Chapter 22
It had been an entire week since Varian had all but thrown Fox out of his office. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. The sound of happy Panda's drifted to Varian as he worked in pure exhaustion. Trapped in his counsel chamber. "Not again!" He stormed to the window to where a now familiar sight greeted him.
The residents of Halfhill setting out their delectable offerings to his one time body guard on the tables below. They had been arriving every day for afternoon tea, once word had reached them that Fox was stuck at Lion's Landing for the foreseeable future. They had been quite distressed she could not over see her crops. Instead of allowing her to languish sad and alone every member of the Tillers, and their family, took turns coming to visit. Today over half of them were present.
Varian rested his palms on the window sill glowering at the party. Wait. What was the little thing with the huge pack on it's back? Was that a Grummel? Seriously, was all of Pandaria that emotionally attached to his rogue? It was getting outrageous. What next Jinyu? Perhaps Hozen?
Life must have loved mocking him, because Ken-ken and Ashyo raced in. The Master Bruised Paw and his disciples following behind. They called to Fox. She turned and waved her arm wildly over her head. Signaling for the group to come over and join her. Varian felt a twitching around his right eye.
Fox's punishment had her laughing at something Mina Mudclaw had told her. Fox leaning her head on Haohan's shoulder, as she lifted her tea cup to toast her friends.
Seeing her so happy, while he was caged in a dismal room, did nothing to improve Varian's mood. Although that had not been the worst of it.
Shaw, curse his manipulative dark heart of pure evil, had taken action as well. The man was practicing passive aggression against his King. The SI-7 leader was miffed, with one of his best rogues being out of commission, since she was forbidden to leave Lion's Landing. He had brought a detachment of fresh new rogues in training from Stormwind. Their primary teacher was portaled over along with them. A man known as Adian. The name alone caused Varian to see red. When the other man had arrived Varian found himself stopped in his tracks. No one should have been that pretty.
Adian, golden god of the Order of Light had started out as a Priest. Then when he began to impress, with his strength and courage, had been recalled into Paladinship. His ability to cast the flashy glowing spells called down the attention of the Archmages of the Kirin Tor. Who also took him under their wing for a time. Now to hear Mathias Shaw tell it, the man was most willing to learn the arts of being a rogue. Shaw had agreed mostly due to Adian's supreme ability in combat. It could be transferred to the latest crop of hopeful SI-7 agents. Putting the Priest, Paladin, Mage, Rogue prodigy of human perfection in daily contact with Fox as they instructed the SI-7 recruits.
What Varian wanted most at this point was for Adian to decide to take an interest in being a Warrior. So that he could personally instruct the man for at least five minutes. Yes. That is all Varian would require to see his goals accomplished.
Speaking of the devil himself, Varian watched as Adian strolled over. Fox sliding on the bench to make room between herself and Mina for him. To Varian's vast pleasure the man looked slightly upset. One could hope he had received dreadful news that would have him rushing back to Stormwind. Better yet, Outlands. Off a cliff in Outlands. Varian shook his head and moved to his desk. That was enough self torment for one day. He had to finish up some of this work, or risk losing his desk to a pile of paper again.
O0O0O0O0O0
Fox watched as Adian flicked his long leg over the bench. He graciously took the cup of tea that Tina Mudclaw held out to him and then the cookie, a very infatuated Mina, slipped over. "What's wrong Adian? Did someone turn you down again?"
"It's worse then that. I was helping out the Stormstouts over at the Brewery when these gorgeous boots were offered up. They were perfect! The blue matched my eyes and every thing. But some Paladin took them. Said he needed them for a protection set." Adian downed his tea and dropped the cup to the table. The forlorn face causing Fox to slide closer and pat his back. Adian looked over at her. The lower lip puffing out just a bit. "Did I mention they had beautiful golden trim."
"I am sure there will be other boots. You want me to make you a set?" She asked trying to get him into a better mood. A sad Adian was just to unnatural to watch.
"Blue ones with golden trim?"
"Get me the dye and find some trim. Since well ya know, I can't go get it for you."
"I still do not know what you could have possibly said, that would have gotten you removed from King Wyrnn's presence, Fox. If I were you, I would go beg an audience to get that bodyguard job back." Adian looked wistful. "I would kill to protect that body. Protect it all night long."
Fox laughed wishing that Varian could hear Adian's dedication. She almost wish she had the ability to get them in the same room. She had asked Shaw to do it once. The answer had been a resounding, no. Shaw had said he was taking enough of a chance just bringing Adian up to Lion's Landing as it was. Fox took a sip of her tea and nodded, "I know. You would protect him well."
"Damn straight, I would!" Adian nodded sharply. "He has no idea."
They laughed and pressed their heads together. Like school girls trading naughty gossip.
O0O0O0O0O0
The core of the problem for Varian was the dreams had not lessened. Varian had started staying up at night. Going to bed was pure torment. Worse then staying awake. The only issue was now his advisers and superior officers were starting to take note. Calling him out for nodding off in briefings, and whispering about his mood. Then someone had gotten it in their head he might actually be ill. Affected by some strange Pandarian disease. Nothing got his people going faster then the very hint he might be sick.
Finally, he was told under no uncertain terms, by Sky Admiral Rogers of all people, that they were summoning a priest to him as soon as humanly possible. She continued by informing him that he would comply with the priest assessment. After which she would be getting a detailed report. Finally and with no small amount of menace, she made it quite clear that he would do exactly what was prescribed no matter if he did, or did not like it. Varian maybe King, but the Sky Admiral was down right terrifying. She was in a position to make things difficult for him, and now that she thought he was sick she would do so.
Varian scoffed. He already knew what was wrong, and he damn well did know how to fix it. He also knew he would like it very much. But was he going to confess this to a priest? That there was a certain Rogue whose presence he required in his bedroom for a day or two? No. That was why he drafted up a mile long list of duties that needed to be handled by every healer they had on hand and then some. This way he could avoid his physical. At least until Sky Admiral Rogers got wise to him. Safe in that knowledge he picked up some documents to look over.
"King Varian." The guard knocked on the door before coming into the room.
A weary sigh escaped Varian as he dropped the papers he was looking over onto the large war table. He turned to face the man. Annoyed with the intrusion. "What is it?"
"On order of the Stormwind Counsel and Sky Admiral Rogers, I have searched Lion's Landing for a Priest, but unfortunately they have all been routed out to skirmishes with Garrosh's Horde or other pressing concerns." The man informed him.
Varian was careful not to let the relief he felt reach his features. There were certain things a man did not like divulging to anyone. That his rest was tormented by erotic images of a certain Rogue, that his mind was muddled from loss of sleep, and his appetite had dwindled as a result, fell firmly into the category.
The Guard continued, "That being the case, I happened upon two adventuring Priests near the gryphon master. They are more then willing to aid you at this time."
Blast it all to the Nether! Did he have any luck at all? "Fine. Where are these priests?" Varian growled as his face dropped into one palm. Surely he could intimidate or bribe them into going away
"Your Majesty." The guard's voice wavered. Varian looked over at the man, before he said in a soft voice, "Look down."
What the devil was the guard going on about? Varian looked to his feet. Oh. Oh no!
Two gnomes stood there. One was smiling up at him a shimmering halo cast over her head. The long white ponytail hanging down her back. The other stood in shadow form, so it was hard to make out her features.
"My name is Bungie. It is an honor to be of service to you in this time of need, High King." Bungie looked over at the other gnome. The smile fading as she elbowed her companion and hissed, "You could have at least dropped the shadow form before we entered the room, Bethesda!"
The darkness dissipated, but this Bethesda raised a single eyebrow at Bungie, "I specialize in shadow, it's who I am."
"Excuse Bethesda, sometimes it's as if she is in competition with the world around her." Bungie looked up at Varian. She certainly did not wish to offend.
"This from the chief of priesthood!" Bethesda snorted. Then added, "Straighten your halo. You are in the presence of a King."
"Could you be silent! I only asked you along because your knowledge on old scrolls and translations!" Bungie hissed.
Varian looked up to the Guard "Are you serious?" But the man had fled. He stepped back from the duo at his feet. Gnome priests, could this get any worse? The moment he thought that, he knew it could. I take it back. He thought looking at the ceiling praying for a miracle.
"Very well, if we are to give you a proper physical you are going to need to strip." Bethesda locked her eyes on Varian practically daring him to defy her as she added, "And none of that "keep your shorts on" crap you humans try to pull on me. Just because I am a Gnome, does not mean I am not a professional."
"Bethesda!" Bungie reached out and grabbed the other Gnome's arm, "You do realize who he is, don't you?"
"Yes, which is why I am not leaving anything to chance." Bethesda looked from Bungie back to Varian, "What are you just standing there for? Get naked!"
"We are in the middle of a war room." Varian choked out.
Bethesda gasped at him, "Is this suppose to be a rightful excuse, or are you trying to get us into your bedroom? Because I am going to tell you up front, I am not that kind of Gnome."
"Please excuse us, we are sincerely only looking after your best interests. If you would lead the way to your chambers, we would be happy to afford you some privacy from others." Bungie supplied uncomfortably. "It will be taking a while to compile the mental, physical and emotional base lines we need to make an informed diagnosis as to why you have not been in the best of health."
"Wait a second, Mental and Emotional? This has to be some sort of joke."
"Do we look like we are kidding?" Bethesda tapped her foot and crossed her little arms. "It's well rumored that you have been as pleasant as a starving ogre for weeks now. The last set of rumors implied that the state has only gotten worse. Bungie here hasn't ruled out possible Sha possession."
"I am not possessed by a Sha!" Varian locked his gaze on little Bungie.
Bungie blushed. She lifted a paper chart before her face and started checking off items. "Don't worry, your Majesty. Yelling at the darling Gnomes, that have come to help you, is a perfectly normal way to react. Don't worry about sparing our feelings. We are stronger then we look."
"Uther's Ghost! Fine. Follow me up to my personal rooms, and let's get this over with." Varian stormed between the Gnomes with great strides. Better to get this over with as soon as possible so he could send them off. He could hear their little feet tapping the floors behind him. Gnome. Why Gnomes?