The Forged Throne

by MerriForrester

For twenty years, Azeroth enjoyed a peace that Valerica Glenmore took for granted. Now, with war after war ravaging her home city of Stormwind, the only safety she has is the man she's loved for most of her life, Varian Wrynn. He is the King of an Alliance that could bring them from disaster, and she would join countless others in the fight for their home. EXTREMELY AU.

8. Chapter 8

The wait would only be four days, seven hours, and thirteen minutes.

Stormwind had been on total lockdown, with the doors to the city closing the morning after the ball and barricades being built on the other side, with soldiers swarming the ramparts and ships being constantly stocked in the bustling harbour.

A notice telling everyone why the precautions were being put in place had been put up in the town square, and those who had probably more sense than Val and Lucian had already left their homes to keep safe, with more and more doors being boarded up every time Val looked at them.

"Has Varian gotten any news yet?"

Val started dousingthe forge, untying her apron and her hair. "You've asked me that every day and I give you the same answer."

Lucian opened the front door to flip the shop sign, watching the latest patrol go past and sighing, bolting it behind him, and leaning on it. It was only eleven in the morning, but business had all but dried up with the people leaving, so there was no point being open.

"Cillian's not going to stay here much longer."

Val was trying not to lose it with him, but tensions were so high everywhere that everyone and their mothers were snapping at each other, so he'd forgive her for it eventually. "I know he's not, but what do you honestly expect me to do, go to the Horde, and ask politely when they're coming to kill us all?"

Lucian's brow furrowed and he all but slammed his gloves on the counter. "Less of the attitude, please! I know you're wound up, trust me little sister so am I, but that doesn't mean that sarcasm suddenly flies around here."

She knew that, of course she did, and she felt awful for biting when he was merely pointing out the obvious. "Look, I'll go to the docks in a minute and tell Cillian to cast off tomorrow."

Lucian's eyebrow rose. "With us on the Rose, I presume? Otherwise, we need to ready the spare bed for Grammy."

Val wanted to laugh at that since it was essentially the truth; Minnie had already replied to her missive with the condition that Cillian was not to return to either Booty Bay or Glenmore Grove without the two of them, so if they did indeed send the pirate back on his own, she could guarantee her Grammy would be in Stormwind before she could even blink, dragging them both by their ears to the ship whether they wanted to go or not.

"I don't think we have any other choice but to go with him."

The defeat in her voice made all thoughts of his previous anger fizzle out and a sympathy that only a brother could feel swell in his chest. "We best start packing up then."

Val solemnly nodded, glad that he hadn't drawn the conversation on longer than was necessary; Lucian always had a knack for getting straight to the point and not worry about the unnecessary details of a plan whenever they made one, he just wanted to know where he needed to be, what he needed to do and how he was going to do it.

"Aye, we should. Do we have any trunks left?"

He clucked his tongue, looking around them and assessing how much they had before answering her. "We have those two that are big enough to smuggle a person in, the rest will have to go in satchels."

Val looked at the ceiling, opening the windows to let some of the smoke out. "I'll go upstairs now, then we can do down here tonight."

Lucian slowly nodded, not quite sure what to think of how calmly she was taking this. "I would think there are a few people you'd want to tell first?"

There was, but how could she do that? Not two days ago Varian had been in here and she'd told him categorically that she wasn't going, so how could she go and essentially confess that it'd been a lie?

"We won't be going forever Little Bird, just until this shit with the Horde blows over."

Val huffed, not placated by that at all. "We don't even know if it will 'blow over'. I'm more than sure the docks will close at some point if this damn waiting carries on, so we won't even be able to get back."

Lucian knew this indecision was to go on for a long while, so let her get her rant out before even attempting to reply."We'll figure something out, we always do. Go on, you go and find Varian, tell him what's going on and I'll make a start here."

Val was conflicted about it, he could see it on her face, so putting a coin purse he'd been spending the best part of an hour counting out down once again he cupped her cheek, earning a smile whether she wanted to give him one or not. "Go on, it's for the best."

Val sighed, whipping her apron off as quickly as she'd put it on."Give me ten minutes to clean up first, I might as well make an effort to tell him that I'm leaving him again."

Lucian grimaced as she all but flew up the stairs. He started gathering everything around the counter up to pack later, attempting in vain to ignore the dull roar outside that told him that the few mages Stormwind had been putting up the daily wards that practically imprisoned them in their own city.

He recognised that they were supposed to keep the Horde out, but to the city that hadn't seen hide nor hair of them, it just seemed to be there to keep them in.

"You're not leaving him, Val, you're keeping yourself safe, which is all Varian should want."

Val started putting her clothes on the bed to pack them up when she got back, wanting to get this over with so she had the motivation to carry through with their plan. "He'll see it as running away."

Lucian rolled his eyes. "No, he won't. You're not a soldier, why the hells would you want to stay here and be practically defenceless?"

Val snorted, shoving her wool dress over her head. "You make me sound like such a weakling, thanks, brother."

She pulled her boots on and hopped down the stairs, trying to get everything straight in her head."I'll see Cillian first, then Varian. It'll sound more like we know what the hells we're doing if I put everything in place first."

He patted her arm, trying to muster up a smile for her. "Want me to come with you?"

She shook her head, appreciating it regardless and kissing his cheek, taking her coat from the hook. "No, it'll be easier if I do it by myself. You start packing."

Now he chuckled, sweeping his loose hair back. "Oh, I see how it is. I'll do mine first, eh? Leave yours for you, Light knows what you have up there."

She stuck her tongue out at him, giving him another quick goodbye and hopping down the stairs, not noticing how quiet it was until she started walking the streets and kept seeing boards nailed onto nearly half the windows and doors around her, barely any market traders in the main square…it felt like a ghost town.

Even the cathedral bell had stilled, with Benedictus being ordered by Llane not to ring it unless an attack was in motion and the people needed warning, so to say it was eerie as she hurried through to the Keep was an understatement.

The guard leading up to the fortress had doubled, with all eyes on her as she sped up the steps, hunching over and praying she found someone she knew soon. At first, she wasn't so lucky, but after a few minutes of awkwardly standing by the throne a very familiar voice met her ear.

"I were nae expectin' to see ye today lassie!"

Val bent to give Bessie the embrace that the hearty dwarf had opened her arms for, steeling herself for the large thumps she got on her back but still wincing a little when the blows landed.

"Believe it or not Bess, I was actually planning on spending the day at home today."

Bessie clucked her tongue, already ushering her to the kitchens before Val could even begin to protest. "Aye, alright lass, ah'll believe that when tha sky falls, shall I?"

Val couldn't stop the snort before it left her mouth, starting to unbutton her coat. "No, I mean it, I had no intentions of seeing Varian today…"

Her face fell and she knew how obvious it made the tone of her impromptu visit to the cook, but she honestly couldn't help it."Ah. So when ye going?"

Val stiffened, trying to count the number of guards as they went past in a vain attempt to distract herself from answering until she really had to."Tomorrow probably. I don't think Cillian's going to stay docked for much longer, it's not fair to effectively hold him hostage like this."

Bessie chortled, which in all fairness had been the last reaction Val had been expecting considering she'd just told her that she was leaving Stormwind, possibly for a long while.

"What's so funny?"

Bessie shrugged, waving her into the kitchens and preparing tea before Val could even sit down."Ah just donnae think 'hostage' is the right word fer someone who clearly wants ta be here."

Val shrugged her coat off, plopping it beside her and realising that even half the Keep staff had mysteriously vanished. "And what brought you to that conclusion?"

Bessie pursed her lips, but her cheeks puffed in a parody of a grin. "Oh lass, donnae act like ye have nae seen how tha boy looks at ye."

Val groaned before she'd even finished her sentence, putting her head on the table. "So itisyou that keeps putting that insane idea in Varian's head!"

She lifted her head back up and glared at the dwarf who was merrily pouring two cups of tea and slicing a cake bigger than Val's head. "Cillian doesn't fancy me, Bess."

Now she got a haughty snort as an answer. "Aye, he does lass, he's just too nice ta say it."

She sat down opposite Val and pushed a plate towards her, watching as she pulled off a piece and let the carrot cake melt in her mouth as it usually did.

"Ye would have ta be deaf, dumb, and blind not ta see how much tha lad cares for ya," Bessie smirked as she spoke, taking a sip of her tea. "Though, I could be talkin' about Varian as well. Ah, you should see him these past few weeks, it's like he's a new man."

Val kept swirling her spoon in her cup, watching it like it was going to hypnotize her."I doubt he'll be that jolly by the time I leave this Keep."

She didn't exactly know what she had expected the ruddy dwarf to do, but shrugging had been pretty damn low on the list. "Nae, I donnae think that at all lass. If anything he'll be glad yer gettin' to a place of safety."

Val snorted this time, taking another bite of her cake and cursing herself for not being able to ever resist Bessie's sweet treats."Brinewickis hardly 'a place of safety' Bess."

Bushy brows drew down and all it did was make her want to laugh despite everything. "Regardless, Varian knows that times are gettin' more fretful, and it's nae like yer disappearin' off the face of Azeroth this time."

Val didn't appreciate the reminder of how she nearly left Stormwind for good once before. "That was different Bess, my father has just died, we had a reason to go. This time it just feels like we're running away for no reason."

Bessie didn't look as if she agreed at all. "Judgin' by the number of soldiers everywhere, I would say ye have every reason ta be wary. Ye ask me, ah think you getting away will be a load off Varian's mind."

Val tapped the side of her cup with a nail, still not convinced, and Bessie had an inkling as to why.

"Yer allowed ta admit tha ye would miss him, there's no shame in it."

Val's coy smile told the older woman that she'd hit the nail on the head, but she was doing her best to conceal it.

"It would've been so much easier had we not reconciled so recently. If I was still refusing to speak to him I could break ties. But now we've reconnected…I don't have the heart to leave him, Bess, it just makes it ten times more difficult, does that make sense?"

Bess' smile had a teasing wrinkle to it as she dramatically swooned."Oh wha' a quandary, nae being able ta smooch like lovesick doves all day every day!"

She started cackling at Val's half-hearted swat, almost falling backward as she laughed at her own joke.

"You know what I mean! There's only so much letters can do, you know?"

Bessie calmed herself despite her snickers, putting a thick braid over her shoulder."O' course ah do lassie, Ah'm only having ye. But it won't be forever, you'll see him at some point."

Val hated how much she was reverting to a lovesick puppy dog, yet here she was wrinkling her nose and squirming in her seat. "That's not the point though."

As Bessie started snickering once again, Val swiftly changed the topic, keeping it on Varian but steering the conversation away from her pining, since that was truly what it was.

She would never openly admit it, but since their reconciliation, she found herself as addicted to Varian's company as she had been all those years ago.

"Where is Varian?"

Bessie's frown didn't fill her with confidence. "Council, hence why ah brought ye here instead o takin' ye to his chambers."

Val answered with a grimace. "I take it he's going to be a while?"

Bessie nodded, wiping the corners of her mouth. "Aye, the meetings have gotten longer and longer since Anduin came back from Karazhan."

Val took a long sip of her tea, trying to rationalise everything in her head. "Maybe I should come back later."

Bessie waved a hand, looking as cheery as she always did. "Nae, knowin' our Varian he'll storm out halfway through."

Val couldn't help laughing again, pouring herself another cup from the large teapot sitting in between them.

"So does Cillian know that he's leavin' on the morrow?"

Val cursed to herself, slapping her forehead.

"Shit, I was supposed to see him before I came, it's no worry, I'm sure he'll be alright with the short notice. Hells, the whole reason he came here in the first place was to take us 'home'."

It felt rather disorienting, knowing that at some point in the next few days she'd be abandoning her home and making another in a city she'd told Varian time and time again was a cesspool, with thieves, prostitutes, brigands, and any other scumbag you could think of living there.

She still had no idea why Minnie was there now Tobias had died, but she could suppose it was just her Grandmother being used to it after all this time when Val was more suited to the Stormishlife. She huffed, giving Bessie the best pleading look she could.

"Don't suppose you want to come and help us pack everything?"

The corners of Bessie's mouth rose once again. "Ah think I'd rather clean Varian's sheets."

Val nearly sprayed the dwarf with tea, choosing to take an unfortunately timed sip just as she said what she did and not knowing whether to feel amused or disgusted at it.

She sat with Bessie for what seemed like a while, occupying her hands with menial tasks like peeling carrots and potatoes so her mind was free to wander a bit.

She was in her own little world when someone came to the kitchens asking if Bessie had any coffee to hand, and instantly the dwarf knew who it was for since the prince was the only person in the Keep who drank the stuff.

"How he swallows it black as he does ah'll never know, but go on lassie, you take it to 'im, save me a job."

Val had obviously agreed, walking at quite the snail's pace to make sure she didn't end up tossing the beverage all over herself, really not caring about the strange looks she got for it and lightly rapping on Varian's door once she finally got there.

"It's open."

Even she was shocked at how smoothly she managed to open the door without spilling a drop, nudging it closed and smiling at his back, not used to seeing him hunched over his writing desk with such stiffness.

"Morning."

It could probably be called 'afternoon' at this point but she knew he wouldn't care. He straightened, twisting around and leaning on the back of his chair with a grin. "Well if you're not a sight for sore eyes, I don't know who is."

She put his mug down, perching herself on the edge of his desk, knowing the thick mahogany could take her weight perfectly fine. "Are you talking to me, or the coffee?"

He chuckled, taking the hand that was on her lap and lightly squeezing it. "Would you be mightily offended if I said both?"

Val's nose wrinkled. "That bad a morning eh?"

The exasperation flooded back onto Varian's face as he lounged back and picked up the papers he'd been working on, slapping the pile with the back of his other hand.

"More and more reports of the Horde moving, with sightings of camps in Elwynn that don't seem to be doing anything. We can't send troops to deal with those camps in case they're merely a distraction, but I can't leave them be either. It's like they're mocking us at this point."

She let go of his hand to rub his arm, gently scratching it and enjoying how his face relaxed in response."I take it there's been no sighting of Garona either?"

His brows drew in again. "No, and it makes me wonder what that bitch is up to. She swears fealty to my father than vanishes from the face of the earth, yet I'm the only one even remotely suspicious of it."

She crossed one leg over the other, tapping her boot against the table. "Oh, I doubt that's the case, Varian. King Llane probably just wants to lick his wounds quietly on the whole affair with her, that's all."

His grimace made his feelings clear. "Could you not use that word, please? There are already rumours of it flying around this gossip hovel, I'd rather not think about it if I don't have to."

She gave him a quick apology, getting up with him and giving him the embrace he was clearly asking for, not feeling as guarded as she had been about the level of affection he showed her when they were in private like this.

"Enough about this, it's only making my head hurt. How are you doing?"

She looked up at him, trying to decide whether the eased in or blunt approach was better and more respectful to him. "Could be better, could be worse I suppose."

He put some hair behind her ear, raising an eyebrow."Well if that wasn't avoiding the question, I don't know what was."

Val was well aware that she'd made it far too obvious that she wasn't here for a frivolous visit, and decided to just rip the bandage off quickly. "…Lucian and I aren't staying in Stormwind, Varian."

His face stayed annoyingly straight, but his throat kept contracting, telling her that he was probably trying to think of a response but kept swallowing it down to save her what was most likely his wrath.

"I see."

He let go of her, sat on the end of his bed, and patted the spot next to him. She sat down and realised he had a look of relief on his face that she hadn't been expecting at all. "What changed your mind?"

She plucked the wool of her skirt, trying to think hard about how she was to put this. "Cillian's leaving tomorrow, and I don't think I have to tell you how furious Grammywill be if we don't go with him."

His shudder meant he already knew, and it was all the reason he needed.

"You don't seem as angry as I thought you'd be."

Varian gave her the smallest of smiles, running a palm down her leg. "I should be, I know that, but if it keeps you safe, then I'm all for it."

There was defeat in his eyes and she shifted closer, putting her head on his arm since his shoulder was too high. "The Horde is practically at our doorstep Val. We've managed to push back a few smaller attacks, but something is telling me that it won't end there. I'd rather you be somewhere where I can make sure you're protected so I can focus on the Horde."

He kissed her forehead, putting his there afterward. "But that doesn't mean I like it."

Val linked her fingers with him, catching his lips for a brief second. "I take it that's code for 'I'm going to miss you?'"

Varian kissed her again, brushing his lips along her jaw. "I didn't think I had to say it. Tell me you'll miss me a little bit at least?"

Val put her head on his chest and her arms around his torso, content to just sit there and listen to his heartbeat. "Nope, not at all. Why on Azeroth would I miss you?" She didn't even need to open her eyes to know that his jaw was set and his eyes were narrowed.

"Haha, you're bloody hilarious."

Val snuggled into him, suddenly not wanting to leave at all, just as she feared would happen. "Of course I'll miss you, you big oaf. But it won't be forever."

His fingers started raking through her hair and it was nearly enough to put her back to sleep even though in reality she hadn't been up that long. "You say that Val, but I have no idea how long this standoff with the Horde's going to take. There are rumours of them gathering reinforcements, so Light knows what will happen and when it will end."

He held her cheeks and lifted her face, brushing her nose with his loose hair."I have no clue when I'll end up seeing you again."

Val inhaled slowly, trying not to make this too emotional when really, it didn't need to be. "We'll do it at some point though, that's what we have to hold on to. Until then we have letters."

Varian huffed, running his knuckles down her cheekbone with the gentleness of a feather. "That's not the same. We've barely gotten things back on track, and here we are separating again."

She held his hand with both of hers. "We're not separating Varian. Not this time." She gave him the wobbliest smile she could. "We'll just have to get each other excited about seeing the other one, that's all. Constant contact will keep us going."

Varian flopped backward, bringing her with him and ignoring her squeals. "There's no point trying to convince me that this will be enjoyable Val."

She rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows."I'm not trying to, I'm just making sure we both know what's happening."

She looked out of the window, earning his curiosity.

"What are you thinking?" She furrowed her brow and he regretted ever asking, somehow knowing that his 'I don't want to talk about that' wasn't going to be heeded at all.

"So what's the current situation?"

Varian didn't want to scare her, so he shook his head. "It doesn't matter right now."He cursed his inability to make anything sound not serious, trying not to catch her eye as her gaze bore into him.

"Varian. That means it's bad. Tell me."

He ran a hand down his face, trying to put this in the best way possible. "Only if you promise not to panic."

Val pursed her lips. "Varian, just fucking tell me."

He beckoned her to him, needing comfort while he essentially broke the worst news imaginable to her.

"The Horde is at the edge of Elwynn. That's why I'm so content with you going; if anything, I want you to go as soon as humanly possible. Our armies are pushing them back as much as they can but if they fail, the Horde will be at our gates in a matter of hours."

He could feel her start to quiver, but she stayed silent, which he wasn't sure he liked.

"So what happens if they end up getting here?" Varian stared at his canopy.

"We've already sent soldiers out to the Trade District to knock on doors of those who are too near the gates, telling them to move into the cathedral for now until we can assess whether they'll get into the actual city or not. If they do, we'll start a full evacuation. I don't want people to leave the city until it's absolutely necessary."

Val didn't want to admit that she was terrified at the news, but it wasn't like no-one had seen it coming; the threat of an invasion had been looming over their heads for months now, so if anything she was glad that it was all finally looking to be over.

"And when will we know when they're here?"

That's when Varian grimaced. "That's the thing, if they push through our lines, all we'll get is a half an hour window from where they can be spotted by the gate guards. So listen out for the bells today, I have a horrible feeling they'll be rungbefore the sun goes down."

Val sighed, not wanting to leave but not having much of a choice. "Then I better get back and start packing. I still need to tell Cillian we're going yet-"

Varian lightly grabbed her arm as she sat up, following suit and kissing the side of her temple. "I can have you to myself for at least a little bit longer, can't I?"

She was thoroughly tempted, and he could tell. "You can, but it can't be too long. We have to be prepared, Varian."

He was halfway on the floor, turning so he was leaning on his hands either side of her and catching her in a kiss that by all admittance, she'd been wanting all day.

"I'm surprised you're not down there leading the charge."

His angry huff warmed her neck. "I would be, had it not been a direct order from Anduin not to leave this damn Keep. Something about 'A prince's duty is to stay with his people'."

Val knew he wouldn't like it but smirked anyway. "He does have a point though Varian."

She as a little jarred by how little noise she was hearing out of the window considering it was the middle of the day and wide open."It looks like you've started the evacuation already. Where is everyone?"

Varian kept his nose buried in her hair, automatically swaying with her without actually meaning to. "Already gone. Tiffin went first."

Val's brow furrowed. "Where did you send her?"

Varian grunted, telling her all it had to. "I didn't, it was my father. He's gotten in contact with Terenas and sent her to Lordaeron until this is done."

Val couldn't stop her small snicker, choosing herself to lean back and give him more skin to pepper his kisses down."Don't sound too upset about that, will you?"

Varian's chuckle tickled her chest, sending little shocks with it that were growing rather hard to ignore. "I'm not upset in the slightest. She's safe and one less problem that I have to deal with, that's all I care about."

Val's brow furrowed. "Varian, what happened to getting along with her?"

Varian stopped, putting his chin on her belly."I'm doing my damnedest to try, but I can't forget the fact that I'm being forced to spend the rest of my life with her that easily Val, it sours all thoughts of being friendly with her a bit."

She raked his hair back, hearing genuine sincerity in his voice and finding it difficult to be disgruntled at his standoffish nature with the future princess. "I know, and if it helps, you're doing a lot better than I thought you would."

Varian snorted, taking her hands and pulling her up."High praise indeed. Just rest assured that I'm trying Val, truly I am. It's just hard when people constantly remind me that I have no say in what goes on with my life anymore."

He pulled the furs back, letting her gaze follow him as he closed the window and drew the curtains, giving her a clear indication of how their morning was about to go.

Varian's need for privacy was one she was very much familiar with, so she didn't feel intimidated or confused by the acts, pulling off her boots and pulling her dress over her head, sweeping her hair back and starting to fold it, chuckling when his chest met her back and his hands settled on her hips.

"I feel a little bit guilty doing this while we're waiting to be attacked."

Varian rolled the hem of her linen underskirt up, brushing his fingertips on the inside of her thigh. "I think that calls to be selfish for a small moment, don't you think?"

She wanted to say 'no, we have a lot more urgent things to deal with', yet here she was leaning back into him, playing with the ends of her hair just to keep her hands occupied. "I suppose it's a little poetic."

Varian's jaw fit almost too well in the crook of her neck, kissing and nuzzling until Val's knees started to buckle along with her chest, making each breath short and jagged. "If that's how you want to look at it, Sweetheart."

She turned around, putting her arms around his neck and feeling an out of nowhere lump of emotion in her throat. "Promise me you'll stay safe."

A soft kiss did nothing to placate her."You know I have no control of that Val."

She thumped his chest for all the good it would do, fully aware that it would barely leave a mark. "Then lie to me, just this once."

He wasn't used to hearing such blatant fear in her voice, and he couldn't help but feel a strange tingle of fear slither down his spine, making him merely hold her tighter and kiss as much of her head as humanly possible.

"I promise that I'll be alright. I'll come and find you after this is all done and all will be well."

He felt dirty even saying it since there was of course the chance that it would end the opposite way and all would be lost instead of well, but if she needed him to comfort her with honeyed words and white lies then so be it.

It worked, since no sooner had he finished his sentence, he felt her sigh of fake relief on his chest.

"Thank you. I needed to hear that."

Varian lifted her chin, tasting sugar on her lips and not wanting to ever stop the sensation on his own once he pulled away. "I'm glad I could help."

Val hated even saying this considering what was going on around them, but he was right, being selfish was looking deliciously inviting.

She let go of him but kept her grip on his hand, telling him without even opening her mouth what she wanted him to do."I take it we're done talking?"

She sat him down, letting him untie his breeches and open them enough to make the contact she wanted. She rolled the hem of her underskirt up and straddled him, already shuddering even though they hadn't done anything yet.

He kept her steady with one hand on her thigh and the other arm around her waist, digging his fingers in once her hips started to move and she rubbed herself against him.

"We don't have enough time to sit here talking."

She put her arms around his neck and her forehead against his, feeling him harden the more she ground her hips and trying not to whimper at the sensation. It would be probably the thirdtime that they'd made love since reconciling and to say she was more 'sensitive' than usual would be an understatement.

"Write to me when you get there." She hastily nodded, briefly letting go to pull at the laces of her vest, inhaling sharply and holding his head when it buried itself in her chest, kissing whatever inch of skin was accessible to him.

"Of course I will. And every couple of days afterward."

He was hard enough now that his head was brushing her folds and she had to lift her backside a little so she didn't hurt him."I'll come as soon as I can. I'll bring you home myself."

She angled herself as she came forward again, letting him slide smoothly inside her and compete with her as to who made the loudest noise, with his groan battling her shuddering moans.

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

Varian needed a brief moment to unscramble his thoughts, laying his head on her chest and clenching his thighs, not realising how good she felt around him until he'd buried himself deep enough to feel her tighten, making his head go light.

"Are you alright?"

He lifted his head, starting with slow, strong thrusts, muffling her with kisses that threatened to take her breath away. "I've never felt better."

She scratched the back of his neck, kissing his chin once his head went back. "We're saying goodbye properly this Horde can fucking wait."

Val was halfway through taking her things down to the prepared Black Rose when the bells signalling the Horde's arrival sounded, and like nearly everyone else, she was in no way ready for it.

She had just finished closing one of the last trunks when they rang, and Lucian was at her doorframe in seconds.

"Val-"

She abandoned her work, not quite sure what to do but feeling an unfamiliar panic creeping up her spine. "I know, I know. What's happening, do we know?"

Lucian took her hand, not caring that they still had half a room to move and hurting her wrist with his pulls as he led her down the stairs. "The crier's in the town square telling everyone exactly that."

She didn't even have time to put her shoes on, but she wouldn't dare complain of the cobbles pressing into her stocking covered feet as the two of them all but sprinted down the road and over the bridge, already hearing the low roars of battle coming from the west.

"Fuck, they really are here, aren't they?"

Lucian refrained from looking back at her, keeping his pace up and his face annoyingly straight. "Aye, they are, and now we have to deal with it."

The crier was already bellowing by the time they got there, so they had to concentrate to determine what they'd missed, nudging into the already panicking crowd and trying not to get hit by stray elbows where people were throwing their arms up.

"What is King Llane doing about this? Where is he?!"

That was the one she was hearing most, and it wasn't helping her concentration at all. The poor crier was trying to make his voice heard but it wasn't working.

What did work, however, was the thundering of hooves coming from the eastern side of the District, with the prince she knew and loved heading the charge, just as she feared he would be.

His voice was more powerful in both volume and station, so the crowd's loud yells became a low hum of murmurs and mutterings as he stopped his horse in front of them.

"The Horde has come to claim Stormwind for its own! But if you heed my words, it won't be this day! All of you, go back to your homes, lock the doors, and barricade yourselves as much as you can!"

He pointed behind him to the spire of the cathedral. "When the bell tolls three times, you'll know that our defence of the gates has been unsuccessful. If the bells ring, leave your homes, possessions, anything that will slow you down, and flee to the cathedral, where General Fordragon will start the evacuation!"

Already people started running back to the buildings, with Lucian yanking Val to him, looking over his shoulder at the flaming boulders that were only just bouncing off the wards that steadfast mages were fighting to keep up on the ramparts above their heads.

"You heard what he said, Val."

She wasn't too sure. "Maybe we should just go to Cillian?"

Lucian shook his head, following her gaze as the gates were opened by the smallest margin, with Varian and the soldiers that had been behind him all looking like they were stepping through a portal, with the wall of magic bent around them as they thundered through, cut off when the gates slammed shut and the huge wooden beams that she was well aware had hardly been used fall into place and essentially trap them in the city.

"No, we're to do what Varian instructed and go home, Cillian's probably already there waiting for us."

Something in her mind had told her that Lucian had already told the captain to come to the house should all hells break loose, so she supposed their only option was to go home.

The roar of the battle got louder, and she found herself jostled and shoved by people desperate to get back to their sanctuaries, making her lose her footing and in need of Lucian pulling her back to her feet, not helping the stinging in her wrist in the slightest.

It wasn't just Cillian waiting for them once they managed to break from the surging crowds, which Val would never admit out loud she was grateful for; there were very few times when she would accept help, and this was one of them.

The captain ushered them forward even though they were moving as quickly as was possible with the circumstances how they were, putting a protective arm around Val as Lucian opened the door, letting them all in and slamming it shut behind them.

"We heard the bells and came straight here. What's the plan?"

Lucian cleared the counter, which in reality was just a sturdy table, starting to push it with the help of Orazio and Morris, who'd come with Cillian as well as Lily, a flame-haired Kul Tiran who was just as strong if not stronger than the rest of the crew.

Val was emptying cabinets with both her and Cillian so they would be easier to topple and use to block the door, trying not to give in to the overwhelming fright that was spreading from her chest to the ends of her limbs.

It had been mere hours since Varian had told her that the Orcs were at the edge of the forest, if they had gotten here so quickly, how did Stormwind stand a chance?

"So far, it's just 'stay in here until we know whether they've gotten into the city'."

Cillian wasn't on board with that idea. "So what, we're just to become sitting targets?"

Lucian shook his head, noticing how his sister had gone quiet and shaking off his uneasiness to take relative control of the situation. "No. It only becomes a problem if they get through the gates, which right now, doesn't look as if it's happening."

Lily cleared her throat, putting the trunks they'd been packing with tools on the table once it was against the door. "It will only be a matter of time. Those wards won't hold that long, I can tell you that now."

Val didn't mean to snap but tensions were unbelievably high and everyone knew it; having an army not one hundred feet away that was ready to kill everyone in sight wasn't the most reassuring of situations, and the fact that Varian had gone out there after promising her he wouldn't was only making things ten times worse.

"Thank you, Lil, that made me feel so much better, knowing we're probably going to die in the next twenty-four hours, cheers for that!"

Cillian patted her back, obviously seeing the hysteria on her face that was threatening to break loose and ruin what little composure she still had left."Now then lass, no one said anything about dying."

He held his hand out and Orazio passed him a silver pistol with a dark oak grip, pressing the weapon in her hand and either not noticing or choosing to ignore how she started to shake. "D'you remember how to use this?"

She nodded despite her head wanting to do the opposite."Very vaguely."

Cillian kissed her forehead, sitting with her while the others continued to block the door. "We've already done the windows, it's just down here we have to take care of."

Val started to let her knee bounce, telling Cillian she was getting agitated.

"He'll be alright lass, he's tougher than you think."

She detested how obvious she was, running a thumb over the gun barrels just to occupy her hands as she sat here praying that Varian would come out of this alive. "He lets his anger do the thinking for him Cil, it's his biggest flaw. He'll go running in with ideas of heroism in his head and all it'll do is get him killed."

Orazio was the one to shake his head now, finishing the barricade and swiping his gun from its holster on the side of his belt, making sure it had ammunition and trying not to flinch at the noise outside.

"Varian's a smart lad lass, smarter than anyone gives him credit for. He'll be alright."

Cillian's grimace did nothing to soothe Val in any way, shape, or form. "Starting to wish we'd left yesterday, we would've been in Brinewickby now."

Val shrugged, practising her aiming for all the good it would do. She hadn't seen an orc up close yet, but from what Varian had told her, they were eight-foot-high, three-foot-wide and stronger than anything he'd ever witnessed, so she had no clue just what she expected to do when and if they broke down that door.

Of course if asked she'd cockily say "protect those I love" but in reality, she had no idea what she was doing and it would be abundantly obvious to any of the Orcs that she wasn't trained enough to make good on that promise.

"I wouldn't have gone with you yesterday, so I suppose it doesn't matter."

Morris scratched his large belly, tapping his cutlass against his leg. "What did Varian say when you told 'im you were going?"

Val took the drink Lily had poured her, quickly toasting to them getting out of this alive with the rest of them and downing it a little bit too fast.

"I went in there thinking he was going to argue the complete toss with me and make it into a screaming match, I'd been preparing myself for one."

She frowned, refilling her cup. "But once again that man surprised me. I told him outright what was happening and he said 'I agree. It doesn't mean I won't miss you, but I think you should go.'"

Lucian pulled a face, not liking how this was the first he was hearing about it. "That's surprisingly mature of him."

Val flinched as an almighty boom shook the floor underneath their feet, and she had the stomach-churning inkling that they were trying to merely tear the walls down in their efforts to get in.

She only just stopped herself covering her ears, looking at her brother like she was the toddler he used to sit on the stairs with when their parents were at each other's throats, needing comfort as much as she did back then."He's mature when he wants to be, you and I both know that."

Lily glanced out the window, letting a low whistle out. "One of the mages has been taken out."

Orazio's bushy brows drew down as he moved her away, using his spare hand to guide both her and Val to the back of the room. Lucian held his sister with one arm, his other hand clenched around the axe that he'd normally take to the outskirts of Elwynn and chop a few logs with to get them through the winter…she never dreamed he'd have to use it as a defence for the both of them.

"How exactly do you know the mage is gone, lass?" Lily slid onto the floor, bending her legs and putting her chin on them.

"There was a hole in the wards, a big chunk of it's missing."

Now Lucian's large palms went over Val's ears whether she wanted them there or not; it had always been a reflex of his to block out anything scary or too much for her, and usually, it worked quite well, but Val could feel her chest beginning to tighten and her head begin to pound as she unwillingly started to give in to her fear.

"It'll be alright Little Bird, we'll be alright."

Nothing was alright, and she was convinced it wouldn't be again.

Almost inevitably, the orcs had crashed through the outer gate and killed the mages keeping them out, pounding into the city, and sending its residents running as the bells did their duty and rang three times in a horrific countdown to their destruction.

There was a horrible mess of soldier, citizen, and orc in the Trade District square, with people not having time for an orderly evacuation, so it had rapidly turned into a surge of mass hysteria.

The Horde had pushed through before they could all move to the Cathedral, making those who had lost their wits to their panic start to block the way in their scramble to get over the small bridges connecting the mass to the rest of Stormwind, causing those who were further back to become embroiled in the firing line.

Lucian, Val, and the others had stayed behind a little longer, knowing they wouldn't get through even if they tried.

There had been casualties already, and what frightened Val more than the actual deed was how unsurprised she was by it. They had already taken out Goldshire, Northshire, all places she had known growing up, and Varian had told her that hardly any of the citizens of those villages had survived, so why did she expect the capital to be any different?

She ducked as another ball of flame soared over their heads, feeling the heat wash over her and the blinding flash of more structures crumbling with the impact, showering everyone with debris and soot that was in her eyes, lungs, and mouth, making it ten times harder to take note of what her brother was saying to her where her ears had popped, leaving nothing but a loud whine in her ears.

"Stay low and close to me!"

She nodded, taking his hand and fighting to keep her feet moving, turning when roars behind them got louder and the snapping of jaws caught her attention.

The orcs had released their wolves, gigantic beasts ten times the size of the wolves she and Varian had hunted over the years, and with teeth powerful enough to snatch up those around them as Lucian abandoned his initial command and dragged her forward, making her already aching feet hurt even more with the speed in which they hit the blood-soaked cobbles.

She slipped, catching her brother's shoulder as she went down and slamming them both to the ground, with Lucian scrambling up and throwing her forward, feeling the whisper of teeth barely graze his leg.

Thankfully some of those who had gone on ahead were attempting to distract the beasts long enough for the remaining soldiers to use the heavy crossbows dotted around the ramparts and skewer the things, including the one that pursued Val and her brother, much to her utter relief.

She ducked her head as more explosions rang out around her, with the smell of burning wood and something she could only assume was flesh flying up her nostrils as the areas around where the boulders were hitting set aflame, threatening to engulf the whole city.

Cries for help were all she could hear, and Lucian, to his credit, didn't stop to help every single one as she had expected him to do. She held his hand as tightly as she could, struggling to keep pace with him and apparently he realised, stopped briefly and bending down, letting her climb onto his back as she had done when they were children, not adding that much weight and clinging to his neck instead as they made a beeline for Cathedral Square.

They were one of the lucky few who made it there, slipping through the slowly closing gates and disengaging from each other, with Lucian cupping her cheeks and kissing her head. "We're doing alright Little Bird. Just stay with me."

She nodded, holding his hands. "Cil down at the ship?"

Lucian grunted an affirmation, not wanting to listen to how the soldiers holding the doors were talking about closing them in thirty seconds no matter who was left outside. "Yes, I sent them on ahead, the Rose is ready to take whoever it can."

Despite everything, Val found herself shakily laughing. "I would never have dreamed we'd be using that hunk of crap as a rescue ship."

Lucian held her to him as more explosions went off outside the borders of the square, getting louder with every passing second. They both watched in horror as the gates were shut, with children, men, and women screaming at the guards about loved ones still outside and being essentially ignored, it was horrific considering how idyllic their lives had been up until this point.

They'd had the odd skirmish with the Stranglethorn Trolls who got too brave sometimes, granted, but there was never a battle on this scale. She had known nothing of war, but after this, she was very much certain that would change.

"All those who made it are to make their way to the harbour, where ships are waiting to transport you to Lordaeron!" Bolvar bellowed, pacing back and forth on his horse.

This was all moving far too fast for Val's liking; not two hours ago they had merely been talking about the potential attack, yet here they were with a city that was slowly turning into a fireball.

The flames had caught and spread faster and thicker than she suspected anyone had anticipated, hence the growing panic, multiple bodies were littering the streets already, hells, she had tripped over them enough times on their journey here.

What made it even worse for peoples' hopes was the monarchy that was nowhere to be found and people fighting to leave their 'safe space' so they could go to the loved ones admirably screeching on the other side of the gates in the hopes of the guards that were standing against them would open them again when Val was sure everyone already knew they wouldn't.

Those people would all be dead within a matter of minutes, she didn't need to be a scholar to know that, the orcs' roars and the howls of their infernal wolves were growing louder by the second. Lucian's hands went over her ears again but Val didn't understand why he'd bothered when the noise was decreasing.

One by one the panicked bellows of those left outside ceased with the whistle of a weapon and a disgusting squelch that made Val's stomach wish to eject itself completely from her body, it was abominable to even think about what had been done with them.

Lucian pulled on her arm, steeling himself a little too well to the explosions going off around them, but she supposed that was from years of listening to cannon fire on the Rose.

They had started letting a certain number of people through the southern gate, herding them towards the frantic harbour, but Val noticed the crowd stalling now and then. "What's taking so long?"

Lucian shrugged, trying to use his height as much as possible. "I have no idea, but they want to hurry up."

"Let us through!"

"You can't keep us here!"

"Women and children first! You'll all get to the ships, we promise you!" Another hand grabbed Val's arm and she turned to the guard that had been pointed her way.

"Come miss, we'll get you to safety."

Val wrenched her arm away, breathing heavily as she held on to Lucian. "No, I'm not going anywhere without my brother."

She wasn't the only one not happy with the arrangement; people hard started shoving their way past and brawling with one another for a spot at the front of the crowd, making the guards occupy themselves enough to not notice the gates begin to buckle, or the four fireballs soaring overhead.

Once people realised that the projectiles were about to make an impact, panic took over again and everyone started running in every direction, jostling Val enough to make her hand slip from Lucian's.

"The cathedral!"

How she heard the one scream that told her what was about to happen she'd never know, but it was like Val had frozen, she couldn't move, all she could do was watch the large ball of flame and terror scream down towards the house of the Light.

Thankfully her brother had more cognition and tackled her to the ground once it hit its target, engulfing everyone within a half a mile radius in the unrepentant flame and killing most of them in a shower of heat and shards of the beautiful stained glass, it was as heartbreaking as it was horrifying.

Loud shouts were nothing but muffled gibberish to Val, who could no longer feel her brother's weight on her, but instead a white-hot agony that threatened to make her throat hoarse enough to never work again with her screams.

When asked after all this was over what she remembered from those few moments she could only say 'not much' and mean it.

All she remembered were flashes: large hands grabbing her after batting her with something, lifting her like a bride being taken to her new home and causing nothing but more pain, then earning her wrath as she finally found Lucian laying charred and mangled where she had just been, clearly dead and getting smaller as she was carried away.

Whoever had a hold of her was doing a tremendous job ignoring her roars to go back, and resisting her struggles to get to her brother, her life, she wasn't going to leave him without a fight, but the amount of that fight that she had left was draining quicker than a bucket with a hole in the bottom, and the pain taking over like a cocoon wrapping itself around a caterpillar and making white fuzz creep into her vision.

No, she wouldn't leave him, not like this, she was all he had in the world and he was her rock, she wouldn't just leave him there to die by himself!

The orcs left her no choice as they broke through the gate, causing her nothing but more pain with one kicking the bodies to the side like they were sacks of flour, making her lose sight of Lucian and her mind focus on nothing but the burning pain overtaking every other sense. Eventually, they got the best of her and she fell limp, letting her vision turn black in her body's bid to shut itself down against the pain.