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Chapter Four
'The Winds of Change'
'What I've done' by Linkin Park
Even after his numerous anger outbursts, even after what she'd seen in the films she felt herself let her guard down. Somehow she no longer believed him attacking and turning her into a bloody soup was a remote possibility.
Please tell me you are still at least a tiny bit scared.
Inner, responsible and cautious voice stood guard as always. Yet she couldn't even admit that to herself. She didn't know. She had seen the other side of the Orc and that was too much not to deny the stereotype adhered to his race. He hugs babies for Christ's sake. '...wailed like an imp... it helps them...'
For all you know he's got a Day Care tucked away somewhere in Gundabad.
He was uneasy however. It bled through his skin. He felt trapped, he was trapped. Alia felt the hefty weight of guilt and responsibility suddenly make home on her shoulders. By the power of some unknown creature or by some sort of a coincidence or fate she was the one passing the alley when he appeared in this world... It was up to her. Yet the woman felt as if she was not even an inch closer to a solution. The human wished for a few moments that all those witches, sorcerers or magi would be as readily available as they were in the Middle Ages...
She sat on the sofa clutching a dvd casing. Today was her aunt's funeral and she was still clothed in all black. How fitting for the last part of the movie. She didn't want to watch it again. Her state was very fragile yet herself wasn't what the woman was concerned about.
"Are you sure you want to..." The human lifted her gaze towards the Orc. He, as always, gave her a stoic nod. He bottles everything inside, she thought. All worry, anguish, hurt... Circumstances made him who he was, no one was ever there for him...
Things that impressed her in the movie before passed by in blur. The dragon, the fire storm engulfing the entire rotten Laketown, the transparent Nazguls at Dol Guldur... The only reaction she produced was a contorted lip and a wicked grin as the Fireturd was thrown to Mordor. Her companion seemed just as happy at the happenings responding with a deep murmur in his chest.
By the time Azog appeared on the screen the human was at the edge of her seat watching his every assured and curt movement. This time she did not pummel him with questions. She knew the reason why he left his Warg behind. If the influence of the dark lord was still plaguing his mind at least he had a speck of himself remaining to let a long time friend stay out of trouble. The bellow of his words forced her to jolt tightening the grip of her fingers around the edge of the seat.
Bolg appearing out of the gates of Gundabad strong and fearless with a mass of his warriors resonated a pang in her chest as the woman recalled what exactly will happen to the second in command at the hands of 'bat riding circus Elf'. Alia stole a glance at Azog. She sensed he had no idea. He believed in his son, biological or not, he trusted his judgement and strength even after the failed aerial Laketown advance.
'...Will you have peace or war...' The hopefull brown eyes of the black arrow archer focused on the front terrace above the entrance to Erebor. The answer he received was not one bit satisfactory.
And suddenly all she held inside broke out onto the surface. Even the inner reason took a back set.
"And people call this a hero?!" Alia wheezed in a deep breath. "The leader of a noble quest? Who cares of nothing but his pile of moldy gold and gems?! The golden fewer my ass!" She darted up clenchng her fists as her knuckles cracked. "A perfect excuse!" The Orc's brow furrowed as he watched her.
"They forgot Moria... Then wanted it back! He cut off your arm... The wizard killed yoir Wargs! He will..." Her eyes widened as she inhaled once again. "All he deserves is, is..." Alia couldn't come up with something awful she'd do the the Dwarf quick enough. The woman had no idea why she allowed herself such an outburst. She lowered back down onto the sofa panting and crossing her arms. This whole thing changed from being just a movie and characters to a real thing and nothing of it was just. Well... It' not that everything he did was in line for redeption, but... comprising all the facts she had, coupled with undeniable evidence and emotions on her part the woman was clearly pulling to one side.
Gosh, at least they didn't name the movie 'The Dwarf: The Gold is mine!'
Alia waved her inner voice into silence, she did not feel one bit cheerful.
"I take it back." His gruff voice had thrust her back into reality. She looked at the commander wide-eyed. He still watched her curiously.
"Beware the wrath of a female." The Orc gave her a knowing look with a smirk that was laced with mischief. "You'd be valued."
That seriouly was the biggest praise she had ever gotten in her entire life. Ever.
He is just being nice don't get your hopes up.
To hear from an Orc general that she'd be a valued... ehhem... soldier under his command. Or whatever... She'd make a good spy she'd bet.
You manage to cut yourself with a freaking pin I just imagine you with a sword bahahaha.
This wasn't a jest however she read no mockery in his eyes. And they were very, very expressive. Alia appreciated the lightening of the mood immensely.
...The collosal worms bore holes, the walls of metal had collided leaving piles of bodies in the aftermath. The Pale Orc's tall form stood out even from afar at the foot of the gonfalon. The human noted how easily he moved in that fitted armor. Before everything went to shit and she was sure she was going to be mute for quite a while Alia opened her mouth, also somewhat lifted by his recent praise.
"How much did it hurt?" She pressed her lips lightly.
The Orc knew what she reffered to immediately. Perhaps being a creature of a few words developed a certain instict inside.
The woman half way expected something along the lines of 'Warriors do not feel pain...'
"It did, a lot." He nodded watching his onscreen self and the massive blade as if it was someone else's. "Orc blood heals." Azog gazed down at his existent forearm momentarily. Sometimes he could have sworn it wasn't there still.
The human could only imagine. She had nearly cried taking her stiches out when she'd busted her knee. And here is the whole arm replacement... A small shudder crept up her back as Alia noded in return.
x x x
The ginger-haired Elleth wept over the Dwarf she'd met a couple of days ago. When Bolg killed him Alia caught a hint of pride on the Orc's disfigured face, as if he thought the father to be proud. One by one the enemy's line was falling...
When the massive armored male strode out onto the stone skyway Alia held her breath. She simply couldn't... How will he...
"Azog... We should..." She quiped feebly yet the Defiler's eyes were glued to the screen.
The rocks tumbled into the abyss, the woosh of air and the sickening sound of the blade penetrating the scull seemed to iterate in her eardrums. Alia looked to Azog.
She herself had just lost someone yet witnessing a look on his face broke her heart. It lay there in shambles as her brain attempted to conjure a solution. That's how she always was, always attempting to fix things even though some were broken irreversibly.
The human found herself kneeling by his side, her arms clutching his shoulders as her tears ran down his back dissapearing into the deep gouges of his scars.
"They were wrong about him before... They might be wrong again..." She sobbed. "Bolg could have avoided this... He could have survived..." Alia attempted to inject a tiny bit of hope into the bog of hopeless thoughts.
"You hear me... He will be alive waiting for you in the mountains... ok?" Her grip tightened as she shook her head desperately. The human hardly believed her own words as the Orc did not resist her embrace in the utter silence.
She clutched his arm all through the lake fight. Tears escaped unchecked and all was a blur in sobs and sniffles. The movie-makers stomped at the shambles of her heart when his last breath was audible clearly upon leaving his body.
Alia spun to Azog sharply. He sat unmovable, erasing the traces of pain, shock, fury, memories from his marble-hewn features. The human blinked her tears away.
"Azog." She compressed his forearm. "When you're back there, I hope you have enough time to abandon it all... Scew pride and honor." Her jaws set. "And screw everyone who'll disagree especially the Lord you've served. I hope..." She inhaled deeply with an audible whistle. "I hope you can live out your life peacefully, have family, children, find happiness... Forget the Dwarves, Elves, Humans... Forget war... All this bullshit that only brings heartache. I really hope..." The woman concluded hanging her head as scorching tears mired her cheeks once again.
"Why..." His low voice rasped. "Why do you say that?" Azog rose unexpectedly. "To an enemy."
Alia blinked rappidly completely taken off-guard by his statement.
"You're not to me." She straightened to crane her head at his tense figure. "You are here... Next to me and I... I-I think I know you... If only a little bit... And I... I like you." The human gazed to her feet chewing her lip.
"You are here, breaking the stereotypes and beliefs I had in my head for years. And I think you, just like anyone else, deserve happiness. The person you are... You are..." Alia was lost for words probably and truly for the first time in her life. "What I wouldn't give to help you achieve that..."
Azog stood transfixed still. Here she was again weeping not for the fallen Elves, Dwarves or even Men but for him and his son. Tears as sign of weaknes... No, for her, they were a sign of uncorrupted heart. Her grief was genuine, her words rang in his head resonating in his heart. 'What I wouldn't give...' A human from an odd world bearing compassion for an Orc. Who honestly haven't done much for her.
Azog's lengthy body sank to his knees, an intense emotion cursed through his veins. His powerful limbs embraced her small body, she slumped down on him atempting to reign in the sobs shuddering her being.
x x x
For the next several days the Pale Orc kept re-watching the last part of the film manically. His glower glued to the screen in silence as if searching for something that wasn't there to begin with. She gave him space. The impact left by the movie could not be reversed easily or at all...
"Azog." Alia approached breaking a two day silence. "I'll be in a bit later tonight." She spoke kicking a shoe between her feet. "Got invited to some... uhmm... birthday thing at work..."
As she exited shutting the door noiselessly her inner voice cleared its throat.
What do you think is going to happen at this point? He is going to just keep living here until your old age? It's been like what? Two weeks... Don't you want to get married like ever? Might as well state it beforehand: Beware this piece of work comes with an Orc pet!
Azog watched her walk out quietly. She dissapeared more and more these days. Time for him stood still regardless, life was a suffocating bubble that kept closing tighter day to day yet when the Sun set the Orc kept on expecting the smell of coffee to waft up to his nose. By the time he'd heard the clicking sounds of shoes in the hallway he found himself nearly impatient, it was almost midnight.
Alia swung in clumsily holding onto the door knob.
"Heeeyy!" The woman smirked as his gaze darted to the tight thick and very short fabric enwrapping her body. She did not leave the house dressed in such manner.
"You grew." Azog straightened exhaling swiftly.
His statement caused a silly chuckle. "No, it's just these." Alia lifted her foot wobling dangerously to show off her black, four inch pumps.
"Looks painful." The male's jaws set as he cocked his head staring incredulously.
"Well yeah..." The human plopped onto the couch kicking off the heels. She ran her fingers through her hair streching her back. Her gaze fell onto the tv set, the Orc was watching the film again...
Wait... How did he... Oh my God that smart ass turned it on all by his lonesome. Talk about a quick learner!
"You..." He started again and she spun to face him, her eyes alight from the recent realisation and the commander paused for a fleeting moment, staring. "You look different."
"Oh you mean my face?" The woman blew a strand away. "That is uhmmm... paint..." As his brow furrowed almost dramatically she grinned. "Washable." Question in his eyes caused her to proceed. "Women do it here... sometimes. It's like a custom or something..."
The Orc's eyes remained puzzled and Alia brushed it off. Unexpectedly Azog's eyes ignited as his nose wrinkled just a tad.
"You drank." He leaned forth to face her.
The human bit back a sarcastic response that would inadvertently reffer to him as a strict father waiting for his daughter to return from a party and then chastasing her for it.
"You want some?" She replied simply, walking off to rammage through the fridge.
"Let me see if you'll like this one!" Alia sauntered forth. "Pretty strong Russian stuff, Horseradish Vodka." She narrowed her eyes mischievously plopping back onto the sofa.
As his palm stretched toward the bottle the human slapped his hand away with mock strictness.
"Hey! Let me set it up and explain first!" Previously drank alcohol gave her a liquid courage as she spoke to him unlike a fearsome, large Orc would expect.
Dillgent and stubborn as she was herself she believed that if trying something for the first time he had to do it right.
"So." The human smiled sitting back down and pouring the firy liquid into the tiny glasses. "You swig it and then immediately eat this." She pointed to a plate of a few pickles she positioned in a flower pattern.
"And this." She smirked. "I really, really want you to try it too!" The woman clasped her hands together with a grin pointing to another plate. That was the black pudding or more commonly known as the blood sausage.
The Orc male took the prickly liquor of course as if it was water frowning upon biting into the pickle instead, causing Alia to roll her eyes dramatically.
"Orcs." The woman glanced sidelong grumbling under her breath. Much to her happiness the sausage received a satisfied nod. Glowering at the tiny glasses Azog swigged from the bottle instead, offering her a turn and Alia tucked in her feet settling next to him. Unlike the Orc she scrunched her face dramatically upon taking a sip.
Her scent was very different. He took a whiff above her hair unseen to her. Very unlike her. For a moment his cheekbones became visible rolling underneath his skin. How comfortable she was now, the smell of her fear left this small space ten moons ago. She rested so close to him, her bare forearm laid on his as she craddled the large transparent bottle in her lap. The human tilted her head for a sip and he caught a tiny flatter of lashes. How strongly he wished he could smell her.
As movie rolled again onscreen Azog jolted him prostetic arm forth to halt the hoard. As Bolg received his dressing down Alia's smile continued to grow.
"I love when you speak your tongue... It's just so strong and..." The woman pronounced a few words attempting to copy Orcish. She gave his rib a soft nudge craning her head to dart him a look. Alia got caught as his scintilating eyes nailed her to the spot. She dropped her stare yet his words caused her to look back.
"Nargzabhtolataz." They were a murmur yet the way he spoke somehow caused an explosion of butterflies in her stomach.
What the heck woman?!
"What did that mean?" She played cute and coy waving away the feeling as she took another swig. All she received in return was a smirk as he bared his canines.
Oh wow... Her brain clouded for a moment. She adjusted her position sliding nearer unknowingly. What would it be like to...
If it was possible her inner voice's eyes widened. Oh my God! Do not tell me you are thinking what I think you are thinking?!
No... She thought vaguely to herself. Not at all... Who said I even would want to...
Uhm darling, your body did!
Insert the bug-eyed emoji with a tiny stick mouth and raised brows.
"I can speak another language too you know if you want to play smart." The woman smirked back mischievously narrowing her eyes as she ignored the inner voice banter.
He was so close she felt his warm breath on her hair. "Shto ty skazal!?" She repeated the question in her native Russian pressing on the issue.
The Orc male exhaled with an audible strain without breaking the eye contact. "I want to smell you. Touch you. I want to... you." That middle word seemed to escape her brain as his massive form loomed over her.
"What... What was that?" The butterfly onset raged in her stomach as the shivers tickled her entire back.
"Nargzabhtolataz." She could have sworn his lips touched her hair and nearly flipped.
"Well.. Uhm... Smell away." Alia chuckled nervously fiddling her fingers.
Unforseen to her his thick muscled arms flipped her upside down and over his shoulder as she released a squeal.
"You need a bath first." He rumbled softly into her ear carrying the woman to the bathroom as she failed to even attempt a protest.
Black Speech:
Nargzabhtolataz - ... (Let's see if you guys can figure it out on your own *smirks*) Let me know! My Dictionaries are listed in my profile.