thought you weren't going to cave in."

"You keep this up," she whispered to him, placing a hand over his. "You will be locked up until we arrive at Durotar."

"You sure know how to ruin my fun." He whispered to her, kissing the bottom of her ear. "I'll be in our cabin if you need me."

She raised an eyebrow at him as he began to walk away. "Our cabin? It's practically yours as I won't be joining you."

"Very well." He yelled back to her as he neared the cabin doors. "I'll be waiting however, if you change your mind."

Sylvanas watched Serathea suddenly follow Athrodar into her cabin, widening her eyes once she had disppeared from sight. "Son of a... You better not be."

Viraleth looked over to her Queen when called upon, climbing the steps to the helm and standing to attention. "My Lady?"

"Take over for a few minutes, I need to check on something."

The Dark Ranger nodded. "Okay." The moment she took hold of the wheel, she watched her Queen quickly climb down the steps. "I'm sure it's nothing, my Lady."

"I'm going to check all the same."

The moment she opened the doors to her cabin, she saw the two of them standing in the middle of the room, talking quietly to each other.

Athrodar nodded to something Serathea said, glancing to his right and noticing Sylvanas standing there with a slight glare on her face. "You changed your mind quickly."

"What are you two talking about?"

Athrodar smirked at her. "Now that would be telling."

She took several steps towards them, glaring at her consort. "Tell me."

Whilst Athrodar continued to smirk at her, Serathea began to feel uncomfortable under her Queen's crimson glare. "We were discussing what my guards and I were going to do once we arrive in Durotar."

Sylvanas' glare softened, looking over to Serathea who bowed her head to her Queen. "Leave us for a few minutes."

"My Queen." She said, bowing to her once more before leaving the cabin.

Once the Death Knight left them, Athrodar leaned closer to her. "Were you jealous?" He whispered to her, making her turn back around to face him with a glare.

"Are you trying to annoy me?"

"Not at all." He said, keeping a smirk on his face. "We were discussing how to protect you once we get into Orgrimmar."

She tapped a finger against her arm, having folded them across her chest and stared at him for the longest minute. "Fine. But I swear to whatever God is listening, if you're doing all this to drag me down here, I will make sure you go longer than two weeks without sharing my bed."

Although he saw the seriousness on her face, he chose to ignore it as he leaned forward and kissed her lightly. "We were discussing how to protect you." He repeated after pulling back a couple of inches.

Sylvanas involuntarily licked her lips, stopping when she realised she was doing it and taking a step back from him. She cleared her throat, nodding at him. "Good."

A day passed by on the open sea and Durotar was appearing on the horizon. Viraleth had stayed by her Queen's side after she returned from her cabin, being told to make sure she stayed away from her cabin.

Athrodar left the cabin close to an hour after Sylvanas did, keeping in her line of sight by sitting in the middle of the ship, leaning against the mast.

"Take this." Sylvanas said, looking over her shoulder to Viraleth.

Once the Dark Ranger took control of the wheel, Sylvanas made her way over Athrodar and crouched down in front of him. "Changed your mind?" He asked.

She chuckled at his question, patting his leg. "Not exactly, no." She stood up, only to sit down next to him. "I am here to be with you until we arrive in Durotar. Though we won't do whatever it is you're thinking."

"Even if I'm thinking you rest your head on my shoulder until we get there?"

She looked at his shoulder, raising an eyebrow at him. "On what spike? The long one or the short one?"

Athrodar laughed lightly, taking off his shoulder guard and placing it in front of them. "I was thinking my actual shoulder." Moving an arm around her, he pulled her close until she was resting on him.

"Any ideas on what our esteemed Warchief wants with us?"

"Maybe he wants to reward us for our service to the Horde." Athrodar suggested, making the two of them laugh.

"Please, we both know it was for our personal gain." She took hold of his hand, moving it up to her lips and kissing the top of it. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if that came up."

"As long as we're not being punished for taking three Alliance zones for the Horde, I'm not worried."

"You better not have jinxed it."

Placing a hand on his boot, Athrodar pulled out a knife he kept there and placed it in Sylvanas' hand. "I had it made whilst you were punishing me."

She inspected the hilt of the blade, smiling at the Dark Ranger carved into it. "Is that meant to be me?"

"It may not be an exact likeness to you, but I trusted the blacksmith." He traced a finger on the hilt, pointing at the eyes on it. "Tiny rubies, before you ask."

She continued to smile, looking at up him and pressing her head against his. "Why? So you can say you are always touching me?"

"No. Well, yes.. But no. It's so, for whatever reason we get separated, I will have you close by." He pointed at the dagger.

"You know we won't be separated again. I'll make sure of it." She kissed his temple, catching a glimpse of Viraleth waving from the helm of this ship. "I think we're nearing Durotar."

Athrodar stood up, offering a hand down to his Queen and pulling her up onto her feet. "I'll hold you to that." He said, holding out his other hand and seeing her raise an eyebrow at him. "The dagger."

She looked down at the blade, laughing lightly. "Right, sorry." She handed the blade to him, keeping hold of his other hand and pulling him in for a long kiss.

"And what was that for?" He asked.

She placed a hand on his chest, looking down at the dagger in his hand. "In case this is a worse case scenario and we do get separated."

He smiled, pressing his head against hers. "Something to remember you by."

She smiled back. "Something to remember me by."

"Sylvanas Windrunner. Nice to see you show up when summoned." Garrosh said, climbing down the three steps to his throne and standing several feet in front of them. "One week late."

"The winds disagreed with us, Warchief." Sylvanas told him.

The Warchief grumbled, walking around the very detailed map on the floor in the middle of Grommash Hold. "Either way, I have summoned you both here because you've started something you can't finish."

"No offence, Warchief." Athrodar said, ignoring Sylvanas when she told him to stop. "But we called for aid from the Horde, your Horde, and have gotten a reply from Silvermoon."

Garrosh glared at the boldness of the Death Knight, stepping towards him and making Athrodar look tiny in comparison. "Watch your tongue, Princeling."

Sylvanas quickly stepped forward, taking hold of Athrodar's arm and pulling him behind her. "I apologise, Warchief, it's been a long trip." She shot Athrodar a quick glare, turning back around to face the young Orc. "Why have you summoned us here?"

The Warchief's gaze remained of Athrodar as he continued his train of thought. "It has come to my attention that you are about to hit a wall you cannot pass." He pointed towards the Southern Barrens. "The Alliance are keeping my forces occupied here and the fighting has been going on for too long."

"And what does that have to do with us?" Athrodar said, walking around his Queen and being pulled back the moment he stood in front of her. "There's fighting going on everywhere."

"It has everything to do with you, Death Knight." He faced Athrodar completely. "I have been told of your exploits and I am informing you of your task." He looked over to Sylvanas. "A task for the Horde."

A small pit suddenly opened up in the Banshee Queen's stomach. This is deliberate. She thought to herself. There are many capable General's for this task. Athrodar doesn't even have the rank.

"What task?" Athrodar asked, looking down at the map.

Garrosh smiled a little, pointing towards an Alliance keep opposite a Horde outpost. "You're light on your feet and can get through an entire outpost undetected." He glanced up at him. "Am I right?"

Athrodar smirked, keeping his attention on the map. "Are you giving me an assassination task, Warchief? Because I retired from that career path a few years ago."

"It's not a request."

Athrodar nodded. "No, I suppose it's not." He looked up at the Warchief. "How guarded is it?"

"Well enough to hold back my forces for a long eight months."

Sylvanas, not wanting to hear this conversation, shook her head at the pair of them. "He's not yours to command, Warchief. He's the Captain of my Royal Guard." She told him, pointing towards the six guards behind her.

"I know." He told her, walking over to his throne and picking up a parchment with his stamp of approval. "Which is why I am also promoting him to my personal assassin." He looked over to Sylvanas. "To complete any task I give him at a moments notice."

Anger boiled inside the Banshee Queen, trying to keep her face neutral to show that she wasn't about to kill the Orc standing in front of her. "Fine." She said through gritted teeth.

Athrodar looked over his shoulder towards Sylvanas who began to leave. "Where are you going?"

"To our designated building for the night." She said, walking out Grommash Hold shortly after.

"Do you think you can do it?" Garrosh asked him, completely ignoring the fact one of the Horde's leaders stormed out the building.

Athrodar stared at the entrance to Grommash Hold for a few more seconds before looking down at the map, nodding slowly. "I need to get some reconnaissance on the Alliance keep, but it should be manageable, yes."

Garrosh placed a hand on his shoulder. "Good. You will be leaving tomorrow."

The sudden realisation of what he was just told to do had set in the moment Garrosh had stopped talking. "Yes, Warchief." Was all he could say as his mind suddenly began to race.

He bowed to the Orc standing in front of him. "I'll be taking my leave."

Upon leaving Grommash Hold, Athrodar began to make his way to the Cleft of Shadows without being told that's where Sylvanas would be, getting out of the scorching sun and into the darkened area of Orgrimmar as quickly as he could.

When he arrived there, he instantly saw all six Royal Guards standing outside the biggest tent there, watching Viraleth duck down as something was thrown at her. "Well... Shit. She's in a foul mood." He muttered, almost giving himself a pep talk just to show his face to her.

Once Viraleth saw him come close to the tent, she shook her head and pat him on the shoulder. "I don't normally say it, but good luck in there."

Athrodar was certain he would've taken a deep intake of air if he had the need to breathe, pushing open one of the flaps to the tent and taking a couple of steps inside. "I'm sorry." He said, watching her head shake slowly.

"Do you want to die again?" She asked him, keeping her focus on not lashing out at him. "You tell me you want to stay with me, yet you continue to get yourself into these situations that will get you killed someday."

Athrodar lowered his head. "I know.. It's just -"

"What is it? Huh?" Sylvanas stood up from her chair, glaring at the Death Knight with her fist clenched tightly. "Is it some pride thing? Getting yourself into these situations where death is an almost certainty just to try and impress me?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not.. It's just-"

"Just what!?" She yelled, silencing not only the small chatter outside the tent, but also the entirety of the Cleft of Shadows. "Tell me what it is so I know what to put on the gravestone the day you do die." She let out a small laugh. "Because if you continue down the path of doing things on your own, you will die."

Athrodar closed his eyes, nodding his head. "I know..." He muttered. "I get myself into these situations because of the thrill of living on that fine line between life and death." He shook his head. "I don't like to admit it, but I enjoy it too much to stop."

Sylvanas closed her eyes. "Get out..." She said quietly, hearing him question her. "Get... Out..."

He shook his head, placing a hand on her arm and having her pull it out from his grip. "I'm not leaving. We need to talk about this."

"You've said enough." She told him, opening her eyes and watching him collapse to his knees, swallowing a lump that formed in her throat and hating in that moment how weak he made her feel. "Leave, now.. Before I do something I will regret."

"Please, just listen to me." He begged, taking hold of her hand the moment a tear rolled down her cheek. "I messed up in the past. I fully admit that." He tentatively moved a hand to her face, watching her back away from it. "But I couldn't stop this from happening."

As Athrodar moved a hand to her face once more, Sylvanas took his words to heart and threw herself at him, shamelessly crying into his shoulder as her emotions got the better of her. "I'm tired of worrying about you." She said, tightening her hold on him. "I just want you to stay with me, away from everyone and everything."

"I know." He whispered to her, holding her head against his shoulder, kissing her temple and rubbing her back, doing all he could to calm her down. "I'm sorry it has to be this way."

Sylvanas gripped onto him tightly, suddenly becoming angry once more. "If the opportunity ever comes up to kill that Warchief of ours... I am going to take it." She told him, not caring in that moment if the wrong person heard. "He's punishing me because of the Wrathgate. Something I am still feeling the repercussions of."

"And if the opportunity never presents itself?" He asked, knowing full well that was a higher possibility than her plan.

"Then I send his personal assassin to do the job for me." She pulled herself off him, just enough to look him in the eyes. "He could do it, no problem."

Athrodar looked down at her, wiping away a couple of tears from her face and pulling down her hood slowly. "I could." He whispered to her, seeing a small smile play on her face. "If it comes down to it, I could."

Sylvanas closed her eyes, placing a hand over the hand on her face. "I love you." She muttered, taking a step forward and moving her arms around him again. "I love you." She repeated, holding onto him tightly.

Athrodar held onto her just as tightly. "I love you too." He told her, kissing her cheek several times before giving her one long kiss on the lips. "I will do whatever it is I have to do and return to Undercity ASAP."

Sylvanas returned to hugging him again, not wanting to part from her consort. "Having you around for the past three weeks without sending you anywhere has made it extremely difficult to let you go." She looked around the tent for the first time since arriving there after being in such a bad mood she didnt care what was in it, spotting the cot at the back which was only fit for one. "You don't mind sharing, do you?"

Athrodar looked down momentarily to see where she was looking before following her gaze. "Not at all." He replied, smiling when she began to drag him towards it.

The moment Athrodar was pushed onto the bed, Sylvanas climbed on his lap and began to kiss him, moving forward until Athrodar was laying on his back and she laid on top. "I just want to lay here with you." She whispered, gazing into the cerulean blue orbs that are his eyes.

"I am perfectly happy with doing that." He whispered back. "As long as you don't mind talking more about that dream you had of us." He moved a hand to her face, stroking her cheek slowly. "Just the best parts."

She gave him a warm smile, nodding at his request. "So only the parts with our children?"

"Yes." He replied, rolling over onto his side and dragging his Queen with him until she was on her side too and facing him. "Go into as much detail as you can about them."

The rest of the day and night was spent talking about the dream Sylvanas had, telling him she would replay the whole thing in her mind from time to time as it was the closest thing to a family with him she would get.

That thought not only deeply saddened the usually emotionally strong Queen of the Forsaken, but it at times almost drove her mad. She saw a life she had wanted once before and was now impossible to have, no matter how hard she fought for it.

Nobody had come or gone from the tent the whole time the two of them were in there, only Viraleth was brave enough to poke her head in to check on the two of them, seeing the two of them holding onto each other in the shared cot.

"When do you have to leave?" She asked him, feeling his grip on her tighten a little.

"Sometime today. Though I think the Warchief wants me to leave sooner rather than later." He looked down at her the best he could, seeing only the top of her head which was buried just under his chin. "I'll be quick." He whispered to her reassuringly. "If it's what I think it is, I should complete this task in a day or two, arriving in Undercity just as you pull in to dock."

"And if it's not what you think it is?" Sylvanas moved back a little to look at him. "How long will you be then?"

"If it's not what I think it is, there's a high chance it will take up to a week." He saw her gaze drop from him, placing a hand under her chin and making her look up at him once more. "I'll be fine. Five years experience as a top assassin has taught me to survey the area thoroughly."

"Just be safe." She told him, gazing into his eyes once more and seeing he was confident as usual. "Don't try anything risky to show off."

Athrodar leaned forward and kissed her, pressing his forehead against hers and pulling out the necklace hidden around his Queen's neck. "I will return to you."

Sylvanas looked down at her necklace in his hand. "Alleria gave me that, knowing she may not return." She looked up at him and noticed he was still looking down at the piece of jewellery. "I know you will return to me."

Serathea, pretending she didn't hear their conversation, cleared her throat at the entrance to the tent. "My Lady, the Warchief has requested your presence."

"Alone?" She asked, still laying down beside Athrodar.

"Yes, my Lady. Apparently it's to do with your campaign in the Eastern Kingdoms."

Sylvanas sighed, sitting up and nodding at the Night Elf. "Very well, I'll be there in five minutes."

Athrodar sat up the moment Serathea left, kissing Sylvanas' neck. "Go, see what he wants. If the meeting is quick enough, you might be able to catch me just as I leave."

"No..." She muttered, patting his leg. "It will probably be a long meeting, he will make sure of it."

"Then I suppose we make the most of the time we have together." He whispered, closing in on her neck once more and kissing it.

Sylvanas smiled, tilting her head to the side and giving him more access to her neck. "We spent several hours alone with each other, laying there and... What are you doing?"

Athrodar moved a hand down to her leggings, slowly rubbing between her legs. "It will be quick." He told her, kissing her neck. "I know where to touch you to make you squirm." He whispered, pressing a finger against her folds and making her jolt in surprise. "See?"

She gasped as he touched all the right places, biting the back of her hand to keep quiet as her body was at his mercy. "Please... Make me... Aahh!" She cried out as her body convulsed from his touch, waves of pleasure hitting her and filling her head with fireworks.

Athrodar held on to her as she rode out the feeling of euphoria, having her head rest on his shoulder and feeling her lips meet his cheek. "That was the fastest I've ever made you cry out like that."

Sylvanas nuzzled her face into his neck and letting out a long sigh. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in the mood for the last few hours."

Athrodar reached over the side of the cot and pulled out his knife from the side of his boot. "Here, take this."

"Your knife?" She asked, shaking her head and pushing his hand away when he nodded. "It's yours. You need it for when you're missing me."

He smiled at her refusal to take it. "Take it so you can look upon it and know it's mine. And that I will be coming back for it." He kissed her forehead when he placed it in her hand. "Plus it's also to make it look like you love yourself so much, you got a knife made with your likeness in mind."

She punched his arm, smiling and shaking her head. "Fine, I'll take it. But you better come back for it."

Athrodar kissed her forehead once more. "I will."

Authors Notes:

This week (and maybe next week) I will be uploading 3-4 chapters to make up for lost time. I had some personal things to sort out which took over all of my time, but now I am back and typing away.

I hope you all keep reading,

Kris