Auriana

"I'm not happy about this..."

Jaina didn't need to clarify what 'this' meant. It had been a week since the Alliance and Horde leadership had met to discuss arrangements for the Tournament, and things had been proceeding rapidly ever since. Auriana was used to the physical fatigue of battle, but even commanding Lunarfall had not prepared her for the sheer amount of mental effort that went into being Queen. Planning for the Tournament was an exceptional circumstance, admittedly, but she had scarcely ever found herself so exhausted.

There was no rest to be had, however, as Auriana had been dispatched to speak to the Council of Six on behalf of both the Alliance and the Horde. A formal missive had been sent several days earlier, inviting the Kirin Tor to participate in the Tournament as a neutral entity, and after allowing the Council some time to deliberate, Auriana had come to hear their answer.

It was Jaina herself who greeted Auriana upon her arrival in the Silver Enclave, though she did not appear especially pleased. Nor, Auriana supposed, was Jaina precisely displeased, either, but rather deeply pensive and guarded. Her reaction to the the news of the Tournament was not unexpected, but Auriana hoped that she would be willing to put the pain of her past behind her in the hopes of a brighter future.

Auriana raised a hand to shield her eyes as she and Jaina stepped out of the Enclave and into Dalaran's wide and open streets. Not a few eyes turned in their direction as they began to walk toward the Eventide, though Auriana had grown somewhat more used to attracting attention wherever she went. There were less stares in Dalaran than there were in Stormwind, thankfully, though there were probably few places on Azeroth where the Queen of Stormwind and the Archmage of the Kirin Tor together would not create a stir.

"I want to trust, Auriana," Jaina added. "I want to hope for peace. But if I fear that if I do… I'll lose everything. Again."

It was clear that the offer before the Council was weighing heavily on her mind. She had barely paused to offer Auriana a greeting upon her had arrival, and was now walking through the streets so swiftly that Auriana found it a little difficult to keep up.

"I know. Believe me, Jaina, I know."

She sighed.

"I'd be lying if I said I was entirely comfortable with the idea," she ventured cautiously, "But…"

She left the thought unfinished, though she knew that Jaina would take her meaning. The older Archmage looked much as Auriana felt - torn between a sense of duty and her sincere hopes for the future of Azeroth, and the lingering pain and mistrust born in the ashes of Theramore.

"It's… hard," Jaina said slowly.

"The right thing often is," Auriana murmured.

Jaina paused to allow a fruit merchant to pass with his cart, and looked over at Auriana askance.

"Varian truly supports this Tournament?"

"He does," Auriana confirmed. "That's not to say he doesn't have his doubts, but… ultimately he believes it to be the right course of action."

Jaina let out a low, weary chuckle.

"It's strange. Not so long ago, I would have been in Varian's place, advocating for a peace while he stubbornly refused to bend. But then…"

"Theramore."

Auriana didn't have to say more. The word alone was enough.

"Yes. Theramore…" Jaina echoed wistfully.

She had come a long way since Garrosh Hellscream's trial, though Auriana knew from experience that there were some wounds that cut too deeply to ever properly heal. An attack on a stronghold like Stormwind or a militaristic ruler like Varian was one thing, but Hellscream had not chosen to attack a military target. He had come after the home of a woman who had shown nothing but kindness to the Horde; a woman who had worked her whole life for peace. It shouldn't have hurt more that Jaina had borne the worst of his rage, perhaps, but it did.

"I don't want war," she added pensively, "But I'm not quite sure I'm ready for this, either."

"It might not matter whether you're ready. Things have a tendency to change whether we want them to or not."

Auriana sighed, and ran her thumb over the shining mithril wedding band that adorned the third finger of her left hand. It was then that she abruptly realised that Jaina had steered their path not towards the Violet Citadel, but rather in the opposite direction.

"Where are we going, anyway?" she asked, abruptly changing the topic. "The entrance to the Council chambers is that way."

"I have delayed the meeting by a half hour. I had something I wanted to show you first," Jaina explained.

"Oh?"

"We've found the culprit responsible for stealing the magebane. I thought you might like to speak to her."

"What?"

A sudden heat flooded Auriana's chest as she remembered the sicking sensation of the magebane in her veins, and the sheer horror of feeling her powers slowly leeching away. She could handle assassins, and liars, and conspirators, but she hated and feared losing her magic above almost anything else.

"She's been imprisoned the Violet Hold."

"Why didn't you send for me?" Auriana asked, a faint note of accusation echoing in her tone.

It took all of her self control not to simply start sprinting towards the Violet Hold to interrogate the thief, but somehow she managed to keep an even pace as she and Jaina rounded the Eventide and back out onto the wide main street that would bring them around to the mighty magical stronghold.

"We only caught her two days ago, and given that you were already scheduled to visit the city today, I didn't see the point in pulling you away from your duties in Stormwind," Jaina said calmly. "I am sorry our investigations have taken this long, but we had very little evidence to go on. I assure you that we have worked as quickly as possible. Modera was… less than pleased, shall we say… that someone managed to bypass the Council's security, and she has pursued the matter most diligently. The Guardians caught the poor girl making an attempt to leave the city. She must have known they were closing in."

"Girl? She's young?"

Auriana had tried to picture the magebane thief many times, but had never been able to imagine anything more than a nebulous figure shrouded in darkness.

"Nineteen," Jaina clarified. "Elanore Hooper. She was due to take her adept's trials next month."

She shook her head sadly.

"A pity. She was quite talented."

Auriana didn't particularly care whether the girl had the potential to be the next Medivh, but she bit back the barbed retort on her tongue as she and Jaina crossed the bridge that led to the towering gates of the Violet Hold. There were few prisons in the world as formidable as the Hold - though there were few prisons who would ever had to contend with the kind of prisoners held by the Kirin Tor. The Violet Hold had interned everything from dragons, to demon lords and horrors of the void, and Auriana was at least somewhat comforted to know that the magebane thief would never again escape the Kirin Tor's grasp.

Jaina spoke briefly to Lieutenant Sinclari, the Head Guard of the Violet Hold, who quickly directed them to a small cell on the third floor. Threatening shouts and howls followed them as they ascended through the prison, though Auriana was not concerned for their safety. She could feel the layers of intricate spellwork woven into the very fabric of the Hold's architecture; spells of binding and containment - and of instant destruction, should any of the prisoners attempt to make an escape.

The thief's cell was located between those of a sleeping felblood elf and an extremely unimpressed Shivarra. She looked rather out of place by comparison; a lone human in a sea of monsters, though she had still managed to cause plenty of damage. She was slender and gawky, with long, mousy brown hair and a faint dusting of freckles across her cheeks. She was sitting at the back of a small cell when Auriana and Jaina arrived, her knees tucked up to her chest as she flipped idly through the pages of a dog-eared book. She looked healthy and well fed, despite her current predicament, though there was a distinct aura of wretchedness that hung over her shoulders like a shroud.

She started at the sudden presence of the two Archmagi, and carefully placed her book on the ground at her side. She rose to her feet unbidden, though she did not approach the shimmering energy barrier that marked the entrance to her cell. Instead, she hovered warily in the middle of the small space, as if she thought Jaina and Auriana might attack at any moment.

"Elanore Hooper. Do you know who I am?" Auriana asked quietly, without preamble.

"Everyone knows who you are," the girl said promptly, as if surprised that it was even a question worth asking. "You're Auriana Wrynn."

Auriana raised an eyebrow at Jaina.

"News travels fast…"

She turned back to the thief.

"If you know who I am, then you know why I'm here."

The girl nodded, though she could not bring herself to look Auriana in the eye. She clearly had no intention of arguing or denying her guilt, and so Auriana decided to get straight to the point.

"You stole and sold several vials of magebane from the Council's stores. Do you know what it was used for?"

"I… yes. I mean… no… I..."

"It's not a difficult question," Auriana growled, her voice low and flat. "You either know what the magebane was used for, or you don't."

"I… I didn't know at the time I made the sale," Elanore whispered. "But I overheard some of the older mages talking about an attack on the Prince of Stormwind and the High King's Consort… and then I realised what I'd done…"

Auriana's pulse quickened.

"You didn't know? You sold the magebane without knowing the identity of your buyer…" she breathed. "I mean, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me, there are plenty of places on Azeroth where you can dispose of dangerous goods without any questions asked..."

The thief nodded a second time, though she declined to elaborate further.

"Why?"

"M-my… my family… we're… farmers," Elanore stammered, twisting her fingers in her skirts. "F-from Redridge. I was the first to go to Dalaran. The first to go anywhere, really…"

"I don't see what that has to do with the theft of the magebane…"

"We'd had… a bad year," she said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "There was a fire, we lost half our herd… we needed money. I needed the money to pay for my apprenticeship… I would have had to leave the city..."

Auriana felt her stomach churn with rage, and she took a deep breath in order to prevent her anger from burning out of control. In a way, she would have preferred if the culprit were someone who hated her or held some kind of personal grudge, rather than someone willing to do so much damage for the sake of money.

"The Kirin Tor has provisions for apprentices who are experiencing financial hardship," she snapped. "You could have asked. Or at the very least, you could have stolen something a good deal less volatile! There are other items that would have fetched you a similar price, and would have done a great deal less damage."

Elanore's eyes filled with tears, but Auriana could not have cared less. She had lost her bodyguard in the attack, and had nearly lost Anduin, all because she had been stripped of her ability to fight back. She despised being helpless, and she despised Elanore for the part she had played in the assassination attempt. The girl was a mage, and while she may not have known anything of her buyer's target, she knew full well what kind of damage the magebane could do to a fellow spellcaster - and had sold it anyway.

"I-I panicked. I never dreamed the magebane would be used the way it was. I didn't think…" she sobbed.

"You thought well enough to steal it!" Auriana snarled. "You didn't… magebane only has one use. What did you think would happen? If not me, then it would have hurt someone else!"

"It… I… it was valuable…"

Auriana closed her eyes, and turned away in disgust. While she knew she probably ought to stay and interrogate the girl further, she was far too angry to do so effectively. Her fury had come on faster and hotter than she had expected, but she could hardly afford to lose her temper in the middle of Dalaran. She had a meeting with the Council to attend, and she would calm herself, even if she needed every step between the Violet Hold and the Chamber of Air to do so.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and stalked away, not even pausing to wait for Jaina to follow. More taunts and shouts from the Hold's inmates followed her as she descended to the ground floor, though she did her best to hold her head high and ignore their incessant crowing. The Kirin Tor did not make a habit of imprisoning people - or demons, for that matter - without good cause, and the last thing Auriana needed was to listen to their mocking jibes and taunts. What she needed was to get out, and it was with a great sigh of relief that she finally stepped out of the confines of the prison and back into the crisp morning air.

"Auri…"

Jaina caught up with Auriana just as she crossed the bridge, and reached out to place a gentle hand on her shoulder. Her expression was warm and sympathetic, but Auriana did not want sympathy. She wanted justice.

"What will happen to her?" she asked coldly.

"She face a trial before the Council of Six. She'll be imprisoned, of course, but the length of her sentence will depend on the outcome of the trial. She will also be expelled from the Kirin Tor," Jaina said grimly.

"I can't believe she was so willing to sell out her fellow mages for money," Auriana growled, shaking her head in disbelief. "She's a mage. She had to know what would have happened if the magebane fell into the wrong hands."

Faint lines appeared at the corner of Jaina's eyes, and for a second she looked unusually old and careworn.

"People do strange things when they're desperate."

Auriana snorted dismissively, though beneath her anger she could still acknowledge that Jaina had a point.

"Do you think she was telling the truth? About not knowing the identity of her buyer?" she mused.

"I think she was being truthful, yes. It wouldn't be the first time someone found a Black Market agent skulking around the city," Jaina said, pursing her lips in distaste. "All their transactions are anonymous, so for all intents and purposes it could have been sold to anyone on Azeroth. Lieutenant Sinclari will continue to interrogate her, but I think we've learned all we can."

"I suppose I ought to be grateful that at least there's no more magebane in the world at large."

Auriana looked across at Jaina, and scowled.

"Right?"

"All other vials have been accounted for, and have been moved to the most secure part of the Arcane Vault," Jaina assured her.

She looked faintly offended by the question, and Auriana was starkly reminded that Jaina had to be nearly as upset as she. Jaina had not been directly hurt by the magebane, true, but she cared deeply for the Wrynns, and doubtless she would have been furious to discover that the security of her city had been breached a second time.

"I suppose that's something," she sighed, her expression softening.

"You're disappointed," Jaina observed.

For a moment, Auriana considered uttering a denial, but decided there was little point. Jaina was the Archmage of the Kirin Tor, but she was also a friend, and she would not begrudge Auriana her frustration.

"I am. I had hoped she might provide us with more of a lead on the group of assassins who came after me and Anduin," she admitted, "But I'll settle for not being poisoned. Again."

A faint smile pulled at Jaina's lips in acknowledgement of Auriana's dark humour, though she still looked troubled as they made their way back towards the Violet Citadel in silence. Auriana was happy to leave Jaina to her thoughts, given that she was more than preoccupied by her own, and neither woman spoke another word until they entered the Kirin Tor's fabled Chamber of Air to meet the rest of the Council of Six.

The Chamber was a uniquely beautiful place, magically enchanted so that it seemed as if the Council and their guests were floating amongst the clouds. There were no chairs or other furniture that might ruin the effect, only smooth lines and curves that seemed as natural as any thunderhead. The Chamber was intended to inspire a sense of grandeur and timelessness, and no matter how frequently Auriana found herself summoned before the Council, it never failed to impress.

Even agitated as Auriana was by her encounter with the thief in the Violet Hold, being in the presence of so much magic also helped to calm her fast-beating heart. She was not entirely relaxed, of course, given that this was her first diplomatic assignment without Varian's steadfast presence at her side, but she was at least calmer by the time Jaina ascended the upper ring to take her place amongst her esteemed colleagues.

"Thank you for coming, Your Majesty," she said, pointedly addressing Auriana by her formal title, "And for bringing this proposal before the Kirin Tor."

The change in her posture was almost imperceptible, but in an instant it was clear that she was now Jaina the Archmage, not Jaina the friend. It was something Auriana was still getting used to, the instant shift between friend and ruler; between warm confidant and inscrutable diplomat. She had seen it in Varian, too, the exact moment he became less her husband and more the High King, and in truth she found it somewhat unnerving. Still, it seemed to be a common enough part of the political game, and Auriana supposed she had little choice but to play.

To that end, she stood as tall as she was able and lifted her chin, and did her best to imitate Jaina's air of regal aloofness.

"Thank you, Archmage. As always, it's a pleasure to be in Dalaran."

"Please also accept the Council's congratulations on your recent nuptials," Vargoth added, nodding towards the ring on Auriana's left hand.

"King Varian and I were both very grateful for the entertaining gift the Kirin Tor provided," she said smoothly, her voice echoing around the Chamber despite the fact that it ostensibly had no walls.

"You seem to have taken to your new duties quite well," Archmage Karlain observed. "Already negotiating a Tournament on behalf of both the Alliance and the Horde."

"The timing was coincidental, I assure you. Though I welcome the opportunity to contribute to a peaceful future for Azeroth at any time."

It was something of a lie. Not that Auriana did not want peace, of course, but rather the timing of Vol'jin's offer left a lot to be desired. If she had her choice, she might still be on her honeymoon with Varian, tangled in the warmth of his arms beneath the perpetual twilight of Darnassus, but she was a Queen, and there was work to be done.

"If peace is indeed possible. We have considered your proposition at length," Jaina interjected, "And while I won't bore you with the details, you must understand that this Tournament presents us with a difficult choice."

"All of us on the Council are supportive of any action that would lead to a peaceful and united Azeroth," Khadgar said slowly.

Auriana did not generally keep up with the Council's internal politics, but it was clear from the sudden tension in the room that not everyone agreed with Jaina's assessment. She had acted unilaterally when expelling the Horde from Dalaran, which, while well within her purview, was not at all a common occurrence. As Archmage, Jaina led the Kirin Tor, but the majority of major decisions were the right and responsibility of the entire Council, not Jaina alone.

"That may be true, Khadgar, but we cannot forget that the Horde were banished from Dalaran for a reason," she countered, a slight note of warning in her voice.

"I understand your position - better than most, I would wager - but attending the Tournament as a neutral entity does not in any way obligate you to readmit the Horde into the city," Auriana said calmly, hoping the Council could not see her nerves.

She had come prepared to refute any objections, but it was another thing entirely to have to do so in front of her colleagues - and friends. It didn't help that the Council were all standing on the upper ring of the Chamber, either, while Auriana stood on the lower, somehow feeling even smaller than she usually did. Six pairs of sharp, clever eyes bored into her own, seemingly without blinking, and she felt a good deal less like a Queen, and more like a wayward apprentice.

"You're quite sure of that?" Jaina asked, her voice clipped.

"The Tournament and the issue of the Horde presence in Dalaran are unrelated," Auriana said firmly. "One does not have to affect the other. Dalaran is a sovereign state, you have a right to enforce your borders as you see fit."

"And the Horde understand this?"

"They do. Your participation in the Tournament is not conditional on whether or not you agree to allow the Horde back into Dalaran. Nor does your participation imply that the Kirin Tor intends to reopen negotiations. While we do hope that the Tournament will pave the way for improved diplomatic relations across Azeroth, it is in itself a discrete event. You have no obligations beyond the Tournament's conclusion, save those that you choose for yourself," Auriana confirmed.

A low muttering broke out across the Council chambers, with Vargoth even going so far as to lean over to whisper something in Ansirem's ear. The Council were well practiced in the art of appearing entirely impassive, and Auriana could not tell whether their collective whisperings were positive, negative, or something in between. Aside from Jaina and Khadgar, she did not really know where each individual member of the Council stood on the matter of the Horde, though it appeared her clarification of the Horde's future intentions had resolved one of their key points of contention.

"I say we put it to a vote," Modera declared finally. "We could stand here debating for an eternity, but we've all read the proposition, and we all know what's at stake."

She looked to Jaina, who gave a single short nod in reply. She looked as if she wanted to say more, perhaps to attempt to prolong or delay the decision, but in the end she chose simply to permit the vote.

"All those in favour of participating in the Alliance-Horde Grand Tournament, as per the terms laid out in the document provided to us by the Queen of Stormwind?"

For a moment, no one moved, before four hands lifted into the air in quick succession. Khadgar, Karlain, Vargoth, and Modera all voted in support of Kirin Tor attendance at the Tournament, while Jaina and Ansirem initially abstained. The decision was one that only needed a simple majority to pass, however, and so four was enough.

"Very well," Jaina said coolly. "The Council's decision is clear, and in the interests of unanimity, let the record reflect that I also vote to support the motion."

She raised her hand in the air, and after a moment's hesitation, so did Ansirem. Auriana internally let out a sigh of relief, though she kept her expression carefully neutral. She understood that the proposition laid before the Kirin Tor put Jaina in something of an awkward position, but she was glad to see that the desire for peace had prevailed. And, somewhat selfishly, she was also glad to know that her first solo diplomatic mission as Queen had not been a complete failure.

"Thank you for your consideration, and for your quick decision," she said. "I will return to Stormwind to inform the High King, though I will no doubt return soon, to assist with preparations."

"We will commence our own internal planning immediately," Jaina agreed quietly.

She may have not wholeheartedly agreed with the decision of her Council, but she was a consummate, dedicated ruler, and if the Kirin Tor had decided to support the Tournament, Auriana was confident she would do whatever was in her power to see it through.

"I trust you are able to open your own portal back to Stormwind, but if you need…"

"I apologise for interrupting, Jaina, but there's one more thing we ought to discuss before Her Majesty departs," Vargoth said, spreading his hands in a gesture of entreaty.

Auriana raised an eyebrow, suddenly wary.

"And that is...?"

"You."

This time, Auriana was not quick enough to hide the brief flash of surprise that crossed her face, and nor was she the only one. Each other member of the Council turned to face Vargoth, and it seemed that they were equally as nonplussed as Auriana herself.

"Me?" she repeated. "What do I have to do with anything?"

Vargoth hesitated for a moment, and ran a hand through his fiery beard with an air of great consideration.

"You are one of our most prominent Archmagi, and now also the Queen of Stormwind. Very much not a neutral party," he said slowly. "Even today, you came here as an emissary of the Alliance, did you not? If we are to attend this Tournament of yours as a neutral entity, and perhaps entertain a full return to neutrality in the future, you cannot continue your work for the Kirin Tor."

"What?"

Auriana's stomach fell, and the word escaped her lips before she could stop herself. Although she had been initially reluctant to take on the role of Archmage, she had secretly come to love the challenge of her work with the Kirin Tor, and with a start she realised that she had never even considered that marrying Varian might mean giving up her identity as a mage.

"Auriana is one of our finest Archmages…" Jaina protested, her crystal blue eyes sharp.

"I am not doubting her ability, Jaina, nor the contributions she has made serving the Kirin Tor as one of our enforcers," Vargoth added hurriedly. "But it's a matter of optics. We cannot claim to be a neutral organisation while the wife of the High King of the Alliance occupies a public position of stature within our ranks."

"Surely you've not suggesting we ought to expel her from the order…" Khadgar interjected, his heavy grey brows drawn together in concern.

"Of course not. Queen Auriana has earned her rank. However, I believe it would be best if she were to publicly step back from her duties," Vargoth recommended. "At least for the duration of this Tournament. It is a delicate situation, and I would not have it turn to disaster for the sake of appearances."

"I agree," Karlain said, with a sort of apologetic half-shrug in Auriana's direction.

"As do I, though you ought to understand that this is in no way a condemnation of your skill, Your Majesty," Modera added.

"My fellow Council members, please," Jaina implored. "Surely we can trust Auriana to act in the interests of both her people and the Kirin Tor?"

"Unfortunately, it is not a matter of trust," Vargoth countered.

Jaina opened her mouth to argue further, but Auriana stilled her friend with a small shake of her head. Watching the Council debate was like a slap to the face, but she was not so blind with shock - or rage - that she could not understand Vargoth's position. Somewhat ironically, she had once severed ties with the Kirin Tor of her own volition, in order to fight for the Alliance in Northrend, but that had been long before Auriana had truly embraced her position amongst her colleagues. There was also a notable difference between leaving by choice and leaving by request, and while she knew that this was far from an expulsion from the order, she felt the keen sting of rejection nonetheless.

That said, there was little point in arguing. Auriana was the Queen of Stormwind, now, and it seemed her new crown would always be more important than who she was as a person - no matter how much she may have wished it were otherwise.

"I will of course defer to judgement of the Council on this matter," she said evenly, folding her hands across her stomach to hide their shake.

"Another vote, then?" Modera suggested, raising her hand.

Only Jaina voted nay this time, though Khadgar's vote was given only with the greatest reluctance. Five to one against was a bitter cup to swallow, but Auriana at least took some small comfort in the fact that not a single member of the Council looked especially pleased by having to make such a decision.

"It seems I am outnumbered once again," Jaina said heavily.

She took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders.

"Archmage Auriana, you will stand down from any public duties or appearances as a member of the Kirin Tor until such time as the Tournament is concluded, at which time we will reevaluate your position within our ranks. Know that this is not a punishment, or in any way a condemnation of either your character or your abilities."

"As the Council wishes," Auriana said, inclining her head in a gesture of respect. "The Alliance is grateful for your support in this endeavour, and we hope that the Tournament will prove to be the turning point in relations with the Horde that we all hope it will be."

She swept from the Council chambers without another word, ignoring the pitying glances that followed her path. She forced herself to walk as slowly as she was able, so as not to appear petulant, but it was a difficult thing. Rationally, she understood the Council's reasoning, but she was damned if the decision didn't hurt. On top of the unexpected shock of confronting the magebane thief and having to stand as Queen on her own for the first time, the entire day's events had her thoroughly off kilter, and she was barely able to attend to the placement of her own feet as she exited the Chamber of Air and descended down into the Citadel proper.

Vaguely, Auriana also wondered if the strength of her hurt had something to do with the turbulence in her life of late. She had not properly exercised her magic in weeks, not since before the wedding, and she felt the dormant power within her like a dull ache. Despite Varian's unwavering support and love, she was still struggling to come to terms with her new life as the Queen of Stormwind, and the Council's resolution had inadvertently made her feel as if she were losing some critical part of herself. She had been a mage as long as she could remember, and a queen for only a few weeks, but in that moment she felt like she was neither; simply a ship adrift in a storm-tossed sea.

Auriana sighed to herself as she reached the bottom of the stairs that led down from the Violet Citadel, and took off in the direction of the Magus Commerce Exchange. She was expected to report back to Stormwind after completing her diplomatic mission, but she didn't feel like returning to her city just yet. She didn't particularly feel like staying in Dalaran, either, but at least here she was free of her guards and some of the weight of the crown.

The wind lifted Auriana's hair as she wandered aimlessly through the city, though she paid it little mind. By this time of day, most of Dalaran's mages and apprentices were now inside, seeing to their work or studies, and the few people on the streets who did appear to recognise her respectfully kept their distance. She did not regret marrying Varian for a second, but she would have been lying if she had said she was not overwhelmed. She had tried to keep her concerns from him as best she could, hoping that the pressure would ease over time as she became more accustomed to her new role. Varian had enough to worry about with the Tournament and the tensions it had stirred within the Alliance, and Auriana was determined to ensure that he would not be distracted by her own petty hurts.

As she strode past one of Dalaran's many manicured lawns, lost in thought, a sudden glimmer of blue-white magic caught her eye. She paused, and was surprised to find that someone had set up a small row of magical training dummies along the edge of the grass. They were partially tucked away behind a wall, almost invisible from the main carriageway, and Auriana idly wondered why they were there. Most training devices were usually set up indoors, in one of Dalaran's many classrooms, though she supposed there was an argument to be made for training young mages outside as well, where they might have to contend with the distractions of wind and rain and outside noise.

The training dummies were enchanted to hover in mid-air, each of their four large, leaf-like blades catching the sunlight as they rotated slowly around a central magical core. Auriana contemplated the devices seriously for a moment, then glanced back over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching. Fortunately, she found no curious faces staring back at her from around the curve of the building, and for the first time in a good long while, she suspected she might be properly alone.

Or at the very least, as alone as she could get in a city with a population of thousands.

Auriana slipped out of her heavy cloak, and let it fall rather unceremoniously to the ground beside her. The air in Dalaran was always cold, as a result of the city's altitude, but Auriana was willing to sacrifice a little warmth for the sake of freedom of movement. Admittedly, her silk dress was not ideal for for practicing magic - a little too tight around the bodice and a little too full in the skirt - but for today it would have to do.

She stretched her neck from side to side and cracked her knuckles, her eyes narrowing as she focused in on the middle target. The training dummies in the Stormwind arena were sturdy and well crafted, but they were designed to resist the keen edge of the blade, not magic, and Auriana had found them to be woefully inadequate for her purposes. These contraptions, on the other hand…

Auriana extended her arm, and frost instantly crystallised around her fingertips. Despite lack of use, or perhaps because of it, her magic felt eager and fresh, and she called forth a deadly icy lance with barely so much as a thought. The razor-sharp projectile rocketed toward the target and hit with a satisfying smack; the impact sending dozens of tiny ice fractals scattering across the surface of the oscillating target blade. Unlike the dummies in the Stormwind arena, however, the magical target itself did not shatter, its core simply flaring brighter blue as it harmlessly absorbed and redistributed the force of Auriana's spell.

Good.

Encouraged, Auriana called on her powers in earnest, alternately weaving bolts of frost, fire, and acane at an ever-increasing rate. It was a considerable challenge to switch between different schools of magic at speed, and she soon found herself sweating even despite the chill. Auriana was not the same mage who had left Azeroth for Draenor, however, and nor was she even the same mage she had been a year ago. She had been rough and untempered - strong, yet unrefined - but she since had grown to become a master mage in full command of her powers, and the rest of the world fell away as she lost herself in the flow of her magic. The Kirin Tor could take her title, and the crown of Stormwind could take over her life, but nothing could take her magic.

Faster and faster, Auriana wove her spells, relishing the feel of the arcane burning through her veins. There were very few people who had ever lived who could have cast at that kind of intensity, but the magic came to her as easy as breathing. It was immensely satisfying listening to the rhythmic hiss of her spells as they flew through the air, and even more so when Auriana realised that the heavily warded and intricately crafted target was beginning to buckle under the weight of her power.

Such targets were designed to resist thousands upon thousands of spell casts - but it wasn't really a fair contest. There were very few things in the world that could resist Auriana when her magic was up, and the fiery wellspring of power in her chest flared even brighter knowing she was so close to victory. Her eyes narrowed, and with a last great burst of effort, she summoned an enormous pyroblast that smashed through the the last of the target's defenses, leaving behind nothing but a charred wreck.

"I am sorry about what happened in the Council chamber."

Lost in the hazy afterglow of her magic, it took a moment for Auriana to realise that she was being addressed, and she whirled in surprise to see Archmage Modera standing on the edge of the lawn. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her greying eyebrows were cocked in an expression of mild intrigue. Auriana was not quite sure how old Modera was, only that she was the longest serving mage on the Council by far. Mages tended to be long lived, assuming they did not fall in battle or succumb to disease, and there was a very good chance that Modera could have been over a century old. It would have been rude to ask, of course, but Auriana was well aware that she was standing before one of the most experienced mages alive.

"Not too sorry, I assume. You voted against me," she pointed out, hastily wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her sleeve.

Auriana's fingers twitched, aching to call upon more magic, and it was only with a titanic effort that she managed to resist the siren's call of her power. She had only tapped into the barest sliver of her rage in order to destroy the target, but magic was seductive enough all on its own, and it yearned for more use.

Calm, she reminded herself. Breathe.

"It was the correct course of action," Mordera said sharply. "I do, however, regret the necessity. You are a valuable asset to the Kirin Tor."

Auriana snorted.

"Evidently not valuable enough."

Modera pursed her lips. She was clearly a woman used to being listened to and obeyed, and over the years she had cultivated a distinct aura of intimidation. She was not loud or ostentatious - far from it - but she fairly radiated command, and Auriana vaguely wondered how many years she would have to spend as queen before she could perfect the same flinty-eyed stare.

"Don't play the victim, Auriana, it doesn't suit you," Modera said You're smart enough to know that the Council has little choice if the Kirin Tor are to successfully participate in this Tournament of yours."

Auriana rankled slightly at the accusation that she was being petty - but then, she supposed, she was. The training dummy's destruction had at least in part been the result of her pique, as well as her desire to feel like a real Archmage - and it had evidently not gone unnoticed.

"You did this?" Modera asked, nudging one of the still-smouldering target with her foot. "I should have you know I spent eleven hours last week enchanting these to be indestructible."

Auriana followed her line of sight, and shrugged. She hadn't taken the time to study the intricate layers of spellwork that protected the targets before unleashing her frustration, though if Modera had been responsible for the enchantment, the targets must have been well protected indeed.

"Nothing is indestructible," she murmured.

"How did you do it? What spell did you use?"

Modera's sharp eyes narrowed, and she stared down at Auriana the way one might stare at a particularly vexatious mathematical problem. Like many other Archmages of the Kirin Tor, she was very much possessed of a keen academic mind; though her magical interests were well known to rest in the realm of the practical, rather than the theoretical. She was undoubtedly clever, and the power of her stare made Auriana feel as if she were being viewed through a magnifying glass.

"One with lots of fire," she quipped, in a weak attempt to disguise her discomfort.

In truth, she wasn't really trying to be evasive. Just as she had not taken the time to scrutinise the protections that made the targets impervious, she had not taken much care in preparing her own destructive magic. She had acted on instinct, pure and simple, and she doubted she could have explained the intricacies of her spellwork to Modera even if she had tried.

"Ah, fire. I never would have guessed," Modera snorted, fighting back a smirk. "Tell me, Auriana, are you always this glib?"

"Only when it's earned."

For a moment, Auriana wondered if she pushed the older Archmage too far, but to her surprise, Modera simply smiled. It was a cat's smile, too, slow and enigmatic, and Auriana couldn't for the life of her have guessed what it might have meant.

"I should have taken an interest in you earlier, you know. You have quite an innate talent for destructive magic."

"You could have asked to take me on as an apprentice when I was younger," Auriana pointed out. "A bit late now."

"I could have, but at the time I suspected you were lazy," Modera said bluntly. "You never had much of a head for book learning, from what I observed of you as a young mage."

She stepped closer, and the intensity of her gaze somehow increased tenfold.

"But now… now I suspect it has less to do with laziness, and more to do with the fact that you're very much a creature of instinct."

It was then that Auriana realised that Modera's expression was more curious than critical, and that perhaps she should not be quite so guarded.

"Jaina made a similar observation once," she admitted. "Though I'll have you know I've done plenty of 'book learning' since I was made Archmage."

"Still, it doesn't come naturally to you, does it?"

She gestured to one of the few training targets that Auriana had left standing.

"Destroy it."

Auriana raised an eyebrow.

"What happened to 'eleven hours of enchanting work'?"

"Don't be difficult, Auriana," Modera sighed.

"I believe the correct form of address is 'Your Majesty'," Auriana retorted, quick as a whip.

"As you wish. Don't be difficult, Your Majesty."

Auriana couldn't help but laugh at that, and she felt some of the pent-up tension in her shoulders loosen. There were others who would have found Modera's banter impertinent, but Auriana found it rather refreshing. The older Archmage seemed genuinely interested in her abilities, for whatever reason, and Auriana was more than happy to indulge her request with another spectacular pyroblast.

"Hmm. It seems that you destabilised the natural variation in the essence flux holding the target together in order to make it destroy itself," Modera observed. "Clever, I wouldn't have thought of that. What I can't figure out, however, is how you compensated for the drop in the aetheric current long enough to prevent the spell from blowing up in your own face."

"Honestly, I'm not sure how I did it, either. I can't always put it into words," Auriana sighed. "I... see the magic, and I... unmake it."

She waved her hand vaguely through the air, and shrugged. It was not an especially illuminating answer, but Modera did not seem displeased. If anything, she actually looked even more interested, her expression calculating and her stern gaze somehow even sharper.

"I know the Council has asked you to step down from your formal duties as an Archmage, but what would you say to a few private lessons with me?" she suggested.

"As your apprentice?" Auriana scoffed, only half-joking.

"As my colleague and my equal," Modera said seriously. "You've extraordinary talent, but there's still a few tricks this old girl could teach you."

It was a very generous offer, and Auriana was well aware that there were dozens of apprentices in the city who would have given their right arms for such an opportunity - and probably a fair few of the senior mages, as well. Coming so soon on the back of the Council meeting, however, the offer raised Auriana's suspicions, and her initial instinct was to decline. She did not want Modera's pity - or anyone else's, for that matter.

"Why me?" she pressed. "Does the Council intend for you to offer your tuition as a consolation prize?"

The words came out with more bitterness than Auriana had perhaps intended, but Modera did not allow herself to be baited.

"It has nothing to do with the Council, and everything to do with you," she said evenly. "We would need to be discreet, of course, but I'm sure that is not beyond you. What is more important is that you do not forget who you are. You were a mage long before you were a queen, and you would be doing both yourself and Azeroth a disservice if you were to forget that fact."

She picked up a shard from one of the destroyed targets, and thrust it towards Auriana with a firm but surprisingly understanding expression. The shard was stained black from the fire, and the edge was sheared as cleanly as if it had been cut by the sharpest of blades. Auriana could also feel the lingering echoes of her magic fading within the rapidly-cooling metal, a tangible reminder of the strength of her power - which, she supposed, was exactly what Modera had intended.

It was somewhat unnerving, but in scarcely a handful of minutes, the elder Archmage had seen right to the heart of Auriana's consternation, and had determined not to let her wallow. Auriana was not so proud that she could not admit when she was wallowing, though in her own defense, the Council's decision had been both entirely unexpected, and surprisingly hurtful. Not that Modera seemed to mind; apparently, she did not allow for anything more than precisely thirty minutes of indulgent self-pity.

Auriana sighed.

"Very well," she said finally, nodding.

"A wise choice," Modera agreed, looking pleased.

She stepped back, and her eyes came alive with a certain academic eagerness as she grasped Auriana by the shoulders and turned her to face the last training dummy still standing. Evidently, she was not one to waste time.

"Now, Your Majesty," she said briskly, "You may as well destroy that third target. There's something to be said for thoroughness, and I would very much like to see that little spell of yours again…"