Chapter 23
Varian was wrapped in his robe watching the two little gnomes. He rested against the wall. Waiting silently for the results of his tests. The only outward sign that anything was bothering him was the slight tapping of one bare foot on the gleaming wood floor.
Bethesda was sitting on a plush blue chair letting out a loud yawn. The large green eyes sleepy as she struggled to keep her head up. Bungie was completely oblivious to either of them. Going over her lists, checking and rechecking them.
"You want me to tell him what's wrong?' Bethesda asked. Quickly looking from Bungie to Varian with her large green eyes. It was clear she was far more then ready to move on to the next phase.
"If you say one word, I swear, I will throttle you." Bungie glowered as she peered ever so slightly over her documents. Then looked back down, Her little nose wrinkled up in clear distressed. "Argggghhh, You can't be right, Bethesda. I wont believe it."
"Right about what? Is there really something wrong?' Varian stopped his tapping. Straightening up he was starting to feel a bit of nervousness adding to his initial discomfort.
"You need laid." Beth tossed over her shoulder at him. Then after dropping the bombshell, as if she had asked him how the weather was, turned her attention back to Bungie. The mischievous grin taking place as she prepared for the reaction from her little friend.
And she got it. Bungie gasped so hard, half the air in the room was probably gone. The little hands flying up to produce a rain full of stark white paper. "You had to say it, didn't you! Could not give me a few more minutes to put it in a professional medical term we could twist to avoid the embarrassment later!"
Varian actually smiled at Bethesda's audacity. Turning away he chuckled, "I have to admit. She's a damn fine healer for a shadow priest."
"Thank you, your Majesty." Bethesda's little chin shot up at the High King's approval of her skill. Then to Bungie, she added, "I don't know what you were so all fired up about. When we are on the way here you couldn't stop talking about the danger of our mission. He is a remarkable patient so far. I think those rumors about his behavior are highly speculatory."
"Thank you Bethesda." Varian offered back.
"You are quite welcome." The adorable tone of her voice almost floating through the room.
Bengie was not amused. "Okay, now that the two of you are done bonding, care to tell me what I am to report to the Sky Admiral Rogers?"
Varian closed his eyes and remained silent. Why was it he was finding the shadow priest far more agreeable the discipline one?
Bethesda pressed her lips together and waved her hand at Bungie. Then she addressed Varian, and asked simply, "So what's her name? This goddess that has finally captured your attention after so long a time?"
They were going to ask about his rogue. Wonderful. "She is far from a goddess, but for her sake, I will not supply a name. And truth be told, I have ban her from my presence. So there is nothing that can be done."
"Ewwwww." Bethesda wrinkled her nose at him. "Not the best of moves there, if I do say so myself. I hope you use better judgment in running the Alliance. No wonder we have been at war so long and so much."
"Never send a warrior to do a darling gnome's job. I have always questioned his political strategies. A fine plate of warm cookies never hurt any peace talk." Bungie muttered low. Then with more infliction, "I concur with Bethesda. As shocking as that sounds. Your Majesty, there is only two ways this can be resolved. The first one, you go to the lady and confess. I am absolutely certain that this would be the best outcome for all of Azeroth."
"That will not work. Even with my great Warrior's political strategy, she refuses to say my name. Already vetoed my friendship. I would honestly hate to see the reaction to an offer of devotion." Varrian entrusted his little priest with some of the truth.
"Ah. She's Horde." Bethesda surmised. Feeling bad for the High King. Sure others could get away with that tabu type of cross faction romance, but certainly not the very leader of one side. "Blood Elf?"
Bungie burst in at that with her own take on the situation at hand. "Are you a fool? The sheer size of him with your average Blood Elf? Think about it! He would inadvertently kill her. I care to venture she's an Orc."
Varian's eyes widened. Had they forgotten he was in the room. Words could not be formed as his mouth dropped near to the floor.
"Read some history books, before you open your mouth. His Majesty would be more inclined to the Trolls!" Bethesda jumped off the chair ready to fight with her companion.
"By the Light! No!" Varian threw his hands up. "The woman is most certainly human in regards to her race."
"You are having trouble wooing a Human? Bungie, get those charts ready. Clearly there is another one out there in desperate need of our aid." Bethesda rolled her eyes. If the woman was a human, why was this even an issue? "There is option two. You can just go on suffering this thing out. Still as we all know, your Majesty, you do not move on from such emotional events very easily. It could take years of this kind of misery."
The Gnome was referring to Tiffin. Varian was becoming profoundly impressed by this ones almost clairvoyant accuracy. Sadly Bethesda was right. He had dearly loved his late wife. Mourning for her had been an all consuming process for years. There was the fact that Katrana's spells had slowed his recovery. But he still had not gotten over Katrana's betrayal of his trust as well. Yet again, proving that removing your ex's head didn't make the pain go away. "I am aware of this."
"King Wyrnn, I implore you, for the sake of your people, the Alliance, and your personal well being. Please consider going to the Lady again." Bungie stepped closer. Her little hands pressed together as if in avid prayer. "Your health must come first."
Bethesda turned and struggled her way back up onto Varian's plush chair. "Yes, what could it hurt? The worst she can do is reject you, again."
Varian swung around to face Bethesda. She was sharp as a tack, that one, "Rejection, you say? I will get right on that."
"Well, don't worry yourself to much. We will tell Sky Admiral Rogers your condition isn't treatable." Bungie started picking up her papers.
Varian let out a sound that was half snort half laugh, "Oh, she is going to love that."
Bethesda suddenly became infused with the black glow of her shadow form. "Wait until I put in my two cents. I plan on telling her, that if you take a turn for the worse she should get your affairs in order and summon Prince Anduin."
"I am not going to die." Varian was completely sure that the little gnomes were going to get him quarantined.
"Oh I know. I just wanna mess with her authoritative, commanding, do what I say you mere gnome attitude." The little hands rubbing together as the most sinister laugh ever heard in Azeroth echoed.
O0O0O0O0O0
Shaw was caught off guard. He stood watching as his High King was just finishing pulling on a set of dark blue leather boots. "Could you repeat that last statement?" Perhaps it was seeing Varian in rogue leather that was messing with his ability to process. "I am certain I miss heard you."
"I want to go over see the combat training that is scheduled to go on today." Varian looked up from the buckles on his boots. "In all honesty, I want to take part in some of the sparring."
"No you don't." Shaw remained motionless. He had never suspected the King Wyrnn would take part in the training sessions of the SI-7. Typically, Shaw had contingency plans for contingency plans. This had caught him out of the blue. Rogue training was a far cry from any other form of combat training. Sure maybe a Warlock could see benefit to their methods, but anyone else would probably be gravely offended. Shouting things like dishonorable, reprehensible, condemnable, and vicious. In the case of Varian Wyrnn the word Shaw most feared was criminal.
"I'm going."
"Please, don't." Shaw whispered.
"Did you just say please, Shaw?" Varian rocketed up straight as an arrow. The brown hair swaying with his movement.
"You heard that?" The lead rogue ran a hand through his hair. Why had he never thought to teach his men how to fake a respectable match? Then as if gifted by the Light it's self an idea came to him. "You don't want to go. Fox and Adian are teaching that course. Why don't we wait for Amber or Sully? They are giving demonstrations next week. Amber's sniper skill is unparallelled, and I am sure Sully can set you up the most awe-inspiring explosion you have ever seen."
"I am going because Fox is giving the lesson, Shaw. You should have already figured that out. But seeing that something else is causing you such distress, my interest is really captured now." Varian made for the door.
"Are you sure you don't want to change back into your traditional armor? I can not promise your safety in that." Shaw chased Varian out of the room.
"No one is going to attack me in broad day light with thirty SI-7 agents surrounding my person."
"It's not the random assassin's blade that concerns me." Shaw's voice wavered as he informed Varian, "Your Majesty, twenty two of those agents are women."
Varian stopped and turned back to face Shaw. "Is there something I am missing?"
"It's not something I was going to bring up, but yes." Shaw took on the most serious expression. "Just recently it has been brought to my attention that you are rather attractive to the females of the SI-7 as a collective. Your new attire is..."
A slow smile forming on Varian's face at the ego inflating complement he had just been handed, "My attire is what?"
"Form fitting?" Shaw felt like some one was strangling him.
"May I ask which one of your agents felt the need to inform you of my attractiveness?" There was almost an evil sparkle in those light blue eyes. Shaw didn't need to answer. There was only one woman who could have dared to say such a thing to Shaw. So Fox found him attractive. The knowledge put him in the most splendid of moods. He had not been this motivated in days. Varian moved out the front gate of the keep with his ponytail swaying with a happy bounce. Nothing could ruin this day!
Except the sight of Fox straddling Adian's chest with her powerful thighs. Just as Varian had dreamed that first night. Her hands pinning his wrist to the ground, and their mouths locked in a kiss.