Author's Notes: In the next few chapters, there will be some time jumps until we get to Classic/Vanilla in the WoW/Warcraft timeline, just so we aren't bogged down with filler chapter after filler chapter for 10-20 chapters, making up time until we get to Vanilla (And maybe even TBC since Vanilla story wise is all over the place and there's not many meaningful events that happened outside of the Adventurers killing raid bosses). What I will say is I think I can focus on Onyxia in Stormwind a bit, the Defias Brotherhood and maybe the Gurubashi in Stranglethorn because that will tie in the Stormwind side of this story.

The Horde/Theramore/Darnassus side of it will also be included, but I need to think of what it could be. The only thing I can think of is the orcs that are in Ashenvale during Vanilla and having the Kaldorei/Night Elves and the Quel'dorei/High Elves confronting them and maybe forcing them out of the forests. On top of that, maybe the Qiraji in Silithus too with the Elven Alliance (Best name I can think of for the Night Elves High Elves teaming up) forcing them back into Ahn'Qiraj... But that will probably be at least ten, maybe twenty chapters away.

I am thinking of having one of two things, several stories/parts to this story, or bundling them all in one and having a mega story with at least 100 chapters since the end of Warcraft 3 is ending at around chapter 29 or maybe 30. The end of Vanilla might be another 30 chapters after, making this 60 chapters and we're only at Vanilla... There's a lot of story to cover up until Legion Kil'Jaeden... After that, I'm not fussed since I gave up on the lore after that. (Don't like that we could just about defeat The Deceiver and then take on titans and being with similar power the next patch as if it was nothing, so... Yeah. Legion KJ is the ending that I have planned... If the story goes that far.

Anyway, enjoy one of the few filler chapters between now until Vanilla start, just so I can build up some character relationships and story arcs until we get to Vanilla

Grand Opening

"Ta-da!"

Athrodar frowned at the sign Melonara held up to him. "The Drunken Soldier?"

"As a name for our tavern!" Melonara exclaimed, smiling brightly at him. "What do you think?"

"I think it may cause some complaints." Athrodar told her, watching Melonara roll her eyes.

"Nobody will complain." She told him, looking at the sign and smiling to herself. "It works! We're in Old Town, it's mostly soldiers and spies and what not here, they'll gladly come to a place that feels like it's welcoming to the military. Plus we have our own war stories to share with them, so they will love us!"

"I'll take your word for it." Athrodar said, looking over to his mother who was cleaning some of the tables. "Do you think she is happy here?"

"Illana?" Melonara asked, getting a nod from Athrodar as a response. "Of course she is, her son is here with her and a close family friend too. She would be happy living on the streets if you were with her, she loves you to bits."

"You're right." Athrodar said, smiling and watching his mother clean the tables. "Once this place is up and running, I will help her start her tailoring business. She seems really excited to bring the Quel'dorei fashion to Stormwind."

"So she should be." Melonara placed a hand on Athrodar's back and watched Illana clean too. "This is a fresh start for the three of us. Away from Dael'Thaelas, the Amani and the General who lied to us." She looked up to Athrodar and kept the smile on her face. "And who knows? In five or ten years, we might be nobles of this place because of how successful our tavern becomes."

"Right, Lord Athrodar and Lady Melonara, nobles of the tavern running industry." Athrodar laughed lightly and shook his head. "I don't see that happening."

"You never know." Melonara told him, looking over to the entrance of the tavern and spotting Lana'thel standing there, waiting patiently for them. "You have company." She said, nodding over to the Magistrix.

Athrodar looked over to Lana'thel and saw her beckon him over. "I'll be a couple minutes then."

"Take your time." Melonara told him. "We're opening in a couple days anyway, so make the most of this spare time."

"Will do." Athrodar told her, standing in front of Lana'thel who looked up at him with a smile. "So what's the reason you're here today?"

"Wow, you couldn't sound any more annoyed that I'm here, could you?" Lana'thel stuck out her bottom lip and pouted at him. "And I thought we were becoming friends."

"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound like that." Athrodar told her, placing a hand on her arm and smiling at her to cheer her up. "What do you need?"

"I came by to see you." Lana'thel told him, placing her hand over the one on her arm. "I don't have to be anywhere today and I was wondering if you wanted to explore the city with me? You're new here after all and I want to show you around the place, get you comfortable with your new home."

Athrodar looked back to Melonara who waved him away after overhearing them. "Just go. I'll keep your mother company."

"Alright." He said, looking back to Lana'thel who had taken hold of his hand the moment Melonara had finished speaking. "Show me around then."

"Gladly." Lana'thel told him, hugging his arm and dragging him along with her. "First of all, I'm sure you arrived via a mage portal, so I would like to show you the Valley of Heroes. I spend some of my time there, looking out at Elwynn Forest or relaxing by the statues."

"Why is it called the Valley of Heroes?" Athrodar asked, still being dragged by Lana'thel.

"It's a place where the statues of those who traveled through the great portal into Outland are placed. The Sons of Lothar I believe they're called and they watch over the entrance to the city." Lana'thel looked up at Athrodar and smiled at him. "The humans I have spoken to love them. I understand why, the orcs completely destroyed their hopes during the first war, so to have these five heroes sacrifice themselves to save everyone from the destruction of the orc home world means a lot to them."

"Wasn't Alleria Windrunner a part of that?" Athrodar asked, getting a nod from Lana'thel.

"She was. Turalyon too along with a mage named Khadgar, a dwarf named Kurdran and another human named Danath Trollbane." She continued to drag Athrodar along until they were in the Valley of Heroes, stepping back and watching him look up at all the statues surrounding him. "What do you think?"

"These are actually really good." Athrodar said, looking up at the statue of Alleria. "I can see why you come here."

"It helps clear my head when I'm here." Lana'thel told him, walking up to and then leaning on him. "It's quiet most days, allows for some good thinking time." She rest her head on his arm and held onto his hand tightly. "I'm really going to enjoy having someone here who isn't an old, overweight nobleman trying to grab my attention."

"If it's really that bad, why are you still doing it?" Athrodar asked, getting a small laugh from Lana'thel.

"Because they make it so easy to get secrets and Intel from them when I humor them for more than five minutes." She told him, looking up at Athrodar and smiling at him. "Just like how I know you used to court the General, but she lied to you about your father's death for almost a month which made you so angry at her, you broke off your relationship, moved to Stormwind with your mother and friend and on top of that, you got her pregnant in the meantime."

Athrodar nodded his head slowly and began to laugh a little. "So... Turns out you're very good at that. I had forgotten I told you that much about me when we met."

"That's why I'm here." Lana'thel told him, giggle and hugging his arm once again. "Listen. I'm not going to beat around the bush here, but I am dying to sleep with someone outside of getting some information from them. You're cute, I'm beautiful, why don't we just sneak away for an hour, maybe two, and just have some fun?" She looked up at him and saw some warring emotions on his face. "I'm fine with being the rebound thing if that's what you're worried about. I'm not looking for anything outside of having some fun."

"I'm not that well versed in the human way of life, but won't they think we're in a relationship if they see us together?" Athrodar asked, getting a smirk from the Magistrix.

"Is that so bad?" She asked, walking her fingers up his arm. "And no, they probably won't. Even so, you can just tell them we're not if the question ever comes up. They're more than aware of the goings on between to people who sleep together but aren't in a relationship, trust me. If they thought you had to be in a relationship to sleep with someone, I'm in about five, maybe ten relationships at once."

"Well since you put it like that.." Athrodar muttered, placing a hand under Lana'thel's chin and tilting her head up, leaning down and kissing her lightly. "Why don't you show me somewhere we can have fun together?"

Lana'thel giggled and kissed him this time. "With pleasure."

"He's found a tavern in the Old Town district of Stormwind." Kael'thas said, looking over to Sylvanas who smiled a little. "He told me to tell you in his letter that he doesn't want visitors unless he says they can visit and looking at this list, you're not one of them."

Sylvanas' smile began to drop from her face, looking down and slowly nodding her head. "I thought as much. I don't know why I got my hopes up for a second there, we've only been apart for a week. I think I was being naive to think he would want me to see him so soon." She looked back up to the Prince who was reading through the letter again. "Who did he say can visit?"

"Other than myself, he said Liadrin could, the two Dawnstrider siblings and their parents. He also mentioned that Melonara would like Anya and Clea to visit whenever they wanted as well as Viraleth." He looked over to General once more and heard her sigh. "I'd be surprised if he did say you could visit."

"I should have figured they could visit." Sylvanas looked over to Anya and Clea who were asleep on the couch behind her, smiling when she saw they were sleeping on each other. "They miss Melonara after only being around her for a month. I suppose she feels the same."

Kael'thas looked over to Anya and Clea and began to smile to himself. "They just sleep anywhere, don't they?"

"Most of the time, yes." Sylvanas smiled a little brighter. "Sometimes I feel like they see me as their mother when we're alone. They ask for my permission for things, whisper to each other and giggle behind my back like a couple of children. It's funny at times, but I suppose it also gets me ready for this little one." She said, placing her hand on her belly.

"Wait... You're expecting?" Kael'thas asked, getting a nod from the General. "Does Athrodar know?"

"He does." Sylvanas told him. "He looked excited too, which just makes me all the happier." She looked down at the necklace around her neck and moved a hand to it. "I just wished she was here to see this."

"Alleria would be proud of you, Sylvanas." Kael'thas told her. "We didn't speak much, at least not compared to how often we have spoken over the last month, but she did speak highly of you whenever you would come up."

"I miss her a lot." Sylvanas told him. "Especially this last week. She would have tried her hardest to comfort me, make sure my mind wasn't constantly thinking about him and what I should have done differently to change the outcome." She sighed once more and let go of her necklace. "Luckily I'm going to visit Vereesa in a week. Dalaran should have been retaken and in the process of being rebuilt by that time and she will keep me distracted from reality, if only for a few days."

Kael'thas looked out the nearby window and saw it was close to midday. "I should be going soon. The Kaldorei ambassadors should have arrived by now and I would like to give them a tour and make them feel comfortable." He stood up and looked over to Sylvanas again. "By the time you've had that little one, I will be surprised if Athrodar hasn't warmed up to you once again. After all, you're the mother of his child and he doesn't seem like the type of person to hate you after that."

Sylvanas smiled at the Prince. "I hope that's true." She told him, looking back to Anya and Clea. "I hope that's true..." She whispered to herself.

"Three days it took you to lose yourself to that mage." Melonara said, shaking her head at Athrodar. "Do I have to chop that thing off so you behave yourself?"

"No dear..." Athrodar muttered, flinching when Melonara hit him. "Ow, sorry! Don't take anything from me... Or off me. She has a way with words... And touches... She's just really great to be around."

"Uhuh... So you were thinking with your dick and not with your head." Melonara told him, tapping his head with her finger. "This better not get in the way of our launch tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Athrodar asked, tilting his head. "I thought we were opening in a couple days."

"We're more than ready to open tomorrow." Melonara told him. "Everything's clean, we're well stocked. I put the sign up an hour ago."

"I saw that. I'm still not sure on the name, but we'll find out tomorrow." Athrodar looked around the tavern and nodded his head slowly. "I think we're ready."

"We are, don't worry." Melonara said, reaching for a bottle behind the bar and taking a quick swig from it. "It won't be long before we're the talk of the town... Or city I suppose."

"Optimistic as always." Athrodar told her.

"By the way, your mother was looking for you." Melonara told him, sitting down on one of the stools and looking over to him. "She knows, by the way. About you and that Magistrix."

"What? How?" Athrodar asked.

"She's sharper than she looks, Athrodar. I think she saw this coming before Lana'thel even arrived at the tavern this morning." Melonara told him, nodding towards the back room. "Go. Best not keep your own mother waiting."

Athrodar walked into the back room where Illana was waiting for him, smiling at his mother who looked up from the book she was reading the moment the door closed behind him. "Mel said you wanted to see me?"

"Are you okay?" Illana asked, placing the book down and making her way over to her son. "I feel like I haven't seen you all day."

"I'm fine, mom." Athrodar said, hugging his mother shortly after and kissing her on the cheek. "I'm going to be around a lot now, especially since Mel thinks we're ready to open tomorrow."

"I think we are too." Illana whispered to him. "Is she a nice woman?" She then asked, watching Athrodar pull back from the hug.

"She's... Trustworthy." Athrodar told her, hearing his mother laugh. "What?"

"Trustworthy isn't a good description of someone." Illana told him. "Is she a reactionary fling after the General, or do you think you could see a future with her?"

"Oh, mom.." Athrodar sighed and lowered his head. "Are we really having this conversation now?"

"Yes we are." Illana said, grinning when she saw Athrodar felt uncomfortable. "I don't want you to get hurt again."

"I won't get hurt." Athrodar told her. "It's just a bit of fun. She suggested it and I agree. It's a distraction from what has happened in the past week."

"As long as you don't go into this expecting more, then getting disappointed when she says it was all just for fun." Illana told her son, placing a hand on his cheek. "I do just want you to be happy, not upset or angry."

"I'm not angry, not here." Athrodar whispered to his mother, pressing his head against hers. "I'm with family now."

"Damn right you are." Melonara said, squeezing her way in the middle of the two of them and being hugged from either side. "Just you, me and our mother."

Illana smiled and hugged Melonara tightly. "Just the three of us." She agreed.

Almost a week had passed since they had opened the tavern and whilst it did start off slow, they were slowly gaining more and more patrons throughout the week as word spread of the new tavern in the city, especially to one Magistrix who had been absent for that entire week until she had heard a couple reviews from some of the soldiers around the city.

"I hear you're doing really well." Lana'thel said, smiling at Athrodar who glanced over his shoulder to look at her.

"And her I was, thinking I was so bad that you wanted to get away from me." Athrodar said, cleaning a couple of flagons and looking over to Melonara who was serving a table. "Mel, can you take over?" He asked, getting a nod from her.

"You have five minutes." She said, walking passed Athrodar and looking over to Lana'thel. "No longer than that."

Lana'thel followed Athrodar into the back room, smiling at Illana who was working on a robe to pass the time. "I am only here to see how things are going." She told Athrodar, looking back to him. "I am hearing some good things already."

"That's mostly Mel." Athrodar said, getting a small laugh from his mother. "What?"

"Nothing." Illana said, smiling. "Other than you couldn't have hit the nail on the head more cleanly."

"Thank you, mother." Athrodar muttered, hearing Lana'thel laugh now. "Don't you start."

"Sorry." Lana'thel said, placing a hand on his arm. "Listen, I am going to go. I just wanted to visit and say hello, maybe see if you needed anything."

"Actually there is." Athrodar said, pulling Lana'thel into a different room and closing the door behind him. "Where were you this week?"

"Did you miss me?" Lana'thel asked, smiling at him. "It's cute if you did."

Athrodar looked away and heard Lana'thel giggle a little, feeling her kiss him on the cheek. "I did, a little bit." He admitted.

"Look at me." Lana'thel whispered, kissing him lightly on the lips. "You're really cute. The sex was good too, but you're still young, Athrodar." She placed her hand on his chest and smiled. "You have a lot to learn and I feel like you're really looking for that new relationship. I just want to have some fun, okay? I can't get onboard with the entire clingy, where have you been for a week attitude from someone I just want to sleep with."

Athrodar looked down at her hand on his chest and placed his over the top. "I understand. Sorry that I gave you that impression. I'm normally the one who sleeps with the woman for a while before breaking things up and moving on. I have to say, I'm not really used to it being the other way around."

Lana'thel frowned at him and placed her hand on his cheek. "Who said I was breaking things up? I enjoyed my time with you last week and I want to carry it on. I just don't want you to think we're in a relationship when we're not, okay?" She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. "I like you, I just don't want to hurt your feelings without meaning to."

"I get it." Athrodar said, smiling at the Magistrix. "I enjoyed our time together last week too."

"Good." Lana'thel whispered, getting up onto her tiptoes and kissing him again. "I really need to go though, I am expected in the Keep in around... Ten minutes? But I'll be back later tonight and if you're still open, I'll have a couple of drinks too."

"We'll be open." Athrodar told her, kissing Lana'thel once again. "We close really late anyway, it tends to keep them drinking for longer as we found out on the third and fourth days."

Lana'thel smiled and placed a hand on his cheek once more. "Then I'll be by sometime tonight for some drinks."

"I'm looking forward to it." Athrodar said, walking with the Magistrix until she had left the tavern.

Melonara watched Athrodar make his way back to the bar and begin to clean a few of the flagons again, frowning at him when she saw a smile on his face. "You're falling for her, aren't you?"

"What? No." Athrodar told her, though Melonara remained unconvinced.

"I saw your face light up when she arrived, how you instantly wanted to go somewhere private and then you walked with her until she was out the door. Then you stood there for a good few seconds whilst she walked away, so answer my question truthfully, are you falling for her?" Melonara watched Athrodar carefully as he took his time responding, giving her all the answers she needed before he even spoke.

"I might be." He told her honestly. "I don't know what it is, but she is winning me over without much resistance on my part." He looked over to Melonara and sighed. "I should have listened to Kael'thas."

"You don't say?" Melonara began to smile and pulled Athrodar along with her. "Distract yourself by pouring drinks for our patrons. I don't know if it will help, but it's worth a shot."

"It should distract me." Athrodar agreed. "Anything that can stop me from thinking about her for a few hours should do me good. Especially since she said she's coming by later tonight for a couple drinks."

"Looks like I am going to keep you company tonight then." Melonara said, laughing to herself. "You're not to be trusted around her anymore, since you're clearly looking to sleep with her even after what the Prince told you."

"Well, she has a way with words that seems to put me in a trance like state." Athrodar told her, hearing Melonara laugh again.

"By a way with words, you mean she gives you one compliment, touches your arm and you go all gooey around her? Yeah, I think I get what you mean." Melonara rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Just stand behind the bar and look pretty."

"Fine, fine." Athrodar looked over to Illana who was walking towards him, smiling at his mother. "Come to help out?"

"Yes. And to save you from yourself." She told him, getting a sigh from her son which made her smile. "But it's mostly to help out and be around people instead of being stuck in that back room." She closed her eyes when Athrodar kissed her on the temple. "And be around my handsome son." She added, helping him with cleaning the flagons and pints.