The village not being as lucky.
Your small home had been raided quite recently, what little you had left being snatched away into the arms of greedy bandits. Of course, you were all just lucky that no one had been killed or kidnapped but…the supplies were gone, gone with the bandits just two days before. The food that would have lasted you through the long hard winter, the seeds that would have provided for your farms and your futures…
It was all gone. And now your people were left with only one choice.
These were trying times and people were slowly starving. Your own village was full of those people. Everyday you had seemed to eat a little less and prayed a little more for help. Some hope. A miracle. The miracle turned out to be orcs, a group of them who stumbled upon your village.
Seeing your desperation and thinning bodies, they gave your village food and supplies…
“In return, you give us your own. The young adults of you can come with us, knowing that their families will be doubly rewarded.”
It didn’t take long for many volunteers to come forward…Or for your mother and step-father to offer you up as well. You were not surprised at it, though perhaps you were a little hurt…still, you understood it. They had many little children together and with you gone…things would be easier for them.
You didn’t fight it, nor did you cry or run. Instead you stood tall, looking up at the mighty orcs with your heads raised and your eyes bright.
Fearful, you were not. And one of them seemed to notice, gazing at you for a moment before he chose you. He was a massive orc of gray muscles and long black hair. Everything about him was dark; his eyes, his armor, the feeling he gave off. He said nothing to you at all, taking your hand and leading you away. With no other choice, you went with him, refusing to look back at your family or friends or the village you grew up in…
Walking at his side, you wondered who else has been taken. You wondered where you were going or why he had chosen you…
The orc seemed to sense your questions and said,
“We’re going to my caravan. I’m splitting off from the others to find my own land.”
“The work will be hard but worth it. My siblings will come and we will build our home together.”
And then you entered his large caravan, saying nothing else as you rode away from your former life…
Dorak wondered why you were so quiet.
He had chosen you because you were so pretty yet…strong. He could tell that you knew hard work well and that was what he needed in his life. A strong woman to help him and to support him, working hard at his side…but to bring him comfort and warmth as well.
So far, however, all you had given him was your name and many hours of silence. Maybe you were sad, he thought. Or angry…or scared. Maybe you had not wished to leave you home and you were frightened of him.
Maybe he hadn’t thought this through…
Hours passed as the caravan rumbled quickly down the road, now approaching a small clearing. Dorak had to break the silence, struggling to think of something to say, but all he could come up with was,
“We’ll camp here tonight. Can you gather firewood?”
Not at all what he had wanted…and not at all successful. You only nodded, slipping away to do your task as Dorak took care of his massive horses. He watched you carefully with his dark eyes, wondering if you were going to run off into the forest. But you didn’t. And soon you were sitting together in front of a roaring fire. The orc looked at you a while before finally speaking up.
“I am sorry if…if you had another in your home. If you miss them.”
You shook your head and stated,
“It was just my family and I.”
Finally, something. The orc stoked the flames, considering your answer before asking you another question.
“I guess. But there were…a lot of us. One of us had to go and I am the eldest. It was going to happen eventually.”
“Why did you not leave home before?” He asked. “Live on your own?”
“It wouldn’t be right, unless I had found suitable work or a marriage…which is this?”
Dorak chuckled deeply, his dark eyes suddenly looking bright as he looked at you. You looked pretty, he thought, in the firelight. Your eyes were curious rather then cold as they gazed at him, as though you were anticipating his answer greatly.
“Both. We will build a new home together. And you will be my wife…We will court when you are ready.”
And that was all that was said of the matter.
You traveled for weeks and as you did, you slowly got to know one another. Though you were still a little quiet, you were slowly starting to open up to the orc and he…he was happy. Happy to have you by his side, helping him with his tasks and growing closer with him.
During the day, you traveled and worked side by side.
It wasn’t as hard as you had thought, really, it was actually rather pleasant. After living your whole life in the same village, you were curious about the world around you. Dorak rather liked it, taking a little longer route so that you might enjoy it more.
During the night, you slept soundly as Dorak gazed at you, a million questions racing through his mind.
Were you happy? Did you like him? You were slowly opening up to him but…the big questions were the ones that he had not asked. He wanted to. He wanted to know if you loved him. He wanted to tell you…
Dorak had realized that he cared about you.
And he was certain you felt the same way…if only he was brave enough to ask. But he didn’t and soon the traveling was over, your destination finally coming into sight.
The caravan came to a beautiful piece of land, clear and green and wonderfully lush. Tall trees swayed in the wind as a clear river rushed wildly, and the chirps and cries of life all around you. It was everything he had wanted and the orc hoped dearly that you’d like it.
“We are here. I think my brother and his wife may have beaten us here…” Dorak said as he helped you down from the caravan.
You saw a nearly identical orc to Dorak and an orc woman sitting in front of the fire. The man was busy stirring something in a large, steaming pot but stopped when the woman looked up and pointed you out.
The brothers hugged, immediately asking each other all about the other’s journey, but the woman approached you.
“Hello.” She said as she took your hand. “My name is Garna.”
She was an incredibly beautiful woman, standing taller then her husband and quite obviously pregnant. Her skin was dark forest green, her hair wrapped in three neat braids, and her eyes were bright as she smiled at you.
The night was over quickly as you took your first meal together, with the brothers arguing over how to build a proper house as they set up a tent and you and Garna talking softly. She told you about their journey, how she and Morak met, and their plans for the baby. You told her about your life before, about Dorak picking you and coming here.
“If Dorak is anything like my husband, he doesn’t always think before doing anything…Or before opening his big fat mouth!”
You laughed a little, looking at Dorak as he went over things went Morak. They were no longer arguing now and…in the fire light, you noticed how handsome he was. Had his eyes always been that lovely? Had his smile always been so bright?
“Perhaps you did not meet in the right way…But you are fond of him, yes?” Garna asked curiously.
Were you? He was a good man, you thought, hard working and kind hearted. After weeks of traveling, you had realized that you were not yet ready to marry the orc right away…but you did feel something for him. Something strong and sweet twisting in your heart, something that pulled you closer to the orc…something that just might be love.
“…I think so,” You finally replied. “but I have no idea how to…”
You didn’t say anything else, instead drifting away accidentally. Sleep had taken you and Dorak noticed, picking you up in his mighty arms to carry you to the tent. He held you gently, worried that he might harm you or wake you as he set you down to sleep peacefully. All while Garna was watching and thinking of a plan…
The next day, you all worked together, the brothers arguing loudly (which seemed to be their most common kind of communication), and as you got to know Garna better. As the day grew darker, you talked with her as you worked. She was kind and thoughtful and a little quiet, while her husband was loud and boisterous. You liked them both, you decided, quite a lot and were happy to call them family.
When it was getting later and cooler, Garna invited you over to the river.
“I’m sure you’d like to clean up,” she said, “and wash your clothes too.”
“Well, yes, but…I don’t have anything else to wear to bed.” You admitted.
The orc thought for a moment, pondering over the issue carefully before suddenly brightening up with an idea.
“You can borrow one of my shirts! It’ll be a bit big on you but it’ll be alright for just the night, yes?”
You agreed to her offer and soon found yourself cleaning up (which felt amazing) and slipping into Garna’s shirt. It was big, hanging off of your body quite loosely. The sleeves swallowed your hands, the v-neck showing a bit more then you would like, and it all ended mid thigh…But it was warm and soft and comfortable, perfect to sleep in.
Many times you thanked Garna before you slipped into your and Dorak’s tent to finally sleep.
Dorak stopped, staring at you with his dark, lovely eyes. You didn’t understand his silence for a moment until you realized you were only wearing this shirt…and just how obvious that was…You flushed bright red beneath his gaze, not a single sound breaking the thick silence until Morak began to play a sweet, slow song on his flute from the other side of the camp.
Dorak sat up, reaching a gray hand out to you.
You remembered the first time you had taken his hand…and you did it again. The orc pulled you close to him, bringing you close to his strong chest. You could feel his heart beating quickly…and yours doing the same.
“I know your life has changed…because of me…But I like to think that it’s a good life. A good change.” He said.
“I like to think that you are happy.”
“I like to think…that you love me.”
And for the first time…you kissed him. Dorak was a soft kisser, making sure to be careful of his tusks. Every second had you burning with a strange, wonderful feeling. His large hands wrapped around your waist as he laid down upon the furs, pulling you onto his sturdy chest as he did. You broke away from his lips, smiling as you slowly and sweetly kissed his jaw and cheeks and lips once again.
Your lips roamed all over the orc and, he had to admit, he loved it. Each little kiss made him a little happier, his heart thumping a little harder.
“I take it that you would like to court?” he said with a soft laugh.
Soon…you wanted him. You wanted to marry him. Dorak smiled, holding you closer to his heart. He was certain that you could feel his heart beating as he could feel yours…And he liked the idea. Two hearts beating together, two people building a life together…
(A rewrite of one of my older stories! I was happy with the little changes so I decided to share it here as well as Wattpad.)
