Red Haze

"Where is she?"

Sylvanas held up her hands to her daughter who looked angered at their use of her Royal Magister without asking. "She is resting." Sylvanas told her.

"Why did you take her to Northrend? What is this I am hearing about working with the Lich King?" Victoria now asked, narrowing her eyes at her mother who sighed and closed her eyes.

"I.. Your father was summoned there. We spoke to the Lich King and he offered to give Thal'ena a powerful artifact that could help us defeat the Burning Legion."

Victoria's eyes widened in surprise, but not for the reason Sylvanas thought. "You worked with him!?" She said, her tone bordering on shock than anything else. "How... How could you? You know he murdered my parents! He killed you and Athrodar, Thal'ena and Sera.. He..." Victoria looked away from Sylvanas. "How could you..." She muttered, hugging herself and turning away from Sylvanas.

"Honey..." Sylvanas whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder and feeling a sting in her heart when Victoria rolled her shoulder to remove her hand from her shoulder. "Victoria.."

"No, mother. I don't want to be near you right now." Victoria told her, walking away from Sylvanas. "Or father. I.. I can't even look at you right now. You made a deal with the Lich King who killed you and those we love."

"I'm sorry." Sylvanas said, her ears drooping in sadness. "I just... It was a way to make sure we win this war. I want you and your brother and sisters to be safe... I didn't think it would -"

Victoria laughed to cut her off. "You're right, you didn't think. You didn't think what this would mean to me, or anyone else who was affected by the Lich King. How you got Thal'ena to go along with this I will never know. But I can guarantee that she accepted it just to be more powerful and hated every second of it." She looked over to Sylvanas, tears in her eyes and hints of hatred and anger. "I can't even call you mother. Someone who loved me as such would never make a deal with the man who killed my parents when I was a child."

"Victoria, honey... You don't mean that." Sylvanas whispered, extending out her hand to place it on her face.

"Get away from me!" She roared, spinning on her heel and running away from Sylvanas, tears flowing down her cheek the entire time she ran from her.


Athrodar smiled at Tanadia who slept peacefully in the infirmary bed she had been in since their last battle. "How has she been?" He asked, looking over to Thalina who was laying beside their daughter.

"She has been asking about you, but mostly she wants to get out of bed and be with her sisters." Thalina stroked her daughter's hair lightly, smiling when Tanadia held herself closer to her mother in her sleep. "Where have you been?" She asked him.

"It's a long story..." Athrodar said, not wanting to go into more detail than that. "And one I'm not too proud of."

Thalina placed her hand on his arm. "Don't worry, you don't have to tell me." She looked over to the entrance of the triage center, spotting Sylvanas looking lost and hurt. "I think you might be needed." She whispered, nodding over to the elf.

Athrodar looked over to his wife, standing up from the bed and making his way over to her. "Hey, are you okay?"

Sylvanas looked up at Athrodar and had tears in her eyes the second she saw him, burying her head in his chest and crying before she could stop herself. "I want to go home..." She muttered, holding onto him. "I... I don't want to be here anymore."

Athrodar walked towards an empty room, tilting Sylvanas' head up from his chest so they were looking at each other. "Hey... What happened?"

"We should have just stayed away from Icecrown. Victoria knows and she... she.." Sylvanas closed her eyes, shaking her head. "She hates us."

"Who, Victoria?" Athrodar asked, watching Sylvanas nod and bury her head in his chest again. "Because we went to Icecrown?" He now asked for clarification, getting a nod in return.

"She doesn't even see us as her parents, not after making a deal with Bolvar." Sylvanas muttered, holding onto Athrodar tightly.

"It was hardly a deal, he gave us Felo'melorn if we took Thal'ena there to wield it. The only thing he gets out of this is us defeating the Legion." Athrodar kissed the top of Sylvanas' head. "She knows that, right?"

"Yes... I told her that." Sylvanas said.

Athrodar kissed the top of her head again, holding onto her tightly too. "Okay. I say we give her some space. If that means we have to return home in the meantime, so be it." He looked down at the top of her head, smiling as she kept her face buried in his chest. "You know it's Hallow's End soon. Our daughter is looking forward to it and I'm sure Tahnir is coming home for a few days to celebrate it with us."

Sylvanas sniffed and looked up at her husband. "I.. I would like that."

"I thought you would." Athrodar said with a smile, leaning down and kissing her on the lips. "Now let's get back to Tanadia and Thalina, I'm sure they would like to spend some time back in Stormwind and away from the front lines so to speak."

Sylvanas nodded and buried her face back into his chest. "As long as I get to spend the next couple of days in bed, trying to keep my mind off what happened with Victoria, I'm fine with them coming back with us."

Athrodar rolled his eyes when he began to walk back into the main infirmary room where his daughter was staying, having Sylvanas hold onto him tightly. "You know we both know you're going to do the opposite of what you said right? You'll think about Victoria the entire time and it will kill you." He pulled her off his chest and kneeled down in front of her, taking both her hands in his. "But I will try my best to distract you for as long as possible, my love. I don't want you to make yourself upset the entire time we spend in Stormwind."

"Then take me back to our home in Quel'thalas." She told him quietly, looking him in the eyes and trying to hold back any more tears as she wanted to get back to her strong demeanor.

"You know we can't go back yet. Not until it's fully repaired from the raid." Athrodar kissed the top of both her hands, squeezing them lightly. "But I will keep you up to date on what is happening, okay? When it's repaired, we can go back."

"Good.." Sylvanas muttered, remaining silent for the next hour until they had all returned to Stormwind and she was holding onto her baby Cedani.

"Is mama okay?" Alleria asked, looking up at her father who held onto her hand.

Athrodar looked over to Sylvanas and saw her attention was fixed on the baby in her arms. "She will be, little one." He told his daughter, picking her up carrying her on his shoulders. "Now, who wants to go find a costume for Hallow's End?"

"Me!" Alleria yelled, giggling when Athrodar kept her sitting on his shoulders whilst he ran out the keep.

Sylvanas watched them both disappear out Stormwind Keep and returned her focus back to Cedani who slept in her arms. "You will never hurt me, will you?" She whispered to her, letting a lone tear drop down from her cheek and land on the back of her hand that stroked her child's cheek. "You'll look after your mother forever, won't you?"


Victoria sat on the side of her bed, with her swords, sharpening them with a whetstone. "Stop looking at me like that, Thal'ena." She said, not looking up at her Royal Magister who was saddened that Sylvanas, Athrodar and family had all left Dalaran so early, despite slowly tipping the scales of this war in their favor. "I have said all I have to say on this topic, so drop it."

"Yes, my Lady." Thal'ena said quietly, bowing her head at the Queen and staying at the closed door.

Victoria sighed and placed her sword down beside her. "Out with it. I'm not going through the rest of this war with a Royal Magister being distracted by my family issues."

"Don't be so hard on them, my Lady." Thal'ena told her Queen. "Forgive them, they only done what they thought was -"

"Save it. I have heard it all before." Victoria looked over to Thal'ena who looked down at the floor. "They only took the deal to boost our power, they listened to the Lich King because he offered them... Sorry, offered you a weapon that will help us defeat the Legion." Victoria looked back to her sword and picked it up. "I know what happened and just talking about it angers me. So stop telling me to forgive them. I will forgive them when I feel like they are worthy of my forgiveness."

Thal'ena bowed her head and placed her hand on the door handle. "I'll take my leave, my Lady."

"Fine."

The Royal Magister left the Queen's room and let out a long exhale, slowly sinking down onto the floor. "Fuck sake..." She whispered to herself, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand. "I should never have accepted the offer..."

Cyndia looked over to the Royal Magister who threw Felo'melorn across the hallway she sat in, moving out the way of the blade. "Bad day?"

Thal'ena pulled her cloak up and over her head, hiding her entire face save for her mouth. "You have no idea..." She pulled back her cloak a little to look at the new Ranger General of Stormwind. "Despite what she says, our Queen isn't over the loss of Sera, her grandmother or Snow. I think her holding this grudge on her parents and me for working with the Lich King to get that," Thal'ena pointed at the blade she had thrown across the room, "is because she wants to be angry at the Legion but has nobody here to channel that anger to... Until this morning."

Cyndia sat down beside the Royal Magister and pat her on her leg. "Listen, I think you taking up that blade is awesome. If I had a sword that boosted my ranger technique... Well then I'd be a poor ranger because I need to use a bow." She laughed when Thal'ena laughed, elbowing her lightly. "Just... Stay on her good side, okay? She's a good kid but is going through a lot for someone who has already lost her birth parents, her best friend, grandmother and arguably the first true love of her life."

Thal'ena sighed and nodded her head slowly. "I know... I just don't like seeing her in this way."

Victoria sat on the opposite side of the door, hugging herself and listening in to their conversation.

"I know you love her and I'm fairly certain she loves you." Cyndia rubbed her shoulder for comfort. "I heard she even said so to you, but wants to wait until this war is over and for everything to settle down before she attempts another relationship." The General smiled when Thal'ena leaned her head on her shoulder. "Just give her time, support her and she will warm up to you again. Like we've both said, she's going through a lot right now."

Victoria heard them get up and begin to leave, standing up and opening the door just watch them turn the corner at the end of the corridor. Her heart sinking and chest tightening as she began to let their words sink in. She did miss Sera, Snow and Illana. More than she thought she could and it was affecting her a lot. Deep down she wasn't angry with her parents for what they did, she actually understood why they went to Icecrown, but right now that was all clouded by recent events and deaths.

Just thinking about her parents going to Icecrown begins to anger her once more and she looks down at the necklace she wore, one Athrodar gave her and pulled on it to rip it off her neck, throwing it across the room and watching the sapphire jewel fly across the room and hit the wall, landing on the floor. Not feeling satisfied with such minor destruction, if it can be called that, she began to throw other things across the room, even going as far as to pulling down a bookcase just to create as much mess and noise as possible, hoping it would be a good source to let out her anger.

Exhausted, she sat down on the side of her bed and began to cry into her hands. "You had to just go to Icecrown..." She muttered, looking at the once clean and tidy room that was now completely destroyed, letting out a small laugh. "If you could see me now, you'd be so angry." Her smiled dropped the moment she said that and looked back to where she threw the necklace, noticing the bookcase she pulled down was on top of it.

"No, no, no!" She said in a panic, pushing the bookcase away and looking down at the shattered jewel in her necklace. "No!"

Defeated, she laid down on the floor and kept the necklace in her open palm, staring at it as she slowly drifted off to sleep.


Athrodar planted several kisses up and down Sylvanas' shoulder and neck as they both laid in bed, the latter staring out the window and at the stars. "She will forgive us soon." Athrodar told her, knowing that's where her mind was as she continued to gaze out the window. "And who knows, a day away from us might just be all it takes."

"Are you saying we are an annoyance to her?" Sylvanas asked, keeping her voice low and placing her hand over the top of his.

"Not at all." Athrodar told her, kissing her on the cheek. "I'm saying I'm the annoyance, but you know how to put up with me."

Sylvanas giggled when Athrodar continued his assault on her neck and face with his lips. "Are you trying to distract me?"

"Not at all." He whispered, tightening his hold around her a little and feeling her heartbeat quicken at his closeness as well as his continued assault of her face. "Why, is it working?"

"Almost." Sylvanas purred. "But I think something else on my body needs your lips."

Athrodar sat up and looked down at his wife, seeing the need in her eyes. "Say no more." He whispered, submerging himself under the covers and making his way between her legs.

Sylvanas bit her bottom lip, smiling and letting out a small moan the second Athrodar began kissing her thighs, making his way up to her womanhood and giving it one long lick. "Oh.. baby, I never get tired of this." She heard Athrodar chuckle under the covers, rubbing his back with one foot and placing her hands on her breasts, squeezing them to give herself more pleasure, though Athrodar's tongue was more than enough. She let out another moan and arched her back. "Yes... Keep it up, baby."

"Mama?" Alleria asked, rubbing her eyes and standing at the doorway, not yet noticing what was going on before her.

"Honey, honey.. Stop." Sylvanas said, placing her hand on Athrodar's head.

"Why, want to savor the moment?" Athrodar asked, remaining hidden under the covers.

"No... Our daughter is standing at the door." Sylvanas told him, looking over to her daughter. "What's wrong, pumpkin?"

"I don't feel well.." She muttered, rubbing her eye with the same hand still and looking at her parents who were both now laying in bed and visible to her.

"Come here, baby." Sylvanas said, stretching out her arms. "Come sleep with mommy and daddy tonight. We can make you feel better."

Athrodar helped their daughter climb up onto the bed and placed her between them, smiling when Sylvanas began to place a torrent of kisses on their daughter's belly. "Mommy's kisses always make me feel better when I'm unwell." He told her, hearing her giggle.

"Come on, give me a hug." Sylvanas said, laying down beside her daughter and closing her eyes when Alleria hugged her. She began stroking her hair and heard her yawn. "You'll be safe with us, honey."

"Are you happy now mama?" Alleria asked in hushed tones, making Sylvanas widen her eyes and look over to Athrodar.

She saw him nod before he kissed the back of their daughter's head. "Yes I am." Sylvanas said, holding onto her daughter tightly. "Especially with you and daddy around. Your baby sister and big brother make me happy too, but I am really happy when you are here, honey."

"I love you, mommy." Alleria said softly, closing her eyes and cuddling up to Sylvanas who had the biggest smile of the day on her face.

"I love you too, baby." She whispered, looking over to Athrodar who was grinning at her. "So what did you do all day?" She asked when she heard Alleria's steady breathing, knowing she had fallen asleep."

"Went to the Park, watched her run around, pet the cat that is always there. Then she begged me to get her something sweet and I couldn't say no to those beautiful eyes that you both share."

Sylvanas raised an eyebrow. "Even when talking about our daughter and your day with her, you still manage to flatter me. Colour me impressed."

"I would do a lot more, but we were interrupted as you know." Athrodar looks down at the interruption laying between them. "But I'm not complaining, just seeing her cuddled up to her mother is adorable."

"She is where I want to be though..." Sylvanas muttered. "Maybe I could -"

Her sentence was interrupted by Alleria holding onto her mother's arm tightly. "Apparently not." Athrodar mused, placing a gentle hand on his wife's cheek. "If you get lonely over there, I will gladly help you move in the middle of us. But she will be a completely different obstacle entirely."

"That is true." Sylvanas closed her eyes and kept her daughter close. "Might as well sleep with her in my arms. This doesn't happen as often anymore."

"She's growing up." Athrodar told her, trying to get as close to two of the most important people in his life. "Goodnight, my love." Athrodar whispered.

"Goodnight, my heart." Sylvanas whispered back to him.


Thal'ena went to her Queen's chambers in the Violet Hold and slowly opened the door, starting her morning routine of waking up Victoria before heading to the main hall. "My La... Oh wow, what happened here?"

Victoria had slept on the floor all night, keeping her now broken necklace in her hands and not caring that she had dried tears on her face. "I fucked up, Thal'ena..." She said, staring at the shattered sapphire in her necklace. "Dad got me this before they even adopted me... I've had it for as long as I've known them and now..." She looked up at Thal'ena from the corner of her eye for a second just to look at her Royal Magister, looking back at the jewel in her hand. "Now I've destroyed the best gift Athrodar gave me... Outside of a family."

Thal'ena sat on the edge of the Queen's bed, looking down at her as she continued to lay on the floor. "Do you need anything, my Lady? I can go to Stormwind and get Athrodar, or I can make you the biggest breakfast ever... with some help. Anything you need, my Lady, I am here."

Victoria wiped her eyes with her free hand, keeping the broken necklace in the other. "You sound more like a servant or a messenger than a Royal Magister."

Thal'ena placed her head on her fist and looked down at the Queen with a smirk. "I can be anything you want too, my Lady. I just don't want to see you upset."

"I know, Thal'ena." Victoria muttered, patting the floor in front of her. "Lay down with me, I don't want to be alone today."

"I could get your parents for you, my Lady. I'm sure they -"

"No." Victoria said, interrupted her Royal Magister's train of thought. "I'm not ready to talk to them yet. I just want to be around friends, not family right now."

"Okay, my Lady." Thal'ena smiled at her, looking down at the necklace in her hand and stroking a finger over the top of it. "So what happened to it?"

"I was angry and upset." Victoria told her. "I threw it at the wall, then trashed this room as you can see."

Thal'ena nodded and smiled. "I can see that. You practically threw or pulled down everything in here except your bed."

"Well I needed somewhere to sleep... At least that was my train of thought until I found my necklace." Victoria eyed the jewellery in her hand once more. "I pulled down the bookcase and forgot about where I had threw this. When I remembered, I pushed the bookcase away and found... this."

"My Lady..." Thal'ena whispered, placing a hand on her cheek. "Let me go see if I can find a jewelcrafter, I'm sure they can repair this."

Victoria sighed. "Fine... But I don't expect anything good to come of it. It's pretty much destroyed."

Thal'ena stroked her Queen's hair and smiled at her, taking the necklace out of her hand. "Trust me, my Lady. I will stop at nothing to get this repaired for you."

"Thank you, Thal'ena." Victoria said, sitting up when her Royal Magister made her way to the door. "For everything."

She smiled and bowed her head to her Queen. "It's nothing, my Lady."