Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Romance

The Orc
Chapter 1
    One day long ago, a young girl was swept from the warm embrace of her family and sent to a cold and desolate kingdom. This kingdom, ruled by a ruthless king, was bursting with poverty, as the king dared not share wealth and generosity with common folk. The child was shocked by the state of the once flourishing kingdom and saddened by the wrath of the current king. She knew that grace would make its presence known however, as a kind and wise wizard, revered by many and loved by all he met, he gave her a treasure. In this dark and cruel world, she now faced, he gave her an amazing gift, hope.
    The wizard was called Merlin in this place, but where she came from his name was Emrys. She was sent back to her family soon after the king died, and the country was then, controlled by the state. She grew to be fair in body and mind, as well as loving and generous. She also grew to become quite wise as many elders sought her council, while others feared and despised her.
    At the age of eighteen she heard word of a new king as foretold by Emrys. This new king was fair and just toward his kingdom. He had the sword Excalibur as proof of his worth and the backing of the great Emrys. Soon after she heard of this young ruler she was summoned to the throne room of her kingdoms monarchy, her parents. They asked her a series of questions and once finished they beamed with pride and said to her this, “My dear, you are the wisest in the kingdom and have been sought out by none other than the good King Arthur.” They sent her away to the recovering kingdom with some of the new king’s guards in tow. 
This brings us to this incredible moment in time. 
    As Bethany approached the castle on horseback. Her hair loose and flowing, her heart pounding, and the horse’s heavy hooves clopping, all in time with one-another, she was in awe of the structure in front of her. Its immense stature looming over the state. The guards leapt down from their saddles and instructed her to do the same. She paused took a deep breath and over-did her dismount by standing upon the saddle and somersaulting through the air and onto the walkway. She had done something like it to mount the horse and each time she mounted and dismounted the guards would tell her not to be so extravagant. But it was how she was taught, so they grew accustomed to it. 
    The other guards on duty at the castle however, were not. They nearly dropped the gate they were lifting. Bethany was unfazed by the awe she inspired. She was simply glad the kingdom she had once despised was now once again accepting her people, and one-another. She was happy until she walked through the gate and a young boy stepped forward and threw a stone at her. Bethany easily evaded the hastily thrown stone and as fast as lightning grabbed his arm and hooked it behind his back, restraining him. 
    Bethany called for the boy’s mother or father, but the boy spat at her over his shoulder and told her he had no parents. She immediately crumpled to the ground and wept. The boy turned to her in shock, she then wrapped her arms around his boney frame and said she was sorry. The boy squirmed out of her grasp and looked at her with disgust. “I don’t need sympathy from an Orc! You, you, you, mongrel scum!”. She stopped weeping and turned to him tears still in her eyes and he backed away as she stood, mumbling something. She cleared her throat and spoke plainly and simply, “young boy, you hardly know the world or its inhabitants and yet you seek to harm one of the very kind you don’t know of. Ah, I know of the rumors, I was punished by children much stronger than you when I was at your age for these lies. The tales of a treacherous, stupid, and ugly thing, called an Orc. I am not an Orc. I am an Avik, and although an Orc is an Avik, an Avik is not always an Orc. Do I seem ugly, dumb, or treacherous to you? Boy who knows little?”
    The boy stood there for a moment then ran. A clapping of numerous hands began to resound around her. She realized she was surrounded by a numerous amount of kind-faced people. They began to shake her hand one by one and an old woman with smile lines and a wise expression came to her, holding the arm of the boy and telling him to apologize. Bethany accepted the boy’s insincere apology and turned to the woman, thanking her. The elderly woman grabbed Bethany’s hand and thanked her in return for the hope she would give the nation under the new king’s rule. 
    Bethany was interrupted from this beautiful moment by a young maiden dressed elegantly, yet practically. The young girl asked the elder woman to turn to the king for her thanks, not the Orc before her. Bethany turned to the young lady in surprise as the girl turned and told Bethany to follow her to meet the young and popular king. She did so, looking beack to the elderly woman and motioning an apology. The new companion made a shooing motion and turned away to face the boy, who was trying to dig under the gate.
    Bethany tried to count and memorize the turns and corners they passed to meet the king in his throne-room, but there were so many similar paths that she soon lost track in the mazelike structure. She finally gave up as the young lady stopped in front of a set of double doors. Bethany almost ran into her before the girl turned around and bowed before turning back to the doors, opening them with little effort and bowing to the seated men in front of her. Bethany’s leather-bound heels thudded softly on the stone floor as she glided toward the table. When at an acceptable distance from the round object in front of them, she bowed as the young lady announced their presence to the men.
    The men stood, and the girl bowed once more then left, closing the doors behind her as she left behind a shaky Bethany. The young woman stood there stiffly till she remembered the customs of this land and curtsied to the men in front of her, they bowed and sat in return. All the men did this, save one. A young and handsome man with a sturdy posture and lean muscles that flexed in his subtle movements. He strode gracefully toward her and she gasped when she saw it. This boy had the sword. The sword that only the king, true to his people’s wellbeing, could wield. The person striding toward her was king of this kingdom. 
    She immediately fell to her knees and knelt before him. She heard a soft giggle from the surrounding men then a hand on her shoulder and a voice, calm and gentle in nature, but stern and hardy in resonance. He spoke softly and sweetly, “Rise, Princess Bethany. You are my guest and as such kneeling before me this way is unnecessary. Please, stand.” Bethany stood and looked into his eyes. Wise in nature, she could see a persons true nature through their eyes.