Six months had passed since the defeat of the Lich King, and the grey October weather perfectly mirrored the state of Stormwind City.

The journey towards true contentment within the kingdom had become as sluggish as those who lived there, and no one was sure how to release themselves from the rut that they had fallen into.

Tears of grief and frustration still stained most faces, and they were looking to become all the more permanent as the days went on.

The aftermath of the war had been brutal to everyone within the Alliance, be them shopkeep or nobleman; gold was in short supply, and food was even scarcer, and while they didn't exactlyblameKing Varian Wrynn for it, they did demand answers from him, answers he could not give.

He'd exhausted both himself and his council in trying to find a solution to Stormwind's ruined economy, but none had presented themselves thus far…well, ones he was willing to listen to at least.

He'd lost enough sleep over the issue to make it necessary for Val to step in, and the results of her intervention were obvious that morning.

His rumbling snores sounded akin to the thunder outside, telling her that he'd taken his aid and was in the clutches of decent sleep, something he'd only been enjoying for the two months since he'd resumed the blue potion.

In a cruel twist of fate, helping Varian with his sleep had made it impossible for Val to deal with the problems she was having concerning her own.

Awoken by another nightmare, she sat listening to the rain beating against the window with a book she was only half reading perched on her bent legs.

Her sleep heavy eyes must've read the same line on the page about ten times, but she knew that going back to bed wasn't an option, not unless she wanted to be plagued by the ghost of the dragon that had reopened very old wounds every single night.

"Fucking dragons..." she muttered, turning the page simply to give her something new to look at.

She looked up at a knock on the door, furrowing her brow and reaching over to her bedside. A glance at her watch told her exactly who it was and as her face relaxed, a smile crept onto it.

"Come in, Anduin," she called, already shuffling up to make room for the prince as he scurried into their chambers and dove underneath the thick furs covering the bed.

"Apologies, Milady, he came pelting down the hall looking like he'd just seen a ghost…" Varro informed her, poking his head in as Alice trotted in to find her young master.

"It's fine, Varro. Can you close the door and get Nan to bring some hot chocolates up please?" she replied, and with a bow, the guard did as he was told, giving her a chance to look across at the large lump that was her stepson.

"Anduin," she said, poking what she presumed was his backside, "Anduin, come out from there, you're going to roast."

The top of his head appeared, just so she could see Anduin shake it.

"Not until it's over," he said with fear coating his voice.

"It is over, Little Lion." She knew it was a lie, but she didn't want to explain to Varian later on how their son had overheated in the middle of autumn.

His cerulean eyes looked up at her with such trust that she felt awful for even saying it, and he slowly crawled from his hiding place.

As if on cue, another crack of lightning illuminated their window, filling the room with a blue glow and making Anduin yell in absolute fear, yanking the furs harder and disappearing under them.

Both the noise and sudden removal of his coverings had made Varian stop snoring, and the king rolled over with annoyance written all over his face.

"What's making that infernal racket?" He grumbled, not even bothering to open his eyes.

"There's a thunderstorm and Anduin woke up," Val calmly explained, getting her bookmark from the bedside table and slipping it into the spine of her book.

She put it down and gave Alice a few loving pets, patting the mattress that Anduin had left free in his desperation to curl up and letting the dog sit there. Varian sighed, groping across the bed and forcibly ripping the furs from Anduin's white-knuckled grip.

"Anduin, it's a bit of thunder. It's not going to hurt you," he said gruffly, clearly not feeling as sympathetic as Val was.

"It's scary, Father," Anduin whimpered, trying in vain to regain his shelter back from his father's tight fingers.

"A lot of things are scary, Anduin. What will you do, hide under the covers every time? I'm not prone to asking things three times, son, so get out from there before I get angry," he growled, and as uncouth as his approach had been, it had worked, and soon the boy was stiffly sitting between him and Val.

She put an arm around Anduin's shoulders, giving him silent permission to lean against her and half bury his face in the nightgown she'd been pretty much forced to wear for the past few weeks.

Varian rolled once more, ending up on his side and sniffing like an angry bull. "Your mum needs her rest, son, and she won't get it with you running around screeching like a frightened boar," he muttered, gathering the furs and piling them back over himself.

Val's gut dropped as he said it, and despite his clear intention for her to stay in bed, it made her need to leave it.

"Mum?" Anduin called after her, asking an entire question with one word. Val gave him a wobbly smile, gradually straightening as she went to the washroom.

"I'm fine, Anduin, I just need to freshen up, that's all."

That made Varian's ears prick. "Do you need me, Sweetheart?"

She shook her head, forgetting his eyes were closed.

"No. It's not as bad as it was, so I can deal with it myself, thank you," she replied, already feeling her eyes beginning to moisten as she closed the door behind her.

She hadn't exactly been lying; the cramps she'd fallen victim to were easing more every day, and even the bleeding was starting to stem. Soon it would be like there was nothing at all wrong with her when really, there was always going to be, at least deeper down.

They hadn't even known she'd been pregnant again until it'd been too late.

A few months after they returned from Northrend, Val suffered through what she had at first thought to be just a particularly rough course. But as the days went on, the bleeding worsened rather than subsided, to the point where it became wholly necessary to summon the physician, who'd come in the middle of the night to find Val doubled over, lying in blood-soaked sheets, and crying out in complete agony.

He'd taken one look, turned to a near-hysterical Varian, and sadly declared that she'd once again miscarried- and this time, it was nothing to do with the illness that had taken Elliot from them. It had been sheer bad luck.

Their ignorance of her condition was due to the fact that she was still in the early stages- enough that no remnants of the child had been found afterwards. So no features, such as whether it'd been a girl or a boy could be determined.

To experience the same loss twice in the space of a year had devastated them. Val was inconsolable, and Varian had fallen into a downward spiral that looking back, shamed him to the ends of Azeroth.

It had led them to discuss what they had been dreading from the moment they'd found out about Val's growths all those years ago, and after a full night of tears and reluctance, they'd come to a heartbreaking decision.

It was time to stop trying.

After nearly ten years of dreaming that they'd one day sire a child of their own, Varian had locked the nursery door for good, and Val had put everything of Anduin's that they'd intended on passing down in sealed trunks and cases, never to be used again.

It was a crippling blow, but in Varian's mind at least, it had been a necessary one. Never again did he want to watch Val bleed until her eyes rolled back, and Val never wanted to get her hopes built up again just to have her own body betray her.

They'd of course told Anduin their sorrowful news, but had thus far neglected to inform him that they weren't giving it another go. Val had a sneaking suspicion though that the lad already knew, he was just too kind to say anything to them about it.

He was intelligent, and he made no secret of it, so it was safe to assume that he was aware of a lot more than he let on.

She gently wiped her face with the washcloth she'd been wringing between both hands, feeling both last night's tears and this morning's grogginess begin to ease with every stroke.

While she found the thunder strangely comforting, it had brought a heaviness to the air that she didn't need right now, so she used the quiet five minutes she had to actually freshen herself up, as she'd told Anduin she was doing.

Opening an ornate box sitting on the towel table, she took one of many linen pads that she'd required for the past month or so.

She didn't bother pulling the screen around as she sat to change it over from last night's, and didn't even flinch when the door opened.

The large shadow blocking the candlelight from their chambers told her who the 'intruder' was with just a glance, and she smiled at Varian as he closed the door behind him.

"Anduin's under the bed," he told her, passing her the small drawstring bag she was reaching for.

She wasn't at all surprised. "I take it the dogs joined him there?"

Varian chuckled, leaning back on the same table she'd just been standing at. "Indeed, so we'll have to bribe them both with treats when the time comes," he said rather merrily considering he'd not been up long.

Val tied the bag closed and dropped it in the wicker basket nearby, letting her nightgown brush her feet as she stood.

"I might have already taken care of that; I told Varro to wake Nan up and ask her to bring hot chocolates."

Varian took her spot once she was at the basin, resting one arm on the wall. She must've noticed the look on his face from the way she was bending over to get a good look at it.

"What? Did you want a coffee?" she asked with a tease to her voice.

Varian grimaced, haphazardly tying his trousers back up and repeating her routine with the basin.

"No, no, the drink isn't the problem. If you've summoned Nan, that almost guarantees that Gregor won't be far behind. I'm suddenly reminded that what we're dealing with right now is real, and not just a bad dream," he lamented, drying his hands off.

"He's doing what you pay him to, Varian," Val pointed out, ducking under his arm when he opened the door and held it open for her.

"I wish I'd kept Lee as my chamberlain instead of letting you take him on. I like him a lot more," he admitted, getting a grin in response.

"Well he's officially part ofmyhousehold, so you'll just have to put up with the stick in the mud."

With the way their luck had been going, Varian had half expected Gregor to be standing there as she said it, but the room thankfully seemed quite empty excepting the two of them.

The only other evidence that Anduin was even still here came from the scattered squeaks and muttered 'it's just thunder, father said it won't hurt me'sounding from under the bed.

He bent over, well aware that it was difficult for Val to do at the moment, and lifted the sheet so he could see some semblance of his son's face.

"Will you come out from there? You're a boy, not a damn goblin!" he commanded, groaning in annoyance when Anduin didn't move.

"Goblins don't go under beds father!"

If he were prone to it, Val would see this as the point where Varian started snarling and frothing at the mouth. To her relief, he simply straightened, closed his eyes, muttered a few curses, and bent back.

"Anduin, hiding from your fears will do nothing but make you a nervous wreck later on in life. It's better-" He slid an arm under to try and reach for the boy, "-toface them,"he growled, blindly snatching thin air and swearing under his breath a few times more.

"Anduin Wrynn, you get your backside out of there now, or so help me I'll wring your bloody-"

"Varian!" Val loudly interjected.

The king ran a frustrated hand through his loose hair, getting to his feet and flaring his nostrils at the spot where he knew his son was curled up.

"Fine, stay under there all day, I don't give a damn." He held Val's gaze, making sure to speak directly to her.

"Val, tell Nan when she arrives that Anduin won't be joining us for breakfast. I'm having a bath," he said, putting enough emphasis on the right words to make Val realise where he was going with this new tactic.

"I will. If she asks, what shall I say to do with it?" she asked, coating her voice with as much casual curiosity as possible.

"The hounds will probably enjoy it; Light knows they don't get bacon often," Varian replied, giving her a wink and a kiss on the cheek as he passed.

Already they could see their son's fingertips begin to emerge, but they retreated with the next batch of lightening.

"I might claim his toast though; I think we're having cinnamon," Val carried on, watching Anduin's hands reappear.

"But that's my favourite," a tiny voice whined, and sure enough, the potential revoking of his meal had been the one thing to bring Anduin back into the room with them.

"There now, was that so difficult?" Varian asked, but Anduin wasn't listening; he was too engrossed by staring at the window as if it were going to explode.

"Anduin?" Val's gentle nudge made the prince finally look over at them.

"Hm? Oh…no, I suppose it wasn't," he muttered, bringing his legs to his chest and ignoring Alice's attempts to make him smile with gentle licks to his face.

"I'm sorry for being such a scaredy-cat," he whimpered. a shadow of guilt washed over Varian's hard features, softening them and making his brow furrow in concern instead of anger.

His heavy footsteps were the only sound to counter the thunder as he crossed the room, silently sitting next to a curled up Anduin. "I'm fairly certain no one called you such a thing, Anduin," he said, putting a hand on the boy's back to get his attention.

"You're both thinking it though," Anduin mumbled into his bare knees, "…everyone thinks it about me."

A few firm rubs of his father's palm made the prince slowly uncurl, which was something, they supposed. "Why on Azeroth would anyone think that of you, son? Plenty of people are scared of things that others find strange. Like your mum and spiders- or your mum and feet, or your mum and-"

"Yes, alright Varian, I think he gets your point," Val interrupted, watching a small smileappear on Anduin's face.

"Mum's not scared of feet father, you made that up," he accused, hearing Varian's loud guffaw even over the pelting rain.

"I did not, I can swear to the Light on that one. She's threatened physical harm upon me when mine even so much as brush her leg of a night," he declared, making Anduin's head rise.

"That's not true, is it mum?" The tips of Val's ears grew annoyingly hot.

"Well…it's no so much a fear, per se. I just find them disgusting, that's all," she explained, folding her arms. "But that's not the point. The point your father is poorly making is that everyone's allowed to be scared sometimes."

Anduin squirmed away from his father's touch, curling up even more. "But I'm a prince," he said glumly.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Varian asked, letting Alice lay on his legs.

"Princes and kings aren't supposed to be scared. They're supposed to be tough and brave."

Varian thought long and hard about his response before he gave it.

"I'm not always brave, Anduin. I get scared sometimes- well, actually, a lot of the time- and I don't think it makes me any less of a king," he calmly told him, earning quite the look of confusion.

"But you never look scared," he retorted, stiffening as another rumble shook the window pane.

"That's because your father's a stubborn ape. He doesn't let himself look scared," Val pointed out, tying her hair up ready to take her bath.

"Your mum's right, son. I don't allow myself to look scared because that's just the way I am. The fact that you can show your fear is rather admirable, at least in my view, for it means that you're willing to let others help you. In the long run, that's a much better way of living," Varian insisted, watching Anduin's face change a few times until he settled on a small smile.

"So it's alright to be a little bit scared, as long as I don't let it get in the way?"

Varian reached over to affectionately tousle his already messy hair. "Exactly. Take the storm for instance; you can tell us you don't like it and come to our bed, but hiding under it was a bit much for the situation."

Anduin slowly nodded, making Val wonder how much he'd actually absorbed. "…So I can have my breakfast?"

Varian wasn't exactly sure who started laughing first, but both he and Val were chortling like naughty children. "Yes, son, you can have your breakfast, just promise me that you'll heed even a single word of what I've said," he implored, catching Anduin when he embraced him. "I will father!"

Varian kissed his ruddy cheek, pulling him back so he could look at him.

"Well then, we better get off our rumps and get ourselves going, we have council, and you have school," he declared, making Anduin's nose scrunch.

"Don't want to go to school." Varian patted his arm, lifting him from his lap.

"Well, son, I don't want to go to council, but we do what we must."

The storm had well and truly abated by the time they'd finished breakfast, but a fast and heavy rain was still drumming its beat onto the tall stain glass of the council chamber windows.

The brazier sitting in the middle of the room blazed with a soft heat, but no one sitting at the large circular table was feeling comforted by it.

"I'm merely suggesting, Your Majesty-"

Varian raised a hand to cut Ridgewell off. "I know what you're suggesting, Your Grace, but I just don't see it working without dangerous repercussions," he argued, glad to hear a noise of agreement come from Val's pursed lips.

"If we raise taxesnow, not only will almost everyone default on them, we'll have another round of protests on our hands, and it'll end up costing more in extra guards," she pressed, and the grey-haired Count pulled a face of reluctant acceptance.

Hartfield was next on the proverbial chopping block, steepling his long, knobbly fingers in front of him.

"Your Majesty, the ambassador for Bonan has put forward a potential solution, if I may?" he offered, and Varian's grimace deepened.

"I've already told Malik Nizaar that I'm not accepting a loan from him. We've already got the Stonemasons' debt hanging over our heads like a damn guillotine, I'm not going to risk adding another blade simply for a quick fix," he growled, but Hartfield, who had been a councilman since the time of King Llane, wasn't fazed by Varian's flares in temper.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, but I speak of another solution. The Malik proposes that instead of a loan, that Your Majesty agrees to a match between Prince Anduin, and his daughter, Princess Nafia. She's only five years old, but the wedding will not take place until the both of them are of age," he explained, as if that would be the biggest problem Varian would have with the idea.

The King's face blackened with a scowl. "Let me guess, he's offering ludicrous amounts of coin for her dowry instead?"

Hartfield nodded. "Eight hundred-thousand gold, Your Majesty."

A few faces lit up at the prospect, but Varian clearly didn't share their enthusiasm.

"You tell that impertinent bastard-!"

A swift kick to his shin from a straight-faced Val cut off further insult, reminding the king of the ridiculous promise he'd made to Anduin upon his return of at leastattemptingto keep his temper in check.

It was proving difficult, anyone could see it, but they could appreciate that he was trying.

"You can relay to the Malik that while the offer is greatly appreciated, Stormwind politely refuses. We have no plans or desire to promise Prince Anduin to anybody, regardless of the monetary benefits." Val said a tad more diplomatically, earning a grateful gaze from Varian, but a look of disappointment from practically everyone else.

"Your Majesty, it would be a boon to the kingdom! That amount of gold could fill the royal coffers in a heartbeat!"

Varian raised a hand to quiet their objections, taking a swig of his ale.

"I have made it quite plain since the Prince's birth that all betrothals would be fervently refused. Nothing has changed since then, and never shall for that matter," he said with a firmness in his voice that held no room for arguments.

"Your Majesty, I implore you to reconsider. It would mean a permanent alliance with Northern Samarkand, and the fruits of such an alliance could prove remarkable," Katrana said with her usual velveted tone.

It grated on Val today as much as it did any other, and a small amount of unwarranted jealousy crept up her spine again.

"We alreadyhavean alliance with Northern Samarkand, Lady Prestor." She said it with more bite to her voice than she'd initially meant, and it earnt her a quizzical look from a confused Varian.

"Your Majesty, there have been questions about the stability of the Alliance now the war is over…" a cautious Lescovar pointed out, and Varian could do nothing but sigh, bending two fingers towards Gregor.

"There are no plans to disband the Alliance simply because we're not at war, Your Grace. The whole point of it, in the beginning, was to establish a network between our kingdoms as well as an army, and that's exactly how I intend to keep it.

Gregor will have a notice put up in the Trade District reassuring the people that those of the Alliance Kingdoms that have chosen Stormwind as their own have no reason to believe that their situation is changing," Varian declared, glad to find the chamberlain already scribing every word that was coming out of his mouth.

"The other Kingdoms of the Alliance have already accepted financial aid from Samarkand, Your Majesty. It would behoove you-" Katrana started, but Varian wasn't having it.

"The other kingdoms don't already have another loan outstanding, Milady,as I've already said," he said, trying to keep his tone even.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty….we've been consistently paying the Stonemasons for over three years. Surely they've received sufficient compensation for their work by now?" she concluded, clearly not concerned with the repetition of the subject, or the redness slowly creeping up Varian's neck.

"The work they've done for Stormwind is beyond anything we could've asked for, Lady Prestor, and the Stonemasons deserve to be paid in full for it," Val answered instead, putting a hand on Varian's simply to calm him.

"But to the detriment of Stormwind's people? When half of them hail from Stranglethorn?" Katrana shot back, and Val knew damn well that she was trying to get a rise from her.

Unfortunately for Varian and the others gathered around the table…it worked.

"Where they hail from holds no bearing on anything, Milady. That's like saying we should tax the dwarves and the elves simply because they're not from here, yet you didn't even mention them," she snapped, putting her quill down.

"Simply because we're not giving them ludicrous amounts of gold every month, Lady Glenmore, gold that rightfully belongs to the crown," Katrana countered, making Val's back teeth grind even more.

"They gave us back our home, Lady Prestor, you can't simply wave them aside because you feel that they've outgrown their usefulness!" Her voice was growing in volume, and apparently, everyone noticed, including Varian, who put a hand on her thigh and gave it a light squeeze.

"Ladies, let's not bicker like children-"

"We have it on good authority that over half the Stonemasons on the registry havenotapplied for Elwynnian citizenship, as countless others have. So Stormwind gold is going to those living illegally within our lands!" Katrana said, completely ignoring the king's attempt at diplomacy.

"You say that as if they're the source of all Stormwind's problems! Ceasing one minor payment isn't going to suddenly fill our coffers, Lady Prestor!"

Varian pounded a fist against the table. "That's enough! Both of you have valid arguments, but I cannot have them flung across this chamber as if we're five years old!"

Both Katrana and Val stared reproachfully at the other for a tense few seconds. "Apologies, Your Majesty," Katrana said first, slipping back to her usual calm demeanour.

Val wasn't so easily placated though and had a face as thunderous as the earlier storm. She nevertheless echoed Katrana's apology, and Varian could do nothing but shut his binder with a sharp slap.

"I think that was a prime example of how little we've accomplished today, gentlemen," he said through gritted teeth. "We'll conclude this meeting here, and reconvene in three days. Let's pray that we come to a solution by then."

They noticed he didn't stand, meaning that it was one of those rare occasions where they were to leave first. As they all rose, bowed, and filed out, Varian turned his annoyed gaze to Val.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't turn my council chamber into a boxing ring," he chided.

Val grunted in anger, gathering the loose sheets of parchment scattered at her station.

"She started it," she grumbled, tying her binder closed.

"Don't be petulant, it doesn't become a woman of your age," he calmly responded, piling his paperwork.

"What can I say? She riles me up," Val mumbled, draining whatever lemon water was left in her goblet.

"I know she does, but that's no excuse. You take the bait every time, and it can't continue," he said, shoving his chair back. He took notice of how she didn't take his offered hand, choosing instead to fall into step with him.

"What she was suggesting was absurd, Varian, surely you saw that?"

Varian sighed, nearly knocking poor Gregor over with how forcefully he gave him their binders after wrestling hers from her.

"I did, but on the balance…she did have a point," he said, bracing himself for some form of physical assault, but finding a look of pure offencein its place.

"A poi- how the hells did she have a point?! Suggesting that we starve hundreds of people and deprive them of money wepromised-"

Varian put the butt of his hand on her mouth. "Will you keep your voice down? I don't want the world and its mother knowing our business, and you damn well know that."

He took his hand away to open the chamber door, giving a nod to Jon and Varro in permission to move.

They barked orders at the four new guards Varian had added to their retinue, and in two neat lines, followed the monarch and his Lady as they traversed the corridor.

"We promised them a certain amount for their services, yes, but I can't ignore that it's been six years since that day, and our circumstances have changed substantially," he explained, noticing that the dirty look on her face didn't move.

"Val, I'm as grateful as you are for what the Stonemasons have done for Stormwind, but I have to do what is bestforStormwind. Having a camp full of people that are occupying vital farmland when they have no obligation, or legal right to be here is doing the opposite, from a certain point of view."

She shoved her hair behind her ear, finding herself growing more annoyed by the second. "Katrana's point of view?"

Varian's brows snapped down. "No, aKing'spoint of view. My people can't eat, and Westfall's plains are notorious for being ideal for crops. Crops we desperately need," he argued.

"I still don't think that warrants throwing them all out on their arses," Val mumbled, and while Varian was sympathetic, he had to hold his ground.

"Stormwind's been finished for nearly four years, Val. That's four years of the Stonemasons having no work, and simply living from the gold we're giving them, while our people lost gold because of the war. It's not exactly fair, is it?"

He held her shoulder, coming to a stop. The rest of the group abruptly halted, but Varian's focus was on Val.

"I want you to speak to Edwin. Discuss with him the very real possibility that our promise has to be broken."

Val's face made her feelings on the idea very clear. "Excuse me? Why do I have to do your dirty work? You're the King," she protested, looking up to find that his neck was beginning to match his burgundy doublet again.

"It'll be better coming from someone with an established rapport with the man, that's all," he replied, clenching his jaw to keep his voice down.

"Varian, I have very few friends left, and surprisingly, I count Edwin as one of them. Don't make me ruin that for the sake of a few coins," she almost sounded as if she were begging him, but her hard visage told him otherwise.

"If we can make the Stonemason debt go away, I'd be more open to considering a loan from Nizaar. So it's not just for 'a few coins', Val," he hissed, mindful that the Throne Room was full of the usual crowd moving through it as they were.

"Nothing you say will make me like this," she spat, and his nostrils finally flared.

"For once in my life, I don't care about your feelings on the matter. You're to set up a meeting with Edwin in the next week, and that isfinal," he seethed, earning a glare right back.

"Or what? You'll put me to bed with no supper?" She could swear a vein was threatening to burst from his forehead.

"I won't have to, because you're going to do it," he ground out between clenched teeth.

"I don't have to do shi-"

Val's curse was cut off by a rather timid Gregor clearing his throat, and the two of them spun simultaneously to glare at the interruption.

"What?" Varian barked, staring down at the shorter man.

"Your Majesty, I must remind you that both yourself and Lady Glenmore are in public," Gregor explained, making them both realise that they had an uncanny knack for walking and arguing at the same time without even noticing.

"Then it's a good thing this conversation is over," Varian said, squaring his shoulders.

"It's in no way over, but Itcanwait until we're back in our chambers," Val replied, clenching her fists.

They stared each other down for a good few seconds before Varian finally conceded, as she'd probably expected him to do.

"Gregor. Go and fetch Anduin from the schoolroom and take him to the dining hall. We'll join him presently," Varian commanded, and of course, Gregor gave him a bow and carried out his order.

"I don't like it when you do that," Val said, quickening her pace just enough to stay a step or two ahead of him.

"I do it because you leave me no choice sometimes, your stubbornness gets in the way of your common sense," Varian returned gruffly.

"That's no excuse for you to beat your chest and tell me that 'me man, you woman, you listen me', like a damn orc," she told him.

"Don't you dare compare me to one of those filthy bastards," he snarled, which probably didn't make him look any less boorish.

"Well I'm sorry, but that's how you're acting!" she harshly whispered, hopping up the steps to the Residential Wing.

"You have no idea how hard it's going to be for me to do what you're asking. It's different for you, you're the king, he has to do what you say. But as far as Edwin -and most of this damn kingdom- are aware Varian, I'm just your fiancee, so really, he doesn't even have to listen to a word that comes out of my mouth," she ranted, completely ignoring his loud shushes as she stomped down the hall.

"He takes you a lot seriously than he does me, woman, it's a well-known fact! You know how to speak to people like him!"

Val whirled on her boot heel, looking absolutely livid. "'People like him'?PEOPLE LIKE HIM?"

Varian knew he'd made a colossal error and held both hands up. "That's not what I-"

"No, that'sexactlywhat you meant! He takes me seriously because we're both working-class tripe, is that it?" She bellowed, making her brown skin turn a light shade of puce.

"Working-class -yes. Tripe- absolutely not. I thought you'd always prided yourself on being from the same walk of life as him?" he rapidly said in case she started shouting again.

"I do, but not when you're essentially using me as a human shield because of it, Varian," she admitted, surprising herself with just how passionate she was getting about this.

"You anticipate him becoming hostile? When you've told me numerous times that 'he's a good man'?" Varian fired back, glad to hear her voice lower a few decibels.

"He is, but I can't expect him to be happy about this, and neither can you!" Val stressed, snatching her hand away when he grabbed it.

"I'm not happy about a lot of things either Val, but I have to swallow my unhappiness and do what is expected of me! Just as you do!"

She huffed, shoving the door to their chambers open.

"Why, when I'm not considered high enough to have an opinion!" she spat.

Varian caught the door before it smacked him in the face, harshly instructing a concerned Varro and Jon to stay where they were and slamming it behind him.

"When have Ieversaid that your opinion doesn't matter?! Why do you suddenly think that your background is a problem now when all I've said is that the Stonemasons need to go?!"

Val groaned in frustration, wishing they still had their liqueur cabinet.

"It's always been a problem, Varian, we've just been too busy to notice. Nearly every task you've given me since the Second War has involved 'negotiating' with the common folk, do you realise that?" she sighed, folding her arms, "not once have you said 'I'll send Lord whats-his-face or Lady something-or-other'. It's like I'm just here to be one of your ambassadors."

Varian grunted in pure fury, taking only two strides to stand toe-to-toe with her. "You are mywife."

Val met his gaze. "Then tell people I am," she challenged, making his eyes flash.

"We made an agreement when we decided to marry, Val," he said with more uncertainty than he would've liked.

In truth, he would be glad to tell everyone that they'd wed now peacetime was here -hells, it would mean less gold being spent on a wedding that didn't mean anything. But something in his heart rightfully told him that would only cause them more problems.

"It won't change peoples' views," he rightfully told her, and her face fell.

"I'm well aware that I'll have an invisible sign saying 'Peasant' around my neck for the rest of my life, I don't need you reminding me," she lamely told him, feeling his hand curl on her shoulder.

"I am tasking you with Edwin because I trust you most. If I sent anyone else, the results would be catastrophic," Varian said soothingly, using the momentary quiet to his advantage.

"Of course it would be. Because they don't 'understand him'," Val mocked, taking his hand away. Varian knew then that she was hurting, and once again, it was all his fault.

His words had cut deep, and no amount of balm he smothered them in now would help. "Val-"

"We need to get ready for lunch. We're already running behind as it is," she said, cutting him off and disappearing into their closet.

"Can we both agree to a ceasefire until afterward?" he cautiously asked, fighting the urge to follow her in case she saw it as being cornered. Val worried one of his shirts between both hands, pursing her lips.

"Val?"

She sighed, coming back to the doorway and throwing the garment at him. "You know I don't like arguing in front of Anduin, so of course my answer's yes," she glumly replied, continuing her task.

"Good. Then you and I will discuss this as adults later on," he said with a firmer tone, and apparently, she took it as badly as every other word that had come out of his mouth in the past ten minutes.

"Fine," she simply said, really making Varian feel as if they were children again, squabbling over the rules of a game they didn't want to play anyway.

"Fine," he repeated, pulling his gloves off and tossing them onto the bed in frustration.

About forty-five minutes later, Val emerged from the washroom to find Varian on their bed, fully dressed, with his eyes firmly closed.

He wasn't snoring, so he wasn't asleep, but the fact that he had to lie down at all made her wonder if their argument had taken it out of him as much as it had done to her.

"Tired love?" she asked casually, scrunching her freshly washed curls with the towel covering both of her hands.

"Migraine," he mumbled, furrowing his brow.

"Want me to send for Lineker?" she asked sincerely.

"I would've thought that you'd want me to suffer," he said, forcing his face to relax.

"Just because I'm angry at you doesn't mean I'll let you sit there in pain, you daft bastard," she retorted, watching the corners of his mouth twitch and accepting it as a smile.

"Your concern is appreciated, but not necessary," he assured her. She sat by his legs, putting the back of her hand on his forehead while her skin was still chilled from her bath and making him sigh in what she could only assume was relief.

"You haven't had one this bad for a while," Val observed, getting an angry huff in return.

"I haven't had you argue with me this much for a while," he retorted, making it rather difficult for Val to continue being sympathetic.

"Varian, you've decided on a whim to let hundreds of loyal workers starve. How the hells am I supposed to agree with that?" Val asked, putting her towel on the floor and folding her arms.

"It was in no way a 'whim', Val, and if you stopped being a child for five seconds I could've told you as much," Varian said through gritted teeth.

He put a hand on his temple, grunting hard enough for her to stand again and cross over to the small table nestled between their armchairs.

She filled a goblet for him from the water flagonsitting upon it and brought it back, nudging his hand with it and watching his eyes finally open.

"It's not childish to stand up to something I don't agree with," she argued, turning away to finish getting dressed.

"I appreciate that you don't agree with it, but that doesn't change the necessity of it," Varian said, taking a few cautious sips.

"Don't patronise me, Varian. You haven't 'appreciated' anything I've said all day."

Varian put his goblet on his bedside cabinet, running a hand down his face.

"Yes, because I'm the dastardly villain in all of this, aren't I? Once again this is all Varian's fault," he spat, getting to his feet, "it's all Varian's fault that there was another war. It's all Varian's fault that the Stonemasons keep bringing every single member of their damn family to my kingdom and make me feed the bastards."

He was beginning to go red in the face again. "Every single damn thing wrong with the world is Varian Wrynn's fucking fault, isn't it!" He shouted, not doing his head any good but not caring an inch at this point.

"Oh, now who's being the childish one?!" Val bellowed back, restarting their argument good and proper.

"I have to be responsible every day of my life, don't even begin to call me childish, you absolute bit-"

"Your Majesty?" A muffled saving grace came from beyond the door, once again leaving their quarrel at an infuriating cliffhanger.

Varian merely grunted to bid the intruder entry, still staring down at the woman who was glaring up at him. "Your Majesty…I was sent to inform you that it's time for midday meal," a scrawny, clearly nervous servant boy told him, and Varian straightened to his full height, not taking his eyes from Val.

"Shall we to lunch,Sweetheart?" he said, grinding his teeth with every syllable.

"I need to finish dressing. You can wait," she replied, turning on her heel.

Varian did indeed wait; in fact, he stayed right where he was, imitating the statues littering the Keep gardens all the while Val took to slip a blue silk coat onto her shoulders and purposefully take her time with it.

"Is the prince already there?" He barked at the petrified boy, making him jump nearly four feet in the air.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty. As well as the Lady Jaina," he stammered, noticing his master's face twist into one of absolute rage.

"Jaina? Jaina is in my keep? Right now?" he demanded to know, getting a rapid nod.

"Jaina Proudmoore, the woman I specifically said wasnot welcome here,is in the dining hall with my son at this very moment?"

Another scared nod and a few steps backward were his answer.

"So just as I start to think that my day couldn't possibly getany worse,the Light decides to bend me over once again?!" he snarled, looming over the boy.

"Get out. Tell my son we'll be there soon," he sharply commanded, and before he'd even turned to find his wife, the door had slammed shut.

"Abusing our staff now? That's very mature," Val commented, sweeping a hand through her hair and dabbing her finger in dark red lip paint.

"What the hells could that she-devil want?" Varian muttered, completely ignoring her.

"To see her nephew?" Val suggested, hearing him huff like an angry Tauren.

"He's not her nephew," he snapped.

"That's not fair and you know it," She said, finding him next to her as she looked around. She hadn't even heard him move, so a small jump was in her mind warranted.

"A lot of things aren't fair, yet here we are putting up with them," he said with a low voice, one laced with deep anger.

"I take it our idea of a 'ceasefire' has gone straight out of the window?" she asked, watching his expression change while he thought about it.

"No, it hasn't. Anduin doesn't deserve to be caught up in the problems of adults, that much you were right about," he begrudgingly admitted.

His gaze followed her to the door. "You look nice," he said with sincerity, but her eyebrow rose regardless.

"Thank you," she said, obviously trying not to smile by the way the corners of her mouth were twitching.

There were another few beats of silence, so Varian accepted that the niceties were over and pulled their chamber door open, letting her duck under his arm and leave before him.

The smaller, more intimate dining chamber was conveniently situated in the same wing as their own, making it the one that Varian normally insisted on using for family meals every day.

Its proximity made the journey last all of thirty seconds, but to Varian, it felt like an age as he walked next to Val in complete and heavy silence.

The doors were opened for them and she slid in front as she always did, lightly clearing her throat and catching the attention of both Anduin and Jaina, who immediately noticed Varian's thunderous look and left her seat with caution written all over her face.

"Father! Mum! There you are!" Anduin cried, jumping from his chair and running around the table to throw his arms around Varian's waist.

"Was mum doing her hair again, Father?" Varian fought his chuckle with every cell of his body, but he lost as it escaped his lips.

"No, son, it was my own this time. Those darn curlers just wouldn't budge," he joked, finding it impossible to keep his angered tone when the boy's smile was as bright as the sun that was trying to break through the clouds outside.

Anduin was still laughing when he embraced Val, letting her kiss his cheek and scurrying back to his chair.

"Jaina, how good to see you," Val said before Varian could even open his mouth. The mage let herself relax into Val's brief hug but stiffened again when Varian merely nodded at her and sat down.

"It's good to see you too, Val. It's been too long," she returned, lowering herself back onto her chair.

"We weren't expecting you," Varian said, almost challenging her with the bite to his voice. To his confusion, Jaina seemed rather surprised by it.

"Oh? But it was Val who invited me…" she replied, making his furious gaze swing to the brunette next to him.

"Was it? I don't remember you telling me about this," he questioned as quietly as was possible for him to manage.

"Anduin asked me to. I did tell you, you just weren't listening apparently," Val retorted with a shrug, taking a bread roll from the tray in front of her.

"Auntie Jaina brought me another book for my collection, Mum! Can we read it later?" Anduin interjected, totally oblivious to the tension building within the room.

Val buttered the roll she'd taken, giving him a small smile. "Of course we can, Little Lion. What's it about?" she asked as if she hadn't just been exposed as the mastermind behind what Varian was probably calling 'the ultimate deception'.

"He wanted to know about the history of the Kul Tiran navy, so I looked through my old chests and found one I think he'll understand," Jaina explained, sipping the lush Dalaran red that Nan poured for her.

"Fantastic, more books, that's exactly what the boy needs…" Varian muttered, stabbing the end of his knife a little too forcefully into the apple he'd chosen.

"There's nothing wrong with a bit of knowledge, Varian. Anduin's intelligent, we should be encouraging it," Val chided, choosing to not even face him.

"I am encouraging it, but he needs to balance it with practical skills," Varian said, running his blade down the apple and splitting it in half.

"And he is. Anduin, tell Auntie Jaina what you've been doing out in the grounds," Val prompted, making the boy snap from his concerned state to his bright and bubbly one again.

"I've been growing my flowers! Father let me have a small bit all to myself!" he trilled excitedly, making Jaina's face light up with pride.

"Oh really? Has anything come up yet?" Jaina asked, making him nod his head quick enough to somehow make Varian's migraine worse.

"Bluebells and pansies so far!" His face dropped. "Oh, and some blue daises for Elliot and baby," he said solemnly, making his father's fist clench upon the table.

"I think that's a lovely thing to do for them, Anduin," Jaina soothed, reaching over to rub his back.

Varian was certain he wouldn't be able to handle the conversation that would inevitably follow, so he raised a hand, bending two fingers and distracting everyone with their first course as the staff filed in.

"So how are things in Theramore? We heard you had trouble with the Naga?" Val asked as she stirred the thick clam chowder in front of her.

"We did; normally they stay around Alcaz Island, but some of them just became a little bit too curious and came within our waters," Jaina confirmed, placing her napkin on her lap.

"Are the Naga scary, Auntie Jaina?" Anduin timidly queried, taking a chunk of the bread Varian passed him.

"I suppose they can be to some people, yes. But don't worry, they won't be there when you come and visit me," she assured him.

"Anduin won't be coming to Theramore, Jaina, and I'd like to think that you know why," Varian interjected, giving her the darkest of looks from across the table.

"Yes well, maybe one day-"

"Not ever," Varian barked, interrupting her once again. Val let her spoon fall from her grasp and a sigh leave her throat.

"Why not, Father?" Anduin asked, and Val just felt another sigh coming.

Please lie, Varian, just say it's the weather…

"Because I damn well said so. While I'm beginning to realise that my authority isn't worth a fig in this bloody Keep, on this matter, my word is final," he spat.

Anduin's dismay was obvious to everyone sitting around him. "Yes, Father."

Jaina bumped his chin with her knuckles, bending to smile at him. "I suppose I'll just have to come here more often then, won't I?"

That cheered Anduin up enough to make him feel the need to start eating again, and an uncomfortable silence fell over them all as they followed suit.

"Varian, I was wondering if I could discuss something with you after we've finished here?" Jaina tentatively asked, making the King look up with a raised eyebrow.

"It depends; will I like what you have to say?" he said, pushing his barely dented bowl away.

"Varian," Val scolded, making his shoulders heave with an inward sigh. He was so tired of arguing today that against his conscience he slowly nodded.

"Come to my study after luncheon. But I warn you, if I don't like what I hear, I have every right to reject it," he conceded. The surrender gained him a small, genuine smile from Val, which he supposed made it relatively worth it.

"Father, if I finish my lunch, can I show Auntie my flowers?" Anduin piped up, watching Varian pretend to sit there and think about it until the king reached over and poked the end of his nose with a pinky.

"You have my permission. But only when every last scrap is gone." There was finally a ripple of laughter as Anduin started digging in like a hungry dog, but Varian was certain that the look of indignation etched onto Val's features wouldn't leave anytime soon.