"It's so beautiful," Braelyn said, unable to stop herself from admiring Jack's handiwork. The rogue had booked out the entire restaurant so that they would be dining alone. A single square table stood in the centre of the room, a lone red candle burning among the exquisite china and glassware. Rose petals covered the floor, and a four-piece band was playing soft music, hidden behind a screen so that Braelyn and Jack could not be seen.

Braelyn had to admit that if she did not know Jack's true personality, her heart may have been in danger.

"Not as beautiful as you, love," Jack said, playing with a strand of Braelyn's hair. She pulled away from him.

"I don't know why you're bothering, Jack," she said. "I am not going to fall for your charms again."

Jack laughed, guiding her over to the table and helping her into her seat. "You say that now, Rae, but wait until dessert. Then you might just change your mind."

Dinner was surprisingly pleasant. The food was fantastic, and Jack had remembered all the things that Braelyn loved to eat and talk about. He asked for nothing but her attention, and, despite her best efforts to resist, he got it. She found herself laughing and smiling more than she thought she would, and more than she ought to.

Time had done nothing to dull Jack's wit or his charm. There were moments when Braelyn forgot the pain of Jack's betrayal and relaxed in his company, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor and put his arms around her. For a few minutes, Braelyn forgot all about Rommath, and once again became the naïve teenager that had fallen so hard for Jack that she'd considered forgoing the life of an adventurer for that of a housewife.

When the dance was over, Braelyn came back to her senses. She chided herself as she pulled away from Jack, returning to sit at the table. Jack said nothing, taking his own seat and calling the waiters for dessert.

The waiter, a very dignified looking night elf, brought over two covered dishes, placing them both before Braelyn. He bowed to the human couple and retreated to the kitchens, leaving Braelyn to stare curiously at Jack. The nobleman smiled at her, that mischievous twinkle back in his eyes, and gestured for her to uncover the dish closest to her. With sudden trepidation, Braelyn did so, her instincts pleading with her to flee the building.

Sitting on a snow-white plate was a small, velvet-covered box.

Braelyn gasped, recognizing the box for what it was immediately. She stared at it in shock as Jack came around the table to kneel at her feet. She pushed her chair back, intending to leave, but Jack grasped her hands and held them in a death grip.

"Braelyn Hawke," he began, but she interrupted him, shaking her head violently.

"No," Braelyn said, staring at Jack with wild eyes. "No. You can't be serious! What foolishness is this? What trickery are you up to now?"

"No foolish tricks, Rae. Just a sincere proposal," Jack said. "It's time for me to settle down, to take my responsibility to the house of nobles seriously."

Braelyn scoffed. Jack, responsible? Ha! She opened her mouth to refuse him again, but Jack shushed her, running his thumb over the back of her hand.

"Haven't you had an enjoyable evening, love?" he asked, eyes boring into her as if he could stare her into accepting him.

"One nice evening doesn't make up for what you did to me!" Braelyn protested.

"It doesn't have to be only one," Jack said earnestly. "Just think of what I'm offering you, Rae. You will be a great Lady, able to influence how this city is run. You will want for nothing, and think of your parents! How happy they will be to see you settled with a man capable of looking after you."

"I don't need looking after!" Braelyn growled. "I don't need to be tied to the likes of you!"

Jack looked disappointed. "Are you really set on refusing me?" he asked.

"Yes! Nothing could persuade me to marry you!"

"Oh, I think I have something that might do the trick," Jack said. He pointed to the second dish. "I didn't want it to come to this, love," he added, sounding dejected, "but if you won't cooperate... "

Braelyn reached out a hesitant hand and lifted the cover. Resting on the plate was a red velvet pouch tied with long golden tassels. Nestled among its crimson folds was a pair of gold earrings, the beautifully crafted Thalassian phoenixes shining in the soft candlelight.

Braelyn's heart clenched painfully in her chest as her mind shut down. She was dumbstruck, almost unable to process what those two tiny pieces of gold meant.

Jack knew. He knew about Rommath.

The realisation made her sick to her stomach.

"I've got to give them credit, Rae," Jack said, his eyes never leaving her face, "those blood elves know how to make some lovely jewelry."

Braelyn let out a long, ragged breath. "How?" she whispered.

"I was in Goldshire during the last raid," Jack explained. "When you ran into that troll, you weren't alone."

"You heard... ?"

"Everything," he confirmed. "And I did some research, just in case I misheard things. I poked around Goldshire, talked to a few sin'dorei contacts, found out all the Horde gossip.

"I know that you and Grand Magister Rommath had quite the love affair going. I can't believe that he was foolish enough to let you go. Although, seeing as how much of a human hater that man is I guess the real surprise is that he took up with you to begin with." Jack paused for a moment before adding slyly, "Denaria Daybreak says 'hello' by the way."

"I hate that bitch," Braelyn hissed.

"Yeah, she didn't seem that fond of you, either," Jack laughed.

Braelyn couldn't believe Jack had stooped so low. Why was he doing this? She had never done anything to harm him.

"Please, Jack," she begged, turning her eyes to Jack, "don't do this. Don't you know the harm this could do to my family? To me?"

"I know, love, I know," he said. "I have no other options though." He paused for a moment. He didn't enjoy seeing Braelyn in such a distressed state. He reached out and wiped away her tears with his thumb.

"You have a choice, Braelyn," he said. "Accept my proposal, or your treasonous affair goes public."

Even though she knew the threat was coming, Braelyn still flinched when she heard it. She knew what she had to do, but she still fought against giving him an answer.

"I don't understand why you're doing this," she said brokenly. "Why me, Jack? Why not some noblewoman or merchant's daughter."

"Do you really think my fellow noblemen are willing to entrust their daughters to me?" Jack said, eyes flashing with mirth. "My dear Braelyn, you know me well enough to realize that I have as much chance of gaining a noble bride as a dock hand does. The same for the merchants. Well, the wealthy ones at any rate."

"So that's all I am to you then?" Braelyn said, feeling anger begin to burn in her stomach. "A cash cow?"

"Oh, no," Jack said with a soft chuckle. "Far from it. You also come from a good family, and reputation is everything to the house of nobles. Besides," he added, kissing the delicate skin of her wrist, right where her pulse was fluttering like a bird in a cage, "I remember how well we used to get along." His eyes darkened with something akin to lust. "That's important, as well. I fully intend to have a child or two."

Great, Braelyn thought, a cash cow AND a brood mare.

Jack reached out and picked up the jewelery case. Braelyn heard it click as he opened it. The ring was beautiful; a large diamond solitaire set in silver. It looked to be an antique.

"This ring was my mother's. It's been in our family for generations," Jack said, picking it out of the box and placing it on the tip of Braelyn's finger. He looked up at her with an expectant smile. "It's time to make your choice, love. Will you be my wife?"

Braelyn nodded. "Yes," she whispered, knowing her 'choice' was no choice at all. She could feel her life slipping away from her as Jack slid the ring onto her finger. She knew that once she became Lady Devereaux she'd have to give up her job, give up being a hunter. From now on, she'd be hosting tea parties and fundraisers, shopping for the latest fashions, and gossiping like an old maid.

The thought made her sick.

Jack got to his feet, dragging his future wife up with him. He drew her into her arms, kissing the top of her head. "Thank you," he purred victoriously. "Let's have a glass of champagne to celebrate, then I'll escort you back to the Inn. Tomorrow, we'll fly to Goldshire and give your parents the news."

"My mother will be ecstatic," Braelyn said, desperately trying not to cry. The only thing she had to look forward to was the look on Odariah's face when she found out that her cousin was marrying Jack Devereaux.

Mathias Shaw shook his head as he saw Jack Devereaux leave his new fiancée at the Gilded Rose. The young woman, who'd been smiling so happily as she exited the Keep, was now a wreck. The spymaster watched as she ordered a bottle of rum instead of retiring for the night. He couldn't blame her. After a night like that, he'd want to hit the booze, too.

Shaw wasn't a man given to sympathising with others. Such feelings could get a rogue killed faster than any poison. Yet he felt sorry Braelyn Hawke. She had so much potential, and it would be wasted as the wife of someone like Jack Devereaux. He could already see her spirit being crushed by the thought of life within the house of nobles.

He knew he should inform King Varian of what he'd heard about Braelyn's affair with Grand Magister Rommath, but he decided not to. Just this once would he forgo his duty to the crown. After all, it's not like the woman was a danger to society.

Besides, life as Lady Devereaux would be a punishment far worse than anything the king could dish out.

Braelyn sat in the dining room of the Gilded Rose, a three-quarters empty bottle of rum on the table in front of her. The room was dark, the only light coming from the fire that had begun to die down. She was numb, her thoughts muddled and blessedly chaotic. Every so often, her engagement ring would reflect the firelight in a soft flash, causing her to remember her new status. Each time, she reached for the bottle.

But even in her drunken state, Braelyn knew that the rum would change nothing.

Lost in a fog of melancholy, she tried to remember the last time she was happy. Genuinely happy, not the half-hearted kind she often displayed for her family and friends. She had been overjoyed to see her parents again after returning from Silvermoon, but that had been tinged with rage over Rommath sending her away.

Her reunion with Andorien and Odariah? Happy, yes, but tainted by the grief of losing Rommath. Her time spent teaching Cameron? Plagued by thoughts of the family she could have had with Rommath.

By the Light, was nothing in her life free of him?

Braelyn almost wept in frustration, but her mood suddenly shifted as she thought of the king. He had made her happy! He had told her she was strong, and worthy of admiration. It had been so long since anyone had acted like that towards her. Her family and friends still babied her, and the people of Goldshire tended to be pitying, or even condescending.

But not King Varian.

With a start, Braelyn realised that she had not thanked the king for his kindness as well as she should have. Sure, she'd said the words, but did she really convey the depth of her gratitude? No, she hadn't.

Braelyn's eyes caught sight of the bottle of rum. That's it! She thought happily. I'll buy him a drink. Even kings like rum!

Getting to her feet, Braelyn grabbed the bottle and staggered out on to the street, not even caring she was barefoot. Humming a cheerful tune to herself, she stumbled over the cobblestones in the general direction of Stormwind Keep.

Braelyn's sudden appearance caused Amlen to curse under his breath as he got to his feet as quietly as he could. Lord Devereaux had hired the rogue to keep an eye on his new fiancée for the night. He'd been told that the woman would be spending the rest of the night at the Gilded Rose Inn, and that had appeared to be true. Amlen had seen her arrive and take a seat in the dining room.

Although Amlen prefered his women a lot less human than Braelyn Hawke, he could understand why Jack had wanted her watched. She came from good stock, and was classy in her own way. The noble families of Stormwind were a devious bunch, not above interfering with each other's betrothals or marriages if it meant advancing in the social hierarchy... Or keeping others beneath them, and there were many people who would not want Jack Devereaux reclaiming any of his lost glory.

Amlen snorted in amusement as he followed the young woman through the streets. She was obviously drunk, tripping over her own feet as she waved a bottle of rum around and sang songs that would make Jack blush. At one point she even stopped to talk to an owl, asking if it would like to see her dance like an 'awesome troll lady'.

Luckily, the bird flew away and Braelyn decided that it was 'too cold to dance like a troll lady, anyway'.

Amlen was surprised to realise that Braelyn was heading to Stormwind Keep. He was even more surprised when she paused before they reached the main steps and started muttering furiously about stupid guards ruining all her plans.

The rogue couldn't help but laugh softly. He wondered if the woman was this much fun when she was sober.

He then sucked in a sharp breath as Braelyn vanished. He panicked for a moment, and then his elven ears picked up the sound of her snickering, "Heheheh, suckers!" Focusing his eyes, he managed to spot the camouflaged hunter sneaking into the Keep.

With a laugh, Amlen stealthed and followed after her. Jack Devereaux is going to have his hands full with her.

Varian Wrynn was on edge, the stress of running the Alliance coursing through his veins. After hours of futile sheep counting, the King of Stormwind finally gave up on sleep, and decided to go spend some time in the Keep's small internal courtyard. He walked the cold hallways, rugged up in a warm woollen robe, and followed by his personal bodyguards.

He really missed Tiffin on nights such as this. She would tell horrible jokes until he was relaxed, then wrap him up in her pale arms as they both fell asleep. His world was so empty without her, their son Anduin the only physical reminder he had of his beloved wife.

He and his guards all tensed when they entered the courtyard and found it already occupied. A young woman in a blue dress was, for want of a better word, frolicking about the courtyard's lawn, light brown hair streaming out behind her. She was barefoot and singing a song that was straight out of Booty Bay.

His guards moved forward, but Varian halted them with an outstretched arm. The woman was familiar, he just needed to move a bit closer...

Braelyn Hawke?

Varian gasped, then let out an amused huff. He'd forgotten that she wasn't always as demure as she'd appeared earlier. He and Genn still talked about the tongue lashing she'd given them on her return from Quel'Thalas.

The King was surprised that she had yet to notice his arrival, but decided to have a little fun with his unexpected guest. "Leave us," he instructed his guards. "When they went to protest, he glared at them. "I'll be fine. I know her," he added. "She is no threat to me."

As the guards turned to leave, he gave them a warning. "You are not to tell anyone she was here," he said. His men looked at each other with curiosity, but nodded to show they would obey their king. They left the room, but two of them remained on the other side of the door, facing inwards. They would not leave their king vulnerable, no matter his orders.

"What are you doing, Braelyn Hawke?" Varian asked as he approached the woman. To his surprise, she did not scream, or act at all startled. Instead she turned to him, and gave him one of those breathtaking smiles of hers. He could feel the warmth of it seeping into his bones, and for a moment, he was able to forget the troubles that weighed so heavily upon him.

"Varian!" she cried, then baulked when she realised her mistake. "I... I mean, Your Majesty!" she corrected, then dropped into a very wobbly curtsy.

"It's all right," Varian said, and it was. She could call him Garrosh Hellscream if she did so with that smile on her face. "But you need to tell me what you're doing here."

Braelyn looked confused for a while, and Varian realised she was very drunk. He frowned. Why hadn't Lord Devereaux seen her home safely? He knew the man had a shady reputation, but he was still a nobleman.

"I'm frolicking!" Braelyn announced cheerfully, twirling around and almost tripping over her own feet.

"I thought you said you never frolicked?" Varian asked with a sly grin, remembering well her father's letter to him and her vibrant response to it.

"It's never too late to start!" Braelyn replied, grabbing Varian's hand and attempting to get him to frolic with her. "We can't let the night elves have all the fun!"

"And why exactly are we frolicking?"

"To celebrate!"

"Celebrate what?" Varian inquired as he almost swallowed a mouthful of Braelyn's hair.

"I'm getting married," she said, holding her left hand up for him to see. The king frowned as he saw the diamond sparkle in the moonlight. Something wasn't right here.

"A cause for celebration indeed," he said, all amusement gone. The thought of the bright young woman with a man like Lord Devereaux brought him no joy.

And just like that, Braelyn's face crumpled and she burst into tears.

Varian responded instinctively, moving forward to catch her as the woman fell forward. He walked her over to one of the benches and held her as she covered her face with her hands and sobbed like her heart was breaking.

"Braelyn," he said, "what's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy?"

"I don't want to marry him!" she sobbed, shoulders heaving.

Varian was confused. If she didn't want to marry him, why didn't she just say no?

"Then why did you accept his proposal?"

"I had to!" She replied. "If I didn't he was going to tell everyone!"

"Tell everyone what?" Varian asked, already planning a visit to Lord Devereaux in his mind. Blackmailing a woman into marriage was not something that sat well with the king.

Braelyn stopped talking as her sobs became so heavy she could hardly breathe. Varian waited patiently for her to calm down, idly stroking her hair. The curls had began to straighten and become tangled.

"I did something, when I was in Silvermoon," the girl finally whispered, looking up at Varian with guilt filled eyes. "Not terrible, not to me. But others won't think so."

"You can tell me," Varian encouraged, giving her a small smile when she hesitated.

The opened her mouth and began speaking, the words falling out of her mouth at a rapid pace. She twisted her fingers together as she spoke, anxiety radiating from her. When she finished, she stared at her king, chewing on her lower lip as she waited for him to respond.

Varian was not easily shocked into silence, but he was now. He'd known little of Braelyn's time in Silvermoon before now, and had always assumed it to be a traumatic, but entirely regular hostage situation.

"Was it consensual?" he asked at last, staring down at her in concern. If it wasn't, it would explain her behaviour over the past year, why she hid herself away in Goldshire. It would also explain her parents' fierce over-protectiveness.

Braelyn stared at him. After all she'd said, that was his main concern? "Yes," she confessed. "Very much so."

They sat in silence for a while before Braelyn's fear drove her to ask him, "Are you going to arrest me?"

"Of course not," Varian scoffed. If she'd told Rommath Alliance secrets, then, yes, he would have had her taken to the Stockades. As he would also do if she'd been off spying for the sin'dorei. But for an affair of the heart? No. Even though he agreed with her that others would consider it an act of treason. Fraternizing with the enemy.

"Really?" Braelyn asked, looking uncertain, as if his response was unexpected.

"Really," Varian confirmed. "The only person who should be arrested is the Grand Magister," he added with a sly grin at Braelyn. "For the crime of breaking your heart. Seriously, the man was a fool to end it."

Varian's smirk grew as he watched Braelyn blush bright red at his words. She seemed flustered that her king was joking about such a matter. He supposed that no one else did.

"Now, as for Lord Devereaux," he said, "I will deal with him personally. He will not be disclosing your secret to anyone, and he will most definitely not be marrying you."

"I... thank you, your majesty," she stammered, clearly not believing the change in her fortunes. "I don't know what else to say, just thank you!" Without warning she threw her arms around Varian's neck and kissed him.

Varian was stunned. He felt every inch of her warm body pressed against his, and the scent of roses filled his nostrils. He raised his arms to her shoulders, fully intending to pull her away.

But he couldn't do it.

He remembered how lonely he felt earlier in the evening, and how much he missed Tiffin. It had been so long since he'd had a woman kiss him like this. So long since he'd held a woman in his arms with something other than biological urges driving him on.

So Varian wrapped one arm around her waist, holding her to him firmly, his free hand travelling to the back of her head. It tangled in that glorious mane of hers as she sighed and leaned into him.

For the next few minutes, he was no longer the King of Stormwind. He was simply Varian, a man accepting the comfort offered to him by the young woman in his arms.

By the doorway, the king's guards couldn't believe what they were seeing. They didn't know the king had a mistress.

Neither did Amren, who stood watching in a shadowy corner. He was willing to bet hundreds that Jack Devereaux was just as ignorant. The rogue grinned as he thought about how his employer was going to react to news that he'd blackmailed the king's woman.

I love my job.

AN - Well. Hasn't Braelyn had an eventful night out?

And a big thanks to Chelinka and Amcm74, my trusty reviewers. They let me know I'm not writing to myself :).

Next chapter: It's the day after the night before, and Braelyn has one hell of a mess to deal with.