Chapter 16
Life of the Party!
The great gasp of shock was followed by Fox looking expectantly at Braelyn Hawke, although the younger woman had no idea what had spurred that blatant attack.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" Jack broke the tension of the moment, bringing Fox's attention to him.
"I was hoping it broke what ever enchantment you had cast on her." Fox tossed him a glance before looking back to Braelyn. "I don't know how to cast a despell, so this is the best I could come up with. Are you better yet, or do you still feel the misguided need to marry," Fox pointed at Jack, "that."
"Lady, I assure you, that this is a terrible mistake." Braelyn looked over at her parents. She was being openly humiliated in front of every single member of the Noble Peerage, King Wyrnn, and the newly found Lady Lothar. Where ever the last two were. She had just arrived when Jack had swept her on the the dance floor. No one had a chance to point out the King or the Lady.
"That's enough, Fox!" Jack cried out. "I can only assume you slunk you way in here on Shaw's arm, you classless miscreant. Why don't you go back to hiding in some corner, and let the rest of us enjoy our night."
Fox was still on edge from her dances with the two young Lords Winchester and Remington. Now Jack gave her an opening to relieve some of the stress eating at her. She pulled back her hand and let her fist launch right into his nose. Sweet Bliss! Was the feeling that enveloped her as it connected.
Jack was knocked backward and skidded across the floor. What had he been expecting? It was the damn bitch Crimson Fox. The very one who had tried to teach him the ropes in the SI-7 all those years ago. But he had been a Noble, and working his way up the ladder was not for him. Fox had been jealous and turned him in to Shaw. Well, now she was in his circle, he came back to his feet. She, a common rogue, had just struck a Noble. He was in his rights to have her life!
Fox turned her attention back to Braelyn. "The man is a rat. No that's to insulting to rats. Please, you must see this."
"Of course I do!" Braelyn balled her fists. Damn Rogues! Why must the always interfere in her life and make it more complicated then it already was? "But I do not have a choice but to..." The blue eyes going wide, was the only warning Fox got.
Jack latched his hand in Fox's hair. The feeling caused Fox to freeze. The brown eyes going black and all she could see was Ondrena's long hair being snatched up by a battle crazed Orc. For one swift moment Fox was stuck in her past, and then she wasn't. The gleam of light reflected on a dagger. Fox reacted on instinct dropping to her signature low sweep just under the weapons. She saved her neck, but she was not fast enough to save her hair. The blade slicing through the thick black tresses that had not been cut since Lion's Landing.
Fox lost her footing in the lacy ripples of her train. Falling to her rear on the hard wood floor. A hand reaching up to touch the back of her head. Feeling the loss of her hair with her fingertips.
"Oh no you didn't!" Winchester pushed through the crowd. An enraged Remington at his side. The two diving on Jack.
Fox lifted a hand to her chest as the three men struggled around on the ground before her. The two more titled Lord's clearly at advantage with the semi-skilled rogue. Where they defending her life? Climbing to her feet, as the brown eyes went wide. By the Light, those crazy men were!
She felt her arm seized. A looked to her side, she saw Mathias Shaw with Braelyn Hawke clasped in the other hand. "Out of the way!" Shaw shouted. Fox supposed he was joining the dog pile, after he saw the women clear of the fight zone.
Then she saw why. Varian rushed in. Pulling Winchester and Remington up. She had thought the King was merely ending the fight until he pulled Jack up by the throat. A mighty strike landing to the man's midsection. A fierce curl of his lips speaking of such rage, Fox had never witnessed it before.
Braelyn's hands were clasped over her mouth. In her wildest dreams she never expected to see the King of Stormwind pummeling Jack like a neighborhood bully. She actually started to fear somewhere in her heart that Jack was going to die right before them. She disliked him intensely yes, but she had no desire to witness his demise.
A glance was sent to Spymaster Shaw. Braelyn knew him. It was the woman next to him, she had no idea the identity of. Jack had said she was a SI-7 Rogue, and Braelyn agreed to this assumption. Who wouldn't when the loud mutterings of, "Use the left, King Wyrnn, the left. YES!" was followed by the most unfeminine arm pump of approval. For a Lady she was much to blood thirsty.
"As much as you are enjoying this," Shaw said low. "You should take the young Miss Hawke and get out of here. Once the King is done, the room will settle their attention on you."
Fox snapped a quick hand signal of understanding in the Stormwind Assassin code, without thinking. Then grabbed Braelyn's hand, "Come with me!"
"My Parents!" Braelyn scanned the crowd. Hoping they were not in harms way. She could not imagine their utter embarrassment at the events.
"Will be fine. Shaw has them." Fox rushed past the guards. "Hold the guests in the room, until the King orders the doors open."
The two women running down the hall. Fox knowing exactly where she was going. Braelyn being dragged and lost, could only follow. Fear rising as the strange woman laughed in delight. Suddenly she skidded to a stop. "Enough! I have no idea who you think you are, starting such a scene." The Hunter pulled her wrist from the Rogue's grasp, "But ruining a Royal Ball out of spite is a terrible thing. Even lower then much of what Jack is guilty of." Not all, Braelyn did confess in her mind.
"You think I ruined it? As in complete disaster?" Fox swung around. "Do I dare to hope?"
Oh no she didn't! What was Mathias Shaw thinking with this one? Braelyn's blue eyes snapped in electric indignation. Poor King Wyrnn! All his efforts to shower the Lady Lothar with her first Royal ball had came crashing down due to this woman. "Do you not think of anyone but yourself?"
"Excuse me? I was trying to help you." Fox blinked back. Completely lost as to why this woman was not showering her with thanks.
Braelyn bristled, "I did not need your help. I would have thought of something to free myself from Jack."
"The point is now you don't have to think of anything! I saved you. The man is probably dead." Fox was not expecting the stinging slap, that turned her head. A slow hand rising to touch the stinging cheek. "Owww ouch."
"I would not be so eager to have anyone's blood on their hands. Yes, I was being forced to marry him, but I most assuredly did not wish for his death, you... you... ROGUE!" It was without a doubt the best insult she could come up with.
"Miss Hawke, I have to commend you." Fox said quietly, "You have a very firm slap. I dare say I would not look forward to meeting you in combat."
"I should challenge you for what you have done. Miss... Miss... Who the hell are you anyway?"
"Oh that." Fox sighed. Damn, no wonder the woman had treated her like a normal person and not a glass figurine. "My name is Eloise." She could see that didn't satisfy the Hunter. Even though Fox cast her a beseeching look. She did not want to admit, but there was no way around it. "Lady Eloise Lothar of the Alliance, and I am very please to be of service, Miss Hawke."
"Lothar?" Braelyn felt the blood rushing from her face. Had she just struck the Lady everyone had been going on and on about for the last two full months? The very woman whose word only seemed to inspire love and admiration? Who every single woman in Elywnn were daydreaming they could become? "Light have mercy!" Braelyn started to drop to her knees. Why had it turned out like this? She was suppose to be enjoying the ball, and trying to find a way to beg the King for assistance. Not turning on his Lady like and overblown brat!
"NO!" Fox grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to remain up right. "I will not have it, Miss Hawke! You will not bow! You will not simper before me! I forbid it. You, dear sweet woman, are the first person to treat me as I should be since I came back to Stormwind. I will not allow you to take that away from me." Fox did not realize how she had been feeling, until the words were out of her mouth.
Braelyn blinked. Still completely unsure how to react at this point. She was merely the daughter of War Heroes, not exactly common, but not entitled. "What are you saying?"
"I am saying in a rather pathetic attempt, I need a friend in this veritable cage of madness. I would like to know if you would consider the position. Feel free to resign at anytime. Because in your place I would have already tried to kill myself, orbe halfway to Orgrimmar." Fox laughed, knowing full well that this girl would not know how true those words really were.
The sound of people in the halls forced Fox to grab Braelyn's hand again. "There are others coming, and I do not need another scene. Come with me, my rooms are not far."
Fox came to her doors. The guards seeing her, opened them for the two women. She actually shoved Braelyn inside before saying "Send word to the family of Braelyn Hawke, that she is entertaining the Lady Lothar at present. That I will return her upon my personal steed, with my own Royal guard on detail to see her safely home later on this evening. Also, I do not want bothered by anyone! I mean it, no one but Mathias Shaw in my rooms." She paused as Varian came to her mind, "And his Majesty." Oh wait! Him, in her rooms, was a very bad thing, "No wait, tell him no too." Then again he was so fine to look upon, "Wait, Yes." It wasn't right Fox! "Yes... no... oh hell, just let him in, should he arrive."
The guard smiled and nodded. "I will certainly see your King in to you, Lady Lothar."
Fox sighed and patted his arm before entering her room.
Braelyn was walking around staring at the extravagance of it. Fox tried to see it from her point of view. Being on Royal Guard duty for years had made Fox immune to the lavishness. But for the little Hunter, such things could be overwhelming, Fox supposed.
Fox went to work right away. She pulled the earrings off first. The necklace she just ripped from her neck. One of these days, the jewelcrafters were going to make a clasp that made her regret breaking the chain, but today was not that day. She tossed them to the vanity, The loud sound of the stones hitting the table causing Braelyn to look over.
"Sweet Peacebloom!" She moved to the display of precious gems. "Are those real?"
Fox nodded and said "I would assume so. They rotate them out with my wardrobe once a week, so I can't be certain. I doubt Varian would allow me to run around in cut glass though." She was eager to be out of her trappings. Fox sucked in her gut and pulled the ball dress over her head. Circling her arm to gather the garment and launching it to the floor.
Braelyn turned and saw Fox in a mere slip that was hardly anything at all. Hands going to her eyes. Had she just seen what she thought she had. Opening her fingers just a touch, the blue eyes noted that the Lady Lothar under her dress, had in fact been armed to the hilt! A dagger on the calf of her left leg. Another on her right thigh. Tiny projectile daggers finely threaded into her bust line. All this and it was just what could be made out in a momentary glance.
Fox pulled open the armoire, and shoved the dresses aside. Reaching deeper in she batted her hand around until a small door popped open. Extracting a set of high crafted leather. She paused a moment seeing a letter tacked to one of the large exterior doors.
"Fox,
I saw a set of new daggers to be rewarded for stabbing Horde members. Protect yourself, Madam Bully's eye.
Learen
PS. If Shaw asks where I am, tell him I am stealthing right next to him and he sucks."
Fox smiled and crumpled the letter.
Braelyn dropped her hands as Fox pulled up a sword that was so large it almost looked like it was a two handed weapon. "Does the King know you're so... soooo..."
Fox set the sword aside, and pulled the leather pants up over her hips, "The word you are looking for is either Endowed, or Prepared. I would say yes to the first, and no to the latter. I would keep it that way, if you please? There is no reason to upset him knowing I still feel the need to arm myself thusly."
Braelyn reached out and pulled the vanity chair over to sit on. Who the hell had she fallen in with? "I still have no idea why I am here?"
"Oh, because I am actually very lonely. Since I have been back in Stormwind, I have been removed from the SI-7."
"But I was told the King himself gifted the agency to you."
"Being the boss to all your old friends tends to ruin the mood." Fox pulled on her chest piece. Dropping to the floor looking more like a toddler trying to get on fresh snow boots then a refined lady.
"Oh?" Braelyn nodded. Being lonely was never an option for her. She had her Hunter pets. "Why me?"
"Because, dear woman, you talked back to me." Fox came to her feet, and reached for her gloves. "I also hear you are a Hunter. The daughter of Alliance Heroes, at that. It makes me hopeful we can get along. Because I am not someone that just anyone can keep up with."
"How do you know all this?"
Fox paused and gave Braelyn a look that said she was rethinking the situation.
Braelyn blushed at being caught acting foolishly, "Your a Rogue of the SI-7. Sorry my mistake. But the sad truth is Jack was black mailing me. Now all will be exposed, and I am doomed."
"I know Jack, and he rarely if ever, thinks things through. What could he possibly have on you that is so bad?" Fox reached up and toyed with her ruined hair.
"I had an affair with a Blood Elf." Braelyn confessed. What was the point in hiding, what everyone in the Ball room probably already knew. Oh her poor parents.
"Drugged?" Fox was clearly caught off guard at that. He would have to be remarkable to get past his physical limitations. But then Fox never considered that most women had not graced King Wyrnn's bed as she had. Her lofty standards so much higher.
"I was quite sober."
"I would ask if you needed glasses, but then once in the dark the lack of large arms and broad chest can not be ignored." Fox pointed out.
"Not every man can be as physically prowess as our King." Braelyn shot back in Rommath's defense.
Fox nodded with relief. " Praise the Light, or there would be no help for all of female kind! So tell me, Miss. Hawke, how are you with scissors. Because my hair has been butchered." A hand reached up to fluff the tattered ends.
"I am no hair dresser."
"Good, because I just want my ends evened out. If I got into the hands of a professional. Ugh!" Fox shuddered.
There was a rap at the door, and Fox looked to it. "Come in Mathias, it's open!" Fox turning back to push her secret compartment shut, and pull her dresses in front of it.
It was not Mathias that came through the doorway first. Although he was in attendance.
Braelyn came to her feet seeing King Wyrnn entering the room. Oh, sweet heavens that man was huge!
"I was thinking now that the night is ruined, we can go test out Miss Hawke's archery skills." Fox turned to find herself looking into Varian's chest armor. A hand reaching out to touch her hair.
Varian's expression turning thunderous. "He's dead. Bring me the execution order for Jonathan Devereaux. I will seal it tonight."
"It's just hair. It will grow back." Fox glanced over at Braelyn who was visibly quaking in her place. "Besides, his real crime was to this gentle girl, and you are scaring her near to death."
Varian looked confused then turned. Realizing they had company. "Miss Hawke?"
"Yes, your Majesty." Braelyn dipped in a deep curtsy, but wavered a bit. Given the situation most would have fainted dead away.
"Still Frolicking, I assume?" Varian tried to lighten the mood with a smile.
"You remembered that?" Braelyn blinked. That this man would remember her! She was truly blessed or cursed. She could not decide which.
"I hope you still carry that adorable trait, after I have your fiancee hanged, or beheaded. I haven't decided which just yet." Varian gave a stiff nod.
Braelyn paled.
"You are scaring her!" Fox rushed over and hugged Braelyn close.
"I didn't realize the two of you knew each other." Varian looked from Fox's leather clad form to Braelyn Hawke, whose dress still made her look more the acceptable Lady of the two. He tried to fit them together in his mind and see how they meshed. Braelyn was a loyal daughter with a light heart and a deep compassion. She could not stomach battle grounds. Fox was, well she was a Fox. Nothing was safe if she would think up an advantage, even himself. Which he wasn't since she was casting him that "Come take me." look again. Damn her, there were people in the room, and entire Ball room of guests that needed to be seen to.
"It's my fault. I use Miss Hawke as a messenger for the SI-7. I am sure Fox met her there." Mathias offered up.
"Speaking of which, I would like to go see how Braelyn's archery skills have improved. Can we go to the training grounds at the SI-7?"
Varian blinked over at his Fox. "Of course you can go. You practically live there every day." Then the red light came on in his mind, "Why are you asking?"
"Because it's late?"
"You mean you want to go there right now?" Varian shook his head "After all the trouble you created, you plan on just leaving me here to deal with it, Lady Lothar?"
Mathias cringed sensing the King was actually loosing his temper. Braelyn bit her lip noticing the same thing.
Fox smiled brightly like the moon in a dark sky. An angry King Varian was a sexy King Varian in her book. She knew him to well now. If she road out this storm, it would lead her right into the most pleasant of situations. Truth be told after the evening she had, she could use the diversion.
Author Note: Hope you liked this chapter. My muse and I were working over time last night, because well there is a twist coming up. I had planned it for later, but the timing now is much better.