Gaining Entrance
"So this is the Isle of Thunder."
Vareesa looked to her niece and smiled. "It is, Queen Victoria." She said with her tongue in her cheek.
"Stop it." Victoria said, rolling her eyes at her aunt.
"Okay, sorry." Vareesa said, holding up her hands innocently. "You came at the right time, we are an hour or two away from breaking through. The siege engines worked, but they have a magical barrier up that Jaina and her mages are working to break down." She looked over to her niece who nodded her head slowly, looking at Athrodar and Sylvanas' groups of rangers, having Sera and Cyndia placed as Captains on both groups as Seliana and Elaria have both returned to Stormwind with her parents. "Where are the rest of the Horde and Alliance forces? Are they coming to help us?"
Victoria shook her head. "Vol'jin is returning to Orgrimmar with Eitrigg as they both sort out the Darkspear Chieftain's promotion to Warchief whilst Baine is returning to Thunderbluff with the majority of the wounded. Tyrande and Velen have also returned to their respective cities. Moira however is making her way here to help out. I think she is trying to impress me now that my mother has stepped down."
Vareesa laughed lightly. "Why am I not surprised? Ironforge and Stormwind need a strong friendship and I think she knows this." She looked towards the entrance of the Mogu fortress they were trying to gain entry into. "Have fun with the Dwarves vying for your friendship."
"Stop reminding me!" Victoria cried, hearing Vareesa chuckle once more. "I just wanted to come here, help out with taking this fortress in place of my father and hopefully impress Lor'themar and the Silvermoon council enough to work closely with them."
"Aren't you training your own rangers to compete against theirs?" Vareesa asked her, grinning when a look of realisation grew on the young Queen's face. "You forgot that, didn't you?"
Victoria cleared her throat. "Well... I suppose I could work on the friendship with Ironforge when Moira gets here."
Vareesa laughed again, hooking her arm around Victoria's and lightly patting the top of her hand. "You're new to being a leader and it shows. Just rely on those you can trust and listen to your Council. They may not always give you good advice, so don't be afraid to challenge their ideas with a few questions."
"That's pretty good advice, thank you." Victoria looked towards the entrance of the fortress. "How are the twins?"
"If I know Rhonin, they're probably bored out of their minds with his lessons of the world." Vareesa chuckled lightly. "I love the man, but sometimes he can bore the hell out of me when his mind wanders off." She smiled a little when she reminded herself of the many times he had done that. "But seeing him so passionate about something makes me smile when I think back to it."
Sera and Cyndia both came up towards the new Queen with the Night Elf bowing her head to her once she stood by her side. "Both groups of rangers are updated on the situation and they are all on board with what to do."
Victoria smiled. "Thank you, Sera." She looked towards Cyndia who had forced Liadrin to let her come to the Isle of Thunder. "Are you feeling good?"
"I am, my Queen." Cyndia said. "Never felt better."
"Good." Victoria said, smiling at her new Captain. "Glad to hear it."
"We're home."
Sylvanas let out a sigh of relief, dropping her shoulders and smiling brightly as they stood outside Windrunner Manor. "Yes we are." She whispered, turning around to face him and planting a long kiss on his lips. "Would you be upset if I leave you and spend the next week alone with our children?"
Athrodar chuckled and shook his head, pressing his head against hers and closing his eyes when she took hold of his hands. "Not at all. I know you're dying to go to them right this second but are being polite by staying here with me."
"All true." Sylvanas said, chuckling lightly and kissing him once more. "Your mother is looking after them inside Windrunner Manor, right? She knows to have come here before us, right?"
"Yes, she knows." Athrodar kissed her on the nose. "You can go now. I know it's killing you to stay here."
"Thank you." Sylvanas said, letting go of him and rushing into Windrunner Manor.
Athrodar chuckled and folded his arms when he heard the many sounds of joy from both Sylvanas and their some Tahnir, glancing to his right when Elaria made her way to him. "She sounds happy."
"She is." He told his friend, looking her up and down and smirking at how casual she looked compared to her usual attire. "Making yourself at home already?"
"I am, same with Luna. Though she is currently in the process of moving around furniture and planning future redecorating ventures." Elaria couldn't help but smile when she picked up on the sound of Sylvanas talking to her children. "Shouldn't you be in there? They're your kids too."
Athrodar kept his arms folded, looking at the open door to Windrunner Manor. "I'll be there soon. I'm letting her have her alone time with them." He glanced back over to Elaria who was also watching the open door, occasionally seeing Sylvanas walking around with either Alleria or Tahnir in her arms. "Shouldn't you be in there helping Luna move the furniture around?"
"I would, but she kicked me out because, and I quote; 'the most useless person when it comes to redecorating.'"
They both laughed with Athrodar nodding his head in agreement. "You were always the one who would act before being told what to do."
Elaria shrugged her shoulders. "What can I say? Winging it normally works out."
"Unless it comes to furniture moving apparently." Athrodar grinned and took a step towards Windrunner Manor. "Now if you don't mind, I am going to go spend time with my family."
Elaria patted him on the back. "Come find me when you realise you need more me time."
Upon entering his home, Athrodar saw Sylvanas and his mother on either sides of the living room, their pair of them watching Alleria slowly waddle over to her mother who was holding her arms out to catch her. "When did she...?"
"A few days ago." Illana told him, smiling brightly when the little elf made it to Sylvanas who picked her up, hugging and kissing her shortly after. "You both also missed her first words." She told them, news to both parents especially Sylvanas who looked upset. "Don't worry. I taught her to say mama first." She looked over to her son who frowned at her. "Sorry, I couldn't teach her papa first. It would crush your wife."
"You're right, mother." Athrodar said, looking over to Sylvanas who was showering their daughter with kisses. "It has already made her so happy that I can't get upset about that." He smiled as both his children cuddled up to their mother, feeling warm in his heart as he could see how right the decision to retire had become. "This is exactly what we both need."
Victoria watched the magical ward drop from the entrance of the fortress in front of them, hearing nothing but a eerie silence. "I don't know what I expected, but silence wasn't it." She told Vareesa who nodded her head in agreement.
"No, neither did I. Perhaps they are waiting inside for an ambush." Vareesa whistled over to a group of her rangers, ordering them to send scouts in to check it out before anyone else goes inside. "Best to check before we go in with our entire army."
"Good call." Victoria told her, watching Jaina and her mages step back from the entrance of the fortress and rejoin up with Vareesa. "How long are we waiting for?"
"About ten minutes." Vareesa told her, sitting down on a nearby tree stump. "So about you being the Queen of Stormwind now." She began, moving over a little for her niece who sat down beside her. "Does that mean I have to visit you first before your parents, or I visit them first then you?"
Victoria laughed lightly and shook her head. "No, you can visit them first. I know my mother wouldn't be happy if she found out you came to me first."
"Ahh, you're learning." Vareesa patted Victoria's knee. "Good girl."
"My Lady." Sera said, standing beside them after speaking to Victoria's company. "A word?"
Victoria smiled at her aunt. "Looks like my duties as Queen have already started." She told her, standing up and following Sera away from the rest of the group. "What's up?"
"Some of our rangers have been talking to each other and Cyndia and I feel like this isn't the best course of action for you right now."
Victoria frowned at Sera. "What do you mean?"
"You've just recovered from a head injuring." Sera looked over to Snow who was napping until they were ready to storm the fortress. "Even Snow has just recovered from his injury and hasn't built his leg muscles back to where they should be." She sighed and looked back to Victoria who was looking over at Snow. "I don't want you to get yourself hurt again because you're not fully fit."
"What do you want me to do, Sera?" Victoria asked, looking back to her Captain. "I promised my father I would take over for him on this island and since we're here I can't exactly back out now."
"Then hang back and defend the rear." Sera suggested, placing a hand on her Queen's arm. "Your father was going to do that anyway, you'll just be taking over for him."
Victoria nodded slowly. "Okay. I will listen to your concern and take your advice." She stepped forward and hugged her Captain. "This is why I am going to promote you to General when we return to Stormwind. You always have my back and I am grateful for that."
Sera hugged her in return, stroking her hair as they both looked to lengthen the hug. "I'll always have your back, my Lady." The Night Elf whispered, smiling when Victoria didn't let go of her. "You already miss them, don't you?"
The Queen nodded her head against Sera's chest. "I do. When I left to explore Kalimdor, I knew what I was doing and they would be there when I get back. But now that they have stepped down and handed Stormwind over to me, I know they won't be there when I return and I'm worried the people won't accept me like they accepted my parents."
"You will be, my Lady." Sera whispered to her, kissing the Queen on the top of her head. "They know Sylvanas and Athrodar loved you more than life itself and they will love you the same." The Night Elf smiled a little as a thought crossed her mind. "Just don't piss them off and you'll be good."
Victoria laughed against her Captain's chest. "I won't." She looked towards the entrance of the Throne of Thunder and saw Valeera's scouts coming back. "Gather our rangers, Sera. We will hold up the rear of the group."
Sera smiled and bowed her head to the Queen. "Will do, my Lady."
"We should put him to bed."
Athrodar looked down at Tahnir who was sleeping in between his parents on the bench they were sitting on, smiling and nodding his head in agreement. "I will take him to his bed." He said, slowly standing up and picking up his son who insinctively hugged his neck. "You can come with me if you want. Sing him to sleep if he wakes up between here and there."
"Deal." Sylvanas said, standing up and following Athrodar to their son's room as he looked to place him in his bed. "He's awake, I win." She said, smiling at her son who yawned and smiled at her. "Hello baby, you fell asleep so we're taking you to bed."
Tahnir nodded sleepily and rubbed his eyes. "Okay."
"This wasn't a bet." Athrodar told his wife, placing Tahnir down in his bed and tucking him in. "But I guess you win, yes." He stepped back and allowed Sylvanas to kneel beside their son's bed, watching her stroke his hair and hearing her sing him a lullaby.
This went on for only a couple of minutes until Tahnir was sound asleep. "Good night, my little Prince." Sylvanas whispered, planting a soft kiss on her son's forehead and following Athrodar out the room soon after. "I don't think we made a mistake." She told him, looking up at her husband. "We get to be with our family and I have loved every second of this day."
"You're going to enjoy every day after this." Athrodar told her, cupping her cheeks with his hands. "Because we don't have to be anywhere anymore. We get to stay home, with our family," Athrodar gave his wife a soft kiss on the lips, "alone and with next to no responsibilities."
"None at all." Sylvanas whispered to him softly, smiling and leaning forward to kiss him again.
Athrodar led his wife back to the bench they were on a few minutes ago, grinning at Sylvanas when she sat on his lap and pressed her head against his, the pair of them gazing into each other's eyes. "Remember when we were alone in Stormwind Keep, in the Throne Room and I asked you a very special question?"
Sylvanas kissed him as a response, resting her head on his shoulder when she pulled away and smiled at him. "I do." She whispered, closing her eyes as Athrodar hugged her a little tighter and feeling comfort in being so close to him.
"Who should we invite for the big day?" Athrodar asked her, closing his eyes too as Sylvanas wrapped her arms around his neck. "Unless you want to keep it strictly family only."
"Just family." Sylvanas told him. "A few friends, but mostly family. A handful more than last time and I don't want it to be a big thing."
Athrodar smiled, knowing she hated the attention and understanding her reason behind having it a small gathering of family and a few friends. "My mother will be there this time. Liadrin would probably fight Luna to host the ceremony and I think the Draenei will step down to let her do it."
"Do I have to wear a dress?" Sylvanas asked, opening her eyes to watch him chuckle.
"Of course not. If you don't want to, you don't have to." Athrodar stroked her hair when he saw her close her eyes again. "Although..."
Sylvanas sighed and shook her head, though she was smiling the whole time. "You want me to wear one, don't you?"
"Only so I can rip it off you when we're alone." Athrodar told her, tilting his head a little so it was resting against hers. "But I won't force you."
"Good, I won't wear one." Sylvanas smiled when Athrodar chuckled, still having him stroke her hair. "Glad that's sorted." She whispered, snuggling into him. "Can you believe Alleria is already walking? It only feels like yesterday that she was born."
"And talking, don't forget that." Athrodar reminded her, planting another kiss on the top of her head. "And no, I can't believe it." He sighed a little which caught his wife's attention. "Did we miss out on too much by going back to Pandaria?"
"Of course not." Sylvanas told him, placing a hand flat on his chest to keep that connection to his heart as she sat up to look at him. "We done what we had to do, but we didn't miss out on anything. Your mother told us she has only just started walking and talking."
"I suppose you're right." Athrodar said, having Sylvanas place her head back on his chest and her ear above his heart.
The two of them sat in silence for the next ten minutes, Sylvanas listening to his heartbeat and syncing her own with his beat. Athrodar however, was listening to the sound of the tide coming in as it both calmed him and reminded him that he was now safe in the arms of the woman he loves. "Tired?" He asked when she yawned in his ear.
"Yes, but I don't want to move." Sylvanas whispered to him, keeping a smile on her face as she continued to listen to Athrodar's heartbeat. "Especially if my favourite song is continuously drumming in my ear."
"Then why don't I get a blanket to keep us warm if you want to stay out here?"
Sylvanas shook her head and held onto Athrodar tightly. "No, don't move. We used to camp out in these forests when we were rangers and kept warm with other rangers." She began to smile when a thought crossed her mind. "If only you were in my company, I would have taken you with me every time we had to keep warm."
"That is something I do not remember." Athrodar whispered to her, hearing her chuckle. "What? This is where you tell me you know who I partnered with, isn't it?"
"I tasked Viraleth with being that person. That's why she doesn't like to be near us when we're having sex, other than the obvious." Sylvanas smiled brighter. "It makes her feel uncomfortable with knowing that she had to sleep beside you to keep you both warm."
Athrodar began to chuckle this time, kissing the top of Sylvanas' head. "Okay, fair enough. I understand a little more about why she likes to keep some distance between the two of us."
"She is a loyal friend that I can't imagine never having." Sylvanas kissed Athrodar's cheek and moved her mouth to his ear. "I think we should lay down, so we can get comfortable and sleep."
Athrodar laughed lightly and agreed to her idea, laying down on the bench and moving the cushions behind his head so he could get comfortable, having Sylvanas lay bedside him with her ear still pressed against his chest. "Better?"
"Much." She whispered, feeling comfort and protection as Athrodar's arms wrapped around her. "Goodnight, my love."
"Goodnight." Athrodar whispered to her in return. "If this becomes a regular thing, I know for sure this was a good idea."
Sylvanas let out a throaty chuckle. "Good." She snuggled in closer to her husband to both keep warm and to be as close to him as physically possible. "Then we can do this often."
"Trolls?" Victoria asked, pulling out the arrow stuck in the Troll's chest beneath her. "I thought we were fighting the Mogu?"
"We are." Lor'Themar said, glancing back to the new Queen of Stormwind. "Perhaps they have some sort of long lasting Alliance between the two races."
"They're Zandalari." Jaina told them, moving one of the dead Trolls with her staff so she could see their face. "I remember learning about them as a child, my father..." The Archmage stopped her train of thought, though she kept her eyes on the Troll beneath her. "To see them this far out must mean they are expanding their empire again."
"We will make sure they don't make a stronghold of this ancient Mogu fortress." Vareesa said, looking over to Lor'Themar and Halduron who were leading their group. "After you."
Victoria held up the rear with Vareesa, walking beside her aunt who was scanning their surroundings. "How many Trolls do you think we will run into here?"
"I couldn't say." Vareesa told her, glancing to her niece who was also scanning their surroundings. "I hope it's not an entire army, since we will have to face the Mogu too."
"And yet, I feel like it's going to be an entire army." Victoria muttered, hearing a fight break out in the courtyard between Lor'themar's group and the Zandalari.
"Stay here." Vareesa said, nocking an arrow in place on her bow. "They could have secret passages back here to flank us."
Sera stood beside the her Queen who looked mildy frustrated with hanging back. "It's for the best." She whispered to the Sin'dorei, leaning on the grip of her glaive. "And if we are attacked from behind, you will be protecting everyone in that courtyard by keeping the ambushers at bay."
Victoria smiled a little and nodded her head at her Captain. "You're right." She looked over to Cyndia who was waiting nearby. "Cyndia, spread our rangers out and keep a look out for any small passages that the enemy can use to outflank us."
Cyandia bowed her head to the Queen. "Right away, my Lady."
Victoria sat down beside Snow who was laying on the ground, moving his head to her lap and hearing him purr the second she began to stroke him. "Take it easy, little one. Okay?" She whispered to her Nightsaber. "You're not as strong as you can be and I don't want you to injure yourself."
Sera sat down beside her Queen, petting Snow too but keeping her gaze on Victoria who was staring at Snow. "So what's your plan for when we return to Stormwind?"
"The second we return to Stormwind, I have to address the council and then the city as their new Queen. Only then can I start what I actually want to do."
"Which is?" Sera asked, watching a smile slowly creep on her Queen's face.
"I'll get my girls to clear out my parent's bedroom, cleaning it, burning the sheets and getting a whole new spread just for me." She looked over to Sera after hearing her laugh lightly. "What? It's bad enough I know that they were doing it regularly in there."
Sera continued to laughed, placing a hand on her Queen's shoulder and squeezing it lightly. "I can understand why you would do that." She kissed the top of her head when Victoria leaned on her shoulder. "And since when did you start calling your servants your 'girls'?"
"Are they not?" Victoria asked, sitting up and looking at her Captain. "They love me and I love them." She watched Sera raise an eyebrow at her, rolling her eyes at the Captain. "As much as a Queen can love her servants. I won't trade you for any of them."
"Good." Sera said with a smile, pulling her Queen's head back down to her shoulder. "So what else? They will clear out your parents room, clean it and make it yours with a whole new bed spread. Then what?"
"I suppose I just rule." Victoria said with a tone that sounded a little lost. "I don't really know what to do though. I'll have to rely on the council a lot, but I hope I can rely on you as well."
"You can, my Lady." Sera told her, kissing the top of her head. "I'll make sure that you don't do anything that could ruin your reputation."
"Thank you." Victoria whispered to her. "Now we just have to wait for the fight to finish, or for an ambush."
