"Gossip?" Anduin looked perplexed. "I don't know any."
Jaina shrugged. "Then make some up."
Anduin returned to Stormwind three minutes late for dinner, materializing in his room to discover that Wyll had laid out his clothing. He splashed his face quickly with water from the basin, then threw on the formal dining clothing and scrambled quickly downstairs to join his father.
There were rooms for enormous banquets, but ordinary dinners for the two of them were held in one of Varian's private rooms. The last few meals they had shared together had been stiff and uncomfortable. Looming between Varian and Anduin Wrynn was the shadow of Lo'Gosh. But now, as he slipped into his chair and reached for his napkin, Anduin looked down the length of the table and saw his father without the haze of resentment that had clouded his vision earlier. His visit to Jaina had enabled him to clear his mind, to just… be away from all of this, even for a little while.
And as he looked at his father, he did not see Lo'Gosh. He saw a man who was starting to get faint lines at the corner of his eyes, the marks of age and weariness and not battle. He saw the strain of the crown, of the countless decisions that had to be made daily. Decisions that cost money, or even more precious a currency, lives. He felt not pity for his father — Varian did not need it — but compassion.
Varian glanced up and gave his son a tired smile. "Good evening, Son. How was your day? Do anything fun?"
"Actually, yes," said Anduin, dipping his spoon into the rich, thick, turtle bisque. "I used Aunt Jaina's hearthstone to pay her a visit."
"Did you now?" Varian's blue eyes flickered with interest. "How did that go? Did you learn anything?"
Anduin shrugged, suddenly filled with doubt. It had seemed so exciting at the time, but now that he had to recount the incident to his father it…
well, it was just having tea, mostly.
"We talked about some things. And, um… had tea."
"Tea?"
"Tea," Anduin said, almost defensively. "It's cold and wet in Theramore. There's nothing wrong with having tea and eating something."
Varian shook his head, reaching for a slice of bread and cheese. "No, there's not. And you certainly were in fine company. Did you talk about the current situation?"
Anduin felt the heat rise in his face. He didn't want to betray Jaina, even inadvertently. But he also didn't want to lie to his father. "Some."
Keen eyes flickered to Anduin's face. Lo'Gosh wasn't completely present, but Anduin sensed he wasn't completely absent, either. "See any orcs?"
"No." That at least he could answer honestly. He toyed with his soup, his appetite suddenly gone.
"Ah, but Jaina did."
"I didn't say - "
"It's all right. I know that she and Thrall are thick as thieves. I also know Jaina wouldn't betray the Alliance."
Anduin brightened. "No, she never would. Never."
"You… sympathize with her, don't you? With the orcs and the Horde?"
"I… Father, we've just lost so many already," Anduin blurted out, putting his spoon down and regarding Varian intently. 'You heard Archbishop Benedictus. Almost fifty thousand. And I know that a lot of our people died at the hands of the Horde, but a lot of them didn't, and the Horde also suffered terrible losses. They're not the enemy, they — "
"I do not know what other term you would use to describe someone — some thing — that could do to those Sentinels what the orcs did to them."
"I thought - "
"Oh, Thrall replied, condemning the breaking of the treaty and assuring me he had no desire for it to happen again. But as for what was done to those elves? Nothing. If he is as civilized as you and Jaina seem to think, then why would he stay silent on something so atrocious?"
Anduin looked miserably at his father. He couldn't say what he knew, and even if he could, the information was secondhand. He wondered if he'd ever truly grasp politics. Jaina, Aegwynn, and even his father had all praised his insight, but he felt more confused than clear on… well, pretty much everything. What he knew was more intuition than logic, and that was something that neither Varian nor Lo'Gosh would really understand.
He just knew, somehow, in his bones, that Thrall wasn't as Varian saw him. And he couldn't explain it any better than that.
Varian watched his son keenly and sighed inwardly. He liked Jaina; he respected her; but she was not a warrior. He was not opposed to peaceable relationships with former foes, as Anduin seemed to think. His agreement to the armistice in the first place was proof of that. It was just that his people's safely came first. Only a fool extended the hand of friendship if it was likely to be sliced off at the wrist.
Anduin wasn't weak. He had proved that again and again in situations that would have made someone twice his age give in to panic or despair.
But he was… Varian groped for the word and found it: soft. He was not the best with heavy weapons, although his archery and dagger throwing skills were superb. Perhaps if he had more ability, more understanding, of what a warrior endured, he would be less inclined to be kind - hearted when such gentler emotions might result in the deaths of said warriors.
"I'm glad you're taking advantage of this chance to visit Jaina," he said. He finished the soup and wiped the bowl clean with a bit of bread, nodding at the servants who came to remove the bowl and used utensils. "I think it's a good idea."
Anduin glanced up at him. Varian realized, with a pang of pain, that the boy's expression was wary, guarded. "But?" Anduin said bluntly.
Varian had to smile. "But," he agreed, emphasizing the word, "I think it would also be a good idea if you spent some time elsewhere. With people other than me and Jaina."
The guarded expression shifted into one of curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"I was thinking of Magni Bronzebeard," Varian said. "You're fond of him, aren't you?"
Anduin looked relieved. "Very much so. I like the dwarves. I admire their courage and tenacity."
"Well, would you like to go stay with him for a while in Ironforge? You've not spent much time there, and I think it's time you did. The dwarves — except for the Dark Irons, of course — have close ties with us. Magni likes you and I'm sure would teach you all kinds of things. You wouldn't be too far away either, in case you wanted to come visit your lonely old father."
Anduin grinned now, and Varian felt better. This was a good idea. "The Deeprun Tram can bring me right back to Stormwind," he agreed.
"Absolutely," Varian said. "So it's settled, then?"
'Yes, that sounds like a lot of fun, actually," Anduin said. "I've wanted to spend some time learning more about the Explorers' League, and the display of their most precious exhibits is right there in Ironforge. Maybe I'll even get to talk to some of the members."
The servers came with the second course, roast venison in a rich sauce. Anduin dug in, his appetite, which had seemed a bit off to Varian, clearly having returned.
If the boy wanted to spend time with the Explorers' League studying, Varian would not try to stop him. It was a good pursuit for a future king. But he'd also have a quiet word with Magni and emphasize the need for Anduin's battle training to be stepped up. Magni would understand. Varian himself had studied under the skilled tutelage of a dwarf and knew that the same training would benefit his son. Maybe it would help make this promising but delicate boy become a man.
Ten
Thrall awoke, instantly alert to the sound of horns blowing a warning. He leaped out of his sleeping furs immediately, the acrid smell of smoke telling him what the emergency was before he heard the words that he knew would strike terror into the heart of every citizen of Orgrimmar:
"Fire! Fire!"