All Shall Fade

[Ellesar]

"Release her first." Rica countered, lowering her sword slightly. Her mind was scrambling through her options, trying to figure out the best way to get Isi free.

 

[cyberwing]

The Orc laughed. "I'm in control here, drop that sword or I'll cut her head off and throw it at you!" He sneered at Rica.

 

[Ellesar]

"Very well." Rica said, taking a small step forward and throwing her sword at the orc's leg. Her sword had barely left her hands when she had her bow in hand and an arrow nocked and aimed between the orc's eyes. "Release her, UNHARMED. If I find just one cut on her, your life is forfeit." It very may well be forfeit anyway, you filthy orc.

 

[cyberwing]

The Orc snarled and released Isi. He kicked her and knocked her forward. She curled into a ball and lay still, softly whimpering.

 

[Ellesar]

Not wanting to deal with the orc's antics any further, she asked, "Any last words before you go to join your friends?"

 

[cyberwing]

"Big words from such a little girl..." He surged toward her hacking at her with alarming speed and strength.

 

[Ellesar]

Rica jumped back out of reach and released the arrow that she had managed to keep aimed at the orc. Diving to the side, she rolled and then came up to her feet, sword in hand.

 

[cyberwing]

The Orc slashed at her again yelling an obscenity in the Black Tongue. Saliva dripped from his mouth and he gnashed his yellow and green scummed teeth.

 

[Ellesar]

"Don't you ever learn?" Rica asked as she parried the orc's attack before counterattacking.

 

[cyberwing]

The Orc grinned and parried her attack then swept her legs, causing her to stumble. Unfortunately there was an orc body behind Rica's feet. The Orc jumped over to thrust down on his victim.

 

[Ellesar]

Rica landed flat on her back after tripping over the orc's body, and the wind was knocked out of her temporarily. Seeing her attacker jump over the dead orc, Rica rolled out of the way of the downward thrust and grit her teeth as the blade cut into her arm. She grasped her sword and held it up, hoping to impale the orc.

 

[cyberwing]

The Orc knew he had Rica now. He chuckled and came at her ready to bat her sword away and impale her but he slipped on a large puddle of black orc blood and his eyes flew wide with shock as Rica's blade went through his body and came out his back. He grunted and went to his knees.

 

[Ellesar]

Still gasping back her breath, Rica struggled to her knees and then to her feet. Just looking at the orc for a few minutes, she gave her sword one final twist before yanking it free. Once she was sure that the orc was dead, she made her way back to Isi, picking up her dropped bow on the way. "Are...are you alright?" she asked Isi again, kneeling down next to the other woman.

 

[cyberwing]

"Is... is that you? You are alive?! Oh thank the Heavens and HE who made them! Where is the man?" Isi was turning wildly trying to hear in all directions to pick up where he might be. "He was one of those who drug me away from my home!" Isi looked down. "They did horrible things, they said horrible things...who were those men? They cannot be Rohirrim!" Isi reached out wildly trying to find Rica to touch her and know she was real.

 

[Ellesar]

Rica reached forward with her good arm and gently touched Isi. "He wasn't from Rohan. He was one of those vile orcs, but you have no need to worry about him any longer. He's dead." Rica said, her voice tight with the pain from the cut on her arm. She took a few moments to just breathe and then asked, "How are you doing?"

 

[cyberwing]

Isi shied at first from Rica's touch but then relaxed. "What is an Orc?" Isi asked curiously.

 

[Ellesar]

Rica was silent for a few minutes as she thought about what to say and then said, "They are vile creatures who seemingly enjoy in nothing except death and destruction."

 

[cyberwing]

Isi felt along the arm of the orc body she was next to. Slowly working her way up to the shoulder and face she used her fingers to feel the features. She tilted her head to the side, her eyes staring off unseeing as she explored the 'orc'.

"OH! They have fangs like a mountain lion...yet they have pointed ears like elves..." Isi whispered. "They are very different from Rohirrim or elves... well at least the Rohirrim I have been able to touch..." Finally satisfied she sat back. "Thank you Rica. I owe you so much. Please, tell me if there is anything I can do for you?" Isi bowed her head. Rica had no idea the nightmare Isi had been trapped inside for the last 24 hours since her capture.

 

[Ellesar]

"Knowledge of healing herbs would be helpful..." Rica said, gritting her teeth against the pain that once again assailed her arm.

 

[cyberwing]

Isi's face brightened beneath the layer of dirt. "I know healing herbs very well but... alas... these horrible Orc's burned all of my herbs. I have nothing to work with. Are you injured?" Isi reached toward Rica but missed her of course.