moonshadows

“You want to go where?” Varian stares at me, incredulous.

“Demon’s Fall Canyon. It’s in Ashenvale.”

“But…” He takes my hands in his, eyes dropping briefly to my still-flat belly.

“Please, Varian. Before I get too big to travel.”

I can see him wavering. The urge to protect his pregnant wife wars with the urge to grant me anything I desire.

“I’ll need to know what to tell Tyrande when she asks why the king and queen of Stormwind are marching an armed party through her lands.”

That he’s invited himself along is no surprise; I was counting on it, actually. “There’s an…ally…that I’ve been in contact with. He’ll speak to no one but me. I’ve been visiting him every year, but I wasn’t able to go last autumn.”

“Because you didn’t want to ask me.” Varian’s voice is even, but I can hear the pain behind it.

I nod. “If Tyrande needs more information, my…ally…has been searching for the spirit of Cenarius.”

The slightly-glazed look on his face tells me he has no idea what significance that is. “I’ll start making the arrangements. Tari? Just between us, who is your ‘ally’?”

“The spirit of Grom Hellscream.”

Varian’s eyebrows knit together. “How…?”

“There are certain herbs…combined with a meditative trance, they let me see into the spirit world. They’re only supposed to induce visions, but I guess they work differently on humans. We discovered it when I went through the blood-binding ritual.”

“Would they work on me, too?”

“I…don’t know. We never tried with any other human.”

He gets the look on his face that means he will trample any obstacle. “I’m going with you, and we’re going to try.”

Oh, ancestors. I was already anticipating trouble explaining Varian to Grom. If this works, That trouble will either vanish, or double.

===============

I chant the words and throw the herbs into the fire. Golthak guards my back, and fifty Royal Guard form a protective ring alongside two dozen Sentinels. Varian grips my hand tightly as I sit down, and together we breathe deeply of the smoke. The world shimmers, and when I close my eyes, Grom is sitting across the white spirit-fire.

So, this is why you didn’t come last year?

I look to my side and see Varian sitting next to me, jaw clenched. Grom, this is Varian. My husband.

You sure he’s worthy of you?

I married him, didn’t I?

He scowls. Humans marry for stupid reasons. I thought you were better than that.

Don’t pass judgment on me so quickly. Varian is scowling right back at him. If you know Taretha, then you must know that she doesn’t settle for second-best.

Grom leers at him. Think pretty highly of yourself, don’t you, human?

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, but Varian keeps his temper.

I have grown to trust Taretha’s judgment, and worked hard to be found worthy by her.

Have you, now? You know what she suffered at the hands of your people, don’t you?

He knows, I interject. I put him through hell and he never faltered in his adoration.

Grom looks surprised. Is he a worthy mate, Taretha?

I love him, Grom. I trust him.

Completely?

I put one hand on my belly. My son or daughter will be as fierce and strong as any orcish parent could wish.

Grom looks at Varian. You better appreciate the woman who has taken you as her mate, human. If she had been an orc…

If she had been an orc, she would never have looked twice at me. I love her more for her spirit and her mind than for her body, but I am grateful that she was not born an orc. He looks at me with molten adoration. If she had been an orc, half the Horde would have been lined up to be her mate, and I never would have had a chance.

Well said. Grom nods with grudging respect. If Taretha has found you worthy of trust, then you have mine as well. I suspect that if you ever hurt her, Thrall would beat you to within an inch of your life, so I’ll skip the usual threats. I’m in no position to enforce them, anyway.

Varian suddenly laughs soundlessly. You could delegate that to your son. I’m sure he’d love the chance to beat me without the risk of losing to a human.

What?

I grin. The last time Varian and Garrosh clashed, they were pretty evenly matched. The difference was that I had Varian on a shorter leash than Thrall did Garrosh.

And that was while she still hated my guts, Varian adds cheerfully.

Grom grimaces. Varian, if you can beat some restraint into my son, I may adopt you myself.

My allies threw a big enough fit that the queen of Stormwind is a Frostwolf. I don’t think the world is ready for the son of Hellscream to be king, even if it is son by adoption.

Grom laughs soundlessly. Still, come back next year and tell me how Garrosh is doing. Let me see your fierce, strong child. Tell Thrall I am still proud of him. And tell the elves that I may have found something.

Until next year, Grom.

Until next year, Taretha. No skipping.

I’ll make sure of it, Varian promises. Until next year.

Grom thumps his ethereal chest with one fist as the spirit world fades out.