~Milsem~
The brother's arguments were getting worse every mission, the same song and dance in the most horrific places as if Cadtal wanted something bad to happen to end the conflict without actually drawing the sword against his brother. She grew weary of it and thought of leaving every second of every day. Until those eyes turned to her and that hint of helplessness toyed on Turlock's face. Her heart melted like butter on hot coals every time.
Loving the sin'dorei was her curse, from the moment Turlock turned as he pulled off his helm spilling all that lovely blood red hair about his torso. The way he smiled that moment as he walked to her extending a hand of friendship. She played that moment over and over in her head, mostly in slow motion with seductive music company it. That moment was a brief one that was sheered into her heart and mind like a huge stain that changed the course of her life. She had watched his form, while his body shimmered with the Light, as he healed the comrades of that mission in Shadowfang keep. His welding of that power and the way it made him almost glow when he talked about it, she found it utterly beautiful. His faith in the Light amazing, if she didn't cling to the orc shamanic ways she would fully convert to his faith.
While Turlock was caring and watching for everyone else except his own welfare, she was happily watching his rather cute backside. The punch to Turlock's face snapped her out of her thoughts, she stepped between the brothers and growled a warning to Cadtal. Her eyes narrow and jaw set with equal hate that was reflecting from him. She wanted to cut Cadtal's throat wide open, their bouts were always a little physical but nothing with an all out slam to Turlock's face. She felt Turlock standing beside her, where he belonged, still trying to talk sense into Cadtal.
She thought she saw the glint of a blade when Cadtal grabbed Turlock, she would have put an ax blade in the fools skull if it not for demons coming their way. She unhooked her second ax from he belt and ran into the battle, she pulled as much attention upon herself to give them time to regroup and fight the real threat.
She was strong in battle, she followed the proud footsteps of her father. Even so, even she had limits. Her black blood ran down her body as the demons were overwhelming her four to one. She lasted as long as she possible could, taking two of the cursed beasts with her.
Milsem's body hit the red dry soil, her head bounced off the unforgiving dirt next to a near shattered skull of an ancestor. She heard feet and felt the warmth of the light and the familiar whispers of Turlock nearby. He came after her, she tried to scream with joy but only was able to twitch enough to hopefully prove to him that she still lived. Barely, but alive. While the battle forged without her, she reached to her belt of pockets and fumbled for a vial of potion. Life in a tiny bottle, she would pay for it later.
She uncorked it with her teeth as her blood continued to drain from her wounds. She wanted to sleep and just let the world fade away. Instead, she threw back the herbal mixture. She heard Turlock calling for Cadtal before the familiar tingle sweep through her as her wounds were knitted together and energy rolled through her. Her heart was heavy as she willed the potion to work faster, her paladin was in trouble and now apparently alone.
She was finally able to move, she pushed herself to her knees gathering her weapons as Turlock fought for his life a short distance away. He was at the end of his rope, she knew him well enough to see. The way he was battling between the powerful healing spells upon himself. He was still loosing ground, she pushed herself on her feet. Every fiber of her being was set with determination, jaw locked as she raced toward the demon that would kill the love of her heart.
Her heavy body slammed against the demon forcing the creature to catch his balance. Her rage was building as she slammed her axes several times against the powerful armor, she wanted it to be Cadtal. She had to settle for the portal guard, the blows were powerful she used her special attacks to gain leverage over the demon. Turlock joined the fray and together they put the demon in the dust.
The next moment stilled, Turlock's arms were wrapped around her. She dropped her weapons and held him, all the pain she felt flitted away with his small body pressed against hers. As quick as it came the moment passed, he apologized with a blush on his cheeks. She hoped that meant he had some feeling for her after this long time, she proved to him that she would not leave him alone. Maybe, just maybe that was finally driven into his head.
"Let's finish this," she said reclaiming her weapons. She was giddy from the unexpected full body contact. She craved more of it, on the account she was greedy. He fell in step returning the helm to his head taking and followed orders without hesitation or question.
She found herself glancing back at her hating the full face helm that blocked his face from her, she wanted to see what emotion was masked upon his delicate facial features. It forced her mind on the battle so he would be safe enough to take it off again. They finished the mission and returned the way they had come dropping behind the outcropping where the adventure had began.
"That was nice," Turlock stated glad to be alive. "Glad you had those potions on you."
Milsem drank deeply from her waterskin before digging for some food, she felt shaky from the potions power. She would sleep like a rock tonight. "We always make a good team. You and I," she stated offering him a ration bar.
Turlock hummed with agreement, forcing his teeth into the chewy hard food. "Remember when we first met," he asked with a grin around his mouthful.
"How could I forget? Shadowfang Keep, those critters were tough to kill. You were yelling at Cadtal to slow down. Trying to heal the whole team at once until you nearly passed out." She shook her head at the memory. It was a mess and they nearly died several times, if it hadn't been for Turlock's sheer will they would have. "Good times."
"How did we ever survive that place?" He wondered out loud with a sigh.
Milsem saw that helpless expression on Turlock's face, it only came when they were alone. Like he allowed only her to see that side of him. It made her heart ache and her stomach turn with fury. She knew how to make that frown turn upside down and she grinned. "I sat on Cadtal."
Turlock roared with laugher remembering the string of threats and curses from his brother wiggling under the two hundreds plus pounds of orc. The laugher died far to quickly and he let out a breath leaning against the rocks to finish the bar to help build his lagging energy.
Milsem hadn't changed much since that first mission, save for the fact her hair had grown which was always held back in a braid which reached her knees now, the rest of her head was bald. She still wore the two hoops of earrings he had gave her after Shadowfang Keep in a way of an apology for his brother's rude comments and gestures after she had let him up. She never took them out, they were a little of him she carried with her always.
Turlock touched his blood encrusted armor. "I hate these missions," he grumbled. "I feel soap will run away from me in terror."
Milsem rose to her feet and held out a hand for him, which he took without question. She pulled him on his feet and wrapped an arm around his waist. He didn't fight it, he melted against her in fact. She prayed that finally after two years of yearning for him, was finally paying off. He peered up at her and she smiled easily at him. "I think hot food and cold drinks are in order."
"You are an orc, Milsem."
"All my life," she agreed glad they were in the familiar stage of the mission. He wasn't going to push her away tonight. Cadtal wasn't around to distract him or spoil her plans.
"I am an sin'dorei."
"Yep."
Turlock rubbed the bridge of his nose spreading filth across his nose and brow. "I have to continually explain our racial standings after every mission."
"You can explain while we eat," she suggested before moving them toward their waiting mounts.
"I am not hungry, I want to drown myself in a tub of lukewarm water."
"First we enjoy a hot meal and conversation. Then we will see what we can do about that drowning," she said with a twinkle in her eye. Having no qualms seeing Turlock naked in a tub, there would be no drowning via water. Just affection.
"Why does everything have to yield to your stomach?"
"Not everything," she promised helping him on his mount, he groaned his movements stiff.
His horse tossed her head and pranced before he grabbed the reins. "Battles don't count," he countered.
Milsem frowned at him before mounting her worg and the two headed to Thrallmar at a steady clip. The harden dirt barely registered their passing, the heated sand coated their gore stained armor. They stabled their tired mounts, gathered their supplies and walked across the village to the inn.
She approached the innkeeper to order food, drink and a room with a bath ready for Turlock. She returned as he was easing his hands out of his gauntlets, she escorted him to a table which the food and drink was quickly delivered.
Turlock drank the offered beverage only to wrinkle his nose and forced himself to swallow. "What is this?"
"Ale," she answered around her mouthful, the food was a little gritty from the dust but tasty just the same. She really didn't care, it was food and she was starving. Thanks to the potion's forcing her body to generate energy and healing.
"It tastes horrible."
"Puts hair on your chest," she answered without thinking.
Turlock blinked at her. "Why would I want hair on my chest?"
Her eyes snapped to him, she chugged half of her pint before slamming the mug on the table. She wanted to touch his chest so very badly feel his silky hair slipping over her skin. She was lost in that thought for a moment then realize he was waiting for an answer. "Um," she answered, a hand wiping her mouth. She didn't want hair on his chest, she really needed to change the topic. "I think you were going to refresh my memory of why we are not supposed to be together."
Turlock let out a breath and poked at his food feeling the buzz from the alcohol. "You know why, Milsem. I think you have selective memory loss."
Milsem leaned toward him and turned to him. Even with blood and who knew what else splattered all over him he was strikingly handsome. "It only matters what we think, arrow to the knee to the rest of the flakes in this world." She shifted and took another gulp of her beverage, finding the courage to press forward with what had happened. She needed to know, but was also afraid of the answer. "Do you have a problem with me?"
The pause scared her as his illuminated eyes searched her, the features were impossible to read which made her even more nervous. "The orc and the sin'dorei always have mistrusted each other."
"Answer the question," she said softly but sternly. Wanting to know more and more as the silence stretched out between them. He shifted as he was fighting a mental battle.
"No, Milsem, I don't have a problem with you."
She beamed, relief flooded over her and she slid a hand over her mostly bald head tugging on the braid that grew at the crown of her skull. "Well. Good. Then. Yes, then it is settled then, we will be together. Just you and I."
"But."
"Butts are for chairs," she snapped, she poked the table with her index finger. "Listen, Turlock, we need some time away from your brother. Let him deal with his own messes he continually causes. I want-I have always wanted to just you more than the a few moments here or there." Her large hand covered his, causing blood to pump a little faster. It was time for raw truth and she was not accepting nothing else right now. "Or am I taking that hug you gave me all wrong?"
"When you fell my world ended," he finally admitted.
Milsem heart soared, there was hope. She saw much hope for the future with Turlock at her side more than just comrades in arms. She wanted to hold him at night as well and be his partner in all ways. She was more than anyone else that she knew of. Cadtal more or less had already started turning his back on Turlock when they met. She still hadn't figured the reason why exactly. "We always make a good team, you and I." She said carefully before pausing a moment before pressing onward. "Let us be that team beyond the battlefield."
Turlock stared at the mug, his heart and brain at odds. The moment his gaze met hers, the battle was won and the victor was announced. "Alright."
At that moment she wanted to sweep him in her arms and carry him away for the next couple days before he could find any reason to retract that statement. Duty to the Horde prevented that sudden disappearance. They were needed in this hell hole and she would figure how to work it in some way. She squeezed his hand tenderly and nodded in agreement.
Turlock took another swig of the painfully strong ale making a face. "That is horrible."
She felt lighter now that tense conversation was behind them, she returned to the food she still needed to eat. "It is better than that colored water you call wine. I could drink a keg of that and barely feel a buzz. Not worth consuming for an orc."
"I am clearly not an orc," he pointed before belching. He patted his chest and wrinkled at his nose at the red dust covered slim that was there.
"Oh, I am fully aware." Turlock's eyebrow rose and a smile kicked the corner of his mouth. "Drink up."
"I shouldn't, I don't want to be all sloppy drunk," he shoved it toward her.
She returned the ale to him. "Don't I always watch your back?" She had proved it time and time again. Even now on this axis of their relationship moving to another level she didn't change her first and foremost rule about keeping her paladin safe.
"You always do," he confessed picking up the mug.
The meal was finished quickly enough and Milsem was eager to leave the dining hall behind. The warrior gathered their stuff and carried what was left of the ale upstairs, Turlock following behind. She unlocked the door and pushed inside dropping the bags near the door. She lit lanterns to brighten the room that held a thick framed bed and chairs that would hold the weight of any orc. "I can't sleep with this gook covering me."
"Gook?" Milsem whispered, glancing at him as he stood there tipping back and forth. She pointed to the divider that sat in the corner of the room. The sin'dorei sat his mug down and peeked around, he turned to her with a look of relief and the deepest of gratitude. He stepped behind the wooden frame with cloth stretched over it and started tearing off armor and clothing. She listened to the soft splashes and long sighs of pleasure.
She forced herself to remain at the table, she drank her ale and attempted to think of anything but Turlock behind those fragile curtains. It was torturous, she so wanted to join him. She worked on removing her plate armor and setting them near the stuff, she went into the washroom peeking behind the blind only seeing the side of the tub. She washed herself as best as she could before returning to the main room to find a pair of leather pants and linen shirt that hung open showing off her breastbone.
Turlock had a towel wrapped around his waist heading straight for the pile of bags she had dropped. He wiggled on some pants and whipped off the towel before slipping on a wrap around tunic and tied it in place. He sat on the chair a foot propped on the seat of the chair, leaning his head on his palm propped on his elbow on the top of the table. His red hair spilling over the surface, he studied her.
"How was the bath?"
"Perfect," he whispered moving only enough to sip at the ale. "It was big enough for two or three people in that tub."
"Or one orc," she stated. "Sin'dorei are small people."
"Yes, I am. Just a wee ting," he giggled. "I sounded like a troll dar." He laughed harder taking a large gulp of the ale. His head inched closer and closer to the table as he laughed and mumbled to himself.
"Alright, you have had enough," she declared easing him away from the table, he was like a limp doll unwilling to move from the spot. She lifted him into her arms, his head rolled onto her shoulder. The soft smell of the soap still clinging to his damp hair. She moved to the bed and eased him on his feet, he stood leaning heavily upon her. One arm wrapped around his waist, she tossed the covers aside.
Milsem eased him on the mattress and he sighed and shifted against her, his fingers clutched her shirt front. She touched the battle calloused hand before touching his flawless face and tall ears he sported. "Turlock," she whispered full of want.
"Stay," he whispered half a sleep. "Don't leave me."
How could she refuse? She climbed into bed before covering the both of them with the thin blanket. Tucking him close to her, she finally reached the point she wanted to be for so long. Turlock curled up beside her already asleep. "Finally," she whispered. "I am not letting you go, Turlock."
He moaned softly in his sleep and she took that as an agreement to her words. Her eyes slipped shut as the days event finally caught up with her fully. Tomorrow will be hellish as she recovered from the potion she drank and to keep Turlock from possibly wigging out. Tomorrow will come, she wanted to enjoy tonight fully and completely.
