Mature content warning.
Varian
Varian felt as if he were dreaming.
It couldn't have possibly come to pass, he thought, that he was now standing before his friends and family, holding Auriana in his arms as his wife. After all his restless longing… all the sleepless nights… all the times he had nearly lost her... he was frankly astonished that they had managed to make it this far. She couldn't have possibly looked that beautiful, either, nor tasted quite so sweet…
And yet here they were.
Varian explored her mouth slowly, quite ignoring the fact that he was standing in front of hundreds of his allies and constituents. He had been slow to kiss her at first, perhaps due to the part of him that still couldn't entirely believe that she was now his, but surprisingly, Auriana had shown no such hesitation. She had kissed him with a ferocity that belied the very public setting, and Varian had been only too happy to return her passion in kind, the very moment her lips met his.
He lost track of time as he kissed her, until a quiet cough from Velen pulled him back to reality. Auriana, too, seemed to have forgotten that they were not alone, and her cheeks coloured brilliantly as they broke apart. Varian refused to feel ashamed of showing his affection for his new wife, however, and he thrust his chest out proudly as he linked his arm through Auriana's and led her back down the aisle and out into the bright afternoon sunshine.
If Varian had thought it had been loud on the way to the ceremony, it was nothing compared to the wave of sound that greeted him as he and Auriana emerged from the Cathedral. Practically all of Stormwind had come out to see their new Queen, and it seemed they were intent to welcome her as warmly - and loudly - as possible. Varian's ears rang as he guided Auriana to their waiting phaeton and helped her ascend the steps, but he would never have dreamed of uttering a word of complaint. He was grateful beyond words to have the support of his people, and thought it well worth the price of a little noise.
Varian could acknowledge, however, that Auriana may have felt differently. She was naturally quite shy, and he supposed that even the most confident person might take pause at the thunderous roar of thousands upon thousands of people. Worried, he glanced across at Auriana as he took his own seat, but was pleased to find that she did not appear at all fazed by the cacophony. She was beaming and radiant, much to his relief, and she even went so far as to offer the assembled citizens of Stormwind a small, tentative wave as the carriage pulled away from the Cathedral and out towards the city proper.
Varian desperately wanted to talk to her, but the open-topped phaeton did very little to dull the shouting of the excitable crowd, and he doubted that Auriana would be able to hear a word he said. Instead, he settled for taking one of her hands in his and giving it a gentle squeeze. Auriana smiled in return, and nestled a little closer to him as the carriage rolled down the cobbled streets towards the Trade District. While the wedding guests would return to the ballroom immediately for the feast, Varian and Auriana would first take a tour of the city, making a full circle through all of Stormwind's districts before heading back up towards the Keep.
Auriana had been hesitant when Varian had first mentioned the tour, worried as she was about her acceptance amongst the peoples of Stormwind. She had eventually relented to his insistence that they would be delighted to welcome their new queen, and he was glad to see that his people had not made him a liar. They were crammed into every available bit of space along Stormwind's streets and canals, chanting traditional songs and waving brightly coloured flags and banners.
In contrast, Varian's concerns had primarily centred upon Auriana's safety, knowing that there were still people in the city who would gladly see her dead, but he saw no signs of danger as the carriage rolled slowly on through the milling crowd. Ridley and a squad of royal elites were shadowing them in any case, and he trusted his guards to do their duty in the event that something went wrong. He even managed to relax as the carriage pulled into the Trade District, though he kept his gaze firmly trained on Auriana as she stared about the city in clear amazement.
As much as she had agonised over looking the part of a queen, Varian could not think of anyone who could have looked more stately and lovely than she did that day. Her low-cut dress showed off her slender shoulders and elegant neck to great effect, while the delicate tiara glittering in her hair leant her an air of regal command. Of course, Varian was biased, but he defied anyone to suggest that she was not the very picture of royalty.
Auriana suddenly turned away from the crowd, and gave him the look she always did when she caught him staring; a crooked half-smile caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation. Varian refused to stop, however, raising his eyebrows in defiance and drinking her in with his gaze. He loved the way his attentions made Auriana flustered; loved the way the tops of her ears coloured pink, and the way she couldn't quite look him in the eye; though he thought he caught a glimpse of a smile upon her face as she turned her attention back out towards the city.
It was after dark by the time the royal carriage returned to the Keep, after having completed its long, winding journey through the the city. Neither Varian nor Auriana had said a word the entire time, both recognising the pointlessness of trying to be understood above the crowd, and yet he felt they had managed to communicate the depth of their feelings almost as well. Varian had not let go of her hand throughout the entire ride, while she had kept her entire body si8lently but firmly pressed into his side.
Varian offered his arm to Auriana to help her from the carriage as they finally pulled to a stop, and together they walked arm in up the grand promenade towards the throne room. Ridley and the rest of the guard followed close behind, shadowing them at a respectful distance as Varian led his new bride quickly toward the Keep's grand ballroom.
They were soon met by the royal herald in his immaculate tabard, ready to formally introduce them to the world for the first time as man and wife, though Varian was not quite ready to enter the feast just yet. He was well aware that their guests had already been waiting for some time, but he still wanted to speak to Auriana alone before they were once again inundated by noise and company. She had been nothing less than graceful all afternoon, but he knew how much she had fretted over the wedding, and he wanted to make sure she was alright before they continued on to more festivities.
To that end, Varian paused about halfway down the corridor, tugging gently on Auriana's arm for her to stop, and he waved for both the guards and the herald to continue on without them.
"A moment, please," he said firmly. "We'll be with you in a minute."
"Yes, sire," the herald said crisply, though he gave them both a curious look before he shuffled off down the corridor and slipped through the enormous wooden doors that lead to the ballroom.
Ridley was a bit more hesitant, though she complied with the order immediately upon a short nod from Auriana; the rest of the guard following in her wake. Varian watched him go with sharp eyes, and only once he was satisfied that they were entirely alone did he turn back to face his bride.
"Is something wrong?" she asked, glancing curiously towards the ballroom.
"No. Everything's fine," Varian assured her. "More than fine, really. It was just so damn loud out there, we didn't really get a chance to… talk."
"What did you want to talk about?" Auriana asked, tilting her head to one side.
"Nothing in particular," he admitted, "Though there were a lot of people out there, and I only wanted to see if you were alright…"
"Alright? I'm… wonderful," she smiled. "This has been… the best day of my life."
Heartened, Varian pulled her forward into his arms and rested his chin lovingly against the side of her head. She was so beautiful it made his heart ache, and he felt almost giddy with the realisation that she was now all his.
"Auriana Wrynn," he murmured, his fingers tracing soft circles on the bare skin of her upper back. "It suits you."
"You think so?" she asked, her voice slightly muffled from where her face was pressed against his chest.
She did not seem to be at all bothered by the cool metal of his armour against her cheek, however, and if anything, he thought she might have cuddled closer at the sound of her new name.
"I do," he insisted. "I think you were made for it."
Varian tilted her chin gently upwards, and was rewarded with a wide, beaming smile. Auriana did not smile like that often, and he was always delighted to have been the cause. The urge to kiss her became overwhelming, and he eagerly lowered his head to capture her lips with his.
His brief moment of hesitation in the Cathedral forgotten, here alone with Auriana he was as bold and passionate as ever. He pressed her back against the rough stone wall of the Keep, pinning her tightly beneath his bulk as he kissed her over and over again. She tasted wonderful, even sweeter than she had in the Cathedral earlier, and Varian found that himself growing less and less interested in attending the ball with each passing second.
"Why don't we skip the reception, and I'll show you what it really means to be my wife, hmm…?" he murmured huskily, his lips grazing the soft skin of her ear.
Varian distinctly felt Auriana quiver against him, but before he could tease her further, he was interrupted by a soft cough from somewhere nearby. He grumbled low under his breath, wondering who would be so foolish and audacious as to interrupt their King in the midst of such important state business, and turned to see Genn Greymane standing about ten feet away back down the corridor.
"Varian! There you are! Would you two stop canoodling in the shadows? Half the kingdom is waiting," he snorted, nodding towards the ballroom.
"Then they can wait a bit longer," Varian growled. "I'm busy."
He smiled roguishly down at Auriana, and she blushed. Genn, however, was not quite so charmed by Varian's antics. He folded his arms across his chest and tapped his foot in an effort to appear genuinely disapproving, though he couldn't quite hide the glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Light, man, you're forty, not fourteen..." he said, baring his teeth in a wolfish grin.
Varian barked out a quick laugh, though the Gilnean King was perhaps closer to the truth than he may have realised. He felt like a young man again, as if his whole life were still ahead of him, and his entire body thrummed with an eager, excitable energy.
"We'll be right there, Genn," Auriana said quietly. "Varian only wanted a minute for us to… talk."
"I see," Genn said, his bushy moustaches twitching. "'Talking' has certainly changed considerably since my day. But I suppose you Stormwindians always were an odd people."
He gave Auriana a suggestive little wink, before turning on his heel and making his way back towards the ballroom. He called out over his shoulder as he walked; the sound of his barking laugh echoing loudly through the corridor.
"Don't make me send Mia to drag you both out by the ears!"
Varian snorted in amusement as Genn disappeared, imagining Mia Greymane dragging him back to the ballroom like he were a naughty child. Not that he would ever permit such a thing to happen, of course, but it was an amusing enough thought.
"I suppose we ought to follow him," Auriana remarked, though she, too, sounded distinctly disappointed.
"One moment."
Varian gently tugged at the top of her bodice to pull it back into place from where his amorous attentions had set it askew, and he brushed a lock of hair back behind her ear.
"There," he said. "Perfect."
Auriana smiled at his praise, and stood a little straighter. She linked her arm through his, and together they made their way down the hall towards the ballroom. Varian knocked once to draw the herald's attention, and a second later he heard the bright blast of trumpets proclaiming their arrival.
"Presenting His Royal Majesty, King Varian Wrynn, and Her Royal Majesty, Queen Auriana Wrynn," the herald proclaimed, his booming voice only just audible through the wooden doors.
Varian felt Auriana take a deep breath, though her expression was calm and controlled as the doors opened to reveal hundreds of their friends and guests waiting in two long lines that stretched across the entire length of the ballroom. It was traditional for a king and queen to greet each and every one of their guests in turn before commencing the feast, though it was the part of the formalities that Varian was perhaps looking forward to the least. Not because he wasn't grateful, but because he was hardly a social person at the best of times, and because there were quite literally hundreds of them.
It helped, of course, that Anduin, Genn, Broll, Valeera, Khadgar, Jaina and Kalec were standing at the front of the line of wellwishers. Anduin was the first to offer his congratulations, the others standing back respectfully as the Prince of Stormwind pulled his father into a tight hug. Varian was not normally one to show his affection so openly, but in this case he decided it was more than warranted by the occasion. He returned Anduin's vigour with his own particular sort of gruff enthusiasm, patting his son firmly on the shoulder as they shared a brief but warm embrace.
Fortunately, Anduin pulled away before the emotional moment lingered overlong; his attention quickly turning from Varian to Auriana. He gave her a wide smile and a crushing hug, nearly lifting her off her feet in his joy. She returned his brilliant smile in kind, and after a few moments hesitation, gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Both of them were blushing furiously the whole while, and they each looked so similarly shy and delighted that Varian was forced to turn away lest he burst out laughing.
He then moved to greet Genn, who also looked rather amused by Anduin and Auriana's bashful antics. The Gilnean was beaming and magnanimous as he clapped Varian on the back like a proud father, before he turned to kiss the back of Auriana's hand with a dashing courtier's flourish.
Broll and Valeera were next, both of whom smiled broadly as Varian clasped each of them by the forearm in a warrior's salute. Neither offered any words, but amongst friends who had shared so much, no words were necessary. They were both sincerely happy for him, Varian could tell, and he was deeply moved to know that they had come so far just to stand by his side.
Varian glanced to his right, and saw Auriana and Khadgar locked in a tight, familial embrace. The older Archmage was absolutely beaming, and as Varian watched, he bent down and whispered something in Auriana's ear that made her smile and duck her head. Varian knew that she had been saddened not to have had any of her own family in attendance, and he was very grateful for Khadgar's presence as a wonderful friend and escort in her father's stead.
He felt a sudden soft touch against his arm, and he turned his head to see that Jaina, too, was watching the warm exchange between her fellow Archmages. A broad smile graced her features, the likes of which Varian had rarely seen on in on her face since the fall of Theramore, and her crystal eyes shone with genuine pride and affection as turned her gaze toward him.
"Well done," she whispered. "I'm so happy for you, Varian."
She stood up upon her tiptoes to give Varian a short, tight hug, before stepping back to allow Kalec the opportunity to offer his own congratulations. The blue dragon was most effusive towards Auriana, mimicking Anduin and Khadgar's actions and giving her an affectionate kiss and a brief embrace. Strangely enough, however, he then turned to Varian, and placed a similarly enthusiastic kiss upon his cheek.
"Kalec, no!" Jaina exclaimed, pressing a hand over her mouth in wide-eyed horror. "Not him."
"Oh," the former Aspect said, his stark blue brows drawing together in an expression of the utmost confusion. "I only thought…"
Evidently, while the blue was both curious and highly intelligent, he still had not mastered all of the varied and complex social standards common amongst the younger races.
"I'll explain later," Jaina said quickly, her cheeks colouring in faint embarrassment.
She patted Kalec's forearm, and gave Varian a bemused, apologetic look; almost as if she thought he might be angry. Varian, however, found the dragon's gaffe rather amusing, and he decided to have a little fun at Jaina's expense.
"My sincere apologies," he murmured, lowering his voice so that only she could hear, "I shall endeavour to better keep my animal magnetism in check. After all, we wouldn't your dragon leaving you for me, eh?"
Jaina's eyes widened as she struggled to fight back a sudden laugh, though she quickly recovered her expression. It wasn't often that Varian managed to get one up on his old friend, and he smirked to himself in satisfaction as he moved on to receive the warm well wishes of the other leaders of the Alliance.
Not all those in line were as gracious as Varian's closest friends and allies, however. He caught sight of a fair few of the House of Nobles regarding Auriana with skeptical eyes, though of course they were well practiced in keeping such expressions hidden behind a veneer of polite smiles and deep bows. Varian was well used to their duplicity, and he could easily tell the difference between the fake smiles and the true, but if Auriana were as aware, she gave no outward sign.
Varian knew that she had been worried about greeting their noble guests, terrified as she was that they would publicly refuse to accept her as Stormwind's Queen. She would never say as much, of course, but Varian knew her well enough to know that it concerned her a great deal. Still, one could not tell from looking at her, and she held herself with a quiet grace as they moved together from one guest to the next.
The real test, however, came in the form of Duke Rohas Anguile and his vapid daughter. They had both attended the wedding, not least because an absence would have attracted a great deal of unfavourable attention. Only a handful of people in the room knew that Anguile had been the financier behind the attacks on Anduin and Auriana, and it took every last shred of control that Varian possessed not to simply snap the man's neck right then and there. He did understand why they had to keep up appearances, but it was exceptionally challenging to remain calm in the face of a man who had tried to destroy his entire world.
Auriana, too, stiffened almost imperceptibly on Varian's arm when she realised that Anguile was next in line, but her bearing was cool and poised as she stared the traitorous Duke down. For a moment, Varian wondered if he would be so rude as to refuse to acknowledge her, but after a single, tense moment of hesitation, the wily Duke sank into a bow not a hair's breadth lower than was appropriate for a nobleman to a queen. Cathelora followed her father's lead a second later, and Varian saw the tiniest flicker of grim satisfaction cross Auriana's face as they moved off down the line once more.
Fortunately, she received a much warmer welcome from the high-ranking military and SI:7 officers in attendance. More than anyone else in the city, they understood why Auriana was so special - and just how much she had already given of herself in the defense of Stormwind and the Alliance. They each offered crisp, respectful salutes as Varian and Auriana passed, and a couple of the younger soldiers were even so overcome with excitement that they let out quiet acclamations for Stormwind, the Alliance, and their King and Queen.
Eventually, Varian and Auriana reached the end of the line, leaving their guests free to find to their seats. As the newlyweds, however, their part in the formal proceedings was not quite over just yet. Just as greeting each wedding guest was a time honoured tradition at royal and noble weddings, so too was the first dance, in which Varian and Auriana would take to the floor alone.
Varian knew she had been dreading such a public display, despite the fact that she was a lovely dancer. He could hardly criticise her reticence, however, given that he felt much the same. A public declaration of vows was one thing, but the first dance was the kind of tradition that Varian found particularly tedious - one where all eyes were on him; not because he had earned the attention through merit or valour, but simply because he was the King. If it were somewhere more private, he might have even enjoyed the dance, but for tonight the best he could do was ensure that the two of them did not look as stiff and awkward as they undoubtedly both felt.
Still, it was a chance to hold Auriana, and that certainly made the prospect of meeting his kingly obligations much more enticing. His right hand settled around the sharp line of her shoulder blade as they reached the centre of the floor, and he drew her close against his chest as the musicians began to play a slow, stately waltz.
"They're all staring," Auriana whispered, her hand tightening nervously in his.
"Well, we are the only two people on the floor," Varian reasoned. "And I'm sure it's only because you're the most beautiful thing they've ever seen."
"Varian…"
"Bah! No arguments," he growled. "Besides, when have you ever known me to lie?"
A brief scowl crossed Auriana's face, though she clearly had no effective retort. Instead, she surrendered herself to Varian's lead, and allowed him to spin her grandly about the enormous dance floor. She really was a beautiful dancer, seemingly responding to Varian's thoughts rather than his touch, but even despite her grace, her body felt uncomfortably rigid in his arms.
"Do you remember the first time we danced?" Varian asked, more to distract her than because he genuinely believed she had forgotten.
For his part, he could remember the night as if it were yesterday; how he had marvelled at the slenderness of her waist and the elegance of her dark blue dress. It was the first time he had ever really allowed himself to see Auriana as a woman, and the first time he had come to realise just how much he had come to care for her.
"The Winter's Veil Ball. I remember. I also seem to recall that you assumed I would be awful at it," Auriana pointed out.
Her eyes sparkled fondly, and some of the tension in her shoulders released.
"Hmph. Noticed that, did you?"
"Let's just say I didn't marry you for your subtlety," she said, her lips twitching.
"Ah, but you did marry me," Varian countered.
He took advantage of a sudden swell in the music to spin Auriana around and pull her back into a close embrace, and he refused to let her go for the remainder of the song. Fortunately, his gentle questioning had done as he had hoped, and she seemed to forget about the hundreds upon hundreds of eyes watching them the longer the song went on.
Varian, too, might have even begun to enjoy himself by the time the waltz faded into a last refrain, and he held Auriana in a lingering embrace long after the final note had played.
"For as long as I live," he whispered roughly, "I will be so very grateful that I asked you to dance that night."
The sudden thunder of applause snapped Varian back to reality, and he had to forcibly remind himself that he had several more formal commitments to fulfil before he and Auriana could be properly alone. He released her from his arms and stepped back, bowing towards her with as much In response, she flared her skirts and sank into a low curtsey before him, exactly as a queen should, before allowing him to take her by the arm and escort her to her seat at the high table for the commencement of the feast.
Varian, however, remained standing, and lifted his goblet high in the air in toast. As Velen had suggested during the wedding ceremony, he generally preferred to be a man of few words, but he was not so laconic that he could not find it in himself to express his gratitude.
"Thank you all," he started, "For joining us on this - well, if I'm being frank - on this entirely unexpected occasion."
The ballroom rang with laughter at his words, and even Varian couldn't hide a small, gruff smile.
"I would not be standing before you if it were not for the support of my friends and allies in this room, and I am certain that Auriana feels the same. In particular, I know I would not be here without the support of my son, Prince Anduin."
He looked to his left, and nodded gratefully to his beloved only child. Anduin beamed up at him in return, and for the first time in a long while, Varian felt as if he might genuinely be worthy of his son's unwavering faith and love.
"As a token of my gratitude," he continued, clearing his throat, "I invite you all to share in our joy this evening - please eat and drink and dance as much as you desire. The hospitality of Stormwind, and of my family, is yours."
Varian's gaze shifted to the right, and he tilted his glass towards Auriana. She did not look quite so confident and relaxed as Anduin, but having survived both the receiving line and their first dance, she looked decidedly more comfortable than she had before.
"And finally, I ask you all to join me in a toast to the new Queen of Stormwind," he declared. "To Auriana!"
"To Auriana!" the crowd echoed, and soon the entire ballroom rang with the sound of cheers and clinking glasses.
As Varian resumed his seat, a sudden loud pop sounded somewhere nearby, and he instinctively moved to shield Auriana with his body. He quickly realised that sound did not signal a threat, however, but rather fireworks blossoming overhead. Dozens of shapes had begun to shimmer in and out of existence beneath the ballroom's arched ceiling - a Stormwind lion; a snowflake; a sword; and many other wonders besides.
The shapes were quite miraculous; and it seemed to Varian that they were far too clean and precise to have been made with traditional fireworks. They also lacked the characteristic scent of gunpowder, and Varian realised that they could have only been summoned by very complex and delicate arcane magic. On a hunch, he looked down along the head table to his right, and saw Jaina lifting her glass towards him in acknowledgment.
"A gift from the Kirin Tor!" she smiled.
Another enthusiastic round of applause followed her declaration, and the wedding guests remained thoroughly entranced by the display as servants bearing heaping plates of food entered the hall. The alcohol was also plentiful, thanks in large part to a generous donation from the dwarves, and Varian was pleased to see his guests taking his advice as they began to enthusiastically eat and drink the night away. The star of the feast was the enormous buck Varian and his hunters had caught the day before, though there were plenty of other options on hand for those who did not favour venison, including Varian's favourite catfish and crab legs. A sumptuous dessert followed after, along with a wedding cake so large that for a moment Varian thought that he might have needed Shalamayne to cut the damn thing.
As the night wore on, the reception gradually grew less and less formal as the steady flow of wine and ale loosened tongues and lowered inhibitions. The musicians had taken up playing again at the conclusion of the feasting proper, and the floor had been consistently filled with dancers from all races of the Alliance ever since. Conversations had become louder and more enthusiastic, and what had begun as a very stately royal affair soon became a celebration that would not have looked out of place in a tavern in Old Town. It helped that Varian was not known to be a stickler for etiquette, even when it was not his wedding, and it seemed his guests were more than willing to take advantage of their king's eccentricity. Varian had no intention of overindulging, himself, but he certainly had no intention of begrudging others their fun.
Auriana attracted considerable attention throughout the night, and was asked many times to dance; though she returned to her seat quickly after each turn about the floor. She was clearly very conscious about appearing suitably queenly, drinking no more than a glass or two of wine throughout the entire evening, and Varian hoped she was not so concerned about propriety that she forgot to enjoy herself. Anduin, on the other hand, seemed to suffer from no such compunctions, as he quite happily allowed Valeera and Tess Greymane to lead him astray. The boy had absolutely no tolerance for alcohol, Varian knew, though he was also secretly pleased to see his normally bookish son let his hair down a little.
As for the larger, brasher personalities in the room, they simply became even louder - Genn Greymane chief among them. He seemed as proud of Varian as he would have been of his own son, and the two Kings had spent most of latter part of the evening sitting side by side, sharing a fine Gilnean brandy as they talked and laughed and watched the other guests dance. Genn could undoubtedly be a proud and prickly personality, but under the influence of copious amounts of food and alcohol, he was ebullient and irresistibly jolly.
He was also, as Varian soon learned, incapable of keeping his mouth properly shut. After one particularly fast-paced turn about the floor on the arm of Muradin Bronzebeard, Auriana had returned, pink-cheeked and breathless, to her seat at Varian's side. The Gilnean King's wolflike eyes narrowed wickedly as he watched her take a drink, and after a few moments pause, he spoke.
"So, Auriana… when might we expect to see you with a little prince or princess of your own?" he asked, nodding to two young noble children as they swung each other across the dance floor with giddy glee.
Auriana's eyes widened at his words, and she began to choke on a too-large sip of wine. Concerned, Varian rapped her lightly on the back to help clear her throat, and she coughed heavily for a few moments before she was able to regain her breath.
"Ah… I haven't… that is…" she stammered, "Um… oh! I think Khadgar is waving at me, I did promise him a dance… it would be rude… if I didn't… I should..."
She gestured vaguely and stumbled to her feet, and gave Genn an awkward little half-bow as she turned and disappeared into the crowd milling about the dancefloor.
"Hmm," Genn mused. "Do you know, I don't see Khadgar anywhere."
The two kings exchanged a look.
"Thank you for that," Varian growled sarcastically.
"My apologies," Genn said, taking a long draw of his brandy. "I assume you have not had that conversation with her."
In truth, Varian had not given all that much thought to the subject of children. It had been enough of a challenge simply getting Auriana down the aisle, that he hadn't even considered what might come after. Oddly enough, it was one of the few topics they had never discussed, and up until now, he had genuinely had no idea how she felt. Judging from the speed at which Auriana had made her retreat, however, he gathered that she had not thought too much about it, either.
"I had intended to discuss the issue privately, at a time when I could do so in a delicate and sensitive manner," he explained.
"Oh, come now, Varian," Genn snorted. "Don't lie."
"Lie?" Varian asked, raising an eyebrow in genuine confusion.
"You've never raised any issue in a delicate and sensitive manner," Genn said lightly.
He took another sip of his whiskey, and gave Varian a sly, toothy grin.
"Ha, ha," Varian sighed, rolling his eyes with superb disdain. "Remind me again why I keep you around?"
Genn's grin widened, and he shrugged.
"My biting repartee?"
"You are a good dog, I'll give you that," Varian agreed. "Bit mangy, but loyal."
To add insult to injury, he reached out to pat Genn on the head like he would an obedient hound, making the Gilnean King laugh as he swatted Varian's hand away. Genn was in a very good mood, and Varian was quite happy to take advantage of his magnanimity. Genn had a loud, rasping laugh that was difficult to ignore, and he chuckled raucously for a few moments before he grew serious once more.
"You really don't know where she stands?" he asked.
"No. We will discuss it if and when she wants to," Varian said firmly, his tone allowing no room for argument.
"What about you? Do you want more children?"
Genn's sharp gaze turned to the dance floor, and settled upon his only daughter. Tess was currently dancing with Kalec, her face flushed and excited as she dragged the very bewildered dragon around, and a fond smile flickered across his face.
"You know how I feel about Anduin," Varian admitted quietly, "But… I would never place my desire for another child ahead of Auriana's happiness and wellbeing. The choice is hers."
Genn nodded, though his expression remained thoughtful as he watched Tess twirl about the room.
"There are some who would argue that it is the duty of a queen to bear you heirs," he pointed out.
"Bah," Varian snarled. "Those people be damned. She is my queen, and I would never force her."
He settled back in his chair, and followed Genn's line of sight out over the dancefloor. Although he strongly suspected Auriana's claim that she had seen Khadgar waving had been a lie, she had actually found the older Archmage and somehow convinced him to dance. He was clearly not a dancer, but he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself as he guided Auriana about the floor; his eyes glued to his feet as he tried not to stumble. Auriana, in contrast, was extremely skilled, and she looked every inch a queen as she flowed gracefully from one turn to the the next.
My queen, Varian repeated silently to himself, and he smiled.
The rest of the evening passed quickly, in a blur of food and wine and good cheer, and soon it was time for Varian and Auriana to depart for their wedding night and honeymoon. In a more archaic time, Auriana would have been carried upstairs by a raucous crowd to be bedded, but Varian found such traditions to be outdated and rather crude. Not to mention that he also strongly suspected that Auriana might die of embarrassment on the spot were he to insist.
Instead, he had arranged for their discreet departure from the ballroom, escorted only by a few servants. He bid a warm farewell to Anduin before leaving, briefly reminding his son to take good care of the kingdom in his absence, but he did not tarry overlong on the rest of his goodbyes. As much as he sincerely appreciated the kindness and generosity of his friends and allies in their support of his marriage, he had been fighting back a desperate urge to be alone with Auriana all night, and he was losing.
Badly.
He spirited her from the ballroom as quickly as he was able, and led her down to the throne room, where they were met by Malfurion Stormrage, Ridley, and a handful of other guards and servants. As requested, the servants had brought Varian and Auriana's bags, carefully packed the night before, as well as a strange, paper-wrapped package that he didn't recognise. It seemed to mean something to Auriana, however, and she fussed over it for a minute before she stood back to allow one of her maids to place a warm cloak about her shoulders.
Varian had been unsure where to take Auriana for their honeymoon. He had initially though to take her back to Lunarfall, to Draenor, as an homage to where they had first met… until he remembered that Draenor was also the place where she had been kidnapped, tortured, betrayed, and nearly killed on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, it was admittedly difficult to find a place on Azeroth where Auriana hadn't been in mortal peril, and he had just about decided to give up in favour of a simple trip to Goldshire.
Somewhat to Varian's surprise, however, the solution had eventually come to him in the form of Malfurion Stormrage. The Archdruid had overheard a conversation between Varian and Broll a few days before the wedding, in which Varian had lamented his inability to find a suitable destination. His main concern was privacy; somewhere he and Auriana could be well and truly alone for the first time since they had met, and yet every place he could think of simply seemed inadequate. At that point, Malfurion had politely interjected, and had offered the use of an isolated cabin on the shores of a lake to the northeast of the night elf capital.
The offer had been unexpected, given that Malfurion was still somewhat hesitant when it came to Auriana, but Varian had been grateful nonetheless. The last time he had been in Darnassus he had been a rather different man, still seething with all the rage and misery of his reintegration. He had not truly appreciated the beauty of Teldrassil much at the time, but as a destination for a honeymoon, he supposed he could do a lot worse than a private hideaway beneath the graceful twilight branches of a world tree.
"Thank you again for your hospitality, Malfurion. I'm very grateful," he said, giving the towering night elf a short but sincere nod of thanks.
"You are welcome, Varian," the Archdruid replied. "I will remain here for the evening and return home with the rest of my retinue tomorrow, but I have arranged for a Sentinel escort to meet you in the city. Should you require any assistance, you need only ask them."
"We're going to Darnassus?" Auriana asked, her blue eyes wide.
"For a start," Varian said vaguely, wanting to keep their true destination a secret for a little longer. "Speaking of which - are you able to open a portal?"
"It would be something of a kink in your plans if I couldn't, hmm?" she smirked, though she nevertheless raised her hands and casually waved a portal into existence.
Ridley immediately moved to collect their luggage, shouldering the bulky bags with ease, and was the first to vanish through the portal. At Ridley's insistence, it had been agreed that she would go ahead as something of a scout, to ensure that there was no danger waiting on the other side. Privately, Varian thought it unlikely that they would encounter trouble in Darnassus, especially given that very few people knew of their destination, though he did appreciate the merits of having a bodyguard who was as paranoid about Auriana's safety as he.
Varian waited a few moments after Ridley had disappeared, before he took Auriana by the arm and prepared to lead her into the portal. She didn't really need his assistance, of course, but he needed to stay close to her in a way that could not be satisfied by mere proximity alone. Fortunately, she accepted his protective touch without comment, and permitted him to guide her gently into the shimmering blue portal. A brief moment of disorientation followed, only for the world to right itself a second later as they rematerialised in the grove beneath the Temple of the Moon.
As Malfurion had promised, two lean, elegant night elf Sentinels had were awaiting their arrival, and they stepped forward and bowed as one as Varian and Auriana gathered their bearings.
"Welcome to Darnassus, Your Majesty," the taller of the two elves said. "My name is Arythe Silvercloud, and this is my sister-in-arms, Ilise Farbough. It is our honour to escort you out into the forest this evening."
"I trust you received Malfurion's message, then?" Varian asked, tilting his head back to study the night elf architecture looming above him.
It had been some time since he had visited Darnassus, but the elven Temple was just as grand and imposing as he remembered. Varian did not consider himself magically inclined by any means, but even he could feel the power thrumming through the ancient stone, and he vaguely wondered whether the night elves' beloved Elune was watching down upon them even now.
"We did," Arythe confirmed, "Though we were not expecting you quite so soon."
"My apologies," Varian said, glancing briefly at Auriana. "It was getting late in Stormwind, and I didn't wish to be delayed."
"It is of no concern," Arythe insisted, accepting his contrition with a slight tilt of her head. "Please, Your Majesties, this way."
She quickly relieved Ridley of Varian's pack, while Ilise did the same for Auriana's, and gestured down the promenade that led out of the Temple and into the city proper. Auriana did not immediately follow, however, instead bidding a quick farewell to her bodyguard. The two women exchanged some short, quiet words, and even shared a brief embrace before Auriana opened a second portal so that Ridley might return home to Stormwind.
The Sentinel pair then lead them to a group of saddled nightsabers waiting just outside the Temple, ready to bear them out of the city, and quickly set about securing their luggage. The packs, however, did not present the greatest challenge. It was somewhat difficult to get Auriana seated on at nightsaber in her elaborate dress, but after some judicious wriggling, Varian had her carefully settled across the front of his saddle. He could tell she thought it was a bit ridiculous and fanciful, the swooning maiden being spirited away by her king, but she nevertheless held tightly to him as the nightsabers loped off towards the forest.
The night air was brisk as it whipped at Varian's face, and after a quarter hour of riding both his nose and the tips of his ears had gone numb. He could feel Auriana start to shiver against him, even beneath the warmth of her cloak, and he hoped the journey would not be overlong.
As it turned out, however, the cabin was even more isolated than Varian had been led to believe, and he guessed that they had been riding for over an hour before a low-slung night elf building came into view. It was difficult to see through the dim twilight shroud that blanketed all of Teldrassil, but he could vaguely make out the outline of some sort of longhouse stretching out along the shores of a small lake. A faint red glow hinted at a fire burning somewhat within, and as they drew closer Varian saw that someone had even gone to the trouble of leaving a congratulatory wreath of flowers above the open door.
He pulled his nightsaber to a halt and dismounted about ten yards from the cabin, before turning to assist Auriana. She stumbled slightly as her feet hit the ground, her low heels catching in the long train of her dress, and she fell forward against Varian's chest. He was certainly not one to complain about the sudden contact, though, and he gave her his most winning smile as he steadied her with a firm hand upon her lower back and guided her towards the cabin.
Inside, it was brighter than Varian had expected, thanks to the crackling hearthfire burning a few feet away from the large bed in the centre of the room, and the light from the dozens of candles that had been placed on every conceivable surface. White, purple, and crimson flower petals had been strewn across the silken bedsheets, presumably by the same person who had left the wreath outside, and he spied several bottles of wine on a table in the back corner. Varian had admittedly failed to think of such little touches, much as he always did, and he gave silent thanks to whoever it was who had thought to cover for his romantic failings.
"You have enough food and supplies for a week," Arythe explained, setting Varian's pack down on the ground at the edge of the bed. "Though Archdruid Stormrage indicated that you may like to hunt for your own meat. You will find good game to the west, and bows and knives in the chest at the foot of the bed."
"Should you require assistance, you need only call," Ilise continued, handing Varian a small wooden whistle that had had been carved in the shape of an owl. "Blow once, and a Sentinel will arrive by air within the hour. Blow twice in case of an emergency."
"Are you anticipating an emergency?" Varian asked, turning the small whistle over in his hands.
It appeared unremarkable, though he assumed that it must carry an enchantment of some sort to summon the Sentinels from so far away.
"Unlikely. This cabin is isolated, and there are no dangerous creatures in this area beyond wolves and bears, but…"
Ilise trailed off, and exchanged a look with her fellow Sentinel.
"But?" Varian prompted.
"With respect, Your Majesty, the Archdruid Stormrage indicated that both you and your lady have something of a… a knack for trouble," Arythe finished.
She looked slightly uncertain, as if she thought that Varian might rebuke her for the observation, but even he could not deny that she had a point. He glanced over at Auriana, who was biting back a smile, and he shrugged.
"I suppose we can hardly argue with that," he admitted, bending down to store the little owl in the side pocket of his pack. "Thank you."
"Is there anything else you require, Majesties?" Ilise asked.
"No, I think we can manage on our own from here. You have my sincere gratitude for your assistance this evening," Varian said quickly.
He sincerely tried not to sound too eager to be rid of the elven escort, though he wasn't sure how well he succeeded. Thankfully, the two Sentinels appeared to have no intention of staying longer than was strictly necessary. They bowed and departed, and Varian and Auriana were left alone together at long last.
Varian let out a sigh deep satisfaction as he reached up to remove his crown and unclasp his heavy cloak from his shoulders, and he watched Auriana closely as she moved to warm her frigid hands beside the hearth. The night elves had gone above and beyond Varian's expectations in having the cabin prepared, though he wasn't quite sure whether Auriana would be impressed. She wasn't the type of woman who liked to be fussed over, and he wondered if she might not find it all a bit too much.
"Do you like it?" he asked worriedly.
"It's wonderful," she assured him, her eyes sparkling with genuine joy. "I've never seen anyplace quite so… romantic. Really, Varian, it's… it's more than I could have ever asked for."
Auriana turned slowly in a circle, tilting her head back as she admired her new surrounds. Like most night elf dwellings, the cabin was open plan, with the enormous bed taking up most of the available space. Discreet, carved wooden screens walled off what Varian presumed was some kind of bathchamber, while on the other side of the bed he could see several low slung chaises decorated with an alarmingly high number of silk pillows. The bed itself looked out towards a long, open-sided balcony that extended right out over the lake; the water shifting and glittering beneath the light of countless stars. It was altogether a softer place than he was used to, but Auriana appeared to be thoroughly delighted, and that was all that mattered.
Varian remained silent as Auriana slipped her own cloak from about her shoulders, and turned away from the fire to lay the garment gently on the bed. Once again, he was struck by the ethereal elegance of her gown, and the way it perfectly complemented her natural beauty. If he were being completely honest with himself, he ideally preferred her with no clothes on at all, but in this case, he thought he might make an exception.
"So," Auriana said finally, hugging her arms around her slender body as she caught his heated gaze, "What now?"
"Anything you like, really," Varian said. "We could talk... there's some wine over in the corner… or we could…"
He trailed off and gestured vaguely between them, his heart already beating faster at the thought of taking her as his wife for the first time. Auriana, however, did not appear to share his eagerness, judging from her burning cheeks and her suddenly averted gaze.
"Are you alright?" he asked, unsure what to make of her reaction.
After all, it wasn't as if they had never been intimate together before. His first wedding night had been decidedly awkward affair, given that he and Tiffin had never previously shared a bed, but he had thought that this time around would be different.
"You look… nervous," he added. "Do I frighten you? I know that tonight carries certain… expectations… but if you would prefer that we didn't…"
"No, no, it isn't that. I definitely want… that…" Auriana said quickly. "It's just…"
"Yes?" he prompted, stepping forward to clasp her shoulders between his broad palms.
"It's almost unreal, being here with you. As… as your wife," she whispered. "It feels… different, somehow. I've got butterflies…"
She touched a hand to her stomach, and glanced up at him with a small smile.
"You must think I'm being ridiculous."
"Never," Varian murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair back behind her ear. "Why don't you take a seat? I'll get you something to drink."
The sweet wine varietals favoured by night elves did not sit well with Varian's palate, but he knew that Auriana quite enjoyed them. He stepped away to pour her a generous glass, before hastening back to her side and joining her upon the edge of the bed. The need to stay close to her was all but overwhelming, and Varian found being even so much as ten feet away from her to be ten feet too far.
Auriana accepted the drink with a grateful smile, though she took only a single sip before setting her glass aside.
"No good?" Varian asked, reaching out to caress the bare skin of her upper back. "The elvish stuff's not to my taste, but I was under the impression you rather liked it…"
"I do. I just…"
She sighed, and stared down at her hands.
"Nothing happened."
Varian raised his eyebrows, and let out a quiet snort of bemusement.
"I'd hardly call our wedding nothing, Auriana…"
"You know what I mean. No assassins, or demons, or chaos…" she explained hurriedly. "I-I think a part of me thought that this could never happen. That you and I were a dream, doomed never to be reality."
Auriana glanced up at him shyly, and the look of sheer and utter relief on her face was enough to give Varian pause. In her eyes, he saw that there really was a part of her that had believed their love to be an impossibility, and had never truly dared to hope. Of course, he could hardly blame her, having felt much the same only hours before, but in finally wedding her he felt as if the weight of a great curse had been lifted from his shoulders.
"I'll admit, I've had similar thoughts," he murmured, idly tangling his fingers in the lengths of her hair. "I thought I'd had my chance. I thought myself too old - too broken - to even know something as beautiful as you again in my lifetime… much less to have you as my own…"
He brushed a tender kiss against her pale shoulder, and a shiver rippled down the line of her back. It never ceased to amaze him how sensitive she was to his touch, and he buried his face longingly into the soft curve of her neck.
"I meant every word of my vows, you know," he added, his already throaty voice muffled further by the press of her skin against his lips. "Every word."
Varian folded one of Auriana's small hands gently in his, and for a few moments they simply sat together in tender silence. It was strange, he thought, how much joy and comfort he took from such a small act, and he realised that he would be quite content to spend the rest of the night simply sitting next to her and holding her hand. He nuzzled further into her neck with a soft, satisfied growl, when he noticed that her entire body had begun to shake and tremble beneath his touch.
"Auri?"
He sat up straighter and turned her chin towards him, and was surprised to see that her enormous blue eyes were filled with tears.
"Did… did I say something wrong?" he asked urgently.
"Oh, no… no, of course not," she said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.
She took a few deep breaths to steady herself, and brushed awkwardly at her eyes with the back of her free hand.
"I never thought I would ever be this happy on my life, and it's all… it's all because of y-you…" she stammered. "And now we're here, in such a beautiful place, and it's all just so…"
Auriana abruptly leaned forward and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her small body against his with a desperate intensity. Varian wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, stroking her hair soothingly as she shivered in his embrace. She was not sad, he understood, but merely overwhelmed by what amounted to months and months of pent-up anticipation, fear, and worry. The wedding had undoubtedly brought all those feelings to the fore, and now that it was over, she needed time to process those emotions and let them go. Varian himself had experienced something very similar during his hunt the eve before the wedding, and he was more than happy to hold Auriana as she at long last permitted herself a cathartic release.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled finally. "I'm sure this is not how you pictured your wedding night, holding your weeping wife in your arms."
"So long as they are tears of joy, and not the result of some sort of horrified realisation that you've just made a very grave mistake," Varian snorted.
His self-deprecation was enough to earn him a short laugh, and when she pulled away, he was pleased to see the faintest hint of a smile touching her features. He brushed the tears from her eyes with a calloused thumb, and pressed a reassuring kiss against her forehead.
"I have something for you," he recalled suddenly, hoping to lighten her mood. "It's traditional for me to offer you a gift to mark the occasion of our union. Supposed to be jewellery or a dress or something, but… I had another idea."
He carefully extricated himself from her grasp and rose to his feet, and rummaged around in his bags to find a long, slender object that had been loosely folded in protective cloth.
"It's not really wrapped, I'm afraid," he said, shaking a rueful hand through the back of his hair as he held it out towards her.
"Wrapping gifts does not appear to be a strength of your bloodline," Auriana agreed, nodding.
"What?"
"Nothing," she said quickly, smiling to herself as she accepted the package and laid it carefully across her lap.
Her expression grew curious as she gently parted the cloth, and her mouth fell open in surprise as she revealed an elegant, keen-edged sword. It was far finer a blade than anything Varian would have wielded himself, but for someone as small as Auriana, it was both perfectly sized and balanced. In having it forged, Varian had taken some inspiration from lightweight elvish weapons, though it was still of a distinctly human design. The blade flared out before the crossguard, curving in slightly through its midsection before arching back out into a refined and extremely sharp point. It was at once both beautiful and deadly, much like Auriana herself, and Varian was extremely pleased to have been able to present her with such a well-crafted weapon.
Unlike most normal swords, however, the blade was also heavily enchanted. Bands of pure white energy ran through the core of the blade, emanating from a similarly coloured crystal imbedded in the pommel. It had been important to Varian that the blade reflect Auriana's magical skills, as well as her physical prowess. He was extraordinarily proud of her abilities, and he wanted the entire world to know just how powerful and formidable she truly was.
Varian had wondered whether he should get her something more traditional, like a necklace or some other sort of pretty trinket, but in the end he had decided that such things did not adequately reflect the things he most admired about her. Not that she wasn't pretty, of course - he thought her the most beautiful woman in the world - but that wasn't what made her special. He loved to spar and fight with her, as odd as that may have seemed to anyone else; loved the time they spent teasing and testing and challenging one another in the arena. It was one of the few places in the world where he felt like his truest self, and he hoped that Auriana would understand that the sword was not only a practical gift, but a token of his most sincere gratitude and regard.
"You've been working so hard, I thought it was about time you had a proper weapon of your own," he explained, watching Auriana closely as she ran her fingers along the length of the blade.
He couldn't quite tell if she were pleased, however, judging from the expression on her face.
"It's enchanted," she murmured. "Jaina's work?"
"Khadgar, actually. He was most eager to assist," Varian said. "You'll have to talk to him if you wanted specifics. He tried to explain it to me, but I will confess I may have… drifted off while he was speaking."
He made a face.
"Something about an… empowered… crystallised… mana… something. Is that even close to right?"
"Ah… no," Auriana said.
She shook her head slightly, and gave him a sweet, patient smile.
"Fortunately for us both, you have other talents…"
Varian barked out a laugh at her gentle teasing, and resumed his seat at her side.
"Do you like it?" he asked. "If there is something you would prefer, you need only ask, but I thought…"
Auriana held up a small hand to cut him off, and her smile widened.
"I love it, Varian," she whispered, just as he had hoped. "Believe me, if I were not in a wedding dress…"
She mimed making a pass with the sword, the blade catching the candlelight and sending dark shadows dancing across her pale skin. Her pale cheeks were flushed with delight, and she held her new weapon with as much care as she would have shown the finest jewel.
"All the greatest swords have names, you know," he prompted. "Frostmourne, Felo'Melorn, Ashbringer…"
"Shalamayne," she added, her eyes sparkling with affection. "The greatest of them all."
"Quite right," he grinned. "In the case of your blade, however, I thought perhaps… Fury."
Auriana's smile faded slightly at his words, and she let out a soft sigh. She had a very complex relationship with the tempestuous rage that lurked deep in her heart, and Varian once again wondered if he had made an error in judgement. He refused to believe that her berserker tendencies were anything to be ashamed of, and in naming the sword he had hoped to remind her of the same.
Unfortunately, however, it seemed that Auriana did not see things in quite so positive a light.
"Or… perhaps something else…" he suggested hurriedly. "If you didn't like it…"
"No," she said, shaking her head firmly. "It's perfect, actually."
She laid the sword carefully on the bed beside her, and reached out to take one of Varian's hands between her own. They were a study in contrasts, he thought, the pale silk of her skin stark against his own ruddy, weathered hands, but at the same time they somehow fit together as if they had been made to do so.
"If I'm even half the warrior you are someday, I will be very proud indeed," she smiled.
"Auriana. You are a hundred times the warrior I'll ever be," he countered seriously, raising their linked hands to kiss the back of her knuckles. "You can do things I could never dream of. Things that most people could never dream of..."
"It's not the same thing. And as you're so fond of telling me when we're fighting in the arena, magic's cheating."
She smiled, and rested her head lovingly against his shoulder.
"And it's more than that. You have a good heart, Varian Wrynn…"
"Hmph. Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain," he growled, cocking an eyebrow at her with mock seriousness. "Now. Are we just going to sit around complimenting one another all night?"
"I can think of worse ways to spend an evening," Auriana said, shrugging.
"True, though I can think of a few better ways, too…"
Varian walked his fingers up the line of her arm as he spoke, his featherlight touch sending pebbled gooseflesh rippling across her skin.
"Is that so?"
"Mmm," Varian rumbled, stroking the line of her jaw with his thumb. "I've been waiting to have you as my wife for a very long time, you know..."
"Would… do you mind waiting a little while longer?" Auriana asked, her expression suddenly uncertain. "I brought something for you, too. A gift, I mean."
She abruptly released his hand, and reached for the strange rectangular package that she had brought with her from Stormwind.
"You didn't have get me anything," Varian murmured, somewhat surprised by her consideration.
It wasn't that Auriana wasn't a generous person, far from it, but rather that he had never really thought of himself as the type of person that one ought to give to presents to. He also considered Auriana the greatest gift he could ever hope to receive, though he was somewhat curious to see what she had brought.
"But I wanted to," she insisted. "Please."
She pressed the gift into Varian's hands, and he realised that it was a painting of some sort, judging from the ridges of the frame beneath his fingers. He wondered vaguely whether she had ordered a commissioned work of the two of them together - or even a portrait of Anduin - but as he carefully peeled back the paper wrappings, he abruptly realised that Auriana had not brought him something new, but rather something very old.
Much to Varian's shock, he recognised the painting immediately - after all, it had hung in his chambers for years as a child. It depicted both his mother and his father, resplendent in their royal finery… and Varian himself; a bright-eyed, tumble-haired boy of perhaps eight years old.
"It… it's…"
"It's not a replica," Auriana said quickly. "You can see some of the smoke damage in the corner, actually…"
Varian looked to where she pointed, and for a split second, he was a child again; screaming and crying as his city burned down around him. As he stared into the painted eyes of his mother, however, he recalled the far happier memories of sneaking an apple pie from the kitchens to share with her, or crossing a wooden practice blade with his father for the first time...
"It can't be…" he gasped.
Although it had been years since his two selves had been reintegrated, there were still times that Varian doubted his memory of everything that had happened before his schism. Onyxia's magic had been strong, and there were many things in his past that no sane man would wish to remember. But in seeing the painting there… in holding the tangible proof that he had once been whole and carefree… it meant more than he thought even Auriana truly understood.
"How?" he whispered.
Auriana folded her hands carefully in her lap, and took a brief moment to gather her thoughts before she spoke.
"I don't know all the details, but… from what I learned… when Stormwind fell, a great many looters smuggled artifacts from the city as they fled. Perhaps they thought to sell them later, to make some quick coin, I'm not sure," she said slowly. "This painting, however, ended up in the hands of a collector in Lordaeron."
She paused, and stared down at the artwork with a thoughtful expression.
"Following the end of the Second War, when the Stormwind refugees came south to rebuild the city, the collector settled in Redridge," she continued. "He lived there until his death, at which time his collection was passed on to his only son… who, as it turns out, lives in Old Town."
"How do you know all of this?" Varian wondered, amazed. "I don't… how did you know where to start looking… how did you know it even existed?"
"Well, I didn't, at least not at first," Auriana admitted, tilting her head to one side. "I learned all of this after I discovered the painting's existence through my contacts in the Black Market."
"You have contacts in the Black Market?" Varian asked, though he wasn't entirely surprised by her resourcefulness.
"I spent a lot of time in Pandaria. It was a long war, and sometimes I needed things that I couldn't quickly obtain through official Alliance channels," she explained. "Nothing illegal, mind you."
"I see..." Varian murmured.
He stared down at the painting, and carefully traced his fingers across the timeworn parchment. He remembered sitting for the portrait as if it were yesterday; remembered the wry amusement in his mother's voice as she admonished him to sit still, and the way Llane had laughed and ruffled his hair. At the time, he had found the whole process intolerably dull, but now he was incredibly grateful for his mother's insistence.
Unfortunately, Auriana seemed to have taken his abrupt silence as some sort of censure, and she frowned.
"Do you know how hard it is to find a gift for a King? A man who has, quite literally, everything?" she fretted, nervously biting her lower lip. "I turned to the Black Market because I was out of ideas… and frankly, glad I did. If I hadn't, the painting might have been lost to history as second time, left to gather dust in someone's cellar..."
In truth, Varian was simply so stunned that he didn't know what to say - which was in itself a rather novel experience. He certainly didn't want Auriana to mistake his shock and disbelief for a lack of gratitude, however, and he quickly shook his head.
"Auri… I'm not mad. I'm… astounded, really. The lengths you've gone to bring this to me… I... thank you."
"What else could I do?" she said simply, shrugging. "It's you."
Her defensive posture softened, and she moved closer to stand by his side.
"How on earth did it come into your possession?" Varian asked.
"The collector died around six months ago. His son did not quite share his passion for history, though he is very fond of gold. I believe he was quite concerned about the… legality… of some of the items now in his possession, and therefore decided against selling the collection through more traditional means," Auriana said. "He was willing to sell it to me at quite a reasonable price, provided I kept his identity a secret."
She touched his shoulder, and her brow creased in a slight frown.
"It's alright? You like it? I didn't want to bring up painful memories, but I thought it ought to be returned to you, where it belongs..."
"Auri, it's wonderful. Really. I'm grateful beyond words," he assured her, swallowing back a sudden lump in his throat. "I only wish my mother and father could have been here today. They would have loved you."
"And mine you," she murmured, her lips twisting upwards in a bittersweet smile.
Something shifted behind her deep blue eyes, and Varian suddenly very much wanted to kiss her. He rested the treasured painting gently against the foot of the bed, and reached out to pull her down into his waiting arms.
Auriana came willingly, half-leaning, half-falling into his embrace as he slid his hands into her hair and gently pulled her mouth down to meet his. At first their kisses were slow and loving, only to grow more and more heated as Varian lost himself in the pleasure of holding his new wife. Auriana's beauty had sorely tested him ever since the first moment she had entered the Cathedral, and Varian found his desire mounting with each and every kiss.
He pressed her back down into the softness of the bed, rolling over so that she was pinned firmly beneath him. It was a somewhat awkward maneuver, given that he was still wearing his bulky armour, but Varian didn't care. All that mattered was her; the feel of her body taut and arched beneath him, and the sound of her soft sighs against his lips...
Growling deep in his throat, Varian slid his hand up Auriana's leg - only to discover that it was nearly impossible to find her skin beneath the immense amount of fabric that made up the skirt of her dress.
"If you tear it... I'll have your head…" she whispered.
Over the course of their time together, Varian had ripped more than a few of her dresses in his eagerness to see her naked. He had always apologised, of course, and offered to procure replacements, but he always found it very hard to feel remorseful when the reward for his impatience was always so magnificent. Auriana never seemed to truly mind, though he suspected she might be a little less tolerant if he were to destroy her wedding dress.
"Sounding like a queen already," he observed, running his fingers lightly across the line of her collarbone.
"Why don't you let me get out of this dress… and then you can show me what it means to be your wife, just like you said…?" she suggested. "No ripping or tearing necessary."
"Promise?"
Auriana's already beaming smile widened, and she nodded.
"It won't take long," she assured him.
Varian was loathe to pull away, but he nevertheless complied with Auriana's request; rolling his weight to the side so that she could stand. She rose gracefully from the bed - an impressive feat in itself, considering how she was encumbered by her dress - and quickly disappeared behind the wooden privacy screen at the back of the cabin.
Varian lay on his back for a few moments, staring up at the ceiling as he listened to the drumming of his own excitable heartbeat in his ears. He then realised that he was still fully armoured, and decided that he ought to use the time alone to remove his own cumbersome clothing. He stripped off his armour and boots series of swift, practiced movements, so that he was left clad only in his loose drawers, before stretching out upon one of the chaises to wait.
A few minutes passed; then five; then ten, and Varian began to wonder whether Auriana had simply been swallowed up by all that fabric. She had not called for his assistance, however, and he knew from past experience that she did not appreciate being cosseted when she had not expressly asked for help.
Instead, Varian resisted temptation, folded his long arms behind his head and closing his eyes. Not even two years ago, if anyone had told him that he would one day take a second wife, he would have laughed in their face. But Auriana had somehow found a way into his heart, even without trying, and now he could not imagine life without her. She understood him in a way that he could scarcely believe, knew the truth of him better than anyone else, and yet for some unfathomable reason, she loved him anyway...
"Varian?"
The soft sound of his name broke Varian out of his reverie, and he opened his eyes. He sat up...
… and immediately felt his heart stop in his chest.
As expected, Auriana was no longer wearing her wedding dress, though he had certainly not expected to see her standing before him wearing a set of sheer, lacy negligee. The gossamer fabric looked as if it had been woven from moonlight itself, and it slipped over her silver skin like water as she slowly crossed the room towards him. The lace bodice cut low over her firm, full breasts, taunting Varian with the way it somehow revealed and concealed all at once. The hem grazed the very tops of Auriana' thighs, teasing the line of some very scanty undergarments beneath, and she had let her hair loose to tumble wild and free across her shoulders. To finish the picture, a silken bow had been tied just below the curve of her breasts; altogether making her look like the most wonderful, tantalising gift Varian had ever received.
The garment had clearly been designed to entice and seduce - and Varian had to admit it was doing so with remarkable efficacy. His hands began to shake as he imagined untying the bow and sliding the lace down Auriana's body, and he found that his throat had gone completely and utterly dry. He had always secretly wanted to see her in such an ensemble, but he had always thought her too shy and too insecure about her own body to have tried.
"You… I… what?" he stammered. "What are you wearing?"
Auriana flushed brilliant crimson, and she stared down at the floor as she spoke.
"It's… it's our wedding night; I thought I might try something… different, I suppose. I thought I might… I don't know, seduce you…"
"Seduce me?""I wanted to make things special, so I asked Jaina for help. She suggested… well… this," Auriana explained, gesturing up and down her body.
Varian's ears burned hot, and his mind was so clouded with lust that he could barely think straight. He genuinely tried to speak, but all that came out was something halfway between a grunt and a desperate, throaty whine.
"You don't like it," Auriana whispered, looking mortified. "I told Jaina it was stupid, I shouldn't have…"
Her face fell, and she made an awkward and largely unsuccessful attempt to cover her body with her hands.
"No!"
Varian lunged upright as she began to turn away, catching her by the arm and cutting her off with a swift, bruising kiss.
"No," he repeated forcefully. "I like it. I… believe me, like is not nearly strong enough a word..."
He kissed her again, and slid one hand beneath the flowing hemline of her negligee to cup the soft curve of her rear.
"Jaina's idea, you say?" he murmured, trying to force his trembling fingers to stay still. "Remind me to send her flowers every week for the rest of her life..."
"You do like it…"
Auriana's nose crinkled in confusion, and she looked at once both bewildered and flattered by the vehemence of his response. She was not entirely comfortable, he could tell, but she slowly moved her hands from around her body so that Varian could admire her negligee to full effect. Her eyes shone with love as she stared up at him, and Varian found her willingness to appear so vulnerable before him to be even more enticing than her physical beauty.
"Auri… how is it, after all this time, that you still have no idea what you do to me?"
"W-what is it that I do to you?" she asked, shyly running her fingers across the breadth of his chest.
"You make my throat go dry…" Varian whispered huskily, pressing another kiss against her already swollen lips.
"And?"
"You make my heart beat faster…"
He drew her hard against his hips to emphasise his point, so that she might better feel the unmistakable evidence of his arousal pressed firm against her belly, and he grinned wolfishly to himself as he felt her tremble in response.
"You make me forget to breathe…"
His hands slid to Auriana's waist, ready to lift her up and carry her to the bed so that he might do all sorts of delightful things to her, but she stopped him with a small shake of her head.
"No?"
"I told you," Auriana murmured. "I'm seducing you."
She placed a tiny, pale hand in the centre of his chest, and pushed back against him with surprising strength. The back of Varian's legs hit the chaise, and he allowed himself to tumble down onto the waiting softness of the elven lounge.
Auriana stood above him, the dark tendrils of her hair slipping down across the bare skin of her shoulders and breasts, and a slow, coy smile spread across her face. It was all Varian could do not to reach for her, but he respected her wishes and remained still as she leaned forward and brushed a slow, tantalising kiss against his lips. There was a strange fire in her eyes that he had never seen before; not confidence or self-assuredness, precisely, but a quiet sensuality borne of her unshakable trust in him.
Varian inhaled sharply as Auriana's fingers found the catch of his drawers, and in no time at all she had stripped him bare. It was a strange thing, he thought, to find himself so completely at her mercy. He was typically the one who took control in their lovemaking; in part because of Auriana's shyness, and in part because his lust for her had a tendency to bring the untamed, wolfish side of his nature to the fore. Varian also supposed that it was rather difficult for a man with his past to be entirely vulnerable before another person… but Auriana was not just any other person. He trusted her just as much as she trusted him - more than anyone else he had ever met - and with a deep sigh, he allowed himself to surrender fully to her tender exploration of his body.
Varian did not consider himself to be an especially handsome man, but he could see that Auriana found his physique pleasing. Her eyes swept hungrily over him from head to toe, and his muscles clenched in breathless anticipation as she licked her lips and gave him the kind of shy, promising smile that set his blood on fire.
Auriana reached out to caress the side of his face, her fingers cool and soft against the roughness of his stubble. She leaned in, giving Varian an entrancing glimpse of her breasts, and placed a series of featherlight kisses along the hard line of his jaw where her fingers had traced a path only moments ago.
On and on shr went, her fingers slowly making their way down his neck and torso, with her lips following close in their wake. Her touch was lighter than air, but it was still more than enough to set Varian's limbs shaking with pleasure and need. She seemed to grow more confident in her seduction with each husky moan her actions tore from his throat, and by the time her fingers closed tauntingly around the hardened flesh of his erection, Varian thought he might just about burst.
The feel of her hands alone was enough to drive him absolutely wild, but it seemed that Auriana had other ideas. Varian could have sworn he almost blacked out a moment later as she lowered her head, and flicked her tongue tentatively along the length of his manhood. His hips bucked involuntarily upwards, and his hands tangled in her hair in a feverish, instinctual attempt draw her closer.
"Light, woman…" he snarled, biting down on his lip so hard he drew blood.
Auriana had never dared take him in such a fashion, and Varian had never asked or insisted; conscious as he was of both her autonomy and her comfort. As it turned out, however, she was an exceedingly fast learner, and Varian's breath soon came in short, harsh gasps as she worked him ragged.
Encouraged by his response, Auriana's once tentative ministrations grew slowly bolder, and within mere minutes she had Varian shaking and grunting beneath her like a wild beast. Her mouth was soft and wet and so damn warm, that if not for the metallic tang of his own blood against his lips, Varian would have thought that he had died and found himself in some kind of heaven. He closed his eyes, clenching one hand over the back of chaise with a white-knuckled grip, and it was only through sheer force of will that he manage to hold himself back from the edge.
Nevertheless, it was not a battle he could win forever; not when Auriana was tormenting him so beautifully, and Varian knew himself well enough to know that it would not be long before she unravelled him completely. He was not, however, willing to surrender just quite yet. He needed Auriana; needed to be one with her in a way that he never had before. Far beyond his lust or physical desire - though both were considerable - he wanted to connect with the woman he loved as closely as two people could possibly be. As unbelievably pleasurable as her attentions were, in a moment of sharp, primal clarity, he decided that he wanted to be inside her, and that nothing less would do
Growling fiercely between his teeth, he pulled Auriana with him as he suddenly stood, sliding his hand to the back of her knees and lifting her easily into he air.
"Varian…?"
Her eyes widened in uncertainty, as if she thought she might have done something wrong, though of course nothing could have been further grin the truth.
"My turn," Varian panted, his voice raw and husky as he bore her down to the bed.
He remembered back to the very first time they had made love, when he had all but fallen upon her with a blind, primal desperation. A similar urgency had been threatening to overtake him all night, and he no longer had it with in him to resist. Fortunately, the part of him that was still capable of rational thought still had the wherewithal to remember to push Auriana's new sword out of the way so that neither of them were at risk of injury, though he paid it little more mind as he began to remove her lacy negligee.
It was a magnificent garment, admittedly, but it was nothing compared to the natural silkiness of Auriana's bare skin. Varian slid his fingers beneath the bow tied beneath her breasts, and freed the knot with an impatient flick of his wrist. He then slid the lace fabric up the taut skin of her belly and over her head, and he growled in satisfaction as the full beauty of her naked body was revealed to him at last.
The air was thick with the sweet, heady scent of her lust, and her cheeks flushed dark with pleasure as Varian slipped two long fingers between her thighs. She was already soaking wet, and she closed her eyes and knotted her hands in the silk sheets as Varian teased and stroked her needy sex. After all, she had taken the time to reduce him to little more than a sweaty, aching mess, and he figured it was only courteous to return the favour.
It seemed that she had grown just as impatient as he, however, and she submitted to his attentions for only a few minutes before she was begging for him to take her properly.
"Varian… please… I need you…" she whimpered, reaching out to tug insistently at his hair.
"Then look at me."
Varian reached out to grasp Auriana gently by the throat, and he used his thumb to turn her chin towards him. Her eyes flicked open; dark with love, and lust, and some other powerful, heated emotion that he couldn't quite place.
"I love you," he mumbled hoarsely. "More than… more than anything…"
"Show me…"
Her heated, breathy request was all the invitation Varian would ever need, and a triumphant shudder rolled down the length of his back as he finally buried himself deep within the warmth of her sex. No matter how many times they had made love, the moment of their first joining always felt to him as if he had reached the end of long journey; a lost and weary traveller having finally found his way home.
Varian let out a low, throaty groan, and slid one hand beneath Auriana's rear to raise her hips and draw her in as close as possible. His other hand found the back of her neck, cradling her against his body as he hilted himself inside her over and over again. Auriana responded in kind, arching and crying out his name, as her trembling body met him thrust for thrust.
She had been so shy, so uncertain, the first time he had taken her as his own, but there was no trace of that hesitation in her now. Out here, alone in the wilds of Azeroth, with not another living soul for miles, the last of her inhibitions fell away, and Varian found himself falling even more deeply in love with her as she surrendered herself to him completely.
They moved together perfectly, even despite their considerable size difference, and Varian couldn't help but to feel as if she had been made for him, and him alone. He had never really been the sort to believe in destiny, but as he made love to his wife with his entire body and soul, he wondered if perhaps the hand of fate had decided to at long last turn in his favour. He was hers, he knew, with more certainly than he had known anything in his entire life, and she was his.
Forever.
