New chapter up. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

The first week after Anduin departed for the Broken Shore, Kia was heartsick with worry. It probably wouldn't have been so bad, had he traveled with his guard. At least then she would know he wasn't alone. As it was, she had no way of knowing if he had made it to his destination or if he were even still alive.

Anduin had left a message to be delivered to Velen after he left, knowing his advisors would only try to stop him if they knew of his plans. After receiving the message, both Velen and Genn departed for the Broken Shore as well, though Velen had not told King Genn of Anduin's plan.

Kia took to spending most of her time in Elwynn Forest with Lantash and Quinn, doing her best to keep away from anyone who might think to ask her about the King's whereabouts. It was best that most still believed he was tucked away in the keep or praying in the cathedral. People tended to get nervous when their heirless king went out to fight a war.

It was at the end of the third week that a message arrived for Kia via one of the SI:7 officers.

Kia read it quickly, then read it aloud to Quinn.

"Well, it's good to know he's doing well." Quinn replied, stretching out on the bed as Kia paced around her chambers, reading and re-reading the letter.

Anduin had remained anonymous for several days, silently observing the soldiers of the Alliance. The Broken Shore was nothing like anything the young king had ever seen before.

He wrote:

"My father kept me sheltered from war. He once told me that there must always be a Wrynn to rule Stormwind. Perhaps that was why he raised me the way he did. I now understand why he feared for my safety. He feared losing me. I was all he had left of my mother."

"For generations, my family have been rulers of Stormwind. My father, grandfather, even my great grandfather all stood shoulder to shield with their men during times of war, battling for the freedom of Stormwind and the Alliance."

"I have seen the horrors of this land and the sacrifices my people are making. I've also seen the bravery and heroism of the soldiers who fight here. I only hope I can someday live up to those heroes."

"I have seen the spot where my father fell. I have also recovered his sword. When I touched it, I got a vision of my father, telling me I must now do what a king must do. The sword was dead when I first lifted it, but it came to life after the vision. I now know what I must do, though only time will tell if I have the strength and bravery to do it."

"I miss you greatly, but I know it was the right choice asking you to stay in Stormwind. I do not know when I will return, but I will write to you as often as I can. Take care of yourself."

Kia sighed, folding the letter delicately and placing it in her desk drawer. "He's truly walking in his father's shoes for the first time. He's seeing things he's only ever heard about." Kia said to Quinn.

"Anduin isn't like his father. He's powerful, but he's not a warrior in the same sense as his father or grandfather." Lantash said in Kia's head.

"No, he's not. He'll find his own way. Though I doubt he'll stay on the Broken Shore for long." Kia replied out loud. "All of his family before him fought with their men, that's true, but they also had family back home. They all had an heir to carry on the Wrynn name, if they should fall in battle. Anduin is the last. Until he has an heir, Genn and Velen will not encourage him to stay and fight. They will want him in Stormwind."

Lantash, who had gotten used to hanging out on the roof of Kia's chambers, stuck his head in through one of the windows. He had doubled in size and this was the only way he could speak without it being mind to mind. He turned out to be significantly larger than a normal adult male dragon. "So, you and the king gonna start working on making that heir?" He asked.

Quinn growled slightly, obviously not happy with the dragon's blunt question.

Kia looked down at the floor sadly. "I can't be queen or produce him an heir. He needs a human woman, so they can have a human baby. Love is irrelevant."

Quinn stood and trotted over to Kia. "You said it yourself, he chose you. He rejected every woman his father tried to introduce him to because they were not you. Do you honestly think he'll just walk away from you for a human woman? He loves you too much. You may think love is irrelevant, but I'm betting Anduin does not."

Kia sat down on the edge of her bed. "He won't want to, no, but he will. For the good of Stormwind, he will."

To Be Continued...