Wyll Benton

Wyll Benton was an elderly servant of Anduin Wrynn. He had been taking care of Anduin since the king was little and refusing his service would offend him. As far as the king of Stormwind knew, Wyll had no family and was in service to the Wrynn family almost his entire life, having served King Llane and King Varian when they, too, were young. Though old and gray-haired, Wyll was tall and heavyset. Even though he was sarcastic, Anduin knew he was a kind man, and his mild, slightly detached demeanor disguised a stubborn will and fierce devotion to the house of Wrynn. Wyll accompanied Anduin in Ironforge during the tumultuous events preceding the Cataclysm but died of old age shortly after the Argus Campaign.
==Biography==
As a young man, Wyll met and married a kitchen servant named Elsie, and they remained happily together for many years. Their social circles revolved around the royal families and the servants, as they themselves were.
Elsie was in Lordaeron, visiting family in the castle, when Arthas killed King Terenas Menethil II. By this time, Elsie described herself as "not young". She was slain and raised into undeath, and later became Forsaken in the service of Sylvanas Windrunner, but Wyll assumed that she was simply killed during the city's destruction. Anduin never heard of him speak of his family in passing or in person, and suspected it was too painful for him to recall those times and what he believed to be Elsie's fate.
===The Shattering===
Shortly before the Cataclysm, Wyll accompanied his prince to Ironforge. After the petrification of King Magni Bronzebeard, his daughter Moira returned to Ironforge. Wyll was sent to find Anduin and High Priest Rohan in Ironforge and tell them to see the princess. While Moira held Anduin and everyone else in Ironforge captive, Wyll told the prince that he was certain Varian was working on a liberation.The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
===Before the Storm===
Wyll continued to serve as Anduin's manservant in the aftermath of the Argus Campaign. By this point, increasing age began preventing Wyll from performing many of his duties, but he still wanted to feel like he was useful. After Anduin's speech at Lion's Rest and the meeting with several Alliance members, Wyll tended to Anduin and spoke about their previous visit to Ironforge, as they were set to travel there again in the near future. Wyll assured Anduin that he would accompany him during his journey. Once they returned from Ironforge to Stormwind, Wyll tried to get everything ready for the next part of Anduin's journey. However, the king convinced him to stay in Stormwind instead and get a well-deserved rest.Before the Storm, chapter 11
Days later, his health worsened, and High Priestess Laurena and Genn Greymane confirmed he was dying. Upon hearing this, Anduin wanted to heal the old man and restore his health, but Wyll, lying in bed in his chamber, refused. He told Anduin that he was tired of living in old age and wanted to see his deceased loved ones once again. He also stated that he had made a list of men he could recommend to serve as Anduin's new valet since the king was now a grown man and didn't need a child's servant anymore. Wyll did, however, allow Anduin to use the Light to ease his pain. Anduin remained by his side and started reading his book about the Dragon Aspects until the old man fell asleep. When he awoke, he started hallucinating about the dead loved ones waiting for him but was confused to find that Elsie was not among them. As Anduin calmed him, Wyll's last words were for Anduin to tell Elsie that he would be waiting for her. With that, the servant passed away. Anduin remained for the next hour, alone, to grieve in private.Before the Storm, chapter 16
==Notes==
*Wyll taught Anduin to read when the prince was young.
*As befitted someone of his status in the household, Wyll had a fairly large room which was impeccably tidy, just like the servant himself.
*Despite his age, Wyll was as fond of sweets as any six-year-old child.
*Wyll's surname was revealed in his second appearance in Before the Storm, 8 years after his introduction in The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm.
==Speculation==
As he had served both Llane and Varian when they were young, this suggests he was likely present during the second siege of Stormwind and survived the evacuation to Lordaeron.
==References==
Category:Human characters
Category:Stormwind (kingdom)
Category:Lore characters
Category:The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm characters
Category:Before the Storm characters
Category:Deceased characters