10. Marry me - Accost

[moonshadows]

"The entire building has been set aside for the Horde and Alliances forces to coordinate in," Jaina says as she leads us through the red-and-blue decked halls. "Mages are on call at all times for relaying orders. The Kirin Tor feel that defeating A-" her voice stumbles slightly. "-the Lich King is too important to allow garbled or lost messages. They'd like it if you and Thrall would stay in Dalaran for the duration of the final campaign, but there are also mages on hand to provide portals should something come up in Orgrimmar."

I can't help giving her a questioning look. "Me? I am no general. What do they expect me to accomplish?"

We round the corner and what must be the entrance to the Horde suite comes into view - as does the king of Stormwind, who is leaning casually against the wall dressed in a light grey tunic and leggings, covered by a simple sky-blue tabard and soft boots of a matching hue. It looks horrible on him.

"I withdraw the question."

Golthak chokes back a laugh at my dry tone.

"Varian." Jaina sounds slightly irritated, and her arms cross. "What are you doing here?"

"It was my understanding that the Kirin Tor wanted me here until-"

"I know why you're in the city," the sorceress interrupts. "Why are you here?"

His eyes slide past her to alight on me. "It would be rude of me to not greet a lady on her arrival, wouldn't it?"

"Well then," I say crisply as he pushes himself away from the wall, "you may deliver your greeting to Lady Proudmoore and be on your way."

"You wound me, Lady Foxton," he says, but he doesn't look or sound wounded. Jaina steps out of the way as he moves closer to me until we are standing in front of each other. "The flower of Theramore, while lovely, could never compare to you in my eyes."

A glance at Jaina shows her fighting back a smile; I'll get no help from that quarter. "This flower has thorns, my lord. One might wonder at the wisdom of stretching out your hand a second time when the first attempt to pluck it resulted only in blood."

"Did it?" His voice is low, husky. "You should have played Hawks and Hares with me, my lady, if you saw no strategic worth in that defeat."

"That was not a defeat, my lord. It was a slaughter. 'Defeat' implies defenses that were overcome, while I do not recall you doing anything but surrendering before my every advance."

My cold glare is met by the same mysterious smile he bore when he bade me farewell at the Argent Tournament nearly six months ago. "And you were most merciful in your victories. However, do not expect that you will remain unopposed in future battles."

I raise my eyebrows. "Oh? Have you found your manhood then, my lord? I wondered if you had left it in Dire Maul along with your title."

"As with any other weapon, my lady, the greatest proof of its potency is the restraint with which it is wielded." The smile has been wiped from his face, and there is a hint of a growl in his tone.

"Meaning to say that you simply chose to let me verbally fillet you?"

The smile comes back, but now it resembles the narrow-eyed anticipation of a wolf scenting prey. "You should have played a match with me, Taretha. I was forced to take your measure with live steel because you would not spar with wooden tokens." He sweeps me a formal bow and favors me with a mildly amused look. "As painful as the experience was, I do appreciate the skill you demonstrated. However, I feel it only fair to warn you that you have under-estimated me, my lady."

My glare sharpens, hiding the tremor of unease that climbs my spine. He let me...? Too late, I remember that Lo'gosh made such a splash because he was severely underestimated, lying quietly in wait for the best time to pounce on his unsuspecting opponents and ravage them mercilessly. What is he planning? The unease fades into determination. If he truly did restrain himself and allow me to attack him without fighting back just to size me up as an opponent, then he is more stubborn and cunning than I thought. Despite myself, I am impressed - but no more willing to swoon before his malformed smile than I had been. The way his eyes gleam hints that he did not miss the change in my demeanor, and that he welcomes it.

"Taretha? With Jaina as my witness, I swear I will focus on our mutual enemy. If I direct any portion of the Alliance's forces against the Horde, I beg you to call me on it and hold me accountable."

"I shouldn't have to do that, your Majesty."

"No, you shouldn't. Because I shouldn't be doing it. But if I do something stupid..." he smiles crookedly at me. "I know that you, at least, will not hold back in telling me so. My guards will admit you at any hour, and will relay a message to me if you would rather I meet you somewhere else, where you can verbally flay me without worrying who the blood will splatter. As always, my lady, it was a pleasure seeing you. I trust our paths will cross again soon."

He sweeps me another gallant bow and strides off before I can gather my wits and for several breaths, silence reigns in the hall.

Finally, Jaina steps away from the wall. "Well, that was...enlightening." She glances between me and the empty end of the hall Varian had vanished around the corner of. "I think he likes you, Tari."

“You don’t say.” I groan and cover my face with my hands. "Ancestors, what did I do?"

She pats my shoulder comfortingly. "You gave him a direction to focus his misguided masculine aggression in. One that won't take innocent lives."

"I encouraged him, and I'm not even sure how."

Jaina looks at me thoughtfully. "I think Thrall was on to something. I know the nobility, and the games they play. You don't play them, and neither does Varian. That's why Onyxia..." she makes a tangled gesture. "If he had been the type to fall prey to feminine wiles, she would have been able to control him."

"But I don't play those games," I say slowly, and she nods.

"Exactly. You're honest and honorable, even when you're not being kind. Trust me, that's refreshing beyond words when you've been raised in court." Her eyes twinkle. "That's what impressed me about Thrall. It wouldn't surprise me if after his stint as Lo'gosh, he yearns for the company of a woman who doesn't simper and flutter her eyelashes."

I turn to look at her, equally thoughtful. "Do you think I could learn to simper?"

Jaina grins. "No."