Forbidden Temptation

The Human legions had pushed deep into Elven territory faster than Queen Ethimilee could have imagined. The had marched north through her lands, burning forests and villages, killing her people, and taking anything of value they found. Her people were ageless and had grown complacent in the long period of peace they had enjoyed until only a few months ago. Her soldiers were more than rusty, they were completely and utterly unprepared. She had gathered all her remaining warriors to the south and west to a fort in the path of the enemy's march. She needed more, but she feared pulling her soldiers from the east and north for fear of the Orc hoards. Like vicious sharks, if they caught the scent of Elven blood, they might descend upon her people to tear and feast.

The battle had started fairly well. Her archer kept the humans from getting close and were easily able to defend for two days. But the humans hadn't just sat on their hands those two days. They had been using the wood from Ethimilee's forests to build siege weapons. Before noon on the third day, the fort's south wall was laying in ruin. The Humans surged through the opening and took the fight directly to the Elves. The battle was bloody and even the inner part of the keep was soon embroiled in the fighting. Ethimilee's guards fell quickly and within moments she was all alone. One of the Humans backhanded her, knocking her to the floor. She stared up in horror as the five brutish men began to gather around her, talking among themselves about how lucky they were to be the first to sample their enemy's queen.

As the first of the Humans began to lower his trousers, a large battle axe came twirling through the air and thudded into the side of his head. He only had enough time to look shocked before he fell sideways, his life ended. The others turned and charged a large figure coming out of a darkened hallway and Ethimilee couldn't believe her eyes. Her protector was an Orc. He was of medium size compared to most of his kind, but his body was nothing but ripped dark green muscle. His face could be called pleasant if not for the tusks and the scar that started from midway up down his brow and continued down across his right eye and down to his jaw. He was wearing only a loose shirt and pants but pulled two short swords from sheaths on his back as the Humans charged.

She would later learn that this dark haired hulking warrior was named Broden and that he was unlike the Orcs she had met before. As the humans charged him, Broden parried the humans weapons with practiced ease and then once in their midst, spun on the balls of one foot. His blades cutting deep into two of the humans and wounding a third. The unharmed human tried to bring his blade down on the Orc's back, but Broden sensed his movements and stepped quickly to one side to avoid the attack. Then Broden twirled the blade in the hand closest to that man and drove it backwards and into the man's gut. The Only human still standing was lightly wounded and trying to flee, but Broden threw one of his blades with amazing precision. Then the Orc checked the other two wounded humans. One had already bled out from his wound but the other was still barely hanging on to life. Broden said something in Orcish and then plunged his remaining weapon into the man's chest.

Ethimilee had watched the bloody dance, her eyes transfixed to the warrior who protected her. It didn't make sense that an Orc would defend her. She neither spoke or moved from her position on the floor as he gathered his weapons and cleaned them. Then he came to her and held out a hand.

"Come. You will be safer with me than remaining here."

It wasn't a request, but rather a statement and order rolled into one. She placed a small hand in his and he lifted her to her feet. Without another word, he led her out of the keep. The fighting had mostly died down, with the humans being pushed back. Unfortunately it wasn't her soldiers pushing them back. About thirty Orcs were fighting beside her warriors and their brutal attack was causing panic among the humans. When she stepped upon the killing field with Broden, both her soldiers and his began to fight even harder. The battle was over less than three hours later. When the dust had settled her forces had won the battle.

Her regal gown was stained with mud and blood, and her large protector was covered in small cuts and would be able to boast that evening about a few new scars, but they were mostly unharmed. Broden stayed by her side even after the battle ended, but he was joined by two more of his warriors. Once they were certain the humans had retreated, she called her remaining commanders to their battered war room.

"What is the status of our troops," She asked. Her four remaining commanders were casting worried glances at the three Orcs standing behind her. The oldest of her advisors looked down to a map of the war table and indicated the fort and then a position several miles south.

"It seems as if the Humans have fled here. It is an old ruin that even our scholars are unsure of its original builders or purpose. It is hardly a defendable position but our soldiers aren't really ready for more combat. We don't know if we can push them back any farther at the moment."

"If you bolster your forces with mine, then it should be easy."

All eyes turned to Broden as he stepped around the queen and pointed out a few things on the map.

"Position your archers here, here, and here. They need to harry the Humans, not engage them outright. Set up ambushes here and here with my forces divided between those two squads to strengthen them. Then here, have a third squad ready to move in behind the Humans once they are in full panic. Even with your forces being so rusty, the fight should end quite easily in your favor."

The oldest advisor started to say something but Ethimilee cut him off.

"Why would you help us?"

"We're mercenaries. No one has hired us at the moment, and you seem to be in a bind. Tell you what, we will provide your soldiers with support and training at two thirds our normal rate. You can't do this alone and we need the money anyway."

The advisors looked angry, but Ethimilee could see the truth in his words. She gave her consent. And so it began, the story of the Elven Queen and the Orc Warrior. The battle at the ruins went exactly as Broden had predicted and within a month's time, her forces were fighting on a whole different level. The Humans were being pushed back little by little and she was able to return to the capital. But she wasn't alone. Broden left his forces near the front to help coordinate attacks and help with training, but he stayed with the queen as her personal guard.

When they returned to the capital with Broden marching at the head of her personal unit, rumors and speculation ran rampant. Ethimilee was greeted by her twin daughters and the prince of another Elven country. Her daughters Lethila and Mitri were just happy to have their mother home.

The prince on the other hand was there to offer his support in her time of need. Ethimilee knew this man as prince Rienlest. He had been after her hand in marriage ever since her husband had passed away thirty years ago. Ethimilee was still young for an Elf, barely over two hundred years old. He was the best choice for her next husband and it would gain her a powerful ally in his father. But right now, marriage wasn't what was on her mind. And over the last month, she had found her eyes finding their way to look at Broden more than would be considered proper. She knew that she found the brute attractive, but she was a queen and he wasn't even an Elf. She knew she would have to deal with both her attraction to Broden and Rienlest's advances soon, but she wanted to put both off as long as she could.