Chapter Four re-posted. Read and Enjoy. Thanks for reading

Two weeks later, Anduin and Kia were almost inseparable. Anduin had a naturally charismatic personality and Kia really didn't know anyone in Stormwind, so it was a natural match. The age difference didn't really matter much to them, since neither of them had ever really gotten much of a chance to be kids and they were actually very similar in many respects. Both were nobility, regardless of being born to different species.

"Are you sure you don't mind me tagging along?" Anduin asked for the fifth time. He had been going with Kia to her druid training since her second session. He'd even managed to help her with her magic. Magic seemed to come as naturally to Anduin, as weapons work came naturally to Kia. She liked having him there, but he always asked if she didn't mind each time. He didn't want to overstep.

"I actually like you watching. You're a very good source of moral support. It's nice to find someone who's just like me. Not good at everything, but still tries."

Kia found out early into her druid training that she wasn't overly powerful in magic. She had inherited the talent from her father, but it wasn't a strong talent. True, if you have a gift and spent enough time practicing, anyone could get good with magic eventually, but it was a rough road for Kia. Anduin was able to help her make sense of it all, even though his magic was from a different source. If there was one thing the prince was very good at, it was magic. Using the Light was something Anduin excelled at with very little effort.

In return, Kia started to work with Anduin on his melee work outside of the practice field. She ended up being a natural when it came to hand to hand, non-magic combat. She wasn't as good with a blade as she was with her bow, but with practice, she would be. Her elvish reflexes, along with her natural speed and grace only worked to her advantage.

They arrived in the small clearing just outside the harbor to find Sheldras waiting for them. He wasn't surprised Anduin accompanied Kia. He had gotten used to having the prince around while they worked.

"On time, as usually. Did you get a chance to work on the spell from yesterday?" He asked, preparing a straw filled dummy target wearing a horde tabard. There were several places in Stormwind which already had training dummies set up for public use, but the elder druid didn't want to discourage Kia's magic use by forcing her to practice in front of others. At least not yet. Kia wasn't the self conscious type, but Sheldras didn't want to create any insecurities, considering expectations were always higher for those who descended from powerful blood.

"Anduin helped me with my focus, but I still can't really sense nature all too clearly. I guess we'll find out if it helped or not." She replied, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Once the target was ready and everyone was behind her, Kia reached into the part of her mind where her magic was kept and concentrated on the power of the world around her, the way Anduin had taught her. I small purple ball of magic formed in hand. It flashed and churned like lightning. She opened her eyes and released the ball at the target. It wasn't very powerful, but it was focused enough to leave a mark on the dummy.

"Better." Sheldras replied. The previous day, Kia hadn't even managed to form a ball with her magic. "Power will come with practice, but at least you were able to fully define your magic this time. Once you get accustomed to feeling the power of the world around you, you'll be able to harness it better. It's all a matter of training your mind. It's progress."

Kia continued to practice, adjusting when Sheldras made a comment. Anduin sat next to a tree behind them, watching closely, forming and holding a small ball of magic in his hand. Unlike Kia's magic, which was a dark purple color and originated from nature itself, his was bright gold. The power of the Light. It came easy to him, though he'd only been practicing for a short time. He had been born with a natural affinity to the Light.

Unbenounced to any of them, two men watched the training from the castle wall.

"It's nice to see the kids getting along." Rell said to Varian. The elf had been on his way to a meeting when he spotted the king watching the two kids. He seemed content, which wasn't a word you used to describe Varian very often. The king had been carrying a very heavy weight on his shoulders, as for late.

"I like the fact Kia is enough of a distraction for Anduin that he no longer asks to go with me to survey damage. After what happened in Ironforge, I feel better knowing he's safe in Stormwind." He scoffed. "As safe as any of us can be these days."

"And, she's helping him with his swordsmanship. I've been observing his training while working with Ki. There's been marked improvement in the last week alone. I don't think he'll ever be a warrior like yourself, Your Majesty, but he'll be proficient enough. We all have our gifts, everything else we have to work at, even Anduin."

Varian sighed, watching his son playing with the small ball of magic in his palm. The king had to admit, his son looked happy. He had hoped Anduin would eventually take to melee combat, but his son just wasn't a fighter. He held a great deal of power, just not the same kind of power as his father. "I've come to accept his limitations. He's a powerful young man. Just in a different way than I had hoped. He may be slow to learn with heavy weapons, but he's mastered skills I will never possess and he's twice the diplomat I'll ever be. If we were at peace, he'd be the perfect king."

Rell chuckled. "He'll make a good king someday, regardless. And I wouldn't concern yourself about accepting that your son won't be following in your exact footsteps. I think Malfurion has had to come to the same conclusion with Kia." They could see that after only about a half hour of practice, Kia was losing steam. She was now sitting next to Anduin, drinking from a waterskin and watching as he tossed the golden ball of energy into the air, where it exploded into a shower of tiny harmless sparks, making both of them laugh. "Just getting her to agree to train as a druid at all was a big victory for him, but I doubt she'll ever reach his level."

Varian chuckled. "We're talking about Malfurion Stormrage here, very few beings will ever reach his level."

He stood quietly, still deep in thought, watching the children getting a chance to be young. His son had been through so much and has been forced to grow up much faster than most people his age. "It's good to see Anduin laugh. To see him act like a child. Sometimes I fear he's growing up too quickly." Varian said, turning to return to the castle. Rell followed along side.

"It's good to see things returning to normal."

The King nodded. "It is."

To Be Continued...