Anduin
Despite the success of the mission to Booty Bay, nearly two weeks went by before Varian received formal word from Warchief Vol'jin, explaining his terms and inviting them to meet for formal negotiations. Vol'jin's missive was a lengthy document that carefully laid out his reasons for approaching the Alliance, including a number of suggestions for Tournament operations and safety measures. It was not an obsequious missive, but nor was it demanding; respectful, but not submissive. In short, it was a masterfully written document, and Anduin could tell that even his father had been reluctantly impressed.
Unfortunately, not all the other leaders of the Alliance were so ready to agree. Velen, Moira, Aysa Cloudsinger and Gelbin Mekkatorque were all quick to offer their support, albeit with varying degrees of enthusiasm - though Tyrande Whisperwind had been the most reluctant of all. While ultimately a pragmatic leader, she was also skeptical and headstrong, and it seemed that the Horde incursions into Ashenvale under Garrosh Hellscream's leadership had left lasting scars. Still, she was hardly without wisdom, nor did she lack the ability to see another's point of view, and after several lengthy discussions with Varian and her beloved Malfurion, she had eventually acquiesced. Her support had been highly conditional on the implementation of a number of strict safety restrictions, and she had strongly cautioned Varian against overconfidence, but in the end she had given her permission for the night elves to participate in the Tournament.
Tyrande's reticence, however, was nothing compared to the ire of Genn Greymane. Anduin understood that the Gilean King's anger was directed more towards Sylvanas Windrunner personally, rather than towards the Horde as a whole, but that did not make him any less vehemently opposed to Vol'jin's idea. Admittedly, Anduin did not know what it felt like to even have a child, much less lose one, but he had hoped that, in time, cooler heads would prevail.
Unfortunately, when it came to Genn and his father, cooler heads tended to be the exception rather than the rule.
Anduin had walked in on them late one afternoon, almost a week after Vol'jin had sent his formal letter, as they were loudly arguing the point in Varian's study. More accurately, he had first heard raised voices echoing towards him down the corridor outside of Varian's rooms, where had found two very uncomfortable royal elites standing guard over the outer doors. Neither Varian nor Genn were especially quiet people, and the furious intent of their conversation was obvious to anyone within a hundred yards, even if the words themselves were muffled by the thick stone walls of the Keep.
For a moment, Anduin seriously considered turning around and heading back the way he'd came, but he decided instead to brave the storm raging in his father's study. He slipped past the two guards with an apologetic grimace, and took a deep breath to steady himself as he stepped over the threshold into Varian's inner chambers.
A great wave of tension rolled over Anduin as he entered the room, making his skin prickle and the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Varian was behind his paper-strewn desk, though he was standing rather than sitting comfortably in his chair. His enormous hands were clenched into fists where they rested against the wood, and his neck and ears were flushed red with evident displeasure. Genn stood on the other side of the desk, dominating the centre of the room as he stared Varian down. He was not in his worgen form, though Anduin could see echoes of the wolf in his hunched posture and ferocious snarl. Auriana, too, was present; standing off to one side with a wary expression as she watched Varian and Genn argue back and forth. Unlike the two kings, she did not appear visibly irate, though Anduin could see the slightest hint of frown lines pulling at the corners of her lips and eyes.
No one even so much as acknowledged Anduin's presence as he slipped into the room, and in truth, he wasn't exactly in a hurry to draw attention to himself. Instead, he took up a discreet position on the wall near Auriana, and silently folded his arms across his chest. The argument had clearly been going on for some time, and it seemed that neither party was willing to give an inch.
"Our troops worked with the Horde in Draenor, an action you supported," Varian was saying, punctuating the word 'you' with a sharp rap of his knuckles against his desk.
"Don't be obtuse, Varian! Agreeing to work with the Horde out of wartime necessity is a far cry from cosying up to them at a Tournament. It is not a necessary action, and you know it," Genn countered, grinding out the words from between clenched teeth.
"Not as immediate, perhaps, but I do believe it to be necessary to secure a lasting future for the Alliance. We cannot fight forever, and I won't have an endless cycle of war be my legacy to this world."
Varian ran a hand through his already tousled hair, and for a brief second he looked very tired and drawn, before his mask of kingship snapped back into place once more. It was clear that his decision to support Vol'jin was weighing on him heavily, though Anduin was proud of the way he had worked to honour his commitment thus far.
"Genn…" Anduin offered tentatively, hoping he would not come to regret speaking up, "You know how sorry I am about Liam, but there are many other sons and daughters who will suffer and die if we do not act to preserve the peace."
Genn let out a quiet snarl at the mention of his fallen son's name, though he did not spare so much as a glance in Anduin's direction. He was far too clever not to understand the wisdom in Varian's argument, but he was also evidently struggling to act on reason through the cloud of his visceral grief and anger. His shoulders were all but shaking, and he glared at Varian with a burning intensity that Anduin could feel even from ten feet across the room.
"She took my son, Varian! You have no idea how that feels; none! I never thought I'd see the day when you rolled over and showed your belly to the Horde!"
Genn clearly regretted the words the moment they left his mouth, but the damage had been done. Varian's neck flushed an unbecoming shade of blotchy purple, and his lips drew into a thin, stony line. Beside him, Anduin heard Auriana inhaled sharply, and he looked down to see her fingers twitching in anticipation, as if she were preparing to restrain Varian by magical force. Or, he thought worriedly, as if she intended to punish Genn for his comments. Auriana was as fiercely protective of Varian as he was of her, and while he wasn't proud of it, Anduin couldn't help but to wonder how far she would go to defend his father from a slight…
The tension in the room was so thick that Anduin almost found it hard to breathe. For a moment, no one moved; the four of them each frozen in place as surely as if they were carved from stone, until Varian let out a slow, whistling sigh from between gritted teeth. With great effort, he unclenched his fists, and when he spoke, his voice was almost unnaturally calm.
"You know I am the very last person on Azeroth who would back down from a fight, Genn, much less 'roll over' for the Horde."
He glanced across at Auriana, who gave him a small, encouraging nod.
"However. Endless bloodshed is not the only way. It can't be."
"Bah! Do you trust them, Varian?" Genn growled, his thick grey brows drawing together in a cynical scowl. "Can you look me in the eye and tell me that you honestly trust them?"
"You're not wrong, Genn," Varian said heavily. "But neither is Anduin. There are lives and futures at stake; lives that I am ultimately responsible for."
He cracked his knuckles, and stared pensively at one of the bright blue Alliance banners that adorned his study walls.
"We have never been this close to securing a lasting peace agreement with the Horde. I… if there were ever a time to take a chance, I believe this is it. I won't force you or your people to participate, but I would ask you to consider the matter very seriously before refusing me. You must think as a king, not as man."
"I was a king years before you could even walk, Varian, and you would do well to remember as much!" Genn snapped.
"Then act like one."
Varian's voice was far quieter than Genn's harsh growl, though no less dangerous for it. His eyes glittered with warning, and Anduin got the distinct feeling he was standing between two alpha wolves as they stared each other down.
For a long time, neither man moved so much as a single muscle, though somewhat surprisingly, it was Varian who first looked away. His burning gaze found Anduin, and a strange, shadowed expression flickered across his careworn face.
"For our children," he murmured softly. "For the lives they could have."
Genn had fallen silent then, gnashing his teeth in irritation as words finally failed him, before he stomped away without another word.
"Genn…"
Varian moved around his desk, as if to follow, but the Gilnean King was already gone. The oak door slammed shut behind him, and the room was once again plunged into a tense, uncomfortable silence that was somehow worse than the yelling.
"Let me talk to him," Auriana said finally, pushing off the wall and making her way over to the door.
"And what do you intend to say, exactly?"
Varian's voice came out flat and harsh, likely more so than he had intended, and for the briefest of seconds, Auriana's face fell. She remained composed, however, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin so that she might better look him in the eye.
"Varian," she said evenly, "You're always telling me that you chose me as your queen because believe in me, and my abilities as a ruler. Perhaps you could have a little faith."
Varian stared at her for a good long while, his expression stern and unreadable, before giving his permission with a weary nod of his head. For a split second, he also looked as if he wanted to say something more, but Auriana turned away before he could, and the moment vanished in the swirl of her skirts as she strode toward the door.
"Father…?"
Anduin took a tentative step towards Varian's desk, but his father was in a world of his own. He had turned his attention firmly upon an ornate letter opener, twisting it back and forth between his weathered fingers with an expression of grim resignation. For a moment, he almost looked as if he wanted to stab it into the thick wood of his desk, but instead settled for rolling it across his knuckles with a speed and dexterity that Anduin couldn't help but to admire.
"I… what Genn said… it wasn't fair," he ventured slowly, hating the silence. "He spoke out of anger, I'm sure he didn't mean it…"
"I'm aware," Varian said shortly.
He allowed the letter opener to tumble from his fingers, and slumped back in his chair. As fearsome as Varian's reputation was, Anduin knew that he didn't relish being argumentative, and even less so when such an argument involved someone he considered a close friend.
"I'm not sure I'm doing the right thing."
The words were so quiet that Anduin almost missed them, and he realised that was probably Varian's intent. It was a rare thing to see his father openly display self doubt; so rare in fact that Anduin wasn't at all sure what he should do. He shuffled his feet awkwardly, wondering if he should just leave Varian alone to his brooding, but deciding instead to offer his thoughts.
"I… I believe you are," he said hesitantly. "This is the best opportunity we've ever had to secure a lasting peace with the Horde. It's what is right for the Alliance, and for Azeroth as a whole."
Varian leaned back further in his chair, and cocked a skeptical eyebrow.
"How can you be so sure?"
Anduin considered the question seriously, though he wasn't entirely sure he could answer. He couldn't always put it into words, but sometimes he just knew things, in the way that he knew that the sky was blue or that Stormwind Keep was made of stone. What he could do, however, was offer his father some comfort, and hopefully strengthen his resolve.
He smiled.
"Well, it's as Auriana said," he murmured, his voice quiet but his conviction strong. "Sometimes you just need to have a little faith."
Whatever Auriana had said to Genn that afternoon, it seemed to have worked. She had refused to disclose the details of the conversation to either Anduin or Varian, implying only that some very private things had been discussed, but in the end Genn had begrudgingly agreed to support the Tournament on behalf of the worgen. He refused to have anything to do with Sylvanas, of course, which was entirely understandable, though he had agreed to remain civil so long as the Horde did the same. It wasn't exactly an enthusiastic endorsement of Vol'jin's plan, but it was at least enough for Varian to proceed with further with negotiations.
To that end, he and Vol'jin had arranged for a formal meeting at the Temple of the White Tiger in Pandaria, where they could discuss the specific details of the Tournament on neutral ground. It had been decided that Vol'jin, Baine Bloodhoof, and Lor'themar Theron would represent the Horde during negotiations, while Varian, Velen, and Moira would represent the Alliance. Some had argued for the inclusion of all the faction leaders during the discussions, but given the sensitivity of the matter at hand, it was decided that only some of the more moderate temperaments should attend.
Anduin and Auriana had also been specially invited at Vol'jin's behest; an invitation that he, at least, had been very eager to accept. He had argued for peace between the Alliance and the Horde for so long, and he was thrilled to see that others were at long last coming around to his way of thinking. While he trusted his father and the others to conduct the negotiations on behalf of the Alliance, it was very important to him that he was present at the beginning of what he hoped would be a long and lasting era of peace on Azeroth.
He was also eager to see his friend Baine in person for the first time since Garrosh Hellscream's trial, though Varian had initially refused to allow Anduin to join them. While he had agreed to meet Vol'jin in good faith, he was still suspicious of the Horde's intentions, and was as reluctant as ever to expose Anduin to any potential danger.
Fortunately, both Velen and Auriana had intervened on Anduin's behalf, which is how he found himself walking through the shadowed halls of the Temple surrounded by half a dozen guards. Ahead of him, Varian strode at the head of the Alliance contingent with Auriana at his side, the sharp clack of his boots echoing off the walls as he set a swift and determined pace.
He wore his idiosyncratic armour, naturally, while Auriana had selected a spectacular brocade dress of blue and gold. It was far grander than the kind of dresses she typically preferred to wear at home in the Keep, though well suited to the task at hand. Today would mark her first major diplomatic appearance as the Queen of Stormwind, and Anduin knew she was eager to impress.
As they walked, Anduin's attention was drawn to the dozens of candles that lined the walls, and the way the flickering light reflected off the Temple's shining statuary. He had missed being in Pandaria, and was glad to have had the opportunity to return. Previously, such a meeting might have been held in Dalaran, but after the Purge and the incident with the Divine Bell, Pandaria remained one of the few places on Azeroth where the Horde and the Alliance could meet on neutral ground. Taran Zhu of the Shado Pan had been somewhat reluctant to allow the two factions back in the Temple, fearing that such a meeting would dissolve into arguments or even violence, but had relented upon urging from the great White Tiger Celestial, Xuen.
Anduin noted the presence of both Taran Zhu and Xuen as he entered the meeting chamber in his father's wake, along with a number of Shado Pan guards lining the walls. The elite Pandaren fighters appeared calm and relaxed where they stood, though Anduin knew from experience that they were ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. He hoped they wouldn't be needed, of course, but it was probably for the best that there was a neutral party capable of intervening in the event that things took a turn for the worst.
The Horde were already seated on one side of a large wooden table that dominated the centre of the room, though they all rose to their feet as the Alliance contingent arrived. From what Anduin could see, it seemed that Varian and Auriana were not the only ones who had dressed to impress. Lor'themar Theron was resplendent in traditional red and gold armour, his white-blonde hair coiffed to an immaculate shine, while Baine was dressed similarly in the formal ceremonial garb of his own people. Feathers and trinkets adorned his long, tapering horns, and he carried upon his back two intricately carved totems that were almost as large as Auriana was tall.
Vol'jin stood in place between them, and while he lacked Baine's imposing physical bulk or Lor'themar's carefully crafted splendour, it was clear that he easily held the balance of power amongst the Horde. He was dressed far more simply than either of his compatriots, adorned with only a few fetishes and stripes of warpaint for effect, but his narrowed eyes fairly gleamed with intelligence as they raked over Varian from head to toe.
"Greetings, Ya Majesty," he said seriously, his deep voice echoing off the cavernous Temple walls. "Da Horde are pleased dat ya be willing ta talk."
"And the Alliance thanks you for the invitation," Varian replied.
The words came out little stiff, Anduin noted, though Varian's body language remained open as he waved his hand and invited the Horde delegates to sit. He then pulled out seats for both Auriana and Moira, before taking his own place in the very centre of the Alliance side of the table.
"I trust ya remember High Chieftain Baine Bloodhoof and Regent Lord Lor'themar Theron?" Vol'jin said smoothly, gesturing to each of his allies in turn.
"Of course. And you know Prophet Velen, and Moira Thaurissan, Queen-Regent of Ironforge. You've met my son, Anduin - and this is my wife, Auriana."
There were many nods and quiet sounds of acknowledgement around the table, though it was impossible to ignore the undercurrent of tension in the room. It had been a long time since the leadership of the Alliance and the Horde had been assembled in one place, and such meetings had ended badly more often than not. A great shroud of history and memory hung over all of them, and Anduin hoped it would not prove to be impermeable.
"It is good to see you again, Prince Anduin," Baine rumbled, breaking him out of his reverie. "How are you?"
"Very well, thank you," Anduin said brightly. "It's been an exciting time for my family."
He glanced across at Auriana, and gave her a warming smile. She was sitting so straight-backed that she almost looked carved from stone, and he hoped that a small kindness might help to set her more at ease.
"So I've heard. Please accept the congratulations of my people, Majesties," Baine said, inclining his head towards Varian in a gesture of approval and respect.
"Thank you, High Chieftain."
Varian didn't smile, precisely, but there was genuine sincerity in his voice as he accepted Baine's felicitations.
Small steps, Anduin reminded himself.
"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you at last, my lady," Lor'themar intoned, staring at Auriana with great interest. "Aethas Sunreaver tells me you're something of a magical prodigy."
Auriana's eyes widened in surprise, and from the look on her face, Anduin doubted that she had ever expected to find herself the subject of Horde gossip. Of course, their curiosity did make sense. From the Horde's perspective, she had all but appeared overnight; one day a frontline commander, and the next the wife of the most powerful man in the Alliance. Anduin was not surprised to learn that the Horde had done their research ahead of the meeting, though he hoped that the Horde's evident interest would not add too much to Auriana's nerves.
"I… I wouldn't have thought he remembered me. Our paths in Dalaran crossed only briefly, and I was… very young," she said slowly, smoothing the skirts of her magnificent dress across her lap. "Certainly not of any particular interest to an Archmage."
"Oh, quite the opposite. He recalled your potential to be quite extraordinary - even by the standards of my people."
Blood elves had a natural affinity for magic, and while Lor'themar was not a mage himself, it was clear that he could sense at least something of Auriana's remarkable capacity. His gaze was sharp, almost hungry, and he seemed to be looking through her to something that no one else could see.
"Archmage Sunreaver is too kind," she murmured.
"Or perhaps not kind enough..."
Auriana did not cower beneath the strength of the Regent Lord's interested stare, but Anduin could see a slight tremble in her fingers where they rested beneath the table. She was not the type of person who enjoyed being the centre of attention, though as Queen, such a thing was rather unavoidable. The citizens of Stormwind and the Alliance had certainly been eager to scrutinise her every action, and it seemed that the Horde were no different.
Fortunately, Anduin was not the only one who had noticed Auriana's discomfort, and he gave silent thanks to Moira as she skillfully redirected the conversation to more pressing issues.
"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, perhaps we ought ta get down ta business?" she suggested, fixing Vol'jin with a smile that was at once both matronly and slightly warning.
"Agreed," he said, spreading his arms in a gesture of invitation. "High King?"
"I'll keep this short, Warchief," Varian proclaimed. "We have discussed your proposal at length, and are inclined to agree with your assessment of current Alliance-Horde relations. We also intend to fully support your efforts to arrange an interfactional Tournament."
His gaze flicked briefly towards Anduin.
"This was a unanimous decision."
"Da Horde are also united behind dis cause," Vol'jin said slowly.
Anduin caught a slight catch in the Warchief's voice that suggested he was somewhat overstating the extent of his people's unanimity - but then again, so was Varian. No doubt there had been just as many objections on the Horde side as there had been amongst the members of the Alliance, though he supposed that all that really mattered in the end was that everyone had come to the table.
"We appreciate the Horde's initiative in proposing this event, and hope that it will come to represent a turning point in relations between us," Velen added smoothly.
The Prophet was not an especially loquacious man, but when he spoke, people listened. He also had a way of talking that set people at ease, and Anduin instantly felt some of the lingering tension in the room lessen.
"If we're all in agreement, then, all that remains is to work out the finer details," Baine declared, with an approving shake of his horns.
He seemed somewhat surprised that the Alliance had come so ready to bargain, though of course he did not have knowledge of the secret meeting between Varian and Vol'jin that had preceded the formal negotiations.
"To that end," Varian said, "We propose the use of the Argent Tournament grounds in Icecrown. The Argent Crusade have kept the existing facilities in good repair, though they will need some time to make them suitable for a large-scale tourney once more."
Pandaria had also been suggested as possible host site for the Tournament, but given that the shadow of Garrosh Hellscream's trial and escape still hung over the Temple, the Alliance had felt it best to select a site of a marginally more successful joint endeavour. Pandaria had also suffered greatly from the conflict between the Alliance and the Horde, and if things were to go poorly, it was probably for the best that it did not happen on Pandaren soil.
"Will Highlord Fordring be amenable to the use of the Argent facilities?" Lor'themar asked.
"We believe so," Varian confirmed. "After all, the first Argent Tournament was held at Tirion's behest. He has long been a strong proponent of a united Azeroth."
His fingers twitched as he spoke, and a faint, brooding scowl flickered across his features. At the time of the first Argent Tournament, Varian had been a rather different man. His two halves had only been recently reintegrated when the Lich King awoke in Northrend, and he had struggled to cope with his rage and pain whilst simultaneously leading his people into battle against an almost impossible foe. He had supported Alliance participation in Tirion's games out of necessity, in order to secure the Argent Crusade's support for the war campaign, but his enmity for the Horde had been on full display for all to see. Ultimately, Tirion's Tournament had proven to be a success - or at the very least, not a failure - but it had not been without conflict.
Of course, that had been a long time ago, and this was a very different Tournament - and a very different Varian. The Horde had long memories, but Anduin hoped that they could see his father for the man he had become, not only the man he had once been.
"With that in mind, we also recommend the inclusion of major neutral factions as observers and referees," Auriana added softly. "The Alliance and the Horde may represent the two largest factions on Azeroth, but we aren't the only groups with a vested interest in breaking the cycle of war."
Vol'jin quirked his head to the side, and champed his tusks in what Anduin assumed to be a gesture of approval.
"A fair point, mon," he said. "Who do ya suggest?"
"Well, Highlord Fordring and his Argents, obviously. The Cenarion Circle, the Earthen Ring, the Shado Pan, and…"
Whatever Auriana had been about to say, she was abruptly cut off by Lor'themar Theron. He had been watching her closely ever since their first exchange, though his interest seemed to have suddenly increased tenfold.
"And the Kirin Tor? Do you consider them neutral, Archmage?
The Regent Lord leaned forward as he spoke, and a sudden wave of renewed tension rippled through the room. His lilting tone was light - friendly, almost - but no-one in the room missed the emphasis he put on Auriana's title. It was telling that he referred to her as a mage and not as the Queen of Stormwind, and Anduin understood it to be an oblique way of suggesting that the Kirin Tor were interfering in Alliance politics.
For a moment, he thought his father might react to the allegation in anger, even unstated as it was. Varian's right hand clenched, but instead of unleashing a tirade upon the blood elf leader, he sat back and waited for Auriana to respond. After all, the question had been addressed to her, and it was clear from Lor'themar's expression that he intended for her to answer. Vol'jin, too, remained silent, and Anduin realised that both sides were rather interested in seeing how such a potentially contentious conversation might play out.
"There exists no formal treaty between the Kirin Tor and the Alliance," Auriana said, choosing her words with the utmost care. "Nor any declaration of war between Dalaran and Orgrimmar. Or Silvermoon, for that matter."
"A technicality," Lor'themar countered, waving his hand dismissively. "The lack of any formal agreements did not prevent Jaina Proudmoore from purging my people from Dalaran, nor from pledging the power of the city to the Alliance cause."
Anduin did not know whether Auriana had been in the city at the time of the Purge, nor whether she had personally fought or captured any Sunreavers. He supposed there was a good chance she had been present, though he doubted she would admit as much in front of Lor'themar. The Regent Lord was famously protective of his people, and Anduin was sadly unsurprised to learn that he still harboured a great deal of resentment towards the Kirin Tor.
"Your magi were implicated in the commission of a serious crime while ostensibly on neutral soil," Auriana answered coolly. "If you or Aethas Sunreaver were in her position, could you honestly say you wouldn't have done the same?"
Lor'themar let out a quiet, refined snort, though he seemed reluctantly impressed by her argument. He was perhaps not so blindly loyal that he could not see where the Sunreavers had done wrong, but that did not necessarily mean he was yet willing to forgive Jaina and the Kirin Tor for the expulsion of his people from Dalaran.
"Given that the Horde have still been refused access to the city, we may never know," he said archly.
Auriana's lips drew into a thin line.
"It is not my intention to antagonise you, Lord Regent, nor to apportion blame," she said quietly, her tone surprisingly composed. "We are here to discuss the future, not the past. The Kirin Tor fought alongside both the Alliance and the Horde in Draenor, to the benefit of us all. I know for a fact that the Archmage Khadgar greatly assisted your campaign and saved many blood elf lives. As did I."
Auriana folded her hands on the table, and fixed Lor'themar with a long, even stare. She was not actively channelling her magic, though the pale scars on her arms were still visible where they caught the light. It was a small gesture, but the message was crystal clear.
I have shed blood for your people.
"It is not within my power to readmit the Horde to Dalaran," Auriana continued. "However, I would suggest that allowing Kirin Tor participation in this Tournament would go a long way towards improving relations between your people and the Magus Senate."
It was a good answer; one that remained diplomatic, whilst at the same time not shying from the truth. Lor'themar's delicate ears twitched as he listened, and Anduin could have sworn that he looked almost pleased by Auriana's response, though he couldn't be entirely sure. He had been well-trained to detect the subtext hidden beneath the overt words of others, but it was harder to do so when observing an unfamiliar speaker, and one whose cultural tells and expressions differed substantially from his own.
"As you say… Your Majesty," Lor'themar said finally, leaning back in his chair and blinking for what seemed like the first time in an age.
"If da Kirin Tor wish ta participate, da Horde will welcome dere involvement," Vol'jin added, shooting a calm but warning glance at the Regent-Lord. "As we would welcome any faction on Azeroth who wishes ta attend in good faith."
"In that case, I would be pleased to represent our shared interests in negotiations with the Council of Six," Auriana said.
She tucked her hands back beneath the table, and the entire room seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. Everyone present may have been well intentioned, but the brief exchange between Auriana and Lor'themar reminded Anduin that all it would take was one wrong word for everything to fall apart. Peace may have been a noble goal - and in his mind, the only goal that really mattered - but that didn't mean it would come easy.
Small steps.
Varian coughed.
"Does anyone else have any past grievances they wish to raise? No? Then let us discuss safety measures, shall we…?"
When the meeting finally ended, many hours later, Anduin was utterly exhausted. He had said very little, preferring instead to observe the way Varian and Vol'jin shaped the discussion, but the effort of constant thought alone was enough to leave him feeling overwhelmed and almost lightheaded. Despite the rocky start, his father had participated in the negotiations with a cool-headed subtlety that Anduin had not expected, but greatly welcomed. Vol'jin, too, had been similarly impressive, demonstrating his skill for nuance and diplomacy time and time again throughout the day. Anduin had learned a great deal from watching the both of them, as well as the reactions of Baine, Lor'themar, Velen, Moira, and Auriana. He was not blind to the undercurrent of mistrust that had pervaded the entire conversation, but he had also seen a genuine desire to do better on both sides, and it gave him great hope for the success of the Tournament in the future.
Varian and Auriana were the first to leave, followed closely by Velen and Moira, though Anduin himself lingered. He had hoped to speak to Baine further, even if only briefly, but the High Chieftain acknowledged him with nothing more than a friendly nod as he turned to follow his Warchief from the negotiation chamber. The Shado Pan observers also soon departed, and in the end, Anduin was left alone with only a handful of royal guards and an empty room for company, which, while beautifully decorated, was not especially interesting.
Realising that his father would also likely be concerned about his whereabouts, Anduin set out with guards in tow to find him. The circular halls of Temple could be confusing to someone not used to Pandaren architecture, but after a few minutes of searching, Anduin eventually located Auriana and his father in a small recess off the main hall, conversing quietly behind a large statue of Xuen. Neither Velen, nor Moira, nor any of Varian's personal guards were anywhere in sight, and Anduin hesitated as he realised that he may have been intruding. Their conversation did not seem to be about anything overly private, though he hovered back awkwardly as he waited for the right moment to announce himself.
"You did well," Varian was saying, his voice warming with pride as he stared down at his new wife.
The difference in their heights was even more obvious when they stood close, and Anduin noted the way his father carefully bent his head so that he might better look Auriana in the eye. There was an unusual softness to his posture, too, a rarely seen gentleness that might otherwise have seemed impossible for such a large man.
"I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest," she replied, shaking her head and staring down at her feet.
The cool competency she had shown when facing the Horde had vanished, and she now looked pale and somewhat queasy. It was strange, Anduin thought, that she could be so fearless when facing down demonic monsters twice her size, and yet she clearly found found sitting at a negotiation table to be utterly nerve-wracking. In contrast, he would have rather been almost anywhere else that in the middle of a pitched battle, but he found political discussion to be rather fascinating.
"I had to keep my hands underneath the table so they wouldn't see the trembling in my fingers," Auriana added softly.
"You were wonderful," Varian assured her. "The Warchief was impressed, I could tell. And your suggestions for some of the magical protections we could use - excellent."
"I was worried I pushed Lor'themar too hard. Then it occured to me that perhaps he was testing me, and he wanted me to push back, and…."
Auriana broke off with a sigh, and pulled distractedly at the neckline of her magnificent dress.
"I much prefer a straight fight to all this… politicking."
"Well, that's just it, isn't it?" Varian chuckled drily. "We're not here to fight."
He brushed a lock of hair back behind her left ear, and leaned further forward so that he might kiss her. Just before their lips met, however, he cocked his head to one side, and abruptly straightened.
"Anduin," he called, "You needn't lurk in the shadows, you know."
Varian had never taken his eyes off Auriana, and yet somehow he had known that Anduin was somewhere nearby. As a child, Anduin had often made a game of trying to sneak up on his unsuspecting father, but he had been caught red handed every time. He had no idea how Varian did it, either, only that it was a decidedly annoying skill.
"Sorry," he mumbled, stepping forward into the light. "It wasn't my intention to… uh… lurk."
"No need to apologise. What did you think?"
Varian took a step back from Auriana, and in a heartbeat he was the towering, hard-faced King of Stormwind once more. Evidently, whatever gentleness he possessed was for her, and her alone.
"You spoke well, Auri," Anduin agreed, echoing Varian's sentiment. "And I think we can consider these negotiations a success. A few rough patches, but overall… very promising."
He smiled hopefully up at his father, but Varian did not return the gesture in kind.
"Don't get too excited just yet," he said warningly. "We have an accord, but seeing this thing through to the end will still take some doing."
"Yes, but at least we're doing something," Anduin countered fiercely.
Varian was not wrong, but Anduin had glimpsed real progress today, and he refused to allow his enthusiasm to be dampened. He also fully expected his father to argue the point with him, but instead Varian simply titled his head to the side, and studied Anduin with a strange expression. His blue eyes were very bright, and he seemed almost vaguely confused, as if he were seeing his son for the first time.
"We are," he murmured finally, and his voice warmed with what Anduin thought might have been pride. "Now come on. Let's go home."
