Chapter 34

If You Can't Beat Them, Sheep Them!

"I need to go back to Stromgarde immediately!" Fox ran across the throne room grabbing Varian's arm. She ignored all the looks she was getting from those in attendance.

"My Lady, is something wrong?" Varian looked down at her for a mere moment. Then waved his hand toward the throne. "Sit. You look distressed."

Fox did not refuse. Allowing Varian to move her around to be seated. She was openly terrified of what Sylvanas had told her. How was she to combat the Leader of the Forsaken, when she had no idea what kind of knowledge the Bronze Dragon had imparted to her. One thing had been clear. What ever the price to be paid was, it was of equal worth to Stromgarde.

The Preistess that had followed Fox with the three maids and four guards looked beseechingly at the King. "I have not been able to look her over. She has refused to allow me near her this entire time."

"Eloise." Varian shook his head and gave her a stern look of disapproval.

Fox glared at the other woman. The hands clinching down on the arms of the throne. "I am not sick!"

"A nightmare then?" The Priestess offered. "They can be very surreal in your condition."

Fox groaned and dropped her head. "Why does no one listen to me here? I am telling you I am worried for Stromgarde, and I wish to return there as soon as possible."

"I will not allow it." Varian said bluntly. "You should stay in Stormwind in your condition. This concerns more then just yourself now."

Anduin who was in rare attendance reached out to pat Fox's hand. A concerned look in his shining blue eyes. "My father has told me of the baby. I do agree with him. Stromgarde does not have the same luxuries we do here in Stormwind. You are safer here with us."

"Oh Anduin." She almost started to cry. "Not you too."

"Hate me if you must, but I have already decided to sign the decree refusing to allow you out of Stormwind's walls." Varian confessed.

Fox froze and looked up at Varian. "It's like Lion's Landing all over again."

"Stormwind is a larger cage." Anduin frowned and looked a bit guilty. "I know personally how you must feel."

A cage is a cage, Prince Anduin! You can not do this when I know in my heart that Stromgarde is..." Fox stopped talking suddenly.

"Lady Lothar?" The Priestess noticed it first.

Fox could not answer as she doubled over in sudden pain. A hand coming to her stomach.

"Priestess Damiana feared this would happen!" The Priestess moved to put a gentle hand on Fox's forehead. "She is burning up. I could see she was not well. I just knew it."

"Is she truly ill?" Varian tried and failed to control the tone of his voice.

"It's hard to say. She constantly worries and fights with us when we try to help her. Damiana said we must keep her calm or the baby will be endangered. The further along she gets the more stress is being placed on the Lady's body. If she keeps this up more then her pregnancy will be jeopardized. Stubbornness has it's place, but right now is not the time for it."

Fox stared out at a blurred world. "Stromgarde." She groaned out. "There are so many lives in peril."

"I have already worked out a huge shipment of weapons and aid." Varian knelt down by her. He looked over her face in open support. "There are more troops being gathered from within Stormwind, and Ironforge has already sent back up. The High Tinker Mekkatorque, is scouting out his finest engineers and developing a new cannon placement. There is no telling what else they will come up with to protect Stromgarde for you. I will take care of everything."

"If I can not go to my people, you must go, Varian." Fox shook her head.

"What did you just ask?" Varian blinked in open surprise at her words. Of all the things she would ask of him, leaving her side was not one of them.. "I do not want to leave you like this. I can't"

"Stromgarde needs protecting. I trust no one else to make it safe enough." She took his hands in hers and pulled them to her chest. Fox closed her eyes. It was obvious she didn't like the request any more then he did.

"But what of Stormwind?" Anduin asked. He squirmed nervously knowing the situation he was finding himself in, due to the sudden change in events. He didn't mind holding down the fort, so to speak, but this was something else entirely. "It will take more then then a few weeks to get Stromgarde into self reliance, and I can not hold court so long on my own."

Varian looked at the floor and sighed. "Then I will assign Lady Lothar as Regent in my absence. She can assist you, Anduin."

Fox pulled back and looked up at Varian. Knowing what it meant for him to leave her in control of his Kingdom. "You mean you will go?" She threw her arms around him. She was overjoyed and heartbroken all at once. Never in her life, did she want him closer to her then she did now. Still the thought of what could happen in Stromgarde at this time was to much for her to take. Perhaps she had to much Lothar in her veins. "I hate to do this. I do not want you gone from Stormwind, but I have a very bad feeling."

"You must promise me to rest and do as the Priests request. To allow Anduin to handle all the stressful matters, and concern yourself with the baby's good health. I would do anything to make that a reality. Even leaving Stormwind for a time." Varian nodded as a hand came to cup the back of her head. He settled his forehead against hers. Not caring who saw the intimate display of love he shared with her. "But I want word if anything changes. I will be home in Stormwind for the birth of my son."

"I will do my best to keep your daughter at bay until your return." Fox nodded. She cupped his cheeks and set a kiss to his lips.

Varian reached out and pulled her to her feet. "Let's get you back to your room."

"I am so sick of being in there. Can you take me to the Library instead. I wish to get some books. Surely that can not hurt." She motioned toward the Royal Library."

"Asking for inch, you take a mile." Varian dropped a kiss to the top of her head. "I will allow it.

Fox smiled and patted his arm. "Allow it, don't allow it. I am getting some books. You really need to start wording your statements to me better."

O0O0O0O0O0O

Chelinka watched Pyrasong wander around the room in the form of a sheep. "I could almost tolerate you like this. You're so cute and actually do make more sense when you open your mouth."

The little Blood Elf Paladin bleated again, and jumped up on her bed. Chewing happily on her pillow case.

Chelinka went back to the tome Archmage Khadgar had sent her to go over. It was incomplete, and many of the spells were in magical codes within magical codes. She could not wait until she saw him again. He was going to have the surprise of his life, that she had actually been able to read it. Deviously she worked out the missing parts to complete many of the incantations. He would know she had read it when she cast some of these spells for him. That would require some practice first. She looked over at Pyrasong. They were much more difficult then the polymorph spell, but at the moment, that was her favorite one.

A knock at the door brought her attention up. "Goldenleaf? What are you doing here?"

"Braelyn abandoned me for a Blood Elf." The tall Druid frowned. He pushed his head against the door frame and rocked back and forth with boredom. "She said if I didn't have anything nice to say, that I needed to leave."

"And you didn't have anything nice to say?" Chelinka chuckled, knowing the feeling. A brief glance cast to Pyrasong.

Goldenleaf walked into the room and sat on the bed with a huge sigh. "I tried to say something nice. Who knew telling a Blood Elf they had put on a few pounds was an insult. The man is a twig, wait, twigs are bigger. I should have went with the fact he smells like cinnamon and nutmeg like Learen did. Ahh! Although it's a lie. He smells like lemon desanitizer and floor polish. No one would be insulted over that."

"You called Halduron fat?" Chelinka dropped her book to her lap. A slow smile passing over her lips as she broke into a delighted giggle at the Druid's antics.

"In my defense, he wasn't all that upset over it. It was Braelyn that ran me off." Goldenleaf sighed. Finally noticing Pyrasong stretching out on the other bed on her stomach. "What's with the sheep?"

"That's Pyrasong. She was on some rant about Humans being sexually promiscuous creatures, and the vast superiority of the Blood Elves to us. I had finally heard enough." Chelinka shrugged. She took her tome up in her hands and set a bookmark to her page.

"Oh. Well, don't let peace and love Braelyn find out about it." Goldenleaf warned. Still sulking over his expulsion from the Officer cottage.

Chelinka shuddered at the lecture she would get if the little Hunter found out. "I know, why don't we go for a walk. I bet you are running low on reagents for Alchemy potions, and I need to scout our surroundings anyway."

"What about the sheep?" Goldenleaf walked over and patted Pyrasong's head. He leaned over to make funny faces at the creature.

"Oh her, maybe we should take her to the barn. Find a ram of her very own, to shut her up." Chelinka bristled. Call her a wanton beast, will she? That would certainly teach the Blood Elf to not be so catty with her remarks about others.

"Okay. There is one there. Terribly rude fellow. I am so glad I do not have to share a stall with him." Goldenleaf lifted Pyrasong into his arms and walked out the door.

"I was teasing Goldenleaf." Chelinka called after him. "I can just imagine the reaction she would give me if I left her like that with a horny sheep." Silence caused her to inch off the bed. "Goldenleaf?" Still no answer. "Oh. Oh no. Goldenleaf!" Chelinka screamed as she charged after him.

O0O0O0O0O0O0

Haldruon pulled his shoes off by the front door. "I have no idea what we were tromping in out there, but I certainly do not want it on the floors in the cottage. We can leave them here for the night."

"And trust Goldenleaf not to steal them because we didn't let him come along?" Braelyn shook her head hard. "I'll just put mine in a bag and wash the whole thing later."

"We could just get new shoes. I have six pair in my room. He can have these as far as I am concerned."

"Six pair? I have two. The ones on my feet, and the ones at my home in Elwynn." Braelyn shook her head. "Do I look like a Noble to you? Because my family can not afford such lavish acts as throwing out shoes."

"No. Nobles have closets full of shoes." Halduron frowned. "You really only have two pair of shoes in all of Azeroth? By the Sunwell, that's tragic."

The door was thrown open at the sound of their voices and Pyrasong threw her arms around Halduron. "I can't do it! Do not make me put up with the Alliance races anymore, because I just can't!"

Halduron looked down in shock. Reaching out to pull some straw from her hair. The green eyes going wide in rampant confusion. "What is this, and why were you in the cottage?"

"It's not that bad. We got you out of the paddock, before they even opened Stinky Stue's stall. He wasn't even near you." Goldenleaf rolled his eyes and shoved a cup of tea at Halduron. "You might want to drink this before listening to the rest of her dramatized tale of sheep and romantic practices."

Halduron looked down at the cup. It had tea leaves floating around, and smelled perfectly awful. "Are you trying to drug me with this?"

"If he had, it would have tasted better. What kind of herbs are you using in here. I know loose leaf very well from the High Elves in Dalaran, but this is just weird. I ended up conjuring my own because I could not tolerate the bitter taste." Chelinka called from the inside.

"How long have you been here?" Braelyn asked as she looked at the crying Paladin.

"The real question is how much of a mess have they made while we were gone!" Halduron shoved Pyrasong back and rushed in.

Pyrasong turned and went after him. "You have to hear my grievance! Something must be done about these two."

"I am as much in control in Stromgarde as you are, Pyrasong. Figure something out on your own. I have to deal with this first!" Halduron didn't care the rest of the cottage was as pristine as before. The kitchen was a disaster. Well, a disaster to him. In the grand scheme of things it was not bad at all. He ran both hands through the hair on the top of his head. Looking as if some one had left a arcane mutation beast rolling around there. "You used three different blends, Goldenleaf, and you left water all over my burled maple counter tops. Do you know how rare those are to find! Maple doesn't grow north of Loch Modan!"

"Correction. I washed off Stromgrade's borrowed burled maple counter tops. The water will dry on it's own." Goldenleaf pulled out a chair before anyone took it from him. "And none of you insult my efforts at making tea. I knew exactly what I was doing. I am a Grand Master Alchemist, I dare to say I even rival Sheylann from time to time."

"Didn't she make the poison that reacts with Holy Light to kill people?" Chelinka put her hands on the table, and leaned away from the steaming tea pot.

"Yes, but in this case, I wanted to horrify Halduron with my efforts and use up as much of his supply as possible." Goldenleaf poured a cup and tasted it. He wrinkled up his face and shook his head. "Oh yeah! Stronger then Gnomish Espresso. That's a fine cup of caffeine... I mean tea."

"Halduron!" Pyrasong cried out taking hold of his arm and shaking it.

Halduron ran a hand through his hair, as he felt the talon like nails bite into his skin with the whine of Pyrasog's voice ringing in his ears. He looked from his kitchen to the smug Night Elf. The Mage smiled with a mocking light in her eyes. Trying to ground himself he looked over to see Braelyn standing in the middle of the room. The green eyes going to her mud covered shoes, and the perfect little trail of filth that went from her to the door.

Then he lost it.

O0O0O0O0O0O0

Fox held the quill in her shaking hand. "Do I really have to sign this?" She whispered over at Varian. He stood close over her in an almost protective curl.

"If I am going to watch over Stromgarde, a Regent must be in place here in Stormwind." Varian whispered back to her. "I do not like it any more then you do. Still Anduin can not control Bascomb, Remington, and Winchester all at once. Not with the host of other issues that will be popping up while I am away."

The names before hers were Anduin Lothar, and Bolvar Fordragon. "You do realize what happened to the last two?" She leaned away to remind him with a worried tone.

"Both beloved and revered beyond words. I am sure you will carry on their legacy of greatness as a Regent to Stormwind." Varian tried to get past the ugly obvious truth.

She was not about to ignore it. "They're both dead." Fox whispered with more infliction in her tone. "Are you sure the book isn't cursed?"

Varian closed his eyes. If only Lord Fordragon was dead, rather then trapped in his eternal damnation as the new Lich King. "Nothing is cursed, and I swear this is the only way I know to keep order while I am gone."

With that, the name Lady Eloise Lothar was signed into the Regents of Stormwind. Lord Remington was the first to congratulate her. The man looked delighted at the turn of events. It was odd considering he was the one who had been behind her assassination order as the Crimson Fox, and they both knew it.

"So tell me, Lady Lothar, when will we be hearing the wedding bells ring throughout Stormwind for you and King Varian?" He slid her arm around his and moved her away from the rest of the group

"I assume it will be soon after King Wyrnn returns. He is intent on making sure the child is legitimized." She patted his arm gently as she spoke in an effort to keep from pulling hers rudely away.

Remington leaned close, "I would make that move very soon." He looked over at Bascomb talking with Varian. "I will not hold back. Bascomb and I have been at odds for years. Even during the Katrana Prestor days, we were at each others throats. Bascomb will seem like he has the people's best interests over my own, but I ask you investigate his motives before acting on anything he suggests. I am more openly aggressive in my endeavors, and do favor the Noble set. They have kept me alive."

"Are you saying that you are at war with Bascomb?" Fox's eyes widened at this confession.

"I was at war with him. I am dying my dear. Soon my boy, who wants nothing to do with this life will take my place. Winchester is the only one capable of handling Bascomb, and keeping him in check, but he is very young. Being old has wisdom as an advantage. Now Bascomb will have far more power then he should."

"So you are entrusting me to aid the very Nobles who ordered me killed." Fox threw back coldly. "Why should I care?"

"Because we are the people who support the House of Wyrnn. Remember, Varian's family was Noble and elevated to Royal. The commoners only really see the titles, not the people behind them. That is why we can get away with so much. Unlike yourself, who comes from true Royalty and traded down for the safety and peace of your people."

"That was my father, Adnuin Lothar. I seem to have traded back up for myself." Fox looked away to stare at others moving around the ball room.

"Unwillingly. We have all seen your reluctance. I know that comes from the realization that with this power you will never rest until your grave. I support you as Queen, but with Bascomb tossing around you are a threat to the Crown Prince Anduin, many will turn against you." Remington whispered low and took her arm. "You must beware of what he could be planning against you."

Fox closed her eyes. She had Stromgrade and the Forsaken to worry about. Now if Remington was to be believed there was an enemy far closer to home. She opened her eyes to see Bascomb raising his glass of champagne to Varian and Anduin. "I would be safer in Stromgarde, wouldn't I."

"Yes, that is probably the truth of it. Sending King Wyrnn away now is a bad choice. Could you not call him back?"

"No." Fox thought on Sylvanas's words. The Banshee could have been bluffing about the Bronze Dragon, but Fox doubted it. The look in the other woman's eyes bespoke truth. Sylvanas knew something that connected them. Something that left Stromgarde at a severe disadvantage. The safety of the people there could not be over looked. To be honest, Fox was worried Varian would not get to Stromgarde in time to warn Genn as it was. Asking him to stay and protect her was out of the question. Stromgarde and the people there are what mattered.

O0O0O0O0O0O

"Haluron, you need to calm down." Braelyn clasped the little vial that Goldenleaf had handed her, before he left, behind her back.

Haldruon stopped from his organizing of the cabinets to glare back at Braelyn. "I am perfectly calm. Goldenleaf just rifled though the cabinets and moved everything. I have to get it back in place before I can rest." He looked behind her to the floor. "You did a good job getting the dirt off the floor, but there is a residue marring the shine. Could you go over it again, please?"

"Oh for Light's sake!" She marched over and with a sweep of her arm knocked everything off the counter to the floor. The blue eyes coming back up to burn into his glowing green ones. She had a look that just dared him to press her one more inch.

"What are you doing!" Halduron gasped out and went for the items in a rush.

Braelyn grabbed his arm, and dragged him with much fussing between them into the living room. "Don't touch it. Don't look at it." She pushed him into a chair. A finger going to his face as she scowled down at him. "I am going to make you some tea to help you relax. I do not want you even thinking about what the kitchen looks like right now."

"But!"

"No! You need to stop this obsessing. You were not like this last time I was in Silvermoon with you. You allowed your servants to handle these sort of things."

Halduron frowned, "But they were trained to keep things as I like them."

"Bull. You had control there that you do not have here. You are just unsettled right now. I am certain that if this is allowed to continue, you might get really sick." She called as she entered the kitchen. Stepping around the items on the floor. "I will clean this up later, and you will thank me and be done with it."

"Have I been so very bad?" Halduron leaned back in the chair against the fat throw pillow. Looking up at the ceiling. Instantly noticing that a cobweb was hanging from one of the support beams. Not that he was going to brave asking Braelyn for a broom to fetch it down. Closing his eyes he looked away and sighed.

Braelyn pulled out one china cup, and uncorked the vial, lifting to smell it carefully. Then tasted a little to make sure it wasn't some sort of poison. She could trust Goldenleaf with her life, but not with Halduron. Between him and Chelinka there was no telling what they would do to the poor Blood Elves in Stromgarde.

Pyrasong was up stairs in Braelyn's bed sleeping off the horrible day she had, as proof of their wicked intentions toward the Horde races. Lucky that Chelinka's quick thinking, and slightly stronger moral conscience had not left her molested by the ram in residence in the Stromgarde barn.

Goldenleaf had warned her to use very little of the potion. There was enough for three doses. Pyrasong might need some later on in the night. At least he had been somewhat thoughtful.

Braelyn felt a slight tingle and the tension in her shoulders drained out of her just a bit. Nodding in approval she tipped a few drops into the teacup.

"If I could just put some of the stuff back in the cabinets?" Halduron's voice filtered in to her.

Scowling Braelyn tipped the vial to allow one more drop the she was supposed to use. That should fix Halduron for the night. After he was off in slumber land, she would come set everything to order and clean it so well he would stop doubting her efforts.

Author Note: I am still working my way through the story! I am sorry it's not everyday like before. I just started a new story called Light Demon as well. But never fear, this one will be getting the bulk of attention until its complete. I just had to draw some attention away so the writing was better.