Varian

Varian sat comfortably on his throne in Stormwind Keep, Genn Greymane at his usual position by his side. His shoulder was mostly healed, and his leg wound non-existent, thanks to Anduin's exceptional skills. Of course, his son still insisted on seeing him twice a day to administer further healing, but as far as Varian was concerned he was back to fighting form.

A message had arrived from Khadgar earlier that morning, indicating that the traitor would be delivered to Stormwind keep at midday. Despite Anduin's objections on behalf of Varian's shoulder, he wore his best plate, and Shalamayne gleamed at his side. He was determined to appear unbroken before the man whose treachery had nearly cost him his life.

A guard approached the throne and bowed low. Varian beckoned him to stand.

"We've just received word, Your Majesty," he reported briskly. "The party from Stormshield has just arrived, and will be entering the keep momentarily."

"Thank you, Lieutenant," Varian said, and dismissed him.

True to the guard's word, a small entourage entered the keep a few minutes later. The traitor, Croft, was flanked by two guards, and another two guards followed behind him. His hands were bound by arcane shackles, which prevented his ability to cast magic. To Varian's utter surprise, the guards were followed by Auriana. She lagged slightly behind, hampered as she was by a set of crutches.

"I bring greetings from Archmage Khadgar," she said formally as she approached the throne. "As his representative, I have been sent to bring before you Aleister Croft, formerly of the Kirin Tor, to face the King's justice."

"Stormwind thanks both you and the Archmage for your excellent service in investigating this matter," Varian replied gravely. He wanted to ask her about her injury, but he knew the formalities needed to be observed. "What are the charges?"

"High treason, Your Majesty, resulting in the deaths of several Stormshield guards, and injury to the High King of the Alliance. Archmage Khadgar has laid down the charges, which I present to you now, along with a signed confession from the accused. The accused has confessed to spying for the Iron Horde, and for arranging the ambush that resulted in the events in Tanaan Jungle."

She nodded to one of the guards, who produced a sealed scroll and handed it to Varian.

"Very well. We shall discuss this matter further in the petitioner's chamber."

The four arresting guards, Croft, Auriana, Greymane, and Varian himself made their way down the hall to the petitioner's chamber. The chamber was relatively empty at this time, though Varian had to dismiss several guards and various public servants, with the exception of Bishop DeLavey. He offered Auriana a chair, to rest her injured leg, but she firmly declined his invitation.

"Auriana Fenwild, might I present Genn Greymane, King of Gilneas," he said.

"Your Majesty," she said to Greymane. "You'll forgive me if I don't bow."

"Of course," Greymane said warmly. "Varian has told me of your adventures in Tanaan, and I have no desire to add further to your injuries."

"And this is Bishop DeLavey," Varian continued. "He is well versed in the law of Stormwind, and often advises me on legal matters."

The imposing Bishop nodded at Auriana, and she returned the gesture in kind.

"Greetings, child. I hear you were instrumental in returning King Varian to us."

"It was my pleasure, Your Excellency," she said, pointedly ignoring the disbelieving look Varian shot her way.

Brief introductions aside, Varian turned on Aleister Croft.

"You stand accused of high treason against the crown. What say you in your own defence?" he asked.

Croft gazed at him shrewdly, his light brown eyes narrowed in unabashed contempt. He paused, considering his words carefully, and when he spoke, his voice dripped venom.

"I have no defence, Varian Wrynn, save that I did what needed to be done. The Iron Horde represents the best chance against the Burning Legion. As it stands, the Alliance will be crushed. We don't have the ambition to stand up to the enemies we face. I have no desire to become a mere ant beneath the boot of the Legion, and if that meant allying myself with the winning side, then so be it."

"You claim that you allied with the Iron Horde in order to bring down a greater foe," Greymane observed, "And yet I suspect that your true goal was personal power."

"Who would turn down the chance to be a god? I was simply killing two birds with one stone. The secrets of Highmaul and a chance to survive the coming apocalypse? How could I refuse such an offer?" Croft sneered. "For all you believe yourselves so high and mighty, you are all of you beneath me."

Varian looked around the room. Bishop DeLavey looked supremely offended, in the way that only nobles and clergymen can. Greymane looked simply disappointed, and Auriana's face was pure stone.

"Very well, then," he sighed, and unwound the scroll of charges provided by Khadgar. "Unless anyone has any arguments to the contrary, I am forced to recommend the charges as detailed by Archmage Khadgar. Aleister Croft, by order of the High King of the Alliance, you are charged with high treason. You will be remanded to the Stormwind Stockades until such a time as a trial can be arranged. You have the right to representation in the trial. If you do not select your own representation, it will be provided for you. Be warned, Croft, if found guilty you will pay with your life."

Accepting a quill proffered by Bishop DeLavey, Varian signed the order.

"You sign only your own death warrant, Wrynn," Croft spat.

"Perhaps," Varian replied calmly, "But you won't be around long enough to find out."

Varian beckoned to the two men holding Croft.

"See that he's taken to the Stockades. We will arrange his trial shortly," Varian ordered. "Until then, he is to be kept in solitary confinement. He is to remain shackled at all times."

One on each arm, the two guards escorted the silently fuming Croft from the keep. Once they had disappeared, Varian turned to the rest of the small group.

"I would to speak to Auriana alone," he said. "We'll just be a moment."

The remaining two guards followed the order with unhesitating efficiency, though Genn Greymane took slightly longer to comply. He looked carefully between Varian and Auriana, but acquiesced to the High King's command without a word, shepherding a far too interested Bishop DeLavey out the door ahead of him. Varian knew he'd face plenty of questions from the Gilnean King later, but right now his attention was focused on Auriana.

"Will he really be executed?" she asked quietly, once they were alone.

"If he's convicted, yes," Varian said.

It was something of an equivocation, because they both knew Croft was guilty.

"Unfortunately, the law of Stormwind is clear in this case. He committed high treason, which nearly resulted in the capture and death of the King. The penalty is death."

"He was a good man, once," she replied quietly, though she didn't argue with Varian's assessment of Croft's crimes.

"He won't suffer," Varian assured her. "Taking the life of a man, even a traitor, is no small thing. I've no desire to draw out his end. It will be quick and clean."

She nodded, though he knew his words were little comfort when they were discussing the execution of a former friend. She turned away from him, and idly leafed through a history book someone had left on the table.

"Auriana… about what happened in the jungle… about our… discussion..." he started.

"Please, my Lord," she said, cutting him off. She dropped the book and slowly turned to face him. "I… I apologise. I shouldn't have said the things I did."

"You have the right to an opinion," he said gently. "It's not one of my strong points, I'll admit, but I don't want to be the kind of King who refuses to hear any other points of view."

"Yes… but I could have expressed my… opinion… in a better way."

She gazed up at him intently. She was so small, he realised, that the top of her head was barely level with his shoulders. It made her look very vulnerable, though he knew she was anything but. He wondered why he had never noticed before, perhaps because most of his experience had involved watching her as she rained down death from her fingertips.

"So where does that leave us?" he asked.

He wasn't sure why, but he didn't like the idea of her hating him.

"A truce?" she suggested slowly. "I'm still not convinced that you did right by the Alliance in Orgrimmar… but I can understand your position. And… and I don't think you're a coward… or a terrible King."

He offered her a gauntleted fist, and she shook it after only a moment's hesitation. Her small hand nearly disappeared in his own.

"A truce, then," he agreed. "Though I'm not sure I need your approval of my leadership skills. This isn't a democracy."

She looked at him, brow furrowing, until she realised he was speaking somewhat in jest. She gave him a long, hard look, but the barest ghost of a smile crossed her face.

"On one condition," he added, holding her hand fast as she went to pull away.

"Yes, my Lord?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"My condition is this: continue to serve the Alliance as you have. I don't ask that you love me, but I do ask that you love the Alliance, and that you serve her faithfully to the best of your ability."

"I think I can agree to those terms," she said, voice warming.

They shook hands firmly, and he finally let her go. There was a moment of silence between them, but it was no longer as awkward as it had once been.

"You may have noticed that Khadgar... that my friends call me Auri," she said tentatively.

"Are we friends then?" he asked her.

"No," she said slowly, but a small grin played at the corner of her mouth.

"Well..." she amended, after a pause, "Not yet."

Author's Note: Finished! This is the final chapter for this story, I hope everyone who has read this far has enjoyed it, and thank you all for the positive feedback. I have something of a sequel in the works, so if you'd be interested in reading further stories in this series following Varian and Auriana, please let me know with a review! Thanks again.