This year's Winter Veil felt different compared to the years prior for Schyuler. She could remember celebrating her first Feast of Winter Veil like it was yesterday. Anduin taught her the holiday traditions, gift exchanging, eating delicious food, sharing stories of Greatfather Winter, but perhaps her most fond memory was seeing snow for the first time.

It didn't exactly snow on Pandaria. The island always had a warm climate so it never got cold enough to see the beautiful flakes of frozen water sparkle from the sky. But that changed during her first winter season in Stormwind. Schyuler felt as if she were a kid again. Some of the children of the town took it upon themselves to teach her how to have fun during this time of year. Whether it be catching snowflakes with your tongue, skating on ice, building snowmen, but her absolute favourite were snowball fights.

She'd get in trouble with Mathias sometimes. Schyuler was technically on the job protecting Stormwinds king 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She was his bodyguard after all, and the Spymaster argued that she wouldn't have the time for silly snowball fights. Of course like clockwork, every time he'd say that, she'd slug him with a snowball. When Varian was still around, the old King would always laugh and tell Mathias to loosen up since it was the holidays. Schyuler smiled thinking of the memory as she looked up at the night sky. She missed his laugh.

"Schyuler?"

The woman snapped back into reality, shaking her head briefly before she turned towards the source of the voice, "Yes?"

Anduin sat upon Reverence's saddle, a warm cloak hung over his robes as snowflakes fluttered around him. "Are you well? You better not be getting sick, it's the Winter Veil's eve!"

"I'm at the peak of health, I can assure you, Anduin," Schyuler smiled softly before her lips kinked a playful smirk. "Besides, I'd never miss Mrs. Greymane's cooking!"

"I can picture it in my mind clear as day, as if I could taste it," Schyuler swore she saw Anduin's mouth water for a split second before he composed himself. "Come, the sooner we finish our patrol, the sooner we can go home,"

"Following your lead," Schyuler acknowledged.

Following Anduin through the streets of the city, the young King surveyed decorations and such as a festival was being prepared in the main plaza. Anduin wanted this year's Winter Veil to be extra special for his people. After everything they had been through fighting The Legion, a sparkling dose of holiday cheer sounded spectacular.

Everything seemed to be in order. Lights and streamers fluttered about as far as the eye could see. There was a band playing some music as people danced, food stalls giving away sweets. It was heartwarming to see things were really starting to return to normal. When the pair rounded a corner, they found a group of kids playing in a snowbank, piling up snow to make little snowmen and forts.

Once they were close enough, the children spotted them and waved excitedly in their direction. It was then Schyuler realized it was the same group of kids that helped teach her about winter two years ago.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" She called out as Schyuler climbed off her horse and walked towards them.

"Schyuler!!" The children ran towards her and nearly toppled her to the ground as they each wrapped a set of arms around her.

"I see you've been keeping yourselves busy," The monk laughed as she graciously returned the gesture, engulfing them all in her arms.

"Looks you won't need a fireplace to keep warm," Anduin commented with a playful smirk.

"Hey, these are my warm hugs, I'm not sharing!" Schyuler giggled in response, sticking her tongue out at the boy king.

"Sorry, your majesty," One of the children shrugged apologetically towards the king who couldn't help but laugh at the adorable scene before him.

"It's quite alright," He reassured them. "As much as we'd like to catch up, I'm afraid Schyuler and I are pressed for time at the moment,"

"No snowball fight?" Another child exchanged a wide eyed expression between the king and his bodyguard.

"I'm afraid not," Schyuler answered after a brief pause when she glanced over at Anduin, her own eyes asking just a few minutes, but to no avail. "Not tonight at least,"

There was an echo of disappointed awes from the children as Schyuler pulled away from their embrace. Both she and Anduin's sighs shared the same emotion as the children, Schyuler's eyes trailing the snow beneath their feet.

"We should get going," Anduin informed as he glanced up at the night sky. "Let's go, Schyuler," He turned his back to her and the children, walking back towards Reverence.

That was until he felt a sudden hard, cold substance smack against the back of his right shoulder blade. He flinched in his step, shoulders hinged at the sudden contact. Tiny giggles followed as he quickly turned back to face Schyuler and the children.

"What was that?" He asked, though a part of him already knew the answer.

Hands behind her back, her gloves wet as she twiddled her thumbs. She acted nonchalant as she shrugged her shoulders, flashing Anduin a toothy grin. "I don't have the faintest idea of what you're referring to, your majesty,"

There it is, Anduin's voice sang in his mind as slowly his lips formed a playful smile. Schyuler never referred to Anduin with his title. Not out in public, or around Genn, or when it was just the two of them. They had grown so close as friends, almost family in a sense, that it didn't seem right to change their familiar formalities. She did, however, use it whenever she wanted him to "loosen up and have fun", as the saying goes.

"Alright then," His smile never strayed as he slowly inched towards the ground and grabbed a chunk of snow, forming it into a ball. "I see how it is!" He declared as he tossed it in her direction.

She shrieked as there was a jubilant shout from the kids as they ran and ducked for cover by the snow banks, preparing their own ammunition. Snowballs were thrown left and right as everyone ran around to avoid getting hit, ducking and diving in the show and around the banks. Schyuler lost track of time and she was having too much fun. Surely the others wouldn't mind if they were fashionably late for dinner?

Anduin tossed one towards Schyuler, nailing her in the shoulder. She collapsed to the ground as she rolled on her side to catch her fall. "You're in for it now, golden boy," Gathering snow in her hands, she pushed herself to stand as she gave chase after Anduin. "Now!"

"Sorry, your majesty!" One of the children apologized in advance as he and another child threw snowballs at his legs, making the young king stagger and slow down.

When Schyuler was close enough, she leapt on a snowbank and then jumped high above Anduin, lifting the ball of snow in the air. Anduin saw her shadow and as he turned to face her, he knew it was already too late. "By the light--!" *THAWMP* Schyuler decked his head with snow as they both tumbled to the ground below.

The children on Schyuler's team cheered for their victory as the remaining on Anduin's team laughed at what transpired. After catching their breath, Anduin laughed as he processed his defeat, looking up at Schyuler as she carefully sat upright in his lap. "Well played, Schyuler,"

"It was a fair fight, Anduin," Schyuler smiled triumphantly at him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You definitely didn't make it easy,"

"Well of course, I had a title to defend," Anduin shrugged nonchalantly as he propped himself up on his elbows, blowing a damp strand of his hair away from his face. "Which I just lost and now falls to you, Snowball Fight Queen,"

"All hail the Queen!" The kids cheered them on as a bashful blush formed on the Monk's cheeks.

"Thank you, Anduin," Schyuler bowed her head playfully before smirking at him. "Though I'm not the one covered in snow. Perhaps you'd consider keeping it?"

"Allow me to fix that, your grace," Anduin's smile shined bright with mischief as he scooped up some snow and sprinkled it along her hair. She couldn't help but laugh at his goofiness, but it was quite adorable. She'd give him that. "There. Now you look the part,"

"You're adorable sometimes, you know that?" Schyuler scoffed playfully at the boy before she gently reached her hand out towards his face. "Here let me get that,"

She knew she'd get a chewing out with Genn if they arrived back at the Keep and Anduin was wet and covered in snow. Next thing she knows he'll complain about him catching a cold. It's almost sweet in a sense. Schyuler knows Genn thinks of him as a son to him. After what happened with his first born, he'd never forgive himself if something happened to him.

Leaning forward, Schyuler gently brushed off the snow from Anduin's face and hair. She was so attentive of his well-being that she didn't notice Anduin reaching for her until she felt his fingertips caress her cheek as she was offering him her hand to pull him up. "Anduin. . .?"

"Oh, my apologies," Anduin snapped out of his trance as he took her hand graciously, sitting up from the snow. "It's just, I-- couldn't help but notice. Your eyes are twinkling like the snowflakes falling from the night sky,"

"You were staring at me?" The faint blush remained on Schyuler's cheeks as Anduin tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

". . . Yes," Anduin answered slowly after a brief hesitation. "I was staring for the same reason you're still in my lap,"

Schyuler tilted her head to the side, staring back at Anduin curiously before the realization hit her. Her cheeks flared a bright red, neh, her entire face. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry I didn't mean to overstep--!"

She tried to move back, but the ground beneath them was a little slippery as some ice was hiding beneath the snow. Schyuler nearly slipped when Anduin reached out and caught her. His arms wrapped around her back as he held her protectively close. "No, Schyuler! Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah," She was so close. It had been a long while since the two of them had gotten this close. The more memorable one she can think of was when she brought his father's compass back from the Broken Shore.

Her hands wrapped around his neck. Something drove her to slowly inch her head closer towards him, and her heart raced as Anduin did the same. His warm breath ghosted along her chilled lips before he jerked his head back upon hearing quiet snickering.

The pair glanced over to see the children watching them, snickering and exchanging whispers. Both cheeks a bright pink from the momentary embarrassment as Anduin helped them both to their feet. They both brushed the snow off their attire before exchanging awkward glances at one another.

Anduin coughed into his fist. "Shall we get going?"

"Yes, let's," Schyuler eagerly nodded in agreement.

Anduin smiled as he walked past her, calling for Reverence as Schyuler took a moment to compose herself before rendezvousing with her horse.

I was. . . I was going to kiss him just then? She thought to herself, almost startled at the thought of it. But what surprised her most was seeing Anduin leaning towards her in return. She prayed to The Light that she had the courage to show him how she truly felt. But perhaps tonight wasn't that night.