Apologies for the delay in updating this chapter. Unfortunately I've had a bit of a crisis of confidence in my writing of late, and I have been seriously considering whether or not to abandon and delete this series. Luckily for me, I have three excellent friends who spent two weeks convincing me that would be a mistake, and who gave me the support I needed to drag myself up and keep going. Thank you, and thank you to all my readers, old and new.

Anduin

Anduin arrived at dinner that night to find that he, Varian, and Auriana were not dining alone, and that they were to be joined by both Broll and surprisingly, Valeera Sanguinar. He did not know when she had arrived in the city, but it seemed that she had made herself at home in no time at all. She was also just as talkative and bubbly as Anduin remembered, and at first he had a marvellous time catching up with her as she regaled them all with a dozen thrilling stories of her adventures during her absence from Stormwind.

It seemed that not everyone else found her quite so delightful, however, though it took Anduin some time to realise that Auriana was not entirely pleased by the sudden addition of their blood elf guest. Everyone had been cordial and friendly, of course, but there had been a subtle hint of awkwardness that pervaded the entire evening. It didn't help that Varian had spent most of the night shooting worried glances in Auriana's direction, eventually going so far as to end the dinner early so that he could retire her to the privacy of their rooms. Valeera had looked somewhat guilty as Varian and Auriana had left, but as many times as Anduin had asked, Varian declined to provide any kind of explanation for the strangeness of the dinner - and several other dinners that had followed.

Eventually, he had pried the truth of Auriana and Valeera's first encounter from a very reluctant Broll, and he supposed that he could not blame Auriana for her initial reluctance to befriend the overenthusiastic elf. Still, her cool shyness had persisted longer than Anduin had thought it might, and it was only after some very careful observation that he belatedly realised her problem might have something to do with the fact that Valeera was far from the only new face to have arrived in Stormwind of late.

Over the next four weeks, the population of the city grew steadily as people came from far and wide to celebrate the royal wedding. Anduin could scarcely remember seeing the city so full and lively, and he found himself unable to resist being caught up in the jubilant atmosphere. Everywhere he looked, it seemed, was bursting with life, and joy, and colour; enough to make Anduin feel almost as if he were once again a delighted child seeing the beauty of the Alliance capital for the first time.

Even his father had been unusually spirited as the date of the wedding grew closer, but it seemed the only person in Stormwind not thoroughly caught up in the excitement was Auriana herself. Ever since the night of that first dinner, she had been quiet and withdrawn, even more so than usual, and Anduin had begun to fear that Valeera's ill-considered arrival and the constant attention directed Auriana's way might have been enough to change her mind about his father. Auriana had endured all the wedding preparations with a quiet grace, but it was clear that it was not something she would have chosen for herself, and Anduin couldn't help but to worry after her as the day of the wedding grew steadily closer.

He knew that the final week of formal events leading up to the ceremony would likely prove to be her greatest test, starting with the official arrival of the other Alliance leaders into Stormwind. Genn Greymane's family had come to Stormwind several weeks ago, along with a large number of the worgen who resided in Darnassus, but the other representatives were later to arrive. The night elves, for instance, had only entered the city the evening before the formal welcome was scheduled, but as the day of the event itself dawned, there was still one leader who was notably absent.

Unfortunately, Velen was the one person who Anduin had wanted to see more than anyone. He had a lot on his mind, between his worries about Auriana and his desire to be a good prince in support of his father, and he had hoped to share a private conversation with his draenei mentor before they were both caught up in a whirlwind of formal events.

The draenic contingent had thus far not been cooperative with the timing of their arrival, however, forcing Anduin to turn to other means to quiet his racing mind before facing the day ahead. He slipped out of his bed only an hour after first light, and made his way down to the calm familiarity of the Keep's library. If nothing else, reading was a good distraction, and Anduin's nerves briefly faded away as he lost himself in the beautifully illuminated tomes.

While reading helped, however, it did not entirely provide Anduin with the answers that he was seeking, and after awhile he found himself reading the same page over and over again. He sighed, wondering whether he should abandon the pursuit all together, when his idle contemplation was interrupted by the sound of a soft, heavily-accented voice from somewhere behind him.

"Hmm. 'The Canticles of Eternity, Volume Twenty-Seven'. Archbishop Palmingham, I believe. I enjoy a great many works by your human authors, but I always found his writings to be somewhat… pretentious. Not to mention… very lengthy."

"Velen!" Anduin exclaimed excitedly.

He spun eagerly in his seat, and beamed up at the stately draenei now standing over him. Velen was tall, even for one of his kind, and he had the kind of presence that could fill an entire room. Not because he was ostentatious, or intimidating - far from it - but because he radiated a sense of benevolent calm that Anduin could feel in his very bones.

"How did you find me? When did you get here? You know you're invited to the luncheon today, right?"

"One question at a time, young Wrynn," Velen said warmly, raising a hand to slow him down.

Anduin flushed, and closed his book.

"Sorry," he said quickly. "I just… I wasn't sure if you would come…"

"Ah, my boy. My people would not have missed such an auspicious ceremony," Velen assured him, as he took a seat at Anduin's side. "The Alliance has suffered many terrible loses in the last few years. It is a wonderful thing to celebrate a union of love, and the promise of the future."

Anduin nodded in agreement. He felt much the same way, even one of the people in question had not been his father.

"Are draenei marriages much like ours?" he asked.

"We have a similar custom, albeit with some differences," Velen confirmed, stroking his beard with a thoughtful expression. "Draenic unions are very solemn, and are not to be entered into lightly. Not that I am suggesting that your father is in any way taking his own nuptials with anything less than the utmost seriousness."

"You live longer," Anduin realised. "When you choose a partner, you're choosing someone who might be with you for thousands of years."

"If one is lucky, yes," Velen agreed.

"Have you ever been married?" Anduin wondered.

He had spent a great deal of time with Velen on the Exodar, but their conversations had largely centered around Anduin's lessons in the Light. While Anduin considered Velen a friend, he was never quite sure whether it was appropriate to speak to the great Prophet the same way he might talk to one of his friends in Stormwind. Then again, he was not the same young, wide-eyed prince he had been when he had first travelled to the Exodar. In a strange way, his recent experiences dodging assassins and protecting Auriana had given him a new confidence, and for the first time he didn't feel entirely like a child next to the ancient draenei.

Unfortunately, Anduin realised far too late that he had asked a rather personal question, as Velen's timeworn face grew haunted and wistful.

"I had a mate. Back home on Argus," he said distantly. "Her name was Nuuri. She was... very beautiful."

Velen's words were oddly accented, as if he had intended to say something else but had changed his mind at the last moment. Anduin often found it difficult to fathom what it might have been like to live for thousands of years, let alone to love someone for as long as Velen obviously had. From the look in his eyes, however, it seemed that Nuuri had suffered much the same fate as the rest of Velen's people, and Anduin instantly regretted having asked the question.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I didn't mean to pry."

"It is quite alright, young prince. Youthful curiosity is not a sin," Velen sighed. "Still… perhaps we ought to focus on what is ahead, not what is behind, hmm?"

A heavy silence fell over the library, and Anduin stared uncertainly down at his hands.

"Er… my father will be delighted that you have come," he ventured tentatively.

"Is that so? He has not always been so quite pleased to see me," Velen said wryly, arching a white, feathered eyebrow.

He was referring, of course, to the fact that Anduin had initially left for his apprenticeship at the Exodar against Varian's wishes. But that had been a different time, and a different place… and a very different Varian.

"You might be surprised," Anduin said earnestly.

"Varian is a good man, but he needs you, as much as you need him. You have been a positive influence on him," Velen agreed, with a sage nod of his head.

"Well, thank you," Anduin said, smiling at the praise, "But it's not just me. It's her, too. Auriana, I mean. His betrothed? He's… happy, moreso than I've ever seen him. Before, it sometimes felt like his emotional range extended only from angry to... less angry."

Velen chuckled at that, his long purple facial appendages twitching in amusement.

"It pleases you to see him this way," he observed.

"Of course it does!" Anduin said. "He's my father. I love him."

"Tell me about his mate, then. I know her only by reputation," Velen prompted encouragingly.

Anduin frowned slightly, wondering if the Prophet disapproved. He knew that Auriana's reputation could be formidable, and he didn't want Velen to get the wrong idea from people who didn't really know her.

"Auri? Well… she's a lot like Father, actually," he said carefully. "She's clever, and brave, and fierce. She's a very powerful mage, you know."

"So I have heard," Velen said, his expression giving nothing away.

"She can be… shy, and wary - which is understandable, given her past - but she's kind, and very funny when you get to know her," Anduin added quickly.

Velen studied him closely. He had penetrating eyes like no one else Anduin had ever seen, and it always felt as if his gaze were finding parts of Anduin that he didn't even know he had.

"You like her," Velen observed simply.

"I do," Anduin admitted. "More… more than I thought I would, actually. Given…"

His thoughts turned briefly to his mother, and he sighed.

"I do not know how it works amongst humans," Velen said, leaning back in his chair. "Will you consider Auriana your... second mother, after the union ceremony?"

"Ah… the term we use is 'stepmother', and… I haven't really given it much thought, actually," Anduin confessed. "There's been a lot going on, and I think Auri might send a fireball my way if I were to start calling her 'Mother'."

He chuckled wryly to himself, but Velen didn't seem to find the comment quite so amusing.

"Why would she do that?" he asked, his forehead creasing in concern.

"Oh, well, I imagine she'd say I was making her feel old," Anduin explained.

Velen, however, still looked nonplussed, and Anduin realised that a joke about aging may not have been quite so funny to a being who was quite literally millenia old.

"Er… it's a human thing. Nevermind," he added, smothering a grin with his hand.

Velen's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he still wasn't quite sure whether Anduin was teasing him, but he declined to press the point further. Instead, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the reading table, tenting his fingers thoughtfully beneath his chin as he studied his young human protege.

"I hear you have had an interesting time of it of late," he said lightly.

Anduin snorted.

"That's one way to put it," he said ruefully, shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he remembered fleeing through a storm in Duskwood with murderers close on his heels.

"Is there something bothering you? Beyond your recent brush with mortal peril, I mean?"

Sometimes, Anduin thought Velen could read minds, so uncanny were his instincts. Anduin had not said a word, but in barely a quarter hour of conversation, the Prophet had correctly deduced that he wanted to discuss more than just his father's upcoming wedding. Something had been gnawing at him over the past few months, and Velen was perhaps the only person on Azeroth who might understand how he felt.

"I… well… you've heard I was the target of assassins, obviously..." Anduin started, unsure where to begin.

"Yes," Velen said gravely. "Your father sent a missive to the other leaders of the Alliance, warning us of the potential danger."

Anduin's eyes widened, and for the first time it occurred to him that he and Auriana might not have been the only targets of the mysterious warmongers.

"Y-you haven't had any trouble, have you?" he asked worriedly.

"Not as such," Velen said, giving Anduin a reassuring pat on the arm. "Fortunately for us, the Exodar is a little out of the way for most assassins."

Anduin sighed with relief.

"I'm glad you've been safe," he said. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone. It's been… very stressful."

Anduin had tried to be strong, especially in front of Varian, but it had been difficult to keep up such a front. He had seen how his father had suffered through Auriana's near loss, and he didn't want to add to Varian's burdens by bothering him with his own worrisome thoughts. While the events of the past few months had given Anduin a newfound confidence in his own ability to persevere in the face of adversity, he certainly had no desire to go through anything similar anytime soon. People like Auriana and his father might thrive on the danger and the adrenaline, but for Anduin, there wasn't anything he liked less.

"I h-had to kill a man," he whispered. "He was threatening Auri."

Although Varian, Auriana, and even Broll had assured him he had done the right thing, Anduin still felt conflicted. They were born warriors, and while he knew they did not relish the taking of a life, they were no strangers to violence, either, and sometimes he felt as if they could not possibly comprehend how he felt. Velen, however, was different.

"Ah. I see. And this troubles you?" the elder draenei asked, his brow creasing sympathetically.

"I… I used the Light to do it. It's as if there were something inside me that just… exploded outwards," Anduin said slowly, unsure how to explain.

In a way, he felt he now understood how Auriana must have felt, carrying around the enormous burden of such incredible, bursting power inside her. He knew he had talent as a priest, but he had thus far largely concentrated on the healing arts. It was a different thing entirely to use the Light to burn, to punish, and he was still surprised by how easily he had summoned a force of such wrathful destruction. It sickened him and thrilled him all at once, and he found it difficult to reconcile the simple peace and grace that he knew to be the Light with the power he had called upon in the cave in Duskwood.

"Was that wrong of me? He was going to kill her… but in killing him… did I do something… evil?" Anduin wondered. "I know the Light can be used as a weapon, I know that... but in my heart, the reality of it was not what I expected."

He bit his lip, and finally gave voice to the thought that had really been bothering him ever since the dramatic events of the Duskwood.

"Is… is the Light evil, if it can be used to do evil things? Is killing someone always evil, o-or is it relative? People can do terrible things with the Light, but it doesn't… stop them. It didn't stop… me," he murmured, as he sighed and closed his eyes. "I don't know how to explain this… I've been doubting myself, doubting the Light…"

Velen listened attentively as Anduin rambled, but he did not immediately reply. Anduin was used to such silences, knowing that the Prophet did not like to speak in haste. He was normally able to endure Velen's thoughtfulness with equal composure, but today he found himself fidgeting beneath the table as he waited for his mentor to speak.

"Is a hammer evil?" Velen asked finally.

"What?"

"Your father has not kept you so sheltered that you do not know what a hammer is, I think," Velen teased gently, though his tone was kind.

"Of course I know what a hammer is!" Anduin said earnestly, narrowly resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "A hammer isn't evil. How could it be? It's just a tool."

"It can also be a weapon, in the right hands," Velen prompted gently.

"Oh."

Like all the best teachers, Velen did not give Anduin the answers, but simply gave him the support and guidance to find them on his own. It was something Anduin should have seen himself, really, but he had been so distracted with the wedding and everything else going on that he hadn't seen what was right in front of his own eyes.

"You're using the hammer as a metaphor for the Light," he realised. "I've been wondering if the Light can be evil if it can be used to do bad things, but I've been asking the wrong question."

Velen smiled, and nodded his approval.

"What matters is not the tool itself, but the hand the wields it," he agreed, his beard twitching. "Evil does not live in the Light. Evil lives in the hearts of men, or elves, or draenei - men like those who sought to kill you, and your father's mate."

He traced his long fingers over the gold-leafed cover of the book that lay between them as he spoke, his rich voice warming and heartening Anduin with every word.

"I understand that you did a violent thing, and this troubles you. I, too, have used the Light to things that I wish I had not. But acting to prevent evil is not an evil act in itself. You must trust your good heart, Anduin Wrynn."

"Father said something similar, actually," Anduin admitted. "Not quite as eloquently, but… he tried. He thanked me for saving her."

"Then you have done a good thing, no?" Velen suggested, his softly glowing eyes boring into Anduin's own.

Anduin thought of Auriana, and the relief he had felt when he had learned she had been found alive. He could picture the exact look on his father's face as he had cradled her tiny, battered body in his arms, and the raw crack of emotion in Varian's voice as he had thanked Anduin for her life, and the last of his doubts slowly began to fade away.

"Yes," he said finally. "I suppose I did."

"You are not the first priest to ask these questions. I doubt you will ever stop asking them so long as you live," Velen assured him. "I certainly have not, and I am a good many years older than you. But that is the beauty of the Light. We do not need to understand it to feel its power, or to bask in its grace."

He stretched out in his chair, and gazed down at Anduin consideringly as he tried to grapple with the implications of their conversation.

"So there's is no answer?" Anduin summarised, his brow furrowing in a small scowl. "That's… less than satisfying."

Sometimes thinking on the deeper philosophy of the Light made Anduin's head hurt. His obvious consternation seemed to amuse Velen, however, judging from the kind-hearted sparkle in the Prophet's eyes.

"You are the most talented priest of your age I have ever met. Perhaps you be the first to unravel all of the Light's mysteries," he said warmly. "I will, however, leave you with this thought to ponder: the Light is not one thing, or another. It is not this, or that. The Light… is."

For a moment, Anduin wanted to argue, but instead forced himself to consider what the Prophet was reallysaying, as difficult as it was. He stopped trying to think his way through, stopped trying to solve the Light as if it were some kind of riddle or puzzle, and merely allowed its limitless grace to wash over him and fill his heart to bursting. He closed his eyes, and gave himself permission to simply exist, to simply breathe, and he slowly felt his worries ease and his mind begin to clear.

The Light is.

It was some time before Anduin finally reopened his eyes, to see Velen staring down at him with a sincere, approving smile. He wasn't sure if it was because the Prophet himself was in the room, but he could feel the presence of the Light as clearly and as strongly as he ever had, and for the first time since Duskwood, he was truly calm.

"I'm glad you're here, Velen," he murmured, returning his mentor's smile.

Velen touched his shoulder, and Anduin felt a now familiar frisson of connection and understanding spark between them.

"As always, Anduin," he said kindly, "The pleasure is mine."


The Prince and the Prophet continued to converse pleasantly for several more hours, until Anduin abruptly realised that he had entirely lost track of time, and that they were both going to be late for the luncheon. Having no desire to disappoint his father with his tardiness on such an important day, he had bid a hasty farewell to Velen, and had hurried off to his chambers to get dressed.

As it was a formal event, Anduin donned one of his more formal tunics, complete with a freshly pressed blue sash and shining gold epaulets. He wasn't especially one to care for the vagaries of fashion, but there was something about wearing a neat and well-cut outfit that gave gave him a certain sense of confidence. Talking with Velen had also done much to improve his mood, and he found himself walking with an eager spring in his step as he quickly made his way out of his rooms and back down through the Keep for the second time that day.

Varian had decided to hold the luncheon outside, to take advantage of the brisk air and unseasonable sunshine that had graced Stormwind over the last week. A number of bright, colourful tents had been set up around the lower pools of Stormwind Lake, just by the waterfalls, with food and drink from all corners of Azeroth to suit every taste. Today's event would welcome leaders and dignitaries from each of the Alliance member states, ahead of a full week of celebration that would finally culminate in the wedding in itself. Anduin knew his father felt rather awkward about receiving gifts and well wishes from his fellow rulers, but Genn had insisted that it was the proper thing to do, and that the Alliance would relish the opportunity to celebrate a royal marriage.

Looking around, Anduin suspected that the Worgen king may have been right. Everywhere he looked he saw people laughing and talking, from tall, graceful draenei to bright and bubbly gnomes. He saw smiles and excitement all around him, and was once again struck by how the entire city felt full to the brim with positive energy. Regardless of culture or allegiance or creed, everyone, it seemed, loved a wedding.

Quite a few people waved as Anduin made his way through the milling crowd, including both Broll and Valeera, and he greeted each of them with a warm smile. He did not pause, however, as he cut a path straight towards the royal tent where he had spied Auriana standing alone, shyly acknowledging each person who stopped to bow before her.

She looked beautiful, Anduin thought, in a floaty dress of lavender silk and delicate rose gold embroidery, with her dark hair fluttering gently in the cool breeze. Even at a distance, however, Anduin could tell she was nervous - and not that he could blame her. Not only was Auriana about to face the entire court of Stormwind, here to get a glimpse of their soon-to-be queen, but all of the most powerful leaders in the Alliance, as well; many of whom she had never met. She had managed to keep her expression calm, at least, if not quite serene; though he did not miss the way her hands twisted in her skirts with every noble who passed. Unusually, his father was nowhere to be seen, and Anduin hurried over to her side with as much haste as was still dignified for a prince.

"Hello," he whispered, giving her his most encouraging smile. "Picture them naked."

"Hel…" she started distractedly, only for the rest of Anduin's words to catch up with her a second later. "Wait, what?"

Auriana lifted her gaze to meet Anduin's, and her nose crinkled thoughtfully as she tried to puzzle out the meaning of his statement.

"Something Bolvar told me once. If you're nervous about appearing in front of a large crowd, picture them naked," he explained, grinning.

A very strange expression crossed Auriana's face, the likes of which Anduin had never seen upon her features, and she bit her lip.

"That... doesn't help."

She shifted her gaze skyward in a vain attempt to compose herself, and Anduin realised she was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Sorry," he said, though in truth he was anything but.

He leaned in closer, resting a hand against the small of her back, and gave her a conspiratorial wink.

"Who are you picturing?"

Auriana's cheeks coloured brilliant crimson, and she shook her head weakly in reply. It was blatantly obvious that she was thinking about someone, however, and Anduin did not intend to let her off the hook that easily.

"Tell me," he prompted, poking her gently in the side with his index finger.

Auriana gave him a withering look, but there was no hiding the small, mischievous spark that had kindled deep within her dark blue eyes.

"Alright. On the condition that if you ever tell anyone else what I'm about to say, I get to light you on fire," she growled.

"Seems fair," Anduin said, shrugging.

Auriana took a deep breath, and looked around to make sure that no one was close enough to hear.

"Um… well… Malfurion," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the excited chatter of the crowd.

Anduin blinked. He wasn't really sure what he had expected her to say, but it honestly hadn't been that.

"Ah… really? Should father be worried?" he asked, struggling to keep a straight face. "Never pictured you with a druid, but the heart wants what it wants, I suppose…"

Auriana shot a furtive look over her shoulder, her lips twisted into a heavy scowl. Anduin followed her line of sight, and finally caught a glimpse of his father conversing with two elite royal guards. While there hadn't been the slightest hint of trouble in weeks, it seemed that Varian still took security very seriously. It was perhaps a good thing that he was absent, however, as Anduin doubted Auriana would have revealed her thoughts to him otherwise, and he was having far too much fun. Talking with Velen had lifted a great weight from his shoulders, and he was now determined to enjoy the week's festivities as fully as possible.

"No, Anduin, it's not… just… no..." Auriana insisted.

"Sure," he teased playfully.

"No!" she repeated emphatically, clearly horrified that he would ever believe that she could betray his father.

She turned back to face him, and bit her lip.

"I just… it's something I've wondered for a while."

"You… often think about Malfurion naked?" Anduin asked, now thoroughly confused.

He didn't presume to be an authority on Auriana's private desires - and nor did he really want to be - but he would not have guessed that she held a particular attraction to night elves. Especially when considering that his father was about as far from elven as one could get.

"What? No," she repeated sternly. "Not often. I just figured… well, he has those antlers, and the feathers on his arms, and the nightsaber feet… what about about the rest of him?"

"Auri!" Anduin exclaimed, practically choking on the sudden wave of laughter that overtook him. "That's… that's…"

"Awful," she finished sheepishly. "I know, I'm awful."

"I was going to say hilarious," Anduin assured her. "Do you reckon he's a bear under there? Or maybe a wolf?"

At last, Auriana could no longer hold back, and she dissolved into a fit of embarrassed giggles. She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to maintain an air of ladylike decorum, but she was too far gone. Her ears and cheeks were now flaming crimson, and Anduin smiled to himself as he watched her fight to regain her composure. The conversation had taken a rather unexpected turn, but as he had hoped, it had served to put Auriana more at ease.

"What are you two chuckling about?"

Anduin suddenly felt a firm hand close over his shoulder, and he turned to see his father staring down at him with a bemused expression.

"Nothing," both Anduin and Auriana said immediately, which of course did nothing to assuage Varian's suspicions.

"Hmm," he growled, pulling uncomfortably at his brocade sleeves. "I'm sure."

Varian was not the kind of man who often took pains with his appearance, but he had made a genuine effort in honour of the coming festivities. Anduin sometimes forgot that his father was still a very handsome man, but it was especially clear on a day like today. Certainly, a number of ladies of the court had noticed, judging from the dozens of admiring glances that came his way, though Varian of course had eyes for one woman.

"Come on," he said, offering Auriana his arm. "It's time."

Auriana's expression sobered slightly as she accepted, but she nevertheless permitted Varian to guide her to her seat. Anduin followed close behind, though he was careful not to stand on the long train of Auriana's dress as they made their way into the shade of the royal tent. Normally, he would have sat on his father's right, but for today he wanted to support Auriana. Instead, he now sat on her other side, so that she was safely ensconced between two generations of Wrynns. Today might be a momentous test for Auriana, but she would not face it alone.

The rest of the crowd followed Varian's lead and began to take their seats, before the herald's horn sounded the arrival of their first official guests. The night elf contingent was the first to make their way down the promenade and around the lake, though whether their prominence was by design or coincidence, Anduin didn't know.

Night elves were a common enough sight around Stormwind these days, but it was another thing entirely to see a group of kaldorei in their full ceremonial dress, bright banners fluttering in the breeze as they made their way into the centre of the clearing ringed by the colourful feasting tents. As a group, they were almost overwhelmingly beautiful, like staring directly into the sun, though Anduin had no desire to look away.

At the head of the procession came Tyrande and Malfurion, each resplendent in the traditional robes of their people. Malfurion towered over his brethren with his gleaming stag's antlers, while Tyrande looked so serene and graceful that she might have been Elune herself made flesh. From afar, it almost looked as if she was floating over the grass, and even as she approached the royal tent, Anduin still wasn't entirely sure that her feet had touched the ground.

"Ishnu-dal-dieb," Tyrande greeted them warmly, her voice at once both ethereal and commanding. "The kaldorei are delighted to have been invited to these joyful celebrations, High King."

Both she and Malfurion inclined their heads respectfully towards Varian, who returned the gesture in kind. Anduin also smiled, though he found his gaze inexorably drawn to the heavy leather belt that secured Malfurion's loincloth.

Dammit, Auri, he thought. Now you've got me doing it.

Anduin glanced sideways at Auriana, but she was determinedly staring straight ahead, as if she had read his mind and couldn't bear to look at him for fear of laughing. He nudged her foot beneath the table, but her expression never faltered, save for the tiniest of smirks that pulled at the left corner of her mouth, and a small twitch of her leg as she stomped on his toe with her heel.

Fortunately, Varian did not seem to notice their under-the-table shenanigans; focused as he was on the night elf delegation before him.

"Welcome to Stormwind. We are honoured by your attendance," he said sincerely. "It has been a long time since we have celebrated a royal wedding, and we are grateful to do so in the presence of such steadfast allies - and dare I say, friends."

He spoke well, his voice was deep and commanding, and Anduin was rather ashamed to admit to himself that he had forgotten what an eloquent and masterful ruler his father could be, when he so chose. The full leadership of the Alliance had not been gathered since the trial of Garrosh Hellscream in Pandaria, and yet in a single statement, Varian had reminded them all why he was the High King.

"Most certainly friends," Malfurion agreed, though Anduin did not miss the way his eyes narrowed thoughtfully as his sharp gaze flicked to Auriana.

Night elves were suspicious of magic users in general, given their long and complicated history with the arcane. Malfurion's opinion had been doubly tainted by his experiences with his prodigiously dangerous brother, but Anduin hoped that the elves would not hold Auriana in contempt simply for what she was. Auriana was powerful - as dangerous as Illidan, even - but Anduin also knew that she had a good heart, and as far as he was concerned, that was all that mattered.

"We hope you will accept these gifts, along our warmest wishes for a long and happy marriage," Tyrande continued, seemingly unaware of her husband's hesitation. "I can remember my own wedding ceremony as clearly as if it were yesterday. I only hope that your union is similarly blessed."

She glanced lovingly up at Malfurion, and his expression softened slightly as he stared down at his beautiful mate. It was a tender moment between the two ancient elves, and Anduin could practically feel the centuries of love and longing between the two. Tyrande did not allow the moment to linger overlong, however, instead beckoning to a group of four priestesses, who came forth bearing two large amphorae of night elven wine between them. A lithe armoured Sentinel followed, bearing a magnificent hunting bow that she laid before Varian. The wooden weapon had been hand carved, and inlaid with the finest truesilver. As king, Varian did not often get a chance to get out of the Keep, but Anduin knew that he loved to hunt, and that the perfectly crafted weapon would be very much appreciated.

A fifth priestess came forward with a gift for Auriana; a gauzy, silvery-white dress that looked as if it had been sewn with moonlight itself. Many ladies in the crowd whispered excitedly at its beauty, and even Varian looked suitably impressed - though perhaps for a different reason. Auriana, however, looked rather amazed that she had been so considered, though she quickly covered her surprise with a warm smile and a sincere thank you.

As Tyrande, Malfurion, and the rest of the elves were guided away to take their seats, a second group of Keep servants came to carefully remove and store the heartfelt gifts in a purpose made tent at the back of the clearing. There was little time to rest, however, as a bright note trumpeted from the herald's horn announced the arrival of the second group of delegates.

Perhaps it was appropriate that the worgen contingent followed soon after the elves, given that many of them had found a home in the worgen enclave in Darnassus. While Varian may not have been the kind of king who cared much for his appearance, Genn Greymane certainly was. The Gilneans were a proud people, and none more so than their king. Genn looked resplendent in a coat of rich burgundy and gold trim as he marched at the head of his people, with his wife and daughter at his side. He was smiling, magnanimous, and he looked every inch the proud scion of the Alliance as he rounded the lake and came up before the royal tent.

Such had not always been the case. Anduin remembered all too well the last time the worgen had been presented to the Alliance in such a fashion. In a word, it had been a disaster, with Varian very publicly and rather rudely decrying Genn and his people as cowards. This time however, Genn approached as a friend, clasping Varian warmly by the forearm, before kissing a brilliantly blushing Auriana on the cheek.

"Varian!" he boomed grandly, his voice carrying far and wide through the clearing. "Gilneas has stood proudly alongside Stormwind in times of war, and we are equally proud to do so during such a time of joy and peace. And I think I speak on behalf of the entire Alliance when I say… about bloody time!"

The crowd burst out laughing, and even Varian looked amused; accepting Genn's good-natured teasing with a smirk and a wry tilt of his head. Genn winked at Auriana, who looked as if she wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or disappear beneath the table. She was soon distracted, however, as Genn waved his hands with an extravagant flourish and beckoned forth a group of servants in resplendent Gilnean livery.

The King of Gilneas had clearly spared no expense for the occasion, and presented Varian and Auriana with a veritable mountain of wedding presents. It seemed to Anduin as if Genn had gifted them an entire household, everything from silverware to lush furs - and all carefully crafted to the precise specifications of the finest Gilnean craftsmen, of course. Pride of place was given to a magnificent drinking horn made of bone and inlaid mithril, that had been designed for Varian by Genn himself, and presented alongside a barrel of the finest aged Gilnean scotch.

Anduin knew here was always a political undercurrent to these sorts of events, but Genn was less subtle than most. In proclaiming his support for Varian so generously, he was reaffirming his people's place in the Alliance, whilst at the same time providing a tangible demonstration of Gilnean prosperity in the time since the Cataclysm. Anduin didn't blame him for being proud of how far his people had come, of course, but he did wonder if some of the other leaders might find his display excessive.

He had little time to reflect on the complex internal politics of the Alliance, however, as the worgen moved away to make way for the representatives of the Kirin Tor. While the mages of Dalaran were not official members of the Alliance, they had not been a neutral entity ever since the incident with the Divine Bell and the Purge. It was also well known that Jaina and Varian were close friends and longtime allies, and in this case, she would actually be standing alongside Auriana at the wedding as a bridesmaid.

Today, Jaina had eschewed a dress in favour of a set of neatly pressed Kirin Tor robes, though she looked as lovely and radiant as if she were wearing a ballgown. She was flanked on either side by Khadgar, looking surprisingly dapper in his own set of formal robes; and Kalecgos in his half-elf form, who stared at the festival all around himself with an eager air of curiosity and delight.

"Varian," Jaina began warmly, "And Auriana. Please accept the felicitations of the both the Council of Six and the Kirin Tor - as well as my own personal congratulations."

"Quite right," Khadgar added, beaming down at Auriana like a proud father. "It is a historical occasion, indeed."

"I'm afraid I have not brought our gift with me today," Jaina continued smoothly, her eyes sparkling with kindness and real affection, "Though I hope you will forgive me once you see the surprise we have in store for your wedding night."

"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" Varian asked, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully as if he wasn't quite sure if she were teasing him.

"Patience, my dear King," Jaina admonished him gently. "You'll see soon enough. Though I believe Kalec wished to present you with a token on behalf of his flight."

At her words, Kalec stepped forward, and bowed respectfully before Varian and Auriana. At first, it seemed as if he had come empty handed, but with a sudden twist of his wrists and a flash of light, an enormous blue gem appeared out of thin air.

"A mana gem!" Auriana exclaimed, recognising the object immediately. "Oh, Kalec, you shouldn't have…"

"From the Nexus vault itself. A traditional gift amongst dragons when one takes on a new consort," the former Aspect explained, smiling down at her as he pressed it carefully into her hands.

Auriana and Kalec may have called it a mere mana gem, but to Anduin it seemed that she had been presented with a pure sapphire as large as his head. It was beautifully and expertly cut, and a thousand different facets sparkled in the sunlight as Auriana turned it over in her fingers. Anduin couldn't even begin to estimate its value, and he was clearly not the only one who had noticed, either, judging from the excited muttering that had broken out across the crowd.

Unfortunately, Kalec seemed to have taken their excited whispers as a sign that he had done something wrong, or had given a gift that was insufficient for the occasion at hand.

"I wasn't sure if it was appropriate for human royalty, but it is a traditional gift…" he said uncertainly, his dark blue brows drawing together worriedly.

"It's wonderful," Auriana assured him quickly. "Thank you."

"I agree," Varian confirmed. "I won't pretend that I understand the full significance of such a gift, but I am sure Auriana will correct my ignorance soon enough. You have honoured us, Kalecgos, and you have my thanks."

Kalec's concerned expression quickly faded into a relieved smile, and inclined his head in acknowledgement as Jaina stepped forward to take his arm and lead him away. Khadgar followed soon after his fellow mages, though he made a quick detour to the very front of the royal table to press and affectionate kiss to Auriana's forehead. It was clear to Anduin that he wished to speak to her further, but such things would have to wait until after the formal part of the day was concluded.

Khadgar's discretion proved fortuitous, for no sooner had the Kirin Tor mages taken their seats than a sudden flurry of war drums announced the arrival of the dwarves, lead by the triumvirate of Moira Thaurissan, Muradin Bronzebeard, and Falstad Wildhammer. Both dwarven men were magnificent in their heavy, shining armour, while Moira was the picture of dwarven femininity in a flowing white dress with golden ribbons braided through her fiery hair.

"On behalf o' the Council o' Three Hammers, please accept our gracious thanks for your invitation, High King. Ironforge is delighted ta welcome a new Queen o' Stormwind," she said gracefully.

"It's good to see you again, Moira," Varian said warmly, though Anduin found it somewhat hard to forget that he had once tried to strangle her to death during her coup of Ironforge.

Still, Moira herself appeared content to let bygones be bygones, and she smiled beatifically up at Varian as he continued his welcome. She may have been a petty and headstrong girl not all that long ago, but it seemed to Anduin as if she blossomed further into her role a fair and diplomatic ruler of her people every time they met.

"And you, Muradin, and Falstad," Varian added. "Stormwind is grateful for the continued support of the Council, and that of the dwarven people."

"As we are grateful for yer allyship, King Varian," Moira said. "Please accept these gifts as a token of our appreciation and friendship."

The three dwarves had come bearing three gifts of their own, each in some way representative of the history and culture of their respective clan. The Bronzebeards had forged for Varian a magnificent full barding for his warhorse, and for Auriana a fine set of daggers that were so exquisitely slender that they could easily be hidden in one's boot, or concealed in the fabric of a billowing sleeve. Evidently, word of the attempts on Auriana's life had got around, and the Bronzebeards were nothing if not a practical people.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, the Wildhammers had brought four gryphon eggs, each borne of one of their finest breeding pairs. The eggs themselves were a beautiful cream colour, dotted with pale blue spots, and Anduin had no doubts that the gryphons they would soon hatch would make a fine addition to Stormwind's aerie of warbirds. Both clans had also brought with them copious amounts of beer, so much so that Amduim couldn't help but wonder if there were any left in the entire city of Ironforge.

The last dwarven gift, however, Anduin could not place. It was Moira herself who came forward, as representative of the Dark Irons, with what looked at to be a large, smouldering rock. A thousand different shades of red and orange danced across its surface, and Anduin could not understand how it wasn't burning Moira's hands. She did not flinch, however, as she laid the gift not before Varian, but rather Auriana.

"An elemental heart," she said proudly. "From within the depths o' Ironforge herself."

Anduin wasn't sure what the stone itself did, but it seemed Auriana knew better than he. Her eyes widened, and she reached out to run reaching out to run her shaking fingers across the rapidly shifting surface of the stone. It flickered even brighter beneath her touch, and Anduin felt a sudden burst of warmth rush across his bare skin.

"Moira…" she gasped. "They're so rare, how did you even find one?"

"Our elementalists are very skilled," Moira said proudly.

"I can feel its power, it's extraordinary. I… I can't possibly accept..."

"Aye, but you can," Moira said knowingly. "A gift ta remind ye of the strength and fire that beats in yer own heart, my Lady… and in the hearts of yer allies."

Much like Genn, Moira had clearly decided to use today's event as an opportunity to make a political statement. The acceptance of the Dark Irons in Ironforge had been an uneasy proposition at best, and even now, they still held themselves apart from their brethren with a subtle hesitance. To give Auriana a gift of such rarity and power not only demonstrated great generosity, but also their worth. On a more personal note, Moira herself had also suffered a great deal of discrimination from her own father, and it was clear that she wished to show support for Auriana's inclusion as another strong female voice with in the Alliance.

"Thank you," Auriana said sincerely, still looking stunned. "I promise you, I will put this to good use."

Moira nodded her approval, and smiled briefly at Varian and Anduin, before she and the rest of the dwarves made their way off towards their table.

"Something special?" Varian asked, leaning over Auriana to watch as she handed the relic off to one of her attendants.

"Very much so," she confirmed. "I've never seen one so flawless. It could be used to do extraordinary magic."

"Hmph. Just like you," Varian murmured.

Anduin raised an eyebrow at his father's uncharacteristic suavity, and in truth, Varian looked rather pleased with himself. For her part, Auriana simply rolled her eyes in amusement, though even the large goblet of water that she lifted to her lips could not hide her smile. At last, however, she seemed to be slowly relaxing into the festive atmosphere, encouraged by the positive attentions of Stormwind's allies, and Anduin could only hope that the trend would continue.

The delegation of gnomes were next to arrive, in a burst of noise and metal and colour. They were all mounted on clanking mechanostriders, each of which had been painted Alliance blue and gold in honour the of the celebrations. They were certainly the loudest of all the representatives so far, and the crowd applauded delightedly as they performed a complex series of fast-paced loops and turns.

Eventually, the gnomes ceased their intricate display and manoeuvred their mechanostriders into three neat lines, with High Tinker Mekkatorque standing front and centre. He did not dismount his technological steed, however, instead using it as a makeshift platform from which to address the crowd.

"My warmest greetings, High King!" he said brightly. "My people and I are delighted to visit Stormwind once again - and to be here on such a happy occasion, at that!"

He gave Auriana merry wink, and gestured excitedly to the skies above.

"You may not know this, but we gnomes love a wedding - and what better way than to celebrate your upcoming nuptials than with your very own gyrocopter!"

"He can't be serious…" Anduin breathed, mostly to himself. "Can he?"

As it turned out, however, Mekkatorque was completely serious. A low, buzzing mechanical noise sounded from somewhere nearby, and a second later, a brightly coloured flying machine erupted from the treeline to fly circles over the excitable crowd.

"Perfect for a romantic flight over the city, ey?" Mekkatorque prompted, waggling his eyebrows suggestively as his pilot made another pass.

The machine had been drastically sized up from a standard gnomish gyrocopter, though Anduin suspected that his father would still have to compact himself considerably if he were to fit in either one of the copter's two seats. The sides had been painted with bright red and gold hearts, while the interior of the vehicle had been done in soft pink leather. Two glass vials of some fabulously bubbly blue liquid were strapped to each side of the fuselage, though whether they contained alcohol or rocket fuel - or both - Anduin couldn't tell.

He snuck a sidelong look at Varian and Auriana, who both looked simply dumbfounded by the gnomish king's choice of gift. Mekkatorque had apparently taken their stunned silence as approval, however, and he continued his showy presentation unabated.

"And that's not all! You are well known for your distinctive armour, King Varian!" he said excitedly, waving the gyrocopter pilot off so that he could be properly heard. "However - there is nothing in this world so well made that it cannot be improved by a little gnomish tinkering!"

He grinned broadly, and it suddenly seemed as if the entirety of his small face were consumed by the width of his smile.

"Your Majesty, please allow me to present - made specially just for you - a set of megawatt, bi-directional, plasma-fused, shoulder mounted rocket launchers!"

Three gnomes dismounted their mechanostrider, and came forward to reveal a strange metal harness of sorts, with a collection of cluster rockets mounted on each side of a heavy back brace. It had clearly been sized for a human, and a large human, at that, and Anduin realised that Mekkatorque intended for Varian to wear it over his already sizeable pauldrons. Privately, he felt as if his father were already quite deadly enough without additional weaponising, but Mekkatorque seemed to think the idea was absolutely ingenious.

"Allow me to demonstrate," the High Tinker said grandly.

He gestured to his gnomish brethren, who immediately rearranged themselves to stand abreast with their small arms linked. At the same time, four other gnomes moved to lift the harness onto their backs, positioning it so it sat as if it were resting on a single set of shoulders.

For a moment, it looked as if the gnomes intended to fire rockets into the royal tent, but after a bit of careful shuffling, they turned around to face out towards the waterfall. A hush fell over the crowd, and Anduin found himself leaning forward in anticipation as a fourth gnome came forward to trigger the ignition switch.

There was was a burst of smoke from the back of the harness, but instead of a single projectile firing off towards the lake, every single rocket caught fire and began to burn. The force of their ignition was actually enough to create lift, and suddenly the three gnomes found themselves struggling to remain earthbound. In a panic, they flung the rocket harness upwards, sending it flying high into the air out over the lake, where it whizzed wildly around in a dizzying series of increasingly tight circles...

And exploded.

Not a few people screamed as rockets flew wildly in all directions, and a good deal more dived beneath the tables. Auriana, however, was the quickest to react, blinking straight through the feast table so that she reappeared next to Mekkatorque on the other side. She threw right her arm in a wide arc, sending a shower of icicles out from her hand. Her aim was unerringly good, and each caught a rocket in mid air, freezing them solid before they could explode. At least half a dozen smashed into the rocks at the base of the waterfalls, while the remainder tumbled harmlessly into the grass.

Despite Auriana's impressive heroics, it was some time before people dared to peek out from behind chairs and tables. Once it was clear that the danger had passed, however, a wave of impolite sniggering rippled across the crowd, and Mekkatorque's face fell. Anduin frowned, but it was once again Auriana who was the first to respond. She picked up the mangled remains of the rocket harness from where it had fallen, and carried it back over to Mekkatorque and the gnomish delegation.

"Thank you, Gelbin," she said kindly, speaking loudly enough that her voice carried across the entire clearing. "Stormwind is forever grateful for the loyalty and ingenuity of the gnomish people."

Auriana visibly took a deep breath, and glanced over her shoulder at the tittering nobles with as much imperious command as she could muster. As it turned out, however, her years of work in the military had apparently given her the ability to summon a rather impressive aura of command, and the crowd instantly fell silent.

"Perhaps it just needs a little more fine tuning," she added, turning back to give Mekkatorque a shy kiss on the cheek.

The High Tinker blushed furiously, and for a moment was so flustered that he bumped the controls of his mechanostrider and sent it jerking forward a pace.

"Ah… o-of course, my lady," he stammered, touching his cheek where she had kissed him.

"Yes," Varian agreed, quickly following Auriana's tactful lead. "Certainly no one could argue with its… ah... potency."

Luckily, her quick thinking seemed to have done the trick, and both Mekkatorque and his gnomish fellows looked mollified as they clanked away to their tent. Auriana kept her head high and her expression cool the entire time, though Anduin suspected that she had been rather anxious about her impromptu foray into the world of diplomacy. Still, her kind words had diffused the situation rather handily, and Anduin was proud - as was Varian.

"Well done," he murmured, as Auriana quickly resumed her seat.

Outwardly, the King of Stormwind did not move or even turn his head, but beneath the table, Anduin saw him reach for Auriana's hand to give it an encouraging squeeze, as they awaited the arrival of the second-to-last group of Alliance representatives.

As it turned out, the Tushui pandaren were next to arrive, lead by a bright-eyed Aysa Cloudsinger. Anduin had spent a great deal of time in Pandaria, and he had come to love the colour and energy of their many rituals and festivals. He was pleased to see that that same energy was out in full force today, as the pandaren delegation came forth in their traditional robes of red and green and gold, accompanied by two gilded carts and a group of musicians. One particularly large male pandaren at the back of the group was even carrying a gong, and he beat a steady rhythm beneath the bright, clarion laughter of bamboo flutes as Aysa led her people to bow before Varian and Auriana.

"Greetings from Pandaria!" she said brightly, her soft white fur gleaming beautifully in the sun. "We are honoured to stand alongside our allies in the Alliance on this day."

The music faded out at some unseen signal, and the group of Pandaren pushed one silk-covered cart forward. Aysa smiled broadly, and pulled away the silk cover to reveal a towering statue of each of the four August Celestials entwined about a gorgeous golden tree that looked as if it had been plucked from the Vale of Eternal Blossoms itself.

The statue was huge, at least as as wide as Auriana was tall, and while Anduin was certainly no expert in statuary, he could see the incredible detail that had been worked into the stone. Each of the Celestials looked exactly as he remembered them in life, from the shimmer of Chi-Ji's wings, to the immaculate overlap of Yu'lon's delicate scales.

"At a Pandaren wedding, it is traditional to present the couple with a statue of the August Celestials for their home shrine," Aysa explained. "Each Celestial embodies an aspiration for your marriage."

She reached out, and gently tapped each magnificent carving in turn.

"Chi-Ji for joy, Niuzao for longevity, Xuen for passion… and Yu'lon, for fertility."

"The craftsmanship is extraordinary," Varian observed. "Thank you."

Auriana, however, did not seem quite as impressed by the gift as Varian. She had gone a very strange colour at Aysa's last words; her cheeks burning brilliant red in stark contrast to the sudden pallor of her surrounding skin. Anduin glanced at his father, confused, but Varian seemed equally perplexed by her reaction. Fortunately, the Pandaren dignitaries did not seem to notice, as Aysa went on to explain the hours of time and effort that had gone into the creation of the statue in great detail.

"Are you alright?" Anduin whispered, nuding Auriana's leg with his.

"I'm fine," she replied, shaking herself ever so slightly. "I promise. That's just… a lot of statue to live up to..."

Anduin found her response rather cryptic, but before he could question her further, Aysa brought forth the second cart, and gestured to its hidden contents.

"It is also traditional to celebrate a wedding with a fine brew. We have been told that you favour apple cider, High King, and we gathered the best brewers from across Pandaria to create a unique press just for you," she smiled, removing the second silk cover with a satisfied flourish.

In the back of the cart rested a dozen enormous Pandaren kegs, enough to keep Varian in cider for at least a year. Pandaren typically marked their kegs with maker's marks, to denote the brewery from which the alcohol had come. A maker's mark might consist of a paw stamp, or perhaps an icon of a local animal, or one of the Celestials, but in this case, the kegs had been imprinted with what seemed to Anduin to be a stylized version of a human head. The figure had a mountain of unruly dark hair, and two dark slashes across its face - one vertical, one horizontal - and Anduin bit back a chuckle as he realised he was looking at a lopsided version of his father.

Auriana, too, had noticed, judging from the sudden sparkle in her eyes as she watched the two Pandaren carts as they were drawn away. Her strange bout of consternation had seemingly vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and as the Pandaren delegation filed off into their seats, she leaned over to Anduin, and gestured to the growing pile of gifts. Every Alliance emissary had thus far brought some kind of alcohol as a gift; as if a good stiff drink was the one thing that bound each separate Alliance state together.

"I'm sensing a theme," she whispered. "Exactly how much do people think we drink?"

"Father is a big man, I suppose," Anduin theorised.

"And I'm a very small woman. I think there's enough here to kill me a hundred times over..." Auriana snorted, though she did not seem displeased.

Anduin grinned down at her, and leaned back in his seat as he watched the very last group of dignitaries make their way down the path. The draenei contingent were not as outwardly flashy as some of their earlier predecessors, but they nevertheless set off a burst of excited muttering as they approached. As the fabled draenei Prophet, Velen alone was a rare enough sight in Stormwind to command a great deal of attention, and at the head of a group of his finest priests and paladins in their best armour, he was an impressive sight indeed.

"King Varian," Velen said warmly, inclining his head respectfully as he approached. "And Lady Auriana. Please accept the best wishes of my people for your upcoming union… and my personal blessings, as well."

He reached into his robes, and withdrew a slender, metallic item that Anduin could not immediately identify.

"I will admit, I was not sure what kind of gift to bring to a human wedding, much less a royal one," the Prophet said quietly. "I hope this will suffice."

Anduin leaned forward in anticipation as Velen held out his gift towards his gift towards Varian, and he gasped as he realised what it was.

"Father," he whispered excitedly, leaning over Auriana to prod Varian in the arm. "That's a draenic prayer chime."

It was not an ostentatious gift, but it was undoubtedly very powerful - and very personal. Anduin could now see the runes of power etched carefully along each surface of the cool metal, and he could feel the layers of protective spellwork radiating out from the chime.

"I carved and blessed this charm myself," Velen explained. "So long as it hangs over your marriage bed, the life and love you share with your beautiful mate will be protected."

He bowed his head before Auriana, who blushed and nodded her sincere thanks for the compliment.

"We are honoured by this gift from the Prophet's own hand," Varian added solemnly, "Though I think you ought to present it to my son for inspection, before he falls out of his chair with excitement."

A ripple of laughter echoed through the crowd at his words, and Anduin at least had the good grace to flush. He did not complain, however, as Velen stepped forward and pressed the precious chime into his hands with a knowing smile. Anduin sat the prayer chime on his lap, his fingers itching with eagerness, though he would not be so rude as to begin an exhaustive study in the middle of his father's feast.

"I'll be wanting that back, you know," Varian murmured, so that only Anduin could hear.

"Of course," Anduin replied smoothly. "You need all the help you can get."

Varian's sharp blue gaze flicked to Auriana, and he let out a wry snort of amusement.

"You might be right about that…"

He offered his hand to Auriana with a surprisingly courtly flourish, and drew her to her feet as the last of the draenei took their seats. Anduin had met many powerful people in his life, but never one who commanded a space quite as well as his father. It wasn't just that Varian was a big man, but rather that he had an incredible presence that could not be ignored, and he did not have to say a word to to draw the undivided attention of every single person present.

"Stormwind is grateful for the kindness and generosity shown by her allies today. More personally, Auriana and I are both proud and honoured to stand before friends," Varian began, taking the time to meet the eyes of each one of his fellow leaders in turn.

As he spoke, he slipped his left hand around Auriana's waist, and drew her in close against the side of his body. Varian was not generally one for public displays of affection, but in this case, it was clear that he intended to send a message - that Auriana was his, and he hers… and that he was happy. It was a subtle gesture, and not at all effusive, but for a man so notoriously taciturn and lonely as Varian, the message was as clear as if he had shouted it from the top of Stormwind Keep.

Most surprising, however, was the fact that Auriana responded to Varian in kind, by placing a small hand on his chest and staring out over the assembled crowd with almost as much regal confidence as the King of Stormwind himself. Up close, Anduin could see the slight tremble in her fingers, but she nevertheless looked every inch the queen as she finally embraced her place at his father's side. He smiled.

"Those who know me also know that I'm not an especially verbose man, even at the best of times," Varian continued, his dry, self-deprecating humour sending a wave of laughter echoing across the crowd. "So I will say only this - the hospitality of our city is yours. Please eat and drink your fill… and if you share in even a tenth of our joy, I know this week will be a memorable one indeed."

Varian finished his speech with a gruff nod of appreciation, and he and Auriana once again took their seats. The crowd clapped and cheered excitedly in response, but Varian was not quite done yet.

"Our friends and allies are more generous than I could have imagined," he added quietly, so that only Anduin and Auriana could hear. "I don't wish to appear ungrateful or rude, but this is more than we could ever need. We will keep these gifts, of course, as a sign of respect to our allies, but I will donate their equivalent values to Stormwind's poorhouses and orphanages. As well as the excess food and drink from the feasts this week."

He kissed Auriana on the cheek and turned to his wine as if he had said nothing remarkable, but Anduin had scarcely been more proud. Today, his father had been the kind of magnanimous and gracious ruler that Anduin had always known he could be, and that, he thought, was definitely something worth celebrating.