Paige's Past

Paige squinted as the morning light shined through the window of her bed chamber. She had arrived at her betrothed's home the evening before. They were to be wed within the hour. She turned her attention to the vanity before her and looked at her reflection.

Paige nor her family were noble blood by any means. She had grown up a mere village maiden in the Zakhia Empire. Somehow, she found herself engaged to a nobleman's son. It was a common practice for fathers to seek only the best matches for their daughters to improve their family's social status.

This was the exact reason Paige was in this situation. She believed it was her duty to marry well to improve her family's lives, but her gut told her something was off. She and her siblings had grown up in poverty, and now a lord wanted her to marry his son.

Was there no one else that would take his hand in marriage? She wondered with suspicion clouding her mind. Why me? Nonetheless, she intended to move forward with the wedding. She desperately wanted her family to finally live comfortably.

Her ladies' maids washed and styled her textured hair and laced her in a white gown. She took one last look in the mirror and put on a brave face. With her family in mind, She walked down the aisle. She didn't know she was walking into her life's greatest mistake.

Her husband, Rowan Campbell, was a cruel man. Unlike many young maidens, Paige was not enlightened on matters of lovemaking; on the eve of their wedding, Paige was expected to consummate her marriage to Rowan.

This was the first time of many that Rowan forced himself on her. Paige was only nineteen years old when she married Rowen. His abusive nature was not limited to sex. There were many times that he nearly killed her.

Paige endured his malice with her family in mind. She remembered the poverty they endured. Her marriage to Rowen saved them from the streets. She dared not to tell her family of the abuse for their sake.

A few months after their wedding, Paige found herself pregnant with their first child. She felt so alone and lost in the world during this time in her life. She wondered what kind of life her unborn child would endure at the hands of her husband.

Through all the darkness in Paige's life, she found a small ray of light. She grew very close with one of her handmaidens, Anika. Anika became a great comfort to her.

However, Paige's misfortune did not end there. One night Rowen came to her bed chambers. He was more intoxicated than she had ever seen him before.

Anika found Paige that morning, battered and lying in a puddle of blood. Paige had suffered a miscarriage as a consequence of Rowen's cruelty. Anika and Paige's midwife delivered her stillborn son later that same day.

She never fully healed from this loss emotionally or physically. As a result, she would never be able to bear children again. This fact was kept between herself, Anika, and the midwife for fear Rowan would surely kill her because she couldn't give him an heir.

She never forgot her lost child and sought comfort from Anika, and their love for each other grew immensely. In fact, they planned to run away together and live their lives away from the Zakhia's Empire; but that dream was short-lived.

Before they could escape together, Rowan grew suspicious of their relationship. He had them both watched and learned that their relationship was romantic. He planned to make an example out of them for her adulatory.

He made Paige watch as he brutally beat Anika before finally executing her. Paige begged and pleaded with him but to no avail. Once Anika lay dead at his feet, he turned his attention to Paige and beat her an inch from death.

That night, despite her body and soul being broken, she managed to escape. She ran to the forests that bordered the Zakhia Empire. She wondered for days surviving off creek water and mushrooms.

She was utterly lost and weak. She longed to be with Anika and was prepared to die. The last thing she remembered before falling unconscious on the forest floor was footsteps coming toward her.

She was twenty-two years old when she came to Northern Orruk Horde. She was nursed back to health by Helena and was given the option to stay with the Orc. She was finally able to choose her own lifestyle.

She couldn't remarry for two reasons. Paige couldn't see herself ever loving another the way she had loved Anika. The second reason was that she assumed no orc would want her because she couldn't bear them children.

She had the choice to work in the castle but didn't have many skills, so she chose between being an entertainer or a handmaid. Entertainers are not expected to sleep with the Orc and typically are provided for and only work a few hours in the evening, so she eventually fell into this lifestyle.

At first, it was nothing more than a means to support herself and do her fair share of work. Unlike all humans, naturally, her body had needs. She found herself drawn to Jasper because he was kind and respectful.

There wasn't a romantic relationship between the two. Paige and Jasper had a mutual need for sex. She was now 25 and still yearned for her lost lover, Anika. She felt as if she was lost in the world without her.

Brenna's POV

"So, now you understand why I am unable to have children," Paige said with tears in her eyes.

Paige had told me everything with exact clarity. I had no words to respond to her. I felt so ashamed for any judgment I had before this conversation. I was a bit confused as well. I had never heard of two women being romantically involved. Still, my heart broke for her.

"I'm so sorry, Paige." I rested my hand on hers.

Paige closed her eyes a moment to gather herself. "It's alright. This was years ago. I don't need sympathy."

I didn't know what else I could say to her. I was a bit confused about her relationship with Anika. I knew I would regret my next question, but I couldn't help my curiosity.

"So, Anika was a woman? I'm sorry to ask. You see, I haven't been told much about intimacy."

Paige smiled a little. She seemed amused by me. "I understand. I used to be a naive young girl like yourself. To answer your questions, yes. Anika was a woman and the greatest love of my life."

"How does that work, though? ... I mean, with a woman."

Paige didn't respond to my question with words. She examined me and twirled a lock of my hair in her fingers. Next, she placed her hand under my chin and pressed her lips against mine. I was utterly shocked. I didn't know what to do.

Paige's lips were soft and tasted of brown sugar. She pulled her lips away from mine and looked into my eyes with that playful expression again. I couldn't do anything. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

"Why don't you just worry about how it works with a man first." She giggled. "If you ever need me to show you a thing or two for Jasper, you know where to find me."

After talking to Paige, I came to my bed chambers. I sat on the bed and struggled to process what had happened. Paige had kissed me. Moments after I had returned to my room Helena burst into the room. Did she know what I did?

"Brenna, I have word on Jasper. I know you care a great deal for him, so I thought I should tell you myself." She said with tears in her eyes.

"What's wrong, Helena?"

"No one has seen Jasper or Sten in over a week."