Moving on to the next phase of this story. I've picked a direction, now I just need to write it. Enjoy the new chapter and thanks for reading.
"You are as stubborn as your father!" Kenya said, entering Anduin's sitting room where the king was having lunch, taking a seat across from him at the table. "What was wrong with this one?"
It had been almost a year since Varian's death and a new kind of normal had developed in Stormwind.
Anduin had managed a temporary truce with the Horde shortly after the events on the broken shore, which resulted in the defeat of the Legion only a few months later. After the defeat, Sylvanas had tried to take advantage of the gray area in the truce to take over the Alliance. Unfortunately for her, her methods of warfare, using a plague as a weapon, weren't well liked by most of her faction. Her plans were quickly squashed from within by a rebellion led by the tauren and the trolls, with Alliance support. She had fled, her whereabouts remaining unknown, but talks of peace were in the works, thanks to more cool-headed leadership on both sides.
Though events had happened quickly, Anduin had still rode off into battle several times during the year, leaving Kenya to rule Stormwind in his absence. She hated his departure, with the memories of Varian's death still fresh in her mind, but she took up the charge, for Anduin's sake. It turned out that Anduin, like all other Wrynn kings who came before him, had a certain talent for battle, even if his methods were different from his father's. Kenya just worried he'd also share his father's self sacrificing nature.
Kenya spent her time alone on the throne to research possible matches for Anduin. Even though he didn't like that idea, Kenya knew Anduin had to find a wife. Find a wife and have children. The king was only nineteen and had expressed his determination to only marry someone he loved. Unfortunately, he was stubborn and often resisted being introduced to possible wives. The young man didn't seem to realize he'd never fall in love, if he refused to give anyone a chance to get close to him.
"There was nothing wrong with her, she just wasn't right for me." Anduin replied, sounding apologetic.
"How in the hell do you know that!? You were supposed to have breakfast with her and I was told you barely sat down at the table!" Kenya replied loudly. It wasn't a yell, but it was close. "Aleesa seemed like a perfectly beautiful young woman to me. We met at a charity event for crying out loud!"
"She was beautiful and seemed okay, but something about her just didn't feel right."
Kenya growled. If she hadn't been growling at him, Anduin would have found the sound funny. A druid growl, even when in bipedal form, always felt more authentic than a growl from a person without the ability to change into an animal.
"For the love of…." Kenya said with a sigh. "You're killing me, Anduin. You know that, right? You need to get married. You need to produce an heir. As much as you seem comfortable with me sitting on the throne when you ride out to war, I'm only a Wrynn by name, not by blood. I can't be your permanent backup."
"I know that, Kenya!" Anduin said forcefully, pushing away from the table. "I just…" He stood and walked over to the open window. "I just feel like I'm being pressured to marry."
Kenya leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "That's because you are being pressured to marry, Sweetie." Kenya stood and walked over to Anduin, placing a hand on her back. "I understand how frustrating this all is to you and I'm not trying to push you into marrying the wrong person. It just sometimes feels like you're not even trying with these women. I'm doing my best, Anduin, I promise you that."
Anduin's posture softened and he turned to Kenya. "I know you are and I really do appreciate the work you're putting into the search. I just feel too young for all of this."
Kenya smiled up at him sympathetically. "I know you do. And I do kinda know how you feel. I was only nineteen when I first met your father. I was overwhelmed by his proposal, but after a year of getting to know him, everything just fell into place. I'm not saying you need to marry the first woman I introduce to you, but just give each of them more of a chance. That's all I ask."
Anduin sighed, turning back towards the window. "I'll try."
"Thank you." Kenya turned Anduin back to her. "I know none of this is easy. It's been almost a year and it still sometimes feels like Varian died yesterday. We both need to do what we must to keep moving forward. Try to believe that I don't want you to marry someone you don't love, anymore than you do. You are my family and I just want what's best for you, same as your father."
Anduin smiled down at Kenya and pulled her into a hug. "I know you do. I promise I'll stop being so difficult."
After a few moments, Anduin released Kenya and they both returned to the table.
"And speaking of what's best, I was thinking you might do something for me."
"You know I'll do anything for you." Kenya replied, pouring herself a glass of wine. Anduin didn't drink, but Kenya liked a glass or two of wine with her lunch and dinner. She liked the flavors and textures of the drink. Fortunately, she'd learned shortly after marrying Varian that her alcohol tolerances were incredibly high. She guessed it had something to do with her druidic nature, but she'd never gotten around to asking Malfurion or Sheldras about her theory. It had to be something, since she was almost able to drink Varian under the table, which should have been impossible.
"I was thinking you might want to head up the peace talks over in Kalimdor. It would give you a chance to spend some time with the night elves."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Kenya asked jokingly.
Anduin chuckled. "No, not at all. You being here for the last year is probably one of the only reasons I've managed to stay sane. I love having you here, but…a year ago I selfishly asked you to stay in Stormwind, even though you don't find it comfortable to grieve around others. I know you would have been more comfortable mourning Father alone, but you stayed anyway. For me. Because I needed you to. Maybe it's time I stopped being selfish and let you go."
"You weren't being selfish, Anduin. You'd just lost your father. Jaina was angry and in the wind. Genn was off somewhere blaming himself for Varian's death. Yes, I prefer to grieve alone, but you had to grieve in public, whether you wanted to or not. Like hell was I going to leave you alone. Even if you hadn't asked, I still would have stayed."
"Maybe so, but I still feel guilty for keeping you here. Even if you wanted to stay, I didn't give you a choice. But now, things are different. It's been a year. I'm about to move into the newly renovated royal chambers. You're comfortable enough to yell at me about my failed dates with women. I think we've both managed to move forward. But now, we have something more important than our loss to work on. Peace. I think it only makes sense for us to divide and conquer."
Anduin stood again, pacing. "I'm head of the peace talks here in the Eastern Kingdom. I thought maybe you'd take the lead in Kalimdor. Things might move more smoothly with the high king on one continent and the high queen on the other. We'd still communicate all the time, of course, but there is no one I'd trust more with the fragile peace of this world than you."
"And with me on another continent, I wouldn't be able to fix you up on more blind dates."
Anduin just shrugged.
Kenya laughed. "I can see right through you, Anduin Wrynn. You can be assured, regardless of if I stay or go, I will still be looking feverishly for a good match for you. Jaina will still be here, afterall."
"Yes, I am aware." Anduin replied.
When Jaina returned, she'd taken a place as adviser to Anduin, but had also started assisting Kenya with her search. The uptick in introductions had frustrated him, but he dared not mention it to either woman. Anduin liked his head where it was.
"I'll think about it." Kenya replied, shaking her head. "You are so very different from your father, but every once in a while, you say or do something which is so much like Varian, I have to stop myself from tearing up."
"That's a good thing, right?" Anduin asked.
"It is." Kenya said with a nod.
To Be Continued...
