The streets of Stormwind were crowded with people celebrating the return of King Varian and Queen Braelyn. People were laughing and dancing in the streets, and employers had long since given up on getting any work out of their employees for the day.
There was one member of the crowd who wasn't smiling, however, and that man was Jack Devereaux.
The aristocratic rogue almost snarled when he heard the royal couple toasted for the ninth time in as many minutes. Varian Wrynn's survival had ruined everything, and he wasn't just thinking about the future he'd planned with his little hunter.
The Defias Brotherhood did not take failure lightly. When news of the king's survival reached Stormwind two weeks ago, Jack knew that the Defias would want retribution, but he did not expect them to move as quickly as they had.
Those pesky thieves had stolen the deeds to his land in Duskfall and Westfall. The land was useless in the current climate, but it enabled him to remain in the house of nobles. He retained his estate in the Redridge Mountains near Lakeshire, but he'd received word from the Mayor's office that he was behind in his taxes.
He'd have to sell the estate just to pay of his tax debt.
Which left Jack with his manor house in Stormwind, which he could not afford to maintain without the land in Redridge.
Lucinda Bellweather had written him a summons, asking him to attend dinner at her house in two days time. As much as he'd like to believe that she wanted to betroth her daughter to him, Jack knew the truth. She was going to expel him from the house of nobles, thus rendering him of no importance at all in Stormwind society. He would be noble by birth, but have no power.
And wouldn't that bitch just love that. Bellweather had been after him for years, especially since she'd become such good friends with Braelyn. No doubt Rae had told the older woman all about their adventures in Elwynn.
For the first time, Jack actually regretted leaving Braelyn behind that day. If they'd stayed together then, she'd be his wife now, tucked up in their manor with a few kids running through the halls.
But there was no time for regret; he had to salvage what he could. Luckily, he still had friends, and plenty of other people to blackmail into helping him with his last-ditch plan to save himself and capture the queen.
And this time, he'd handle things in person.
It was late in the afternoon, when the sky was settling into twilight and shadows were chasing the sunlight out of the streets. Varian and Braelyn were enjoying a few precious hours together on the banks of Olivia's Pond after a huge day spent celebrating their homecoming with their family and friends.
They'd also told Anduin, Braelyn's parents, and Genn about the baby. Braelyn would never forget the look of absolute joy on Anduin's face when he found out he was finally going to be a brother, or the way Genn and her mother argued over whether it was going to be a boy or a girl.
Braelyn was standing within the circle of Varian's arms, her husband's chin resting on top of her head. She smiled when she felt his hand rubbing her stomach softly, and placed her hands over his.
"What do you think our child will be?" she asked, staring at their reflection in the water.
"A little girl, the very image of her mother," Varian replied after a minute's thought. "I look forward to tormenting her suitors as your father tormented me."
"What, no running all the young men out of Stormwind the moment she turns eighteen?" Braelyn laughed, as she imagined her husband chasing a bevy of young men through the city streets, Shalamayne in hand.
"Somehow, I don't think that would win me any favours with our girl," Varian laughed, "especially if she takes after you."
"True enough."
"And what about you, little star?" Varian asked. "Do you think you carry my son or my daughter?"
"A son," Braelyn replied instantly, having already thought about it several times. "A little boy to stomp around the Keep like his Daddy, scowling adorably at everyone who dares threaten his domain."
"Hmmm, we may have to compromise," Varian mused. "A little girl that looks like me, but who loves to frolic around the Keep like her mother."
"With an adorable scowl on her face," Braelyn added with a giggle.
"With an adorable scowl," Varian agreed, "though I do take offence at being thought adorable. I prefer 'intimidating in a very handsome manner'."
"That you are, my love," Braelyn said, "that you are."
She twisted around in his arms so that she was staring up at him. "Have I told you today how much I love you?" she asked kissing his chin.
"Only seven times," Varian replied, smirking down at her. "And that's not nearly enough."
"I'm sorry," Braelyn said with a laugh. "How remiss of me. Let me make it up to you b... "
"ROGUES!" one of their guards yelled, before collapsing to ground, blood spurting from a jagged cut across his neck.
Varian grabbed Braelyn and pushed her towards her guards. "Protect the Queen! Get her back to the Keep."
"Varian, wait!"Braelyn cried,as she was dragged away. She her husband pulling Shalamayne from his back. All around her, members of the guard were being sapped, or killed outright. "Bitey!" she shouted. "Bitey, find them!"
Braelyn's lynx came rushing out from Olivia's cottage, where he'd been visiting the little girl. He immediately latched onto a stealthed rogue who was dangerously close to where her guards were dragging her. There was an agonised yell, and a night elf came into view. He was swearing at Bitey, trying to remove the lynx from his ankles.
"Braelyn, get moving!" Varian bellowed, charging over to take care of the night elf rogue.
Braelyn started moving away with her guard, eyes never leaving Varian as he fought off any of the rogues he could find.
But she didn't get far.
A cloud of smoke, thick and toxic, obscured her vision, and hid her perfectly from sight. She heard muffled grunts and thumps as her guards were incapacitated and hit the ground. She cried out for Varian, but a hand covered her mouth, and she felt a dagger press against her sternum.
"Relax, love, it's only me," a familiar voice crooned, and Braelyn began to struggle harder, kicking Jack Devereaux in the shins. He grunted, but did not let her go. When the smoke cleared, he dropped the hand from her mouth and grabbed a second dagger, holding that one to her throat.
"Varian!" she cried out in fear, trying to claw her way free.
Varian let out a bellow of rage when he saw Jack holding her hostage. "Get your hands off of her!"
"Oh, I think not, Your Majesty," Jack said. "Braelyn and I have some unfinished business to take care of."
"Jack, Jack... please," Braelyn begged, her hands dropping down to her stomach. "Don't do this. Why are you so determined to ruin my life, you bastard!"
"I wouldn't have had to do this if your husband had been a good little monarch and stayed dead," Jack said, tightening his grip on Braelyn as a warning when Varian took a step towards them. "But the Defias don't tolerate failure, and if I have to live in exile, then I won't be alone."
"You were responsible for that?" Braelyn shouted, outraged. She kicked Jack again.
Varian growled like a savage beast. "I will kill you, Devereaux. You want even have to worry about sitting in the Stockades, either."
"Bold words, Your Majesty," Jack taunted, "but I know you won't risk hurting your beloved queen. You don't want another wife dying in your arms, do you?"
Silence. Cold, cold silence in which Braelyn could only weep in frustrated anger as Varian almost exploded with rage. She couldn't believe Jack had resorted to this, that he really was petty and vindictive enough to ruin so many innocent lives because of his own poor judgement.
She decided to try to appeal to him. Surely there was a sliver of human decency left in there?
"Jack," she pleaded. "If you have any mercy left in you, please don't do this. I'm pregnant, and what has my child done to deserve this?"
Jack paused, and the daggers moved away from her slightly. "You're pregnant, love?"
"Don't you call her that!" Varian snapped, eyes blazing with fury. He was waiting for Jack to make a mistake so he could move in and rescue Braelyn.
Braelyn nodded. "Yes."
"This is wonderful news, love!" he cried. "A baby will keep you nice and compliant," he added. "If you're really good, I may even let you keep it, although I'm sure Vanessa VanCleef would just love to get her hands on it, too."
"No!" Braelyn yelled, and Varian charged forward. Jack dragged her to one side, the dagger at her throat nicking the skin and causing a thin ribbon of blood to trickle down her neck. Her husband froze, a snarl escaping his lips.
"It's okay, Varian," Braelyn tried to console him as Jack let out a loud whistle. An ebony gryphon descended from the sky, landing just behind her. "He won't be able to hide from you forever, and I won't let him take our baby."
"How sweet," Jack mocked her as he pulled her onto his mount, securing her side-saddle. "Say your goodbyes, love. You won't be seeing him again, no matter what you think."
"Braelyn, I will find you!" Varian yelled as the gryphon slowly started lifting itself from the ground. "I will find you!"
"I know, Varian," she replied as the bird hovered a few metres in the air, Jack's way of taunting Varian one last time. "I love you! Don't forget that."
But Jack's final taunt proved to be his undoing.
There was a soft thud, and Braelyn felt Jack stiffen behind her, and grunt with pain. His grip on her loosened, and she felt something wet and warm dripping onto her shoulders.
"Damn it!" she heard him swore, and his voice was terse and full of pain. "Damn hunters!" There was a second soft thud, and this time Braelyn recognised the sound; an arrow finding its mark. Acting on instinct, she reached forward and grabbed hold of the gryphon's neck as tightly as she could.
Seconds later, Jack lost his grip and fell, hitting the ground with a sickening crunch. Braelyn looked down. The rogue had two arrows sticking out of it, one in the shoulder, one in the back. They didn't look fatal, and she didn't think the fall would have killed him, either, just knocked him unconscious.
Varian charging over and running Shalamayne through his heart was definitely a fatality, though.
Braelyn urged the panicking gryphon to land a few metres away from where Jack's body lay. Her feet barely hit the ground before a figure dashed in front of her, a large sword glinting in the dying light.
But it wasn't Varian.
"I'll protect you, Queen Braelyn!" Missy shouted, lifting a shield almost as big as she was in front of them.
"I got him! I got him!" Cameron yelled, running over to Braelyn. "Did you see that, Miss Braelyn!"
"I did see, Cameron," Braelyn said, smiling shakily. "What an excellent shot. I'm proud of you. Proud of you both."
"As am I," Varian said, walking over. He stopped briefly to ruffle Cameron's hair before glancing at Missy, who stood tall and saluted the king with pride, obviously relishing her role as a trainee Paladin. "What is your name, young lady?"
"Melissa O'Hara, Your Highness, but everyone calls me Missy."
"Well, Missy, I thank you and your brother for your heroic actions today," Varian said, picking Braelyn up as he talked. "You are both to be commended for your bravery. I will not forget your actions today, and I will make sure you are properly rewarded. Bring your family to the Keep tomorrow so that I might speak with them."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Missy said, saluting again, before taking Cameron by the hand and walking off.
"Let's get you back to the Keep," Varian said, and started after the children, Braelyn tucking herself under his chin. There was panic in the streets, but the King did his best to calm everyone as they made their way home.
"I was so frightened, Varian," Braelyn confessed, "but when he threatened our baby, I just wanted to kill him with my bare hands."
"I've wanted to do that to Jack Devereaux for years," Varian said, voice full of disgust. "But it's over. We will not have to worry about him anymore. He will threaten you and our child no longer."
Braelyn raised her head and kissed Varian's cheek as they entered the throne room. Genn come rushing up to them but Varian waved him away with one hand. "Not now, Genn. Everything's fine. If you want to help, go fetch Odariah Hunt from the Cathedral and ask her to bring her fiancé with her."
"Of course, my son," Genn replied, heading out.
"We are lucky in our friends, my love," Braelyn said, smiling fondly at the Gilnean king's retreating back.
"That we are," Varian said, but he did not stop until they were in their chambers, and Braelyn was resting comfortably on their bed. He lay his hand on her stomach. "Are you both all right?" he asked, and Braelyn could see the concern in his eyes.
"I think so," she responded, beckoning for Varian to lie beside her. She snuggled into his side when he joined her, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Do not worry, Varian. Everything will be fine. Have faith."
"I was so afraid," he whispered, and Braelyn could hear the fear and loss in his voice. "When he mentioned me losing another wife, I just... and the baby... "
"Shush, my love," Braelyn said, tracing her fingertips along his chin. "I am safe, and so is our baby. Neither of us is leaving you without a fight."
"Good, because I will not let you leave me without a fight either," Varian replied, kissing her forehead.
They lay in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company, exchanging soft kisses and the odd caress. Eventually, Braelyn sighed and said, "I think we should avoid Olivia's Pond for a while. That area seems to have it out for me."
"That's the best idea you've had," Varian said with a small laugh.
"No it isn't," Braelyn argued. "The best idea I ever had was when I decided to 'put on the damn ring and agree to marry you'." She grinned as Varian groaned, though she could feel him laughing, her head bouncing slightly as his chest rumbled.
"Did I really say that?" he asked.
"Yes, yes you did."
"Then I change my mind. That was the best idea you ever had," Varian said, tilting her head so he could claim her lips. "A most excellent decision."
"I'm glad you agree," Braelyn said, wishing that Odariah wasn't on her way. She really wanted to frolic privately with her husband. The adult kind of frolicking. Instead she closed her eyes, planning to rest until her cousin arrived.
The day's events caught up with her, and Braelyn was soon asleep, smiling as she snuggled closer to Varian's warmth, his name on her lips. He kissed her forehead, and smoothed a stray strand of hair off her face.
"Sleep well, little star," Varian whispered, closing his own eyes, and enjoying the silence. He felt more content than he had in a long time, and knew that it was because of the woman lying in his arms, his child growing within her. She really was the guiding light in his life.
Ten minutes later, when Andorien and Odariah entered the royal chambers, they saw something that brought a smile to their faces and caused them to look lovingly at each other. The King was fast asleep, both arms wrapped around his sleeping queen. The royal couple's faces were tilted towards each other as they slept, a look of deep contentment upon them both.
"Come, dearest," Andorien whispered, drawing Odariah close, "I think we should wait in the throne room until they call for us."
When the door shut behind the druid and the priest, silence settled upon the room once more. All that could be heard was the sound of two people breathing in perfect harmony, as if in their slumber, the two bodies became one soul.
AN - I am basing Jack's predicament on the way the Senate used to run in Ancient Rome, the Senatorial class being their aristocracy before the Empire came along. To enter the senate, a man had to own a particular amount of land (and there may have been a monetary component as well). If they lost land, they would be expelled. That's why having too many sons could be a problem for a family, because they'd have to split the land up between them, which could result in them not qualifying for the Senate. I think that's why some families used to adopt their younger sons out.
Next Chapter: it's the epilogue!