Find Where I Belong (Anduin Wrynn X OC)

AN//: Takes place at the end of The Legion Expansion. 

*

When Genn returned to Stormwind Keep with a letter in hand and a glum expression on his face, Schyuler knew that the worst possible outcome in fighting the Burning Legion had come true. King Varian Wrynn was gone, and Aunduin was to be crowned not just the new King of Stormwind, but to all of the Alliance itself.

Schyuler had glanced at the letter briefly before handing it over to a cautiously curious Anduin Wrynn who took it from her delicate fingers and slowly walked back to the throne. The words she did catch left an emotional scar in her mind.

The poor boy had just turned 18. Anduin sat on the throne as he read the letter in silence. Varian had given him leadership of the city until his return from the Broken Shore, but now it appeared his leadership would be indefinitely.

"What of his body?" Schyuler asked the man quietly.

Genn shook his head, the words struggling to come out. "Blown. . . to ashe,"

A lump caught in her throat as she processed the image in her head. Poor Varian, an absolutely horrible way to go. She glances over at Anduin, thoughts rambling through her head at what he must be thinking and feeling at this very moment.

"And the Horde?" She asked, fearing the answer.

The Alliance and Horde had formed a truce to combat the Burning Legion. So if King Varian of the Alliance was dead, then what of their warchief?

"Sylvanas Windrunner called for a retreat, leaving us out to die. Their warchief was injured during battle, it is currently unknown if he will survive his wounds," Genn explained, a dark cloud hovering over him as his arms crossed over his chest as if to protect himself from his emotions. "Shaw is looking into that now,"

Schyuler looked back towards Anduin. The longer he looked at the piece of paper the more sadness and helplessness consumed him. She could sense it, as she found herself moving slowly towards the throne. "Anduin?"

". . . My father was a child when his father fought against the Burning Legion and gave his life to protect Azeroth," He spoke softly. "It's as if history is repeating itself,"

Schyuler wanted to say something to him, but couldn't form the correct words. Her body and mind were at a crossroads. Genn steps forward, placing a hand on her shoulder as he pulls her to the side gently. "I can watch him for a while. We need to speak about coronation preparations as soon as possible,"

"Anduin just lost his father, can't we give him some space to breathe? Grieve even?" Schyuler protested.

"As bad as it sounds, the Burning Legion is still out there. We need all hands on deck if we are to protect ourselves and our people," Genn sighed. "Can you understand that much?"

Schyuler sighed, her gaze shifting to the floor. It's not a checkmate yet for Stormwind. The Alliance has one more king up their sleeve. "Fine,"

"I can watch him, in the meantime, can you take my place by running the scavengers patrol, searching for any survivors?" He asked, almost pleading.

Schyler nodded her head slowly, returning her gaze towards him. "I can do that,"

"The ship will be waiting for you at the harbour when ready," Genn patted her shoulder. "I should warn you, the horrors there are not to be taken lightly,"

Genn waved her off before talking towards Anduin, gaining his attention. Schyuler spared one last look at her friend before turning her back to the throne, and made her way outside.

***

A month had passed. In that time, Anduin had been crowned the new King of Stormwind and High King of The Alliance. As she made preparations for a possible rescue mission to the Broken Shore, Schyuler never got the chance to talk to Anduin again, much less see him. Even when she did, he appeared broken and hollow, somberly going along with Gen and the coronation preparations and surveying the craftsmanship of his father's memorial. She saw it as a blessing it took her this long to find enough brave souls to venture back there after what happened. The thought of knowing he wasn't alone, at least.

During her excursion at the Broken Shore, a glittering object in the water had caught her attention. She dove into the water, swimming down its depths to the ocean floor where she found a compass. She almost choked on her own spit, and gasped for air as she reached out and grabbed it. Wasting no time she swam back up to the surface, her head breaking up for air.

A pair of dwarves called out to her from the ship, but she blocked out their cries as she stared at the compass and with a shaky hand reached out and opened it. Her heart hammered in her chest as she found the photo of a young Anduin Wrynn. This was Varian's compass.

With no other survivors located on the shoreline, she wasted no time in hearthing back to Stormwind. She spawned into the keep's Hearth room and gave the royal guards quite the scare as she appeared in the middle of the room soaking wet. When she confirmed with them that Anduin was still in the throne room, she started running, leaving tiny puddles of water behind her.

The last thing she remembered was barging into the throne room, shoving one of the large doors open. Anduin jumped in his seat as he peered towards the hallway leading to the throne and his eyes widened in utter shock when he saw Schyuler's soaked form coming for him.

"Schyuler?!" He stood up, meeting her halfway as she collapsed to her knees at the stairs of the throne. He knelt in front of her, glancing over at a guard and ordering for a towel. "What happened?"

"Broken Shore. . . " she spoke in between heavy breathing, trying to compose herself. "No signs of other survivors,"

"Did you run into more of the Legion?" He asked as the guard ran back into the room, handing Anduin the towel as the soon-to-be King wrapped it around her form.

She shook her head, looking up to meet his gaze. "No, I found. . ." the word was suddenly lost to her as she could feel the adrenaline subside and exhaustion began to take over her body. Slowly Schyuler pulled the compass free from her pocket and revealed it to Anduin.

Eyes wide, Anduin slowly took it from her and held it in his free hand. The glass face was shattered, the needle bent and unmoving. The paint of the photo is faded and waterlogged but it was unmistakable to him. As he takes a closer look at it his expression changes from recognition to sorrow.

"My father's compass. . . I gave it to him a few months before my ship ran aground in Panderia," he spoke softly. "A lifetime ago. . ."

"When I saw it. . . I knew I had to give to you," Schyuler explained, bowing her head. "When I saw you earlier, I. . . I couldn't say anything to help stop making you feel so hollow,"

"Schyuler," Anduin looked down at her empathetically. Hesitating for a moment, with his other hand he reached out and gently brushed the damp locks of her hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear so he could see her face. The touch earned him her attention. "When this war with the Legion began, I haven't had the chance to think, or breathe. . . or to mourn. Perhaps it's time we changed that?"

Carefully, the pair slowly stood up from the steps, Anduin lifting Schyuler up with his hand gently gripping her arm. She found it comforting when he didn't immediately pull away. "I'm here for you, Anduin. Not just as your bodyguard. But as your friend,"

Anduin smiled at her, small tears perking up as he took one last glance at the compass. "Thank you, for bringing my father's compass back to me. It's a reminder of how much I miss him,"

His grip on her arm tightened ever so softly, his eyes pouring into hers, seeking permission for comfort. Schyuler smiled at him softly in return, granting him consent as his hand moved from her arm to cup the side of her head, pulling her closer to him. Their foreheads touched and they closed their eyes, simply basking in each other's presence. Now they had a chance to breathe, and to mourn.