Eventually, Lurgak raised his head, and looked at Elen. Although there was still some darkness to his eyes, they were mostly back to a soft brown. “Elen…. You didn’t….leave me.” Every word seemed to be a struggle to say.

“Where would I go?” She replied, gently, smiling slightly.

“I’m not… still not…. Safe.” He said, though breathing heavily. Elen swallowed, but helped Lurgak to his feet.

“Nonsense. You swore not to hurt me. I’ll hold you to that. Now come on, you’re wounded, and you need to heal. Where do you live?”

Lurgak smiled down at her. “Has anyone told you how wonderful you are?”

“Every day.” She smiled at him, glad to break the tension. “‘And you’ll keep doing it, if you know what’s good for you. Now come on, before you get delirious. Let’s get you home.”

Lurgak smiled wearily and directed Elen to the edge of the village where a small hut stood, overlooking a meadow. Elen didn’t have time to take in the view, however, because as soon as she crossed over the threshold with Lurgak, he collapsed to the floor.

Elen immediately set to work. She couldn’t lift him onto the bed, so she gently laid him out on the floor, pushing the musty pillow from the bed under his head. She washed him, and cleaned his wounds, blushing slightly as she cleaned his penis and he let out a small moan, even in his unconscious state. She did it quickly, and deftly, before covering him with a blanket. She tore her dress to make bandages, and dressed his wounds. As the day wore on, and he still did not wake, she looked around for things that would help. The hut was a single room - a bed in one corner, a hearth with a roasting stake and cauldron in the other, and a single table and chair. Sparse, but could be cleaner. She set to, stoking the fire. She found a ceramic jug leaning in one of the corners of the room, and after extracting a family of spiders from it, she recalled seeing a small stream at the bottom of the meadow. Casting a quick glance over at the still-sleeping form of Lurgak, she picked up the jug and went to fill it with water. As she stepped out into the meadow, she was struck with the peacefulness of where Lurgak had made his home, compared to the horror that she had seen in the main camp of the tribe. The meadow was quiet, save for the sounds of birds singing, and the merry tinkle of the stream as it burbled away. She took a deep breath, and smiled sadly to herself. She walked to the stream, filled the jug, and stopped to pick a few herbs before walking back to the cottage. She slipped in, closing the door gently behind her. Pouring the water into the cauldron, she bought it to a boil, before throwing in the herbs. She let them brew and stew for a while, before fishing them out. The leaves she bound into poultices, which she applied to Lurgak’s wounds. Taking some large spoonfuls of the remaining stew, she scooped some into two bowls, before using the remaining water to scrub down the flag stones, the table and the fireplace. Soon, the cottage smelled of fresh herbs and every surface sparkled. Satisfied, she knelt beside Lurgak, gently lifting his head into her lap. He began to mumble softly in his sleep, and she gently stroked his cheek. “Elen…..love” Her hand froze as he murmured those words, oblivious to her caressing him. She paused, looking at him, then a gentle smile unfolded on her face. She bent her head over his, her hair falling in soft brown waves around them, and gently kissed his lips. “Lurgak. Come back to me. Come back.” She laid down beside him, wrapping her arms around his green body, her head on his chest. A few hours later, she woke, violently, as Lurgak thrashed in his sleep. Hurriedly, she sat up. Lurgak’s body was twisting, contorting, his face a vision of pain, though he still remained unconscious. Suddenly, there was a rapid knock at the door, and even before Elen could rise to her feet, an old woman barged in. She took one look at Lurgak, and at Elen, and nodded.

“I see.” Her voice was crackly, dry, but friendly. “Don’t be afraid, my dear. I’ve seen this before. Not with dear old Lurgak, of course, but others of his ilk. Hmm…” she looked Elen up and down, before smiling at her. “Yes, yes I think he’s chosen well. Not that one ever HAS a choice with love, of course…” She broke off, laughing. “Tell me, he hasn’t mated with you yet, has he? No, no of course not.” she continued, not even allowing Elen a chance to respond. “You’d be a mere smear on the wall if had, in his state. Well, easily fixed, dear, easily fixed.”

“I’m..I’m sorry,” Elen stumbled, “but - who are you? And what do you mean…. And what’s happening to Lurgak? What state?”

“Ah, forgive me, my dear. Too long living in these woods alone, I’m afraid. And of course you don’t know what’s happening. Why would you? Come, sit down, away from him. Don’t worry, he won’t hurt himself. It’s you being too near that’s driven him to this state. He’ll calm down once there’s some distance.” The two women retreated to the bed in the corner of the room, and perched on the edge. Sure enough, Lurgak quickly settled, his breathing dropped back into a slow state, and he slipped back into a quiet state of unconsciousness.

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“What….what happened?” Elen looked at her visitor with wide eyes.

“You, my dear. You happened. And love. Mainly love.” The old woman smiled. “Let me start from the beginning. My name is Eldra. I’m a herbalist, a wise woman living in these woods.”

“So close to the orcs?”

“I’m old, my dear, and past my prime. They don't bother me. Besides, I’m useful to their women when their time comes to bear children. I have seen all of their rites. And that is why I’m here, my dear. Of course the story of the gentle Lurgak stepping in to secure his claim over a woman was instantly all over the camp. I was delivering a baby on the other side of camp when one of the female orcs came bursting in to spread the news. And it caused great hilarity when the punchline came - that his woman was a human.” She shook her head sadly. “I knew you wouldn’t know what to expect, and so I have come to tell you. Because none of those kravk will.”

“What to expect? You’re right, I have no idea.” She looked sadly at Lurgak. “I had no idea - being so close… I was killing him.”

“Yes, my dear.” Eldra said sadly, and put her hand over Elen’s. “You were.”

“Will you help me? Will you help Lurgak?”

“Oh my dear, of course. That’s why I'm here. But first, I need to explain the mating rites. You have already seen the breeding pits, of course.” Elen shuddered at the mention, and Eldra nodded sympathetically. “I know, my dear, I know. Horrific places. But there you would have seen Lurgak’s eyes turn black, yes?” Elen nodded, and Eldra continued. “They call that the mating rage. You have seen what it can do. Normally, while still in the grip of it, the male and female orc will mate in the breeding pit. This has often been done for sport with humans, as there is no way they will survive a breeding pit mating. Lurgak, somehow, managed to pull himself out of that state long enough for you to get him back here.”

Elen looked up at Eldra at this. “He…spoke my name in the pits. Again, and again. Called me his star.”

“And indeed you were.” Eldra smiled. “His guiding star. You brought him back to himself, temporarily, at least. Long enough to get you both to safety.”

Elen looked at Lurgak lovingly. “And now? What happens now?”

“Well, my dear, that is up to you. The mating rage does not end until a bond is made - a blood pact between the pair. Or, you can leave. You can try to escape.”

“What will happen to Lurgak if I do?”

“The mating rage will destroy him. The choice, as I said, my dear, is up to you.” Eldra stood up, and crossed to the door to leave. As her hand reached the handle, Elen, who had never taken her eyes from Lurgak, suddenly cried out;

“Wait!”

Eldra smiled, and turned back to Elen.

“This blood ritual. Will…you help me perform it?”

“Are you certain, my dear? It will bind you for life.”

“Yes.” Elen’s voice was suddenly strong, certain. “Lurgak gave himself for me. Promised to protect me. I can at least do the same for him.”

Eldra smiled warmly and nodded. “Well done, my dear. Very well. Come, kneel by him. Do not fear, the bond will take hold quickly. Neither of you are in danger.”

Elen quickly moved to Lurgak’s side. Eldra nodded, and produced a small knife from a belt at her waist. Taking Lurgak’s left hand, she deftly ran the knife across, leaving a thin trickle of blood. She handed the knife to Elen. “Now you.” Elen did the same, wincing slightly as the blade slid across her skin. Eldra took her hand, and clasped it into Lurgak’s hand, who shuddered slightly. “Now, repeat after me. “My blood to your blood, my body to your body, our hearts as one.” Elen spoke the words after Eldra, and again, Lurgak shuddered and let out a slight moan. “Good. It’s working. Now, to complete the bond.” Eldra lifted Lurgak’s hand, the blood collecting in his palm, and offered it to Elen. “Drink, and let him taste from yours. Then the bond will be sealed, the curse of the mating rage lifted, and you will be bound together for life.” Elen lifted Lugruk’s hand to her mouth, and gently licked away the blood from his palm. Cupping her own hand, she let some of her own blood drip into his mouth. Instantly, his tongue swept across his lips, tasting her. As his blood passed into her, she felt some of his lifeforce enter her. She blinked, and watched as Lurgack gave one last shudder, coming to. Eldra stood up, smiling. “And now I leave you. It’s best if I’m not here when he wakes up. The first person he sees should be you. Well done, my dear. Very well done.” Without another word, she slipped from the hut, leaving Elen and Lurgak alone. Elen slipped Lurgak’s head back into her lap, and when he opened his eyes, they were the warmest chestnut she had ever seen.