Chapter 5

Dear Heart – Stop getting involved.

Fox was awaken by the feeling of fingers brushing strands of her hair. The face before her, brought question if she was truly conscious. "Your Majesty?" A few blinks of her eyes did not dispel him. The sound of her voice was hoarse. She sat up at a turtle's pace, as almost every muscle protested. For a moment she wondered why? Then she knew. Pulling the blanket up ever so slowly and holding it close to her chest.

"I need to break you of calling me that." Varian knelt at the side of the bed. Dressed in dark pants alone. He held up a cup of steaming tea in his hands. "Drink this, you sound horrible."

Fox tucked the blanket under her arms, and took the delicate cup. There was no dainty sip for her. She knocked it back and allowed the warmth to sooth her throat. It was exactly what she needed to get her voice back. "I guess a, good morning Varian, is in order?" She lowered the teacup back to the saucer.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Then rose to his feet. "A good afternoon, would be more appropriate."

Thankfully the cup was empty as Fox's hand shook so hard the cup clattered on the saucer. Shooting him a look of pure panic as she started to bolt from the bed.

"Stay where you are. I have sent down for brunch. I wasn't sure what you would rather have, breakfast or lunch." Then he winked in a way that caused her to blush to her toes, "But considering your efforts last night, I expect you would be starving."

Actually, she was. But in all her life nothing had ever prepared her for the situation she now found herself in. What could? Sure she had heard plenty of women dream about getting there hands on certain men. King Varian being no exception. How they would do this, and that. Did anyone ever consider that when the sun came up, just what they were going to do? Fox certainly never had.

Fox suddenly knew exactly what was going to happen. Shaw was going to find out, and then she was going to die. At least it would be swift, she nodded to herself. Looking out in a blank stare at the fine hand carved wooden foot board. She decided it had been worth it. Memories of her night in King Wyrnn's arms returning in degrees. She chanced a glance at her King as he moved across the room. She tossed Varian a warm smile. Totally worth it.

"You look happy." He cast a quick glance at her as he sat down in a chair. Lifting papers in his hands "Must be that your job just got easier, and mine got much harder."

"How so?"

"Look at us." He turned his attention to the documents. "Your target is quite willingly locking himself in a room with you. Making it vastly easier to keep track of. While I find myself pondering how to run a Kingdom from my bed room."

"Your going to skip work?" Fox wrapped the blanket more firmly around her and climbed off the bed.

"That would be irresponsible. I sent for my men to gather my work and bring it up here."

Fox moved across the room, and took the papers from his hands. Looking at them for a moment. The dark brown eyes scanning quickly, before tossing them over her shoulder. Varian was startled when she dropped on his lap. Fox locking her arms around his shoulders."Varian, I think considering the circumstance, you can take a damn day off."

He leaned back in the chair. Considering her proposal with a serious expression. Fox wasted no time taking advantage of the motion. Their kiss warm and sweet. "Are you taking up a job as my adviser?" He asked when she pulled back.

"Don't joke about that. If I was of good judgment, I wouldn't be here now, would I?" She let her hand drift over his chest in a lazy pattern.

"Giving good advice is different then taking it."

A knock on the door alerted Varian that the food had arrived. Fox climbed off his lap, so that he could move to open it. The trays were carried in and set out on the low table. Varian keeping a close eyes on the staff. One wrong look tossed to his rogue and they were on dish duty for a month.

She caught a glimpse of Cat standing out in the hall. The woman looked tired, but shot her a double thumbs up signal. Learen below her also signaling a rather simple and vulgar symbol of his discontentment.

Cat's signs were rapid and hard to interpret, but Fox blushed realizing that everyone in the hall knew exactly how much she had enjoyed her evening.

Learen was more serious, basically informing her that she had her fun, and needed to get her ass back out there or he was going to assume command. Now that was a sobering thought.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O

Shaw didn't have to see the sky to know the sun was setting. He reached out and uncorked the bottle on his desk with his teeth. He started chugging and didn't stop.

Sheylann came through the door. Looking over to see him already a slobbering drunken mess. "Sweet Ysera!" The druid rushed to his side, and pulled the bottle out of his hands. "Mathias, what's wrong?"

"I have to tell her." Mathias tried to stand up and slumped back down. His arms going over his desk to keep from sliding under it.

"Who?" Sheylann knelt at his side. A gentle hand patting his leg. She wanted to calm him. This was not a state she had ever seen Shaw in, and they had been very close for a long time.

"Fox. Damn nobles know." Shaw groaned in obvious agony.

Sheylann nodded, "I believe all of Stormwind knows. Not her name, yet. But its common gossip the King has taken a lover. You had to know that King Wyrnn would not sit still. He never does."

"I warned her. I did." Shaw looked down at Sheylann's bright glowing eyes. He wanted a way out. Needed Sheylann to tell him it was going to be alright, but that wasn't something his Sheylann would do. She was cold in that respect, hard and truthful when life needed her to be. "They told me I have to give her a choice. Fox can submit to their will and be quietly disposed of, by my hand," Shaw shook his head and looked like he just might cry, "Or they will allow her to continue under their control."

"They can't control Fox. She is loyal to you and the SI-7." Sheylann pointed out.

"No. The Nobles know about her family." Shaw confessed. A hand rising to rub over his face.

"What?" Sheylann snapped out shortly, "They are threatening her family?"

Shaw tried to get the bottle back from Sheylann, "It's not a threat when Myles Fulbright was almost killed today in a cargo mishap." The word mishap was pushed between Shaw's teeth. "Lucky to be alive, Winchester told me. They aren't sure if he will ever use his left leg again. But those, those..." Shaw dropped his head down, "Damn they know the Fulbrights need Myles working."

"Have you told Fox?"

"No." Shaw shook his head, "I have to. I have to kill her, I know her to well. She will not allow anyone to harm her family. It's all she has. So she will never agree to their terms."

Sheylann rose to her knees, and hugged Shaw to her chest. A pathetic attempt to offer comfort."It's okay, love. I am here."

"She is my friend, Sheylann. I know, I am not suppose to have favorites in my ranks, but damn I love her like family. She has been with me so long. Done things, no one should ever be asked to do for Stormwind, and the Alliance. She never questioned me." Shaw's shoulders started to shake with sobs, "She trusts me more then anyone in the world, and I have to kill her."

Sheylann pulled back and took his head in her hands, "No, you don't."

"Sheylann, you don't understand. They wont take my word on this target. They need a body. The require unquestionable witnesses. Because she is one of mine, an SI-7, I can't even cover it up and send her away."

"I didn't say anything about letting her live." Sheylann's tone was cold. "I will do this. I will do it for you."

"So you plan on getting drunk, starting a riot, so you can throw another rock?" Shaw sobered suddenly. "You can't do that. I know how bad you already feel about King Wyrnn. You can't add anymore pain and guilt between you."

"Someone has to do this. I already have Tiffin on my conscience. Damn me to the nether with Fox as well." Sheylann spoke openly. It was something few knew. That she had been the one to kill Tiffin Wyrnn. Entirely by accident, but still it was her hand that had ended the Queen of Stormwind's life. "Shaw, we both knew I never meant to harm Tiffin. It was the draconic bitch on Varian's other side I was trying to hit."

Shaw sighed, "Exactly, please stop trying to do us any favors."

"Mathias, I have seen the pain and horror of my mistakes. Because of who I am, I am going to live for a very long time trying to correct them. I will get through this too." Sheylann took his hands, "How much time before they take action against the Fulbrights?"

"They gave me less then forty eight hours to handle it. I was told because the SI-7 was involved they didn't want to give her anymore time then that. They fear we will come up with something and outmaneuver them, and they are right. If I had someway to destroy them all I would."

Sheylann stood up. The lovely white hair shimmering around her shoulders in the dark room. "Then I need to get to work. There isn't much time for me to set things up. Go tell Fox, so she can make her peace." She turned away trying to head for the door.

"Sheylann." Shaw called out. He rose to chase after her. Grabbing her hand to still her steps.

"What is it love?" Sheylann looked back at him. If he was going to try and stop her, rescind the order, she wouldn't obey him. Shaw needed to be in the SI-7. He did good work there. Someone had to protect him, and that position. Sheylann was more then willing.

Shaw was aching to stop her. Trying to twist the entire mess into something more tolerable. In the end he could only whisper, "Make it fast, Sheylann. Don't let her suffer."

Sheylann closed her eyes and looked to the ceiling, "I can't do that. They need an unquestionable witness to her demise, Shaw. They will have him, and because of that I will make sure it's a request they never make of you again. I'm sorry, but I know Fox. She will not die easily no matter how much we wish it."

O0O0O0O0O0O0

Fox's people had been rotated out for their recovery period. The second shift had arrived, along with Mathias Shaw. She watched as Varian was introduced to the new members of the SI-7. While on rotation the SI-7 slept in bunks located within the keep walls.

Fox had yet to see her own commander quarters. Years of hard work to finally attain them. Now it was unlikely that she ever would. Not that it was bothering her. She was thoroughly enjoying her time in the King's presence. They had talked about a great many things, likes and dislikes, from foods to novels. To Varian's horror Fox did not like chess. He tormented her into a game with an open challenge. Then he found out she disliked it because she trounced everyone, including himself. She had even been bored enough to yawn while he struggled to keep his king out of check. The evil rogue chanting check after her third move, and harassing him until he gave in. However, she offered up a few games of cards. There they had more equal terms. Despite all of this, most of their time was spent in more active indoor pursuits involving any horizontal surface they could find, and the occasional vertical one as well.

Varian had been blunt with Shaw the moment he saw the Master Rogue. A smile flashing as he clasped a hand down on the man's shoulder in a tight squeeze. "Keep your opinion to yourself. Fox will not be leaving my side for her entire rotation. I find that I need her constant super vision at this time."

Shaw gave a bored look to cover the turbulent emotions. Finding it hard to look the King in the face without balling up his fist and striking him. "We all know you are sleeping with her. Your Majesty."

Varian nodded. He wasn't inclined to hide it. In fact he wasn't opposed to making it a public announcement, but Varian was certain that if things kept progressing, that would come soon enough on it's own. Varian walked over to talk with the SI-7 Agents and his Royal Guardsmen.

Shaw taking the opportunity to moved close to Fox, "I need you to remain calm while I inform you of the chain of events that have been set in place."

"Nobles?" She clasped her hands behind her back to keep from wringing them in worry.

"Yes."

"Elimination order?" Fox stared forward. No one watching could possibly know she was awaiting a life or death verdict from Stormwind's elite.

"They counter offered." Shaw coughed behind his hand.

That got a reaction. Fox turned to Shaw in open confusion, "They offered what?"

"Control, Fox." Shaw could not bring himself to use a harsh tone with her. "You can keep Varian, if you obey their commands."

Fox scoffed, her eyes going to the cracks in the stone floor. She didn't like it. "They want to make me a lackey? Fine. I don't mind."

Shaw found it hard to imagine her taking this stance very long. Steeling his will he added that next part. "They demand you forfeit your parents in your place. Examples have to be made unless others try to take advantage."

Fox felt her knees starting to give way as the meaning of Shaw's words bore down on her. She loved her parents more then anything. It was why she never told them of her occupation. The only stipulations in her contract with the SI-7 all centered around them, and their well being. There was a loud buzzing in her ears and for a moment she thought she would fail them all and faint.

Shaw moved to steady her. A tight grip on her elbow to help her ride through the shock.

"What did you say? They want me to sacrifice my parents lives? What kind of monsters are they? Wait, don't answer. I already know. They are completely insane." The dark eyes turning near black in terror.

"We have already been over that." Shaw felt himself losing the secret hope she would choose herself over her family. "It's that or a seal of execution. I would refute their wishes, but there are other forces that can see their will done. Warlocks and Deathknights that seek to upstage the SI-7's absolute hold on the inner circle of information in the city. If I allow that to happen we could face another Katrana Prestor incident or worse."

Fox nodded. She knew it was true. The dark brown eyes watching Varian laughing with one of his guards. "How long do I have."

"Later this evening. I suspect right after the street lamps are lit, the selected assassin will come for you. I can't be certain. Since I preferred the details of the job not be disclosed to me. I would save you, Fox. if I knew."

"That's no time at all." Fox gasped. Ignoring his declaration of loyalty. There wasn't time to acknowledge it, even though it meant a great deal. "I can't get away from Varian to even say goodbye to my parents with those time constraints. Unless I drag him home for dinner."

"Don't do that. If you do I will not be able to block the Nobles from eradicating them despite your loss." Shaw nodded over to Varian. "So take your time saying goodbye to him. He is what you are dying for." Shaw pulled her in a light embrace. Knowing he would probably never see her alive again. Then turned and walked away as if they had been discussing the weather. So went the life of an honorable Rogue.

Author Note: This chapter almost didn't happen! I got caught up on You Tube. One minute looking at relevant content, and then before I knew it, cute animal videos. Thankfully, I am a human in real life, and was able to use Every Man for Himself and escape.