(2022-03-03) Consequences

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Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	Gwenivene finally faces the consequences for disobeying orders to bring her portal research to Outland.
Rating:	T for Teen

I'm sorry, Jo. I know you offered to come with me, and I wanted you to be there, but I also couldn't put your reputation on the line. I also couldn't put this off any longer. It was time to face the music.

Is that the phrase? Face the music? Where does that come from? Facing music doesn't sound so bad. But this was really uncomfortable. Maybe it's really bad music. Or LOUD music.

But the Nethergarde Council wasn't loud. They were quiet. Awkwardly quiet, with too-calm voices and long pauses between sentences as they admonished me for my actions. It was disconcerting.

The Alliance representatives were not so quiet. There was this Knight-Commander representing the military who was loud. Very loud. She shouted a lot about dereliction of duty and putting the war effort at risk. I suppose I can see why she was upset. If I had been captured and my research had fallen into the Legion's hands, it could have potentially opened the door for a full scale invasion of Azeroth's capitals. Maybe I really was as reckless as she said.

There was another Alliance representative; Lord Calistayre was there as a representative of the House of Nobles. He was outspoken as well, but not angry like the Knight-Commander. I was surprised when he actually spoke up in my defense. He acknowledged that I had overstepped, but also praised my initiative and pointed out that my actions had, in the end, benefitted the Alliance and Azeroth as a whole. (I felt compelled to credit my entire team at that point, but was immediately told to be silent.)

While the council deliberated, the Knight-Commander grew impatient and insisted that my fate was not for them to decide, since I was, in fact, an Alliance agent assigned to Nethergarde. Once again, Calistayre intervened, pointing out my brass pin. Apparently it surprised a few members of the council as well. Even as I was being questioned about where I had received a Kirin Tor pin, a messenger was shown into the chamber, bearing a scroll with the seal of the Violet Citadel. Calistayre's smug look of satisfaction did not escape me. Did he know?

The council chairman read the scroll, and I thought his eyebrows were going to crawl right up off of his forehead. He showed it around to the other councilors, then passed it to the Knight-Commander, who finally let Lord Calistayre see it. The Lord gave it just a cursory glance before handing it back to the chairman, who informed all present that, by order of High Sorcerer Andromath, my duties to the Alliance were to be henceforth transferred to the service of the Kirin Tor, with all responsibilities and consequences that entailed willfully adopted by the Violet Citadel.

The Knight-Commander was…not happy. She stormed out of the chamber, vowing to take this up with her superiors. I'm a little bit scared of her.

I have no doubt that message was a direct result of Gerhold Fauntleroy's intervention. He said he would do as much. BUt how did Lord Calistayre know that message was coming? Is he one of Gerhold's agents? He doesn't seem to be connected to the Kirin Tor, as far as I can tell. I'll have to ask Mr. Fauntleroy.

Anyhow, it seems I'm now fully at the mercy of the Violet Citadel. I'm not sure if that means I'm still on probation or not. Either way, I insisted that I should make amends for my transgression…and I was assured that was going to happen whether I had insisted or not. Still, I get the feeling it will be a symbolic punishment rather than anything truly significant. I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that.

For now, I've been allowed to return to my duties in Shattrath City and assisting Cobalt Company. The Kirin Tor wants me to continue overseeing the training of mages in interdimensional portals and ensuring the permanent portals are stable. I can't say I'm sad about that. I have truly come to love these people and I feel like I have made a difference with them. I'm finally connecting with some of them. Not just Jocoza, but Rae, maybe even Cressidha…and hopefully Sandy.

I can't quite figure him out. He's barely said anything to me since the day we talked about the ritual. Did I do something wrong? I knew it. I overstepped. I probably scared him off or freaked him out. Light burn me, he's so sweet and innocent. Gwen, you idiot.