Prisoner of an Orc

[DerrickStud]

“Don't let Yirril startled you dear. He is quite familiar with how to act when present in front of lady. Even when she is nude.” He began to rub Althea's back with one hand, the other poured the couple some wine. Taking a sip he found it bit on the weak side but quite good none the less, he passed the large glass to the Princess. “ Althea I told you my story, would mind telling me why you seem so relaxed now in my presence?”

[Virgininneed]

She blushed but smiled a little as he massaged her back. "I... I'm not sure. I guess you weren't what I expected. Everything I've heard about orcs has been terrible, but you don't seem so bad." What she didn't admit was that she felt something for him, even if she didn't know what specifically. Seeing him cry pulled at her heart and made her want to do whatever possible to help him.

[DerrickStud]

“Then tell me these stories you've heard of orcs and have some of your kin's wine. Maybe they will help you express your feelings.” Even with all pain and suffering he had gone through. He didn't have the heart to tell her that her father raped and killed his mother. Let alone that he was using her to get his revenge on the man. Especially since he now had his own doubts on his plans

[Virgininneed]

"My father used to tell me and my brother about orcs when we were younger. He told us that orcs had stolen treasure from the elves and he was leaving to get it back," she shrugged shaking her head. "I never understood why he would do that. It was only gold. No reason to go attack and kill families. He told us that the orcs hated elves and enjoyed rape and murder." She shivered as she said those last few words. That was the reason she was so frightened when she awoke in Kron's arms.

"My mother disappeared a few years ago, and my father said she'd been kidnapped by orcs. He... He said they were probably raping her every day." Tears formed in her eyes. Everytime she thought about it, it brought tears to her eyes.

*****************************

Zorathos was an excellent tracker, and he had one of the fastest horses in the kingdom. Soon, he had reached the orcs. Stealthily he took his sword and snuck to the leader's tent. That was when a knife went to his neck and he was knocked unconscious.

[DerrickStud]

"My mother disappeared a few years ago, and my father said she'd been kidnapped by orcs. He... He said they were probably raping her every day." He tried to gently brush his tears away from her. It was tricky to accomplish with such large fingers. No matter how loathsome it was to immediate it, her father was right about her mother being raped everyday. Orcs have strong feeling towards elves, seeing them as the best mating partners. The children born are often strong, intelligent and wise. But he was wrong on the “they” part, elves of good stock like her mother. Would often be given to a single orc as a battle honour or gift, till a child is born and reared, then let go.

“You said your mother disappeared years ago, orcs only keep a slave for a year. After that they are released. Only ghish'amons stay longer, but they stay by choice.” Last night he would have laughed at her and told her that mother decided to stay with orcs, over going back to her family. But something in him changed. Kron needed to get her away from me before she becomes to much of liability.


Yirril heard the loud movement of the orc party. One of them had bound elf in his arms. Shouting at the orcs "The War Chief doesn't have time to judge your prize, go back to the...”

“Silence bounded one, this is no prize but an assassin. We caught him in the War Chief's tent hoping to catch him off his guard.” Veteran warrior, Ogler replied back.

“Stay here in case he tries anything. I will deliver him to the War Chief as not to disturb his privacy.” While preventing the death of another orc is great honour. Ghish'amon of Yirril's calibre knows how to convey such an honour to his holder and how it should be taken care of.

[Virgininneed]

Althea relaxed as he brushed her tears away. She really liked him, but she was also afraid for him. What would happen when her family learned what happened to her? “You said your mother disappeared years ago, orcs only keep a slave for a year. After that they are released. Only ghish'amons stay longer, but they stay by choice.” She felt a pain in her chest. Had her mother stayed, abandoning her and her family? She hugged Kron, finding comfort in his arms.

Althea looked up hearing footsteps and saw Yirill coming towards them. Behind him she saw her brother. "Zorathos!" She ran to him and hugged him. Then she noticed his hands were bound. Then she realized what had happened.

"Take my cloak," he said glaring furiously at Kron. She did stepping back and wrapped it around herself, looking between Kron and her brother anxiously.

[DerrickStud]

Kron looked at Althea. This bound elf had nearly destroyed a day's work with. She stood between them wrapped in cloak, hiding what once was displayed proudly to the orc. Need more information before coming to a conclusion. “Yirril. explain why this elf has disturbed my privacy”, Kron said in orcish

“Pack Leader Ogler caught him in your tent, his intentions were to kill you” He said calmly in orc.

“Yirril translated what I say into elven. Best to play up the dumb orc warrior” Yirril smiled after this comment.

“Tell me foolish elf, why were you in my tent? Did you intend to wait to kill me in my sleep? To afraid to face me like true warrior, instead you hide in the shadows like a common criminal. Speak quickly before I decided to wash your crimes away in the lake.” It was hard to hide smiles between the two close friends. Yirril was an expert in feigning to be a dumb orc. Kron grabbed a large piece of meat and started to tear at it with his mouth. Letting the the juices drip down his body.

[Virgininneed]

Althea could do little but watch. She didn't know anything in Orc, and she stood confused, looking at Kron. This continued until Yirril began to translate.

“Tell me foolish elf, why were you in my tent? Did you intend to wait to kill me in my sleep? To afraid to face me like true warrior, instead you hide in the shadows like a common criminal. Speak quickly before I decided to wash your crimes away in the lake.”

She ran to Kron shaking her head desprately. "Kron, please dont. Dont kill him." She watched with wide eyes as her tore at the meat with his teeth.

"Tell me first why you kidnapped my little sister. She has done nothing to you, you bastard. I swear if you hurt her I will kill you. And if you raped her I will cut your manhood off piece by piece." he pulled away from Yirril and went to Althea. "Are you alright? What did he do to you?"

"I'm fine. He didn't hurt me, calm down. He's not what you think."

[DerrickStud]

Kron avoided the pleading eyes of Althea, he wished he could tell her that it was all an act. In fact the last part he said was how to make a stew using the meat of birds. Yirril decided to threaten him with drowning. He must avoid eye contact else he may slip into the wrong language again. damn that habit he picked up from Scholar Mikal.

"Tell me first why you kidnapped my little sister. She has done nothing to you, you bastard. I swear if you hurt her I will kill you. And if you raped her I will cut your manhood off piece by piece."

Finally he had chance to release his laughter. It was so hard that chunks of meat flew from his mouth, even Yirril snuck a chuckle in. When he finally stopped, he saw the bound Zorathos had escaped. None the less Kron started to talk about the best way to hunt a deer.

“Zorathos do not make idle threats when you are the less skilled warrior here. Your sister put up better fight then you did. She stood up against a veteran warrior of pack leader skill for at least a minute before being overwhelmed. While the same warrior was able to capture you without harming you." Good Yirril, fill him with rage "As you can see with your own eyes your sister is fine. Outside of the fact that she has to watch her brother humilate himself" Kron glared at him after that statement, that barb was uncalled for and would also hurt Althea as much as Zoarthos.

[Virgininneed]

Althea noticed that Kron wasn't looking her in the eye, and she didn't understand why. She glared at him as he burst out laughing. She pulled her brother close. All her brother was doing was trying to defend her.

“Zorathos do not make idle threats when you are the less skilled warrior here. Your sister put up better fight then you did. She stood up again a veteran warrior of pack leader skill for at least a minute before being overwhelmed. While the same warrior was able to capture you without harming you." Zorathos clenched his fists angrily. He was so worried about his sister he hadn't been thinking about the best way to approach the situation. "As you can see with own eyes your sister is fine. Outside of the fact that she has to watch her brother humilate himself"

This time Althea was filled with rage. She stepped up to Kron and slapped him across the face. "How dare you! My brother is a damn good fighter, only with a different set of skills. I may be good with close combat fighting, but he's our best archer. He never misses a shot, and I would want him by my side in a fight."

Tears formed in Althea's eyes as Zorathos pulled her back. She had thought Kron might have actually cared about her, but he was insulting her family, her brother who was also her best friend. She blinked them back as she glared at the Orc.

[DerrickStud]

Kron gave a quick apologetic look to Althea after the slap. You were never to be so close when this happen. Please understand me.

Althea's rage filled voice filled his head. If her brother was great archer then he will best him with it in his hand. Kron's eyes moved to Yirril, he gave him the signal to be serious with his translation.

"War Chief Kron challenges Prince Zorathos to a duel. If the prince wins, then Princess Althea will be set free. If Kron wins, then the prince must deliver a message personally to Erothanas Inavelda. A bow will be provided for Zorathos as is his preference. Kron has decided to go unarmed. Both opponents will go into the woods, starting with Zorathos, who will have a 3 minute headstart. The first to find and draw blood from there opponent will be declared the winner.” With that Kron roared out notifying the others that an honour hunt will be held.

Kron hope thats enough time to explain to Althea what actually happened.

[Virgininneed]

Althea hugged her brother tight, but whispered in his ear, "Don't shoot to kill." Her brother looked at her oddly but nodded. He loved her, and if she had feelings for the Orc, he could not kill him. Zorathos kissed the top of her head, wondering what events had transpired between his little sister and the orc. He could guess, but he didn't like thinking about it.

Zorathos was about two hundred years old, whereas Althea was only eighteen. Elvish woman stayed fertile for hundreds of years, so the age difference was not unusual. He had to bring her back home though, even if she loved the Orc. He could not lose another family member.

Zorathos waited until a bow was brought and took off into the woods. She fought back tears, confused by what Kron was doing. What would the message to her father be if Zorathos lost. Did Kron just want money for her ransom? Did he actually care for her like she thought he might? Now she wasn't sure.

Althea moved away from Kron, clearly hurt. She couldn't even look at him or Yirril. She was still furious about what Kron said about her brother. "Kron, why did you even bring me here? What is it that you want? Money? Sex?" Kron had taken something from her that she could never get back. She was starting to wish he has just raped her and made her his slave. She had never felt pain like this before. Her shoulders shook as tears escaped her eyes. She hid her face from Yirril and Kron, not wanting them to see her crying

[DerrickStud]

Kron waited for the bow to come and watched as Zorathos left for the woods. He waited for him to get out of earshot. He didn't know what his sister said to him. He wondered to himself what Althea said to him, what words fuelled by the sense of betrayal and angry she quickly passed to him. He looked at the sulking princess, wondering to himself how he could answer her question without angrier her even farther. He broke dozens of nobles, but had no idea how to fix one.

He sighed to himself once the prince was out eyesight, slowly walking towards his tossed pants. For the first time in years he voluntarily switched to High Elven “Althea please understand that am sorry for what happen. Its just there so many people counting on the promises that I've made. It would be to difficult for the both of us for me to explain the reasons why it must be like this.” With pants in hand, Kron headed towards the Althea. He leaned in so that only she could hear the next words “But for the want. While 2 days ago I could have given you a simple answer for that. But today, at this lake, I can tell you this. I don't care about the money or sex and I won't as long as your by my side.”

Kron rose up, he saw Yirril reminding him of the time. He hoped that would be enough to get some kind of forgiveness.

[Virgininneed]

“Althea please understand that am sorry for what happen. Its just there so many people counting on the promises that I've made. It would be to difficult for the both of us for me to explain the reasons why it must be like this.” She kept her back turned towards him. She wanted to know why, simple or not. She wanted to know why he attacked her home and why he paid for her. She wasn't sure if she trusted him now. “But for the want. While 2 days ago I could have given you a simple answer for that. But today, at this lake, I can tell you this. I don't care about the money or sex and I won't as long as your by my side.”

She heard him walking away and stared at the ground. Before he had been carressing her gently, and holding her to him, but then he seemed to change when her brother arrived. As Yirril approached, she stood up and lt him guide her back to the tent.

*****************

Zorathos stayed quiet as he waited, high in the branches of a tree. He was ready. All he needed to do was wait. But he kept cautious, knowing the Orc might have a plan.

[DerrickStud]

They walked quietly in woods for a while. Due to the duel, Yirril was forced to take the long way back so neither he or Althea would be caught in between the two warriors. He didn't need Kron to say it, but he knew that Althea had better be in the understanding and forgiving mood before he came back. Otherwise the ghish'amon or not, he may be forced in spending the night in commune tent.

Feeling safe from the fight, he stopped and turn facing the Althea “Look I understand if your not in the mood to talk, but me and you don't have a choice in the matter. We both have things that need to be said and its best to say them now.”

*************

Kron looked at the tracks that Zorathos made when he headed for the woods. If he was anything like his father he would find a hiding spot to ambush and claim the quick kill. Meaning that he easily had the advantage in this fight. However Kron thought back to his encounter with the prince. He was very quick to angry and protective of his sister. Kron quietly ducked into a set of brushes with plan running through his mind. The reckless prince expects barbaric orc, instead he will have an Elven God to challenge.

“ Zorathos why do you disturb such a happy couple in my domain? Neither one has done a wrong, worthy of you intruding in their bliss.” Kron shouting his best attempt at posing as Elven God Asuryan.

[Virgininneed]

Althea looked up as Yirril stopped and turned towards her. She had no quarrel with him. She did not blame him for doing as Kron told him. He was also an elf, which made her more comfortable.

“Look I understand if your not in the mood to talk, but me and you don't have a choice in the matter. We both have things that need to be said and its best to say them now.”

She looked up at him unsure what he was going to say or what he expected her to tell him. She looked at the ground and nodded.

*************

Zorathos continued waiting. The Orc should have come by then. His tracks were easy to follow, as he wanted. Then he heard a voice.

“ Zorathos why do you disturb such a happy couple in my domain? Neither one has done a wrong, worthy of you intruding in their bliss

Zorathos stayed silent wondering if it was a trick. He moved to another branch in the direction of the voice, hyper aware of everything around him, staying alert.

[DerrickStud]

Sudden movement of branches, was Kron's cue to move to a rock formation, northeast of his current position. While the prince may have had the skill to sneak into his tent, he didn't have the skill to best him in a hunt. Once in place, he roared again “Do you think I will grant you sanctuary from my Sister Isha just because you are an elf and he is an orc? Already Isha gives blessings to the couple. She is joyful over the recent display they had at the lake. Do not think that us Gods are as blinded by race like your pitiful father.”



Yirril rolled his eyes when he saw that princess decide to stare at ground. “Do not look at the ground just because I decided to speak to you. You want to be angry at Kron for what was said back there, but you have no idea what he actually said. If I told you that it was all an act and that I took serious liberties on what was said to get your brother to believe Kron was another orc barbarian. Ever single insulting comment back there was my own.” He braced himself for the expected assault from the princess.

[Virgininneed]

“Do you think I will grant you sanctuary from my Sister Isha just because you are an elf and he is an orc? Already Isha gives blessings to the couple. She is joyful over the recent display they had at the lake. Do not think that us Gods are as blinded by race like your pitiful father.”

Zorathos clenched his fist and moved higher up. "Asuryan, I don't care what he is. If he was an elf things would not be different. I already lost part of my family. Do not let me lose another. I know my sister cares for him. And I would give him my blessing if he hadn't stolen my sister from her home. I don't care if you hear what I say Kron. I'm not going to kill you. But I will bring my sister back."

Taking an arrow, he aimed for the rocks and shot. He couldn't see Kronbut he had heard movement. He aimed far enough behind that it wouldn't hit him. He couldn't shoot blind or he might kill the Orc.

*****************************

“Do not look at the ground just because I decided to speak to you. You want to be angry at Kron for what was said back there, but you have no idea what he actually said. If I told you that it was all an act and that I took serious liberties on what was said to get your brother to believe Kron was another orc barbarian. Ever single insulting comment back there was my own.”

Althea looked up at Yirril shocked, but she felt relieved as she realized he was telling the truth. She looked up at Yirril, thinking to herself. "What you said about my brother... Did you mean it?"

After Yirril finished speaking she looked at the ground again. "I was upset because I thought he was different than orcs I'd heard about. When you said that, I... I was worried I was wrong. I..." she shrugged and shook her head. Yirril might think she was wrong, but he had been honest with her and he deserved the same. "I thought he might have actually cared about me, and I was scared I was wrong." She stood and hugged Yirril gently. "Thank you for telling me. I guess I owe Kron a bit of an apology for slapping him."

[DerrickStud]

Yirril was shocked that she would hug him. It would make answering her question on if he meant what he said even more difficult now. “You need to understand that I never had the privileges you had in life. I was nothing more then an illiterate servant for some lazy noble. I was nothing but the man that cleaned out the stables till he caught me with his daughter. Kron interfered before his guards could kill me and since then I happily joined him in taking one Elven noble after another. Yes I meant to make humilate your brother with my comments”

****

Kron saw the arrow hit the ground just a mere foot away from where he was hiding. Zorathos was cutting it bit close if he wasn't trying to kill the Warlord. None the less with his shouting, he now knew what tree the elf was hiding in. The two combats were mere 20 feet apart, if Zorathos was on the ground Kron could have covered the distance to the archer without getting wounded. Kron gathered some of the loose rocks in the formation. The elf was smart enough to know he needed the high ground, but not wise enough to bring a rope to stay in the tree.

“Don't blame orcs for the lost of your mother. Your monstrous father is the reason why she left.” Kron tossed stone after stone at the tree. Quickly changing sides after each toss, to prevent the archer from getting a good shot off.

[Virgininneed]

“You need to understand that I never had the privileges you had in life. I was nothing more then an illiterate servant for some lazy noble. I was nothing but the man that cleaned out the stables till he caught me with his daughter. Kron interfered before his guards could kill me and since then I happily joined him in taking one Elven noble after another. Yes I meant to make hurt your brother with my comments”

Althea nodded sadly. In her heart she did not blame him now. She also realized now why he and Kron seemed so close. She looked up at Yirril, hoping he would answer truthfully. "If you feel that way about nobles, how do you feel about me?"


“Don't blame orcs for the lost of your mother. Your monstrous father is the reason why she left.” Zorathos leaped from tree to tree, dodging every rock.

"What would you know about my father?"

[DerrickStud]

As the prince hopped to another tree in an attempt to dodge the barrage of stones, Kron took advantage of the opening. He raced towards a tree 5 feet away from the archer, it would protect him from any arrows that may be fired in his direction.

“What do you want to know about your father, Zorathos? Do you want to know about all the rivals he has brutally killed? Or I could tell you all the women he has bedded in loving memory of your mother? No point in telling you those, you just say there orc lies.”

Kron breathed heavily, there was one story he would believe. One that couldn't be denied no matter what he thought of him or his father. “You want to hear the story of the orc woman that gave him that scar that runs across his ribs.”

****

Yirril reached into his coat pulling out his pipe, slowly replacing the tobacco and lighting it. “Think back to when Kron introduce himself to you. You will notice he didn't say a clan name, in fact none of the orcs that are in his camp have a clan. Ever single orc you have met in his camp is victim of your father.” He inhaled heavily knowing that this part my hurt her more then anything. “Your father has done nothing but harass and abuse the orc clans. He promised them money if they would take out rival for him and then when time came for payment, he attacked them. When he find one with wealth he pillages and rapes them.” He braced himself waiting for her reaction.

“Kron has spent years gathering warriors, resources, and allies to strike at your father. Finally he got hold of the one thing that could draw him out. You. In just single night you did something to him. Something that has made him lose his focus on his prey at worst opportunity.” Yirril was filled with rage, over all the damage that Althea has done in single night.

[Virgininneed]

“What do you want to know about your father, Zorathos? Do you want to know about all the rivals he has brutally killed? Or I could tell you all the women he has bedded in loving memory of your mother? No point in telling you those, you just say there orc lies.”

Zorathos stopped for a moment. Unlike Althea, he wasn't protected from all that their father had done. He had gone into battle with him, although he did not participate in much of what came after. He only fought the orcs because of what he believed they did to his mother. But he had heard the noises from his fathers bedroom and had seen the women going to bed with him.


“You want to hear the story of the orc woman that gave him that scar that runs across his ribs.” Zorathos froze.

"Tell me what you know of that Kron. Let us stop this fight for a few minutes so you can tell me."

****

Althea sat back down to listen to Yirril. She watched him, listening intently to everything he said. “Think back to when Kron introduce himself to you. You will notice he didn't say a clan name, in fact none of the orcs that are in his camp have a clan. Ever single orc you have met in his camp is victim of your father.” She looked up at Yirril her eyes filled with confusion. What could her father have possibly done? He was a good man. He couldn't have done something to hurt all of them. “Your father has done nothing but harass and abuse the orc clans. He promised them money if they would take out rival for him and then when time came for payment, he attacked them. When he find one with wealth he pillages and rapes them.”

"No! You're... You're lying." She couldn't believe that. Maybe he was confusing her family with someone else. She desperately wanted it to be a lie. That her father was a good man. She shook her head as tears formed in her eyes.

“Kron has spent years gathering warriors, resources, and allies to strike at your father. Finally he got hold of the one thing that could draw him out. You. In just single night you did something to him. Something that has made him lose his focus on his prey at worst opportunity.”

The truth. Now she knew why Kron wanted her. He was using her to get revenge. Realizing she was a pawn, she let out a sob. "I didn't do anything to him!" She backed away when she noticed the anger in Yirril's eyes. It couldn't be true...

[DerrickStud]

Well the prince claimed he wanted cease the fight. Kron didn't relax for second, he knew his father to well play into that ploy. Nonetheless he knew he hit him hard with that last comment “It was several years ago, before your sister was born if am not mistaken. An Orc clan had found a large unclaimed vein of valuable metals out in the Shadow Marches. Seeing the opportunity and wealth to be had in mining in such a hostile environment, the elders agreed on settling. For years the Orcs peacefully built themselves a home, taming the land others thought was untamable. Eventually some of the Orcs decided to pick a craft. Instead of trading the ore, they traded jewelry and weapons. These Orcs quickly made name for themselves, people would come from all over just to walk away with even crudest trinkets.”

“Word continue to spread of these master craftsmen living in the swamp. Your father heard these stories and gathered an army, claiming that Orcs were secretly slavers. He told his men that the only way to get anything out of them is by selling your children to us.”

“With his army behind him he attacked the town. He gave strict orders ensuring that all our work would be in his coffers before the day was up. However the fighting wasn't enough for him, he needed more. He found more in the terms of my mother. He came into my family's home, dropping his guard when he thought all there was mother holding her crying child. He calmly took his armour, talking about how much he would enjoy raping her and then killing both of us. His own pride blinded him from seeing the knife nearby. She picked it up and charged at him with it. Missing his heart but leaving him with long cut that across his ribs. After that he clubbed the fight out of her and then raped her in front of me. He raped even while the doctor treated his wound.”

“Do you want me to tell you more, prince?”

***

Yirril picked up the young maiden, pinning her up against a nearby tree “I've been by Kron side for years now. I have been deemed knowledgeable enough to be his ghish'amon. So when I say you did something to change him, I know you did. Orcs hate apologizing for anything, but yet Kron did so at the lake. Now tell me what did you do?” He let the princess go with his question

“For proof of your father's sins all you need to do is check your jewelry. Kron's father was master artisan, am sure your father has given you at least one piece made by his hands.”

[Virgininneed]

“Do you want me to tell you more, prince?”

"Only one thing Kron. This is the only thing that matters to me concerning you. Do you care about Althea? Do you love her?"

***

Althea struggled as Yirril picked her up and pinned her against a tree. She stared up at him crying. He was smaller than Kron, but was still bigger and stronger than her. She whimpered softly as she stared up at him. “I've been by Kron side for years now. I have been deemed knowledgeable enough to be his ghish'amon. So when I say you did something to change him, I know you did. Orcs hate apologizing for anything, but yet Kron did so at the lake. Now tell me what did you do?” He let her fall to the ground and she crawled away, frightened. She was a warrior but she still had no idea what to do.

"I don't know!" She looked around for something she could use as a weapon if he tried to hurt her.

“For proof of your father's sins all you need to do is check your jewelry. Kron's father was master artisan, am sure your father has given you at least one piece made by his hands.”

Althea looked down at a ring her father had given her when she came of age. Her body trembled as she thought about where the ring might have come from. Her father never said where he got it from. If she had known, she would have given it to Kron. It had belonged to his mother.

"I'm sorry if you think I did something to him. I didn't mean to. I swear, if he changed and I caused it, I did not do it on purpose. Please believe me." She stared up at him, her eyes filled with grief. She didn't know what to believe anymore.

[DerrickStud]

Kron thought on the last statement from the prince. He stepped out of his hiding place in clear view of the archer's arrow “Yes”

***

Yirril looked at grief stricken woman, chewing heavily on his pipe. “Look it doesn't matter what you did, just keep Kron happy for few more days and both of you will be free. Come along, I can show you some of the jewelry we took from your estate. That way you know am not lying”