He paced back and forth across the room as Valeera eyed him with concern from the armchair by the fireplace. The room seemed to spin slowly - likely a side effect from his frequent use of teleportation magic that day.

While Tyrande gathered an embassy to the Horde back in Ashenvale, Anduin returned to his chambers in Stormwind. He'd put some thought into his choice of meeting place. King Greymane was surely not going to accept being ruled by Sylvanas, so Anduin had to appeal to Genn the friend instead. That's why he chose to meet Genn in his own residence and not the War Room or another public space. They've spent many a night in these rooms, sitting by the fireplace, engaged in discussion. The last few meetings included a goblet or two of wine as well. But each time it was as Anduin and Genn, not as King Wrynn and his subject. He hoped that the choice of meeting place today would have the desired effect.

Valeera was here to give him emotional support. That's what he told her, anyway, but she was clever enough to understand that she was playing the role of the neutral party that would validate Anduin's plans for marriage and make Genn seem like the unreasonable one for rejecting them.

Even Roland, the footman outside his door, had a role to play. "Please enter, my lord. King Anduin has been expecting you" - those were the words he was told to say, along with the command to simply open the door instead of announcing the visitor first. Roland balked at such a breach of protocol, but Anduin had to insist.

A familiar voice followed by a knock on the door brought his pacing to a halt. Valeera stood up as well, looking anxiously at the entrance.

As promised, the door swung open, allowing the Gilnean king to enter without being announced first.

"Anduin," he greeted as Anduin rushed to embrace the older man. "What is the matter? It's a strange time to call me to your residence. What is the news from the front?"

"A great deal has happened, my friend, and I have less than an hour to tell you about it." Gods, Sylvanas should've given me at least a day to do this. But then, I volunteered the two hours idea… He gestured Genn over to the fireplace. "Sit, sit … I won't have you standing this whole time."

Genn spotted Valeera as he headed for the fireplace armchairs. He greeted her and she inclined her head in return, his brows turning into a frown at the unexpected company.

Anduin followed suit, waiting for the Gilean to sit down first before he did as well. Between friends, Genn was the senior in age, after all. The older man turned to him questioningly.

Anduin sighed. "You said last time that you would not allow Gilneas to divide the Alliance if we have to give it up as part of the war."

"I did. And I meant it, Anduin."

"I know you did. It meant a lot to me. To know that the Alliance stands firmly united through even in the darkest moments. Thank you. But I'm afraid that I will have to take you up on that offer sooner than expected, my friend."

The old king turned to him in his chair, his eyes wide. "What? What on Azeroth happened? Did Sylvanas manage to take Darnassus with some trick?"

He shook his head. "No, not quite. Although I fear Darnassus will fall before our reinforcements arrive. No. It's just that… I've found an avenue to peace, but the only way it could work is if we give up Gilneas."

"An avenue to peace? What, Varok? He wants Gilneas?"

Anduin shook his head. "Not Varok. I spoke with Sylvanas."

"Sylvanas? Sylvanas wants — wait, you spoke with the Banshee?"

"I did. About an hour ago. And I believe there's a chance for peace."

King Greymane jolted out of his seat. "I — Sy — wha… Anduin?" he sputtered. "What are you telling me? What is going on?"

"Genn, please. Sit." Anduin glanced at Valeera, who gave him a sympathetic smile. Genn didn't sit, but Anduin didn't want to escalate things (just yet), so he remained sitting, looking up at his friend. "I found a way to speak with her alone. Well, technically Shaw found a way, but I was the one who went to meet her."

"Alone? With the Banshee? Do you even know how dangerous she is? What were you thinking?"

"Have a little faith in me, my friend. I came back unscathed, as you can see." He stretched his arms wide to indicate he was unharmed. The older man was about to say something, but Anduin plowed on. "I offered her peace. I think it was a good offer. She seemed intrigued."

Genn finally collapsed back into the armchair, rubbing his temples. "Anduin… whatever peace she agrees to, you cannot possibly think that she's trustworthy enough to uphold it for long! She'll use the break to gather strength and launch an even bigger force against us!"

"I know," he said grimly. "And I'm not looking for a temporary respite from the fighting. I'm looking to end this conflict between the Alliance and the Horde for good."

"Now's not the time for wishing things we cannot have, boy! We're at war and — "

Anduin slammed his fist against the arm of his chair. Genn's mouth snapped shut from surprise. "Please Genn," he said through gritted teeth, "could you not interrupt? I have little time and I have to explain my decision to you and then hear yours. Please." King Greymane could only nod. "Look, I know. The Horde and the Alliance keep making peace only to fight again. Every war exhausts us more and more, as if Deathwing and the Legion and everything else we've faced haven't done enough. We need permanent peace or at this rate, there won't be anyone left to defend against the next time the Legion or whatever other catastrophe hits us. So I've been searching for something that could guarantee peace between us. Not just words on paper or promises that we know will be broken. Something that would be a guarantee, iron-clad, for permanent peace. And I think I found it. That's what I offered Sylvanas."

"What do you mean?" Genn asked quietly. "What did you offer her?"

"Marriage. To me. The way it used to be done in the centuries past. To join the Horde and the Alliance through a wedding between their leaders."

Genn bolted out of his chair once more but stayed quiet. He began pacing back and forth like Anduin did just a few minutes earlier, his jaws grinding visibly.

Anduin continued on, explaining his reasons like he did with Tyrande and with Valeera before her. Whether Genn heard anything, he wasn't sure.

"I had to offer her Gilneas and the part of Ashenvale she has already taken. So she asked that I bring her guarantees from Tyrande and yourself before she would accept my offer."

Genn finally stopped pacing and turned around. "Tyrande? Have you spoken to her about this? What did she say?"

Anduin nodded. "I have. She agreed."

"She agreed? Preposterous!"

Valeera stepped forward. "I agree with Anduin's decision too. Everything Anduin offered the Banshee she would've taken through conquest anyway. And even then there'd be no guarantee of maintaining the peace. But this… this gives us hope."

King Greymane laughed grimly. "Hope? With Banshee as Queen? What hope is there to have with her sitting on the throne?" He turned to Anduin. "I can't allow you to do this, Anduin. It will be the ruin of Stormwind! Of Gilneas! Of the Alliance!"

"You won't allow me?" Anduin injected a dose of steel into his voice. "What exactly are you saying, Genn?"

"I'm saying that I will not accept this marriage!" Genn's voice came in a snarl, his teeth suddenly unnaturally long. "Gilneas will not be ruled by the witch that slaughtered my son!"

"So the promises of unshakeable loyalty were what? Just words?"

Genn turned on him, eyes wild. He seemed to have grown taller. "That was a promise to you! To the Alliance! Not to the Banshee!"

Anduin tried to bring to memory every hurt and betrayal in his short life and color his voice with it. "It's nice to have me as your friend, isn't it, Genn? It makes it that much easier to forget that I am your King when it's convenient for you." Genn visibly winced at his words and took a step back, his worgen transformation reversing rapidly. "I am not asking for your permission to marry Sylvanas. I have offered her my hand. I will not go back on my word. But Gilneas is the key to this. There will be no peace without it. So will you agree to cede it? Or will you abandon me just like you abandoned my father and lead us back into war and destruction?"

Light, how I hate doing this. This kind of manipulation was something Sylvanas would do… and here he was, King Anduin Wrynn, Priest of the Light, playing with his subjects' emotions for the sake of "higher purpose". Is there any difference between me and her after this? He had to hope so.

"Fine," Genn spat. "I'll live up to my word. Your witch can have Gilneas. But I will never be her subject. If you go through with this marriage, we will leave the Alliance once more."

Light, Genn. Really? He finally stood up to match the older king.

"Don't you see it? You'd be playing right into her hands if you withdraw from the Alliance!"

"You're the one who is playing into her hands by binding yourself to her. I will not abide a Queen who murdered my son."

"I lost my father because of her, Genn! But you and I have to think of more than just ourselves! We have people to protect. My family, your family - it means nothing in comparison to the millions of lives this could save! Tyrande recognizes that. I recognize that. How is it that someone old enough to be my father cannot?"

Greymane glared at him, Anduin's words hanging in the air for a few moments. "You will not convince me to swear fealty to Sylvanas. Gilneas will never recognize her as Queen."

Valeera stepped forward. "King Greymane, your people are refugees among the night elves, who have now agreed to this marriage. Will you withdraw from the Alliance while you live among them?"

"Our night elf hosts would not abandon us, Alliance or not!"

Anduin sighed. "While I would caution you to not make any rash decisions, whether you and your people remain part of the Alliance or not is up to you. But I will keep you to your promise regarding Gilneas. If you will not accompany me to meet with Sylvanas, I must have your written consent to cede Gilneas."

Genn shot daggers at him with his eyes. "So be it."