Ch 3 – In the Blink of an Eye

Rhenn, Dowager Marquise of Westfall and Redridge looked at the odd beast before her and then to the female troll handler. The beast was a ray that had been fitted with a saddle on the hump on its back. It made and odd cooing sound at Rhenn as she lifted her hand hesitantly to the creature.

"She be very tame." The troll said. She was pretty by troll standards and was a member of the Sha'tari Skyguard, A'dal's military presence in the air. She offered Rhenn a piece of warp flesh from the warp lizards native to Outlands.

Rhenn offered the meat which the ray sucked up from her hand and munch in pleasure as Rhenn took the reins and petted the smooth yet armored head. The glowing eye shut and the creature shifted to lean toward her as she scratched the eye ridge and spoke softly in Tuskarr, her first tongue. "Tu'u'gwar." She said as she fed the beast another piece of meat.

She then mounted as she had been shown. She spoke softly as the beast shifted under her and again she reached forward to scratch the eye ridge. The beast cooed. Whether ray, dragon, turtle, or penguin, all creatures seemed to like the affection touch.

"She like you." The handler said. The troll smiled. "Good match." She then touched what was like the nose of the beast. "Be good to da Lady Cece." She said.

A deep laugh sounded near her. King Varian was already mounted on one of the creatures. "We are here ten minutes and Lady Rhenn already has the creatures spoiled."

She shot a look to him and they lifted into the air. The conference was to be held high in the mountains in Nagrand. There were high buildings built into the hills and free standing. The beasts had an odd almost swimming gait that was quite fast, but Rhenn had to learn to balance on them.

They landed after Rhenn took a moment to survey the area. She had an odd feeling should not shake, but let it go as Varian stepped beside her. His presence made her more comfortable. He smiled at her and offered her his arm.

They walked into the house. There were few other features other than a long table and a doorway that led to another room at the other end of the hall. Rhenn dropped into a seat beside the head of the table at the far end. Varian took the head.

Kurenai had a representative in the small group of Draenei that appeared and sat down. The Sporelings had a couple people there. Varian watched as Jorin Deadeye entered and sat across from him.

"I greet you." Rhenn said in formal Orcish. There was breeze that stirred the room from a window.

"I greet you." The brown Mag'har orc smiled. "It was true that Garrosh said about the Lady Rhenn. She is timelessly beautiful." He said in Orcish.

Rhenn nodded. "Welcome to Jorin Deadeye, Chief of the Bleeding Hollow Clan." She said to Varian in Common.

Varian rose. "Welcome. I am here to mediate the dispute you and the Kurenei have over the lands to the Northwest and Northeast of the town known as Garadar." He looked at the Sporeling. "What brings you here little friend?"

"Encroachment of orc hunting parties disturbs our young in the shallow marsh."

The orc looked at the Sporeling. "It has the best fishing in the area and is not infested with naga."

"Yes, but they too wish to kill us, the bog lords with them."

"Very well. What do you wish for terms?" Jorin asked.

"Aid in fighting and feel free to fish as long as the sacks with our young are not disturbed."

"Very well." The orc nodded.

"This is going better than I thought." Varian whispered to Rhenn.

She pursed her lips as the orc turned to the Broken. "The Throne of Elements cannot be under one side or the other. It must remain neutral." The orc said. "Then we all may ask for guidance."

"We hunt to the Northeast." The Broken said.

"As do we."

"We have the same claim you do to the clefthoof."

The orc growled showing teeth.

Varian stood. "Gentlemen, I believe this calls for a break. Come let us stretch our legs and clear our heads."

Rhenn nodded and rose. Being the only female present, the men rose for her. She move to the window as the groups separated to think.

And odd buzzing filled the room. Rhenn turned and cocked her head. Varian had walked down to speak to the Broken representative at the other end of the hall. Suddenly everything was moving and Rhenn felt a heat like she had never felt. She was pushed backwards and all the air seemed to be taken from her lungs. She looked up and cried out as the building fell about her.

Moments later, though it felt like hours the dust settled and she could breathe more clearly. She looked about. It was dark. Her back was against something dark and cool. Something was on her legs that could not move. She gasped feeling something walking on her leg. Panic was not needed.

She was alive. That was what mattered. She wiggled her toes and her hands. It was hard to breathe, but there seemed to be debris everywhere. She cried out and something shifted. She whimpered and shut her eyes against the dust that feel.

Light help her.

Varian had watched the bomb blow and watched Rhenn fall to the earth and cover herself as the building fell about her. He watched in horror as he was pushed backwards against the wall by the blast. The wall blew outwards and landed him in a small rubble pile. Beside him was Jorin. The orc groaned, but was alive. The Broken was cut nearly in two by a flying piece of metal that pinned him to the earth a few feet away. The Sporeling shook off the dust and looked about.

The orc looked up at Varian who was binding his leg. "What the hell was that?" He growled.

"I am pretty sure it was aimed at me. The bomb went off near my seat." Varian said.

"I did not set it."

"I am pretty sure you did not. You were nearly killed." Varian said.

"The Lady Rhenn?"

"Rhenny." Varian said. He leapt to his feet oblivious to the minor cuts he had. "Rhenny!" He called looking for her. There were several wounded and dead. He looked at each and did not see her. "Light!" He cried.

The orc stood up and nodded to him. "Send for the gnomes and dwarves I have heard about from Hellscream. They will be able to clear debris faster than anyone else to find her or at least give her remains a proper burial."

"She's not dead."

"She was feet from the blast." The orc said. "Be realistic."

"I am. She isn't dead. I would know if she was."

"Do not let this harm your judgment. We must find the cause of this. For now send word to Shattrath by anyone you trust. Lord A'dal will fetch the help you need I am sure."

Healers had come and the King allowed himself to be treated as the gnomes set to work shoring up the large pieces against collapse.

"King Varian!" One said. "We hear something." One said.

He leapt off the table and looked at them as they pressed something to the wall to listen. "There is something behind this wall."

"A cockroach most likely." Jorin scoffed.

"Cockroaches do not have heartbeats and do not cry." A gnome engineer said matter-o-factly.

They spent hours trying to cut away the debris carefully. There had been two minor collapses, but the someone was talking to them. They heard and answered they were making progress. There were four missing people. It was hard to tell if it was Rhenn or one of the female Draenei behind the wall and trapped.

After an hour they had made a hole. Varian removed his armor leaving it above. He squirmed through the small space. The cavity inside was larger, but he still had to crawl to where the body was. He reached the feet first.

"Hello." He said. "Can you talk to me?"

The being coughed. "Varian!" The voice said. "Help Le'tha." She said nodding to the Draenei woman near her who was under the weight of a beam.

Varian crawled to her. "I am not a healer. They are coming soon."

"Do not bother with me. My body is crushed. I will not live much longer." She said bravely.

"We have to try Le'tha." Rhenn insisted.

"The beam on me is keeping this from collapsing Lady Rhenn. There is no way you can remove me from here without crushing everyone else here.

Varian looked about. The woman was right. Varian swallowed.

"When they do reach me after it is cleared, tell them to bury me with my parents." She said. Blood oozed down her chin.

Varian took her hand and nodded. "I will do so. The Light will guide you home." He said holding up his dagger.

The woman took a breath. "You were a gladiator once. This is not a mark on your character. This is a mark of honor. I thank you."

Rhenn turned her head. "Varian! No! We can…"

Varian shook his head. "No." He said. "If we try to save her we all die. If I do this she will no longer be in pain."

"She is not a pet Varian. You can't…"

"Light be with you King Varian. I will watch over you from the Heavens. I thank you for this dignity. I am sorry I cannot repay it."

Varian took a shaky breath. He had done this twice as a gladiator, ended a life of someone what was broken in order to save them. Now he was saving another, though she was innocent. He drove the knife through her heart weeping as he did so. It was quick and mostly painless. The girl shuttered and then died looking at him with a smile on her bloody lips and a odd serene look on her face. She was at peace. So too was Varian, though he shed tears shutting her eyes that stared at him without life anymore.

Rhenn looked at him. "Why?" she said. "She was a good person."

A gnome joined them. "She is pinned, but not injured." He reported. "Bones seem intact. Perhaps some cuts like you, sire, but nothing life threatening."

Varian looked at her. "You understand don't you? Why I had to?"

"Yes." Rhenn nodded. "She was a good woman."

"Yes."

"What if I had been in her place? Would you have killed me so to keep me from pain?"

Varian looked down into her eyes. "Yes. You could not see her eyes. She was in agony and knew she was dead anyway when her organs failed due to being under the wait. Waiting to die in so much pain is torture. I swore I would never torture another being again."

Rhenn nodded and lifted her arm noting a gash on it. Varian took her dirty hand and kissed the knuckles. "Rhenn. Will you marry me?"

Rhenn looked up at him. "This hardly seems the time to…"

"What better time? I nearly lost you. I will not lose you again." He said his voice deep and full of an odd emotion she had never heard before.

King Varian held her hand as she gripped his hand. It had been hours and her legs and feet were numb. Varian had been with her for nearly two hours while they cleared the room about them to make it easier to deal with the debris. Though Varian took up much of the space, the small gnomes still had room to work about him. The Sporelings and gnomes lifted the metal from her and Varian pulled her out. He caressed her head as he looked very over. She had scrapes and bruises, but look no worse for wear, praise the Light.

A gnome priestess bound her hurts and made sure she was well enough to move. The group crawled slowly out. Inch by inch. Varian held her as he guided her out. Once out a mage transported them to fortified Temple of Telhmat.

King Varian had stayed at her side the whole time and made sure she was thoroughly checked out. The gnome released her and he took her to the secured part of the Temple. Guards were everywhere, some Alliance, some Sporeling, some Broken, and mostly Draenei.

Varian had a bath brought for Rhenn and she bathed. He had told her he would redress her wounds when she was clean and feeling human again. She washed and looked down at the silt from her hair and body in the base of the tub. She then rose and wrapped herself in a towel. She pulled on a pair of loose linen pants.

Her room had a small altar to the Light. She lit a stick of incense from a candle nearby and bowed. She dropped to her knees gently and prayed for Grekko. She needed guidance. Her husband was less than a year gone. She felt that to be with Varian, part of her was betraying him.

She sighed and was meditating when she heard the door open. Someone entered unbidden, but there was only one who would dare do that. She tensed slightly before she smelled the soft smell that was around King Varian. He was freshly bathed as well she could see for his hair that was ponytailed back as always was still damp. He was no longer in his armor. She looked up in the mirror and saw he wore a mageweave shirt and vest with loose linen pants. He was looking at her in the mirror as well. She was bare breasted and was not ashamed to have him gazing at her so fondly.

She turned her head a little. "Varian." She said softly.

"Rhenny." He smiled.

He nodded and knelt behind her. He held salve and bandages. He gently lifted her thick hair and put it over one shoulder so he could attend to two large bruises and cuts on her shoulder blades. He dipped his fingers in the salve.

"This might sting." He said gently.

He pressed his fingers to the cuts and she gasped and arched away, but did not cry out. He froze.

"Forgive me." He whispered.

"No." She said sucking in her breath. "It is fine."

He nodded and continued to dab down her back. He then had her turn to him. Rhenn had grabbed a towel for modesty's sake and held it over her bosom, though he had seen it all. He tenderly took her ankle in his hands and bound it with the practiced skill he had learned from being a gladiator. When it was immobile he pushed the pant leg up to reveal several more minor cuts. After the first three he paused and took a breath.

She looked at him as his gaze lifted. "What?"

"I am distracted from my task." He admitted.

"Oh?"

"Yes." He said and leaned forward. His on hand wrapped behind her drawing her to him as the other pulled her arm away from the clutched pillow. He bent and kissed her mouth with such tenderness she thought she might die of shock. His lips were warm and gentle as he kissed her. He pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers. "Light, I love you Rhenn. If I would have lost you…" He could not finish the thought as he again met her lips. This time he deepened the kiss letting his hand behind her cup her head in his large palm. Her mouth opened to him and he took what she gave greedily. Her arm moved and the towel fell into her lap. The hand moved to her side and up gently to her breasts. Rhenn had filled out since birthing children, but her curves made her more inciting to the king.

She gasped into his mouth as he caressed a nipple into a firm peak.

"Rhenn. Let me love you. I have always loved you, but let me love you the way I have wanted to for years. Let me show you what I have kept buried from us until now." He whispered against her jaw line.

She smiled and her hands wrapped about his neck. One hand moved to his face as his eyes searched hers. She caressed the horizontal scar across his face and then the vertical one over his left eye. "Yes, Varian." She whispered. He smiled and dipped his head down. "Please." She begged softly as she felt him lick the nipple of her right breast. He sucked it fully into his mouth and she arched against him filling his mouth. He smiled and groaned as the breast pressed against him as she did.

He pressed her back gently a hand tracing down her side to her thigh. He continued to lave at her breast. He took the other in his mouth as he dipped a hand down the front of her and into the band of her pants. He caressed her womanhood softly and then pressed a finger in. Her delighted gasp and wetness told him she was enjoying his advance.

Varian had not had many lovers, but he had been told that he had a natural talent for making women feel loved and sated in his bed. He caressed her between her thighs watching her face as her sucked her tenderly. He was a large powerful man, one who could use this power to win battles at times, but he was surprisingly gentle in his love making. He refused to do anything that might hurt her and that included pressing her wrong and causing her to find a tender spot from the blast.

"Varian…please…" she gasped.

"Patience my love." He said. He smiled. "Let me do all the work. I wish to make you come home to me before I take you. The night is young and I intend to love you all of it." He said.

She looked at him. He naturally had more stamina than Grekko had ever had. He was Lo'Gosh, the gladiator still at heart at times. Grekko and she had shared bed pleasures often, though less so as they grew older. After Grekko had struck her, she had refused to allow him in her bed for several months. It was not until the tragedy with Helene that she finally realized she loved Grekko still and they were again lovers. Now, Varian was seducing her with more skill than Grekko ever had.

She closed her eyes and her legs clamped on his hand as sparks few before her eyelids as she reached the peak he had driven her to. She panted and quivered. Varian for his part had shifted and watched her as he leaned on his elbow beside her. He had never seen anything more erotic in his life and he hardened even more, if that were possible

He stripped off her linen pants baring her to his view as she lay on the floor basking in the glow of her orgasm. He looked at her. She was perfect and his now. He would have never have admitted it when she was married to Grekko that he had often wished to take her so, to make her cry his name in his bed. He had had dreams of her doing that and had woken panting with a hard on he had to caress away without her in his arms. He had loved her like a sister until now, and now he was free to love her as his heart did. Had she ever had left Grekko, Varian would have taken her. Even with the twins in her belly he would have brought her to his side and in his bed. He would have pronounced them his, but as it was, he had to wait for many years to adopt them.

She looked up at him as he stripped himself and shifted between her legs. He settled the blankets about them and looked at her as he pressed her thighs out and down. He caressed her inner thighs fleetingly and smiled as it goose fleshed under his fingers.

Rhenn looked up at him as he moved his hand down to place himself at her entrance. He looked up in silence, seeking permission. He would not force her. Even now if she willed, he would stop and just hold her. She looked up at him and shifted her hips in welcome.

He pressed his tip in and then planted his hands on either side of her shoulders. He entered her with a long slow thrust that buried him to the hilt within her slick warmth. She had arched and taken him more as her legs wrapped about the backs of his thighs and her hands caressed his arms. He took a kiss from her as he moved and started a slow, but deep pace. Their mouths plundered each other. There were no need for words as the room filled with the sounds of soft groans and moans that were lover's vocabulary.

It would be a long night.

The candles in the room had burned down and some burned out. Somehow the King and Rhenn had managed to find the bed and were asleep in a tangle of limbs and blankets. Varian was sated to his very soul. He had never felt such completeness from Tiffin, though he loved her so much. Rhenn was different. It was beyond anything he had thought possible and he was not going to let her go. His body hummed with an odd restlessness as he lay next to Rhenn's sleeping form. Her body was curled into his. Her buttocks were to his groin, her hair was against his chest as was her back.

He bent and kissed the bare shoulder near his face. She shifted a little, but continued to sleep. He smiled and wrapped his arm about her middle. He had sated himself so many times within her had lost count after five. They all blurred together in a night of pleasure and love. The room was heady with the scent of sex. Their bodies were covered with sweat, each other's sweat, and their bodily fluids that had been expressed in the acts of coupling that had occurred.

He wondered if he had gotten her with child. He knew that she was close to the time when it was possible. Rhenn had had her monthly cycle only a couple of weeks ago. Grekko had had her with child within a few weeks of bedding her. Varian wished the same. He wished to hold a child of his own making again. The child he made in Rhenn would be beautiful and would soothe his soul. He longed for a daughter, one to have her grace with his tenacity. His son was now thirty-two and though the king loved his first born, he wished to have more. Varian wondered if he was too old to conceive a child in a woman. It was yet to be seen. He was young a virile otherwise.

Rhenn startled awake. There was a man in her bed. He was large and naked. She blinked trying to moved, but her limbs would not fully obey. She had had a dream the night before. Grekko had been there bathed in Light and spoke to her that she should be happy and follow her heart. He knew she would never forget him, but she needed to be safe and loved.

She sighed feeling the man's arms tighten about her. She turned in his embrace and looked at his kind face and tousled hair. She smiled affectionately. He reached up and touched her brow tenderly and smiled back.

She then made a face.

"What is it my darling?" He asked suddenly concerned.

"My thighs. They are sticky." She said. She made a face.

He chuckled and kissed her tenderly. "Rhenn. Have you thought about my proposal?" He asked. He rise and found a wash basin. He dipped a cloth in. She looked at him realizing his intent as he moved the sheets away from her. She protested and he handed her the cloth as she moved to wash herself. She blushed as she noted he was leaning against the wall watching her. Moreover he was naked.

She looked at him. "Yes." She said. She looked down.

"I have made you unhappy?" He asked coming to her. He sat on the edge of the bed watching her.

Her eyes lifted. "You have saved me." She touched his face. "Forgive me. I can never express how grateful I am to you, for everything." She kissed his mouth. "Yes. Yes. I will marry you, my King."

He let out a hoot and rolled onto his back bringing her onto his chest. He kissed her mouth. "I am the happiest man alive right now." He said. He pressed a hand to her belly. "Soon we will have a child and soon I will crown you the Queen consort of Stormwind. My queen. My Rhenn." He said. He kissed her deeply and smiled.

"We may be too old for children." She said softly.

He laughed merrily. "Perhaps, but I am fairly certain a well tended orchard will bear fruit." He nuzzled her.

"When do you plan to make me your wife?" She asked.

"As soon as I can make the preparations for the ceremony and your coronation."

She smiled and looked up as he caressed her hair softly. She was happy again and giddy as she had been as a newlywed before. It was exciting to think to be married to this man. Though she would always love her first mate, she could not live in the past any longer. Varian was correct. Today was the start of the future and her future as queen.