(19) The Keep

Morgana let out a soft whimper as she exited the portal. Still holding Khadgar's hand for balance she put the other over her stomach as the queasiness passed. The floor she stared down at moved for a moment or two making her think the room was spinning.

"Take your time," Khadgar comforted her.

As Morgana stood her heart began racing again hearing the music from a few rooms over. Her mind began racing with all the possible outcomes tonight would have. Most of them were negative ones as she remembered what she was to some of the people of Stormwind.

"Ready?" he asked.

Morgana shook her head, "I really shouldn't be here."

"See past your class, Morgana," Khadgar said, taking her hand in his ready to guide her forward. "And see the woman he's chosen to be with tonight."

Khadgar urged her forward before Morgana could process her thoughts. She kept her gaze low as they traveled through the Keep. A few people passed them recognizing Khadgar but not her. This made Morgana slightly more confident in not being recognized with royalty but it swiftly faded as she entered the ball room.

Many Lords and Ladies were scattered in the room, some were in the center dancing to the up beat music provided. Morgana saw where Khadgar was leading her and quickly jolted her gaze back down. Everything in the room was new to her and staring was not polite to anyone; and it would give away her class.

"Chin up," Khadgar whispered, squeezing Morgana's hand lightly.

Khadgar stood in front of both the Prince and the King on their thrones with no hesitation. He held his head high as if proud to be introducing Morgana to them.

"Your Majesties," Khadgar spoke as both he and Morgana bowed deeply. "May I present, Lady Morgana Nadine Montgomery Farron."

Lady?

"Nadine?"

"Morgana!"

The Prince rose from his throne with a friendly smile on his face. Khadgar politely bowed and stepped back, handing Morgana off to Anduin. He took her hand and stood at her side looking over her multiple times. Morgana's shyness crept up on her as she felt her face grow hot from his lingering gaze.

"Nadine Montgomery?" the King repeated.

Morgana tore her gaze from one royal to the other, "Yes, Majesty. She is my mother."

Even when sitting, King Varian Wrynn was a very imposing man. With broad shoulders and the inability to hide his muscles under anything, Morgana found herself extremely intimidated even being in his presence.

She felt indignity wash over her for a moment realizing now the King knew who her parents were and how broken her lineage was. Most of the men she knew were fond of "the old ways" and she had hoped maybe the King would take on his son's opinion of her in terms of looking over her ancestry.

"I didn't know," King Varian trailed off in thought. "How is she?"

His question caught Morgana off guard. No one had ever asked about her parents after hearing about them. Most of the time when people discovered her lineage they walked away.

"She's well, thank you," Morgana scrambled to get her words in order. "She's in the Mage Quarter as a tailor for the Alliance pageants."

"She's still in the pageant world?" King Wrynn asked with a laugh. "I suppose old habits die hard."

Anduin waited a moment before he started guiding Morgana elsewhere. Morgana gave a quick curtsy before turning with the Prince. Anduin first started leading her off to the side close to the walls away from prying eyes and eager ears.

"See?" Wrynn said teasingly. "You spoke to the other Wrynn."

Morgana sighed letting some tension release, "I'm not sure how you do it."

The Prince laughed, "In time, he won't be as intimidating to you."

"One could only hope," Morgana replied.

"You got used to me," he said, still holding her hand.

"Still working on that," Morgana answered, finding herself unable to meet his gaze.

The Prince chuckled before bending down to whisper in her ear, "Don't be so nervous. No one's going to give you any trouble tonight. I made sure of it."

"I'm…" Morgana stumbled over her words realizing how close he was. "I'm just a bit out of my element. Usually I'm outside guarding… not inside dan-"

Morgana cut herself off trying not to give him any ideas.

He softly laughed in her ear causing shivers to run up her spine making her shoulders pop up.

"Let me introduce you to the new element then," he said before pulling back. "May I have this dance?"

Can't refuse royalty.

Morgana nodded hesitantly. She hadn't danced properly at all in her life. Her mother taught her when she was young but she never had a real partner to practice with. Morgana frantically searched for any memories of the Stormwind Waltz as Wrynn guided her out to the floor. Morgana was so deep in thought she barely noticed everyone exit the floor for her and the Prince to dance on their own.

The music began slowly as Wrynn placed her hand on her waist. Morgana's eyes shot up at him then as a spike of heat shot through her body. No one had ever touched her so tenderly there before; especially not a man.

Morgana swayed with Anduin as the instruments quickened. The beginning portion was the dress swaying bit that Morgana didn't understand when she was younger. She still wasn't sure what it meant now but proceeded as the memories of the capitals dance returned to her.

Next were the arms. Anduin slowly moved Morgana as their arms lifted and fell at their sides. He was gentle in his guidance but Morgana could feel his presence and the power he had in his movements. Once three lifts were completed Morgana turned away from him in a full circle before he brought her back in. She glanced up at him then now completely aware of the force he had within him.

He is his father's son after all.

Now, face to face, the real dance began. Wrynn moved Morgana throughout the floor, turning continuously in rhythm. Morgana followed his lead counting in her head with the music that roared in the great hall. On a few occasions Wrynn quickly spun Morgana in another twirl before quickly closing back in with her.

"Four," Morgana breathed as she and Wrynn met together.

Anduin laughed lightly, "Are you counting?"

"Hush, Your Highness," Morgana whispered back, desperate not to lose count in her head.

Anduin popped up an eyebrow, "That's not my name."

He teasingly dipped Morgana down, keeping one hand firmly behind her while holding her hand steady as he did. Morgana bit down hard on her lip to silence a yelp as her eyes went wide. Her grip was iron on his shoulder as she attempted to keep her composure in an unplanned situation. The Stormwind Waltz didn't have dips in it; at least, not when Morgana was taught many years ago. Wrynn quickly brought her back up only letting her linger for a moment watching her face as he did.

"Still counting?" he smirked playfully.

Morgana seemed to find her footing with ease but her mind was still in a fog, "Oh, you are truly evil."

"Couldn't make it easy for you," he responded, popping up an eyebrow.

She looked up at him then startled at the remark before breaking and smiling with him. Morgana loosened her grip on his shoulder then realizing it was all a playful jest. She did find her counting again after a moment or two but kept it to herself in case of more teasing interruptions.

The pair moved across the floor gracefully. Morgana had a moment or two of intense concentration remembering what came next in the Stormwind Waltz. Although it had been years since her last lesson with her mother; Morgana suspected some of Khadgar's magic to help out.

It seemed his magic helped out more than she could comprehend for that night.

Anduin placed both hands on her waist lifting her up. Morgana rose with him with her hands on his shoulders at first. Once she reached a certain height Morgana's breath hitched as she reached back to one of his hands with hers in hesitation. Her face strained a little as she looked down upon Wrynn.

That moment paused for both of them. Anduin saw the fear in her face and immediately regretted pushing her past her comfort zone. Morgana's shame rushed over her as she deliberately showed how much trust she didn't have in him at that moment.

As she landed Anduin brought her close as the waltz came to a close, "I'm sorry Morgana, that was careless of me."

"No, it's fine I-"

The floor started shaking then as Wrynn stopped and the music ceased. Morgana attempted to distance herself from the Prince looking upwards at the ceiling of the Keep but his grip on her arm was stronger. The rumbling grew louder as Morgana continued to look for the break point. Even though it was shaking everything Morgana kept looking upwards in case something was crashing down on them.

A sudden thrust went through the floor on the Keep as a small Legion pillar sprouted, knocking Morgana out of Wrynn's grip and onto the floor. She glanced up behind her seeing the pillar stretch as the room burst into chaos. She watched it as the green light inside of it began to shine. As soon as it did, a sudden influx of Legion monsters appeared in the Keep.