The First Half-Orc

Chapter 3

Emma and Dura were finally able to become the family they wished to be for many months. Their farytale finally coming true. Everything in the world felt perfect to them. They were able to rule a kingdom together as true King and Queen, they finally received the wedding they deserved, but everything wasn't perfect, it was actually quite the opposite.

The little bubble they decided to trap themselves in may have been perfect, but the village a mere miles away was exploding into chaos. What happened after King Brimsey decided to give up his most beloved daughter?

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"Damn it!" William cursed loudly and collapsed to the ground. He had just sold his daughter so that their villages could live in peace. But how could he live with what he did? Well, to say the least, he couldn't. What kind of life is it, your wife gone, your village ruined, and the treacherous thoughts of what that beast might do to your pride and joy prodding at your mind every single moment of every day. It isn't one. For years, William ruled as a shell of his former self. What used to be a thriving utopia became a dystopian nightmare. Kids, working every day so that their families could have enough money to pay for one loaf of bread. Parents, working their fingers bloody in the mills to make clothing for their poor, starving, and cold children. What has this village become?

Their former fearless leader, someone who was known for helping his people and making his village thrive was bearly seen. All he could do every single day is lay in his chambers and cry. Years and years went by in this terrible condition until one day one man decided to do something.

You see, Emma wasn't the only one in that room the day she was captured. Her older brother Maximillian was there but was too afraid to act, "Emma, we have to do something! Who knows what the beast will do to father, we can't let him get hurt."

"Then do something!" Emma shouted, waiting for her older brother to make a move.

But he couldn't. Max couldn't help but freeze. He stared in silence as the orc moved closer and closer to his father. But Emma wasn't as fearful as Max. She wouldn't sit still as this monster took over her home. She leaped into action before Max could stop her.

"Emma no!" He yelled. But he couldn't stop her, she was determined to save their father.

And save her father she did. She may have kept her father from years of war but at what cost? Their village was destroyed physically by the orcs but Williams's mistake ruined them. If only Max was the one who would have stood up and done something this would have never happened. And he was not about to make that mistake again.

Every day Max watched as his father let the village down. And everyday anger boiled in his heart. He watched as his father took his sister's sacrifice and crushed it under his foot. He was not going to sit and watch as he did that day.

Max, realizing what a worthless King his father was becoming, decided to do something. Outside of his father's chambers, he paced back and forth. Should he do this? Should he confront his father? Then like a flash of lightning that fateful memory burned into his brain. He was doing it again. Watching and waiting as his fathered ruined this village, ruined his life. What would Emma do? He thought to himself. Emma would run right into those chambers and speak her mind, even if it got her killed.

As a stream of tears ran down his face, Max forcefully pushed back the doors to the chamber. His father sobbing on his bed as he had done for the past two years.

"Father, we need to talk. The village..its in shambles. We need to do something about it," Max spoke, and it was as if he was speaking to nothing. William was silent and didn't move from his position on the bed.

Max inched carefully closer as he spoke, "Seriously, we need to do something. People are starving, kids are dying, if were not careful the people will stage a coup against you."

Again, nothing not a word not a single peep. Max was starting to become irritable. He was done letting his father ruin his life. He knew he needed to do something if the village were to ever thrive again.

"You know what! Fine, lay there and pity yourself. It's your fault that she's gone. You betrayed her! You didn't fight! You were a coward! And I am not going to act like you anymore. I am going to act like her! If you don't do something your just going to let Emma's sacrifice be for nothing!" Max yelled, clenching his fists, his eyes filled with tears.

Instantly, William rose from his bed. His head whipped around to face his son, his eyes were red from crying and his jaw clenched. Hastily he approached Max, his arm lifting and slamming into his son's cheek, leaving a red mark where his hand landed.

"Do not speak her name!" He growled at Max and turned away from him.

Max laid his hand where his father just slapped him. The feeling of warmth angered him even more. You know what, he was done with his father for good. And for the sake of the village, they should be done with him too.

For weeks Max devised a plan on how to get rid of his father. He knew that if he killed him, the guards would notice and he would be sentenced to death. He needed to do it in a way that the guards would not notice it was murder. One day an idea came to his head. Poison! It would be perfect. Slip some poison into his glass at dinner and the guards would think he died of a heart attack.

At dinner one night Max put his plan into action, he poured weapons-grade poison into his father's chalice when he wasn't looking. Then all he had to do was wait. After that dinner was over, the old king was pronounced dead and a new king was crowned, King Maximilian.

But how could the death, or murder of William cause so much chaos? Well, King Max was not as kind as King William. Anger drove every move he made, the first decision being the worst of them all. King Maxilliam, during his coronation ceremony, had one important thing to tell his people.

"It is a shame that my father died the way he did. He was an amazing king until the end. But I want to be greater than him. Stronger! I won't let any other kingdom mess with me! And that's why I have decided as my first order as King, I want our military to be stronger. We have a job to do. A debt that must be repaid. Princess Emma, gave herself up so that this village could prosper. Now that I am king, I want to repay her. Once our forces are strong enough we will attack Dura Rogthun's village and we will get Princess Emma back!" He yelled so that all the village could hear him. There was anger and enthusiasm in his voice. All his people couldn't help but cheer. The screams and cries of victory could be heard for miles in the night sky. And that is what Max wanted. Max wanted Dura to hear their screams of war. Max was ready to fight, and he wouldn't stop until every single orc was dead, and anyone who got into his way would be dead with them.