"Stepmom!"
Shandris ran over joyfully, and Azshara rose to give her a warm, lingering embrace.
"Heehee, is it a little brother or a little sister in there? Once you come out, your big sister will have a special gift ready for you!"
Pregnancy was a wondrous thing. Azshara had never imagined she would experience it. As a Queen, she was born to rule over the Highborne and the Night Elves. Now, she was staying in the manor to nurture new life. If anyone had told her ten thousand years ago that she would become a domestic spouse waiting to give birth, she would have thought them mad and rewarded them with two sharp slaps to the face.
Fate was fickle, yet she was content to be a consort focused on her husband and children rather than the formidable Empress of an empire. This transformation was enough to make anyone's jaw drop. That the Naga continued to follow her had nothing to do with her becoming a "homebody."
As long as Azshara maintained power beyond that of a demigod and held the secret of transforming Naga back into Elves, she would always be their Queen. Her position remained unshakeable because she could protect her subordinates and command their absolute loyalty.
"We don't know yet," Azshara replied with a soft smile. "What does Shandris want her stepmom to do for her? You're becoming quite the stranger lately—that won't do. No matter how many siblings you have later, you will always be my precious daughter!"
Azshara truly loved this girl. She wouldn't have granted her free reign of the Eternal Palace otherwise. Treating her like her own flesh and blood was something that wouldn't change even after her own child was born. She knew this wasn't just about competing with Tyrande for affection; it was because her husband, Arthas, cherished Shandris deeply. She was far too clever to slight someone her husband loved.
Shandris pouted slightly, her expression turning a bit somber.
"Stepmom, I feel a bit useless. Father loves me so much, yet when he asked me to find the way to Pandaria, I couldn't do it on my own. I have to go around asking everyone for help. I want to share Father's burdens and learn to take responsibility so I can look after my younger siblings later."
Azshara reached out to stroke her daughter's silky hair, pulling her into a hug.
"Silly girl. You have so many aunts here; your problems are our problems. Asking family for help is a special privilege of yours. If your father were doing this, he would do exactly what you are doing."
"Do you know why your father sought out so many aunts for you?"
This was a tricky topic. To Shandris, it seemed normal for her father to have multiple consorts. Back at Mount Hyjal, the demigod Cenarius had many as well, though none were famous and many had passed away without much visible grief from him.
Shandris blinked, unsure of where this was going. She just tilted her head, finding a comfortable spot to lean against. "I don't know. What are you trying to say, Stepmom?"
Looking at the girl's genuine innocence, Azshara realized that even as a demigod, Shandris was still a child at heart.
"It's about connections! By having me, he connects with the Naga and the Highborne. With Elisande and Natalie, he controls the Nightborne. With Sylvanas, he commands the Blood Elves. With Jaina, he wields the power of Kul Tiras."
"This way, no matter where he wants to get things done, he never lacks allies. You can give allies a bit of profit, but you must never lose out yourself. For a partnership to last, neither side can feel cheated."
"The fact that you came to me shows I'm still your stepmom in your heart. Little one, there are many ways to enter Pandaria. That continent is indeed shrouded in mists that blur perception, but it isn't absolute. If one wishes to go, one can go."
Azshara's tone grew assertive. There was nowhere in this world she couldn't reach if she put her mind to it—even the Elemental Planes were within her grasp.
She pulled out a conch shell and blew into it gently. Faint ripples of energy traveled far through the water until they hit a spatial portal and vanished. Soon after, a tall female elf in Highborne attire stepped through a portal, through which one could glimpse a palace built of gemstones.
The elf knelt respectfully, her right hand on her left shoulder. She was cold, elegant, and sharp.
"Sivara greets the Mistress, the Little Mistress, and the Head Maidservant."
"You remember Sivara," Azshara said. "She is a General of my armies. She is very familiar with the path to Pandaria. Shandris needs to go there; you will escort her. Use the Blackwater Behemoth for the journey. Is that beast still restless?"
Azshara's warmth was reserved for family and her "sisters" like Jaina and Sylvanas. To her subordinates, she was stern and often cruel. Only an iron fist could suppress dissent and keep her servants diligent.
Sivara nodded. "The Blackwater Behemoth recently fought with Ozumat, Neptulon's pet octopus. They've gained power from the Old Gods, and we are still purging them. We've pinned the Water Elemental armies near Vashj'ir."
"Old Gods?" Azshara scoffed. "Yogg-Saron is dead. The monster on the Zandalar Isles only favors Blood Trolls, so it must be C'Thun providing aid. No one can just stay quiet, can they? Using Neptulon to distract the Naga... If the Behemoth shows any sign of losing control, kill it immediately and send it to the slaughterhouse. Don't waste the meat. Most importantly: Shandris must not come to any harm, or you will cease to exist."
Azshara easily deduced Neptulon's strategy. C'Thun was the first Old God to escape its prison, meaning it would resist with full strength. Lordaeron needed an external enemy to maintain internal unity and solve domestic issues. This enemy couldn't be too strong (requiring Arthas) or too weak (ending too quickly).
"Understood, Mistress. Princess, I need one day to prepare. We will depart from the Eternal Palace and enter Pandaria via the seabed."
With Azshara's help, a difficult task was solved in minutes. There was no need to deal with the likes of Madam Goya. Once Shandris arrived, Arthas could use Void Portals to bridge the gap and move the Alliance armies into the new continent.
Pandaria's resources—medicinal herbs, ores, and the vast granary of the Valley of the Four Winds—would accelerate Lordaeron's industrialization. Though C'Thun was a threat, the true enemy remained the Burning Legion. Kil'jaeden, the Deceiver, was likely fuming after being outplayed by Gul'dan, Ner'zhul, and now Illidan.
When Arthas learned of the plan, he gave Shandris an Ivory Tower—a magical item from the Human Shop. Once placed on open ground, it would construct a scout tower that could be upgraded into a cannon tower or arcane post. With this anchor, he could teleport to Pandaria at any time. He wasn't interested in the Mogu or their "Thunder King"; he just wanted the resources to keep his empire thriving.
Since Sylvanas and Vereesa were both pregnant, the management of the Windrunner family affairs was handed to Liadrin, a High Priestess who had defected from the Blood Elves.
In person, Liadrin was a stunning woman with golden bangs, far removed from some of the less flattering depictions of her. She had abandoned the Light to join the Cult of the Protector, becoming a devout follower of the Goddess Azeroth and the new god, Arthas. Alongside her was Grand Astromancer Solarian, who handled the military side of Blood Elf affairs while Liadrin managed the logistics.
They were fair and efficient. When resources were misallocated, Solarian would bypass Liadrin to report directly to Jaina, ensuring the Blood Elves integrated into Lordaeron through justice rather than charity. With these capable women in charge, the empire remained steady even as the Queens stepped back to prepare for their new arrivals.