Chapter 19

The door was opened for Fox, and closed behind her. The secluded dining area was still more impressive then any she had seen before in Lion's Landing. The thick oval table was set for two. Three tapered candles glowing in the center piece. The sconces on the walls had been lit so the room was not shrouded in moody darkness.

The smell of the food caused her stomach to growl. Fox whimpered and placed a hand over it. She wished King Wyrnn would hurry up and arrive. She wanted to have this confrontation over with. Then she would be free to get herself a red bean bun, and a steaming cup of roasted barley tea. Not that it would be anywhere near as good as the fare set out on the table before her. Temptation seemed to be the theme of the night.

Speaking of such, the door opened, and Varian moved inside. He paused for a moment looking about the room until he saw her. "Fox, They told me you had arrived. I hope you have not waited long?"

"No, Your Majesty." She stepped closer as she greeted him., then halted. Tentatively raising a hand and setting it on the back of a chair.

"I am glad to see you awake." Varian teased in a light hearted tone. "Although if you feel the need to pass out again, the rug in here is rather plush. You would do best not to move from it."

Fox failed to smile at his humor as she looked down at her feet. He was correct. It certainly would be a soft landing. She said nothing as her attention moved back to him. The dark eyes watching silently.

Varian took the moment to look her over. She was dressed differently. The black leather was becoming enough. There were no spikes warding everyone away in this attire, but did it really need the scarlet ribbon entwining itself about her body? He decided immediately he didn't like this armor. She would garner far to much attention in it.

"Varian." He said simply out of the blue.

"What?" Fox's voice a breathy whisper. Caution pricked at her senses.

"You can stop calling me, Your Majesty, Fox."

Fox felt her hand bite down on the back of the chair. A new sense of dread taking hold of her. "You must forgive me. I don't think I understand."

"Your Majesty. If I am to be honest, I dislike the title being parroted at me all the time. I probably would never have realized how much it bothers me, if I had never spent time as Lo'Gosh." Varian moved past her to the head of the table. He truly had the bearing of the great Ghost Wolf tonight.

And as her name sake, Fox's full attention attuned to him. How could she not when there was the threat of a larger more imposing predator in the room. Foxes only survived because they were observant and sly little creatures. Flashing warnings were going off in her, like little sparks igniting on her skin. There was just something amiss here. She could not put her finger on it, but the desire to disappear was strong.

Turning to her, Varian smiled with genuine warmth, "I consider you a friend, Fox. So I would prefer if you start calling me by my given name, Varian. At least when we are alone."

The air left her chest at his words. She could not move under his gaze. Was the drug she had been taking still in her system? This had to be some sort of hallucination. He had not just asked her the impossible.

"Is there something wrong?" Varian thought his offer of friendship would be accepted with a bit more enthusiasm. Perhaps some form of joy. Right now, she looked as if he had just pulled Shalamayne on her.

"I can't call you that." Fox recovered. Why wasn't her infamous wit forming a single thought against his proposal?

Varian narrowed his eyes, "Name one reason why not?" This was unexpected.

Fox was beset by reasons. One moment she was completely blank, the next thousands of them came at her like a flock of angry birds. Good and bad alike she could not put them to words. She stunned herself as much as him when she blurted out, "Because I don't want too, that's why!"

"Is that suppose to be a legitimate excuse?" Varian moved slowly back around the table. Did she plan on being stubborn for the sake of it? Really, she had to stop putting up this invisible barrier between them. Typically it was he who had to set the parameters of what was and wasn't acceptable with people. So far, the entire time he had known Fox, she had set these limits. He had been unconscious of this fact until her last statement, and he didn't like it. "Because, as far as reasons go, it sounds like a pretty sad one."

"You of all people, have to realize the distance between our positions." Fox wanted to step backwards as he advanced on her. But that would be the cowards way out. Tactical retreat to save ones life was just good judgment. Varian. No! King Wyrnn, meant her no harm. So why was it taking all her focus not to just vanish?

When Varian finally stood over Fox, it became clear she was shaking. It had not been noticeable from a mere few paces away. For a moment his attention was distracted from their topic. "Fox, are you alright?" He watched the effect his voice had on her. A slight jump before moving her chin up to look at him. It was not an action that was foreign to him. He had seen it many times before in court when someone was lying or hiding something from him.

Their eyes locked for just a moment, and then Fox moved to retreat. She closed her eyes and turned her face toward the table. Varian reached out and took her arm instinctively to keep her from bolting. That was a very real possibility. Not that he believed she could open the door before he caught her.

He wished he knew what to say to put her at ease. Another realization that he had no idea how to deal with this situation. Varian knew how to charm delegates and ambassadors, but a woman? When had he ever needed to bother with that? From the time of her birth Tiffin had been his royal betrothed. That was as binding as any marriage vows. The entire ceremony had just been for display. Katrana, on the other side of the spectrum, had cornered him. When you were the target of a crazy dragon with near limitless old magic at their disposal, one did not concern themselves with small talk.

Tiffin and Katrana, the two women who had shaped him most always came to mind when he was dealing with Fox. One was a sainted angel and mother of his son. The other, well, he had lopped off her head for her actions, and the only regret he had was that it was not done sooner. So why were they foremost in his mind? A bolt of realization hit him as hard as the lightening that had marred his face. It was because they were his only romantic experiences that he held in his life. And if he was going to pursue Fox, make a true effort to form some sort of romantic attachment, he was going to have to instigate it. She certainly was not going to act on her own, that was a certainty. Now the conundrum, Varian had no idea or experience how to go about it.

"I think I need a drink." Varian dropped his hold on her arm and turned to the table, Looking over it he saw not one, but three bottles of fine red wines had been set out. Three? What was his chef trying to imply here? That he needed vast amounts of alcohol to entice the lady? That boded well for confidence! Varian grabbed the first bottle that came to hand. It had already been uncorked to breathe. He had to pause a moment and grab a wine glasses from the table. The urge to simply chug the bottle was clearly Lo'Gosh overriding King Wyrnn in his mind. Filling the glasses he looked to Fox and asked, "Would you care for one?"

"I don't drink."

The second glass was halfway full when Varian slowly tipped the bottle back up. Was she being serious, or just contrary? Because at this point he had no earthly idea. A deep sigh as he almost, but didn't, slam the bottle off the table as he set it down. "You do not drink wine?"

"I don't drink alcohol." Fox gave up trying not to wring her hands. King Wrynn was clearly annoyed. She wasn't going to call him by name. She wasn't going to drink his wine. In short, she knew she wasn't making him very happy at all."

Varian gave up. He drank the first glass. Setting it to the table and then lifted the second glass. As he downed it he cast Fox a look practically daring her to say anything about his actions. She remained silent. Of course, if she were to say anything that would give him something to work with. Some sort of marker in the darkness on how to proceed. But this was Fox, who he was now imminently irked with himself for developing strong feelings for. Why couldn't it be easy? He intentionally ignored the fact that the ease of his past relationships is what had gotten him here in the first place. No instead he would blame Fox.

It was her fault. Fox, who from the first moment he had set eyes on, he now realized, had wanted immediately. Thus his initial irritation. Okay, maybe that was part of the problem. He had acted like a conceited jerk in thinking she was out to coerce him. But she didn't know about that now, did she? She was also dutiful and professional to the point of sabotaging a fine seduction in Paw'don. Thinking back he wanted to drop his head in his hand. It had been a perfect opportunity in hind sight. If he had been experienced enough to take advantage of it. Begrudgingly he considered requesting some advice from Jainjun's Paladin clientele. That was laughable. He was the King. Who was he going to ask for advice on women?

Shaw came to mind, but then Shaw was the one who had set this entire thing in motion. That was a sobering thought. Looking down at the wine bottle for a moment. Yup, screw it. He poured another glass.

"Your Majesty?"

Oh now she talks, and only to call him by a title she has been specifically told not to.

"It's not for you, so don't worry about it." Varian snapped back before downing the glass.

"It wasn't that. It's the information you wanted about what happened with me? Do you still want a recounting of it, or should I go?"

"Go?" Varian set the glass on the table and turned toward her, "We haven't even sat down yet, let alone eaten. You can't possibly..." Varian stopped and several voices echoed in his head. A statement all who knew her said. Fox is being Fox. "Of course, you would want to leave. Well, the answer is no. I'm the King, and you don't get to go anywhere until I say so."

"That's childish!" Fox tossed back.

Varian shrugged, "Those are the rules. I didn't make them. I just have to enforce them." Had he really just said that? Oh yes he had! It was good to be King every now and then. From the look she cast him, it was not that good to be Fox though.

A long moment passed and she said nothing. He reached up to run a hand down over her hair. "So I take it you really do not want my friendship. "

Fox felt her heart kick hard. What the hell was happening here? She knew she had bad luck at times. That she was an easy target for fate to mess with, but this? Why did he have to put it that way? It made her feel bad about something she had no control over.

Varian saw the pulse jumping in her throat. It called to him. Something he could not resist. Leaning over he set his mouth to it. The feather light kiss done without any previous intention. He could feel the racing of her heart against his lips. Taste the sweet flavor of Fox's skin.

That got a reaction. Fox's gasp of surprise caused her eyes to fly open wide. She lifted to her tip toes. A motion that pressed her closer. One hand grabbing hold of his arm, and the other pressing hard on the chest armor. Only proving that Varian Wyrnn was not only large, but completely unmovable.

Varian lifted his head to look down at her. The blue eyes taking in everything. Fox was not running, but she was struggling for control. A very fine thread of it from what he could see. The tide was turning to his favor. Just one final push. Varian cupped her cheek, felt the gentle pressure of her face turning ever so slightly toward his hand.

Leaning down once more to whisper in her ear, "Say my name, Fox. It's not going to kill you."

Fox was lost. If he were anyone else and evoking half the reaction she would already be firmly locked in his arms. The table, the chair, the plush rug on the floor, it wouldn't matter. Desire was rippling through her. All she had to do was forget who he was!

The hand pushing on Varian's chest fell away. The moment of surrender signaled as all fight drained out of her. Fox melting against him. Their bodies pressing closer. His hand slipped from her cheek to cup the back of her head. Letting his fingers tangle in the silky strands of hair. Varian moved with slow assurance that he had won this round. His head descended, watching as her eyes disappeared under thick lashes. A sudden heat rushing through him like he had not felt in years.

Then the door was thrown open. The sound of it crashing against the wall pulled Fox from her stupor. Jumping away as Anduin rushed into the room. Goldenleaf not far behind.

"Father! This druid says that the Crimsonfox has collapsed, and..." The young Prince scanned the room. Seeing Fox standing before his father, Anduin's face filled with relief. "Fox!" The boy rushed across the room and tossed his arms around her. "Praise the light you are okay!"

Fox, shocked by his open affection, closed her arms around him. "I am fine, Prince Anduin. Really, perfectly," She looked to Varian's expression, and suddenly didn't feel it. "okay."

Varian for all his joy at seeing his son, the most important thing to him on the face of Azeroth, was feeling rather torn at the moment. He had been trying to get Anduin to return for days, but the look he locked on Fox told her quite clearly her escape was only temporary.

Author Note: I know exactly what I did there. The anonymity of the internet protects me from flying projectiles! Next chapter: Goldenleaf throws Fox under the proverbial bus.