The day soon came where all who had applied for the blacksmith positions at the Keep would start their gruelling task of kitting out Stormwind's army- and that included the younger of the Glenmores.
Lucian had already left for his ship to Brinewick(he was spending New Year with their Grammy) by the time she left the shop at about half-past six, and she couldn't help but damn Llane for making her get up this early as she trudged through the doors of the Keep, not expecting to see Varian yet since Bolvar had told him he could have a day off from training today.
She just turned straight to the corridor leading to the forge, where she could already hear a mix of different voices, thankfully some of them were females so at least she wouldn't be the only woman there.
She put her satchel down on the free anvil, claiming it as hers.
"Over here, Val! Come, sit with us lass," a familiar voice hollered, and Val couldn't help her grin as she clapped arms with a tall man with a rounded face and beard to match.
"I should've known that you'd be here," she said, already covered in soot just from the handshake. Granthil Everett was Goldshire's sole blacksmith, and she had met him many times during her life when her father had needed extra tools or materials. His wife Annette, a slender woman with bony cheeks and cropped blond hair, kissed both of her cheeks after Granthil finally released her from his meaty grip.
"How you been, my girl?" she asked, having not seen Val since Lokir's funeral.
"I've been alright, I suppose. Back in the shop for good now," Val explained, folding her arms.
"Where's that brother of yours then? He still in bed?" Granthil asked, and Val shook her head.
"He's gone down to Brinewick for New Year. We thought one of us better go," she told him.
Val could feel the creeping nervousness that had been making its way up her spine ebb now she had familiar faces around her, and eventually she was introduced to everyone; besides Granthil and Annette there was Richard from Northshire and his son Bobby, and finally Chantelle and her sister Ruth from Stratholme.
Richard was clearly the oldest out of them all, and Val had to wonder if his crinkled, skinny arms were still capable of holding a hammer. But Bobby, who was thankfully the same height as her and not a giant like most men she knew, insisted that he still had it in him.
The sisters were both black-haired with freckles dotted along their nose, looking completely identical down to the way they walked. It was slightly strange for Val, who'd not known twins before today, and she was sure that she'd mix the two of them up before the end of the day.
"So how long have you been smithing?" Chantelle asked, crossing her legs.
"Only six years- Lucian's been doing it alot longer though," Val said, scrunching her nose. "But I think that's because I went to school, and he didn't."
Chantelle's eyebrow rose in surprise.
"Why didn't he go to school? I thought all children did?" she asked incredulously. Val shrugged, putting her tankard down.
"Our family came from Stranglethorn Vale, and by the time my parents moved here, he was old enough to be working," she said as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Aw, so you're the baby, are you?" Bobby teased, pulling his gloves on again and flexing his fingers.
"Oh, don't you start. It's bad enough that Vari- my best mate makes fun of me," she protested, and of course, Granthil noticed her correction.
"You can say 'Varian', lovey, we all know that you're in good with him," he told her, smiling warmly enough to put her at ease.
Until those not native to Stormwind realised what he'd said.
"Varian? As in PrinceVarian? The prince who's probably upstairs right now?!" Chantelle exclaimed, giddy with excitement. Val shrank, feeling her ears grow hot.
"Yes. We know each other," she said, but apparently that wasn't enough.
"How the hells does a smithy'know' the Prince of Stormwind?!" Ruth exclaimed, as eager to hear Val's answer as her twin.
"My Lightmother is his cook, that's all- I only know him through her, and even then-"
"How about we just focus on the task at hand, eh girls? You can all gossip later on," Annette butted in, clearly noticing how flustered Val was getting. Val appreciated it greatly, and gave the older woman one of the quickest nods she'd ever given in her life.
Her fingers fumbled with the strap of her satchel, but eventually she managed to get her her apron, gloves, and goggles out, and put her tool-belt across the stool next to it.
"Right then, we'll rotate the smelter to make sure we don't pass out, and then we'll decide who's doing what," Granthil instructed, putting his hands on his hips and looking over their stations to see if they were all prepared.
"Well, Ruthie and I will do Greatswords and Claymores- they've always been our thing," Chantelle explained, and her sister nodded in agreement behind her.
"Alright then. Rich, what about you?" Granthil asked, and Richard merely raised both bony, slightly shaking hands.
"These old things can only do shields at this point, so Bobby and I will do them," he said, patting his son's hand as it curled around his shoulder.
Granthil clapped both hands together, giving Val a wide, toothy grin.
"Well then, my girl, looks like you're with the missus and I. I reckon we could do normal blades in our sleep, so between three of us, this should be a piece of piss," he told her, using such a jolly tone that it was impossible for Val not to smile.
"Great! Who's making the first round of tea then?" she cried, using a joke that she and Lokir had exchanged umpteentimes throughout her training. Thankfully it didn't fall flat, and Granthil's loud guffaws echoedaround the chamber.
"Well, since you're offering!" he teased, ruffling her hair as he passed and making it all but fall out of the tie she had it in.
A rush of heat covered them as Annette fired up the forge that sat on the other side of the room. There was a pile of steel bars sat next to it that had probably been bought from the dwarves, and Val couldn't help but notice just how muchof the stuff there was.
"We really are kitting out an army, aren't we?" she mused, hearing a raspy grunt of agreement.
"I said the exact same thing the last time we were at war, my girl. You can't believe it happens so quickly, can you?" Richard said sullenly, with his eyes glazing over in pained remembrance.
"Were you there for the Gnoll War then?" Val asked, making Ruth's eyebrow rise.
"The whatwar? There was honestly a war against the fucking Gnolls?"she asked incredulously.
"Yes, there was, and you'll do well to be more respectful. We lost a hells of a lot of good men during that debacle," Richard snapped, only calming down when Bobby held his shoulders again.
"Pa, that's enough. I'm sure she didn't mean offence," he said quietly, looking pointedly at a crimson faced Ruth.
"Aye…sorry. I just didn't think the Gnolls were that much of a problem," she admitted, and Richard lost a small amount of the anger keeping him so stiff.
"Well they were, and it's only by the grace of the Light, and the smarts of King Barathen that the damn thing ended," he said, sitting himself on the stool next to his anvil. Waiting for steel to melt was a tedious affair, they all knew this, so it gave them time to simply talk.
"And now the prince is following in his footsteps, and going off to war himself," Granthil pointed out, drumming his arm with a sour expression.
"I didn't think royalty were thatinvolved with battles and the like," Chantelle said, realising just how naiveshe was to the way Stormwind worked as a kingdom.
"Varian's always prided himself on being a soldier first," Val answered forlornly, picking a stray thread from her sleeve. "In all honesty, he would rather drop the title of 'prince' altogether."
Ruth wasn't convinced. "But he has literally everything he wants! I mean, look at this Keep, it's bloody huge!" she protested, and this time it was Annette who raised an eyebrow in annoyance.
"Riches don't equal happiness. Grant and I have practically nothing, but we're happy enough!" she said, and Val couldn't help a titter at Granthil's loud snort.
"Unless you're in one of your 'moods', sweetheart," he said, once again managing to break the tension and making everyone laugh.
"You got anyone, Val?" Bobby asked rather innocently, realising too late that he'd set a trap for himself.
"Why, you interested, Bob?" Chantelle teased, waggling her eyebrows and snorting between every laugh. His face turned as crimson as his hair, and Bobby swallowed hard.
"No! I'm simply making conversation!" he cried, pulling on the chain hanging by the forge to make the flames grow again.
"It's alright, I knew what you meant," Val assured him with a warm smile. "But no, I don't have anyone- and I'm quite content with that." It was a bold faced lie, but she managed to say it without her voice cracking, which was something she supposed.
"What about you?" she asked, tying her hair backup.
"Not yet, unfortunately. I'm sure I'll manage to find someone before I get to my pa's age though," Bobby quipped, ducking to avoid the half hearted swat that Richard aimed at his head.
Val took the leather folder that was sitting at the end of each anvil, flicking through it and knitting her brows.
"Having a lover isn't the be all and end all," she said, well aware of her own hypocrisy on the matter.
"Aye, but it's bloody nice. Specially on those colder days," Bobby pointed out, and Val's face relaxed into a small, shy smile.
She remembered all too well how it felt to share Varian's bed of a winter night. One minute she'd be shivering with cold, but his warm chest would soon chase it away as his arms coiled themselves around her, not letting go until the sun rose the next day.
It had been her idea of bliss…and in all honesty, it still was, which made it all the harder to accept that it wasn't an option anymore.
"Val?"
She started, looking up and finding Bobby looking rather concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked, and she nodded, feeling rather foolish.
"Aye, I'm fine. Just tired, that's all,"she said shakily, putting the folder down.
"Well you better wake up soon, my girl, this steel's melting beautifully," Richard told her, and she put the folder down, knowing what that meant; it was time to get to work.
By lunchtime, they were full steam ahead with their task. The steel was finally ready, and they were all in the midst of creating the first of the weapons that had been asked of them.
Richard let Bobby help him lift the cast-iron mould that had ten slots for sword blades on it. Val made sure they had it steady before throwing a handful of the ice cold salts she had in her hand over them, and the steel hardened almost instantly. It was considered a cheat to use them, but time was of the essence, so no one really cared.
Granthil took them out, letting Richard put the mould back on the forge for the next lot. Chantelle and Ruth were already pounding away, creating more pauldrons than Val had ever seen in her life.
Val was given five blades, and Granthil the others, letting Annette sit patiently at the grindstone, ready to finish them off. Val took one of them and held it in both hands, looking up at the large sketches that had been put up around the forge and calculating how to make the two things match.
"Anyone got a match I could have?"she asked, turning on her heel.
Granthil threw her a match-bookand she lit the small gas burner at the end of her anvil. It was another cheat that Lokir probably would never have approved of,butit wasan entirely appreciated one.
It meant she could heat her blade as many times as she wanted without even leaving her station, so it was incredibly convenient. There was a comfortable silence as they all started working, with the only noise being the screech of metal being cut and the whoosh of the forge as the flames were pumped now and then.
Val held the blade she was focusing on over the flame until it was at a yellow heat, laying it on the anvil afterward and laying the flat of her hammer at the side, quickly gauging what she needed to before swinging along the edges of the blade, knowing it would have to be heated quite a few times before Annette could grind it to the proper blade shape.
It took about four heats to get it exactly right and by the time she gave it to Annette to grind, she already had another one on the go, looking back up at the sketches and squinting a little since she wasn't that close to them.
"They've given us the thickest steel, haven't they? I can't remember when I last worked with something this good," Chantelle said, pausing for a moment to sip the tea sitting by her stool.
"If rumours of these 'orcs' sizes are to be believed, it's not that much of a shock," Granthil replied, flexing his wrist.
"Has Prince Varian told you what they look like, Val?" Ruth asked, despite Val really not wanting her to. She grimaced, watching the heat spot on the blade with feigned interest.
"He doesn't really like talking about that kind of thing whenever we're together. But from what he has told me…they're big, ugly and strong," she explained, making Bobby shudder.
"I've heard the word 'demons' being thrown around," he said, shaving the excess from the shield he was working on.
"It's best not to think about it, lad. Should all go well, we'll never see them," Granthil said gruffly, dunking the blade he was shaping into the tub of water next to him. He looked up at the sound of the door opening, raising an eyebrow as a well dressed gentleman came through.
"I beg your pardon, but is Miss Glenmore here?"
Val's stomach dropped to her feet and she straightened, swallowing hard. "Aye, that's me," she said, taking the folded missive that was handed to her.
"You are formally invited to dine with Prince Varian tonight and attend the New Year Ball with he and Lady Ellerian as a favoured guest," he informed her, making her brown skin pale even more.
Ignoring the titters behind her, she cleared her throat, not even bothering to open the letter.
"I haven't picked up my gown yet, and I'm working until this evening. But you can tell His Highness that I can dine with him beforehand," she said, praying that her voice wasn't shaking as much as the rest of her was.
"The Prince expects you at four, no later Miss. He's had your gown collected and was quite adamant that you finish early," the dark haired man said, putting his hands behind his back.
Val looked back at the group that she could confidently say she was getting on with enough to call her friends, feeling utterly guilt-ridden until Annette nodded at her, and Granthil stood, taking her shoulders.
"Then four o'clock it will be lad, we'll make sure she's there on time, don't you worry. Off you go now, tell the prince the good news," he said confidently, giving Val a squeeze. It was silent until the door closed, where a buzz of chatter burst from them all.
"Look at you, Cinderella! Going to the ball with the Prince!" Chantelle cried, nudging Val in the side.
"I literally want to be sick," Val murmured, glad that Granthil let her shoulders go.
"Well don't. You've nothing to be ashamed of, lassie," he assured her, but it didn't help. Val sighed, running both hands down her face.
"I didn't really have any choice butto say yes, did I really?" she said, trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
"Nope. So come on, get your arse in gear girl, so you can make sure that you don't keep His Highnesswaiting!"
Val was a little bit concerned about the fact that Tiffin wasn't in Varian's chambers when she got there at half-past three.
Jon let her in and she was waiting patiently for Varian to finish the last bit of work he had to do, giving her a moment to read the book she had open on the table in front of her.
"Where's Tiffin?" she finally asked, sitting a bit straighter. Varian stiffened and he put down his quill, leaving his desk and sitting opposite her instead.
"She's in her rooms getting ready for tonight," he admitted. He swallowed, linking his fingers.
"It's youthat I wanted to see."
Val closed her book, really not liking how monotone his voice was.
"Varian, you're acting rather serious," she observed, suspicious of his wobbly smile.
"I need to be serious for a minute, if that's agreeable?" he asked, twiddling his thumbs. Val's eyebrow cocked.
"Is this why you called me away from work? To have a chat?" she accused, feeling a sigh beginning to form in her chest. Varian's brow furrowed in annoyance.
"A rather importantchat," he said, exhaling through his nose and briefly closing his eyes. "Val…Tiffin and I have been speaking at length about a matter that's been concerning me." Val's anger fizzled, and was replaced by her own concern.
"What did you speak about?" she asked, wondering whether she wanted to really know the answer. Varian grimaced, tensing his jaw.
"We spoke about…us. As in, you and I, and where we stand as of now," he admitted, trying to read her face. Val had a vague idea where he was going with this and felt a cold dread creeping up her spine.
"I thought you were content with our current situation?" she pointed out, beginning to wring her hands underneath the table. Varian shook his head, looking as hard as stone.
"You know damn well I'm not. I've been biting my tongue purely for your benefit, but now I've received Tiffin's counsel on the matter…and she wants us to be as genuine to ourselves as we can be. And I personally think that includes resuming our relationship…all aspects of it."
Val had to admit she hadn't been expecting such a heavy conversation when all the invitation had told her was in store had been dinner, and his frank admission had only made her throat tighten.
"Well…I have to commend you on being so truthful with me," she finally replied, putting her hands flat onto the table. Varian's stony visage faltered, and his eyes softened completely.
"I told you from that first afternoon that I still loved you Val, and for three weeks I've been trying to repress that. It's making me feel like a fraud, spending all this time with you and not indulging the most basic of desires just to make Tiffin feel better. She's already made it clear that she doesn't care what we do."
Val sighed, taking a quiet minute to reflect on his words despite them being the same ones that had swum around her head for weeks.
"It's not just Tiffin though, isn't it? You'll be an adulterer and I'll be a whore if we're caught," she argued weakly, and of course, it didn't convince him of how risky an idea he was putting forward.
"Val, half of the staff here remember when we were together, and we've already proved that some of the common folk do as well, so I don't think anyone will be that surprised," he retorted, squeezing her hands and feeling awful for essentially slamming her into a brick wall of revelations.
"Don't say yes to placate me, if you still don't want to change the way things are that's fine by me. I'll be your 'friend' if you wish me to be, but I need you to know how I feel about everything." Val let go of his hands, running hers down her face.
"So what, we just continue as we were before the betrothal was announced? Are you sure that's even possible?" she questioned, needing to lay every single detail out on the table in order to unscramble then in her head. Varian shrugged, not helping her reluctance.
"I don't see why not. Tiffin came up with a term last night that I think fits how we want the situation to be addressed, and that was 'married friends'. She knows her duty, as do I, but personally, there is nothing between us and really, there doesn't need to be. Our personal lives are our own business, we don't even need to speak if we didn't want to."
Val hated that she still didn't understand royal customs even after all these years of knowing him, it put her at a distinct disadvantage, and now was no exception.
"This isn't just your groin talking, is it?" she asked in a pathetic attempt at humour.
Varian seemed offended by even the thought of it.
"No. For once I'm listening to my heart, and not what other people want. I love you Valerica Glenmore, and I want to indulge that as much as I can. I should be allowed to kiss you when we meet, or hold your hand when I walk you home, it drives me mad that I can't," he said softly, making her heart melt despite her hesitation. As much as she hated to admit it, but having the three of them all feel this way was beginning to sway her decision.
It was a huge help that Tiffin didn't love Varian, it made it less of a conspiracy to even contemplate allowing this.
"Tell me what you're thinking," he all but whispered. Val took a deep breath, genuinely smiling as she thought about it more.
"I suppose it would make us all a little bit happier if we weren't treading on eggshells about what's 'allowed' or not," she admitted, and his face lit up like a beacon.
"I'm glad we agree on that. It's been exhausting, trying to restrain myself when really, it's not necessary," he told her, getting a nod of agreement from her.
"I know what you mean. Since you've been so truthful with me, I think it's only fair that I tell you that I've been repressing the same urges. When we've sat here of an evening playing cards all I've wanted to do was lean over and kiss you when I win like I used to. I think everyone will appreciate it more if we just relax a little," Val said with a sigh.
"If I'm being perfectly honest, I've been treating this like being seen as the prince's lover would make any chance of getting anyone else null and void, when really, all I wanted when I had the chance to move on was you. So it makes my argument nothing but sand in the wind."
Varian leant forward, trying not to show how excited he was getting at the very likely prospect of her saying 'yes'.
"If I may? I'd be proud to have you on my arm again Val, not seen as my 'friend', but as the woman I love, as you should be," he said with such sincerity that Val could feel her cheeks growing warm.
"I would like that. But I don't want to be overly promiscuous with this Varian. Some people will still see Tiffin as your true wife, and their respect for you will lessen if they see you flaunting another relationship. You're the prince, you need their respect to be taken seriously."
"It doesn't even need to leave this room if you don't want it to Val. I promise, any rules you lay down, I'll follow diligently," he declared. Val thought about it for another minute, picking some soot from her nails.
"I think that would be the best way to start at least. I realise I've been feeding the rumour mill already, coming here by myself so many times," she confessed, seeing the problem with their current 'plan' more and more. Varian's smile faltered, telling her that he felt the same.
"I've been trying not to point it out. It has been rather…counter productive to your cause," he concurred, trying not to sound like he was teasing hung her head a little out of embarrassment.
"Well, I see that now," she grumbled, squirming in her seat. "So you're surethat Tiffin's given her blessing to this? She's going to be part of our lives from now on Varian, we can't exclude her from decisions like this anymore." Varian raised a hand.
"Val, I swear to you that Tiffin was instrumental in this whole thing, so she is not to be a worry," he insisted, clearing his throat and looking her dead in the eye. "I think the last and more important question to ask is…do you still love me as much as you did back then? Enough to start again with me?"
Val took about ten seconds to think about how she'd felt the past three years and whether her affection for him had indeed waned as he feared it had.
But a smile was already finding its way on her face.
"I do. And I have to ask you the same thing, of course. Just, you know, about me,"
She said, and Varian didn't hesitate to nod.
"Val, I never stopped loving you."
"You always have to one-up me, don't you?" she teased, taking his hand to cement her 's shoulders shook with quiet laughter as his large fingers curled around hers.
"So we're agreed? No more pussyfooting, we're officially courting again?"
Val nodded, growing more excited by the minute. "We are."
He leant over the table and planted the softest kiss imaginable on her smiling lips, watching her face for a minute to see if she would flinch or lean back like she had been doing, pleasantly shocked when she merely brushed her lips to try and stem the tingle in them.
"That will take some getting used to again," she said dreamily, and his eyebrow cocked in amusement.
"What will, kisses, or letting me give them to you?" he asked with a grin spreading across his face.
Val shrugged, not really processing everything as smoothly as she wanted yet even though she was absolutely thrilled with how the conversation had gone.
In all fairness, she'd wanted nothing more than to be Varian's woman again and was too busy looking out for someone else's non-existent feelings to listen to her own, so really, it was quite liberating.
"Both, really. Think about it Varian, three years and then self-appointed abstinence…I wasn't expecting something as simple a kiss anymore," she admitted.
Varian had a small, light smile on his face.
"I won't push my luck, you know that, but expect a lot more from now on," he said coolly, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. Even Val's laugh sounded different now they had shed the charade. It was bizarre, but in all the best ways.
"You better not Varian Wrynn, or I'll have to invest in a chastity belt," she warned.
He rose, prompting her to do the same and meeting her at the side of the table, holding both of her hands and merely watching her face.
"I love you, Val."
She closed her eyes in strange contentment, taking her hands away and putting her arms around him instead, feeling his enclose around her and soft, only slightly cautious, kisses dot the crown of her head.
"And I love you."
He rested his cheek on her head, swaying with her and letting his eyelids droop.
"Apologies for the abruptness of all this, but it's been playing on my mind all night," he slurred. She smiled into his chest, breathing in his was a familiar smell, but now she could allow it to be a comfort to her, after futile attempts to resist it.
"Is that why you sound like you're about to fall asleep?" she teased. Varian chuckled, testing the waters and holding her tighter, glad that she didn't move back from him.
"I'll admit, I haven't got the amplest of sleep, but looking at things as they are, it was worth it," he insisted. Val looked up at him with genuine concern.
"Will you be able to handle tonight?" she asked, worried that he'd drop before midnight was even close to arriving. Varian nodded despite his body begging him to say no.
"I'll be fine, just don't expect the most philosophical of conversation," he jested.
Val grinned, stepping back not because she wanted him to finish holding her, it was merely so she could see his face properly.
"I never do with you, so you've nothing to worry about," she teased, and he jabbed her in the sides before she could stop him, laughing despite her thinly veiled insult and holding on while she giggled like a little girl.
She eventually wrenched his hands away, thumping his chest and ducking when he moved to ruffle her hair.
"You are such an arse," she said with narrowed eyes, but her anger couldn't fester for long. Varian just looked brighternow they'd resurrected their full relationship, smiling enough to make little cracks appear in the corner of his lips.
"I praise myself on being the only person alive who knows you're ticklish, and you're a fool to think I wouldn't use it to my advantage," he said with a smirk, finally letting her go as she started to pull away. Val huffed, throwing open the door to his closet in pretend fury.
"That still makes you an arse!"
Varian knew she'd gone to find her dress, not bothering to follow her since he was sure she already knew where he'd had it stored.
"So I take it work was alright?" he asked casually.
Now she sounded genuinely annoyed.
"I was having a very good day until someone sent their bloody groom to fetch me like I was a puppy at their beck and call," she fumed, finding what she needed on a shelf next to her.
Varian rolled his eyes, closing the curtains ready for her to have the bath she clearly needed from the black patches on his shirt.
"I know it was a little out of the blue, but I needed to get it over and done with while I still had it all secure in my mind, I'm not apologising for that," he said firmly, turning as she appeared at the doorway with a long brown paper package nestled in one arm.
"I'm not asking you to, I just wish you'd been honest with me instead of saying it was 'for dinner'. I'm fairly certain they all think we're making ravenous love right now," she lamented. His smile held a hint of wickedness.
"Is that such a bad thing? There was a time when that would have been the truth," he pointed out, making her stiffen a little bit, which she hadn't been expecting.
"What? What did I say?" he asked concernedly, tempted to go over to her. Val put the package on the bed to save her arm, rubbing it and furrowing her brow.
"Nothing, I'm just trying to decide how 'slow' we should take this, that's all," she explained, still no closer to an answer. Varian leant on the back of his desk chair, drumming it with his fingers.
"Well, I wantto say that there are no limits, but I feel like you wouldn't agree with me," he said cautiously, and a coy nod was his answer.
"I don't want to get everything out in a day and lose the excitement that an actual 'courtship' brings Varian. Don't misunderstand, I'd love to just whip my clothes off and jump into bed, but I feel like we'll enjoy the deed a lot better if we let ourselves enjoy the build-up, that's all."
He bent down to give her the kiss she leant up for on her way to the washroom, smiling regardless of being given 'boundaries' with a woman he should never have to receive them from.
"Val, I'm glad enough that you didn't walk out of that door when I suggested getting back together, so I'll happily wait as long as you deem suitable, just as I did back then," he reassured her, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Val looked back at him with a warm smile.
"Good. I promise it won't be too long," she insisted, turning the taps on and growing rather eager to sit in a proper bath. Varian's chuckle was lost on her, however.
"It doesn't matter to me either way," he said, trying to suppress the yawn pushing its way up his throat. "Tea?"
"Oh yes, please. As much as I like Richard, he can't make it to save his life, and he was on last round," she bemoaned. Varian pulled the rope by the door, cursing himself for not assuming she'd want one anyway and having the tea service already sent up.
"Already on a first-name basis with everyone?" he asked with pride coating his voice.
Val poured a little bit of oil into the churning water and took a deep inhale, feeling her head clear already.
"You'd be surprised at how easily tradesmen of the same craft can get along Varian," she said with a tone that told him that he should've already known that.
She stood to take her breeches off and slung them in the corner before hanging her bare legs over the side of the tub.
"Granthil and Annette are there. You know, from Goldshire?"
Varian couldn't recall ever knowing a smith that wasn't Lokir or his family, so curiosity was evident on his face. He decided not to push things and join her while she was bathing, choosing instead to resume the small amount of paperwork.
"I can't say that I recall the names," he admitted, inking his quill. Val pulled her shirt off, letting it join her breeches.
"Well, I've known them for years, and it's been wonderful catching up with them," she said, feeling the warm water coating her toes. Varian scratched his signature on the bottom of the parchment with a smile.
"I'm glad to hear it, Sweetheart," he said, feeling a small lump in his throat the minute that he stopped talking. He hadn't called her by the affectionate moniker in so long that it left a strange, sweet taste upon his tongue.
Val had a dopey smile on her face to match his as she watched the bubbles frothing about in the water.
"I've missed hearing you call me that," she said, putting her chin on her bent knee.
"Then I'll have to use it alot more often," he said warmly, glad to the ends of Azeroth that he'd made the decision to have his talk with her. Things felt so…right, now, and it would make all he had to deal with later on alot easier to handle. She was his comfort blanket, and now he had full reign to hold her as close as he wanted.
And he loved it.
The fireworks were still lighting up the sky far past midnight, and it was like they'd put Val in a trance; her honeyed eyes were aglow with every burst of colour that filled the air above the grounds of Stormwind Keep.
She and Varian weren't down there with them, they'd already come back to his chambers, losing patience with constant questioning on why she was even there or Varian's upcoming marriage and choosing to escape from it.
They'd told Tiffin of their new 'situation' before they'd left for the ball, and as expected, she had been absolutely thrilled to hear it. Val had been sure that the blonde had been on the verge of tears, and the hug she'd received was still leaving it's effects on her windpipe even now. All was right with the world as far as the three of them were concerned.
She sipped her cider, leaning on the balcony and using every bang to round up every new thing that had happened since she had come back to Stormwind, wondering whether she'd made horrible decisions or ones that would make her exponentially happier in the long run.
One bang and she contemplated whether coming back at all was the right thing.
Another, and she thought about how easily she'd let Varian back into her life after everything.
One more; how she was standing here waiting for him to come up so they could go to bed together.
The last one she still wasn't sure about, and was positive that he knew that, probably lingering outside pretending that he was listening to a word whatever noble had caught him was saying, wanting her to adjust to what would be highly misinterpreted should someone not in their trio find them.
She wasn't frightened, far from it, hells, she wasn't even nervous, more…unprepared. Yes, that was the right word for how she felt standing here right now, unprepared.
The whole idea of resuming their relationship had been sprung on her, she'd barely had time to give it thought no matter how genuinely she'd agreed with everything.
And yet here she was, proving her brother right once again. "Lunch…dinner…staying the night."
She could hear his chides even though he wasn't here, making her wonder if he'd ever take the news of this well or whether this would finally be the thing to make them fall out. She supposed she'd find out when he came home.
It was a bit disheartening, standing here alone when she knew her family were together and celebrating over a thousand miles away, drinking themselves stupid, singing songs she knew off by heart at this point, and then going back to the grove for gin and hot milk.
She had to admit, while she didn't regret spending a rather enjoyable evening with Varian, she didn't like putting up so many walls tonight.
She'd been stared at, muttered about and she was sure Ridgewell's wife had spilt that wine down her on purpose, so while her personal company was pleasant, the atmosphere was not.
She took another few sips, hearing the door behind her but not bothering to leave her spot.
It was darker than usual, with the braziers and torches in the grounds and on the balconies extinguished to get the full effect of the exploding lights, so anybody looking up wouldn't be able to determine who exactly was standing brazenly outside the Prince's window…or see the kiss he planted on her cheek once he joined her.
"Apologies, Tiffin's father wanted to go on at me about her dowry," he grumbled, taking her drink from her when she graciously offered it.
"Those are still a thing?" she asked, once again showing her ignorance about Court grunted in annoyance, finishing the goblet off and putting it by his feet.
"They are, making this whole thing seem like a damn cattle trade rather than a marriage," he seethed, deeply upset by the essential 'transaction' that he'd just had to listen to. Val started quietly laughing to herself, earning a gentle nudge.
"What's so funny?" he demanded. She wrinkled her nose, still watching the fireworks.
"I'm just thinking what would've stood as mine if we'd actually been able to marry…probably about three silver and a tea service that'd seen better days," she mused.
"I wouldn't have taken a thing from you and you know that," Varian gruffly reminded her. Val laughed again, hunching her shoulders against the brisk night air.
"I wonder how many rules we would've broken together," she contemplated, drumming her fingers on the railing. Now Varian added his chuckle to the mix.
"Probably every single one. And I wouldn't have had it any other way," he boldly rubbed the top of her arm, feeling the goose pimples covering it.
"Come, let's get you in the warm," he said, but she seemed hesitant, and he wasn't surprised in the least.
"I'll go to the chambers down the corridor if you'd like?" he offered, but she shook her head.
"No. You're entitled to your bed," she said, feeling stupid for even letting him suggest it. Varian cupped her chin, kissing her forehead.
"Val, even though I would adore making love to you tonight, you'll be pleased to know I'm far too tired to even contemplate it," he informed her, letting her brush her fingers over the bags sitting under his eyes.
"I can see that," she whispered. He let her in first, pulling the curtains once he'd closed the door and finally letting the yawn that had been sitting in his throat all night stretch across his face.
"I forgot how bloody cold it is at night here," she commented, rubbing her hands together. Varian grimaced, glancing at the fire and finding it blazing as much as it could, but knowing exactly what she meant.
"It's the stone, it absorbs the cold," he told her, disappearing into the closet, and coming out with rolled-up furs in his arms. He unrolled them, draping them over her shoulders.
"Light I forget who damn small you are sometimes," he muttered with a smile. Val knew what he meant since the furs dragged about a foot or so behind her, but she didn't deem herself obscenely short as he was insinuating.
"Maybe you need to kill smaller bears," she mocked, sharing a chuckle with him.
"You always have a answer for everything, don't you?" he said in feigned exasperation. Val pulled the furs around her, already feeling the warmth the thick hide gave.
"You knew what you were getting into when you called me up here this afternoon," she reminded him. He started to blow out the candles to make the room a little darker in aid of their sleep, not feeling that he could in a well-lit room even if he tried.
"Of course I did, and I wouldn't change it for the world," he stated, extinguishing the last one.
The fireworks caused flashes of colour and light to come through the curtains but neither of them were perturbed by it, if anything it filled the calm silence that came with the two of them getting undressed.
"Your work clothes should have been washed by now, they'll be ready by tomorrow at any rate," he said, and Val smiled at him, dumping the furs on the bed and untying her dress, letting it fall into a puddle of silk by her feet. Varian passed her a spare pair of his shorts as they had agreed, not quite hiding the dopey smile on his face.
"What?" she asked, already knowing the answer. He started like she'd shocked him, busying himself by turning the bed down.
"Nothing, just…never thought I'd be seeing you like that again," he stammered, trying to tear his eyes away but finding it difficult.
"Varian, I didn't have anything to fill something like this the last time you saw me. I'm sure I was still in fucking vests," she said, knowing full well that she was exaggerating but not caring. Varian rolled the sleeves to his shirt up, watching her cross to the basin to wash her face.
"Were we really that young the last time?" he mused, not quite believing it. Val's smile was small and warm.
"I was, at least," she said, scrubbing the paint from her face.
"If I said you fill it out rather well now, how hard a slap will I get?" Varian asked with a grin, putting an extra pillow on her side. Val loudly tutted, scraping her hair back and tying it up.
"Because it's you and not a random bloke on the street, I'll give it a pass this time," she told him as he ducked into the closet. His over dramatised sigh of relief would've made her laugh was it not for her confusion as he came back in. "Since when do you wear anything to bed?"
He let his hair loose, combing his fingers through it and pouring himself some water.
"Since it's cold enough for my bollocks to fall off if I expose them to open air for too long, that's when," he told her as if it were the most obvious reason in the world.
She sat on his bed, not used to something this luxurious anymore; her bed was a thin mattress stuffed with goose feathers and a lumpy pillow, so to have silks and thick cotton underneath her again was strange, to say the least.
He watched her while he sipped his water, finding it strangely adorable how she stretched and bent her legs with the soles of her feet never leaving the sheet they were planted on.
"I'm glad you didn't go home tonight Val. It always worries me when I know you're alone," he admitted, seemingly out of nowhere. She cocked an eyebrow, starting to settle against the pillows, which he was glad to see.
"Varian, we've just been talking about how I'm a grown woman, I'm sure I would've been fine," she said, appreciating his concern but finding it funny regardless. Varian huffed, just as she knew he would.
"What sort of partner would I be if I let you walk the streets alone at two in the morning? I would never forgive myself if Light forbid you go down the wrong walkway and some bastard grabs you," he said, rolling his large shoulders.
Val rolled onto her side with a grin on her face, feeling the bed bounce as he all but fell into it, pulling both blankets and furs up to their chests and scooting closer to her.
"'Partner'. That sounds rather formal," she pointed out with a snort. Varian chuckled, pulling his pillow towards hers and taking the hand resting between them.
"I didn't want to say 'lover'. It sounds too unfeeling, like this is just a silly little fling when I know damn well it's anything but," he admitted, subconsciously shifting closer to her. Val wrinkled her nose with a small smile on her face.
"I love how much you think about things sometimes," she told him, stroking his cheek and watching his eyes close.
"I could swear that you used to tell me it was infuriating," he mumbled, relaxing into her touch.
"It is when you're doing your over-worrying bit," she admitted. His speech was starting to slur, with his normal tone replaced by a gravelly, sleep heavy one.
"Most of the time I spend worrying is about you," he said softly, and Val pushed herself onto her elbows so she could lean over and kiss his cheek, settling herself back down.
"Well don't Varian, I'm just fine," she assured him, moving some of his hair from his face, realising how much she'd missed seeing how calm he was at night.
"You better still be here tomorrow. I know what you're like," he mumbled, furrowing his brow. Val softly chuckled, pulling the furs to her chin.
"It depends on whether you decide to be a lazy lion or not. I need to go to work at some point," she reminded him. His arm curled over her waist and she did not attempt to move it, feeling rather safe with it there.
"Varian?"
He was already asleep, and she was perfectly content with that, listening to his slow breaths and watching his face relax until she felt the same need to close her eyes.
