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(A/N: Sorry had a shit ton of work to do.)
Alastor composed himself and looked around at everyone, his mind already working on a solution.
He knew that, with the longstanding hatred against Beastkin, incorporating the Gilneans into the coalition would be difficult. No matter whether it was the Dalaran, Ironforge, or Aerie Peak armies, there would be wariness and distrust.
That distrust could be eased as they fight together in future battles, since shared combat was one of the best ways for warriors and soldiers to bond.
But it was also a fact that, with the current wariness and distrust, the initial battles would be more compromised, and the death toll would be much higher until that trust and cohesion was built.
He also understood the plight in the Gilneans' side, this situation was unfair to them.
They had not asked for such a tragedy to befall them, and yet they had still come forward—albeit to find allies to save themselves and their kingdom.
But also to prove they were still loyal to humanity and Azeroth despite their new state of being.
So it came down to where to assign the Gilneas contingent. Somewhere they could not only showcase their might and loyalty, but also work with their assigned army group without distrust, maximizing the army's cohesion and lethality.
Finally, Alastor arrived at a viable solution for where to place them. Others wouldn't like it—but honestly, it would not only allow them to work with the rest more easily, it would also give them an opportunity to prove themselves sooner.
"King Genn, the catastrophe Gilneas has endured was, without a doubt, a tragedy. But I can see that despite that, you wish to fight—to prove yourselves."
"A resolve that I have a feeling not only you and your companions share, but many of your people as well."
"It will be an honor to have you fight alongside us and rid Azeroth of these fel forces."
Genn sighed in relief. With that, it was obvious that Alastor was willing to have them join the Southern Alliance, and it also opened the road for talks regarding the Worgen condition and possible protection for Gilneas.
The other leaders in the room, however, frowned as tension slowly grew.
This meant that the Gilneas army would be assigned a place within the combined Allied army alongside another kingdom's forces—and they wondered which one it would be.
Only for Alastor to drop his bombshell.
"And in light of that, you and your chosen force will be fighting beside me and my own army."
The chamber grew deathly silent as everyone—from the Southern Alliance leaders to the Gilneas group—looked at Alastor incredulously.
A moment later, the silence was shattered by Kurdran Wildhammer, with the legendary subtlety and tact of the dwarves.
Which to say WAS NONE AT ALL.
"WHAT THE FRAK ARE YOU SAYING!?"
"My lord, please reconsider!" Gavinrad also stood and quickly urged him.
And it was not only them. At least half of the gathered leaders and champions voiced their objections. The other half remained silent, but their frowns made it clear they were far from enthused by Alastor's plan.
Genn, Liam, Darius, and Krennan were shocked and conflicted, but they chose to remain silent for the moment and observe.
Honestly, the reaction in the chamber was not surprising. In fact, if there had been any less of a reaction—Or if people simply accepted it—then Alastor himself would have suspected that some Lord of Change had secretly influenced everyone in the Chamber.
They'd all just found out that most of the Gilneas population, including their king and crown prince, had turned into wolf-like Worgen—beings uncomfortably close to Beastkin by anyone's standards.
And while they claimed to be in control of their transformation and sanity, could such words truly be trusted? What if, in battle, the bloodlust and savagery resurfaced and they turned against their own allies?
And in such circumstances, Alastor—someone they all saw as their de-facto leader and supreme commander—wanted them right beside his own personal army?
They all knew Alastor's strength, but this was war—and in war, accidents and mishaps happened.
What if the Gilneas forces once more lost control in their next engagement with the enemy?
In such a scenario, not only would Alastor's army have to deal with a sudden attack from a dangerous ally-turned-foe, but they would also still be facing whatever enemy stood before them.
Worse—forget death. If Alastor were even injured in such circumstances, it would deal a massive blow to the morale of not only his own army, but the rest of the Southern Alliance as well.
That would be disastrous, severely undermining their current momentum after a string of great victories with low casualties.
Alastor waited for a moment, allowing everyone to vent, before simply raising his hand.
The voices paused and quickly died down. Then he looked around the room, making sure to meet the eyes of each leader and high-ranking figure present.
Finally, he nodded and addressed them all.
"I know many of you have objections to my course of action, But understand this—I have no intention of rescinding my orders"
His brother—Varian—frowned as he looked at him.
"Why?" he asked simply.
Alastor met his gaze.
"Simple. None of the people here—aside from a select few—would be willing, even under the current circumstances, to fight alongside the Gilneas army."
"At least not without a certain degree of mistrust."
Alastor's words caused the room to fall silent once more, as what he said wasn't false, even if some wanted to deny it.
"I do not blame you," Alastor continued, his tone softening—but only slightly. "Nor do I condemn you for it. The hatred for Beastkin… the fear… the scars, the blood—these are things that had accumulated cross many generations."
"But these people are not anything like the Beastkin, if we only look beyond their Worgen transformation."
"Tell me—have you ever known Beastkin to walk willingly into the heart of a potential enemy? To stand unguarded, surrounded, outnumbered… and choose words over bloodshed?"
Seeing no one answer and that his words were having an effect, Alastor pressed on.
"No. What I see before me are men—brave men—who knew exactly what risks awaited them by coming here. Suspicion. Fear. Perhaps even hostility."
Alastor's gaze fell on Genn, then Liam, Darius, and Krennan in turn.
"And yet they came. Alone with no guards or even weapons to defend themselves."
"Only trust and sincerity albeit driven by desperation."
"If that's not sincerity considering the circumstances…....then I do not know what is."
He then looked back at the gathered leaders around the table and continued.
"Everyone in this room is giving their all to fight in this war."
"And not just us—From the greatest of champions to the lowliest of soldiers, all are prepared to sacrifice, to ensure the people of Azeroth prevail."
"As a leader, I am bound by honor—no, I believe I must also be willing to set an example for all those who fight today and in the days to come."
"A leader does not stand apart from risk. He does not demand trust—he earns it. He does not hide behind caution while others gamble their lives."
"Because if I cannot do at least this much… do I even deserve to be called a leader? Much less stand among such a gathering of Heroes and Champions?"
Representatives from every Allied kingdom fell silent, Some looked away. Others lowered their heads. A few simply stared—caught between personal shame and reluctant admiration for the man addressing them.
The Gilneas group, too, was moved by his words and sincerity, their respect for him rising.
Not that Alastor realized it—he was simply aiming to settle Gilneas's case and justify his decision.
Unaware that his actions and words were only further solidifying him as the "chosen" leader in the hearts of all present.
He turned back to Genn, a faint, almost challenging smile touching his lips.
"So, Lord Greymane… I trust your warriors are prepared to stand beside mine. I should warn you, they are quite the competitive bunch."
Try as he might, Genn couldn't stop his lips from twitching as he fought a smile.
Liam and Darius, however, had no such restraint. Both bared wolfish grins without hesitation, their sharpened canines on full display.
"Competitive?" Liam scoffed lightly. "You may want to temper their expectations, Lord Alastor."
Darius let out a low chuckle.
"True there may not even be enough enemies left for your men once we're through with them."
"Haha! I love a challenge. We'll see the truth of your words when we begin our march—especially since my men have grown quite adept at killing fel forces during our journey north."
The boastful, competitive exchange eased more of the tension in the room.
Alastor considered his task complete—now the Gilneans would be integrated far more smoothly.
And when the time came to march and join the Northern Alliance armies led by Alonsus Faol, they would do so with far greater cohesion and strength.
But then Genn suddenly dropped to one knee, placing a hand over his heart.
The gesture surprised Alastor as Genn spoke, his voice carried none of the earlier tension—only ironclad resolve.
"This debt…...I swear upon my kingdom, my people, my son and my daughter that I shall never forget till the end of my days, Alastor Wrynn."
"For as long as I draw breath, the line of Greymane will remember."
He rose, gave Alastor a respectful nod, and left the chamber alongside Liam, Darius, and Krennan.
Alastor watched them go—unaware of the full weight such a gesture carried.
It wasn't entirely Alastor's fault.
Llane and Taria had done their best to prepare him—tutoring him in politics, administration, and courtly etiquette—but there were still some lessons left unlearned.
One of the reasons was because he was not the Crown Prince and so his education was different from Varian's but no less significant.
But mainly it was because there simply hadn't been time.
His days had already been filled to the brim—learning under his parents, mentoring under Anduin, and later studying under Antonidas in Dalaran.
What time remained had been consumed by his own pursuits: research into magic, technology, and his ever-developing psionics.
Free time was spent in either relaxation or with his friends; who in fact were the main ones that dragged him out for breaks and refused to let him work himself to exhaustion.
The plan had been simple.
When he returned from Dalaran, Llane and Taria would finish the last few lessons he would need to be taught.
There'd always been time.
...Until there wasn't.
Neither of the King and Queen of Stormwind could have foreseen that after their younger son's return, the world would descend into Chaos.
Much less the fact that one of them would be killed by a horrific curse of Chaos while the other would fall into a deep coma.
And just like that, their sons were forced to shoulder the burden of leadership—not only for their kingdom, but for all of Azeroth in its darkest hour.
Which was why—
Alastor did not fully understand the significance of what had just transpired, for him it meant that just like Alexander Morgaine, Genn had sworn a debt of gratitude to him.
Only it was much more.
Genn's gesture—kneeling before him, swearing his oath in full view of kings and legendary figures—was no simple act of gratitude.
It was a declaration.
An offering of allegiance.
Not just from the man… but from his kingdom.
And worse—or perhaps greater still—by doing so before witnesses, Genn had bound himself by honor. Should Alastor ever call upon him, Gilneas would answer.
Without hesitation and Without refusal.
Alastor, meanwhile, had intended none of this.
All he had wanted was to defuse tension. To integrate the Gilnean forces into the Southern Alliance in a way that avoided conflict and maximized battlefield efficiency.
That was all.
And yet—
In the span of a single exchange, he had:
1—Once again demonstrated the depth of his character, reinforcing the perception of him as a man of unwavering virtue and trustworthiness, all while displaying remarkable strategic and political acumen.
2—Successfully integrated the Gilnean forces, including their Worgen forces, in a manner that would allow them to operate at peak effectiveness in the coming battles against the Chaos-Scourge forces.
3—Further solidified his image as a wise, resolute, and honorable leader in the eyes of kings and commanders alike… while also securing the allegiance of one of the most notoriously stubborn and difficult kingdoms to work with.
To most in the chamber, this had all been intentional on Alastor's part.
A calculated move that was part of a bigger "Plan".
Another step in the designs of the Azeroth's newest hero; who was also becoming one of it's greatest heroes.
They watched him now with renewed interest, anticipation flickering behind their eyes as they wondered what he would do next.
What miracle, victory or grand plan he would bring into fruition.
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Only those in the Chamber that were either very close with Alastor or had ample experience saw through it and knew the truth of the matter as they gave the 2nd son of the Emperor of Mankind looks ranging from perplexed to amused exasperation.
Anduin really wanted to take Alastor away and tell his surrogate son/student on what had happened only for Varian to stop him with a gesture.
Besides this was good, considering Varian's "plan", the more support and merits his brother had, the better.
If anything it'll only make what he intended to do in the near future much more smoother.
Rhonin...well he did nothing and watched the Chaos unfold.
As Alastor's best friend—His Brother from another mother—it was his duty to watch him dig his own hole deeper, fall into it, laugh at him and THEN offer him a helping hand.
As for Alastor's "revenge"?
That would a problem for future Rhonin.
Fascinating.
I have never seen someone succeed so completely…...while simultaneously failing (If it could even be called that) just as thoroughly.
She took a slow sip.
And yet, he stumbles with a kind of sincerity that, somehow, still works in his favor, maybe that it also one of his strengths.
Across the chamber, Tyrande remained outwardly composed—but her gaze lingered on Alastor with unmistakable intensity.
As though she were studying some completely unknown being that even her Precognition could not decipher.
This man's simultaneously someone literally born for greatness with everything he has done yet he displays stupidity that also strangely works for him!?
If anything they only made him look more approachable and human to his people and allies, cultivating a sense of trust and belonging.
And she had to admit his heroic and charismatic moments were very inspiring not to mention his little quirks were strangely endeari-!!!
She quickly shook her head surprised at the thought that appeared in her head.
No.
Best not to dwell on that!
He did it again....
Jaina and Alleria thought wryly as they saw their lovable idiot of a fiancé once more succeed in his endeavour while simultaneously shooting himself once more on his foot.
Not that they were gonna tell him, the sooner he comes to terms with the fact he was a natural leader the better.
While in the meantime they'll only help put him in leadership roles.
Because what could they say?
Leadership suited him.
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