Erinne sat up, shock still flooding her veins. Cold Hammer laid beside her, eyes open, staring at the top of the tent. Her mind raced and she heard a faint echo of the old orc's words, "You will lose your son." Those words stole her breath away and wrought terror through her mind. How was she supposed to tell her mate? She couldn't tell him, if he knew, it'd kill him. It was killing her. What did that mean? He was going to die? Their baby boy was going to die?
"Are you okay?" She asked asked Cold Hammer gently, voice thick and raw.
He sat up slowly, staring at the fire. She couldn't quite see his face now, but his body told a strong tale, every movement jerky and withheld. "We should have let it be. We should not have touched that forsaken flower."
She turned to look at him but he was shoving to his feet. She frowned as he paced across the tent and then turned back, distressed. "I will be the doom of our family."
"What?"
"You heard what they said! With one swing of my hammer, I'll..." He closed his mouth, growling low in his throat before abruptly roaring. She stared at him, wide eyed as he covered his face.
"No," she shook her head and stood up. "No, you will not." She grabbed him. "Look at me. You said it yourself, it does not always mean what we think it means."
"The last time they told me that, I killed your entire family, caused you to be a slave."
"We can't change the past, but we can change who we are and you have." Even as she said it, her parents' words came to mind, that he was not yet done with his human killing days. One hand freed him and slipped to her stomach instinctively. The last time he'd killed her family. He wouldn't kill this family. Things were different now. "None of it matters, what they said doesn't matter, you know why? Because as long as we have each other, everything will be okay. As long as I have you, I can get through anything." She believed it but at the same time she wondered, if the orc's words meant their son was going to die, could she survive that? After everything she'd been through, she thought it might be the one thing that would truly be her undoing.
Cold Hammer sighed heavily at those words. "I hope you are right." He sighed again. "Let's just go to sleep. We'll think more on it in the morning."
. . . .
They spent the next day quietly praying on the mountain side, as was tradition for new couples, and Cold Hammer not once talked to her about the night before. When she tried, he found an excuse to talk about it later, or answered a separate question that had nothing to do with any of it. He was purposefully avoiding it and he spent most of the day with a dark look about him. It was unsettling. She didn't know what to do. They were just barely getting reacquainted and now a new wall rose up between them.
It was a lonely day without him keeping her company. He was with her, but his mind was not, and she couldn't say that she tried hard to convince him otherwise. Everything she'd experienced with the loostqa flower hung heavy in the air around her as well. It was a lot to take in. She'd somehow journeyed between his orc Ancestor's Everfen, and her people's heaven. Both had warned her of a future she didn't want.
Hadn't she fought hard enough already? Why was she prophesied? The Orc Killer. Warrior of Everfen...destined to save them all? For what? To lose her son? To have her family doomed and have her children fight in the same damn war.
There's hope. Those words stung bittersweet at the edges of her heart. One day there would be an everlasting peace, but the Ancestor's made it clear, it wouldn't be for her. That was all she wanted. To live with her family at peace.
The day passed slowly, but she managed to get Cold Hammer to hunt with her and they prepared to leave the next morning. He still refused to speak about the loostqa flower visions and his frustration filled the air around them. They'd been promised peace for a time, but they weren't starting their union off with much peace. She wished she'd never touched the loostqa flower.
Even as the dawn came and they made their journey home, they were both quiet. Disturbed. She let him lead the way and let Bukoo guide them because she didn't know the way to her new home. The first home she would ever really have since her parents had died.
As they rode Bukoo into the heart of the Killerfrost clan, she hoped it would cheer Cold Hammer up and get him talking again. As with most orc clans, they lived in a village, or in homes nearby, easily within walking distance of each other. Nukbrik's clan had all lived in a wooded area, close together. Not far was a village of another clan that often traded goods with them. Not all clans willingly traded with others.
The Killerfrost clan had one large village, with only a few of their clansmen living in housing on the outskirts, not quite part of the village. She'd known from the start that the Killerfrost Clan shared closer bonds than some of the other clans. Most of their homes were nearly right on top of each other. They lived together in a tight knit family. It was what had always made them powerful. Killerfrosts had held the position of Great Chieftain more than any other clan, though she'd been told before Lohke's father, there hadn't been a Great Chieftain in this village for half a century.
"Which one is ours?" She asked Cold Hammer. He'd been quiet but he answered her simple questions when she asked.
He gave an unamused snort, "You won't find it here, our home is deeper in the woods."
"Deeper? How far?"
"A fair distance."
"Within shouting distance?"
"Not quite." He replied as several dire wolves abruptly bombarded them, howling greetings, yipping with excitement. The raucus attracted orcs and soon they were surrounded, calling out greetings as he continued to urge Bukoo forward to the center of the village where one hut stood out from the others. It was decorated with depictions of battles, a very typical setup for a chieftain. Gifts and offerings were lined up on a wall as clansmen often took great care of their chieftains, if the respect was earned, by bringing gifts of their trade and hunts.
"Why so far?" She asked him.
"I needed the peace and quiet. With all the war, being Lohke's second, being his father's second...I just needed to come home and be away from the noise."
She waved to several orcs she saw coming out to greet them, they waved back but Cold Hammer didn't stop. He made a beeline for Lohke's home in the center. The homes were well built and sturdy, and she couldn't wait to see her own. When they reached the center, the wooden door pushed open and Lohke stepped out. He was smiling, but when he saw Cold Hammer's grim face, his expression faded to concern. "Chieftain," Cold Hammer dipped his head. She dipped her head lightly, still sitting in front of Cold Hammer on Bukoo.
"Welcome home." Lohke smiled again but she could still see the concern in his eyes. Several shouts echoed the sentiment. "We have slain a gusi for you, that you may feast tonight with your mate."
"Thank you." He took a breath. "I wanted to inform you of our return."
"Of course, go with peace, borbol..." Cold Hammer started to turn and Lohke stepped closer. "Was there something else you needed to say?"
He thought on it a long moment and then said, "No." He proffered an animal skin from a hunt while they'd been gone, "A gift from our journey." Lohke accepted the gift and admired the pelt for a moment before he looked back to them. Cold Hammer said nothing more, just turned Bukoo, but not before she caught Lohke's eye and gave him a slight dismissive shake of her head. He gave a slight nod of acknowledgement but said nothing more.
. . . .
"Welcome home." Cold Hammer murmured as she took in the sight. It was a small, cabin-like home nestled in the trees. It sat perfectly content in the bend of a creek. Some trees had been cleared away from the front of it, leaving a short expanse of grass and sunshine leading to the front door. Erinne smiled and looked up at him over her shoulder and, for the first time since their shared vision, he smiled back.
"It looks perfect." Exactly the kind of home she would have built for herself. Like Cold Hammer, she needed the solidarity at times to feel peace.
"I have not been here in a long while. I went with Lohke and we traveled to various clans for months, then I was with you. It may need some repairs since I've been gone so long."
"We'll work on it together." He nudged Bukoo forward until they were in the grass before the door and then he slid off the wolf, taking her with him. She giggled as he swept her into his arms and held her, admiring their home. "You know, it's a human tradition for a groom to carry his bride over the threshold of their home."
"What sort of strange tradition is that?"
"I have no idea, but it sounds fun." She waggled her brows at him and he huffed like it was a chore and carried her forward. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, but as he pushed the door open, her eyes were fixated on the inside. It was simple, quaint. There were small, handcarved cups on a shelf, along with bowls. Some of them appeared to be made of clay. There was a place for a fire and cooking, a small table, and a bed across the room.
"What do you think?"
"I think it could use a woman's touch." She stated. "Some flowers, something to brighten the atmosphere."
"My charming personality isn't bright enough for you?"
"I thought I was the charming one?"
He opened his mouth and then paused before he met her gaze. "Yeah, you're probably the charming one." He chuckled deeply and it was good to see that shell around him finally starting to crack. She'd been worried she'd never see the relaxed side of him again after the foreboding prophecies they'd received of their future.
As he stepped fully inside, he set her down and she grabbed his hand. "Hey," he turned back to her, expression going solemn as he caught her eye. "Whatever happens, we'll make it through it together." He jerked his hand back and she leapt forward, grabbing his face in both hands, looking up at him. She silently plead for him to listen to her, to give in to her.
"Please," she said softly, "please." He closed his eyes, looking strained before he sighed and caved. "Whatever happens, Cold Hammer, the future cannot be certain. We cannot know what the ancestors meant."
"I am doom, Erinne. I doom our family, our future. With my own hands I will destroy everything...again."
"You are not the doom of this family. They said you will make it right."
"I'll leave to make it right." He stated. "Maybe I should leave now before it has the chance to be ruined."
"Cold Hammer!" She snapped and slapped him as hard as she could. He yanked his head back with surprise. "I just married you, I carry your son, and you speak of leaving me?! Right now?!" She slapped him again and this time he stepped back, holding one hand to his cheek.
"I'm sorry."
She tried to swat him again and he caught her hand this time. "Let me go! Don't you ever say something like that again!" She yelled in his face and, to her surprise, he started laughing. That only served to piss her off, she could feel her whole face going red. "Don't laugh at me, Cold Hammer! I will be the death of you this day!"
He laughed more and swept her into his arms and she felt it in her bones, she was killing this orc tonight. "I am sorry! No one has ever so callously attacked me like that before. Especially not a wee human, you are the only one. You have more courage than even I or Lohke."
"Your sweet words mean nothing to me."
He hugged her closer as she ceased to struggle. They were silent for a long moment before he sighed into her hair. "Forgive me, Sheobulf. Whatever happens, whatever the future holds, I want to see it through with you. We will do as the ancestors said, we will raise our son, we will live at peace, and we will watch for the signs. Then we will prepare and I swear to you, I'll do my best not to ruin this family."
Her heart ached slightly at those words. Raise their son. The son they were destined to lose. "It doesn't mean you'll ruin our family. Just because the last time you received such a prophecy meant you destroyed my life doesn't mean you will do it again."
"But then why do I feel it does?"
She pulled back just enough to look up at him. "I would have no one but you destroy my life again. As you are the only one who can."
"That's not helping."
"No, but you are mine. Nothing else matters but this, what we have here, our love, and him." She pressed his hand to her stomach. "Family. Love. Peace. We will have these things, even if they are disrupted for a time, we will have them again."
"Not in our lifetime, you heard the ancestors-"
"Hey! They said we wouldn't see peace between humans and orcs last forever. We may be old and shriveled before another war happens, they didn't say when the peace would end. And we will have peace, perhaps not among our kind, but in our own personal lives."
"I never thought about it that way."
"That's because, sadly, despite the size of your head, your brain doesn't match up." He snorted and they laughed before he hugged her again. "Have faith, my love, we will survive. The human raised as an orc, and the strongest orc warrior ever born, who can stand in our way?"