Author Note. I would like to thank Paganjames for taking the time to give me some good constructive feed back. Lately it has been a struggle to get through the chapters when writing them. It is reflecting in my work and I am very sorry. It's a plot building time, and I wish I could skip it over with all my heart, but if I did it would come out rushed and disjointed. I promise to try harder to make each chapter more interesting and fun as I get through this section.

Chapter 38

Confrontation

"I saw her first." Halduron scowled from his place before Rygen Stonehorn. The Tauren was not about to let the Blood Elf Ranger out of his arm reach.

"She loved me first." Rommath countered as he looked his friend over with irritation. "We lived together and were lovers for quite some time. Braelyn and I were going to be married!"

That statement caused Rygen to toss a glance at Braelyn. The young Human standing next to King Wyrnn. She lowered her face and blushed madly.

"I made her cookies." Lor'themar could not help but toss in.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Rommath sputtered in fury as he continued to glare at Halduron. "I can't believe you would put the moves on my woman! Such betrayal from you was completely unexpected."

"She is not your woman." Halduron tried to go after Rommath, but Rygen pulled him back easily enough.

"Wait, are you saying my cookies were meaningless?" Lor'themar's mouth dropped open in shock. "They happened to be a fine batch of cookies that I made by my own hand."

"You made me cookies?" Braelyn blinked over at the Regent- Lord. "I thought you said you never baked when we were in Silvermoon?"

"I didn't, but that Gnome got me wondering if I could. So I did." Lor'themar shook his head as a dark scowl fixed itself on his face. Knowing that Rommath and Halduron had gotten further with his precious Braelyn then he had was just pissing him off.

Braelyn glanced around the room in wonder, and then asked, "Where are these masterful confections now?"

"Gone." Varian smiled happily. Then added the most evil smirk. "But trust me, they were delicious."

"You ate my cookies, King Wyrnn? How could you?" Braelyn leaned over the the throne, and actually slapped him on the arm. Then realizing what she had done blushed. "Oh! I'm sorry I wasn't thinking."

"It's alright dear girl. I did eat your cookies after all." Varian laughed and shook his head. Watching the triad of Blood Elf leadership reduced to childish bickering over Braelyn was making his day. He looked over at Greymane, who had taken time from his many duties to help mediate.

The Gilnean King looked back with a twinkling of amusement in his eye. A slight shake of his head conveyed that he did not believe what was happening before him.

Varian nodded over to the Tauren Paladin. "So you want to petition me to declare a formal union between Halduron Brightwing and Braelyn Hawke, due to the compromising situation that was witnessed by the Paladin Pyrasong?"

"That would be my stand on the matter." Rygen clasped a hand down on Halduron's shoulder. "He isn't all that opposed to the idea either. We had a long talk over what transpired, and he assumes he was inebriated on some foreign substance. Only it caused him to come forward with his own dormant affections."

"Well I am firmly opposed to the idea! I hate to bring this to light, but I am the one who compromised her a long time ago in Silvermoon." Rommath announced as if it was some shocking revelation to the crowd. "If anything she should be marrying me. I am willing to bear such a burden for her sake."

"Absolutely not! I have decided to make a play for the woman's hand for myself. So there is no way a union or marriage or what ever you wish to call it will ever be acknowledged in our city!" Lor'themar spat out at everyone. "So the two of you can just give it up."

"That's completely unfair!" Halduron called out, and looked to Rommath. "Why don't you try telling him you wont accept that?"

Genn Gryemane burst out laughing even harder. "I give! Please Varian no more. This has to be some sort of a joke you put them up to! Make it stop, because I fear I may pee myself if it continues."

Varian had tears rolling out of his eyes as he replied, "I wish it were, but I fear that I had no part of this. Braelyn, dear girl, if I had known that this would be the outcome, I would have sent you to Silvermoon long ago."

"I fail to see the humor in any of this." Braelyn bit her lip and looked over at her King. She was almost bouncing up and down with anxiety. With a mere word her entire future could be turned upside down.

Rygen snorted loudly and nodded toward Braelyn. "I must agree with the woman. This kind of behavior needs to be addressed. I am sure that the Lady Lothar would not approve of these kind of antics in her city."

"Enough! I will handle this when we get back to Silvermoon." Lor'themar shouted. "It is Blood Elf business."

"No, it would be Stromgarde business at the moment, and if we want to be precise about it, then I say it's Stormwind's as well. Since Braelyn is an official citizen of my city and her parents important heroes to my people." Varian wiped his tears away and became more serious. "I will rule on this matter, Lord- Regent, and you will obey me."

"It's looking better for me with each passing second, isn't it." Halduron jabbed Rommath in the ribs.

"Braelyn will not be given to any of you. In fact, I out right forbid any romantic interest being shown toward her while here in Stromgarde by any of you three. You are not to take her to Silvermoon without her parents written consent to such an issue, or I will take action. Am I understood?" Varian looked around to the disheartened Elves. "She will move her things into the main keep, where Genn and myself will keep her under our close protection until you are relieved of Stromgarde."

"Splendid idea." Genn nodded.

"The three of you may share the cottage in the officers section, if you wish to remain, but do not attempt to pay court to Braelyn while we are still establishing this stronghold. She has many duties to see to without the added distractions. Oh, and Lor'themar, at the end of the upgrade period, I will pay careful attention to your circumstance if you continue to make those cookies for Genn and myself." Varian nodded over at the Regent Lord.

"What?" Rommath pointed over at Lor'themar, "Are you bribing him for cookies?"

"Obviously, he didn't bother sharing any of them with you, because then maybe you would understand." Varian sat back in his seat.

"Great. I am being sold off for cookies." Braelyn rolled her eyes.

Genn raised his hand and pointed to Rygen, "Sir Paladin, I would like to assign you to watching over her when she is not in the keep or with the King and myself. Please go aid her in relocating her things here."

Rygen nodded in acceptance to Greymane's suggestion. "It was not the duty that I had been expecting, but I do formally see the need for it."

"That's not fair! I don't need a body guard." The little Hunter growled and almost stamped her foot for good measure.

"To bad, kiddo. You got one." Greymane leaned over and patted her arm. "You will get used to it."

O0O0O0O0O0

Fox rubbed her head. She was finding it hard to stay awake this morning. Anduin had been forced to leave without bidding her farewell, since she had been incapable of pulling herself out of bed. The good part was she was able to eat everything the chef had brought out to her. The man had fussed and fretted over the menu. Insisting that she tell him if anything was amiss. Fox had assured him she would, repeatedly.

Now she was firmly settled within the throne room. The issues coming to her being filtered by the advisers with an inflexible rigidity. They did not want the Lady Regent over taxed for any reason. Fox sighed and rested her head on her hand. The dark eyes looking out blankly.

"Lady Lothar!"

That voice brought her head up and her eyes wide. "Lord Bascomb?" She turned to see the man coming at her in a mottled rage. So fierce was the look on his face that the guards on either side of her moved between the two. Fox moved so that she could see him before asking, "What is the matter?"

"I just received word that Prince Anduin has left Stormwind for an extended stay at the Exodar." He looked closely at her guards.

Fox came to her feet and motioned the guardsmen aside. "Yes, High Priest Velen contacted him about some urgent business late yesterday. He informed me over dinner."

"And what was so important to bring him away from Stormwind at this time?" Bascomb questioned her.

"I have no idea. I merely took the Crown Prince's word that it was important and gave him my blessing." Fox blinked up wondering what had Lord Bascomb so upset.

The man threw his hands up in exasperation. "Well isn't this just so timely for you. First you send the King off to see to your little crumbling hovel of a town, and now you just allow Prince Anduin to leave. If I wasn't so trusting I would say you planned all of this on purpose to get control of Stormwind for your own gains."

It took everything Fox had not to punch the man in the face right then and there. How could he accuse her of the same crime he was guilty of and act indignant about it. "Are you implying that I brought this about? Because I have no desire to run Stormwind on my own without King Wyrnn or Prince Anduin's aid."

"You do realize, that without the Royals here you need to consult with Lord Remington or myself over every decision you make. Also Lord Remington is not of the best of health as late, so that leaves the whole of political planning in my hands. I am a very busy man and dealing with such issues at this time is just exhausting." Lord Bascomeb postured trying to assert his place in the hierarchy.

"I maybe new at actually running the court, but I have been in and out of the Throne room for a great many years to have learned quite a bit. Since the whole Onxyia debacle there have been new safety precautions set in place that I must adhere to, that I do understand. Also, I do not have to answer to merely you or Lord Remington. I do get to choose from any of the informed Nobles. Although Lord Remington and yourself have the most experience, you can not over look Lord Winchester. I have been assured by Mathias Shaw that the man is well briefed on the state of affairs."

"You mean to take your lead from the SI-7 Spy Master?" Lord Bascomeb placed a hand to his chest and looked around wildly. It appeared as if he was praying others had heard her words, and they marked her a lunatic of the highest order.

"Of course I do. I make it no secret I was an Agent of the SI-7. In all the time I was working there Shaw had a high success rate at all the jobs handed to him by King Wyrnn or High Lord Bolvar Fordragon. Am I not right in trusting in their proven record? I do not have any reason to distrust them." Fox emphasized the part about trust.

Lord Bascomb snorted and glared at her. "Are you saying you do not trust me with the well fair of Stormwind? I am the greatest humanitarian and champion the people of this Kingdom ever had!"

"I did not say that. Please do not try putting words in my mouth." Fox sighed deeply. "Now if you will excuse me, I think this conversation is at an end." She lifted her hand to wave him off.

Lord Bascomb paled at the motion. By the Light, she did have the power to dismiss him with a mere wave of her hand! That bitch was sending him from court, and he was perfectly powerless to do anything about it. Without Varian or Anduin to implore his standing with her was left on the most shaky ground of his career. Turning he marched for one of the side offices. There was nothing to be done, but speed up his plan to undermine Lady Lothar's power and control.

Slumping in a chair he glared at the wall. Astarii was right, Lady Lothar was growing in power. Once Varian returned there would be a marriage between the two planned. After what he had seen today that could not be allowed to happen. She had to be removed, and some one else put in her place. It would be hard given how infatuated the King was with her. Dropping his head to his hands to rub his temples, Lord Bascomb prayed for a miracle of the Light. Then he sighed on the uselessness of that action. Waiting for the Light to grant you a blessing was fool hearty. He had to make things happen like he always did.

The undermining had to come in a perfect form to topple the Lady. The first target had to be Lord Remington. Removing his support would throw many of the other Nobles into chaos. Lord Winchester would have quite a time keeping them together. It would draw the younger Lord's attention away from the political field.

Yes, that was where he would start.

O0O0O0O0O0

Fox retired to her room for a much needed break. Sadly, she knew she was not going to get one when she saw the eery glow of the pendant on the desk. Picking it up she growled. "And what do you want?"

"To know why you have not contacted me." Sylvanas shot back from her place in the mirror. "I warned you that if you did not I would take it out on Stromgarde."

"Which in the end is merely a ploy to get my attention. Since you have done nothing." Fox pulled a chair around and sat before the mirror. "I really do not have time to deal with you while running Stormwind. Send your envoy to speak with Varian or Greymane."

"Pregnancy doesn't become you." The Banshee Queen actually looked uncomfortable as she cast a glance over Fox.

A hand reaching up to mess her hair in frustration. She did not have time to banter with Sylvanas. "It's not the baby inside me that is giving me fits. It's the Nobles, but I am sure you know all about that already. Since I have already pin pointed three of them that I believe to be Undercity spies with in the main keep alone."

Sylvanas laughed at that. "Only three? Really Lady Lothar, you are losing your touch."

"Perhaps. So why were you so eager to contact me. Since I have made it clear I want no part of you."

"You are not even curious what the Bronze showed me before it died?" Sylvanas looked almost confused. "Knowing that it connects us, as I already told you."

"I assumed some day I would die and you would raise me as a great General for the Forsaken." Fox shrugged. "It's what I would do in your place."

"And loose control of my people as quickly as Varian is losing control of his with you in charge. Never. When you die, I am doing my utmost to make you stay that way. However I have decided that with Arthas gone, someone needs to try their hand at raising Death Knights again." Sylvanas watched Fox come to her feet. A look of horror on her face.

"I believe you need the soul of a Champion to accomplish that." Fox scanned her memory for some clue as to who was in the Banshee Queen's sights for such a role. It had to be some one close to her if Sylvanas was even making mention of it.

"I was thinking perhaps a Wyrnn would make a good addition to my ranks. They are so resilient after all." Sylvanas lifted her shoulders and spread her hands out before her. "I think you would give me a good reaction on that account."

Anduin was safely on the other side of the world. That left one open target. "You leave Varian out of our power struggle!" Fox screamed at the glass and her hand tightened down hard on them pendant in her hand.

"King Wyrnn would make a prime choice wouldn't he? The High King of the Alliance." Sylvanas looked as if she was pondering the idea rather then exposing it.

Fox was to terrified and angry to care. "I will end you if you touch him. I swear it."

"Then why send him so close to me? He certainly is nicely baited with Stromgarde under his control." That was all that was said before Fox threw her pendant at the mirror. The glass crashing down in a million peaces.

Breathing hard, Fox ran her hands through her hair. Once again starting her frantic pacing as her mind raced. If not for the baby she would fly out tonight to the Undercity and kill the banshee Queen with her bare hands for even suggesting this. But then there was the Nobles to be contending with. She could not ignore that. If she pulled back Varian, then Stromgarde and her people would be at risk. The thoughts of her people being open to an attack hit her hard.

The twisting pain in her stomach dropped her to the floor. "Guards!" She cried out as her arms came around her waist. Fox felt tears forming in her eyes as the pressure of her position came down on her.

The door was thrown open by one of the men. Seeing her kneeling on the floor he motioned the priestess and then went to her side

"My lady! What is wrong." He held her up as the priestess took hold of Fox's wrist.

"Her pulse is racing. Get her to the bed." Looking to the door the woman ordered, "Go the Cathedral Square and locate the Priestess Damiana. Send a summon to King Wyrnn to return to Stormwind. Tell him that his Lady is not well."

Fox closed her eyes tight. If a choice had to be made of what mattered most, it was done. Varian needed to be far from Sylvanas and the Undercity as possible. She could only pray that Stromgarde was able to hold under Greymane's control better than Gilneas had.

O0O0O0O0O0

Boani and Chelinka moved around the partially constructed Mage Tower of Stromgarde. The two were becoming fast friends. Having someone they could actually talk to and be understood. To both women this was like a dream come true. They had not expected to meed a kindred spirit from a separate faction.

When Chelinka had argued about placement of rooms in the Mage tower, Boani had supported her choices. The architect and masons highly annoyed having to work under their discerning eyes.

In return Chelinka had made sure that added supplies had been ordered for Boani's on going education on her fire magic studies. Both women knew just how quickly those items degenerated during practice.

Zak'sora shuddered in horror seeing his wife so happy. It did not bode well for any of the others in Stromgarde. Once two Mages started talking about magic, then they began practicing more magic, and that lead to experimentation with magic. The only thing worse then two happy Mages was three happy Mages, and he was sure they would come.

He also happened to be a very firm believer that the first victim of a polymorph spell was a hapless husband who had stuck around to long. Heeding his own prophesy he ducked his head, and slipped out of the building. If Boani was preoccupied with her new friend and the great tome Chelinka carried around under her arm, she might miss his escape. That way he could come up with a good excuse for his absence later.

He saw the Night Elf, he knew as Goldenleaf, walking toward the building with an aged Human male. "I be avoidin dat tower. Boani and Chelinka are bonding. It be somethin none of us should be interupptin."

"This is a bad thing?" Goldenleaf looked worried. He turned concerned eyes on the man with him. Then looked back at the Troll Shaman. "Our Chelinka is pretty damn awesome, and your wife has already impressed me with her wit. How is this a bad thing that they are getting along?"

"So your wife is a Mage is she?" The stranger smiled warmly, and cast a glance at the tower doors. "I see that Lady Lothar is surrounding herself with Mages. I can't say I am displeased with that."

"Do ya be married to a Mage?" Zak'sora shook his head.

"I happen to be a bit skilled in the Arcane arts, myself." The man looked over at the Zak'Sora and chuckled, " But to answer your question, no, I do not have a wife."

Zak'sora shook his head. "From the look of you, you need to be hurrying that along."

Goldenleaf looked from the man to Zak'sora and shook his head wildly. The gestures of panic meaningless to the Troll Shaman.

"Khadgar?" Chelinka froze in the door way. The eyes widening as she saw the Archmage. She felt the breath sucked out of her as excitement rose within her chest. Both hands coming up to her mouth to cover her love struck grin.

"Well, hello there, little one." He smiled up at her. Shooting her a devilish grin. He was not ignorant of her affection, but he was not going to let that cat out of it's bag just yet. "Did you finish the tome I sent you?"

Chelinka bit her lip and nodded shyly. A pink blush rising on her cheeks. "I not only finished it, but I have been practicing some of the spells with more then limited success."

"How can that be possible? They were only half finished and in complete gibberish." Khadgar pinched his lips together and cocked up an eyebrow. "Are you telling me stories?'

"Polymorph him." Boani whispered over to her new friend, as she came up behind the Human.

"Oh I would like to, but knowing his skill, it would be reflected." Chelinka sighed sadly. "Boani, this is Khadgar, former apprentice to Medivh."

Boani gasped and came up straight. The sudden look of awe plastered on her face.. "Are you sure?"

Zak'sora side stepped around Khadgar. Giving the powerful Archmage a wide birth. Goldenleaf was nudged with firm intent. "I be knowin one thing. When Mages start actin impressed, the rest of us need to be as far gone as we can be, Night Elf."

"I assume you may be right." Goldenleaf nodded in agreement. Slowly feeling uncomfortable as well.

"Wait, you two. If my Chelly has figured out the spells I left with her, she will be needing someone to demonstrate on," Khadgar winked over at Chelinka.

Zak'sora wasted no time in going to his ghost wolf form and racing away. If the Druid was lucky he would be making his escape close behind. If not, and was unlucky enough to be caught by the Mages, well that was his problem.

Goldenleaf shaking his head as he backed away, and turned to run after Zak'sora.

A hand thrown up by Boani froze the Druid in place. "Ya be hearin the Archmage, little Druid. Now stick around. We got spells to test out, and you be helpin us do it."

Chelinka clasped her hands to her chest and turned to the tower door. "I'll get the tome!"

Khadgar spun to the Druid. The thick ice was sensational. The Troll knew her ice magic. "If it's any consolation, Goldenleaf. It should not hurt all that much."

"How about not hurt at all?" Goldenleaf put both hands on his leg and tried to squirm free of the ice.

"I really don't see much chance of that."