A slight rustle in the brush, the air almost too calm, and eyes on prey, seen down the sight of a bow.

The orcish hunter let loose their arrow, and it sang through the air, hitting the doe in the shoulder. They cursed to themselves as the deer broke into a sprint, and quickly stood up to give chase. Expertly they wove through the tangled brush, ignoring the scrapes and cuts from branches and thorns, trees whizzing past.

They launched themselves out of the brush, across a clearing, their feet hit a cobblestone road-- and barely managed to stop as several spears came from nowhere, held at their neck. Snapped from their focus, their prey long gone, the orc looked around their surroundings, and realised a large, intricate carriage stood before them. The wielders of the spears were elven warriors, adorned in white and gold armour: the personal guard of their queen.

“Halt, assassin! You will not take another step. You will come with us for interrogation.” one of the soldiers barked, and pressed the blade of their spear into their neck. The orc looked around in confusion, unmoving, unsure if they’d heard correctly - until with a yank of their arms and a clank, their wrists were bound.

Before the hunter could protest, a gag was placed in their mouth, rendering them unable to speak. The spears relented, and the orc was dragged past the carriage. With a click, the door of the carriage swung open, and an elven woman of incomprehensible beauty stepped out. She wore a silver low scoop dress which threatened to acquaint itself with the cobblestone road, and her snow white skin radiated in the sunlight, her silvery hair held in a bun with a delicately crafted needle holding it in place.

The mysterious elven woman made a commanding gesture for the soldiers to stop. Her right arm was made entirely of brilliant metal, and peering from the gaps within was a faint energy, lapping at its edges.

“What is going on?” She spoke softly, but in a tone of complete and utter authority. The orc’s eyes shifted rapidly between each of the soldiers. One of the guards stepped in front of the mysterious, elegant elf and knelt down on one knee in front of her.

“My queen, we stopped a would-be assassin, and have captured her for interrogation. The pigs will pay for this attempt.” The guard said this without hesitation, sure of his own words as the sun would set. The queen nodded, looking the orc over, hesitating only for a moment as their gazes locked, seeing fear and confusion in their eyes.

The queen returned to her carriage, and paused momentarily on the first step, looking over her shoulder. “On second thought, Ailas, release the orc, and bring her to my carriage. She will ride with me.” The guard froze for a moment, before looking up at his queen as she reentered her carriage.

“Are you sure, my queen? That wouldn’t be safe. She could still be a danger.” he spoke, suddenly unsure of his words.

“If you don’t hurry, you will find yourself in those chains instead.” she called from her seat. The elven guard hurried to remove the orc’s gag and restraints.

The guard grabbed viciously at the hunter’s tunic and glared. “If you do anything, so much as leave a mark on her gown, pig face, you will suffer a fate worse than a thousand deaths.” he spat as he stepped behind the giant orc. Despite being two heads shorter, he practically shoved the orc into the carriage.

The orc scrambled back to their feet, looking around the lavish room. They sat down cautiously on the velveteen seats, not daring to break eye contact with the enigmatic figure. The orc clasped their hands, a sweat forming on their brow.

Tension hung in the air, before a melodious voice broke through the quiet like a knife through butter. “I do apologise. You know what men are like; they think only of using their strength and muscle instead of thinking ahead.” the queen stated plainly.

The orc just stared at her confused, their lips pursed. The muscled hunter was tall enough to be sitting hunched in the carriage, but no hostility in their stance whatsoever. After a moment had passed, the elven woman spoke up again. “Do you not speak Common, orc?”

The orc finally seemed to relax a little, their shoulders dropping ever so slightly, lowering their guard. “Uh, yeah, I do. I’m just a little lost.” The orc’s eyes darted around the carriage, uncomfortable with such a luxurious environment.

The queen leaned regally back in her seat, legs crossed. “So why were you here? Are you an assassin?” Her face was devoid of any emotion, but those silver eyes stared with such an intensity, the orc cast their eyes down. They couldn’t help but feel anxious around such an intense and authoritative being.

“No. I’m just a hunter. I was chasing my quarry through the forest.” the orc said meekly. The queen silently nodded, as if to encourage the orc to continue. The hunter began to twiddle their thumbs. “I’ve been living out here a long while, and when an orc does something, they focus. There is nothing else but them, and their task. I didn’t even notice your… procession. Until I had spears at my throat.” The orc sighed in disappointment. “Guess I’m going hungry tonight.”

The elf tapped her knee in contemplation, her gaze unaverted. “I see. Well, men tend to have terrible manners, wouldn’t you agree? So I will feed you tonight. Stay in my palace today, an apology of sorts.”

The orc gave her a puzzled look. “What’s a man? I thought you were elves.” The orc almost flinched when the queen looked at them strangely.

“A man. Opposite of a woman. You are a woman, are you not?” The queen cracked a bemused smile. The orc looked back at her, frowning in confusion.

The queen’s lips spread in a delighted grin. “I think this will be a most interesting visit.”

Ghruz couldn’t help but wonder what they had got themselves into.