She sat at the top of the hill, drawing the scene below her. A sound caught her attention and she looked over the ridge. She closed up her board and waved to Grogek. Making her way down the hill, she met the procession.
"What's the deal?"
"Elunara, one of the many people I need to deal with." Varian frowned.
"What am I accused of this time?"
"I want my son returned to me, NOW!" Said a voice.
"Over my dead body, you bitch." Elunara growled.
"We will take this to Renwa's office." Varian growled back.
"Sure, I'll lead the way. He's gotten a major renovation since you were here last. In fact, he has a wife and child."
"I am pleased to hear that. Renwa is a good man, deserving of such gifts."
"Yeah, his wife is the Blood Elf."
"A... seriously?" He stared at Elunara.
"Yeah, things have gotten a little wild. Did you know that General Jordan is now living with me?"
"What of Grogek?"
"He's still my husband, Tulani is still my wife. Our kid Darguni had age spike jumps when we went to Darnassus."
"Yes, your mother, Tyrande said you had repaired your relationship in a strange way."
"Yeah, apparently all those guys I've fucked? I absorb energy from them. Any energy they willing give me, I... eat."
"Even me?"
"Even you."
"Fascinating."
"Wait, you've had sex with this woman?" Barbara scoffed.
Varian looked back. "A couple of times, actually."
"Officially admitting to it now?"
"You no longer work for the SI:7, which declassifies you, and strangely, everyone who has come back from this place, speaks of you in revered whispers. I have been tended to by Elunara is something of an honor."
She groaned. "I should just kill myself and be done with it." She knocked on Renwa's door.
There was a pause and a shuffle, followed by "Enter!"
Elunara opened the door and grinned at the disheveled Zelinnia. "Getting use out of those bigger tits, aren't you?" She pointed.
"Hush." Zelinnia flushed.
Zelinnia's eyes went wide and she ducked under the table.
Renwa stood up. "Sir! Had I known..."
Varian held up a hand. "I came on a very important matter. This woman," He gestured. "Claims that she was trying to return to Stormwind with her child, when Elunara interrupted and physically assaulted her."
Renwa shook his head. "It is my understanding that Barbara and Captain Harvard were having family problems and had decided to split. Barbara wanted to go back to Stormwind and Captain Harvard wanted to stay here for training. They decided to split, leaving their son, Bradly in limbo. When it came down to it, I asked the boy where he wanted to go, and he said stay here. The portal was cast and all was set to go according to plan. Barbara there went back on her word and decided that Bradly was too young to make his own decisions. She got physical with the boy and Elunara stepped up to intervene. Things were said, and Barbara got physical with Elunara, who is... as you know, not one to trifle with. In the end, Elunara helped Bradly exercise his right to choose."
"Where is Captain Harvard?"
Renwa sighed. "He died two weeks ago, killed while trying to protect another soldier in his duty."
"What? Why did no one tell me? Where are his things, why did I never get them back? Not one person in this backwater town has the intelligence to send me any message, or return his things to me?" She stomped her foot and shook her head. "While we're at it, WHERE IS MY SON?"
"Like you give a damn about him." Elunara growled.
"Where is the boy?" Varian interrupted.
"Elunara has taken him into her family." Renwa said quietly.
At the knock on the door, Elunara opened it. Darguni stuck his head in. "They said the King of Stormwind was here, I wanted to see him, Momma."
"Sure. Knock yourself out."
Darguni ran in and stared. "Whoa, your armor is COOL!"
"See, I told yo-" Bradly froze, fear and dread in his face.
Before he could run, Elunara reached out and grabbed his shirt. "Nope, you gotta face this."
"NO! Don't make me go back, Momma Elunara! Don't make me go with her!" He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Please don't send me away!"
Elunara stooped down. "Honeypot, they'll have to drag you from my cold dead hands. I'm not letting you go."
Darguni put himself in between Barbara and Bradly, showing his teeth. "You can't have my brother!"
Varian watched the exchange with complete fascination.
"Oh, this is just ridiculous! I am your mother. This whore has warped your mind. Just come back to Stormwind like you wanted before SHE got to you. Back to your friends and your place..."
"NO! My friends are here! That's not MY place, it's YOUR place, and you don't even like me IN it!" He stomped his foot. "Here, I have lots of friends, and I have a brother. No, I'm tired of being smacked just for disturbing you. Momma Elunara's house may be weird, but it's the best kind of weird." He crossed his arms and glared.
"I have never done that!"
"Yeah, huh! Momma Elunara doesn't say mean things for no reason. She says you shouldn't say or do things you don't mean, because they'll be out there forever and you'll just feel stupid later."
"GODS! Stop calling her THAT. You sound completely stupid. I'm your mother!"
"No." He narrowed his eyes. "Momma Elunara is my mother."
Elunara's eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. She had the strongest urge to pull a Zelinnia and run. Instead, she struggled to talk past that lump in her throat.
Varian had a keen interest in Elunara's reactions. By his guess, she had no idea the little boy felt that way. It was obvious he had been misled.
At the sound of a baby crying, Zelinnia scooted her chair over and picked up the infant.
Varian shook his head at the child and returned to the matter at hand. "I believe I've heard enough."
Barbara seemed to sigh in relief.
Bradly pointed up at him. "If you make me go back with her, you're a bad king. Momma Elunara loves me. She saved me when I was lost in the wilds, she saved me again when SHE," He pointed to his mother. "Refused to listen to my request, and she saved me again when my dad died." Tears welled in his eyes. "She drove dad away, she who said mean, hateful things while dad was away training. She who hated hearing my footsteps in the house. Who told me to find lunch on my own, but never gave me any money to pay with. Call me stupid, call me slow, call me waste of energy, but never say Elunara is bad, because Elunara is the best." He re-crossed his arms.
Varian raised his eyebrows. "I actually had no intention of making you go back. You seem to know what you want, well enough."
"Elunara says I should learn my heart, so that I can follow it when I need to."
"She has been known to say wise things from time to time." He grinned. "But your words make it more obvious that coming here was a waste of my time."
"You can't be SERIOUS!" Barbara gasped.
Satisfied the crisis was over, Darguni turned to Elunara. "Can we take Yoona out?"
"Get to it." Elunara jerked her head.
Bradly gave Elunara one last hug before running out.
"This is BULLSHIT!" Barbara screamed. "That is MY child, NOT yours! I gave birth to him, not you!"
"Being a womb doesn't make you a mother." Elunara rolled her eyes.
The two boys happily lead the bouncy cat down to the training yard. Grogek was on the sidelines, watching a pair duel when the boys came up.
"Whatcha doin, papa?"
"I have to watch them fight, in order to know how to tell them to improve."
"When can we fight?"
"I'm thinking of starting up a junior training yard." He grinned.
"I want an axe like you, papa." Darguni grinned.
"I might want a sword, like my dad had." Bradly considered as he looked around. "But maybe I'll just try them all out, so I can figure out what I like best."
Grogek scrubbed his hand on Bradly's head. "That's a good thing to do."
"Yeah, Momma can do some serious damage with a staff." Darguni laughed.
"Elunara is one of a kind. Don't expect too much with a staff." Grogek laughed.
"Come on; let's get walking before Yoona chews through the leash." Darguni started walking away.
"Ok, bye Papa Grogek." Bradly grinned.
Grogek froze and stared at the boy.
"This is ridiculous!" Barbara screamed. "He is MY son! How DARE you keep him from me! I want her punished!"
Admiral Duchie had come in and was listening to the mess. "You know, I've been hearing all kinds of things about this Elunara, and I've been trying to figure out, why you haven't punished her for any of it."
Renwa sighed. "Fine, come with me." He stood and walked outside. He turned to a runner. "Collect all the townsfolk into the center of town. My orders. I don't care what they're doing, they better drop it. This will only take a minute or so."
He nodded. "Yes, sir."
The group made their way to the center of town, and Renwa and group stood in front of the fountain as everyone gathered. Savage flopped down by Elunara's feet. When he was satisfied by the size of the crowd, he nodded and stepped forward.
"Elunara put your back to them."
With a shrug she turned around. "I'm curious as to where you're going with this."
"Forgive me!" He called over the crowd. "For I needed to borrow you for a quick demonstration. I would like complete honesty; nothing said or answered here will go beyond this moment. WHO here finds Elunara's actions reprehensible?" He nodded as about fifteen hands shot up. "Now, who would like to see Elunara punished for her actions?" He grinned as only eight people put their hands up. "Finally, how many of you swear your unwavering loyalty to her?" He leaned over. "Turn around."
She rolled her eyes and turned to the crowd. Her hands dropped to her side and she just stared at nearly the entire town on one knee.
"And THAT is why Elunara does not see punishment for her actions." Renwa grinned.
"What action is Elunara in trouble for?" Someone called.
"She stole my son from me!" Barbara called in a shrill voice.
"Aren't you that bitch who told him he was too stupid to think for himself?"
"He is JUST a child."
