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Rebellion - 15
🕑 Added 2023-09-16 09:00:04 +0000 UTC"Salute, lads!" One of the many, many sergeants yelled as we rode down the column towards the front. "Light knows we're lucky to have 'em, so give the proper respect!" The resulting salutes were a little awkward, some doing the proper Gilnean salute with their palms held out, fingers just above the right eye, but most weren't so... formal.
Amongst the fumbling attempts by the Lordainian refugees, which made up a large portion of this cohort, there were a few who smacked themselves in their haste.
I made a point to smile and give them a short wave, as I had to many of the volunteers and levies as we passed.
Vivi was more interested in keeping an eye out, watching for any danger now that we were so much closer to the capital, and Tricks had decided to hide away in the saddlebags of her own accord. There hadn't been much in the way of peace in the camp, or the march, since we arrived.
"Oh dear, I do hope that doesn't cause another delay." Frazzle mumbled as one of the wagons, trundling along in the dirt beside the road proper, got stuck. "Perhaps we should – oh, wait, I see Sir Magroth."
"He'll handle it if it needs someone." I agreed. Either of us could have resolved the issue quickly enough, but there was always something. The sheer scale of the army Darius had assembled... despite having seen it from the air as we approached, having heard just how big It was, I hadn't appreciated it until we started moving. Knowing that we had more than forty thousand men and women, four-fifths of which were ready to fight, marching in one great force was entirely different from understanding it.
There was only so much space on the roads for men to march abreast, only so many roads going in the right direction that we could take, and only so much room on the wagons – and barges, which drifted lazily down the Northgate River – to carry supplies and equipment.
"Just a stupid merchant anyway." Vivi said after giving the wagon a glance and shrugging. "Her own fault for trying to get ahead of everyone else."
"Eh, it'd still cause disruption..." I muttered and shook my head. "Doesn't matter."
It wasn't just soldiers on the march; men and women trailed behind, to wash and mend clothes, cook meals, repair arms and armour, drive wagons, trade luxuries at exorbitant prices, and... less reputable business.
If it was something that could be used to pry coin of out the pockets of the quartermasters or the soldiers, there was someone here to ply the trade. At least there wasn't much of a concern of disease with the Golden Cross out in force; doing more than treating the symptoms was still a pain in the arse for me, but it was simple enough for the priests.
Wasn't any easier for other witches, but they made a good showing on easing other problems. Even though many of the men had crossed the river to head into the Blackwald there were enough to greatly ease the demand on local food stores. A supply of fresh produce each day certainly helped to improve morale as well.
"About time you caught up." Tulvan said snidely as we reached the head of the column, only the vanguard before us in the march and outriders beyond that. "Was wondering if you'd even bother to be here before we made camp."
"Lady Tulvan." I greeted her as serenely as I could manage, which was a lot more than a few weeks ago. "We're likely to see the capital tomorrow if not today; it would be irresponsible of me to wait about."
Lady Candren, here with her son in the place of her likely dead husband, smiled darkly. "More than that. The scouts say there won't even be a siege."
I blinked, tilting my head in confusion. I'd seen Genn's army in the city and on the walls when I went flying yesterday, unless they fled just last night–
"The king has decided to array himself before the walls of the city, the river to his flank and the walls to another." Darius explained, leaving me with even more questions. "Though we have yet to determine why it is possible our agents within the capital have caused enough disturbances that he does not trust the city to be a secure position."
"And he would be correct." Bishop Miller added smugly. "The city is all but ready to riot and weapons have been distributed. I must admit I didn't expect you to have smuggling connections, Lord Crowley."
"I explored many paths when I first learned of Genn's plans for the wall."
It was a non-answer, and one that seemed a little odd considering smuggling towards the city wouldn't have helped circumvent the wall, but it satisfied the bishop. It also wasn't important. "It certainly makes our situation easier." I said with a smile. "Less collateral damage, a chance to capture the king if he's present, and end the war in one fell swoop."
Tulvan snorted. "Optimism will get you killed, girl. What Darius forgot to mention was that someone saw the flags of the bloody Kirin Tor on the field as well."
"Not with the king." Darius corrected her. "I would have your own report on the disposition of the king's army before we arrive, Gwyneth, as well as that of the Kirin Tor in more detail. We will be stopping shortly to prepare for the final march come morning. It would not do to arrive tired to a climactic battle."
"Understood, Lord Crowley." I nodded my head and passed the reins of my horse to Frazzle, then slipped off the side and turned into a raven before touching the ground.
Being able to do that without having to find somewhere to hide was freeing.
-oOoOo-
It didn't take long to survey the king's forces, and though even with a raven's eyesight I couldn't do much more than confirm our already existing estimates of their numbers, their positioning was another story. Cannons atop the hill from which the king and the nobles had watched the first true display of the Order of Amber's utility, twelve of them in all, and more stretching along other hills and stuff in earthworks.
Trenches, of all things, had ruined the fields I'd grown and Princess Tess had played in. Whether there were landmines as well I couldn't say... but an assault, even without having to breach the city walls proper, would be difficult.
There were no obvious weaknesses I could see, save from the city itself – which was by no means unmanned. Regular patrols moved along the walls and several of the towers still had their guns, well within range to provide firing support if not counter-battery fire against a position we took.
And, of course, there was the most important and confusing aspect of the situation. Emplaced on the same hill I'd used to perform the ritual a little under a year ago were the mages of the Kirin Tor, their purple banners flying proudly in the wind alongside that of the Church of Dawn, the Golden Cross, and a black tree on a grey field that clutched a bead of amber at its heart.
I'd been putting off getting closer for a while now, unsure what to make of the array of banners. Neutrality was the watchword of all of them, and their position more than half a mile ahead of Genn's lines indicated the same but...
I couldn't help but remember how I hadn't been helped when Godfrey broke parley, broke truce, and tried to capture me.
As much as I didn't believe Archmage Arugal was, and certainly didn't want him to be, our enemy the thought just wouldn't leave me alone. The feel of his buzzing arcane magic ringing alarm bells in my head in a way that Frazzle's more familiar sparking curiosity didn't.
But I couldn't put it off forever. Whatever my feelings were we needed to know what the hell was going on before we got blasted by the combined magical might of multiple dozen spellcasters and our healers turned on us.
Descending from the sky towards the camp only made the oppressive feeling of Arcane grow stronger, but there was an undercurrent of Life in the form of a heartbeat that started to bleed through. And behind it all a hymn of the Light, calling for patience and calm, started echoing in my ears. One I'd never heard before...
While the heartbeat was one I literally couldn't forget if I tried.
Before I landed a chorus of croaking kicked up, more than a dozen of ravens announcing my presence. They fell silent as, from within a tent, a deep rumbling cry echoed forth.
Moments later, just in time to see me alight atop the grass of the hill, Celestine stepped out of the tent. Her cloak of raven feathers glistened in the evening light and a great duskwing raven on her shoulder. For the briefest of instances, as she first saw me, relief flooded her features.
Then she steeled it away, presenting a stern facade. "Gwyneth. I assume Crowley will not be far behind you?"
The source of the hymn of patience followed her out of the tent, a tall man wearing a rather white and yellow vestment, and Archmage Arugal then followed him out.
"Ah. I had hoped to speak with you." Archmage Arugal said, crouching down closer to me. "Sergeant Sheila wishes to thank you personally – though you were not directly part of the development of the cure she is aware of your involvement."
Letting out a curious croak I shifted back, my gaze fixing on Arugal first despite Celestine's question. "You succeeded?"
"Indeed. The sergeant is capable of rational thought, though she remains trapped in her altered state and subject to intense anger." His eyes crinkled and there was a clear smile behind his veil as he stood again. "Our efforts would not have borne fruit without your contributions."
I breathed out slowly, relief and elation bubbling up with me and forcing a smile onto my face. "That's good. That's very good." I nodded, wishing I could ask about the details, but there were other matters to handle. "Speaker, Lord Crowley and the Northgate Rebellion will be arriving tomorrow. I was sent to scout and determine the reason the Kirin Tor were here... and, now that I am here, what is the intent of the order and church at this time?"
"To minimise casualties, to prevent the sacking of the capital, and..." Celestine stopped, looking at the archmage.
"If possible, find a peaceful resolution to this conflict." He said kindly, but my heckles rose and my muscles tensed. "And as such I, alongside the Golden Cross, wish to sponsor a parley between–"
"So that Godfrey can, once again, break truce to try and capture me? To steal away our commanders under the nose of the church who look on and do nothing?!" I spat furiously, cutting him off and throwing an arm at the priest who had yet to speak. "They just left! Healing his men as if it was nothing!"
"We have–"
"And now you want us to go into that again? To try and avert a battle the king clearly wants? He's right there, preparing for battle, and you tell us to parley?" I snapped over Celestine as she tried to speak, my old mentor being taken aback completely by the sheer anger I displayed. It wasn't satisfying. It wasn't her I was angry with. "The only way there could be any credibility to an offer of parley would be if they trussed Godfrey up like a pig and delivered him to us beforehand!"
The priest held up a hand patiently, waiting for me to finish my tirade. And as I did, he tilted his head. "That might be arranged." He said, earning an utterly disbelieving snort from me. I knew how Genn treated Godfrey. "Some measure of amends must be offered before trust can be restored, that at least can be made clear."
"Shall you do it, or shall I?" Archmage Arugal asked him softly, but he didn't look away from me. "You have known the king longer, but–"
As the archmage and priest started discussing who would approach Genn to make amends for Godfrey's dishonourable actions, Celestine kept staring at me. Concern and judgement plain as day on her face.
I didn't like it. It made me feel uncomfortable, like I was a little girl who had back-talked my teacher or my superior.
Which I... kind of had.
"More than that." She tried to speak over the other two, frowning as they ignored her until her raven croaked lowly. "More than that," she repeated, "there will need to be assurances that it will not happen again. Archmage, how impactful would your influence on the battle be?"
He paused, musing at his chin for a moment and looking out over the fields. "Significant. Though not battle-winning on its own; my specialities do not lie in large-scale warfare like some of my peers."
Celestine nodded slowly. "Should one party break truce, attempting to harm the other, would you agree to join the other side in battle."
I grit my teeth, that was missing the point of why I had trouble trusting a parley. "Provide it in writing and I will return the offer to Lord Crowley. It is not my decision to make."
Despite not having seen her in months I couldn't wait to get away from Celestine right now.
-oOoOo-
"I can't believe that you agreed to this." Tulvan sniffed disdainfully as our party made its way to the open pavilion the Kirin Tor had erected between our armies. "You know what they did, to your own witch at that! We've the advantage of numbers and magic and we should press it before they assess our position. You're no fool, Crowley, you know the initiative is the greatest advantage an aggressor has."
The fact that I agreed with her left me feeling mildly uncomfortable, but I should've known it would happen. Frazzle's position was obvious from the start, Magroth's as well, and he had convinced the bishops to back him – neither were enjoying the war, though they remained resolved to see justice done for the archbishop – and Lady Candren had hope her husband lived and his release could be negotiated as part of the reparations for Godfrey's actions.
Darius at least had been sceptical... right up until I'd handed over Archmage Arugal's declaration that, should the king's side break parley once more, he would join the rebellion's side of the conflict. Then he almost seemed eager to see Godfrey try it – or at least to get concessions out of the king for risking the meeting.
"And preparation is greater still." He replied evenly to Lady Tulvan, not sparing a glance in her direction. He was watching the steady approach of the king's party, far smaller than our own, as it made its way across the field.
"The archmage's cause is a noble one." Sir Magroth said solemnly, his presence not quite enough to stop me from feeling on edge. "This war was founded on misunderstandings and foolishness. Should they be resolved there is hope that peace can yet be achieved."
"Optimistic fool." Tulvan snapped and spurred her to pull ahead.
My hands opened and closed around the reins of my horse, my eyes fixed ahead on the figure of the Archmage and the half a dozen mages he had around him. The arcane power they carried around them, protective spells and enchantments, made clear what they were, but it still made me uncomfortable.
Vivi's hand reached over and rested against my arm. "They won't manage it again." She said quietly. "We're ready this time."
I nodded. "We'll have to be. No matter what happens."
-oOoOo-
The atmosphere was tense as Darius, Tulvan, and Lady Candren stood behind their seats at the negotiating table. The king's party, the king himself, his wife Mia, and a lord who I didn't recognise were already sitting and clearly waiting for us to do the same.
But no move was made to do so, Tulvan glaring down her nose at the king with a sneer on her face, Darius standing impassively, and Lady Candren standing with all the unimpressed poise she could muster.
"Lord Crowley, Ladies Tulvan and Candren." Bishop Rowan, the priest I'd met with Archmage Arugal and Celestine, said with a broad smile. "I am thankful you have agreed to meet here today. My own home of Zul'Dare has been isolated from the war – both by the ocean between us and the war itself – but I have seen the horrors war can inflict upon the innocents of the land. Here, atop the hill where famine was averted and new common ground was found a mere year ago, I hope that it can be done again." He folded his arms into his sleeves. "Misunderstandings ended and an accord reached."
"You know full well we've no words–"
"We have not agreed yet." Darius cut in, speaking over Tulvan before she could cut into the bishop. "Our presence here is conditional, as you well know Rowan."
The bishop hummed and nodded. "Yes, yes, of course. Lord Godfrey is held within the Stoneward Prison, and I witnessed his incarceration myself – as did the Speaker Celestine," he gestured to her and she nodded tersely, "and Lord Merringale and Lord Merrowfall, those captured in his... misdeed have been brought. If you might give the order, Your Majesty?"
"See it done." Genn said gruffly, staring at the back of the chair opposite him as if we weren't here.
He looked more tired than I remembered. Worn down.
I couldn't find it in myself to have any sympathy for that, for the feelings he might've had when he imprisoned his beloved Godfrey. I didn't want to be here, I thought this was a waste of time, and learning he'd acted with the barest level of decency didn't change that.
But it wasn't my decision. So I stayed silent and set about examining each and every member of his retinue; making sure that none of them were set to do what Godfrey's had done.
Tulvan was quite happy to speak similar things to what I was thinking, anyway. "Of course, pretend to undo the damage your pet molerat does to another and let him return to do it again another day." She sniped darkly. "Perhaps you shall blame it on another next? Trick a poor stableboy into taking his lashes for you? He died, you know, released from service and without a penny to pay for healing, and he starved within two winters."
"The cruelty of your family has little bearing on my husband's childhood friendships." Queen Mia snapped back. "Vincent Godfrey remains with the Stoneward prison and awaits trial; a man of his rank cannot simply be executed to suit your whims."
"So our conditions are not met." Darius said flatly before turning to the bishop. "Were we invited here on false pretences?"
"Not at all." Archmage Arugal said with a slow shake of his head. "You wished that Godfrey face punishment for his actions, and he has done so: Observe." He waved his hand, a mirror of ice forming in the air that he placed upon the table. And, with a snap of his fingers, Vincent Bloody Godfrey, the bastard of a lord, was shown in all his glory.
Stripped to his small clothes, sat on a wooden bench in a dingy cell, bruises littering his body that showed signs of a struggle, and next to a bucket of piss and shit that had yet to be emptied.
"Though it was not by your hand, as you desired, he faces punishment. Lord Hewell was responsible for his arrest and kept accurate records that have been brought for your perusal should you desire them." He continued.
I didn't like the part of me that enjoyed seeing Godfrey that way, and, after a few moments, I wrenched my eyes away to return to examining the retinue. The idea that I would actually find anything became less likely with every passing moment, but I still felt ill at ease.
"Very well." Darius said, pulling out his seat. "On one further condition."
"Should you wish to demand his majesty's head, we will refuse on principle." Lord Hewell snapped. "You have made a mockery of this truce with your conditions already."
"Lord Candren," Darius continued as if he wasn't interrupted, "did he survive the battles in the Headlands?"
"He did." Queen Mia nodded. "Lord Johan Candren did not wish to be a kinslayer and went to great pains to spare his life, even as he fought valiantly alongside his men to the very bitter end."
Lady Candren practically collapsed into her seat, with Darius following suit more presentably, and Tulvan with clear reluctance.
I wanted to hiss at her, demand to hear – or see – Trix. To make sure, with my own eyes, that my apprentice was well and nothing had been done to her. It wasn't just the Candrens who'd had someone captured, Darius! Even if she was... she wasn't less important.
Not even for a moment could I consider Trix less important than a lord. She was important to me.
"If we may begin?" Bishop Rowan asked much too sweetly, and after Darius nodded he continued. "As the defending party for this battle, His Majesty, King Greymane, has the right to speak first."
"Are you satisfied?" Genn's first words were a confrontation all of their own. "Has the price this war shall inflict upon Gilneas satisfied you? Has sundering the friendship we once held brought you joy? Is this worthy of your pride, Crowley?"
Darius snorted, an uncharacteristic sneering drawl to his voice as he spoke. "It was not I who ordered my own arrest, nor did I order yours. Under pretences that all know by now to have been false."
"And yet this rebellion of yours could not have been the work of mere moments." Queen Mia interjected. "Do you truly wish us to believe that you did not prepare in advance? That you were not readying to fight against the crown before that moment?" She shook her head, and though she was speaking to Darius her eyes lingered on me for a moment. "No, we all know that not to be true. You can hardly claim innocence in beginning this war. Further, you are guilty of hoarding knowledge of the future to yourself; that which could have spared Gilneas great pain had it been spread to those best able to act upon it rather than using it to plan a rebellion as you did."
As good as I had been at keeping quiet so far, at that accusation I couldn't help but laugh. "Really? Really?" I stopped looking through the retinue to stare at her incredulously. "The rebellion? That's what you think we used what I knew on? No. No, I might've gone to Darius knowing he'd rebel in the end, but it was because of everything else that made him the one I chose. My words pushed for him to turn the meagre Gilnean Brigade into the Kalimdor Expedition; more than a hundred thousand souls saved with that alone."
I waved a hand at Genn. "And where he would have tried to arrest my liege for helping save the world, I knew that Darius Crowley was a good man."
"To expand upon my witch's point," Darius said quickly, "she did not enter into my service nor confidence quickly. Indeed, it was mere coincidence that she did so, meeting and befriending my daughter before I was aware of her existence. At Lorna's insistence, I gave her a chance after she had been expelled from Dalaran... and over many years she earned my trust."
"It wasn't until the Plague came that he believed me." I crossed my arms, trying as best I could to look down at the queen for her accusations. It wasn't terribly effective; being short was oh-so-rarely irritating.
Darius nodded firmly, continuing the story of how and what he'd done based on my information, why he'd worked to bring as many people as he could behind the wall from his own lands and those of the Marleys. Even welcoming Lordainian refugees en-mass, not just for the morality of it but to deny the Scourge bodies to use.
The costs that he had incurred, borrowing coin from likely doomed Lordainian houses to afford much of what he did, things I hadn't been aware of at all. But through it all, the tireless work to save their people.
“In the end, to protect Gilneas from what is to come, to prevent my homeland from rotting within that damnable wall while Azeroth falls apart around us, there is little I would not do." Darius said stoically, his composure only growing surer as he had spoken at length. "If rebellion is what is necessary, then so be it."
"Was it?" Genn asked slowly, his eyes shadowed by furrowed brows. "Was it necessary?"
"Perhaps." Lady Candren answered first. "I was not privy to all my husband's correspondence, however it was clear that Lord Crowley's intent was to gather a coalition of lords to enforce our demands before war was waged; to see Gilneas rejoining the Alliance and retaking its place in the world."
A wry smile worked its way on Darius' face. "Of course, the order to arrest my daughter, the accusations that we all know to be false, the way you spat on the faithfulness I hold for my lost wife, left me with little recourse."
It was almost surreal to see Genn forestall his wife from speaking up and instead bow his head. What came next was, somehow, even more baffling.
"Indeed. In my haste, listening to Walden's word on the princess' disposition I engineered this rebellion against me." He said with the most begrudging of contrition. "That, I admit plainly, is a mistake I have made.
"Never thought I'd see the day." Tulvan said with grim satisfaction, snatching up a wineglass and mulling over it.
"However," Genn continued, ruining the surprise and brief belief I'd held that he might have changed, "I cannot stand by and simply allow you to declare the Greymane Wall a folly. Had we not had the wall, our very own Thoradin's Wall to protect us from the world beyond, we would not have stood against the Scourge." He said with conviction, all but daring us to interject.
I was more than happy to take him up on that. "And had you listened to Lordaeron's calls for aid and not simply spat in King Terenas' face, the Scourge would never have grown into the threat that it did."
He snorted. "Likely not. And it matters little now. What is there left beyond the wall for our people? What has not been plucked and defiled by the Scourge succumbs to the ravages of the worgen. We scarcely send more ships that we do not have across the sea, to aid in saving the world," he all but rolled his eyes in disbelief, "any more than we could save Lordaeron now that it has fallen."
It was hard to find where to begin with the bullshit that he was spouting. The Scourge hadn't even touched Hillsbrad yet, there were so many enclaves of survivors clinging on, and then there was everything to the south of us that hadn't even been a target.
Despite everything he still wanted to return to isolation, to sticking his head into the sand and pretending that the concept of the outside world didn't even exist!
"No." Genn said, pushing himself to his feet. "This rebellion was a mistake, one brought on by a single failing of mine. But Gilneas survives due to my–"
"Hogwash!" Tulvan snapped, slamming down her glass and shattering it. "You killed my son!"
"He was possessed by the undead!"
I gritted my teeth and glowered. "Do you even understand what trade means you ignorant–"
As the table descended into a flurry of arguments, shouted words, and attempts by Bishop Rowan to placate things, I could barely even tell what I was saying or arguing against at times.
The king would not let go of his belief that the wall was the correct choice, that we were better off alone, and no indication of the damage he was causing would change his mind. His sheer stubbornness left me with the intense desire to strangle him where he sat.
Things weren't any better when the queen got involved either.
"We offer clemency for your children!" Mia roared in frustration. "Mere house arrest and no judgement upon the heirs of each house so that we may put this horrid affair behind us and see Gilneas restored to what it should be!"
Tulvan hissed, her gloved hand still dripping with blood. "My child is dead."
"You offer us nothing.” Darius growled angrily. "Nothing more than a return to the tyranny–"
A piercing screech ripped through the air, and the pained looks on Archmage Arugal and Bishop Rowan's faces faded away almost instantly. It didn't take long to realise what was happening; I was too familiar with this sort of entrance to not recognise it, after all. Nor did it take me long to spot, and recognise, the other figure riding on Donovan's back alongside Lorna; as she landed my mind whirled.
She was with the prince, working with him, and by the way the archmage and bishop had reacted, them as well. Had that been why they organised this? To have us all in place for some play by the children of the two sides' leaders? And she hadn't involved me, which left me feeling painfully indignant at her lack of trust. I would have stood by her, I would have helped her with whatever this was if I knew. Both Vivi and I wouldn't leapt to join her if she'd simply asked us to...
But, as my mind went back to the last conversation I'd had with her, I realised there was a reason for it. I'd outright told her I was part of the reason this rebellion happened, directing her father towards it because I knew he would've rebelled.
I wasn't a neutral party. After I refused Archmage Arugal's offer to escape the war he'd denied me for the exact same reason.
"Lorna." Darius breathed out a sigh of relief as he watched her dismount from Donovan. "You're safe. When you are next plotting some grand scheme, at least inform me you are alive." Then he burst out with a laugh. "And of course, you chose the wrong Crowley to worry about sneaking a royal marriage under everyone's noses, Genn!"
"Indeed." Liam said, taking Lorna's hand and not letting go after she helped him dismount. "I have been quite thoroughly seduced these last few days, and to a lesser extent for many years before that."
Atop his shoulder a raven, small but shimmering with the colours of dusk, started to croak in amusement.
"While not the most traditional marriage, I find the idea of someone protesting the one who ordained its right to do so quite amusing." Lorna said with a grin. "Wouldn't you agree, Bishop Rowan?"
He laughed in response. "Yes, hard to refuse a god the right to marry a couple, one would say."
Lord Renard. They'd gone to the bloody solstice meeting and met with Lord Renard and gotten his blessing for their marriage! Had Celestine– no, turning to look at my old teacher I found her looking just as confused as the rest of us at that particular revelation.
Genn stood, staring furiously at his Liam. "Son–"
"For the longest time," Liam spoke loudly and clearly over his father, some Light-blessed resonance in his voice making it carry further, "I have been held true to being a good and loyal son. A man who would do my family, and my father proud, yet of late I have found myself torn; I must either choose to be a good son or a good prince."
"They are one and the same!" Genn shouted incredulously.
"No, Father, they are not." Liam replied evenly. "A good son must serve his father loyally, protect his siblings, do his mother proud and ensure the continuation of the family." He squeezed Lorna's hand, receiving the softest of looks I'd ever seen from her in turn. "But to be a good prince I must do what is right for my people, I must both inspire and care, I must understand what it means to live within the kingdom I will one day inherit. And, most of all, I must understand that I do not understand."
Lorna looked around, meeting all our gaze for at least a few moments but lingering on her father's. "Did you know that the vaunted plate armour of the Alliance, the steel protections which Lordaern fitted all of its soldiers with to stand up to the orcs, was forged of Gilnean steel?"
Beside her, Liam shook his head. "I did not. Not until I spoke to a forgemaster, one who could no longer afford to maintain his great crucible. Even with the costs of defending the wall, the threat of the rebellion, the market for Gilnean steel is dying. And our grand industry, that which Grandfather built, along with it."
"Of course it is!" I blurted out angrily and jabbed a finger at Genn. "That's what I've been trying to tell this stubborn git for the last half hour!"
Whether or not my arguments had been heard, or at all articulate, was an entirely different matter.
"So much was made from the produce of our forges," Liam continued with only a nod to acknowledge what I said, "from plate armour, swords, cannon, and all the way down to simple fences. Everyone from Kul'Tiras to Stromgarde bought our steel as it was more plentiful and cheaper than that produced by the master smiths of Ironforge; this is but one thing we lost in recent years."
"Now," he said, turning to face Darius head-on, "I have heard the plans that you have for Gilneas. What was negotiated to come after the rebellion. Will you, here and now, swear allegiance to your new king?"
"Liam..." The queen whispered faintly, while Genn himself seemed struck dumb.
As did many of us, really. Despite being intent on being ready for anything this was a bit too far out of left field for me to be prepared for. As it was, just as I was lost as to whether I should go to them, Vivi seemed torn between going to Lorna and standing beside me.
But not Tulvan. She stood, tore the bloodied glove from her hand to throw at Genn, and walked away defiantly.
"You married my daughter." Darius said evenly.
The prince, the king, nodded. "Yes, and there could have been no better choice. For love, for hope, for a queen."
Huffing loudly, a note of approval in the sound, Darius held a hand over his heart and fell to a knee. "I will see you crowned, King Liam, be it through war or negotiation."
I was the first one to follow him in kneeling, though only by a moment. Archmage Arugal blinked to his side and lowered himself gently.
"May your reign be a peaceful one, King Liam Greymane." The archmage said softly.
Nodding to him Liam turned to his father, the lords surrounding him, and waited. The duskwing raven on his shoulder, the shimmering blue figure of Nim standing on Donovan's back, the gryphon himself standing tall and regally, and the archmage kneeling beside him presented a very clear picture. He had the allegiance, or at least acceptance, of Gilneas' strongest beings already.
Those that had fought at the wall, or knew of it, shifted subtly. Not so much a changing of camps, of walking away from the king, but enough of a change to be palpable.
And behind it all, Genn starts to laugh. Falling back into his chair. "So this is how my reign ends." He said with a tired shake of his head, before looking to his wife. "You said he would make a good king. You were right – it is merely sooner than we all thought."
"You will not fight me, father?"
"Fight you?" Genn tasted the words, sounding for all the world like he couldn't understand them. "Fight my own son? How could I? You're my son. I will not, not my own blood, not my family. Never. All I ever wanted was for Gilneas to prosper... and I could not even hold my own capital. Gilneas is better in your hands than mine."
One by one, lords and ladies knelt to King Liam. Some with relief, some with reluctance, but only a scant few followed Tulvan as she walked away. Even amongst her own lords, less than half a dozen followed her. The rebellion ended, not with a bang, not with a grand climactic battle, but with the clever schemes of one of my closest friends.
Comments
Mohamud Mohamed
I had a feeling thisbis how it would end, but honestly lady Tulvan is not going to simply accept this
Quinn
It was always the plan; the big climactic battles are for Kalimdor, not tearing up Gilneas!
Bat
So excited to see Lorna pull a fast one and found a way to end the civil war in one fell swoop! So glad this is how it ends!
