A Meeting At Jintha'Alor

"You're getting so big." Athrodar said, smiling at his son who giggled the moment he picked him up. "You'll be a ranger in no time."

"He has been asking for you non stop." Sylvanas told him, stroking a finger across her son's cheek and smiling at the little elf. "I think he misses his father."

"Well I miss you too, little one." Athrodar said, kissing his son on the forehead. "How have you been, by the way?" He asked, looking over to Sylvanas.

"I've been good." Sylvanas told him, smiling at Athrodar and her son when she saw the little elf rest his head under his father's chin.

"Mama's been crying." Talanas said shortly after.

"Has she?" Athrodar asked his son, watching him nod and looking over to Sylvanas who sighed and looked away. "Why has she been crying?"

"I don't know." Talanas told him. "Mama's been crying for two days."

"Talanas." Sylvanas said softly, placing a hand on the back of his head gently. "Shh."

"But you told me not to lie." Talanas then said, making Athrodar grin a little whilst Sylvanas let out another sigh.

"The one time he listens to me..." She muttered, looking over to Athrodar again and noticing the grin but also the concern on his face. "Yes, I've been crying, okay?" She hugged herself and looked away from him again. "Can you blame me? I have lost you forever."

"I'm still here." Athrodar told her, placing a hand on her arm whilst his other held Talanas against him. "I just... I love Lana'thel and she found out what we had been doing and I didn't want to lose her. That's not to say I only married her to keep her with me, because that's not the reason at all." He placed Talanas down and stepped forward, placing both his hands on her arms. "I also promised her I will be more professional around you from now on. So no more stealing kisses or slipping away to be together anymore."

Sylvanas looked down at the hands on her arms and frowned a little. "Then what are you doing now?" She asked when she felt him squeeze her lightly.

"I am not acting professional around you because you're at home, with our son and I am here to visit him." He told her, smiling when she looked up at him. "When you're on duty or we're talking about anything to do with the Kingdom, I will only address you as Ranger-General. But at home and around our son, I will be your friend that you just so happen to love."

Sylvanas continued to frown, trying to understand what he meant. "So what does that mean in terms of what we can do?"

"We can talk, confide in each other and if you really need it, we can hug if it makes you feel better. But anything more and I will leave." Athrodar heard her sigh and stepped forward a little more. "I need to make this work with Lana'thel, Sylvanas. I have already hurt her by fooling around with you, I don't want to break her heart."

Sylvanas stepped forward and pressed her head against his chest. "And in the meantime, you've broken mine." She muttered, shaking her head and pulling back from him. "I'll stay away. I know the risks of fooling around with you once you're married... I'm not going to lose my Ranger-General rank because I couldn't keep my hands off you." She let out a small laugh and looked away. "My only hope is that she dies and even then I don't wish that... I don't think I could live with myself if I wished she died and then she did."

Athrodar placed his hands on either side of her face, making her look up at him again. "Then don't wish that." He told her, stepping forward and hugging her now, feeling Sylvanas hug him tightly in return. "I am here for you whatever you need. Just like my students, you can visit whenever you want if ever you need to talk or to let off some steam." He began to laugh lightly and held onto her a little tighter. "You'll have to convince Lana'thel, but I think she will understand if it's a good enough reason."

"I'll think about it." Sylvanas muttered, pulling back and looking up at Athrodar who wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumb. "I'll always love you. If the worst thing was to ever happen, know I will always be here, waiting for you." She smiled a little and looked down at her son who was waiting patiently beside them. "I have our son to distract me, so I won't be looking for anyone else."

Athrodar smiled a little. though he mostly felt sorry for the Ranger-General. "Promise me you'll try to find someone in the future?"

Sylvanas shook her head and placed a hand on the top of her son's head. "I can't promise you that. I didn't look for love before you and I won't after you. My life will be devoted to being the best Ranger-General Silvermoon has to offer as well as the best mother I can be for our son." She got up onto her tiptoes and kissed Athrodar on the cheek. "Take him, it's your week."

Athrodar picked up Talanas again and made his way towards the door, looking back at Sylvanas who waved both of them goodbye. "Say goodbye to your mother."

"Bye mama!" Talanas yelled, giggling when Sylvanas smiled at him.

"Bye my little ranger." Sylvanas said back, watching Athrodar and Talanas leave shortly after.

"Ready?" Vandellor asked, looking at Prince Kael'thas who nodded his head a little. "The ceremony will be quick, then we will get out of your hair once you're made King so you can be alone with your thoughts."

Kael'thas nodded his head and looked over to Athrodar, Dael'Thaelas, Lana'thel and the few others who were allowed to witness the ceremony. "That would be for the best." He said, looking back to Vandellor. "I'll call for you or anyone else if I need them, but I shouldn't think I would."

Lana'thel sat on a nearby bench, holding Talanas in her arms as he sat on her lap and watching the ceremony begin. "You have to hand it to the General, she does make a cute kid." Thal'ena said, sitting beside her mother.

"Or it's Athrodar." Lana'thel told her, glancing over to her daughter who began to smirk at her. "Are you here to just annoy me Thal'ena or are you here to actually watch your Prince become the King?"

"Bit of both." The younger mage said, leaning on her mother and watching the ceremony before her. "Do you have a date?"

"Not yet." Lana'thel said, kissing the top of Talanas' head and stroking his hair. "Preferably when things calm down. We've both started our new jobs and lives in Silvermoon, there is a changing of royalty too, so we are waiting for a few weeks, if not a couple months until we're ready to plan."

Thal'ena began to make flames dance around on her hand, making it bounce from finger to finger in front of Talanas and smiling when he began to fix his attention on her party trick. "Again, I'm just happy you've finally found someone. I wasn't sure about Athrodar, but he seems really good for you. You're happier, he seems really happy too. You also have a job that allows you to stay in the city and with your daughter and Athrodar."

Lana'thel smiled and continued to stroke Talanas' hair. "It has been a long time since I was this happy." She glanced over to her daughter and rested her head against the top of Thal'ena's. "The last time was when you were born."

The younger mage smiled and watched as Kael'thas had the Crown of Silvermoon placed on his head, smiling wider and closing her eyes as she cuddled up to her mother. "I'll lay off teasing Athrodar from now on. I only done it because I thought he was just a bit of fun for you, but now I know that's not the case."

"Congratulations." Lord Sunblade said the second the ceremony was over, bowing his head to Kael'thas. "I know you will do your father proud, my King."

"Thank you." Kael'thas said, looking over to Athrodar who bowed his head to him too.

"I look forward to working beside you, my King." He said, ignoring Dael'Thaelas' smirk and feeling Kael'thas place a hand on his arm.

"And I you." The new King said, looking over to Dael'Thaelas. "And you, of course."

Vandellor looked over to Liadrin who was waiting beside him. "We will start to get out of your hair now, my King." The High Priest said, placing a hand on Liadrin's back. "If you need us, you know where we all are."

Kael'thas nodded and gestured towards the twin doors of the throne room. "Thank you all. I just need to be alone for a while." He told them, watching everyone begin to make their way out the room.

Once Athrodar made his way to Lana'thel, Thal'ena and his son, he crouched down in front of them all and placed a hand on Talanas' foot. "Ready to leave?" He asked, watching Lana'thel smile and nod at him whilst Talanas had fallen asleep on her lap.

"I am." She told him quietly, looking down at the tiny elf on her lap. "Is he still asleep?" She asked, watching Athrodar nod and smiling a little brighter. "Cute. I think I can pick him up and keep him asleep until we return home." She stroked the little elf's hair lightly. "It just depends on what home we're going to."

"You're not impressing anyone with all your different homes." Thal'ena told them. "But if I had a choice, I'd say that nice home in Sunfury Spire with a balcony that I can sleep on."

Athrodar grinned and looked at Lana'thel who rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We could go to my Sunfury home. She would have to share a bedroom with Talanas if she wants to stay for the night."

"I don't mind." Thal'ena told him, looking down at the sleeping elf on her mother's lap. "If he's anything like he has been today, it shouldn't be a problem."

"Good." Athrodar said, smiling and standing up. "Let's go then."

"We have a problem."

Sylvanas looked up at Aerinan who dropped several reports down onto her desk, standing opposite her whilst she sat behind her desk. "What sort of problem?" She asked, picking up the reports he placed down.

"My scouts have spotted several orcs in Jintha'Alor." Aerinan told her, watching Sylvanas raise an eyebrow at the report she was reading. "Now normally we would try to see what the meeting was about, but after Tahnir and with increasing reports of hostile activity around the city, we have kept as far away as we can without losing sight of what is happening."

"Fuck..." Sylvanas muttered, placing the report down and pinching the bridge of her nose. "With one of our companies in Ashenvale helping the Kaldorei and another in the Hinterlands keeping an eye on the Amani, we are spreading thin if I send another unit to either one." She stood up and made her way towards a nearby window, looking down at the city below. "But... If the orcs are working with the Amani, it's just trying to figure out where they will amass. If they're going to be in the Hinterlands and plan an attack on us, or the Amani go to Orgrimmar and plan to attack our new allies." She looked back to Aerinan who was listening to her think out loud. "If we're wrong about one, we could suffer losses on the other." She folded her arms and shook her head. "We also have the undead grouping near out borders in Eastern Lordaeron. I have sent Alina's company out there too, so we only have Halduron and myself left here as well as Lord Sunblade."

"There is a window of opportunity if they do leave for Orgrimmar." Aerinan told her. "But we would need to act quickly."

Sylvanas frowned and looked back out the window. "What do you mean?"

"Well... If they leave for Orgrimmar with the Amani, we have a day, maybe two at most to react." Aerinan told her, looking down at the reports on the General's desk. "The problem with that however, is we haven't really got a port to land our troops on and teleporting everyone over will exhaust our mages."

"I'll send a runner to Theron." Sylvanas said, walking back to her desk. "I need you to continue to keep an eye on the Amani. Send a runner back every two days, even if there's not been any updates. I can't have it that the Orcs and Amani get the jump on us and we mess up with reinforcements."

Aerinan nodded and began to make his way towards the door. "I'll get my company ready and inform Lord Sunblade."

"No." Sylvanas said, holding up her hand. "I'll inform Athrodar and he will inform the King."

"Is that wise, General?" Aerinan asked. "You know Lord Sunblade will think you're trying to avoid telling him things."

"He will find out from the King." Sylvanas told him. "He is joint lead with Athrodar, so I will tell Athrodar." She pocketed a couple of the reports and looked back to Aerinan. "Understand?"

Aerinan bowed his head. "I understand, General. I just hope you know how to defend yourself from Lord Sunblade. Speaking as his son, I know what he is like when you go to someone else instead of him when you have information." He smiled a little and looked back to the door. "Who do you think Tahnir and Athrodar spoke to whenever they needed to tell him something without telling him?"

"As much as he likes to bark, I can handle Lord Sunblade. He might be the joint head of the Convocation, but his rank outside of that makes me his superior." Sylvanas heard Aerinan chuckle and watched him shake his head. "Just go get your company ready."

"Yes, General." Aerinan said, leaving her office.

Waiting a couple minutes so she wasn't walking beside Aerinan, Sylvanas left her office to find Athrodar and walking passed an elf that caught her attention a couple seconds after she passed them. "Thal'ena." She said, looking back to the mage who sighed and looked back at her.

"What?" She asked, not wanting to talk to anyone at this moment in time, but respecting the General enough to talk to her.

Trying to keep her cool around Thal'ena, Sylvanas took a couple steps towards her so she could talk to her calmly and without raising her voice. "Do you know where your mother is?"

"No, why would I?" Thal'ena asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Because she's your mother, I just thought you knew. Also because I am looking for Athrodar." Sylvanas told her, bowing her head slightly and turning to walk away.

"Do you know where your son is?" Thal'ena asked, making the General stop moving.

"Yes, with his father." Sylvanas told her.

"Then go find your son and then you will find Athrodar." Thal'ena told her.

Sylvanas narrowed her eyes at the mage. "Did I do something to you?"

Thal'ena smirked and turned back around to face the General. "I was the one who told my mother about you and Athrodar, sneaking around behind her back. So to answer your question; yes you have." She turned around for the final time and began to walk away. "So stay away from him if you plan to do anything, otherwise you will have me on your back."

Sylvanas clenched her fists tightly, watching the mage walk away and trying to calm herself down. "Exactly like her mother. A pain in the ass and someone I don't want to talk to unless I have to." She looked back down the corridor and sighed. "Might as well check the Convocation Hall to begin with."

Making her way towards the Convocation Hall, Sylvanas let out a sigh of relief when she saw Athrodar, Belo'vir and Liadrin sitting around the main table. "General." The Grand Magister said when he saw her, making Liadrin and Athrodar look over to her too. "What can I do for you?"

"I actually came here to speak to Athrodar actually, but since there's another member here this makes this a little easier." She pulled out the reports Aerinan gave her, placing them down on the table in front of the three of them.

"How old is this report?" Athrodar asked, looking through one and handing another to Liadrin who was both standing in for Vandellor and attaching herself to Athrodar for the day to both annoy him and to be with her friend.

"I received the report almost half an hour ago from Captain Aerinan." Sylvanas told him, hating she had to be professional with Athrodar now but knowing this was her only option from now on. "He reported in the moment he returned from the Hinterlands with his company."

"Are we keeping an eye on this?" Athrodar then asked, looking over to Liadrin who was leaning up against him, reading the report he handed her.

"We are. I have sent Aerinan back out to keep an eye on them." Sylvanas said, noticing Athrodar's lack of eye contact. "I have also told him to send a runner every two days back to me with a report on what was happening, whether or not things had changed, in hopes of being ready when they decide to do something."

"And what is it you think they're going to do?" Belo'vir asked the General.

"Hopefully not attack Ashenvale or us and stick to their cities. But I have to plan for either one of those possibilities." Sylvanas told the Grand Magister.

"And the undead?" Athrodar asked, looking over to the Ranger-General. "I have heard they are gathering on the borders of our forests."

"I have sent Alina over there. She is in charge of your father's company." Sylvanas told him, bowing her head to Athrodar a little. "I have been meaning to tell you that since you returned home, I know you would have wanted to know at some point."

"I did, thank you." Athrodar said, glancing over to Liadrin who was resting her chin on his shoulder, ignoring his raised eyebrow and shaking his head at her. "Is that all, General?" He asked, looking back to her.

Sylvanas swallowed hard, trying to ignore his use of her title and not her name. "I-it is." She said, bowing to the three of them. "I will keep you updated the moment I know anything."

"Thank you." Athrodar said again, watching Sylvanas leave and hating it himself that he had to act like this now as well. "How long are you going to lean on me?" He asked, looking over to the High Priestess turned Paladin on his shoulder.

"Until I need to sleep." She said, smiling at him. "Come on, you love me." She said when she heard him grumble. "Besides, those pesky Dawnstriders are busy with their studies and I'm bored."

"Then bug one of them." Athrodar told her.

"But I want to bug you!" Liadrin cried, hearing Belo'vir laugh and grinning at the Grand Magister. "Uncle Belo'vir understands which is why he is laughing. I need to be entertained."

"This is why I found someone who's older than me." Athrodar said, glancing over to Belo'vir who had a grin on his face. "Every woman I know who is my age all act the same." He glanced over to Liadrin this time. "Immature, teasing and always trying to annoying me."

"That might just be you though." Liadrin told him, poking Athrodar on the cheek. "You seem to be the common denominator, did you ever think about that?"

Athrodar looked over to Belo'vir who continued to grin but said nothing, looking back to Liadrin who smiled at him, keeping her head rested on his shoulder. "I hate you."

"Good. Now take me to your son so I can be with people my own age." Liadrin said, standing up and pulling Athrodar up onto his feet shortly after. "Bye uncle!" She yelled to a chuckling Belo'vir.

"Your first full week as joint head of the Convocation AND a teacher in the Farstrider Academy has ended." Lana'thel said, straddling Athrodar's waist as he laid down on the bed beneath her. "How does it feel to be one of the few people in the city that has to answer to nobody except the King?"

"It feels very good." Athrodar told the Magistrix sitting on top of him, placing his hands on her waist when she began to laugh lightly. "Even better when I get to share it with the woman I love."

"Good." Lana'thel whispered, leaning down and kissing him on the lips lightly. "Listen, I've been thinking..." She began to smile brightly and cupping his face in her hands. "I love your little boy so much that I want one with you."

Athrodar sat up and kissed Lana'thel hard on the lips, feeling her lean her entire body onto him and wrapping her arms around him tightly. "You want another child?"

"I do." Lana'thel whispered, gazing into his eyes and rubbing the tip of her nose against his lightly. "Perhaps we can raise our little one better together and I raised Thal'ena on my own." She laughed a little and pressed her head against his. "I love her more than anything, but she is a pain in the ass and I blame myself for that."

"Don't blame yourself for that." Athrodar told her. "You should be happy she wants to be better than you. It's her methods which are questionable and I don't believe you taught her that."

Lana'thel smirked and kissed him again. "I didn't teach her anything like that. No, she only knew how to be a mage from me."

"Then she must be one powerful mage." Athrodar told her, making Lana'thel laugh loudly now.

"Stop trying to flatter me. I am already yours, Athrodar." Lana'thel told him, hugging him against her. "Nothing you say will make me want to be with you any more than I already am. I mean come on, I'm half naked, sitting on your lap and alone with you in bed." She looked down at the leggings she was wearing and smiling to herself. "I do have one question though that you might or might not like answering."

"Fire away." Athrodar whispered to her, kissing her neck lightly and hearing her chuckle.

"Has Lord Sunblade been a thorn in your side yet, or are you expecting that to happen soon?" Lana'thel asked, feeling Athrodar stop kissing her neck and looking down at him. "He has, hasn't he?"

Athrodar sighed and pressed his head against her chest, feeling her wrap her arms around him in comfort. "It's tough some days, trying to fight him on my own. Kael'thas can't take sides unless there's a reason to and he surrounds himself with lackeys who like to agree with him just to spite me."

Lana'thel kissed the top of his head and squeezed him a little tighter. "Well, how about this. I'll accompany you for the next week as backup so we can both speak up against Lord Sunblade and his yes men?" She saw him look up at her and gave him a warm smile. "I have a proposition for the King anyway, so it will involve being in and around the Convocation a lot for the next couple of weeks if he says yes."

"What do you plan to do?" Athrodar asked her, feeling her kiss him lightly.

"I want to propose being his spymaster." Lana'thel told him. "I get to stay in the city and create a spy network around Azeroth so I can keep an eye on every city and every leader for our King."

"That would help me out a lot..." Athrodar muttered. "The Orcs have been seen in the Hinterlands with the Amani. They've not done anything yet, but we believe they are joining factions and recreating the old Horde."

Lana'thel stroked a thumb across Athrodar's cheek when she saw his gaze drift away from her. "Then we best hope our King will agree to my proposition. Who better to run his spy network than his own personal spy?"

"There's none better." Athrodar told her, grinning and spinning the pair of them around so the Magistrix was on her back now. "For now however, I don't want to talk politics or jobs or anything else outside of this bedroom." He kissed her on the neck again and began to work his way down to her chest. "So just relax and let me take care of you."

Lana'thel bit her bottom lip and nodded her head in agreement. "Deal."