When my eyes open, brown ones stare at me with all their gentleness and a purr bubbles in my chest. This is everything. She smiles and it feels like the sun shines only for me. Like this day was made just for us.

"You are up early." I kiss her forehead.

"You child woke me up with more movement." She looks less enthused about it.

"Is it painful?" I worry about it because our child will grow up to be physically stronger than her and I worry if her body will be able to handle it.

"No, but they woke me up from a very nice dream." She pouts.

I smile and brush her stomach. "Really? What was the dream about?"

She smirks. "You remember that first time I saw you and I screamed?"

I chuckle. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, but this time instead of being, you know... you. You came in when I was at the table, and when my mouth dropped, you lowered your pants and told me to get down or you will throw me down. I didn't listen and you took me on the floor. I was about to get there and then—" she twists her face in a scowl, she's clearly not happy with this interruption.

I bellow a laugh. That is hilarious. She punches my chest, but she smiles. "It's not funny, orc."

"Hm...maybe I can make it a reality. Help you finish?"

"You threw me down in the dream. Are you going to throw me down on the floor?" she teases.

"No. But maybe I can still give you the same..." my hands travel down to her arousal that was already driving me insane. "...Result?"

"Try your worst, orc."

I smile as I spread her open and I give my woman everything she needs.

After breakfast she sits outside, and she pets Wolfie. I get inside and I start collecting all the supplies she will need at the cave. There was a big rock I carved flat I used to sleep on for those first few years before I met Hanser's grandfather, and he introduced me to human furniture.

I will need two blankets for her to not be as uncomfortable. I just hope I will be done quickly, and I can bring her back. I pack the blankets then the food. I will pack enough for a week. If this thing takes longer than 5 days, I am coming back.

I can't be away from her for over a week. But I will give him the plan. I hope we can save his family, even though they will have to be smuggled out of the kingdom, but at least they will be fine.

When I finish packing it's just before lunch. If we leave now, then we will be at the cave tomorrow morning if I don't rest.

With Wolfie by our side, we start our journey. I carry Aria and Wolfie carries our supplies. By nightfall, we are far from our home, and we continue walking. Aria entertains me with her talking.

Over the years I've walked this path a few times, but I have never enjoyed it just as much. We rest in another cave by dawn, already having travelled more than half the way. We eat around breakfast time, and we finish the rest of the way.

It is noon when we get to the cave that is nestled in an unimpressive part of a forest. You would pass the place if you didn't know what it was. I place her on the ground.

"This looks like a good hiding place. I would pass it." she comments.

"That's the point."

She rolls her eyes. After I roll the stone, I pick her up and we walk in. It doesn't smell as great as I remember but everything else is the same as I remember. It's dusty but it can work. I unburden Wolfie and she runs out. Probably to catch something to eat.

We tidy up and we prepare the bed. By the time the sun falls again, it is livable. We have dinner and we sleep early. At dawn I wake up and I kiss her goodbye.

I leave Wolfie with her and I start my journey. It takes me another day to get to Hanser's cave.

I find him asleep in the cave because it's before sunrise. I poke him.

"Ah!" he screams like a baby when I wake him.

"Igor! You scared me." he looks scared.

I sit on the stone at the corner of the cave, and I wait for him to wake up.

"There's no time for slumber, Hanser. Much has to be done."

He drags himself out of sleep, yawning.

We start with the plan. I tell him the new plan.

He nods. "It's a great idea. That means I have to source the help. There's so much to be done." He says in thought.

"Yes, there is, and we should be quick because that man isn't going to wait forever."

"You're right." He says. "Where is the queen?"

I glare at him.

"Right, um...Aria."

"She's alive." I answer. He is out of his mind if he thinks I will divulge details about her. We spend two days with the plans, and I walk with him at night as he goes to the Una Mountain, and he hires the people.

I stay hidden. By the third day everything is almost ready. In the afternoon he leaves to collect the money for the bandits.

My mind is with my family. I have two more days here and I will help with smuggling them out of the kingdom, then my debt is paid in full. I lay on my side, and I think about Aria. I think about our future and our little one.

Back home it would be expected for me to want a male child for my lineage, but here I have no such pressures and I will be happy no matter the gender of the baby. They will be loved. I can't wait to meet them. My eyes shut as I think about my joy.

When I wake in the middle of the night Hanser still isn't back. I decide to go look for him. Maybe he passed by his house. With extra caution I pass by the vineyard then I lay low in the fruit trees. I survey the area.

There is a lamp light in what I know to be the children's room but its low light. He must be working there; I think to myself. Everything looks normal. With one last sweep of the parameter, I walk towards the house.

As I near the door, my body tightens. Something is wrong. I turn to get back to the garden.

Something grazes my back. I turn and I look around. I scan the house. There are four archers at the top of the roof. There weren't there before.

When I turn there are soldiers now on the direction of the garden and more are coming out. Was this a setup?

I turn to find Hanser coming out of the house and a few more soldiers coming out after him. He retreats to them. I furrow my brows.

This is a trap.

"Hanser, what have you done?"

"I'm sorry, Igor." He doesn't look sorry. I see that, he isn't. And by the attire of these men, they are soldiers. So not the bandits we were to hire for his family.

Did they get to him and arrest him and force him to draw me out? Was his family even arrested? And the biggest question, was it even the doctor who told Aria's former husband about her being alive?

I growl and I charge to him. Multiple arrows penetrate me, and I feel my body getting heavy. The arrows must be poisoned.

Another arrow hits my thigh and I fall to my knees. I look around and the soldiers are getting closer, swords drawn, shields up.

"You betrayed me?" I growl.

"I'm sorry, but I have a family to feed, Igor."

Another shadow comes next to Hanser.

"So, this is the beast?" I can barely hear the voice over my drumming heart that's audible in my ears.

"You did well." that's the last thing I hear as the men charge at me.

I growl loudly. I shake my head. I can't let them take me. Aria. I need to get to them. I need to protect them.

I pull the arrows that were shallowly penetrating my skin and I charge at them, summoning all the strength I have.

With adrenaline pumping through me and with the last strength I get up as they are closing in on me and I rip everything in front of me. I rip limps and I use their bodies to shield myself from more arrows.

I take their shields and I destroy them. I have an opportunity to run after Hanser, but my family is more important.

"I will ki-kill you." Those are the last words as I slide in the garden. I am running out of strength. Whatever they shot me with is strong. With my heavy body, I run. By the time I can go no longer, I have ran a substantial distance.

All I can think of is, I have to find her. I hope Wolfie protects them.

Th last thing I see is the full moon and I release my last prayer to the gods for them to protect my family.

Aria.

Our child.

My family.

______________________________________

Also, Hanser. Thoughts. Death threats? >>>>>>>