The night was cool and peaceful. To celebrate the Alliance's momentous victory at the Wrathgate, a grand ball was held at Grand Duke Alpha's luxurious manor in Stormwind City!
At the ball, King Varian delivered the opening address, praising in particular the bravery of the soldiers in the Northrend War and denouncing Duke Bolvar's shamelessness and wickedness.
The victory at Northrend 'Wrathgate was the greatest victory in Kingdom of Stormwind in recent years, boosting national morale and laying the foundation for King Varian's rule.
The nobles attending the banquet all praised King Varian's greatness, and many shed tears of emotion, shouting that God bless the Kingdom of Stormwind so that such a great King could appear.
After the first dance, King Varian politely departed and rested briefly in the Duke's back garden.
The garden was filled with fiery red flowers, their petals fluttering down and covering the ground, releasing an incredibly rich fragrance that brought a sense of tranquility and joy.
Varian sat for a while in a villa, where a guard served him fine wine.
Taking small sips of red wine, Varian suddenly noticed that the walls of the villa were inlaid with many Magic Gems, which seemed to form a strange Magic Circle.
Varian was puzzled, but the accompanying Court Mages explained that these Magic Circle could keep the villa warm in winter and cool in summer, and could also prevent mosquitoes from entering.
"This mysterious Duke Alpha is quite a fascinating person."
Using precious Magic Gems on this was far too extravagant and wasteful. Varian didn't think much of it and planned to stay for a while before leaving.
The diligent and ambitious Varian was determined to be a good King. With the war in Kingdom of Stormwind recently concluded, he urgently needed to stabilize the people's hearts and minds, and there were still many political affairs to handle.
Just then, a melodious zither tune drifted over. It was a multi-stringed zither unique to the High Elves, extremely difficult to play, and only the nimble fingers of the Elves could master it.
Varian, having grown up in royalty and been exposed to art from a young age, quickly grasped the nuances of the music.
The player's skill was exceptional; the music blended perfectly with the Tranquility night.
The incredibly beautiful music was like a beautiful young woman whispering sweet nothings before him, and Varian was immediately captivated by its enchanting notes.
Amidst the melodious strains of the zither, Varian seemed to see a painting slowly unfolding before his eyes.
A High Elf woman plays happily in the fields, the damp morning mist wetting her skirt, and playful Mana Wyrm swirling around her fingertips.
The melodious and gentle sound of the zither, like Flowing Water babbling of a stream, represents the joyful mood of a young girl.
Suddenly, the cheerful atmosphere was shattered, and the music took on a whimsical, warlike quality.
In the distance, smoke billowed and countless Fel energy emanated from the sky. A city had been captured by the Burning Legion, and the Legion's Demons let out terrifying laughter.
The girl panicked and hurriedly ran back to the nearest city.
The garrison closed the city gates, and the residents looked fearfully at the city occupied by the Legion not far away.
Varian was moved and immediately thought of Silvermoon City.
After Silvermoon City was massacred by Orcs, the High Elves suffered heavy losses.
After joining the Orcs, the High Elves helped Orcs in their campaigns, and occasionally had to satisfy Thrall's appetites, causing their numbers to dwindle.
With Undercity now occupied by Varimathras, Silvermoon City's situation is extremely precarious.
Even Thrall, the Savior, dared not offend Varimathras, Lor'themar Theron Regent who had never had a voice in the Horde, was terrified.
The piano music gradually faded, conveying a touch of sadness and a young girl's worry for her homeland.
When everything fell Anjing, Varian was still not satisfied, so he asked the guard beside him, "Who was the performer?"
The guard summoned the steward from the back garden, who replied respectfully:
"King Majesty, the player is the daughter of an old friend of Grand Duke Alpha, said to be Kael'thas's younger sister, a true princess. She played a piece because she was troubled by concerns for the safety of Silvermoon City. She is very sorry to have disturbed Your King."
Varian had never heard of Kael'thas having a sister, and privately speculated that she was probably an illegitimate child, which was common among nobles.
Since Kael'thas was murdered, the Sunstrider family has dwindled in number.
Varian suddenly became interested and asked in a low voice:
"If I may be so bold as to ask, would you please invite the princess over for a chat?"
The steward simply said he would try to invite him, and left to carry out the order.
Before long, several High Elf women dressed as maids entered the villa and set up a small curtain in the living room, covered by light gauze, creating a dreamlike and ethereal scene where the view was not particularly clear.
A woman carrying a harp appeared behind the curtain; only a slender figure could be seen. She Varian, her voice clear and melodious.
"This humble woman has inadvertently disturbed Your Majesty's enjoyment; please forgive her."
For some reason, the woman successfully piqued Varian's interest, and he felt a fire burning in his chest. Knowing the answer already, he asked:
"The girl's piano playing is melodious and beautiful, but why is there a sense of irritation that ruins the beauty of it?"
The woman sighed and said softly:
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Since Silvermoon City was conquered by the Orcs, our kingdom has been destroyed, our land shattered, High Elves are now forced to live under the protection of the Orcs, suffering endless oppression and humiliation. Regent Lor'themar is unambitious, greedy for power, and colludes with Thrall to oppress our people. Although I am just a woman, the blood of the Sunstrider family flows in my veins, and I worry about when the glory of the Sunstrider Dynasty can be restored. Therefore, I am deeply moved, and this feeling inevitably finds expression in my music."
Upon hearing this, Varian immediately felt the same way.
He recalled how Garrosh had nearly eaten him as rations at Valiance Keep, and how Thrall, the Savior, had mocked him during the Battle of the Wrathgate, showing him no respect whatsoever as King.
"Orcs are inherently ferocious and are most adept at betrayal; they are not to be trusted," Varian said indignantly.
The woman's tone clearly carried a hint of surprise:
"Everyone says that King Varian wise and mighty, a once-in-a-millennium ruler. Seeing him today, I can confirm his reputation. The Sunstrider been on good terms with the House Wrynn and have long wanted the High Elves to return to the Alliance, but unfortunately, they have been blocked by Regent Lor'themar."
As the woman spoke of the Orcs' cruelty Thrall's brutal treatment of the High Elves, she couldn't help but sob softly. Varian felt as if he had found a kindred spirit and only wanted to hold the woman in his arms and cherish her tenderly.
The two shared their feelings, and time flew by; soon it was Midnight.
Varian was surprised to find that this woman was not only highly skilled in playing the zither, but also knowledgeable in military strategy, tactics, and warfare. She had once commanded a small squad in battle and personally Execute Zul'Aman Trolls.
This made Varian's heart itch with desire. Compared to the delicate noble ladies of Stormwind City, this was the perfect match for Varian, a true queen.
So Varian subtly brought up the issue of choosing a spouse.
The woman hesitated for a moment, then said in a clear voice:
"I hope my beloved will be a peerless hero, someone I can witness leading an army of 100,000 to help the High Elves escape the oppression of the Horde, eradicate the Evil threatening Silvermoon City, and reclaim our land."
Varian was trembling with excitement. After calming down and thinking it over carefully, he decided that it was feasible.
With descendants of the Sunstrider Dynasty, the army's entry into Silvermoon City was perfectly legitimate.
It would both allow them to eliminate Varimathras and achieve great merit, and also encourage the High Elves to return to the Alliance.
"Don't worry, you'll get what you want soon."
Varian said earnestly.