Puffgirl1952 the 2nd: thanks for all the things you point out that I could change, I'm not sure I will correct them but it still helps me for other things I'm writing :) Well then I'm glad I didn't upset you. I hope you will like this chapter.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5: It could be a trap
"Take a bath and rest a little," he told her. "I will come back to escort you to dinner".
He started to walk away.
"Lothar!" she called as he put his hand on the doorknob.
"Yes?" he asked as he turned to face her.
She took a deep breath. She already felt her cheeks heating up and her heartbeat quicken at what she was going to ask. She looked away.
"I can't take the armour off alone," she said.
Lothar's cheek reddened a little but she didn't notice it, too focused on her own embarrassment.
"Forget it, I will find a way to take it off," she quickly said as she turned to face the wall.
She bent forward to take off the boots, but cried in pain and fall on the ground wincing in pain.
"Karandra!"
Lothar rushed to her side, kneeling beside her and taking her hand in his.
"Are you alright? What happened? What's wrong?"
"My back…" she groaned. "My wound re-opened…"
"You're wounded?" he repeated. "Why didn't you tell me?"
He pulled her on his lap and turned her so he could see her back. He swiftly removed the laces with an expert hand and pushed the armour away.
"I need to move your shirt away to look at the wound," he announced.
She nodded and tried to push on her arms to get back up but groaned in pain as she did so. She had held back the pain for too long and now it was hitting her hard. He grabbed her under the arms and helped her stand against the wall.
"Hold on just a second, you can lie down after".
She merely nodded, trying her best to stay still. From the corner of her eyes she saw him draw out a small dagger. He used it to cut the fabric, which now hanged open on her back.
"How did you get this?" he muttered when he saw the scar.
It was a blurry line from one shoulder to another. There was dried blood around it, little red stains on her light brown skin. The cut was a nasty greenish-black colour.
"It's badly infected… Why didn't you tell me ?!"
"Showing a wound is a sign of weakness," she weakly answered.
"But this is a serious injury! It needs healing! Hold on a little longer, this will hurt".
He pressed a hand lower on her back, pressing her against the wall to keep her still. He started removing the strange black fluid and pieces with his dagger, careful not to injure her more. She let out a loud scream of pain at first and then grinded her teeth together to keep silent, groaning now and then.
"Don't move, I'll help you out of the armour".
He quickly removed every piece, and grabbed her around the waist. He removed her shirt as well, leaving her pants on and only her arms to cover her bare chest. She didn't mind though. He helped her in the bathtub, and pushed lightly on her back so he could clean her skin. She shuddered when he poured hot water on the wound, and started cleaning it. Once cleaned up he helped her out of the bathtub and wrapped a large clothe around her to dry her skin, covering her chest but not the wound.
"Can you hold on a little longer? I need to wrap this up so I won't get infected again".
She nodded. The bath helped her feel better, even if the wound was hurting her a great deal. She didn't move as Lothar wrapped bandages around her shoulders, covering her skin with the white fabric above her chest.
"Here, that's better. Come on now".
He supported her out of the bathroom.
"Can you dress up on your own? I need a bath too".
"Yes. Thank you. Sorry I didn't tell you".
He placed both hands on her cheeks, making her look right at him.
"It's alright," he told her. "But don't ever do this again, you hear me?"
"I promise".
He had a relieved smile when she said that. They stood like this for what seemed a long time. Lothar awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Well… I better go… I'll come back soon".
He quickly walked away, leaving her with a strange feeling, and warm cheeks. She opened the wardrobe, and looked among all the dresses the Queen had so kindly offered her. She found one with a high collar that would hide the bandages, and removed her pants before putting it on. Fortunately, the laces were on the front so she wouldn't have to pull on her wound again.
It was a silver dress with long sleeves, made of a soft and warm fabric, hugging her body tightly on the top and flowing from her waist to her feet. She laced it tightly, and buttoned the collar that was gently hugging the base of her neck. She found a dark blue cape and was trying to figure how to put it on her shoulders without pulling on her wound when she heard a knock on her door.
"It's me," a male voice said from the other side.
"Come in."
Lothar entered again, wearing the same kind of clothes he had before. Warrior clothes, made of black leather. He stopped when he saw her, mouth slightly agape.
"You look… different".
She frowned.
"In a good way," he quickly added. "Different in a good way".
He saw the cape in her hands and walked to her.
"May I?" he asked, reaching for the blue fabric.
She handed it to him and he carefully placed it on her shoulders. He found a silver pin in the wardrobe and attached it in front of her right shoulder to keep everything in place. She slipped in black little shoes that didn't need her to bent over to put them on, and turned to him.
"Where are we going?" she asked him.
"Dinner. With the King and the Queen".
She slowly nodded. He presented her his arm. She looked at him blankly.
"You're supposed to hold on my arm, it's… custom, I would say. And I can make sure you don't fall".
"Oh, I see".
She placed her hand in the crook of his arm. He led her out of the room and through the corridors. It was still highly confusing for her, but her guide knew the place like the back of his hand. Soon enough they arrived in a room with a large table in the centre. The King and the Queen were standing at one end, talking to each other. They stopped when the two arrived.
"Ah, Lothar, Karandra," the Queen greeted them. "We were waiting for you".
"I'm sorry we kept you waiting," Lothar replied. "I had a little emergency to take care of".
Karandra's grip tightened when he subtly mentioned her wound, although she was the only one who understood what he meant.
"Karandra, you look beautiful," the Queen added.
"Thank you," she said warily.
No one ever told her she was beautiful.
"Please, sit," the King said.
He was sitting at an end; the Queen was sitting on his left. Lothar motioned for Karandra to sit on the King's right, and helped her with the chair like a gentleman before sitting on her right.
The dinner went on quickly, and they discussed mainly of the Orc problem, asking her various questions about Gul'dan, the fel, the humans prisoners, the war band and the Horde. She gave them as much information as she could. They were finishing when a messenger barged into the room.
"Your Majesty! Khadgar and Garona are asking for an immediate audience with you! They said it's an emergency!"
"Very well, lead them to the throne room, we'll head here right away".
The messenger bowed and disappeared as quickly as he appeared. The four of them went to the throne room in a hurry. Garona left a curious eyebrow when she saw Karandra with the human clothes but said nothing. Khadgar stared at her in awe for a few seconds, but quickly turned away when he noticed the death glare Lothar was giving him.
Garona quickly informed them of Durotan's request. Everyone started speaking at the same time – except Karandra of course – so King Llane raised a tired hand to order silence.
"He would not ask for this meeting if he thought he could defeat Gul'dan alone," he reasoned then looked to Garona. "The fel must truly terrify him".
"Durotan is scared of nothing," she told them.
"The location," Lothar countered as he stood up. "The suddenness of this meeting. It sounds like a trap".
"It is not," Garona shot back.
"It could be".
"It is not!"
"It could be".
"It is not!"
"What do you think?" Lothar asked Llane.
"It's a too good opportunity to ignore. I think we have no choice. We must stop the Orcs from opening the portal. But we will need help".
"And if he's lying?" Lothar then asked.
Karandra raised a doubtful brow.
"Orcs do not lie," Garona groaned.
"What if he is?" Lothar insisted.
"There is no honour in it".
"And where is the honour, in betraying his own people?"
Garona looked at him like he was stupid. Karandra stepped next to her to explain.
"Durotan is protecting his clan. His enemy is the fel. Gul'dan is the betrayer," she calmly said.
"This Orc, Durotan," the Queen piped in. "How do you know him?"
"He freed us, and he is loved by his clan," Karandra answered.
"He is a strong chieftain," Garona added.
"Strong chiefs must earn their clan's trust," the Queen stated.
She stood up and approached the two half Orcs.
"If we are to expect you to join us, we must earn yours".
She handed both of them a dagger. Garona's had an ivory part and Karandra's was black.
"To defend yourselves," Lady Taria added.
Karandra was holding the little blade with surprise, and looked at the woman with gratefulness.
"With this?" Garona said doubtfully.
"Yes".
"Find the Guardian," the King told his soldiers.
Garona was led to a room by a soldier, while Lothar escorted Karandra back to hers. He closed the door behind them and helped her remove the pin and the cape. She swiftly put the shoes away too. There was an awkward silence.
"Well then, I'll leave you to sleep. I will leave tomorrow morning with the King for the meeting with Durotan, and then I'll be back. Wait for me here, okay?"
"No, I want to go with you!"
"Karandra, you're injured, it's too risky!"
"I had worse wounds in the past, no one to help me, and I survived. I am coming. You need people who know the Orcs. Garona and I, we have to come. Please".
He looked conflicted but finally nodded.
"Thank you," she said.
He placed his hand on her cheeks and forced her to look at him.
"But you have to promise me, you'll run away if it's a trap. You won't put yourself in danger. You won't do anything reckless. Promise me!"
"I promise".
He sighed. He moved closer and kissed her forehead before exiting the room.