Chapter Two
It’s night time again. I don’t know how long I’ve been knocked out for all I know is my head is throbbing. I try to lift my hands towards my head to check for bleeding and realise my hands are tied. I’ve been taken prisoner, but by who? If it was by the Imperial Legions then surely I’d be on the cart. I blink the dust from my eyes and look round, I’m still in the cave and the fire is still going. What is going on? I try and free myself from the rope wrapped around my hands. Hang on whose is this fur coat over me?
“Don’t be afraid.” An echoed voice bounces round the walls of the cave.
“Who said that?” I growl through my teeth.
“I had to knock you out to stop you calling to the Imperials.” Said the voice.
“Show yourself coward.” I shout trying to wriggle free.
“I’ll untie you just please hear my story.” The voice came closer but still I could not see anything only a shadow. I give up wriggling and lay still. The shadow remains where he is and starts to begin his story.
“I was already in the cave when you first entered here. I hid and waited as I didn’t know whether to show myself or not, I could have killed you if I wanted to but I didn’t because…..” He whimpered.
“….Because you’ve a coward.” I barked.
“No, no because you.” He paused.
“Because I what?……….oooooooh.” Then I remember I had removed all my wet clothes to dry them by the fire on the first night here.
“I couldn’t attack a naked girl.”
“Woman.” I snap. “Just untie me.”
The shadow walked over to me and I then realise I’d been talking to an Orc. He was a huge beast like creature but with the kindest eyes I’ve ever seen. His head was fully shaven and he had many war scars over his left cheek. He untied me and while I had his trust I dived up on my knees and grabbed him by his throat squeezing as hard as I could, the fur coat that was covering me dropped down to the ground relieving my naked body. I squealed out in the worst girlish manner and let go of the Orc’s throat and grabbed the coat and covered my pale body back up. The Orc burst out in laughter. “You had me and threw your chances of winning a battle all for the sake of hiding your body from an Orc. I love the female species! Here woman, go settle by the fire I will give you food and drink as you are not a threat to me.” As I am beaten I do as I’m instructed.
The Orc is still laughing while stirring something in the cook pot. I settle near the flames ashamed, I feel like a told off child. “Where are you from woman?” He asks while handing me over a pot of warm Beef Stew and some dried bread.
“Windhelm.” I answer while breaking my bread.
“Running away from trouble?” He smiles showing all his sharp teeth. I didn’t answer. “Women are nothing but trouble.” He laughs.
“Where are my clothes?” I ask with a mouth full of bread.
“I threw them into the fire.” He points down to the flames. “Don’t worry at first light I will buy you some in the nearest village.
“I should return to Windhelm.” I mutter under my breath.
“Then I will take you.” Said the Orc adding more sticks to the fire. The flames lit the cave a little more and I watched as the shadows danced around the walls.
“Why help me?” I asked while placing the empty pot down next to me.
“Because you are a funny woman, woman and I haven’t laughed for a long time. The more I’m with you the more I sense I will laugh. That is why I will help you.”
“You are a very strange Orc.”
“You are a very funny Nord, woman.”
“My name is Amber.” I smile.
“And my people called me River.”
“That’s a soft name for an Orc.” I point out.
“My eyes told my people I was soft so now I travel alone as I didn’t look like a warrior to them.” River’s face looked sad and he turned to face me.
“How long have you been alone?”
“Longer than you have. Now get some sleep as we’ll have to leave this cave tomorrow.” River walks around the fire and settles near to the mouth of the cave and doesn’t speak again till the morning. I turn my back to the fire and pull the fur coat up to my face and fall asleep.
Comments
You don't see many Orcs that don't end up on the pointier end of the protagonists sword in these kinds of tales. Good on you for taking the plot in a more original direction.