A Quick Rest

Viraleth stood outside the building for two hours, looking up at the sky as it began to get dark and noticing several members of the Horde going to what she believed was the inn of Kharanos.

"Viraleth!" Elaria yelled, waving over to the Dark Ranger. "Come join us, I know you don't drink but surely you can have fun!"

Viraleth was about to argue but then she saw Victoria was with her. "And where do you think you're going, Princess?"

Victoria pointed at the inn. "I'm going in there. Athrodar said it was okay."

Viraleth almost laughed at how bad of a lie that was, considering Athrodar and Sylvanas have been in the same building she stood outside the whole time. "He did?"

Victoria nodded. "Yeah. He said as long as I don't do anything that would get me into trouble, it's fine."

Viraleth watched Elaria drag the young Banshee into the inn, shaking her head. "Not even related to them by blood, yet still manages to lie like them." She muttered, leaning up against a nearby wall.

Meanwhile, Athrodar and Sylvanas hadn't moved from each other's embrace, keeping silent as they both held onto each other in the middle of the room, neither one of their legs getting tired. A perc on being undead.

When their silence was finally broken, it was Sylvanas who spoke up first. "I could stay like this forever." She said quietly, keeping her eyes closed as she held onto him.

"Then stay here with me." He whispered, kissing the top of her head. "We haven't just stepped back and been with each other in a long time. I think we both need this."

"I still have an entire faction to run." She told him.

"That's my point. The last time we were alone together for a long period of time was after you said you loved me." He held onto her tighter. "Just stay here, until the morning."

Sylvanas looked outside the best she could, having her back facing most of the windows. "What about every time we've had sex? We're alone then."

"I don't count them. I mean when we're alone and doing nothing but enjoying each other's company."

"A few days ago, you held me in our bed and we stayed like that throughout the night." She tilted her head up, seeing his defeated expression and knowing he wasn't getting through to her. "There's something else, isn't there?"

"I'm scared of losing you and our daughter." He brushed a thumb across her cheek. "We lost Anya only a few days ago and our daughter died the day after." He pressed his head against hers and closed his eyes. "I don't want to lose anyone else, I... I can't lose anyone else. It will..."

"What?" She whispered, placing a hand on his face. "It will what?"

Athrodar sighed, knowing he said too much. "It will break me if we lose anyone else who is close to us." A tear rolled down his cheek, shaking his head. "I don't know if I can control the aftermath."

Sylvanas saw him hurting and done all she could think to do. Leaning forward, she dragged his head down slowly as her moved towards him, kissing him tenderly on this lips and holding him there for what he hoped was an eternity. "I will be here for you, no matter what happens. Use me as your anchor and hopefully you can keep control."

"I love you. More than I thought I could." He kissed her again, replicating the one she just gave him. "I'm just scared about losing you."

Sylvanas' heart threatened to beat again, feeling warm from his words and not stopping herself from smiling brightly. "I love you too, more than you know." She hugged him in a tight grip. "You won't lose me, or our daughter. I'll make sure of it."


Victoria was clapping along with everyone in the inn, laughing at Elaria and her sister dancing on top of a table, the living one out of the two taking a drink from her flagon.

"Come on, Princess, join us on the table!" Elaria offered her down a hand, waiting for her to take it.

"I don't know if I should..."

Serathea took hold of her arm and dragged her up when Elaria took her other one. "Just dance to the clapping, you will get into the gist of things."

Viraleth walked into the inn shortly after the three of them were dancing on the table, watching Victoria more than the other two as she had vowed to Sylvanas that she would look after her when she was promoted.

The Dark Ranger stayed out of sight, keeping to the shadows in the room so the Princess wouldn't see her, allowing her to continue to act normally.

A few minutes passed by and Viraleth's attention had been fixed on the Princess, that was until Athrodar had walked into the inn, the Dark Ranger watching him take off his hood and grin when he saw Victoria and Elaria dancing from table to table.

Upon entering the inn, he knew straight away where Viraleth was, beckoning her over whilst he continued to watch his daughter and friend.

"Lor'Themar and his Sin'dorei have left for Anvilmar." He told the Ranger-General.

"And Saurfang?" She asked facing only him, making sure her back was to everyone else. "Has he left for Gnomeregan?"

"They're preparing to leave now. The Dark Lady has got a task for you." He glanced down at Viraleth, knowing he had her attention.

"What does she need of me?"

"Nothing big." He handed her a rolled up parchment, watching her take and unroll it. "She has tasked you with finding a new Scout Captain."

"Really?" Viraleth looked less than impressed, sighing and rolling the parchment up. "Fine... I guess I choose Kalira."

Athrodar raised an eyebrow at her. "Really, Kalira?"

Viraleth shrugged. "Yeah, why not? She helped Sylvanas capture you in Icecrown and bring you to Dalaran when you were under Arthas' control. Plus, I've always liked her, she is good at scouting."

"Then get her to sign that." He pointed at the rolled up parchment. "It's a contract, something Sylvanas drew up so we don't have to have a ceremony every time someone is promoted."

Viraleth pocketed the parchment. "Later. For now, I am doing what your fiancé has tasked me to do, as well as be Ranger-General."

Athrodar looked surprised at how Viraleth knew about his conversation with Sylvanas, then was reminded of how close the two of them are and that the Banshee Queen tells her everything. "Let me guess, you knew before she even came to ask me?"

Viraleth shrugged her shoulders. "Of course. She and I talk to each other first before anyone else hears it." Her gaze began to focus on Victoria once more. "Other than matters involving her. Sylvanas only wants to talk to you about your daughter."

"So, what did she assign you to do then?" He asked, not knowing the task she was set.

"Watch your daughter for a few months, at least until she is fully settled in with the Forsaken." She glanced over to Athrodar. "Not out in the open of course, I need to make it look like she isn't being watched over."

Athrodar smiled when he looked over to Victoria, watching her laugh when Elaria lost her footing and fell off the table. "Does she need protecting in here? This is possibly the safest place for her in Kharanos."

"Why, because the Night Elf sisters are here with every other soldier trying to get drunk?" Viraleth snorted. "Excuse me for not believing that."

"Okay, then stay here and watch over her." Athrodar pulled up his hood, looking over to Victoria once more and watching her get caught up in the chaos of the drinking, laughing and chatting. "Make sure she doesn't go anywhere with Elaria."

Viraleth saluted him mockingly. "Aye aye, General."

Athrodar sighed, shaking his head and leaving the inn. Victoria caught a glimpse of him leaving and thought nothing of it, until she saw a Dark Ranger move into the shadows of the inn. "Elaria."

The Night Elf got up onto her feet, looking down at Victoria with a smile when she climbed off the table. "What's up, kiddo?"

"How protective are Sylvanas and Athrodar?" She asked, looking around the inn for other Dark Rangers.

"I don't know about Sylvanas, but I know Athrodar will stop at nothing to protect those that mean a lot to him." She smirked at a memory of the Death Knight. "I wouldn't be here if he wasn't like that."

"Okay, then do you think he would send Dark Rangers to look after me?" Victoria looked back at Elaria who was now searching the inn. "Can you see any?"

"There's one in the shadows at the far end of the inn." Elaria told her, being tapped on her shoulder by Serathea.

"Come on, don't leave me alone to entertain everyone." Serathea pulled Elaria back up onto the table, the two of them dancing to everyone's clapping once more. Victoria continued to scan the inn until she was being pulled up too.


Athrodar had been on lookout all night, sitting in a watchtower alone the whole time whilst Sylvanas was left to read and fill out several reports.

He had seen several gryphons come and go throughout the night, all of them heading to and from Ironforge.

"You know they're staying inside the city, right?"

Athrodar looked down at the voice and saw an unlikely elf standing there. "Liadrin? I didn't think you were joining us here."

"It's Lady Liadrin to you. Even if you are the Warchief's consort." The paladin was waiting at the bottom of the watchtower for him, punching him across the face when he stood in front of her. "That's for leaving Thal."

Athrodar opened and closed his mouth, testing his jaw after the right hook he just recieved. "Okay, I deserved that." He held onto his jaw, looking the paladin up and down. "What brings you here? You've not been here the whole time."

"Thal doesn't need me to look after her or your daughter any more." She let out a small laugh. "Actually, she made it abundantly clear that I should leave."

"So you decided to come here?"

Liadrin shrugged. "Sure. I don't want to be around when she starts bringing home that Magister she has been seeing for the past month."

"She's been seeing someone?" He asked all too quickly, making Liadrin raise an eyebrow.

"You've been seeing Sylvanas for the past year and a half almost." She looked him up and down, not seeing him since his last visit to Silvermoon. "You look awful."

"Thanks..." It was his turn to look her up and down, noticing her fist clenching tightly and knowing she would hit him if he repeated her words. "When did you arrive?" He asked instead, opting to change subject.

"A few hours ago with some of my Blood Knights. We were looking for the Regent Lord but I couldn't find him." She looked over to the inn when she heard someone leaving and the sound of laughter inside. "Celebrating something?"

"I think it's the first inn they've been to since this all started." He looked back over to Liadrin after taking a quick look into the inn. "The Regent Lord is in Anvilmar with the majority of the Sin'dorei. You can meet him or wait, up to you."

"Actually, I would like to meet this ranger I have been hearing about." Liadrin saw him look surprised that she heard about Victoria all the way up in Silvermoon. "Well?"

"Sure, last I saw her she was in there." Athrodar pointed to the inn, only to have Liadrin grab his arm and drag him into the building. "I need to report back to the Warchief." He told her, the paladin choosing to ignore him.

Once they entered the inn, Liadrin looked around to try and find the ranger, shaking her head when Elaria was sleeping in between an Orc and a Troll. "Even whilst the Horde fight the Alliance, this one manages to seduce two women of the opposite faction."

"She has a way with women I won't understand." Athrodar pointed over to the other end of the inn. "Talking to those two Royal Guards is the ranger you're looking for."

Liadrin looked over to the ranger, frowning at the sight of her. "She's undead. I'm looking for a living ranger, not a Dark Ranger."

"That is her." He told Liadrin, folding his arms and watching Victoria. "And she's not a Dark Ranger."

Liadrin let out a small laugh. "Let me guess, she's a Death Knight?"

"Yes." He replied, making her raise her eyebrows at him. "She was killed about a day ago now. And as she requested, she is now undead."

"So you take requests now?" Liadrin shook her head. "You have changed. You can't just go around raising whoever you wish."

"I didn't. I raised her after I promised her I would." Their discussion began to get heated, which made Victoria look over to them and see both Liadrin and Athrodar glaring at each other.

"What's going on here?" The young Banshee asked, standing beside Athrodar.

"Nothing." Athrodar told her softly before looking over to Liadrin. "Lady Liadrin was just about to leave."

The paladin narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm going to keep my eyes on you, Death Knight."

Athrodar grinned at her threat, moving an arm around Victoria when she left. "And what have you been doing all night?"

"Spending time with Elaria and her sister." Victoria smiled up at him innocently, not forgetting that she lied to Viraleth and hoped it didn't come back to bite her later. "I hope that's okay?"

She was rewarded with a hug when her innocent play worked, hugging Athrodar back. "That's fine. As long as you don't try to lose your guards. Your mother is just looking out for you, you know?"

She looked up at him with a big smile. "I know, dad."

Athrodar placed a gentle hand on her face, cupping one cheek. "Good, because she will lose it if something else were to happen to you."

Victoria laughed, closing her eyes when Athrodar pulled her in for another hug. "She has a mean side, I know."

Athrodar snorted, nodding at Viraleth who was sneaking out the inn, trying to not get seen by the young banshee. "Mean side is an understatement. Rumour has it, she was unbearable before I joined the Forsaken. Now that we're both here, she is like a puppy compared to then."

Victoria looked around, knowing Sylvanas wasn't there but still tried to look for her. "Where is she?"

"In her allocated office, working on a few reports." Athrodar moved out her way, opening the door to the inn and pointing at the building. "Just in that building, she will be happy that you're there to distract her from work."

Viraleth stood outside the inn, waiting for the young banshee to run passed her so she could talk to Athrodar. "She suspects something." She told him once he left the inn.

"Is it a problem?"

Viraleth shook her head, watching Victoria enter Sylvanas' building. "No, but I will have to avoid her for a day or two. Just to make sure she doesn't suspect anything."

"Okay. Just remember, Sylvanas doesn't want her to know that she is being watched over." He glanced down at Viraleth. "She just wants her to be safe, especially after what Clea done."

"She will be, don't worry."


"Anvilmar was abandoned, much like this place." Lor'Themar told the rest of the Horde, all of them in Kharanos holding a meeting in the barracks. "They must all be holding out in Ironforge."

"That makes our lives more difficult when it comes to taking the city." Athrodar said, looking over to Sylvanas. "We will lose a bulk of the Horde just trying to bring down the doors."

"What if we can get someone inside?" Halduron suggested. "They could open the doors for us when we arrive."

"The problem we have is getting someone inside. They're sealing off the main entrance as we speak." Athrodar looked down the table to Viraleth who sat at the opposite end. "There is one possible way to get in."

Viraleth took out a crudely drawn picture of Ironforge's gates, placing it in the middle of the table. "After you." She said, moving away from the table.

"Here is the main entrance of Ironforge, as you know. But above the gates is the entrance for their gryphons." Athrodar pointed to a hole above the doors. "I don't know how wide or how far in it goes, but there is something there."

"And how do you propose we get a group up there?" Liadrin asked, expecting to throw him off.

"We climb." He said simply, looking around the table. "Two groups of five of our best and quietest fighters. We will -"

"I'm sorry, we?" Sylvanas stood up from her chair and stared at him. "You're going?"

"I am, yes. Elaria and I will take one group to scout out the inside of Ironforge, whilst the other group waits until the attack starts." He smiled warmly at her, knowing she hated him going on the dangerous missions. "I'll be fine." He whispered to her.

"I don't like this." She whispered back to him, taking hold of his hand. "This goes against what we spoke about last night."

Liadrin cleared her throat to get their attention. "You were explaining the plan."

"Yes, right." Athrodar looked around the table. "The ten of us will quickly take out the guards outside and lean them up against the wall, nobody will think we're infiltrating if the guards are still there."

"What about Saurfang and Vol'jin?" Baine asked the Death Knight. "Do we have any word on them?"

"Not yet." He told the Tauren. "They should be reaching Gnomeregan soon and we will get an update a few hours after." Athrodar's attention turned to the chair opposite him, his gaze fixed on Victoria who smiled up at him. "Any other questions?"

"When do you plan to infiltrate Ironforge?" Halduron asked. "I'd like to be a part of it."

"In a week and I'd be happy to take you, you can lead the second group." Athrodar looked around the table. "Anyone else?"

Liadrin's attention was focused on Victoria, finding the relationship they seem to have to be curious. "Yes, but after the meeting." She said, glancing over to Athrodar. "I have a few questions of my own."

Athrodar nodded slowly, knowing she had something on her mind that she didn't want to share with everyone else. "I am done, Warchief." He bowed his head to her.

Sylvanas waved it off. "I think we're done here. If anyone has anything else, you can talk to me later." The Banshee Queen took hold of Victoria's hand, the two of them leaving the room.

Everyone else began to exit the room, leaving Liadrin sitting in her chair, tapping her fingers on the table and staring at Athrodar. "I believe you have something to explain."

Athrodar sat on her side of the table, folding his arms and looking down at her. "Okay, what?"

"The ranger, the one you raised. Who is she to you two?" She saw him look down, leaning forward to get into his line of sight. "You don't just raise anyone who dies. I know you have your own personal rules, so I ask again. Who is she to the two of you?"

"I didn't want to tell you, because you'll tell Thalina and I've already done a lot to hurt her." He sighed, standing up from the table and walking away from her slowly. "Sylvanas and I have chosen to adopt her, seeing as we can't produce a child of our own."

"Oh.."

Athrodar raised both eyebrows, looking back at her. "I have to say, I was expecting a completely different response."

Liadrin opened her mouth to speak but found no words, deciding to shrug her shoulders. "What can I say? I didn't expect that answer."

"Seriously? You heard about a ranger spending time with Sylvanas but didn't think anything of it?"

"Actually," the Paladin began as she stood up, "I heard about Sylvanas spending a lot of time with some nobody Farstrider Recruit. I had to see why." She watched him turn to face her. "You have a daughter of your own, why would you adopt this one?"

"To put it simply; because I love Sylvanas." He smiled as he spoke, throwing the Paladin off as she hadn't seen that from him for a long time.

"Wow..." She muttered, letting out a long sigh. "I thought you were doing this to help Thal move on. But you actually do love her, don't you?"

"At the beginning, it was to help Thal move on, but after spending time with her, I couldn't help but love Sylvanas." He shrugged his shoulders, picking at a loose chip in the stone table. "I don't want to be anywhere else."

Liadrin sighed once more. "Great, now I can't hit you because your answer was not what I expected." She looked up at him. "Answer me one thing."

"Shoot."

"Does that ranger make you two happy?"

Athrodar smiled again, giving her the answer she needed though he told her anyway. "Yes. Strangely enough, I love having her around despite loathing it when I first met her."

"And I take it she was an orphan?" Liadrin asked, hoping she wasn't.

"She was, yes. Her parents died during Arthas' attack."

"Son of a..." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You really make it difficult to hate you."

"I'm sorry, let me try harder to be the asshole you think I am."

Liadrin narrowed her eyes at him. "You know, sarcasm isn't a good look on you." She walked over to him, extending out her hand. "I want to apologise for punching you earlier. Although you deserved it, I take it back."

Athrodar tentatively took her hand, shaking it and bowing his head slightly. "I forgive you, my Lady."

"Don't make me hit you again." Liadrin scoffed. "My Lady... Hah!"

Athrodar rolled his eyes, watching her leave him alone in the room. "Now I have to put up with her for the remainder of this siege..."