The next day, Schyuler had been summoned to the war room where Genn, Prophet Velen and the other Alliance delicates gathered.

"Our guest arrives. Perhaps there is hope of reaching our king," The Prophet declared.

"What's going on?" She asked, glancing curiously at all the stares in her direction before looking over to Gen. "Where's Anduin?"

Genn had grown concerned for Anduin ever since she returned the compass to him. Schyler could see it in his facial expression. "Anduin has become restless, distracted. He hasn't been seen inside the Keep all day, leaving the palace without so much as a word. I've ordered for some of the Royal Guards to follow him, but this is a situation only you can rectify,"

"Where did he go?" Schyuler asked, arms crossed over her chest.

"The guards saw him enter the Cathedral. Since you are the one that brought this melancholy upon him, you must convince him to resume his duties," Genn responded sternly.

"Melancholy?" Schyuler repeated in an almost disgusted manner. "Genn, he is grieving the loss of his father. He may be king, but after the fact he is still a boy becoming a man!"

"I understand the need to mourn, but the king's place is on his throne. The Broken Shore must be our focus!" Genn stated.

"The Broken Shore isn't going anywhere, as bad as it sounds. It can wait another day for Anduin to just be a normal human being and not a product king you want so badly!"

"Rightly so," Velen quickly chimed in as he noticed Genn's face going red. "We attempted to console him, but to no avail. Anduin refuses to sleep, to eat. He ignores every plea to return to the palace. If anyone can talk to him, it's you. He trusts you, Schyuler."

Schyuler remembered their intimate moment shared in the throne room yesterday. Allowing Anduin a moment to mourn, grieve freely, and for the first time since his father died, actually feel like himself. If he was still going through a rough patch after she left, who was she to ignore a friend in need?

Schyuler exchanged a look between the pair before she sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Fine, I'll go, but I'm not doing this for you. All due respect,"

Velen nodded graciously as Schyuler took her leave before Genn could say anything else. Grabbing a horse from the stables, she rode across town, finding the cathedral where indeed the Royal guards were stationed at the entrance. Moving away from her steed, Schyuler jogged up the stairs where she nodded to the guards in greeting and they let her pass as the sun set over the city.

Coming through the archway and down a small corridor, Schyuler found the main hall. Glamorous stain glass paintings flooded the halls, a beautiful blue luscious carpet pathed the way to the pue at the end of the room where Anduin stood, praying. No one else appeared to be in attendance, so Schyuler walked over freely and delicately walked up the small steps towards the young Wrynn. "Anduin?"

He stood silent for a moment, but motioned his head to the side to acknowledge her, inviting her to step forward as he spoke, "My father was a legend. He oversaw the rebuilding of Stormwind, stood toe-to-toe with Dragons, and led the Alliance to many victories. And now suddenly he was just. . . gone. I wear his crown, I hold his title. But I've done nothing to earn them, or the faith of my people,"

Schyuler listened to him as she came to his side, leaning back against the table, arms crossed over her stomach as she glanced over at him. "So, what do you think you should do?"

He pondered the question for a moment. "I've spent the war in the keep surrounded by guards and advisors. I need to walk the streets of Stormwind, to know whether it's hope or fear that beats in the heart of my people," He glanced up at the glass painting depiction of The Light before stepping away from the table, offering Schyuler a soft smile. "I welcome your company,"

Scheyler smiled back, pushing herself away from the table as she uncrossed her arms and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I shall accompany you to Lion's Rest, then?"

"That's the plan," Anduin nodded before he hummed softly, cupping his chin. "I'll need a disguise to not draw attention,"

"My chi can only do so much I'm afraid," Schyuler shrugged, laughing a little. "Chi blasts and creating elemental duplicates of myself? Sure! Summoning a new disguise? Too much apparently,"

She was surprised when she got a small laugh out of the newly crowned King. "Don't worry, I think I know just the spell. Follow me,"

Using his knowledge and teachings, a puff of smoke surrounded Anduin as he waved his hand and a dark hood and cloak covered his body. It was remarkable how it actually made him unrecognizable, Schyuler probably wouldn't have known it was him if she didn't see Anduin conjure the spell. It works so well in fact that when they pass by the guards, they pay them no mind and go about their duties.

"No luck, eh? King Greymaine won't be happy, but you tried your best at least," One of the guards commented. "We'll keep an eye on him from here,"

"As you were, gentlemen," Schyuler nodded in their direction as she and Anduin made their way down the steps and out into town.

******

Passing through town to Lion's Rest, King Varian's memorial site, was not an easy journey. The people are fearful of the Burning Legion attacking the city and wonder how Anduin will prevent that from becoming a reality. The children on the other hand, while they do have a certain respect for Anduin, they believe Varian to be the more "tougher" king, as depicted when a group of them were seen playing a game of Kings and figuring out who each of them wanted to play as. Anduin didn't blame them at all for their choice, and smiled fondly at them whilst they ran around before continuing to Lion's Rest.

The memorial was its own cobblestone dock with lanterns down a thick pathway. Varian's coffin laid at the center of a circular structure with three large pillars surrounding the back of it. Hanging on each of them were stained glass paintings of The Alliance symbol, the head of a lion. Beyond it was a beautiful ocean view, with the twinkling stars of the night sky sparkling with the glass.

"I have not returned to Lion's Rest since my Father's Memorial was moved here from the keep. The war has consumed all my energy and attention. I have not had a moment to grieve since then," Anduin spoke solemnly as he began walking down the pier.

Schyuler followed close behind, bringing along her horse as their horse shoes clacked against the stone floor below them, filling the void of silence along with nearby crickets. They arrived at the memorial, the Monk tying the reins to one of the lamp posts before reconveying with Anduin who stood at the base of the memorial steps. "Are you okay?" She asked.

Pulling his hood back, he looked over towards her. "Since you've brought my father's compass back to me, I've been praying to The Light for guidance and to know his spirit is at rest. The Light doesn't answer,"

"Why do you think that is?" she pondered.

"The people like me, respect me. . . but they don't believe in me," he sighed in realization as he looked up at his father's coffin. "Not like they believed in him,"

"I suppose we find a way to convince them to believe, but how exactly is the tricky part," Schyuler responded.

"Always is," Anduin agreed with a nod of his head. "I've heard the voice of the people, but how do my father's advisors feel? I fear they don't trust me as they did my father,"

Hands behind her back, Schyuler shuffled nervously in her step. "I know Velen is worried about your well being. He has mentioned in the past that he thinks you can succeed,"

"As for Genn?" Anduin pressed.

"Well. . ." Schyuler hissed at the recollection of his face when she left the Keep earlier today. "He is concerned for you, but wants to protect your image with the public,"

Anduin's eyebrows narrowed as he processed this information. He turns his body towards her, "I must know for myself. Take me back to the Keep?"

"Of course," Schyuler nodded.

Riding on horseback, the pair ventured back to Stormwind Keep. Keeping his disguise up, they ventured through the halls, slipping by patrolling guards to try and not draw attention to the King who's supposed to be still in the Cathedral. The throne room is empty, but they hear chatter coming from the war room in the next room over.

They sneak over to the archway, peering inside. Anduin motions for them to pull back around the corner. "It seems Genn and Velen are speaking about me, but I can't quite make out the words. . ."

"I can peek inside," Schyuler offered with a hand on his shoulder. "Wait here, and stay out of sight,"

Anduin nodded with a knowing smirk. "I learned from the best,"

Schyuler offered him a cheeky grin, gently punching his shoulder before venturing back down the hall and entered the war room. It appeared Velen was wrapping up a heated monologue. She hung back, leaning against the wall next to the entry way as she listened to their conversation. One of the other advisors present caught sight of her. She raised a finger to her lips, insisting silence. The advisor complied.

"The young king will become a great leader. I have foreseen it," he proclaimed.

"Visions don't win wars, Prophet," Genn rationalized with an annoyed snarl. "The boy has a good heart, but he's untested,"

"The Light is strong with Anduin. He will grow into his crown," Velen persisted, raising a fist. "We must have faith!"

"We need more than that, and so does he. Anduin wasn't there on the Broken Shore. He hasn't seen the sacrifices his soldiers made. . . that they continue to make," Genn responded with a sigh as he leaned against the war table. "A king must know the weight of the orders he gives. If a compass breaks his spirit, how will he respond when the war reaches our doorstep?"

Schyuler had heard enough. Their thoughts were made clear. Pulling herself up from the wall, she took her leave from the war room. Coming back into the throne room, she found Anduin sitting on the throne steps. When he saw her walk towards him, he sat up. "What did they say?"

Schyuler told everything she heard towards him. Arms crossed over his chest, Anduin had to stop himself from absent mindedly walking and sitting on his throne to process his thoughts. His stillness worried Schyuler and as she began to reach for him, his response startled her.

"They're right," he said. "They're absolutely right,"

Anduin turned back to face her and for the first time in the last month, Schyuler saw a look of pure focus and determination on Anduin's face. In the last month, especially tonight he felt so unsure of himself, like a dark cloud constantly hovering over him. But now it appeared he had made up his mind.

"The time has come for me to travel to the Broken Shore and see, for myself, the place where my father died," He stated. "Thank you, my friend, I know what I must do to learn the weight of my father's crown,"

Schyuler's eyes widened as she felt a tightness in her chest thinking her heart was going to explode. She stepped closer towards him, a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Anduin, are you absolutely sure you want to go there? It could still be dangerous,"

"If I am to be the king my father was. . . the king Stormwind deserves," his gaze shifts over to the throne for a moment before looking back at his bodyguard. "I must know first hand the threat my people face. Please tell my advisors that I've gone to the Broken Shore,"

"Wait, by yourself?" Schyuler gaped as she covered her mouth to stop herself from shouting, not to mention Anduin stepping closer towards her whilst hussing her. "I can't do that--!"

"If I told them myself they'd try to stop me, you know that as much," Anduin retaliated with a sense of urgency in his voice before shifting to a more calm expression as his eyes poured into hers. "Please, Schyuler?"

Anduin took his hands in hers. The action surprised Schyuler as she glanced down at them, taking a moment to realize how big Anduin's hands were, yet they were gentle. . . and warm. Her cheeks began to feel warm whilst an odd sensation bubbled in her stomach as she returned Anduin's gaze. ". . .Okay,"

A sigh of relief fell from Anduin's lips as he squeezed her hands affectionately. "Thank you, Schyuler, I'll wait for you at Deliverance Point. Farewell," He gave her one last smile before he pulled away from his grasp and sauntered down the main hall, exiting the throne room.

Schyuler stood there for awhile. She could still feel the sensation of his warmth through her fingers as she glanced down at her hands once more. What was I feeling just now? She thought. If this truly meant so much to him. . .

Forming her hands into fists, Schyuler took a steady breath to compose herself before shifting her body around to face the war room entry way and walked forward.