of Stormwind slammed his fist down. “The Horde has tried once to take Ashenvale! They’ll try again! If we let them do so without a fight, we’ve already lost! They see Azeroth as a new world and, because of their relentless energy, they see themselves as the only ones appropriate to tame it! But we will match that energy and more, and we will fight the Horde and all other foes at every turn until the Alliance and Azeroth can finally claim that peace prevails!”
This statement brought more murmuring, this time angry. Yet, beneath that anger was a growing agreement, a joining of purpose among the factions. Archmage Tervosh nodded to Drukan, who bobbed his head in return. Gelbin and the gnomes muttered together, their gazes continuing to return to Varian with obvious admiration—a rare display by gnomes for someone who was a warrior, not an inventor. Everywhere, Varian’s words struck home, for the moment bringing together even all three dwarven clans.
Encouraged by their reactions, Varian thrust on. “Anger. Fury. You feel it now. This is what we need, if we’re to match the energy of the Horde! This . . . and something more. . . .”
Varian signaled to someone unseen near the entrance through which the representatives had again marched. A horn blared . . . and the anthem of Gilneas played.
Led again by Genn Greymane and fully transformed to their astonishing lupine shapes, the worgen reentered. They spread out as they reached the center, displaying their might for all to see.
Fist on his chest in a salute, the worgen leader stood directly before Varian. He gazed up at his counterpart and waited.
Varian did not look back but instead addressed the audience as a whole again. “When last we were here, the archdruid sought a vote on full membership of Gilneas and the worgen by acclamation! I call on you today to recast your vote! What say the rest of you?”
“Aye!” shouted Kurdran.
“Aye!” the other dwarven representatives yelled immediately after.
A stately female draenei rose. “I am Ishanah, high priestess of the Aldor, chosen to speak in place of the Prophet! The draenei cast a vote of aye!”
Theramore and the rest of the Alliance factions followed, each repeating their earlier votes. Malfurion hugged Tyrande with one arm as they watched the acclamation build. They made no attempt to take command of the summit; this was Varian’s gathering until he deemed otherwise.
The king surveyed the assembly, which watched him in anticipation.
“Stormwind votes aye!” Varian bellowed triumphantly. “Gilneas and the worgen are full members of the Alliance!”
The worgen let out howls of pleasure. From beyond the gathering, other howls arose from the direction of their encampment.
Only Genn Greymane did not howl. The worgen leader stood solemn before Varian. “You honor us!” the king of Gilneas declared. “But we also honor you, Varian Wrynn of Stormwind! We honor the champion of Ashenvale!”
Now both the worgen and the other assembled delegates cheered.
Malfurion finally left Tyrande to go to the lord of Stormwind. Varian gratefully let him take over, but first indicated that he had something to whisper to the archdruid.
“When we arrived, there was a missive brought by a draenei messenger from my son. He wanted to assure me that when he completed his own path with the Light, he would return to Stormwind. . . . ” Varian eyed Malfurion suspiciously. “Is this some doing of yours or the high priestess’s?”
“None whatsoever. This happy news is from Anduin himself, I assure you! I knew nothing about this until you now told me, and I can swear the same for Tyrande. She would not have kept such a thing from me, much less you. . . .”
The king exhaled. “Then that makes his promise all the more welcome!”
Varian continued to drink in the thought of his son’s return as the archdruid, after a congratulatory touch on the human’s shoulder, took over. However, if Varian thought his part at an end, he was sorely mistaken.
“Gilneas and the worgen are welcomed into the fold!” the night elf called. “And the worgen are welcome to a new, permanent home here with the night elf people!” The worgen howled their gratitude and the emissaries and their retinues added their applause again.
When things had settled down, Malfurion continued, “But we must also welcome the man who has brought us together again and who has also brought the future of the Alliance sharply into focus at last! Varian Wrynn, king of Stormwind!”
There was no cry of disagreement, not even