Pink Rose [1]

"I'll Be His Non-Human Shield"

Quest Objective: Discern the lies. 

"I don't know how much I trust you with that."

Wrathion eyed me warily as I held up the vial.

"I can apply makeup, Wrath. I helped my father with his all the time," I remarked calmly.

"And it has been many years since then, has it not?" Wrath quirked an eyebrow at me.

"How do I look so far?"

"Nearly unrecognizable," Wrathion peered over to the side, where a chest of silk scarves sat on his nest of bedding.

Wrathion offered to help me prepare while Kairoz and Chromie assisted Anduin with his...disguise. Kalec remained in Wrathion's room with us, inspecting the shining baubles and golden trinkets.

"What use do you have for all of these things—?"

"Don't touch that." Wrath snapped without looking away from my face. He poked my nose with a talon, "How in Azeroth's name did you get that scar on your nose?"

My eyes slipped down to the faint x-shaped scar. "A mage fired a barrel of icicles at my face."

"I liked your last lie better, with the murlocs," Kalec commented, turning back to smirk at me.

Like the well-behaved adult I was, I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Don't smear the lipstick!"

"Sorry!"

Kalec sighed and returned to us. "I know you're aware that I have little faith in this plan, but I do hope you both return safely."

"And I hope you find Jaina." My words were spoken in a soft tone.

Kalec simply nodded. "I...I hope so, too."

I faced forward once again, meeting Wrath's crimson eyes. "Have you found anything?"

As far as I knew, Wrathion's agents were still scouring Pandaria for something that would help Andy's pain. His gaze faltered for a moment. When it met mine again, his jaw was clenched. "No."

That one word sent thorns to the pit of my stomach. "Nothing...?"

Wrathion tied a slender piece of fabric around my neck. He rearranged my hair surrounding my face, which was now an atomic blonde wig. "We'll speak of this further when you return—"

"I say we talk about it now." I gently pushed his hand away, boring my pleading gaze into him. "Do you think there's anything on this continent that will help Andy?"

Wrathion didn't answer. The longer the silence stretched on, the more an awful feeling rose in my chest, like bile pooling in my stomach. The nausea was accompanied by a sting in the corner of my eyes, which I blinked away rapidly.

I knew that the pain had gradually gotten better for Anduin, but it was still there. He assured me time and time again that it wasn't something too extreme for someone like him—painting the picture of an unmoving statue in a library, or an altar to pray at.

That's not Anduin, he's more than that. He should have the option to do things in life—what if this limits the things Andy can do with his father, or where he can go? He has to be a king someday—

My heart stopped. I had never said the phrase aloud, but now that the words formed in my mind, a new kind of terror took over. Anduin would be a king someday. Probably soon—knowing Azeroth's track record. What then? What was to happen to us...? His parents were betrothed. Anduin scoffed at the idea, but he may not have a say in the matter. Then, there was the other matter. The one I'd been foolishly ignoring. The one where long ears popped out from my hair, and the ability to read in the dark.