Chapter One

Rhog grabbed a human soldier by the throat, lifting the pathetic being up and throwing it deep into the battle around them. The orc despised yet respected the humans; despised them for their fragility, but respected them for their grim determination. There was not one enemy in Blackrock Spire that turned tail at the sight of the mighty orc. Pause, sure, but never did they retreat.

The orc warrior marched forward, cutting another soldier in twain with a powerful swing of his axe. His eyes, although constantly snapping around, kept locking back on to the older human that Orgrim had ordered him to get alone. Rhog understood the significance of defeating the leader of an army in battle, for such an act could rout entire armies. And although many others could see only an old human wearing heavy armor and waving around a sword of immense size, Rhog saw something different.

The human's white hair receded to the top of his head, and his face was wrinkled yet dignified, with thick eyebrows and partially hidden behind a thick full beard. Two massive golden pauldrons, one depicting a lion, sat on his shoulders. A scratched yet still gleaming silver armor with gold trim protected him from most attacks, and he wielded a mighty greatsword with glowing runes carved along the blade.

The leader shouted orders in a language the orc did not understand, and the human soldiers obeyed in unison, bringing their shields together to form a wall and resting their blades along the top, pointed out. Although Rhog was not on the receiving end of it, he watched in surprise as other orcs practically threw themselves upon the humans, but to no avail. No matter their size or strength, the orcs made what seemed to be no difference in the shield wall's stability.

Rhog huffed, looking over to an orc who was about to charge into the wall. Reaching out, Rhog clasped the orc's shoulder firmly, stopping him in his place. The orc was shocked for a second, "What are you doing?"

"You're going to give me a boost over that wall." Rhog said with finality, brooking no questioning. The other orc huffed with annoyance, but obliged anyway. Moving up a bit of ways towards the wall, the orc turned and crouched slightly, hands formed into a bowl near his thighs. Rhog wasted no time, sprinting towards the orc with a growl. As he stepped into the orc's hands, Rhog felt himself becoming seemingly weightless for a few moments as he was flung up and over the enemy shield wall.

His blood rushing through his ears, Rhog locked eyes with the old human leader, who's own were widened, before turning his attention back to his landing. With a grunt, the orc rolled to soften his landing, turning on his heel and charging into the rear of the shield wall with a roar. He swung his mighty axe, carving a hole in the formidable shield wall. Soon enough, his fellow orcs flooded through the small opening, cutting down the soldiers and dissolving the wall quickly. With such an opening, the leader quickly rallied his warriors to him, and the battle resumed its intensity.

Rhog was about to attack the leader himself, before a heavy hand grabbed his pauldron, and he was surprised to see Orgrim. "You've done well, Rhog. Leave the leader to me."

"Yes, Warchief." Rhog replied obediently, watching as Doomhammer charged into the fray, smashing a path through the sea of soldiers and engaging in combat with the old leader. Even though Rhog was jealous that he couldn't fight the leader himself, he respected Orgrim almost zealously, and so he turned his attention elsewhere.

He was shocked to see yet another human, clad in similar armor as their leader, smashing orcs with ease using his massive warhammer. The speed at which he swung it was impressive, almost unnatural. Rhog grinned hungrily at the sight, charging towards the human with a warcry.

The human saw Rhog coming, and swung his hammer in an upward arc. The orc sidestepped it, ramming his shoulder into the soldier and sending him skidding across the ground. Pushing his advantage, Rhog lifted his axe over his head and brought it down on the soldier. But to his surprise, the soldier moved as soon as he raised his axe, and his weapon buried itself into the dirt.

The human backed up a couple of steps, strands of brown hair streaked with gray fell in front of his bearded face. The human smiled as he huffed out a breathy laugh, and to Rhog's further surprise, spoke the language of his people, "Ha! You're quite the quick one, aren't you?"

Rhog, shaking off his astonishment, started circling the human, his eyes wary for another attack. "Yes, human."

The human circled the orc almost casually, but Rhog was not going to fall for such a trap, "Oh please, you don't need to say that with such venom." A calm look crossed his face as he locked eyes with Rhog, "You may call me Uther, proud paladin and knight of the Silver Hand." He gestured to the orc, "And you?"

Rhog growled, but even he respected a fellow warrior's wish, however needless, "Rhog." The… paladin bowed his head in acknowledgement, before hefting his hammer in both hands. "Finally!" The orc shouted, revealing his own anticipation.

With a roar, Rhog surged forward, slashing horizontally with his axe. Uther blocked the attack with the shaft of his hammer, pushing it aside as he thrusted the hammer into the orc's now-unprotected chest. Although Rhog was used to getting struck with such attacks, this paladin's strength surprised him even more as the wind was forced out of him. The blow itself knocked him down, but he somersaulted back to his feet, a couple coughs escaping him.

Uther gave no quarter, already upon Rhog and bringing his hammer down upon the orc's skull. Rhog barely had time to step aside, but was able to catch Uther's gauntleted backhand. Stepping back, Rhog pulled with a monstrous strength, the blood-curse slowly overcoming his senses as he tossed the paladin with ease. The orc let out a roar as he continued his assault, charging at and kicking the paladin further across the ground.

Uther coughed a modicum of blood as he came to a stop, swiftly getting to his feet as he ducked under a blow from the orc before him. "Persistent…" He whispered, smashing his hammer into the orc's thigh. To his amazement, there was no crunch. "...and damn durable too." He was torn from his thoughts as Rhog grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up and slamming him into the ground. Pain shot up Uther's spine, but he paid it no mind. The Light would heal any wound, but even if it didn't, he'd still gladly give his life for it.

Rhog raised the human once again, hand still clasped tightly around the paladin's throat. Uther appeared defeated, but Rhog knew that a true warrior deserved a warrior's death. And on this field of battle, Rhog would be the one to deliver the blow, no one else. "Any last words, human?"

"Only one thing…" Uther, although seemingly weakened, spoke with such sureness, such bravery, that it almost immediately put Rhog on edge. "You should never underestimate the Light." Almost seemingly on cue, a golden hammer appeared at Rhog's side, slamming directly into his skull. The blow knocked the orc to the side, and Uther slipped from his grasp and picking up his hammer.

Rhog grunted as he looked back, his vision already filled with stars and his movements sluggish. The last thing he saw was Uther letting out a shout as his hammer smacked against the massive orc's head.