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deetthegelflingfai12 · 2 years ago

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Scared to be lonely(Reciprocated)-Holmesbury fanfic

Enola paces back and forth wondering what she should wear for the ball. Usually she never cares what she wears, but this time she knew that something in her wanted to impress a special someone

'Hmm, maybe I should wear I black dress, she says while throwing clothes out of her wardrobe, No it will make me look like a widow' she says while throwing that dress all the way to the other side of the room

'Maybe I should wear this white dress' she says suggests to herself. 'No, he saw me in a white dress last time'

Then an idea strikes up in her mind. She quickly rushes out of the room, grabbing some money and a painting on the way out the house

She quickly gets onto her bike and rushes to the tailor's. She leaves her bike outside the shop.

'Why hello Enola, or should I say miss Holmes ?' A lady in a gown says

'Hello to you too Amelia, and to awnser your question, Enola' Enola says. 'What can I do for you, young lady?' Amelia asks while putting back some needles into a box.

'Well I would like to ask for a favour, Enola says. 'Anything you would desire, after you basically saved my life, Go on, spill' Amelia says

'I would like you to make me a dress, a dress that resembles the chrysanthemums in this picture, well colour wise' Enola says

'Ohh, trying to impress someone ?, cause chrysanthemums are a really romantic colour' Amelia teases

A faint trace of blush appears on Enola's Face, and Amelia chuckles, 'Maybe I might be trying to impress someone' Enola says

'Mysterious and Bold, great personality for a detective' Amelia says

'Thank you, So will you do it?' Enola asks.

'Of course I will, after all, you're my favourite detective in town' Amelia says

'Oh thank you so much Amelia, you really are the best' Enola says while hugging Amelia

'Anytime, so come pick it up at 5' Amelia says while reciprocating the hug, 'Now you best be going, I'm sure you have much more important things to do' Amelia says while ushering her away

...

Now in Enola's pov

It's been 7 hours since I was at Amelia's, and I'm now on my way to collect my dress. I'll admit, I'm a bit too anxious to see the dress.

I told Sherlock that i've been invited to a ball and he soon arranged me a carriage. Though I didn't see why it was important for me to arrive in a carraige, like those high headed maiden

I arrive at Amelia's and gently knock at the door, i hear a voice saying " Come in Enola". I really do not know how she anticipated my arrival at this exact moment.

I enter the room and I see Amelia making some last minute changes on what seems to be my dress

'Aaaand done, what do you think enola, did dazzle the detective?

Amelia moves away from the mannequin holding my dress. I look at my dress and I am unable to take my eyes off of it. It is the exact definition of Gorgeous, it is so beautiful, that I would like to wear it forever.

It is Red and Orange blended together to form something that's just out of this world. It is a long flowy dress, unlike the bouncy dresses that most women wear. It's sleeves are on the shoulders, that makes it seem so much modern and outgoing.

'Amelia, this is beautiful, it's like nothing I've ever seen and believe me I've seen everything. I don't really know how I'll repay you' I manage to say

'Glad you like it. Now if I recall, you're supposed to be somewhere younglady' Amelia says.'Now go along, or you'll be late'

I thank Amelia one more time before I go into the changing rooms and put on this magnificent dress. I rush outside and get into the carraige

...

Inside the carraige, I'm feeling really overwhelmed, excited and happy, happy because I'm meeting my first friend

I don't know how he'll reacr, because I'm sure that he knew I wasn't going to come. Even I'm surprised that I decided to come

The carraige stops and we are now outside Basilweather Manor

I step out of the carriage and look at the house, which is housing a lot of guests at the moment

I walk to the door and enter the door. I see lots of people who are obviously nobles, I also notice lady Basilweather chatting with some lady and her daughter

I walk in the places where it is densely crowded and notice Tewkesbury walking towards his mother and greeting the mother and the daughter.

I stop staring and notice Tewkesbury's uncle, who I never the name of and head towards him.

I politely greet him and he replies while we talk, when I ask

'I know it might be rude to adk, but why was the ball thrown, most balls are thrown for a readon and l really do not know why as to why this one was thrown'

'Well in case you didn't know, Lady Basilweather is looking for a suitor for her son, so he can settle down'

Those very words hit me like a thousand needles to the heart, and I immediately want to leave when tewksbury comes over , I quickly fake a smile

He smiles brightly at me and I nearly forget what I was just informed about. I lose myself in his smile and I immediately smile, genuinely

Tewksbury's uncle leaves and Tewksbury comes over

'I thought you wouldn't notice me, in this massive party' I say breaking the silence

'Well how couldn't I notice you in that dress and I must say, it really suits you, is that a chrysanthemums colour ?' he says

I smile at his compliment

'But anyway, Enola Holmes, I didn't expect you to come, what I mean is I didn't think you'd accept my invitation' Tewksbury says

'Well how can I refuse my dearest Nicompoop' I say grinning

'Do you really mean that ?' He says while looking at me eagerly

'No' I say

We both laugh and he grabs my hand

'I really missed you, you know I really did, I've actually been wanting to ask you something' he says nervously

'You know you can tell me anything, after all we basically survived a night in the wilderness together' I joke

He laughs and I join him and he begins to say something when the girl who was talking to lady Tewksbury comes over

she basically glides over here and stands next to Tewksbury and hooks her hand around his

I feel a burning in my chest and and I instantly hate her

Tewksbury looks disappointed and uncomfortable

'Oh tewks, you haven't introduced me to your friend here' She says

'Enola this is Mildred, Mildred this is Enola' He says

'Oh' is all she says

'Anyway, if you didn't know I am Lady Mildred, Dame of Marymore in case you didn't know' She says

'By the way, tewks, your mother is expecting us for a very important announcement' She says while pulling Tewksbury with her

'Oh in that case, Enola please come, after all, you're my closest friend' He says

I remember his uncles words and decide to abstain

'I think I'd be best if I didn't come' I say coldly. I leave before he even has time to reply

I hold back the tears till I'm outside. I let the floodgates open. I spot Tewksbury's treehouse and I climb into it.

I sit against the wall of the treehouse and gaze into the stars.

After what feels like an hour, I feel the side beside me dip. I look and I see Tewksbury

'Hey, so this is where you've been hiding this whole time' He says

'I just came for some fresh air, I was awkwardly out of place' my voice croaks after crying for all that time

'Wait have you been crying' he asks me me concernedly

I don't awnser

'Enola what's wrong , first you leave the part and now you're crying, please tell me' He says looking into my eyes

'Oh ISN'T OBVIOUS, THE ONLY REASON WHY I CAME TO THIS STUPID BALL WAS TO SEE YOU, THEN YOUR UNCLE TELLS ME THAT YOUR MOTHER IS GETTING YOU MARRIED AND TO TOP THINGS OFF, THAT ANNOYING CRAWLY WHO IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR FIANCE COMES AND RUBS IN MY FACE, AND YOU THINK THAT I WOULDNT BE JEALOUS, WHEN I HAVE FALLEN FOR YOU ALEEADY' I shout

Tewksbury looks at me in shock, then amusement, and I immediately feel embarrassed about my outburst

'You know you're cute when you're angry, but you're even cuter when you're embarrassed' He says

i prepare to speak when I feel his lips on mine. He kisses me and I stand in shock. I decide to kiss him back with equal passion. He hold both my hands and and I can't help but smile into the kiss

We break apart and our foreheads touch.

'You know I've always wanted to do that' Tewksbury says while breathing heavily

'But why didn't you' I ask

'Because I was afriad, afraid that you , wait please don't laugh, I was afraid that you might reject me' He says

I laugh teasingly and he pouts

' Lord Tewkesbury, marquis of Basilweather, is afraid of being rejected' I say teasingly

'Yeah, by the firrce detective, Enola holmes' He says

'Hmm fair enough. but what about your alliance with Mildred, Dame of snobbishness'

'Well she is certainly not my fiance and not my type, the only person my heart beats for is yours ' He says sincerely

'By the way, what did you want to ask me? I say

"I was wondering if you could be my girlfriend' He asks nervously

I decide to tease him

'Not a bad offer, in fact not a bad idea' I say

He shakes his head chuckling

'Why are you so-

'Mysterious' I finish for him

'Enola you're a girl after my heart' Tewksbury says

'In that case what am I after now? I say while getting closer to him

He just smiles and I point to his lips

'I forgot that you are really bold somet-

He doesn't finish as I shut him up with a kiss. This time its more magical that the first time and we kiss for a long time .I break the kiss and say

'Well, i'm always direct'

and he pulls me back into the kiss where we have no care for anything in the world except for what was happening right now

...

Hope you guys loved that chapter

do you think I should continue this story or start a new one

please comment

Love y'all 💙

#sherlock holmes #enola holmes #tewkesbury #holmesbury

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thecandywrites · 3 years ago

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Burn Without You Chapter 11

Ok, I am not trying to appropriate Gypsy culture by using images of Gypsy caravans/carraiges, I just visually think they’re beautiful and appropriate for the story I’m trying to tell and give it a sense of aestetic and give it a snse of romantic history even though our world’s history has given Gypsies and by extension the Romani people some horrible and unfounded prejudice and hatred that was completely undeserved and unfair.

So please don’t come for me over this. I just think they’re visually stunning while giving a touchstone of reality in a fantasy world and setting which is why I chose to use them and try to give a sense of a time period as well.

Also- Messengerari- a mirror on one side, on the back, a keyboard to “type in” the address, face time and zoom in a fantasy world.

Now comes the confrontation we’ve been dreading and everyone’s reactions.

Chapter 11

When you and the rest of caravan finally arrived at the first campsite later that evening you pulled the whole caravan into a one big circle around the fenced in herds of animals while all the grasses that had been cut earlier were dry enough to be bundled together to make bales of hay while each household got to work finishing the preparations for the came and began making dinner for the whole group.

Daon and the envoy noticed that all the brides and even Ashurah seemed a little down and in low spirits which all of you excused was homesickness kicking in so quickly before you had the brides and Ashurah all gather around a fire and share funny stories or memories of their childhood to lift their spirits and start to bond with each other which helped to a degree as you ate what had been freshly hunted and roasted over the fire, which for you- was a stuffed pheasant while the other brides ate their choice cuts of the wild game that had been hunted that day while the rest was used to feed the envoy and the rest of the households.

For you, the stuffed and roasted pheasant was close enough to the stuffed and roasted pigeon you grew up eating. It was something small and rather easy on your stomach since you weren’t really all that hungry as all of you tried your best to rest and relax since the caravans would be ready to travel an hour after sunrise and would only be stopped to rest for an hour or two before sunset as the brides had other foods in their little houses to make themselves lunch to eat as well as snacks on the way from campsite to campsite.

After you ate your little roasted pheasant, you fed your leftovers to the kitten, Farri, that had been gifted to you and your little home since each little house came with a set of guard dogs and a cat, usually a kitten who was well passed nursing stage so that it could hunt any mice that tried to make it into the little house as once you were done eating you had your kitten in your lap and pet it affectionately, happy to have a companion animal while the warriors usually also had guard dogs, both to guard the camp and guard the herds and herd the herds and help hunt too but their guard dogs were giant sized too to go along with their masters while the bride’s guard dogs were usually smaller by comparison but loyal to the bride since you had been spending the last two and a half weeks since you accepted the offer bonding with all three animals so that they could come when you called them by name. And your guard dog’s names were Enzo and Sienna.

But the guard dogs were trained, one to stay up and keep watch during the night, and the other to keep the bride warm in her bed at night and slept with the bride while staying awake and guarding the bride during the day while the night shift guard dog slept in the little house on wheels during the day. Enzo was your night watch dog, Sienna was your day guard dog.

“So do we really have to wait another day to hear about this damned vote business from the Sultanate Quarter?” Ashlighn murmured.

“Yes, because I want all of us to be a fair distance away from Dorierra so that Dorrierra stays safe, this group stays safe and the envoy doesn’t do anything stupid because we all know that the warriors will kill the envoy if the envoy decides to turn on Dorierra.” You whispered back.

“Oh so the vote was about Yekmeni then.” Ashlighn realized, keeping her voice to a low whisper as the other brides leaned forward in their chairs to overhear the conversation.

“Yup and once it’s explained, there’s…going to be some tension and disconnect and all kinds of hurt feelings on all sides and I actually expect that after tomorrow, no one will want anything to do with each other and I wanted at least the first night to be a good and peaceful one, even if it’s bittersweet. Because we are all getting our first taste of homesickness and hopefully by tomorrow or even the day after that or even by the end of the week, we’ll eventually settle into this new way of life for the next three to four months until we get to Yekmeni and then…who knows what we could be walking into. But I wanted all of us to work together to make ourselves a team and I want all of us to glean what we can from the envoy about Yekmeni, about their clan and about their way of life, their traditions, everything.” You urged them.

“So we’re not blindsighted when we get there.” Serhan finished for you.

“Exactly.” You nodded.

That night you cuddled with your kitten while your dog slept behind your legs as you tried to mentally play out tomorrow’s events, what you would say, how you would say it, you had spent most of your day writing your thoughts down so that they were organized and you could explain the complexity of the situation with clarity and as much grace as you could and still be truthful but with discretion so as not to offend them too much.

The next day your legion seemed especially keenly aware that you were anxious as they seemed to put the whole army on high alert before the General himself left his second in command to stay with Sunco while he came back to you since through the mental feeds from his captains, he narrowed it down that you were the root cause of the alert anxiousness.

“Why are you so anxious Audrey?” He asked you in a curious but gentle and rather comforting way.

“Come inside,” you urged him as he readily handed your Captain who was driving your house carraige- the reins to the griffin so that it would walk beside your home as he hopped from the back of the griffin to the front ‘doorstep’ as he came into the interior of your home since there was a door between the front of the carriage and the rest of the house before one would climb the few steps up from the bottom of the stoop to the high seat above the carriage as he barely fit inside the door and simply sat on a stool but still in a sitting position he was still eye level with you as you were grateful for the extra large house so that you would both be in the space comfortably.

“So, as you know, a few weeks ago, the envoy came and began the moura bride process which came with an ongoing trade deal, and they held open invitation in the Dorierran High Council Court. I was the first bride in and I agreed and I do not regret my decision, however the second bride in was Rasime, who blew up at the offer because Yekmeni is held by orcs, and with Dorrierran history with orcs…” You grimaced slightly.

“Ah, I see.” Thobin nodded in understanding.

“So then Rasime…” You began as you recounted the events to him as he sat and listened attentively.

“So now, I have agreed to explain all this to the Ambassador and the rest of the envoy and I know they are going to be upset, if not very offended and I know that your army will defend Dorierra if the envoy decides to turn on us. But at the same time I and the other brides can’t afford for that to happen. If it was just me that was going, I would have left the day after the vote and never looked back because when I looked into Lukher’s eyes I saw a friend, I saw someone who had so much potential to be so much more than that, and I saw..everything I never knew I always wanted..I want to see Lukher and I want to make it to Yekmeni, but I also don’t want every bride and the whole envoy to be against me over this.” You explained.

“I see, so this is why you are so anxious?” He asked.

“Yes, sorry for any effect it’s had on the army.” You apologized as you finally slumped down onto your sofa and ran your hands over your face.

“It’s ok. Your reaction and your fear at the knowledge that you will face this confrontation tonight, is perfectly natural and understandable. I swore an oath to your grandparents and parents to protect you and I will. If Yekmeni is still what you want, then I will send everyone else home and I will take you there myself and stay with you until we know one way or another how this will turn out. I’m never going to abandon you Audrey. I’m on your side. I will make sure that each and every single griffin is grounded so that even if things get ugly between you and the envoy, they can not fly to Dorierra and not pose a threat. And we are still close enough that turning this caravan around won’t be a big deal and it will not be seen as a failure. But simply as a complication that was unavoidable. You’ll be ok. I will be with you and I will help explain this with you.” He offered before you simply hugged him as he hugged you back as tightly as he dared and pet your head and your back until you seemed to calm down and your anxiety melted away as General Thobin smiled softly as the feeds from the Commanders and Captains seemed to reflect your now relaxed mental state.

“Thank you Thobin.” You thanked him, grateful tears still rimming your eyes before the whole army seemed to relax and blow out a breath of relief before you withdrew and showed him what you had written down as he gave you feedback about what to tell and what details to perhaps leave out and that if the envoy really pries, he would reveal those details himself as you formulated a plan of how you were going to explain this.

Finally when the caravan stopped at the next camp site, Thobin wouldn’t leave your side and made sure that the army acted nonchalantly while they “attended” to the griffins before yourself, the envoy and all the brides gathered around one large main fire.

“So are we going to hear this explanation now?” Sunco asked.

“Yes, but first I need to explain some history, you see about 45 years ago, Tahir, Cabbar and Arjun which at the time were all Sultanate States that shared boarders with each other so that like a pretzel and the three had always been allies because they were in a mountain range valley, however they all fell, because gray blight attacked all the crops in all three kingdoms, and the green plague seemed to ravage the people, and the survivors felt that these were signs from the gods that the current people in power needed to be overthrown. So all three had an uprising from the people and the common people turned on the royal families. Thobin along with this same legion that surrounds us now, were tasked with rescuing my grandparents and my parents when they were only small children, the same with Serhan’s parents and grandparents as well as Merrattah’s whose parents were barely toddlers and bring them all back to Dorierra for their safety, it’s a protection that every moura bride has a right to, that she and her children, that if all else fails, they will get rescued. These warriors around us only had a day to prepare and formulate a plan and the stoning ceremony was very rushed but they successfully completed their mission and thankfully our grandparents and parents were saved from being massacred in their own palaces. Since then, the last report that was given when my eldest brother was born was that githyanki had moved in and turned what was left, to rubble, and the people, without law or order had nothing but chaos but that the people were completely against another Sultanate State, especially one whose places would be taken by more mouras and even though there was an uprising and they turned on us, they were the ones offended that we left when under that threat and instead blamed us for abandoning them.” You explained.

“Well that doesn’t make any sense at all.” Sunco frowned.

“No it doesn’t, a person may be smart, but people when in large groups can be dumb, panicky and dangerous. Especially when they are blinded by pain and anger and loss.” You countered.

“Well that’s true.” Sunco had to nod in agreement to that sentiment.

“So when that happened, all those who had once been a private pool for those three Sultanate States- and you’re talking each Sultan had a Dowager Sultana, a Sultana Supreme who is his primary spouse and then a harem of wives and concubines which could number anywhere from a few dozen to hundreds of wives and concubines and hundreds of children and even their servants, so it’s a very large group of people for each state which was a huge undertaking for this legion and the others who are taking care of Serhan and Merrattah even now- to keep everyone together and safe and hidden from the rioting masses who wanted all of them dead, even the little children because they had a birthright to the throne technically and even those that were not moura but in the harems got saved too because the Sultan was moura therefore their children were moura and thus had this safety net under them as well.” You explained as Sunco nodded as Serhan and Merrattah both nodded in agreement with what you were saying as even their captains and commanders were all nodding in agreement too.

“So for whose of us who had the misfortune to have that shared past, we have all been reclassified from being a private pool class or status to open class which meant that I and all my friends received offers from all over the world, and those that had ties to the other Sultanate States, kept their private pool status but those three Sultanate States that fell, were the largest of all of them so it was like half of the whole quarter lost their status. So the entire quarter was split into two, one half being open, one half being a closed private pool.” You continued.

“So because of this change, the offers offered to the open class portion of the Sultanate Quarter have not been good, my best friend Vasha, she was given a false offer, meaning what was written on the paper was deliberately misleading and vague and when she arrived to her destination, what she found is an old man four times her age, who sexually uses her to rid himself of diseases he continues to pick up from his many whores and has more bastards than he can count but every child he has tried to sire from “a legitimate mother” have all died, “mysteriously” which basically meant that they were murdered because all the mothers of the bastards, as long as there is no clear line of succession, that means that their children, even though they are not legitimate, who have now grown up and more than ready to lay claim to their father’s fortune and land and noble title and all these lovers who actively sabotage her and practically mercilessly torture her for being “the hired cure” to her lord’s sicknesses that should have killed him before my friend was even born. She actively has to hide from him in the castle where excrement is poured right outside the window of the castle, where the local river is used as a lavatory so there is no clean water anywhere, so that means that the only things to drink are wine because even the water to be used to make ale is toxic. Rats infest the place and outnumber the people thousands to one. Bugs live in her clothes and bed and they throw hay on the floor to cover up the filth instead of actually cleaning it…” You began to describe with a shudder.

“Oh Lord Whitcomb.” Ashlingn realized.

“Yeah, Lord Whitcomb.” You confirmed.

“He’s gone through four moura brides, every last one has died of heartbreak and heart failure over the deaths of their children at the hands of his mistresses and he keeps getting another based on a technicality from his original contract.” Ashlighn expounded.

“But sadly he and his situation are, according to reports that have been recieved so far, is not unusual in Europa right now.” You began.

“Sadly no, and he’s not even the worst case. Which is why we were so keen on this match, any place is better than Europa right now and every match that’s given to the generalley quarter is like that and mostly from around there.” Lavena added.

“Yeah, I can see and understand that and honestly, I don’t blame any of you one bit if that was your motivation for saying yes to this match just to avoid that.” You allowed as the generalley brides gave you appreciative smiles before you turned your attention back to Sunco.

“However, you also should know that while Dorierra would not be what it is without our native orcs of the eight clans that surround us and protect us, we hold our native orcs in very high regard because the relationship has been built very strongly over the centuries but any other clan of orcs that we don’t know, it gives us all pause because the history of orcs in general since the convergence is they are a predatory and warring species, and unstable, clans can rise and fall like waves of the sea, or so we have heard. And that is not a judgement on you or the Aki-Aya clan, it’s just…that’s the general held belief.” You tried to delicately explain.

“Well, you’re not wrong, that’s the way it is on the interior of our continent.” Sunco had to admit.

“Thank you for seeing that and at least admitting to that, and not be offended by that.” You thanked her with relief.

“Yeah, I can understand everyone’s reluctance. Especially if you think all other orcs are as big as your native ones but who aren’t nearly as nice. I would be terrified too.” Huda had to admit.

“Thank you so much for trying to understand this, I was really worried you would all be offended over this.” You admitted.

“I know it’s a generalization and while you have proven yourself over and over to us, you have yet to really see how we can prove to you how well you will be treated and with as much dignity and respect you deserve. The Aki-Aya clan is very distinct from all others and while we know that, since we are so far away, there would no other way for anyone else to know that we are different and you’ll see it for yourself when we finally make it to Yekmeni.” Sunco reassured you as you blew out a breath of relief as your legion seemed to do the same which made Sunco giggle just a little.

“Your legion is very closely linked to your mental and emotional state, all day they have been especially anxious and on guard, I just thought they were always alerted to wolves or something. But to know that all of it came from you, I wish you would have told me about this sooner so that you wouldn’t have to be so anxious or suffer from it.” Sunco offered.

“Well I wanted at least one night of peace under our belt on the road and I didn’t want to offend you. Especially if we’re going to be in close quarters from here until we get to Yekmeni and even when we get there, I’d imagine we would still hopefully remain close.” You offered hopefully.

“Oh absolutely, Clan Chief Wardeen is my brother and we are a very close knit family we will always see each other and please, count all of us as your friends and family.” Sunco encouraged you.

“Well, after I explain the feathers, you may want to take that back…” You warned her gently with a wince.

“Ok..so tell me about the feathers then.” Sunco invited as her brows knit in concentration.

“Ok so again, I have to go back to the chain of events and what happened that led up to that incident at the Cisora.” You began again with a deep breath and a steady slow exhale before Serhan and Merrhatta both reached over and took your hands in theirs and squeezed your hands comfortingly which you were grateful for.

“Ok. So what happened is immediately after I came into the courtroom and held an audience with you and the High Council and one look at Lukher and I was sold and even now I can’t remember what he was even wearing. All I can remember are those gorgeous dark eyes with kindness behind them and that super adorable baby griffin. That had to be the most darling baby animal I’d ever seen in my life.” You recalled with a bashful smile and a pretty blush which Huda and Sunco and the rest of the envoy thought was absolutely adorable before your face became more somber.

“But back to the feathers. So Rasime, she was the second bride in, she was very offended that an offer, was from orcs period and it’s not a prejudice against any of you personally, but against non native orcs in general. She came out of that audience courtroom and practically screeched at the top of her lungs in that entry way that had been stuffed to max capacity of brides and their mothers and their ladies in waiting who were all there to hear the offer too and when she practically seethed and foamed at the mouth in rage that it was an offer from an orc half way across the world and from there she let every prejudice, every mistrust, every hatred she ever held against outsiders all combine and twist into something hideous. She was the reason that almost everyone else immediately withdrew from even hearing the offer.” You explained as Sunco and the envoy seemed to remember and connect that together in their memories.

“However she didn’t stop there. Her father was- at the time- the head Elder of our Quarter’s Council of Elders who had political power and pull in both the open class half and the closed private pool half because the Council of Elders has elders on both sides. So he strongarmed the rest of the elder body into choosing a side and drew up a law on his own. And called the entire quarter to the quarter’s court to cast a vote on the new law and by then, Rasime and her family and all the others had whipped the entire quarter into a frenzy and their hatred was like poison in the minds and hearts of everyone they knew. And she and her family turned our entire quarter against me, Serhan, Merrattah and our families because we agreed to the match. And Rasime’s father Hasim- put the whole quarter to a vote- the vote itself was either to condemn us for accepting the offer, or to condone us for accepting the offer. Everyone over the age of 16 cast their vote while all others younger than 16 simply had to go along with what their parents decided to vote.” You began with a heavy sigh.

“But according to Oathresh, part of the trade deal between Dorierra and Yekmeni is a portion of the value of the goods that are traded, sold and exchanged- goes to our families, and to our quarter. So all of the Sultanate Quarter’s High Councilors were there including two others as objective High Councilors, or neutral ones rather. And all five of the High Councilors were against the vote, and were against all of it but by then, everyone had made up their minds so instead of telling them that there was an income or incentive attached to the match. The High Councilors had the vote go through and it was decided in the elder’s room and away from the whole quarter’s court that everyone was free to choose how they wanted to vote, but whoever voted to condemn us would be forfeiting their percentages of the trade and their percentages would be going to those who condoned it and didn’t have any issue with the match. But that detail would only be revealed after the vote was done, because they didn’t want anyone to switch sides only because money would be involved. And so that’s what happened, everyone cast their vote. And the vote to condemn us- passed with the condemners- at the time- having the majority, whether they were in a private pool class or open class.” You explained.

“Well that’s fair, if they were going to look down on you for taking a leap of faith, they definitely should never profit from something they have already condemned you for.” Sunco made a disgusted face.

“Yes, I completely agree and those High Councilors took very extensive notes of who cast what vote. And after the announcement that those who had just voted to condemn us, that there was an incentive with it and possible income- half of them instantly and immediately regretted it because they are greedy sons of bitches.” You confessed which got the brides and the envoy and even Thobin snorted a laugh at that.

“And if that had been the end of it, that would have been enough, but sadly it didn’t end there. With the vote- there was a law that was passed with the vote and the law was ‘any bride who agrees to a match of a second class being’- which most of them- that’s how they view non native orcs, again, please don’t be offended, they are hypocritical bastards, because Dorierra was built by our native orc clans, our native orcs protect us and risk their lives to save ours and go on missions to make sure we are safe or save us when things turn to shit so it’s not fair or sane by any means but they are stubborn and wouldn’t see reason and wouldn’t see past their own prejudices to see that you are clearly so much more and are not second class beings at all, you have intelligence and style and culture and traditions that I’m sure are just as rich as our own, I just am not familiar with them all yet.” You tried to appease the envoy which worked as they all smiled approvingly and appreciatively at you and nodded in agreement to what you were saying.

“However the law stipulated that any bride who agreed or would ever agree in the future to a match with “a second class being” immediately forfeits all rights, nobilities, freedoms and safeties that naturally come with being a moura. To the extent that we and any children we may ever have by any orc or whoever or whatever else they might classify as “second class” or “lower class” whether that person might be Lukher or any other down the line of succession or whatever, that we are never welcome back home, and if Yekmeni falls, we are to be completely abandoned and no one will come to save us and also rejected us to the point that they refused to hold our own Cisora in our quarter. Which is why it was held in the Dorierran Capital’s Main Square instead which was the High Councilor’s answer back to the vote.” You bravely confided before Daon groaned and held his head in his hands as he ran his hands over his face in frustration.

“That’s what she meant.” Daon growled angrily in nadasi.

“I’m sorry?” You asked him.

“Your sister, Maisarra, I offered for her to come along with you, to see Yekmeni herself, and she told me that ‘when you said yes to Lukher- that you were choosing him over your family, pver your quarter, over your country and that you weren’t going to look back and that you didn’t regret your decision’, at the time I didn’t fully understand why she said it like that. But now I do, it’s because of that vote and that law. No wonder everyone else was weary of us at first and Rasime and those who agreed with her treated us with hatred, no wonder you were sad and no wonder you’ve been anxious and have been trying so hard to stay composed, because that was the choice you were forced to make because Rasime and her family were prejudiced against orcs in general. This makes much more sense now.” Daon managed to say in the common tongue as he was kicking himself for not seeing that sooner.

“Of for fuck’s sake!” Huda scoffed.

“Yeah, well, that’s why Rasime gave me and the other brides vulture feathers, because she thinks we are all desperate vultures, eating rotting corpses instead of an eagle or any other raptor who actively hunts fresh kills or any other bird with pride or dignity.” You added.

“Ah, I see, so that’s what the vulture feathers represented, they were more of a symbol than a physical token.” Sunco realized.

“But that’s not where it ends.” Serhan hinted with a wince.

“No, I wish that was the end of it, but it’s not, the law that was passed in my quarter, that condemned me and Serhan and Merratah and our families, the laws that accompanied the vote- they got passed around to all the other quarters.” You bravely informed them.

“What?!” The generalley brides jumped to their feet as you, Serhan and Merrattah all winced at their outburst but instantly scooted closer together as you sat on a fallen log.

“Are you shitting me? You have got to be joking, that legislature got passed to the other quarters?!” Lila demanded.

“Yeah, whether it has passed in the other quarters or not, I don’t know.” You confessed.

“So we, unknowingly also chose Lukher over our own families and our own quarters, much less our country of origin, that if we get pregnant, we will be cut off from the whole country and that if Yekmeni falls, we are all on our own?!” Lavena snarled angrily.

“Only if the law got passed to the other quarters and passed in the other quarter’s courts. It may not have reached anyone else’s quarter yet.” Merrattah tried to defend.

“But even if it did or even if it does. That’s why I gave all of your families messengeraries so that you could keep in touch with your families and hopefully it won’t pass in the other quarters, Langashi and Jenobi both swore to us that they would do everything they could to make sure the law gets repealed and turned over and doesn’t spread through the whole of Dorierra.” You tried to comfort them.

“But the Sultanate Quarter only keeps three High Councilors in the High Council, three of over a hundred, they are in the minority! We only have one High Councilor, so four, four against 125 others!” Ashlighn reminded you.

“Yeah, that’s..that’s unfortunately true.” You nodded as you began to tear up, feeling incredibly horrible for this whole situation.

“Oh fuck.” Ashurah cursed herself as she growled angrily too which actually turned Irelu on a bit.

“I gotta, go, I gotta call home.” Ashurah immediately excused herself.

“Me too.” All the generalley brides agreed as they immediately practically ran to their homes and slammed their doors as you, Serhan and Merrattah all winced again at the sounds of their doors slamming as you could hear them all practically seething from inside their carriages as you hung your head and let your shoulders sag in defeat as did Serhan and Merrattah.

“See why I didn’t want to tell everyone?” You asked with a wincing grimace to Sunco and her entourage as they gave themselves more meaningful looks.

“So let me get this right, Dorierra claims they need our adani gold and adani steel and adani air stones and adani breadseed and wants monthly exchanges of these things to be delivered upon your arrival, but it condemns the very brides who agreed to the match that made the deal possible to begin with.” Sunco realized.

“Well, that’s why I said that my high councilors are at least working on overturning in my quarter and trying to stop the law’s spread so that the other quarters won’t even hear of it to begin with.” You answered.

“Savia Audravienneway, you… you have the courage of a pride of lionesses, and the fact that through all of that, you never treated any of us with anything less than the utmost respect and honor and never let on that you were going through all of this and still you have vowed to us to tell us the truth, and again, I appreciate you for doing so, even at a great personal cost to yourself. And even at the risk of alienating yourself from your fellow brides and even us, you chose to tell us the truth no matter the consequences. You have courage, heart and integrity, and you still hold true to your choice of Lukher and you still do not waiver. I can do nothing but respect you and Serhan and Merrattah for all of you coming together and helping each other through this and all of you should be applauded for this.” She concluded.

“Well when Rasime had a temper tantrum, she has 11 brothers who are of marriageable age and six of them are still single, Maisarra was courting one of them, as was my sister Belma and my sister Anastacia, as was Merrattah’s sister too. And because of Rasime’s prejudice and her own hateful poison spreading to her whole family, our own sisters got their own relationships with her brothers cut off and their hearts broken over it because Rasime and her whole family were on the condemn side of that vote and we were on the other. Maisarra I think got the worst of it though. Haydarsorra treated Maisarra like shit even before the vote, he treated your family with deep disrespect. It was just a matter of time really.” Serhan confessed.

“No kidding.” You scoffed.

“Is she still in danger?” Merrattah asked.

“Yes, very much so, she’s cried benar every day since.” You confessed.

“Benar?” Sunco asked.

“Oh it’s a moura thing, when mouras are under great distress, like having your heart broken- we cry crystal tears, they look and act like diamonds, they hurt like crazy when coming out too. A broken heart, which moura hearts, like if you could see my own heart right now, all hearts naturally have heart strings, keeping them together, well mouras have double the strings, but through heartbreak, the actual and figurative strings break and thus we die of heart failure other than that it’s only war, old age and mourkatili are the only other things that can kill a moura. We are immune to everything else.” Merrattah explained.

“So when your grandmother told me that Maisarra’s life hung in the balance…” Daon began.

“She wasn’t lying, or kidding or making light of it. It’s a very real thing.” You confirmed with an apologetic look.

“Well, thank you so much for your honesty and patience in explaining the whole situation and all of it’s…”

“Variables?” Serhan guessed.

“Yes, many components.” Sunco nodded.

“If you’ll excuse me Savia and ladies, I too need to speak with your High Councilors because if that law gets passed in any other quarter and does not get repealed in your quarter, Dorierra as a whole can kiss our trade deal goodbye, however, only if you wish it, may tribute be sent to your families, but nothing else. And all of you are free to either come to Yekmeni with us because Lukher still wants you especially Savia, and we have already given you and your family more than enough for you and the other brides can make their own decisions as well. This is…stupid and…ridiculous, they gave us smiles and assurances that we would be getting brides who were so capable of being queens and ruling without bias or prejudice. When the whole country is filled with it.” Sunco hissed as you could see was just as seething as the generalley brides.

“I understand, you are the Ambassador for Yekmeni, you must act in Yekmeni’s best interests as well.” You offered.

“Thank you for understanding that Savia. And thank you for bringing this to our attention.”

“Just forgive me for not telling you sooner, but I needed to make sure all of us would make it out alive and none of us would just react without thinking things through and end up doing things we would regret later.” You offered to her.

“You are very wise, much beyond your years.” She praised.

“Please, may the three of you sleep with peace in your minds and hearts. And please, if you choose to go back, please keep the gifts bestowed to you, with our thanks for giving us your consideration and respect and dignity, it is much appreciated and it will be shown back to you.” Sunco reassured Serhan, Merrattah and yourself as you all looked at each other before she retreated as the rest of her envoy did the same.

“Well that went much better than I thought it would.” Serhan muttered.

“Yeah, lets let everyone sleep on it. And we will see where everyone is in the morning.” Merrattah suggested.

“Agreed, goodnight my sisters from other mothers.” You thanked them as you all stood and hugged tightly, the three of you making a triangle, hugging the other two.

“Now I just want to get to Yekmeni and hope it’s as luxurious as I’ve heard so I can take my messengerari and rub the noses of my friends into how lavish and wonderful Yekmeni is and how it will hopefully be a thousand times better than any castle in Europa.” Serhan snipped rather smugly with a bite of spite.

“Me too.” You laughed which got Merrattah to giggle too.

“It could be worse, right?” Merrattah offered.

“Yes, it could be much worse.” You agreed.

“Now, I have a sack of incense that is calling my name and a bed I would really like to lay down in.” Merrattah excused herself as she withdrew.

“And we didn’t even have to tell them about the ten tribes of orcs.” Thobin offered as he stood nearby and smiled proudly to see you, Serhan and Merrattah working together and offering each other emotional support.

“Oh thank the gods, if we have had to explain that fiasco, we would be dead right about now I think.” Serhan muttered.

“Yeah, let’s just leave that piece of history in the past, where it belongs.” You urged everyone.

“Agreed.” All of them nodded in agreement before the four of you went your separate ways.

Meanwhile in Sunco’s tent.

“Ambassador Sunco, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon, is everything ok?” Langashi asked from the other side of her messengerari.

“No, it is not alright, Savia Audravienneway, when directly asked- because she had previously swore an oath to tell the truth to us- explained the meaning of the vulture feathers and why they were so offensive.” Sunco led with.

“Oh, yes, awful, sorry business, I can not begin to apologize for Hasim and his family’s behavior. They allowed their power to corrupt them to the point they dared give a curse when a blessing was due, they have been stripped of all lands, titles, nobility and wealth and have been given the lowest status in the country, which is a slave only permitted to do meanial, hard labor for the rest of their lives and have since been sent to the outcast quarter, where they will live the rest of their lives in squalor.” Langashi explained.

“Good, Savia also, in order to explain how Rasime and her father Hasim came to the conclusion to give her and the others vulture feathers to begin with, which started with a vote in the quarter to condemn the very brides who agreed to the generous offer, to the point that they were threatened with expulsion and that they and their children by “second class beings” such as myself, and my clan would result in Dorierra’s complete abandonment and that they and their children, if Yekmeni should, heaven forbid- fall, that they will never be rescued or protected beyond any protection we might offer them.” Sunco challenged as she saw fear fill Langashi’s eyes.

“Oh that, that is actually old news, and that was only a piece of legislation drawn up by someone who has no power or authority to carry it out and the vote was overturned and that law got repealed, so that is no longer the case, it never should have been a case to begin with.” Langashi tried her best to smooth over.

“I see, so how far did that law go? How many other quarters got to hear of it? Much less vote on it?” Sunco asked.

“As far as I know it never left the Sultanate Quarter and once the truth and full details were disclosed after the vote, the vast majority chose to recast their vote and overturn the original vote, so now the entire quarter is in agreement and no one who voted to condemn Savia Audravienneway, or Serhanhi or Merrattaha have been removed from the quarter and placed in the outcast quarter.” Langashi quickly countered.

“Really? Because I have three brides from the General Quarter along with a translator from the Relic Quarter who are- as we speak- contacting their families to find out anyway. And only after I hear back from them after their families will make inquiries to all the other quarters and I hear back a confirmation of your claim, will I believe it. Because from where I sit, it appears that you have no problem taking our gold, or our airstones, or our steel, or even our breadseed to make your precious borrer for your local orcs, but then turn right back around and disown the very brides who made that transaction possible and viable. It just doesn’t make sense and is no way to do any kind of business, either past or especially in the future.” Sunco spat angrily.

“Ambassador, please, try to understand, the whole High Council which represents the entire country of Dorierra as a whole was completely against the vote and the Elders in the quarter didn’t heed our own orders to not carry it out and we have done all we can to do undo the damage that rift caused. We are most grateful for this alliance and our need of your goods is higher now than ever before and even Savia Audravienneway, immediately after the vote went into action and took most of the gold that you gave her and exchanged it to the banks and I gave her the best rate I could in the exchange and she used that very same funds to fund the re-establishment of the fallen Sultanate States, and I have a champion right now who is only mere weeks, at the most a month or two away from bringing peace and stability into the area and he is seen as a savior by the people and all those who could ever remember the old royal families have all died off, and they will have no issue with having the very sisters of those whose hearts were broken by Hasim’s sons have been guaranteed to be his favorites if they wish. And because of her decisive action all those who have voted to condone the match and overturn the vote and the law that came with it, will be it’s new pool and she has single handedly unified the quarter, all bless her name and her family and are are very grateful for her efforts. Please, do not do her the disservice of cutting things off before she at least can see how well things will turn out for her and her family, I can not begin to imagine all the wonderful and amazing things she will do in Yekmeni at Lukher’s side. She has made it possible for none of the brides to have to choose between their families that remain here and Yekmeni and I can swear on my own life that if anything were to ever happen to Lukher or Yekmeni or anything else, she and her children will be saved and taken care of and of course always given sanctuary, she is a legend in the making! Surely that is what Lukher saw in her, her potential and surely you have seen it too, please do not hinder her progress or her dreams or ambitions. And please rest assured that we have done our best to make this right and as we speak, Savia Audravienneway’s family as well as Serhan’s and Merrattah’s are being moved into some of the finest palaces in the quarter, their monthly allowance has been greatly increased and their own status has been elevated as such that their families are practically princes and princesses and are on equal ground as any royal family even in the other private pool class. And those that dared to offend you and the brides have been dealt with as harshly as possible and were humiliated in front of the entire country, you saw how they were scorned and ridiculed as they were escorted out, they have lost face to everyone and are despised by everyone who sees them, some of them even committed suicide over the shame of their actions because they could not bear to live with the consequences or the fall from power and grace.” Langashi revealed.

“How many?” Sunco demanded.

“I beg your pardon?” Langashi asked.

“How many committed suicide from the shame?” Sunco asked.

“Oh, uh the talley as of tonight has been 23. Which accounts for roughly thirty percent of the offenders.” She said as she quickly found that report.

“Give me their names.” Sunco asked as she got a pen and wrote down all twenty three names.

“Thank you, I will pass this list onto Savia Audravienneway in the morning and tomorrow night, she will confirm by her own means, good night High Councilor, I hope you pray to whatever gods you believe in for Savia Audravienneway to be much more forgiving and lenient with her homeland over this matter in the future.” Sunco said before she shut the messengerari off before Langashi could reply.

“Gods, please, direct me in my dreams what I should do and how to handle this.” Sunco prayed in Nadasi as she took a calming breath to calm her anger before she tiredly got ready for bed.

“Grand General?” Thobin asked as he tapped on her tent flap in nadasi.

“Yes General Thobin?” Sunco asked as he came in. Granted Thobin was well past twice her own age but he had the look and youthful exuberance of someone half her own age as well.

“Can I come in?” He asked.

“Yes, of course.” Sunco agreed as she quickly threw on a robe to remain modest.

“All the brides have contacted home, and at least in their own quarters, the new law never reached their quarters and they have tasked their families with inquiring with the other quarters to make sure that no other quarter heard of the vote, much less the law that came with it.” He reported, keeping to nadasi.

“Oh good, I was going to be asking for them to do that in the morning, but I see you’ve anticipated me.” Sunco grinned tiredly, but relieved and happy she could speak her native tongue and not to constantly have to translate her thougths into another language before speaking them.

“Of course. All the brides have seen been relieved of their stress and are in the process of falling asleep as is the rest of your envoy and the campsite is safe and secure, and the night watch is on duty the only thing that dared come near the camp was an inquisitive fox, more interested in the chickens than anything else.” He added.

“Thank you. I appreciate the report.” Sunco nodded before she couldn’t help but yawn tiredly.

“You too should be relieved of your anxiousness, all is well. Everyone has come to an accurate understanding of the entire situation and everyone is making their own peace with it. It should be relatively smooth sailing from here, well besides the actual weather.” Thobin offered with a wry grin.

“Yes, by the way did Savia Audraviennway tell you about how she raised an army to counter Rasime’s family’s doing and the vote so that the entire quarter got reunified?” Sunco asked him.

“Yes, But it’s not completely “set in stone” so to speak, I take it she did not tell you about it yet.” He confirmed.

“No, of course I didn’t exactly ask either.” Sunco realized.

“You don’t need to. She is a woman of action, like her mother and her grandmothers before her and even her great grandmother before her because it was her great grandmother that held off the attackers by sword point and had locked down the palace and boobytrapped it so that only when we came did she get everyone out safely and even while she was injured, she would not rest until they all made it back to Dorierra safely, not just the harem but the servants too. She died only days after making it across the border and because the stone ceremony was rushed, I had no other stones to stone her and save her life but she did manage to get herself and her family and her household safely into the quarter and passed only after she knew that her son and his Sultana Supreme and all of his pther wives and concubines and all their children and the household was safe. Her memorial, a lifelike statue of her still stands in the Sultanate Square, surely you passed it on the way to Audrey’s former house. Her great grandmother’s name was Vahidhienne, Vienne is what she went by. Which is why Audrey’s full name is Audra-vienne, after her great grandmother Vienne. Vienne was one hell of a woman, she defended her family with a ferocity that I would have thought only could be had in a woman Audrey’s age and why every woman in her family took up swordsmanship as soon as they could walk on their own without falling down. And it’s her that Audrey has always looked to as an example and seeing Audrey now, all grown up and dealing with the ever changing landscape around her, both physically, mentally and metaphorically- she reminds me of Vienne so much, part of me wonders if she has been reincarnated in her own great granddaughter. Audrey doesn’t do anything half hearted or half measured. When she decides to go after what she wants, she goes all in. However her reluctance to be completely open with you, because you and I both know there is a difference between open and honest- which she has vowed to be honest, but getting her to be completely open which only really comes with trust- will be the next step that you and this envoy and especially Lukher will have to earn- and that is because she is still afraid that either Lukher or the rest of his family or even you and the rest of the envoy will not approve of her decision to do what she did with the gifts you gave her. She gave all but one of everything to re-establishing Tahir to reunify what had been cracked and broken for over 45 years, which has been the vast majority of her parent’s lives, and the only reason she kept one of everything back was to learn the money system accurately or to keep herself from being completely without herself and she didn’t want you to think she had misused or mismanaged her gifts either. She is very conscientious about what impression she gives you and the rest of her envoy as she sees you as her greatest allies and her own keys to her future success in Yekmeni.” He revealed as Sunco sunk down into her bedroll on her cot as she took that in.

“She has done more than enough to earn our trust and respect. The fact that she reacted so decisively and thought so far ahead to find the best possible solution and do all that could to make that solution realized, I have nothing but the highest opinion of her. And Lukher could not have chosen a better Savia than her in my opinion.” Sunco readily offered.

“Good, make sure Audrey feels that as much as she knows it. Respond by giving her the best insights you can on not just Lukher, but Yekmeni, and especially the Aki-Aya clan, and it’s language, culture, traditons and history. Even about Kingu. Because from what she told me, it’s he who wanted a moura bride in the first place, and when he died, his dreams and ambitions passed down to Lukher.” He advised.

“Yes, Kingu was…well he was the male orc version of her. His personality, his tastes, his ability to perceive more than his eyes saw but mentally see and map out everything and find the best solutions. Even Lukher feels inadequate compared to what Kingu was.” Sunco revealed.

“All Lukher can give is what he is and what he has to work with. But I wouldn’t worry too much, if Lukher is smart, a lot of Audrey will rub off on him. And hopefully these other brides too.” Thobin smiled reassuringly.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Sunco asked curiously.

“Sure.” Thobin asked.

“How old are you?” Sunco asked.

“A hundred and twelve.” He answered with a laugh.

“No, you barely look fourty.” Sunco argued.

“It’s the gems and the diet. An orc who doesn’t live on our special diet or get the enhancement from the stones will be lucky to reach 60 or seventy. Actually I was hoping that this would be my last mission before I can pass on the mantel to my eldest son who will inherit this mantel from me.” Thobin answered.

“How old is he?” Sunco asked.

“98.” Thobin answered.

“You had your first son when you were 14?” Sunco asked.

“Yeah, I had my first daughter at 12, second daughter at 13 and first son at fourteen. Dorierran orcs grow up very fast and fatherhood happens very quickly in all the clans around Dorierra, before missions, the goal is to leave with a gut full of borrer and tomb meat and all the ale you can drink until you can barely stand but empty balls. It’s just unfortunate that our women folk only live to be 50 or 60. So we warriors usually marry two to three times in our lifetimes.” He answered.

“Oh, I’m sorry, do you miss them? Your wives? I mean?” Sunco asked.

“Yes, I just buried my second wife, two years ago. Haven’t seen the need or had the want to get remarried a third time, especially when my sons are so old and my grandsons and great grandsons and great great grandsons and even great great great grandsons are all grown now and they’re all with me, besides an old man like me doesn’t have much to offer a new wife anyway, just knowledge to pass down the line.” He answered with a shrug and an easy smile.

“How did Dorierra even get the stones in the first place?” Sunco asked.

“Well that’s a story for another time, it’s late, you should get some sleep, you’ll need it. Goodnight Grand General Sunco.” He urged her before he saw himself out.

“Goodnight, you can just call me Sunco though, no need for such formalities now.” She urged his retreating form.

“Ok, goodnight then Sunco.” Thobin offered on the other side of the tent.

“Goodnight Thobin.” Sunco wished him before a rather dreamy smile washed over her face and a pleasant sigh left through her nose.

“Well from where I sit you still have plenty to offer any woman with eyes that can see your fine ass.” Sunco muttered under her breath once he left as Thobin had to stop himself from laughing out loud as his ears twitched and caught her utterance.

“Still got it.” He whispered to himself with a self satisfied grin as he walked to his own tent to get ready for bed himself.

#Burn Without You #Burn Without You Chapter 11 #oh hohohoho #orc love story #moura #orcs #orc reader insert #you know what I'm not going to keep tagging this as orctober 2021 because it's practically 2022

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