I do not own nor possess any right over Harry Potter and World of Warcraft, all rights belongs to their rightful owners.
Due to some of you mentioning how out of character Harry/Amaria was in chapter 4, I rewrote it while giving more peps to Harry, more of a backbone if that's the right expression. Don't hesitate to tell me what you think about it.
I was also asked if English was my first language and I have to say that it's not. I'm well aware of the many mistakes I do, even if I have a hard time finding them, and I will try to go back to the previous chapters, looking if I can proof read them. I apologise if this makes the reading quality poorer or less enjoyable.
Please comment/review.
Thank you for your patience and good reading.
Me and Mia ended up walking for two hours, exploring almost every corner of the castle and talking about its history as well as Mia's. I was shocked to learn that she was in fact not a worgen like her husband, that she escaped the curse and managed to stay human. And I was impressed and respected her even more for not abandoning her husband for it, because I knew quite a lot that would have done just that back on Earth.
And the amount of history that was there was simply massive, so much to talk to, many rooms where she showed me old artefacts or familial heirlooms and proved me once again that this world had experienced so much in so little time.
But after all this time walking, Mia directed us to the dining room for lunch. She told me that we wouldn't be joined because Anduin, Genn and quite a few more important people were spending their days planning the assault on Undercity, which was apparently going to take place in three days.
"Please, take a seat." Invited me Mia as she sat down.
I took the chair placed in front of her and soon a couple of servants brought us roasted beef and a soup of potatoes, a bottle of wine and a few slices of bread.
"Forgive me for asking, but I've been wondering. What do dragon eats?" She asked as she prepared her plate.
"Well, it can be extremely diverse. I can eat pretty much anything, with a large preference for meat of course but vegetables are a very welcome addition. But I do not have an invulnerable stomach, what would be poisonous mushrooms for you will very likely make me sick too. Thought being a member of the back dragonflight means that I can eat fire to some extent." I explained as I took a large spoon.
"Really? How does it tastes?"
"Quite frankly, it's acrid with a burned taste, quite horrible. And when I mean eat fire, it's not to sustain myself, rather to absorb it but it won't fill me up." I specified. "Also, we don't need to eat as much as humans. We can very easily spend a week with a single full meal, and it won't affect our health at all."
"I see."
We started to enjoy our meal slowly and to me it was so good! Not to insult dragon cuisine but it was most of the time just raw meat, rarely cooked, with sometimes a more variate treat like mana biscuits. And I believe that it was the first time in a very long time that I had wine, and theirs was excellent, flowing down my throat with a great sweetness.
"Is there anything that you would like to do this afternoon?" She asked me just as I put my glass down.
"Well, I might take a closer look to the town, walking around a bit and maybe go see the market." I replied.
"I'm sorry but I won't be able to be with you. I could ask for a guide and an escort if you want." Mia offered me.
"I appreciate the thought but I think I would like to start on my own. And I wouldn't want to take more of your time." I thanked her before snapping my fingers. "Oh, by the way, do you have any suggestion on what I could do to prove Anduin that I'm trustful?"
"Something of use or a show of good faith. Besides these, I don't think you should bother looking anywhere else." She replied.
"That doesn't help me much but I will follow your advice." I rolled my eyes slightly. "Do you think I'm trustful?"
"You sounds like a wonderful person to me. Anduin and Genn just have a harder time seeing it." Mia replied kindly.
"You can't know how relived I am to hear at least one person who isn't my mother say that." I relaxed, having quite high expectations from her answer.
"You're welcome."
The rest of lunch was a quick affaire, both of us eating at our own rhythm with a few words here and there before I was showed the way back to the gates. And I was stuffed, it had been a really long time since I didn't ate that much, especially as a human. I had been full a few times as a dragon but that couldn't be compared, I had to eat almost an entire animal to be satiated back then.
"I will see you for dinner, have a good afternoon." She wished me.
"Thank you, your majesty." I replied adding her title, seeing as we were now surrounded by the guards.
But I didn't paid any mind to the men and women in blue armour, walking down the stairs until I reached the drawbridge and went back to the old town, enjoying its calm atmosphere for a few moments. Because even from here I could hear the noise coming from the Merchant District, I knew that it could be in Diagon Alley but here not only everyone could learn magic, but the population was far bigger. I crossed the water canal's bridge, passing next to a couple of people that were going in both directions and I ended up following those going to the market.
I passed under a stone arch which served as a building since it had habitations on top, marvelling in the sight and ingenuity of such constructions that maximised all the space available. And I was also quite surprised to see that not too many people appeared to be into poverty. Of course, it was only one part of the town, so it didn't tell much but from what I was seeing the population here was almost entirely made from middle class people.
And then I entered the heart of the district, with a never-interrupting flow of travellers, inhabitants, buyers, and sellers going around. It did reminded me of Diagon Alley, but it wasn't as dark thanks to the white walls and blue roofs, plus the people here didn't all dressed in dark clothes so that must count for something.
I simply walked around, looking at everything and thinking about what sort of present I could find for Anduin. Or maybe it was more Genn that needed to be convinced, the old worgen had been far less receptive to my presence after all. Mia's suggestion of a show of good faith didn't interested me much, I didn't wanted to swear an oath to defend him or anything even remotely close to that, I wouldn't put my freedom at risk so soon after leaving Wyrmrest Temple. So that left the suggestion of a gift, and I was not having many good ideas.
As a king, I doubted that he would need any sort of wealth or beautiful objects. Just as Mia said, something useful was better suited but I simply had no idea what I could find for him.
"Cheese! Come see my cheese!" Yelled a man in front of a building called 'Trias' Cheese'.
"Swords, bows, staffs! Every weapon you need, we have it!" Called another man in a different building.
So many more were advertising their products like this or selling them right now and it brought so much life to the place, it was certainly loud and living here wasn't something I would ever consider but since most people here probably grew up in Stormwind they must have got used to it.
Moving through the crowd, I reached the stands and looked at the many products, the large quantity of food, the many races interacting with each other. It was quite the contrast with the serenity of Wyrmrest Temple, but it was a welcome one, giving me the opportunity to see more. I might have bought something to eat but since I just had lunch I chose to leave this for another opportunity, instead continuing my examination of the stalls.
There were so many jobs too, tailors, alchemists, engineers, blacksmiths, enchanters, skinners and so many more. It filled the market with so much that anyone must be able to find whatever they needed with ease, at least I thought so.
"Hey miss! Take a look at our jewels!" Called me a man standing next to his wife, both selling countless rings, necklaces, and beautifully crafted jewels.
"Oh, I'm just looking around." I replied with an apologetic smile.
"Mighty fine, but you won't get anything by just looking. Is there something we can find for you? Looking to impress? A present? We can even craft a unique piece." He offered me happily.
That got my attention, at least the last two parts. It might not be related to Anduin but it would be better for someone else.
"Maybe. Do you have anything shaped like a red dragon? Or a bracelet perhaps?" I asked.
"We do not!" He replied proudly, which surprised me quite a bit. "But provided you have the money, we can make it for you!"
I did had the money and, if it was reasonable, then it would be an investment that I would gladly pay. Giving it a few thoughts, I thought about something until I had an idea.
"Do you have a paper and a pencil? I'd like to draw you a sketch." I said.
"Certainly."
Grabbing the offered material, I started to draw a metal bracelet with a large ruby inserted on top and surrounded by smaller ones that went all around the rest of metal. It was a bit crude, I had never been a very talented artist, but it was simple enough for what I had in mind.
"Would this be possible? A golden bracelet with rubies?" I asked giving him the sketch.
He took a long look at it, which did reassured me a bit because I might have been worried if he had accepted too quickly. I saw him look at a few of his other products, taking some that I noticed having rubies before he looked back at me.
"It is perfectly in our line of work, shouldn't require more than a day. But it might be a tad expensive, there's a lot of rubies in there." He told me.
"I'm aware, how much would it cost?"
"Hmm… I don't have the rubies here, they're in my workshop, but just like that I'd say seventy gold." He finally said after taking some seconds to estimate.
"I can afford that." I assured, knowing that mother gave me far more than what I would probably need for my trip.
"Wonderful! Just come back tomorrow and it will be ready! May I have your name miss?" He asked taking out a notebook.
"Lady Amaria." I replied.
"Then I wish you a most excellent day, my Lady. I will see you tomorrow." He said with a short bow.
Just as I was about to thank him and leave, a glance toward a very plain and simple silver bracelet gave me another idea.
"Just a moment. This silver bracelet, how much do you sell it?" I asked.
"Are you sure? Perhaps something else would suits you better?" He offered, a hand pointed at a line of golden jewels, just like any good merchant.
"Certain." I reassured him.
"I sell it for ten silvers." He told me.
"I'll take it."
A hand in my pouch, I looked for silver coins until I had the right amount which I handed to him.
"Here you go, my Lady. Thank you for your purchase, is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked handing me the bracelet.
"No its perfect. I'll be back tomorrow for my order."
"Then I wish you the best, my Lady." He bowed again.
"Thank you, have a good day as well." I said, not mentioning the bow even if it did annoyed me a bit.
But nonetheless, I was very happy with my order. I knew that this would be a nice gift, a bracelet was far better for mother who already had countless earrings, necklaces, and rings, she did had bracelets, but it was easier to add one more than to wear two necklaces. She told me I would never need to repay her because she was simply caring about me, not expecting anything from me and certainly not paying her back. But this wasn't it, it was a gift that I thought would go well with her and I just wanted to give her back something, not that I cared about the cost of the bracelet, but to me it was a show of love, a bond between mother and daughter.
And I didn't thought about it at once but not being called child was very welcome, because when every dragon around you is at the very least one millennia old and you're twenty-five, of course they would call you child.
But the other bracelet, the silver one in my hands, would serve a very different purpose. I my hand was the gift I planned to make for Anduin. He certainly didn't needed a bracelet as plain as this one but the improvement I could add on it would certainly prove very useful. I only hoped that it would be enough to prove myself.
I walked a little bit more until I came onto a bench with only an old man with a grey beard rivalling Dumbledore's in length sitting on one side of it.
"May I?" I asked.
"Please, don't mind me." He replied with a tired smile almost completely hidden beneath his beard.
That's exactly what I planned to do. Taking a seat next to him, I placed the bracelet in one hand and started to gather magic in the other. A red glow formed around both my hand and the bracelet as I started to pour magic inside it, very slowly and carefully weaving the magic in the silver to make it more resistant to the next spell. I stood very focused for ten seconds, my glowing hand moving around the bracelet as I made sure that every part of it was infused.
Stopping the influx of magic, I looked at the silver, examining it for any crack but was happy to find none.
Enchantment was maybe not a magic that I was excellent at but Tyrygosa and even Kalecgos showed me the ropes of it and I learned all the rest by myself. I was very satisfied with my level of enchanting that had been graded equivalent to Artisan, near perfect in my case.
Thinking about the second spell, the most important one and the main reason why I brought this bracelet, I gathered my magic in my hand again as it glowed in a mix of red and yellow, with an occasional little flame sprouting toward the bracelet. The magic flow was actually starting to heat the air as the bracelet slowly turned red, reaching an incredibly high temperature that would probably hurt anyone that wasn't a dragon. I was so thankful right now for my natural heat resistance.
A whole minute passed as I kept pouring magic, kept strengthening the bracelet until I was satisfied. Cutting the flow of magic, I exhaled loudly and took a big breath as I felt my magic start to calm down. Looking over the bracelet again, touching it with my magic to see if my enchantment worked, I was delighted to see that it did. The silver was still cooling down but it was clear that the magic inside was working. I might have to test it but it looked mighty fine to me right now.
"That was quite an impressive display." Came a voice to my side.
I almost jumped as I turned toward the old man, having completely forgotten he had been there.
"Oh I'm sorry! I didn't burned you did I?" I asked concerned.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. It has been a long time since I saw anyone weave magic like this." He replied kindly.
"Are you a mage?"
"I used to but now I'm retired. You see, there was this young mage called Jaina Proudmoore that my old friend Antonidas had taken under his wing, a magical prodigy that was unmatched in frost magic. She was also excellent in arcane spells, a bit lacking in fire spells but she was one of the best mage I ever met." The old man explained.
"Were you in Dalaran then?" I asked remembering my history books and the many important roles that Jaina played in the last years.
"For a time. I left not too long before Prince Arthas attacked the city and escaped his undead armies."
"I see." I said as I took out my pouch, put my hand in and grabbed a couple of mana biscuits before starting to eat them, slowly replenishing my mana.
"I'm quite curious about that spell you just cast. I've seen lots of them in my time as a scholar and teacher but for the life of me I cannot recognise this one." He said slightly more excite, a bit of life brightening his face.
"It was an enchantment to resist dragon fire." I couldn't help but indulge him, feeling quite proud of my spell work.
He frowned slightly at that, looking at the bracelet and then me for a couple of seconds.
"How can you do that? Dragon fire is quite hard to master, ever harder to protect against." The old mage enquired.
"Maybe for humans but not for dragons. Let me introduce myself: I am Amaria, ambassador of the black dragonflight." I presented myself as I gave him my hand to shake.
The unbelieving look I got from him made me feel like I said something wrong but he exploded in a loud and cheer laugh, putting a hand on his forehead as he chuckled loudly.
"I can't say that I saw this coming. Nice to meet you Amaria, you can call me Horace." He said shaking my hand.
"You're not mad at me?" I asked slightly surprised by his reaction.
"Why should I? You look like a good mage to me and I don't feel any dark magic in you nor in this bracelet. You've impressed me, I'm glad I got to meet another mage that has the potential to equal Jaina." Horace smiled at me as he stood up.
"You're too kind. I don't think I have her level." I replied, standing up too.
"Perhaps but in time you will. You don't need to be able to do everything she can do to be her equal." Horace said.
"True. Do you have to go now? I would enjoy a guide to explore Stormwind with." I asked him.
"Sadly I have. Can't let my grandchildren annoy their mother for too long. It was a pleasure meeting you Amaria."
"Its reciprocated. I have to say that you've been more welcoming than King Anduin." I told him.
"He is young, he will learn." He waved a hand.
"King Genn Greymane too." I added with a smile.
"Can't help you there, he is known to be quite stubborn." He replied with a small laugh.
"Thank you for the talk, maybe we'll see each other soon." I said.
"It would be nice. Have a good day." Horace said as a farewell.
I watched him leave, quickly disappearing through the crowed as I appreciated how nice and relaxing this little talk had been. Giving a last glance at the bracelet that wasn't burning hot anymore, I stuffed it in my pouch and resumed my visit of the city. There was still quite a lot of time for me to explore before going back for dinner at the castle.
Continuing down the market on very high spirits, I looked at the stands but also at the buildings, and as I approached the gates of the capital, I saw one that got my interest. It didn't stood out from the other by its appearance but the name 'Adventurer guilds' tickled my curiosity. Everyone in this world, or pretty much everyone I guess, knew that many adventurers had saved the world more than once and that some of them became great heroes. I was more than curious about them and had been wanting to meet some of these adventurers for quite a while now, so its in all perfect logic that I walked toward it.
There was a little crowd outside, chatting and I could see that most of them wore impressive stuff while a few little groups were, what I supposed could be called newbies. Making my way through the crowd, I entered the building and was surprised that it looked slightly bigger inside, with quite a lot of people here and spread in several groups. I quickly noticed that some of them wore tabards and those wearing one stayed with their group, a form of identification I guessed. Walking to the counter, I was greeted by a woman who carried a stack of sheets.
"Welcome, is there anything I can do for you?" She welcomed me.
"Sorry, I was just curious about adventurers. I've read quite a lot about them." I answered with a small apologetic smile.
"So, you're not here to register or request assistance?" She frowned.
"I'm afraid not."
"Tsk. Then I'll ask you to leave please, I'm busy enough already." She said dejectedly and obviously annoyed.
A bit taken aback, I turned away as she returned to her papers. Perhaps it wasn't the best idea to just come in and look around for nothing?
"Hey miss, looking for adventurers?" Asked me a man that was relatively close to me, a large smile on his face.
He was quite tall, covered in plate armour and wearing a large hammer attached in his back and a large green tabard with a black claw mark. And the way he looked at me, I could see him coming onto me kilometres away. I had never been the target of such attention, but I had seen it before, and being put in this situation made me feel very uncomfortable.
"I was curious about them." I replied warily.
"I have a room not too far from here, wanna have a good time?" He offered, getting closer as he tried to pass a hand behind my back.
"Not interested." I said as I moved out of reach.
His predatory smile did a one-eighty and he glared at me but at least he didn't reached for me anymore. A very brief look to the side made me notice that a few other people were looking at us and didn't seemed happy with where this was going.
"Listen here, I'm Golleok, slayer of Vrykuls, so don't worry I have the money to pay you. Just stop being so stuck up and let's go." He said head raised high, with an ego strong enough to crush a mountain.
I looked at him incredulously, not understanding how someone could be both so wrong and prideful. There were quite a few insults that I could let slip but that wouldn't do, and I would certainly not do anything even close to what he was thinking.
"Are you calling me a whore?" I asked with a hard edge in my voice, already preparing a polymorph spell.
"Yeah, you're dumb or what?"
I unleashed my spell, turning the man into a sheep as my fury exploded. He looked around helplessly for a bit and I levitated him at my eye level, glaring and not giving any attention to the many people around me who stood up as soon as I casted my spell.
"You're one of the rudest man I've ever had the displeasure to meet. I am Lady Amaria, and if you call me whore or even insinuate anything close to that ever again I won't stop at merely turning you into a sheep." I snarled with all the boiling fury inside me, reflected by the temperature around me rising.
He nodded quickly and I was about to drop him to the ground that someone grabbed me by the shoulder.
"My Lady, could you please let him go?" Asked me a woman wearing the same tabard as this man.
"He's in your guild?" I replied not calming down.
"Yes. I know he was very rude, but I'll ask you to let him go." She told me.
I sneered at the sheep, wishing to do more than that, but relented as I acknowledged that it wouldn't do me any good.
"Very well."
He dropped down harshly on the floor, but I didn't cared. I didn't changed him back though, the spell only lasted a minute. Sadly. The woman took a deep breath and pushed the man turned sheep away, toward a group that shared the same green tabard, before she spoke to me again.
"I apologise for his behaviour, being a hero turned him into an arrogant man."
"I can't believe you're keeping someone like that in your guild. Seriously, I have heard only good things about adventurers so far and the first one I meet is a total jackass." I replied, letting a bit of my anger flow away.
"And we will make sure he don't do anything like that again." She said, putting an end to the conversation by walking away.
Still quite miffed, and quite disappointed, I proceeded to walk out of here, hoping that everyone here wasn't as insulting and disrespectful than this man, because if it was the case then I wouldn't care anymore for the future of this world except for Wyrmrest Temple.
"Excuse me mam." Called me another male voice behind me.
I sighed quite loudly and turned around, expecting to have another stupid conversation just like this one and ready to rebuke the one foolish enough to go for me again. Yet I was surprised to see a young man, barely into adulthood, most likely eighteen. He had brown hairs, a slightly darker skin, and was wearing a quite simple outfit, black trousers of fabric, a pair of poorly made shoes and a large shirt covered with a leather made vest. A short sword was strapped at his hips, and he had a small, rounded shield on his back.
He wasn't alone though, followed by two women with similar outfits, one woman with black skin and a slightly afro haircut with a wand and a book attached to her belt and the other was a dwarf, half a meter shorter than the other two and with a rifle strapped on her back. Both of them seemed to be as young as he, but they bore different expressions.
"Yes?" I replied with wariness.
"I mean no offense mam, but please don't think all adventurers are like these people." He told me with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
I looked at him, he who could barely look into my eyes, at the black woman that seemed to share his opinion as I could see more assurance in her eyes and the dwarf who simply let out a loud sigh, rolling her eyes.
"Then I am to assume that you are adventurers yourselves, if you talk about separation." I spoke without kindness.
"Well, we're new. I mean, it's been a few days already and we left from-" He started.
"We registered two days ago." Shortly said the woman as the man looked down at the ground.
"I see. And is there a reason why you're talking to me?" I asked wondering where this was going.
"It's just that I wanted to say that not everyone is like this guy. Don't think of all adventurers like that." He told me, a bit bashful and looking at me with a smile that I would almost call dumb.
It felt very weird to stand before him like that and it did stirred my memory for a second, something that I know I had seen before but never experienced myself. I ran through my memories, incapable to point exactly what it was until I finally gave up in favour to answering.
"I guess I will have to take your word for it." I conceded. Even if this first experience wasn't the best, at least what he said was true or I hoped so.
"Good. Can we go now?" Asked the dwarf pointing her hand toward the door.
"Ah hum, sorry to leave like this mam but we're on a quest." Apologised the guy.
"It's alright. I have things to do myself." I reassured him.
"If I may ask, what is your name mam?" He asked with pink cheeks.
That's when I remembered. This man, just a bit younger than me, was having the same face that my male classmates had when they saw Fleur Delacour enter, the young Veela that captivated the hearts of so many back then. But now it was toward me, and I shivered, I paled when I realised that this young man was finding me attractive, had feelings for me.
And that made me incredibly uncomfortable, I was far from ready to be in a relationship. Due to many reasons. But I could still give him my name, that wasn't going too far.
"I am Amaria." I answered with an awkward smile.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Paul, this is Lyra." He said pointing to the black woman who waved at me. "And this is Zanna." He then pointed at the dwarf who grumpily replied something.
"She is always like that, don't pay her any mind." Added Lyra.
"Hey!" Protested Zanna.
"Well it was nice meeting you all but I need to go to the castle. If you'll excuse-me." I said, eager to get out of here.
Gasp!
"You work at the castle!" Exclaimed Lyra.
"What? No, I'm a guest. I arrived this morning." I corrected.
Her eyes widened even more and I could see that Paul shared a similar expression of awe, only Zanna remaining more stoic even if she did had a raised eyebrow.
"You're a noble?" Asked Lyra softly, like if she was afraid to speak any louder and with stars in her eyes.
"I-" I was about to counter but thinking about it for a second, I guess I could be compared to one. "I'm an ambassador. I'm sorry but I really need to go." I apologised, really wishing to get out of here.
"Oh of course, it was an honour meeting you." Replied Lyra.
"I- yes, it was very nice." Added Paul with a dumb smile.
I waved at them while smiling but quickly left the guild office and mingled in the crowd, thinking about what I just got myself into as I walked back promptly to the castle. I didn't even know what I would do but being in any other situation was better than the one I almost ended up in.