Early Signs

"Why is this problem being brought to us now?"

Victoria kept her head propped up by her fist as she leant on it during this council meeting, missing Sera as she was gone for an entire month to deal with a problem that arose a couple days ago in Duskwood and now hating that she chose her General over one of her Captains to deal with it. "Yes, why is it exactly?" She said, sitting up and looking towards Deputy Rainer who was the Officer in charge of Westbrook Garrison.

"Because we have tried all of our best efforts for the past two years since you gave us those reinforcements, your Grace. Nothing has worked to stem the tide of Gnolls that seem to be unending." The Deputy looked around at the council, keeping his helmet tucked under his arm. "We need more men. Mages more than anything and a priest or two. Something that could help clear out the dens quicker than they can reproduce as well as keep my men alive."

"Your Grace, I can go to Westbrook with some of my mages to help them."

Victoria looked over to her Royal Magister, Thal'ena. "Are you sure? You don't have to go there yourself."

"I will gladly go myself, your Grace. Gives me a chance to see anything but the walls surrounding this city and out into the forests again." Thal'ena bowed her head to Victoria who remained sat on her throne, thinking about whether or not she should send Thal'ena out there, leaving her with one less friend in the city. "If you would allow it, your Grace."

Over the last two and a bit years she had been Queen, she had yet to come to blows with the Royal Magister, regarding her as a close friend and knowing she would miss seeing her face for the next week or however long it would take to clear out the Gnolls. Which is what made it difficult for her to come to an answer for both the Deputy and the Magister. "Okay." She said, standing up from her throne and walking towards Thal'ena. "Yes you can go help them." She said, taking hold of one of her hands. "Just try to make it quick." She whispered, hugging the Royal Magister. "My list of friends is growing smaller as the month goes on, which is why I need you to be quick about this."

"I will be, Victoria." She whispered back, leaving a peck on the cheek that went unnoticed to the rest of the council that stood behind her. "And then this Gnoll problem will be dealt with indefinately."

Victoria let go of the Royal Magister and watched her depart from the council along with the Deputy, sitting back on her throne and having Snow walk around and lay at her feet, giving her the best form of comfort her could from this position. "Are there any other concerns that need addressing today?"

"There is one." A council member said, stepping forward and making the Queen frown as it was the one from Sentinal Hill. "There have been some disturbing reports from our scouts. Apparently they are coming across tainted land, your Grace."

"Tainted how?" Victoria asked, sitting forward a little to listen carefully to what he had to say.

"The land was black as if it had been scarred and had small pockets of green flame." He looked at the council who mostly seemed confused by the description, though a few of the older council members thought it sounded familiar and expressed that in their body language. "Cows that had been missing for a few days turned up dead around the land and a banner placed in the middle of them." He clicked his fingers and two soldiers walked passed the rest of the council and placed the banner down on the floor in front of everyone.

"The Burning Legion..." A Draenei said in the middle of the council, having everyone look over to him. "They are back." He said to them all, making the entire council erupt into a symphony of whispers and mutterings.

"Are you sure?" Victoria asked, looking at the Draenei.

"It's a tactic they use before launching a full scale invasion of their chosen planet." He told them, stepping into the middle of the room and addressing them all. "This is just the start of what is to be an all out war."

"How long do we have?" Victoria asked him now, watching the Draenei begin to think about his response.

"This seems like the first reported incident, so expect these signs to happen for another year before something changes." He sighed and looked over to the Queen. "Then their invasion will begin phase two, placing spies into the higher places of the world. So in this council for instance." He looked around at the council members who began to look at each other. "Get to know each other's faces and how they act and react. If you feel like something is off, report it in." He looked back to the Queen who was now taking everything in. "Then they will try to weaken their enemies by turning us against each other."

"What is phase one?" Victoria asked, noticing he didn't say.

"By the sound of it, they are striking fear into the planet so they can cut through us with ease. Because if we fear what is to come, we won't have the courage to stand against the tide of demons that will surely follow." The Draenei looked around at everyone once more. "I will report back to Prophet Velen of this news and hopefully he can inform you in more detail of what to expect and how to counter their tactics."

Victoria now watched the Draenei begin to leave the throne room, having the remaining council look at her for guidance. "Everyone go about your lives as normal and don't tell anyone about this just yet." She told them, standing up from her throne. "I don't want chaos to roam the streets of my city when we don't even know what we are going to be up against. For all we know, it could be someone pretending to be the Burning Legion just to scare people."

As everyone agreed and began to leave, Victoria sat back down on her throne for good this time and began to let her mind wonder. Was it actually the Burning Legion coming back again to reclaim a planet that has eluded them? Time would surely tell and fortunately, she had a lot of time to spare, though she was waiting to plan out what to do with Sera when she returns.

Glancing over to her right when she saw some movement, her eyes rested on one of her servants. Chloe was her name, the raven haired human woman who she was most fond of out of the three and could sense she felt the same. "Come here." She said quietly, beckoning the woman over and tapping her hand on her lap and seeing a smile on the human's face when she sat down on it. "What are you up to?" Victoria asked, having the human rest her head on her shoulder.

"Is it true that the Burning Legion are coming back?" She asked, wrapping her arms around Victoria's neck and holding onto the Queen who was treating her not like a servant at this time, but like a friend.

"I don't know." Victoria told her honestly, kissing the top of her head and stroking her back lightly with the tips of her fingers, feeling Chloe shiver at her ghost like touches. "Were you listening in on our meeting by chance?" She asked the woman on her lap.

"Not on purpose." Chloe admitted. "I was trying to head to my room and forgot everyone was in here. It won't happen again."

Victoria held onto her servant a little tighter for reassurance. "That's okay, I'm not angry at you." She sighed, closing her eyes when she pressed her head against the human's. "I'm happy that you are here though, I miss my purple-haired beauty of a General and needed the company."

"Forgotten her name already, your Grace?" Chloe asked jokingly, making Victoria chuckle.

"It's been so long, I barely remember what she looks like." Victoria joked, having Chloe snuggle up to her. "Normally I would refrain from doing this with you or the other girls in public, but I sense you're worried and I need the company so I'll allow it." She smiled when the younger woman held onto her tightly, forgetting she was only twenty-two until this moment and realising she had never seen the Burning Legion's affects on the world, only hearing about them through stories. "We'll be okay." She whispered to her, stroking her hair now. "Sera and I will come up with a plan, along with the rest of my Officers."

Chloe watched all the guards standing around the throne room begin to leave, smiling and closing her eyes when she was left alone with the Queen. "Closing the Keep for the day, your Grace?"

"I am." Victoria admitted, nudging the woman on her lap lightly. "Go get Amanda and Sophie, I figured we could all relax today in the Keep."

"A girls day?" Chloe asked, standing up off her lap and smiling at her.

"Precisely." Victoria said, standing up and looking down at Snow who was watching her from where he lay. "And Snow. Girls day and Snow."


Over the next week, several scouts had been sent out as well as dignitaries to all the major cities on a top secret mission for their leaders eyes alone. It was to inform them of what they found in Westfall and to keep an eye out for such signs as well as warning them to keep it on the down low as to not scare the civilians. "I didn't come across anything whilst at Westbrook." Thal'ena said, standing at the door to her Queen's chambers and watching her watch Tanadia play with Snow. "Perhaps it's not the Burning Legion."

"Or it might be and they are yet to leave another sign. I was informed they would do this for a year at most, scaring the civilians and allowing their agents to become a part of our population." Victoria glanced back to Thal'ena who was now watching Tanadia. "Did you clear out all the Gnolls?"

"I did, your Grace. It wasn't difficult once we got a system going, Westbrook should be good to patrol the forests without being ambushed by them." Thal'ena bowed her head to her Queen. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, actually." Victoria went to her dresser and picked up a box, taking off the lid and handing it to the Royal Magister. "I kept the banner, just in case it could be of some use. I need you and a selected few mages you can trust to keep their mouths shut to examine this."

"What should I be looking for?" Thal'ena asked, taking the box off her Queen.

"Anything that could tell us this was from the Burning Legion. Magic residue, fel energy, something." Victoria placed the lid over the box and looked at the Royal Magister. "Just find something to give me the all clear to build up our defences. I don't want to spend all my city's gold on reinforcing our walls and recruiting new soldiers if it's for nothing."

"I'll see what my mages and I can find out. I may have to go to Dalaran or Silvermoon, but I will give you an answer." Thal'ena bowed her head to Victoria. "Your Grace." She said, dismissing herself to begin her task.

"So what are you getting me for my fourteenth birthday?" Tanadia asked, looking up at her sister who sat back down on the bed behind her.

"Fourteenth? You know we celebrate every ten years until we hit a century old, then it's every quarter century after that." Victoria saw her sister's smile fade away and be replaced by sadness, rolling her eyes and sliding off the bed until she sat beside the young priestess. "Okay, fine... What do you want? I'll see if I can pull some strings."

Tanadia smiled up at her though it was a sad smile, one that made Victoria realise it was going to be a tough thing to get. "I want my dad to be there." She muttered, looking over to Snow and placing a hand on his head. "He missed my last two birthdays and I want him to be there for this one." She looked back up to her sister. "I was hoping you could talk him into being there for this one."

Victoria smiled and pulled her sister in for a hug. "I will see what I can do. And I will ask him why he hasn't been there for the last two, okay?" She kissed her sister on her temple. "I'm sure he has a good reason, our father loves us and wouldn't do anything to make us upset."

"I want him to see that I am growing up too. Ever since he left to be with his other family, I have seen him three times." Tanadia sighed, hugging herself and looking down at her feet as she curled up into a ball, still sitting beside Victoria who looked sorry for her. "My mother won't let me leave her side, even when she has company over."

"She is still trying to find someone?" Victoria asked, having never really seen the Magister much over the last two years. "The last time I spoke to your mother was the week before my parents got re-married."

"Yeah, well... She only lets me out to go to my lessons with Liadrin and on the rare occasions, go to the Trade District to pick up a few things she forgot to get. I don't even get to see my friends outside of my lessons." Tanadia sighed again, resting her head on her sister's shoulder. "I thought staying here would be fun. To be near you and Snow, in the Capital."

"She has let you out to see me today though." Victoria told her, hugging her sister. "I can go talk to her if you want? As Queen of this city more than as your sister."

"Could you? I'm not a kid anymore but she acts like I am and stops me from doing anything I want." Tanadia smiled a little when Snow rest his head on her lap, rubbing his cheeks to keep herself calm as she was more angered by how sheltered she had been lately more than upset.

"Okay, give me a few minutes and I'll make my way over there." Victoria kissed her sister on the temple once more and stood up. "Keep Snow company whilst I'm away?"

Tanadia nodded her head and continued to give Snow as much love as she could muster. "Will do."

Making her way to the Mage District, Victoria was coming up with ways to talk to Thalina without angering her, making her feel like she knew better than the mother of the child in question and other negative thoughts. She just wanted her sister to have more freedom, to come and go whenever she liked, something she had allowed day one of her reign. "I'll just ask her to give Tanadia more freedom. Simple."

But when she arrived in the Mage District and climbed the Mage Tower, she froze just outside Thalina's room and her mind went blank the moment Thalina opened the door despite her not knocking. "Your Grace? What can I do for you?"

"Hi Thal." Victoria said with a smile. "I am here for you. Well, I'm here for Tanadia, but it's to talk to you."

"Oh?" Thalina began to smile at the Queen. "How is she?"

"She's fine, Thal." Victoria said, walking into the room when Thalina moved out of the way. "I am here to ask you to give Tanadia some more freedom. She's not a little kid anymore and she just wants to be with her friends."

"Oh..." Thalina began to walk away from the Queen, coming across a picture of Tanadia when she was the tiny elf that slept in her arms as a baby. "I know I've been sheltering her from the outside world. But in my eyes she's still the little girl that would come running to me after she got bored of whatever it was she was doing and would hug me so tightly that her arms would get tired after a while." Thalina smiled at the picture. "I guess I just miss that little girl."

Victoria hugged the Magister when she saw her continue to stare at the picture. "I know you do. But you have to give her some freedom, Thal. If she makes mistakes or gets into trouble whilst she's out there, then it's a good chance for her to learn from the mistake that got her into trouble in the first place."

"I guess you're right." Thalina muttered, moving her thumb over the picture as if to stroke her daughter with it. "They grow up so fast..."

Victoria chuckled at the comment, nodded her head in agreement. "They do. My brother is now closing in on seven and I have barely seen him."

"See, now that is worse than what I have been doing." Thalina told her. "He's family, you should visit him often. Titans knows your parents are missing you greatly."

"I was actually planning to see them within the next couple of days. Tanadia wants to have Athrodar here for her fourteenth. I tried to tell her that's an obscure birthday to celebrate, but she didn't care." Victoria shrugged her shoulders, looking at the Magister who placed the picture back where it was sitting. "So are you going to give her more freedom to roam around the city? She is my Princess after all, I don't know how I can explain it that she is being locked away by her mother."

"Yes, I'll give her more freedom. Tell her I am sorry, I just wanted to hold onto that little girl that would run into my arms just a while longer." Thalina smiled at the Queen. "You should go see your family. I'm sure your council will understand if you take a couple days off to be with them."

Victoria smiled back at the Magister. "I had planned to do so tomorrow."

"Go today." Thalina told her, placing a hand on her arm. "Surprise them and spend the rest of the week with them."

Victoria thought about arguing her point on going tomorrow for a couple of days, but then she was reminded of how Thalina felt with her daughter and began to smile a little brighter at the Magister. "I'll inform your daughter that you are planning to give her more freedom, then I will go home to my family." She stepped forward and hugged Thalina tightly. "Thank you for listening to your daughter's problem and then helping me with mine." She pulled back and smiled at the shorter yet older elf. "I'll be going now, leaving Snow with your daughter until I return."

Thalina laughed lightly, a little worried about having a Nightsaber in her chambers. "Great. I'm sure she will love having him around... Me however."

Victoria laughed lightly now, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be fine. He is very tame to everyone unless they pose a threat."

"I'll keep that in mind..." Thalina muttered as Victoria left her chambers in the Mage Tower.


"Keep your arm straight." Sylvanas said softly, crouching beside her son who was learning to use a bow. "Make sure the arrow is level to your eye, look down it and towards your target."

Whilst his wife was teaching their son Tahnir how to use a bow, Athrodar had their daughter on his knee whilst he sat beside his mother, both of them watching Tahnir's second week learning how to use a bow whilst Alleria, the youngest member of their family on his knee, was distracted by the stuffed lynx toy in her hands. "So we were speaking earlier about taking a small trip. Any ideas on where?"

Illana tilted her head a little, trying to think of somewhere on Azeroth they could go. "What are you looking for?"

Athrodar began to smile a little, looking over to Sylvanas who was focused souly on their son. "She wants to go somewhere cold so we have to stay as close as possible to each other."

"So a place with snow for the entire family? Or both of you?"

Athrodar's smile widened at the question. "Definately the two of us. She loves her children, but we've barely had time alone the last two years and I think she misses how often we were over each other when out in the world."

Illana smiled when she saw her son's gaze fixed on his wife, placing a hand on his arm to get his attention back onto the conversation. "How about Winterspring? Or Dun Morogh? I can't imagine you'd want to go back to Northrend."

"Her mind has been set on Winterspring. We've been to Dun Morogh and Northrend, so it only makes sense that we go to Winterspring." Athrodar's gaze went back to Sylvanas but only for a second as he saw an elf approaching them in the distance, smiling and placing Alleria on the bench he sat on and walking passed his wife, making his way towards the approaching elf. "Victoria..." He said softly, holding out his arms and having his eldest run into them and hug him tightly. "Your mother is going to be an emotional wreck when her focus is removed from your brother."

"I'm sorry I haven't visited in over a year. I have been so busy that I -"

Athrodar shook his head and placed his hand on her arm. "Don't. We understand why you've not visited, your mother especially. She will just be so happy that her first child has come home to her."

Sylvanas looked over to Athrodar who wasn't on the bench she thought he was on, looking around and locking eyes with Victoria who looked over to her just as she looked at her daughter, standing up slowly and watching her eldest make her way over to her quickly. "Tahnir, put the bow down for now." She muttered, catching Victoria when she jumped at her and holding onto her first child tightly. "Your sister has come home." She whispered, bombarding Victoria's cheek with kisses.

"I'm home, mama..." Victoria whispered, feeling her chest tighten all of a sudden when she felt the security in her mother's arms, showing no signs of being a Queen and instead shifting back to the innocent young ranger that spent the majority of her life trying to emulate the woman hugging her now. "I'm sorry I didn't visit earlier, mama."

Sylvanas shook her head, closing her eyes and letting a few tears of joy run down her face whilst she held onto her daughter as if her life depended on it. "It's okay, honey. You are here now, that's all that matters."

"I've missed you all." Victoria told her when they pulled away for the briefest moment to look at each other. "I was talking to Thalina and it occured to me I hadn't seen you all in so long that I was missing out on my brother and sister growing up."

"You can stay as long as you like." Athrodar said, standing behind Victoria and placing a hand on her back. "You know we will always love to have you here. Forever preferably, but we won't force you into anything."

Sylvanas reached behind her daughter and gripped Athrodar's shirt, pulling him into their hug and squashing Victoria between them. "I love you both." The Queen said, smiling and keeping her eyes closed as her parents hugged her from both sides.

"We love you too." Sylvanas whispered to her daughter, holding her close to her chest. "And it grows as the days pass and we hear all the things you do whilst in charge of Stormwind."

"That reminds me." Victoria said, looking over her shoulder and towards her father. "Tanadia has asked you to be there for her fourteenth birthday." She held up a hand when Athrodar was about to speak, interrupting him. "She knows we celebrate every ten years as a society, but she really wants you to be there."

Athrodar smiled and nodded his head. "I'll be there. I haven't seen my little priestess in a whilst and I would love to be there." He saw Sylvanas look at him and rolled his eyes. "Your mother will be there too, she misses your sister as much as I."

Victoria let go of her mother, looking passed her and towards her brother and sister. "Go to them." Sylvanas said when she saw Victoria hesitated to move. "Your brother has asked for you a numerous amount of times over the last two years. Your sister however knows you exist and live in Stormwind, but hasn't asked for you." She nudged Victoria with her arm when she still didn't move. "Go. Maybe you can imprint yourself on your sister and make her want you around."

Victoria smiled a little, making her way over to her brother and sister and being hugged by Tahnir the moment she crouched down beside him. "Hello brother." She whispered, kissing his cheek. "You're growing up so fast, you'll be as strong as dad very soon." She told him smiling when he smiled at her. "Are you keeping our parents safe?"

Tahnir nodded his head. "I am, yeah. Mom is teaching me how to use a bow."

"Oh? I hope you can show me sometime soon." Victoria looked over to Alleria who was shying away from her gaze, hiding behind Illana. "I'm going to go talk to our sister." She said, rustling his hair before making her way to Alleria and crouching down in front of her and placing a hand on her foot. "Hey, little one." She said in a soft voice, smiling at her and making Alleria smile a little. "I'm your big sister, Victoria."

Alleria looked up at Illana who nodded her head. "She is." Illana said, smiling at Victoria who smiled up at her. "How are you, little one?"

"I'm good, Illana. Just missing you all." Victoria's gaze went back to her sister and looked at the stuffed lynx toy in her hands. "Who's this?" She asked, watching Alleria hug the toy.

"Paws." Alleria said, hugging the toy a little tighter. "He's my friend."

Victoria moved to sit on the bench, watching Alleria try to hide behind Illana once more. "It's okay, I won't hurt you." She saw her continue to hug the stuffed toy. "I have a friend like Paws at home. My friend is called Snow and he is so big and fluffy, I wished I had brought him with me for you to meet."

Illana watched Alleria shuffle closer to her. "I'm sure you can meet Snow soon." She said, looking at her younger granddaughter who was now getting comfortable with Victoria. "And I know you will love him."

"I just have to fight your other sister off him." Victoria muttered, hearing Illana chuckle and watching her shake her head. "She loves him so much, I barely get to be with him when she visits." She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at Alleria once more. "But I will gladly bring him with me the next time I visit. Or if you come to Stormwind with mom and dad."

Sylvanas made her way to her daughters, picking up Alleria when she stretched her arms out towards her and sitting her on her hip. "Come inside, get settled and we can talk some more." She said to Victoria, watching her stand up and walking with her towards Windrunner Manor. "I never said, but welcome home." She said, handing Alleria over to Victoria when the little elf stretched out her arms towards her. "And get used to this. She loves being hugged and I think she gets that from her father."

Victoria laughed and looked over to Athrodar who was teaching Tahnir how to use a bow in Sylvanas' absence. "We both know she gets that from you, mom. You love having his arms around you."

Sylvanas chuckled and nodded her head. "That's true. I hope things are going well with you and Sera, we've not heard much on that front."

Victoria smiled when she thought about her General. "Things are great. I met her parents a few months ago and they loved me, so it's clear to say that I have a way with people."

"As long as you're having fun as Queen." Sylvanas said, placing a hand on her cheek. "It's not worth staying in charge if you're not enjoying it."

"I am. I'm loving the freedom and the chance to build on what you and dad have already done." Victoria said, feeling at home the second she entered Windrunner Manor. "But a part of me does miss all of you and wished I could be here."

"Like your father said, you are welcome here any time you begin to miss us. We will never turn you away." Sylvanas kissed Victoria on the cheek and the Alleria, leaving her two daughters alone when the Queen went to her bedroom.