Orc Invasion (Collector of Rarities x LaBellaMia)

The orc invasion of Richarte had been swift and brutal. The tales of orcs had always painted them as mindless, stupid savages who destroyed everything in their path. In reality, the Horde was clever, well-coordinated and terrifyingly efficient. Unlike the stories, which claimed they preferred large axes made of stone, the orcs favored mounted archers who could ride at a full gallop while still hitting a target the size of a silver piece. The majority of the human soldiers had fallen within the first week of the conflict and the survivors had retreated behind the city walls.

The next months had been excruciating: the orcs were content to let the humans' supplies dwindle while they set up their own civilians on the human farms, easily producing all of the food the Horde needed to comfortably wait the humans out. After three months, when the humans' food finally ran out, the orcs had sent their shadow scouts, masters of stealth, to claim the gate from the starving guards and open it, allowing the Horde to sweep in and overwhelm the remainder of the human forces. The men, even the boys, were put to the sword and the women were rounded up and awarded to the orcs as their station merited. Some of the women were left free, or freer than their sisters, to run and serve at local establishments such as inns and taverns, but even they were not safe from the groping hands of their conquerors.

Urag Shatterfist, the warlord who had lead this particular horde, now sat on the throne of the late king. The audience chamber had been converted into a mead hall where the greatest warriors under Urag's command reveled nightly. It was the day, though, and he was had just received good news: the princess had been sent to flee by her father just before the horde took the castle, but shadow scouts had been sent to peruse her. Urag had just received word via raven that his scouts had captured the princess and were due to arrive shortly with his prize in tow.

Princess Elizabeth, Beth for short, had tried to escape. She knew her father was dead, knew her kingdom was overcome and knew that she was going to be tortured and raped. Her father had tried to protect her but now, now she was at the mercy of the orcs. In a society such as this, a woman was protected or she wasn't. And right now, she had no one to protect her.

As the palace came into view, Beth swallowed and lowered her gaze as she was carried by cart back to her home. A home now infested with beasts. She took a deep breath and tried to summon up all the courage she could as the cart stopped. The Orc grabbed her arm, taking her inside and she found herself being led to the great hall. Her red hair was loose, her gown clinging to her, splattered with blood. She was pushed into the hall, losing her balance and falling to hands and knees before the Orc seated on her father's throne. She scrambled up, gazing with wide violet eyes at the Orc male before her and then stepped back.

As she took a glance around her, she saw several Orcs drinking and eating. She had been running for three days with a guard and it hadn't been enough. She didn't speak as she looked back at him, her violet eyes full of fear and grief.