ATTENTION!
This is heavy on abuse. If it's uneasy, please don't read.
No sound came from her mother's room tonight. It was eerie for it to be silent. Many times screams could be heard coming from there. Screams of rage. Screams of cursing. Screams that at times followed the crashing of something being broken. Whispers always abound when her mother threw these kinds of fits. When they came to be more than a fit did her father find his way into the room, thick wooden doors slamming shut in his wake. His yelling could then be heard joining hers as they shouted between themselves. Many times what silenced this shouting and screaming, became physical.
By that time, many of the servants had vanished not wanting their Lord's temper to find them. Some of the servants had whispered that their Lord would later appear leaving the Lady's room fixing his clothing as he went. It led to rumors forming what might have happened and how they prayed for their Lady. Several could remember in the first year of living here their Lord and Lady barely saw each other even as her belly grew rounder. The day when she gave birth, their Lord had taken several of his guards to go hunting not caring for the long laboring pains his wife endured to bring his firstborn into the world.
When the announcement of a healthy girl spread through his castle many thought to rejoice. And at that time it was. Even Lord Blackmoore had been seen holding his daughter with care. Only, it was soon noted that as the months flew by and the girl showed likeness to her father, the servants noticed the lack of her mother appearing to care for the child. The first few months were fine, until fine black as night hair began to grow and dark blue eyes of a newborn changed to that of steel-grey. Once those features were slowly becoming more defined was when her mother stopped being attentive.
At the age of three was when things took a darkening turn. Having been mostly watched over by her nanny, Henley Darby, and her tutor, Jaramin, she had been kept from her mother and fathers sight. The day had been sunny, yet cool, with a light breeze keeping the heat at bay. She had snuck from the watchful eye of her nanny, Henley, and was having fun running through the halls.
"Vineta!" Henley called out once noticing her charge was gone. "Vineta! Come back here, child!"
A small giggle poured from her as she continued to push her tiny legs faster as her hands held the loose fabric of her pale green dress. Soon she found herself pressed against the stone wall to peer around the corner. The sound of her mother had been the reason for her stopping and here Vineta watched her get closer. To her child's eye, she was beautiful with her light blonde hair and dark blue eyes. When Vineta could get a passing glance of the woman that was her mother she was in awe of the grace she held. Hair always in its proper place in their designs, face seeming to glow yet not understanding of the makeup she wore, and dresses fitting her thin frame perfectly. To Vineta, even if she rarely was within the same space as her mother, thought she was like a goddess in disguise to be with mere mortals. With a quick jump from her spot Vineta landed in front of her hoping just for today she would be okay to spend time with her.
"What are you doing here? Where is your nanny?" Esmeralda questioned once she got over the shock of suddenly seeing her daughter pop from the wall that led into another hallway. Taking a few steps back from the child dark blue eyes harden at seeing all of the Blackmoore features Vineta held. A sneer then found its way onto her lips. "Get out of my sight, you Blackmoore spawn!"
Taken aback Vineta felt her arms come up towards her chest and eyes widening with shock and confusion. "Mother?"
"Don't call me that." Esmeralda sneered taking a step towards her child, hands gripping the fabric of her dark blue dress. "Get out of my sight." She hissed.
Not understanding the anger that was coming from her mother Vineta could feel tears gather from the fright. The two stood still for those few seconds as Vineta tried in vain to process what was happening when a rage filled scream ripped from her mother's throat. Vineta felt her whole body seize up at the rough gripping to her upper arms, forcing her to look into the ugly twist that held her mothers face. It was like a broken mirror, breaking the view she held of the woman.
"Why must you look like him!?" She seethed giving a few hard jerks to the child she held. "I hate the way you look so much like him! I despise it! He ruined me.." Another few hard jerks came and it seemed like a glint of something filled her eyes. "So, it's only fair I should do the same to someone of his blood." Vineta cried as her head snapped to the side and a harsh sting filled in from the hit.
She hit her and fat tears fell in her pain and the shock. "That..that felt good. He's done the same to me so many times...So good." Esmeralda stated in a wonder like whisper not caring to hear the sobs coming from the child. Vineta whimpered as her grip on her arms tightened to the point she could feel them start to numb. "I wonder how he would feel to me treating his own flesh and blood the same way he does me. Would he care enough to even save you, you Blackmoore spawn? Ha, I doubt it."
"Vineta?!"
Esmeralda quickly let go of Vineta to stand back up from her bent posture as Vineta dropped to the floor on her bottom. The figure of Henley came around her dark brown hair wind blown from her frantic looking for her charge as brown eyes zeroed in on Vineta. "There you are! You can't go wondering..Oh! My Lady!" With a curtsy Henley was quick to apologize for not noticing Esmeralda. Once the nanny looked over Vineta she let out a concerned tone. "Oh, Vineta, what happened to you, dear?"
"She ran into me. It spooked me from her suddenly appearing and I may have pushed her off a bit too hard. Make sure to take care to not lose her again, Henley." Esmeralda stated glancing down to the crying child coldly. "We wouldn't want her to cause alarm within the castle if she were to harm herself again." With her piece said, Esmeralda lifted her chin in a clear show of who held more worth as she stepped around the two.
Henley narrowed her eyes, watching the woman move past before turning to her charge to kneel before the girl. With a soft 'tsking' and sooth words Henley scooped up the child into her arms. A hand rubbing up and down the length of her spine hoping to help get her tears to slow a bit. "There, there, my dear. Your mother didn't mean to push you hard. How about we see if we can go see the horses today, yes?"
From that day on, when Esmeralda felt the need to vent her frustration of her situation, she turned to her daughter. She was discrete about it. Never doing it with servants near and never in places not easily explained away that the servants began to paint Vineta as a clumsy child. When Esmeralda couldn't take to hitting the child she was ruthless in her words. Blackmoore spawn, Traitors blood. Worthless tainting to the Deighton bloodline.
As time went on, Vineta found herself hiding from the woman. By any means, that led to another dark day of revelation for Vineta. At the age of six, one such event of hiding from the woman, Vineta found herself sneaking past guards. Having never gone this far from the Durnholde Keep since she was busy with studies and being kept watched over by Henley, who in the last year had become slightly more overbearing due to her 'clumsy' ways. It had been a split second thought when she spotted her mother at the other end of the hallway that Vineta found herself outside.
Now, she's known about her father's commanding of the camps that held the bloodthirsty orcs, but she had never once seen them. Not when you had a nanny that was protective of her charge. She's also heard about the orc that he favors as many servants gossiped about it, thinking she wasn't nearby in her hiding. One that he would make time to go see, but never seemed to have time to seek out his own daughter. Too many times she tried to get him to glance her way hoping to hear how her studies were going. How she was advancing into subjects for those older than her. Or that she was taking up archery in hopes that he might come to see how her aim was coming it got better with each session. Even taking to horseback while shooting arrows at targets that had been set up for those in the cavalry to train. Nothing seems to interest him to her.
So, it was here, that she found her way into one of the camps. With only a few guards maundering about without really taking stock of the dull eyed orcs around them like they should have. Vineta found herself carefully looking around from her spot next to one of the huts that housed the orcs. She never thought orcs would be so huge. Even with full armor on, the guards were smaller in frame to these beasts in green skin that only those that were female were of a closer size range to a human male. Lower jaws sticking out further than the upper with tusks ranging in size to each orc present. Some having a broken tusk or bits chipped from fights. Many were filthy from not bathing and having to wear the same clothing given to them that seemed to rarely be changed for better ones due to several holes and strings hanging. It made for a smelly area but it didn't deter Vineta from leaving.
Being only six, her awareness wasn't that great for things behind her. So, it came as quite the scare for the girl when a gruff voice questioned her. She had to give herself some praise for not screaming out but had a full bodied jerking with only a 'meep' sound come forth. Swiftly turning to the being behind her, she found an orc sitting a few feet from her as his dull gaze held her. This orc was of a smaller size next to his brethren and showed to be older in looks as his black hair was speckled with gray. Yet, Vineta couldn't help but think that this orc was more powerful in aura even with the dull eyes and lethargic way he moved as he stood.
"Well, whelp, why you here?" he questioned her in broken common again. His voice was not loud enough to gather the attention of others around but gruff in a way that demanded an answer. Vineta felt her throat tighten as her eyes followed upwards to this giant green orc that towered her even if he was still feet from her. He gave a jerk of his protruding jaw with a grunt. "Whelp. Answer."
"Hiding." she finally whispered out thankful that it was loud enough for the orc. He gave another grunt as his dull brown eyes rover over her before glancing around them. "Danger. Leave." Confused Vineta glanced around seeing no guards near the building they used as hiding. "No one is near us..?" At her words the orc took to glancing around again as a gut feeling pooled telling him something bad was coming.
"Not safe whelp. Need leave. Chief here." His broken common wasn't helping her understand as he could see the confusion in her eyes. His gruff voice took more of an urgency as he motioned his hands in a shooing manner hoping to get the little girl to go. "Not safe." With the growing dread feeling in his gut he stepped towards her ignoring the way her frame tensed. "Whelp, leave. Not safe!" His tone held more urgency, that even Vineta heard it this time. It caught her off guard that Vineta didn't react to the gentle push of meaty hands only the slight sway from the motion.
"Well, what do we have here?" Both froze and tensed at the voice that could be heard loudly in the area. Turning heads, both human girl and orc found the voice belonging to Lord Blackmoore. He continued to
make his way towards the two with two guards keeping in step with him as other orcs and guards within the camp were now watching. Most gazing at nothing with dull eyes while very few held curious looks to the girl. "Seems we have a troublesome little girl finding her way into places she shouldn't. And look an orc seeming bold enough to touch a human. Oh, how did this happen?" He question sending scathing glares to the guards on duty that sent them straightening their backs. His dark tone promising drills for all in his keep for letting this slip by them.
The closer he got, the more tense the orc became as he withdrew him hands from being near the child. He may not be good at speaking their tongue but he was proficient in understanding it spoken. This man was a danger to her and it made the orc want to protect her even if she was a human, she was still a young one.
"What should I do about you, hmm, dear?" Blackmoore asked, glancing down at his daughter. His next words make the dread in the orcs gut weight like rocks as he found out the relation between them. "Wondering into a place not meant for you means you need to be punished. We can't be letting children into such areas, even one that is my daughter."
Vineta could feel sweat formed on her skin at the dangerous glint in her father's eyes. It was here Vineta found that she did not feel safe from her father just like with her mother. The intent of his being pressed upon her so much that she began to shake in fear with eyes blown wide. Suddenly she let out a yelp in fright as her father took hold of an arm, then shrieked from surprise and pain as Blackmoore used the other to backhand her. With a jerk of his free hand a guard quickly gathered Vineta from his hold and the orc beside them. "Bring the orc to the posts. We need to remind these beasts that they are nothing but groveling worms under our boots. Jonathon, keep hold of my daughter, it is time she starts learning what I do here and what to expect from her as my heir."
Giving no resistance the orc was shoved forward having already been to the post twice before since being here. With his head bowed and pepper colored hair covering a bit of his eyes he glanced at the girl. Already a dark bruise was forming on her left cheek from the blow as she freely cried from the pain. With a final shove he was quick to put his hands up to stop the momentum into the post before they were pulled firmly up and into shackles. A ripping to the back of his shirt opened up the sight of his healed over whip scars from before.
Even with how busy Blackmoore could get he would always make time for whippings. Whippings that he handled with his own hand and took joy in delivering this punishment to these green hulking bastards. Ignoring the weeping of his daughter Blackmoore gave the first snap of the whip into the orcs back. A malicious grin spread over his lips as he watched the orc arch. Several more snaps followed before a tiny voice rang out. "Stop! Please father! He didn't do anything!"
Turning to her he lazily moved the strip of leather. "Oh but he did. By touching you he needs to be punished. By speaking to you, he gets punished. These green bastards deserve any and all punishment."
Vineta sobbed her eyes never leaving the black blood that leaked from the orcs wounds. It felt wrong for him to be punished for something simple, something that shouldn't cause blood to be the price. "But it is wrong! Just because he is an orc, he gains this!?"
Blackmoore gazed at her with fury. How dare she question his actions?! How dare his own daughter try to make it seem like this punishment was wrong. "If you're so against this orc receiving his punishment as his due for what transpired, then perhaps you shall share his burden. Seems your own punishment wasn't enough by my hand. Handcuff her to a post." He ordered and when Jonathon was hesitant, Blackmoore
gave a hard snap of the whip he held letting the sound carry over the whipping yard. It forced the man as ordered by shoving the girl to a post next to the orc with enough width between them.
With a dagger used Vineta felt air hit her back as the dress she wore was cut open just like they had done with the orc. Scared she let another sob out as her eyes found the orc, his own burning into hers as if trying to convey his worry and concern. His muscles seemed to bulge in his anger. Anger that wasn't aimed at her but at the human doing this to his own child. A scream ripped from Vineta at the first harsh sting of the whip making her shut her eyes hard.
A growl rose from within the orc. When the second snap and shriek came he found himself fighting against the iron cuffs as his growling grew louder startling several guards. The third snap found him breaking the chain that held his cuffs, and with swift movements long drilled into his body, he found his first victim crumble like paper under his clubbed fists and a challenging roar bellowing out. This bellowing cry rousing many other orcs that had been watching the whippings happen. Many couldn't find it in themselves to care about the small being harmed, as dull red eyes were unfocused, but that bellowing roar caused something to stir within. This stirring pushed them into action that had been lost.
Shouts were thrown as guards scrambled to defend themselves against orcs that were moving faster than what they had come to grow use too. By the time order had been settled, seven orcs were slain and double that in guards were dead. The orc that helped start it stood before the girl in an act to stave off any more harm to come towards her in the madness.
Blackmoore took note of this as he wiped his sword of black blood. He could do nothing now but put the orc into confinement as order was once again set. Taking a step towards the orc he paused at hearing the threatening growl taking notice that many of the orcs had gone back to being lifeless unlike this one. It wasn't the first time Blackmoore had to deal with this one orc, hell he even knew the orcs name as it was rare to find one with such an age. Unlike most orcs he's come to see, this one didn't hold the same blood red eyes as the others. Which made the man wonder why there was such a difference between those with the red eyes and those that didn't have them.
"Take her back to her room and send for a healer. Make sure they know only to treat the wounds with ointment and not the healing arts." Blackmoore ordered as several guards took to beating the orc down so they could extract the child. After enough hard hits from wooden clubs the orc lay beaten on the ground unconscious and bloody.
It was here Vineta learned then that neither of her parents cared for her. No matter how much she hoped it wasn't the truth, it was. That day also led to Vineta earning her fathers wrath at any inconvenience when she was within his sight. Either from a day going back or the times his drink took over him did she find the sting of her cheek lessened each time he struck her. During this time, her mother had given birth to a son, one that mirrored her in every look of a Deighton that she fled from Durnholde. In the prospect of her second child taking over as heir for Deighton. When that happened, Vineta found out how much her father took out on her mother. It was the worst beating she had ever gotten and last time he did so.
She owed her life after that to two people who took to making sure she remained out of harm. One being her appointed guardian, set by her own father, thanks to the sweet whispers of his young mistress, Taretha. This guardian came in the form of the same orc that tried to defend her at the whipping post. This orc later gave her his name. Sok Stoneflame.