Got another chapter for you. Thanks for reading. I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

Kia had received word Anduin was returning to Stormwind. He had requested she meet him in the garden in Stormwind Keep.

She was overjoyed Anduin was returning, but she was a little confused as to why he wanted to meet her in the garden. Normally, she would have met him in the portal room. Something was up and it worried her. Anduin had been gone a long time and war had a way of changing people.

The garden was empty, either by coincidence or by some order Anduin had given his guards. The weather was starting to slip into a more fall like range, the temperature being slightly cool, but by no means cold yet. In a month or two, the garden would be filled with falling leaves and late blooming plants. The garden was kept stocked with a range of plants which grew at different times of the year ensuring it was beautiful year round.

Kia sat, quietly reading. She wasn't getting very far in her book, since her mind was too distracted by other things to truly focus. After an hour or so, she was able to focus on her book enough to not hear when someone entered the garden.

"Leave us." Came the command from a familiar voice.

Kia looked up and smiled, placing her book on the bench next to her. Anduin looked different than he had when he left months ago. He looked older, somehow. He looked more like a king. Her heart skipped a beat or two as she rushed over to him. Fortunately, he had removed all others from the garden, so she was able to greet him with both a hug and a kiss. He held her tightly, relaxing into the touch.

"You weren't worried about me, were you?" Anduin asked, pulling out of Kia's arms just enough to look down into her eyes.

Kia scoffed. "Of course I was worried. You were on a battlefield and I wasn't there with you. The only time I worry about you is when you're not with me, remember?."

A sly smile formed on Anduin's face. "I think we should remedy that."

The look he gave Kia held an intensity unlike anything she'd ever witnessed in his blue eyes before. The look made her tremble, though she wasn't sure why.

"Marry me, Kia. Agree to be my wife." Anduin's voice was nothing more than a whisper, though the words spoke louder to Kia than any shout.

"Anduin, I love you, but I can't. You know I can't." The pain in her voice was almost tangible. She pulled away, turning her back to him.

"Yes, you can." He went around her, so they were facing each other again. "There is no law or rule that states the queen of Stormwind must be fully human. Personally, I think the Wrynn bloodline would only be enhanced by having a little elvish blood introduced into it. And the people already love you. They're used to seeing you and I together. I doubt many of them will be shocked by the revelation." He took both her hands in his. "I love you and only you. I'd do almost anything if it's in the best interest of Stormwind and its people, but I will not give you up. When it comes to my heart, I will not compromise. Not for anyone."

Kia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had prepared for this battle. During Anduin's absence, she had come up with multiple arguments and points to make which would surely change Anduin's mind about their relationship. She was well prepared for this fight, but now that the fight was upon her, she found she couldn't remember a single one of her well reasoned points. She hated to admit it, but she realized she had already lost the battle. She'd lost it the moment Anduin first said hello to her on that training field, so many years ago.

"You win." She said softly.

Anduin beamed at her. "Did you just say, I win. You're not fighting me on this anymore?"

Kia chuckled at his surprise. He must have been ready to dig in for quite a fight. A fight he was determined to win at all costs. The idea made her love him even more. What woman wouldn't like the idea of a man willing to fight for her.

"I'm done fighting. Yes, I'll marry you."

Anduin hugged Kia, lifting her off the ground.

"Once word gets out about this, things are going to move quickly, won't they?" Kia asked, once Anduin placed her back on her feet.

"I'm afraid so. Most kings get married before they inherit the crown, but then, few things in my life have gone the way of most kings. The main reason I'm being pushed to get married is so I can produce an heir. People get nervous when their ruler is the last of his line. And I haven't named a successor, either. Genn gave me hell for charging into battle without one."

Kia nodded. "I figured as much."

"I know it's asking quite a bit of you, very quickly, and I didn't even think about asking if you were ready to be a mother, but…"

Kia placed a hand gently over Anduin's lips, silencing him. "It's alright. I understand how things work. As long as I'm with you, I can handle any of it. Even having a baby in the near future."

They sat on the bench at the far side of the garden. Both of them were trying to absorb everything that had just happened in the last ten minutes. Their lives were about to change, but Anduin couldn't think of a time when he had been happier.

"Oh, and Ki, just so you hear this from me, your parents already know about my intentions to ask you to marry me."

"How?"

"It's an old human tradition for a man to ask a woman's father permission to marry their daughter, before they ask the daughter herself. Considering who your father is, I thought the tradition was appropriate. I've always held a great deal of respect for Malfurion."

"And did he give his permission?" Kia asked, curious as to when Anduin even had time to stop by Darnassus.

"We reached an understanding, but I don't think he was surprised."

Kia nodded, not sure what he meant by them reaching an understanding, but she decided not to press. Her father was a perceptive man and he knew his daughter well. He probably knew about their relationship, before either of them did.

"So, what happens now?" Kia asked.

Anduin took her hand again, looking out over the garden. "I plan to announce our engagement during my Remembrance Day speech next week. We'll probably be married a couple of weeks later, before the weather gets too cold."

"Do we do a human or a night elf ceremony?" Kia asked.

Anduin was quiet, thinking. He hadn't actually thought about that part of things. He knew Kia was half night elf, of course, but he had never thought about getting married anywhere but in the cathedral in Stormwind. It hadn't occurred to him that Kia might want to have the ceremony somewhere else. She was just as much human as elf, but she had been raised an elf, following elvish traditions.

Kia could see the conflict in Anduin's eyes and decided to let him off the hook.

"We can get married in the cathedral with a human ceremony. Considering your connection to the Light and the simple fact you are the king, I figured you'd want to get married there. I only ask one thing, that we have a smaller night elf ceremony afterwards, here in this garden. For elves, marriage is usually a small affair, shared with only a handful of friends and family. Usually just parents, siblings and a few witnesses. You can ask people you truly care about to stand with you. If I remember correctly, I think Varian stood at Malfurion and Tyrande's marriage ceremony."

"I like that idea." Anduin said, though inside he was sad. The one person he still thought of as family wouldn't be there for this. Jaina. She was an aunt to him, but he doubted she'd be willing to put aside her anger to be witness to the happiest day of his life. He'd try to locate her, of course, but no one can go into hiding like a mage.

Anduin didn't want to cut Jaina out of his life, but she wasn't leaving him with many options.

To Be Continued...