Chapter 9 - The King

"Whats your favorite color?" Anthra asked of me.

"Green. do you have any other fmaily?"

"Yes! Actually, I have a younger sister, Shilanis. she's a druid too!"

"Really?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, she's still training though, it wasnt easy to get her in, they're very picky about female druids."

"I know, the system is very patriarchal, I think if it wasnt for the war, they probably would still only allow female  warriors and priests and male druids."

"So.... Mr. Kitty" Anthra said while jumping off the bed to her feet. "What do you like to eat?"


"Hm? well I'm not particular. I did rather enjoy the muffin you sent to me though"


"Really?" She beamed.


"Really."

She ran over to me and hopped down in front of me, making a quick motion to sweep her robes evenly beneath her legs as she kneeled.

"Well I guess that means I'll just have to make some more huh?"

"Well I'm certainly not going to stop you!" I laughed.

"Ok your turn to ask Mr. Kitty"

"Ok, well, hmm.... What is your favorite hobby?"

"That's easy! I love dancing!"

"You'll have to show me how one of these days!" I joked, totally unprepared to be taken seriously. But I was taken seriously and Anthra stood up fast and pushed her body up to mine. The warmth was electric and I blushed as she took me hand and put it in hers, and swung my arm around to the small of her back. She smiled up at me reassuringly and she began to lead me in circles around the room, her steps moving my feet somehow perfectly in time with her as she moved.

"One, two, three, Yes thats it Mr. Kitty, you're really doing great!"

I sighed and let myself be taken along as we box stepped around the room. She moved closer leaning her head on my chest her eyes closed wistfully.

"Will you really be by my side always, Ueki?" She said in a rare moment of frailty.

"Always." I said softly, without pause.

We stopped dancing and she stepped away from me just enough to look up at me once more.

"Even if--"

Just then there was a knock at the door. I turned to answer it but it swung open before I could. There stood a knight of Stormwind, trying not to stare at what was probably the first two night elves he had seen in his life.

"Sorry to disturb you ambassador but you may see the king now." He said pausing for just a moment more before adding, "When you are ready I will take you there, I will be waiting outside"


Hurriedly Anthra and I prepared for our meeting with the king. As we stepped out the door the guard was waiting for us.

"This way milady, and milord", said the guard as he escorted us through the long white stone corridors. Every step made me more and more nervous. I had seen more non-elves in the past day than I had seen in my whole life, and now I would be meeting a king of thier lands. It was alot to be nervous about.

Anthra seemed to sense the worry in my mind as she glanced quickly over at me and put her hand in mine for a quick squeeze before releasing it and smiling without breaking her stride.

My heart fluttered and suddenly I was no longer so nervous...

---

As Anthra and I walked into the large thrown room we were taken aback the regalia. Tapestries hung, spaced evenly on the round walls that encircled the room. A grand carpet of blue and gold embroidery led all the way from the castle's main entrance to it's lavish throne area. A single exquisite gold chair adorned with lion head reliefs sat at the foot of the carpet and on it's seat... no one. Confused I looked to the left and saw 3 figures walk in from one of the adjacent hallways. A valorous looking man in shining silver and gold armor accompanied a beautiful dark haired woman and a human child with salt and pepper hair and freckles. The three of them walked slowly to the throne though none of them sat. The guard that had led us to the room walked up proudly and beckoned us to follow. 


Once we neared the throne the guard kneeled and said plainly, "The ambassadors from Darnassus your highness!"

Anthra and I mimicked his actions.

We stood only after he did and he swiftly made his way back down the hall from which we had come.

Waiting until he was out of the room Anthra spoke up, addressing the man in the regal armor, "Your highness, I am Anthra Shinefallow, priestess from the Temple of Elune in Darnassus and ambassador to High Priestess Whisperwind who sends her regards."

The man looked at her oddly with something that was halfway between annoyance and mirth on his face, and Anthra and I wondered if we had somehow offended the king until we heard laughter from below. 


The child looked up and laughed innocently before saying, "You'll have to forgive Bolivar, he's not used to being referred to as king."

Anthra and I turned to look at each other confused and without having to ask he answered our next question.

"I am king you see, Anduin Wrynn, it is a pleasure to meet you ambassadors!"

---

Our quick conversation with the king ended with him granting us to access to the library of Stormwind, a mighty room with books and tomes of all kinds so overwhelming the king thankfully sent a page to accompany us is finding the information we sought.

After hours of searching and reading between the 3 of us, we finally found a few obscure books regarding old curses as per Anthra's instructions. 


As Anthra poured over them the page came over to me and asked in a hush tone "Why come to Stormwind for knowledge on curses? Surely curses amongst night elves are fundamentally different than those found on this continent." 


"I'm afraid I don't have much experience in the matter actually, the Druidic order does not practice any curses and I wouldn't know how to combat them.", I answered after some thought.


"Well, there is a place... it is... wrought with much suffering from my understanding. The locals struggle with a curse that has been going on for nearly a generation."


Just then Anthra turned her attention to us and in a surprisingly serious demeanor asked "What is the nature of this curse?"


"Milady? Umm... the people there seem to... grow dark, hungry... they turn against their fellow villagers with startling violence. Not much is known since travel and trade with the town have stopped as of late."


"Then that seems like a good place to start!" Anthra said to me with a fire in her eyes.