Private Tales The Next Chapter..

[Rori]

Rori felt a swell of courage at Agatha's words, but the mere thought of her husband being here, now, sent a shudder spilling her spine like ice water. The thought of him witnessing her wielding a weapon, of wearing chainmail and being covered in dirt and grime, made her stomach churn. Her eyes flickered with a glimmer of fear she couldn't quite hide. "Oh, I'm.. quite sure he would not allow such a thing," she murmured, the fear mingling with the new-found determination in her voice.

As they walked further out onto the hilltop, the beauty of the night offered some comfort. Rori followed Agatha's lead, attempting to mirror her movements despite the unfamiliar weight of the chainmail and stave. Each motion felt awkward, but she nodded at Agatha's reassurance, finding strength in the she-orc's confidence.

"Do you often train your new recruits alone on moonlit hilltops?" Rori asked, attempting a light jab though genuine curiosity tinged her voice.

Rori smiled sheepishly, "I.. I mean.. I see some of the others and they, well, I don't want them to think I'm demanding your time. I'm aware of how hopeless I am. I doubt you have the time to be teaching me."

 

[Agatha]

'Only the pretty ones.' Smiling, Agatha nudged Rori's stave higher with her own. Too low. Going through the motions once more, each movement measured and slow, the Captain nodded, satisfied. 'I train daily. Doesn't matter who with or when, I make sure to set aside the time.' The job wasn't cushy. Far from it. Often, Agatha found herself leading from the front as an example to the men and women under her command.

Risky, yes, but worth it.

'Sides, there's nothing wrong with a little late night sparring,' she laughed, her gaze hot and fierce as she stepped close to Rori. Reaching out, she lifted the redhead's stave higher. 'You keep dropping your guard,' she pointed out, taking a step back. 'It's okay. I know I can be quite... disarming.' Agatha grinned, shook her head. 'Gods, I can be a real fool-ass sometimes!'

Rori

 

[Rori]

Gods, her arms were burning from holding the stave, but nothing ignited the heat in her cheeks quite like the captain’s compliment. Rori envied those whose skin was not the colour of milk, who could flush and fluster without it being a dead giveaway. She twisted her lips into a shy smile, clearing her throat as she pushed a tress of crimson waves out of her face, hoping to pass it off as mere exertion.

Why did this woman make her feel so damned nervous? It wasn’t fear—though maybe it should have been; that would have been wise. No, Agatha’s presence was more intoxicating than anything else. It was like a flame drawing her in, igniting her with a determination that had long been extinguished. The captain was unlike anyone Rori had ever known; she empowered her, lifted her up in a way she had thought impossible. The confidence and strength that radiated from Agatha made her heart race, and the way the captain’s gaze tended to linger on her made her feel more seen than ever before. Rori had never been so eager to live up to anyone’s expectations as she was now.

“It’s heavy,” she protested quietly in response to Agatha’s gentle guidance, but a grin tugged at her lips as she met the captain’s playful gaze. Surely she was not imagining it —Agatha was definitely flirting with her. “Well. A little, yes,” Rori admitted with a huff, channeling all her effort into a jab aimed at the captain’s stomach.

But the weight of the stave felt like nothing compared to the exhilaration coursing through her veins. “But I’ll get used to it,” she added with a smirk, determination shining through the fatigue.

 

[Agatha]

The Captain's grin was honest and unabashed. 'I'm sure you will, my friend.' Practise made perfect, and Rori was like to need plenty in the days and weeks ahead. 'Baby steps,' said Agatha, knocking Rori's stave aside with ease. Her own whistled as it came around, lightning-quick, to hover beside the redhead's temple.

With a smile, Agatha lowered the weapon, and tapped Rori's bum, one-two.

'We'll get you there, on my oath, we will.' Back and forth and back again, the she-orc led her human counterpart through the basics of armed combat. How to strike and parry, how to stand without leaving yourself open or off-balance. Routine stuff. Manoeuvres even a novice like Rori could manage, should she apply herself properly. 'I've had worse students,' Agatha admitted, ending the dozenth bout with a tap on Rori's shoulder.

Leaning on her stave, Agatha took a swig from her waterskin. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she offered it to Rori wordlessly.

Above them, looking down, the sky was aglow with moonlight, and the gentle twinkling of a million stars.

Rori

 

[Rori]

Rori’s breath came in heavy bursts, her body aching from the unfamiliar exertion. But the Captain’s grin somehow made the strain feel worth it.

The orc’s movements were fluid, effortless, a far cry from Rori’s awkward attempts to keep up. When Agatha’s stave hovered beside her temple, Rori barely had time to register its speed before it was gone, replaced by a light tap on her rear that made her jump.

Rori couldn’t help but smile, a sheepish laugh tumbling from her as she gave the Captain an incredulous glare. And as they moved through the motions, again and again, Rori found herself growing more comfortable, the steps and strikes becoming less foreign with each pass.

When Agatha finally called a pause, ending the latest round with a tap on her shoulder, Rori felt a sense of accomplishment, however small. She was drenched in sweat, her limbs trembling from the effort, but she was still standing. And that counted for something.

Taking the waterskin from Agatha, Rori drank deeply, the cool liquid a welcome relief. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes flicking up to meet the Captain’s.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet but sincere as she handed the skin back. “For everything. This has been... painful." she snorted.

Rori looked up at the sky, where the stars shimmered in a vast tapestry, the moon casting a gentle glow over the clearing. The scene was beautiful, almost surreal, and she breathed it in deeply. For the first time in years, she felt not just alive, but truly awake. Every sensation, every breath of night air, seemed vivid and full of meaning. It was as if the world had suddenly sharpened into focus after years of living in a dull blur.

Her life had been a grey, unending monotony for so long that the simplest things now felt extraordinary. She noticed she was smiling—genuinely smiling—for the first time in as long as she could remember. The warmth of it surprised her, like a foreign emotion she was rediscovering. And then there was the sweat, trickling down her back, beading on her brow, even in places she hadn’t realised could sweat. It was a discomfort, but it was hers, something she had earned, and even that felt oddly exhilarating.

Everything about this moment, from the cool night air on her flushed skin to the quiet sounds of the forest around them, felt new, and she couldn’t help but marvel at the realisation that she was finally living, and so she allowed her sweaty self to flop down into the grass, arms splayed out by her sides as she ran her fingers through it.

"Am I allowed to ask you questions?" she asked without taking her gaze from the sky.

 

[Agatha]

Stifling a smile, Agatha nodded. 'No pain, no gain,' she remarked casually, stoppering her water skin before stuffing it back through her belt. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Rori as the redhead studied the tapestry of stars hanging above their heads. Ephemeral and beautiful, her pale face was beaded with sweat. But there was a strength to her gaze now, one Agatha hadn't seen before.

With a quiet exhalation of breath, the she-orc sat herself down beside Rori.

Folding her legs, and placing her stave aside, Agatha let her arms support her as she sat back, neck crooked to the sky. Behind them, beyond and between the trees, the camp slumbered peacefully. Even the dogs had decided to take a break from their incessant barking. A good sign, that. Means we're safe here, for a time. The thought was almost comforting. Almost.

'Am I allowed to ask you questions?'

'Technically, you just did.' Laying down next to Rori, Agatha shot a sidelong glance at the medicae. 'What did you want to ask me?'

Rori

 

[Rori]

She turned her head to look at the she-orc, her smile lingering for a long, curious moment before she spoke.

"I guess, you're quite unlike anyone I've ever met.. And you know more about me than I do about you, I just wondered how you ended up here. What your life was like before." she asked softly, her gaze searching Agatha's face for any sign of hesitation or discomfort.

Rori paused, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the moonlight. "You seem so... sure of yourself, like you’ve always known exactly who you are and what you want. I want to understand you better. If we’re going to be spending more nights like this, training and talking, I’d like to know more about the person who’s helping me find my own strength."

There was a quiet vulnerability in her voice, a genuine desire to connect on a deeper level. She had never had friends, she hadn't spoken to many people at all over the last few years. She certainly hadn't enjoyed anyone's company. The clearing felt like a safe space, a moment outside of time where they could share things that might otherwise remain unspoken.

"Tell me the Captain Agatha story." she smirked.

 

[Agatha]

'You want me to summarize or shall I tell you of the whole sordid affair?' Baring her fangs, Agatha grinned at the stars. 'Where to begin,' she wondered, her grin fading with the night. Stirring, she rolled over onto her side, facing Rori. 'Well, I've been a warrior for a very long time. Fifteen years, give or take.'

How old was I when I first held a sword? She thought. Fourteen? Thirteen?

Younger. 'My parents were warriors, as were their parents before them.' She had been part of a tribe some three hundred strong. Mountainfolk, beholden to no-one and no-thing except the gods themselves. 'My sister and I, we were taught how to defend ourselves from an early age. I can't recall when, exactly. But I was young and foolish and so very full of myself, it beggars belief!' Smiling wistfully, the she-orc closed her eyes for a moment.

'We couldn't be more different in that regard.'

Opening them, Agatha gazed into Rori's eyes. Green, like emeralds. 'And yet I sense something in you. Some strength, hidden beneath the surface. Hard to see, perhaps, but I'm good at figuring these things out,' she smirked playfully. 'Like I said, I'm full of myself.'

Rori

 

[Rori]

Rori listened intently. There was a warmth in the way Agatha’s voice softened when she talked about her past, and Rori found herself drawn in, eager to learn more. The mention of Agatha’s parents, her sister, and the way she had been raised as a warrior all painted a picture of a life so different from her own that it was so difficult to imagine.

When Agatha’s eyes met hers, Rori felt a flutter in her chest. The she-orc’s words, her confidence, and the way she seemed to see something in Rori that even she couldn’t see in herself—it was overwhelming in the best way possible.

"You were trained to fight from such a young age," Rori mused softly, her voice carrying a mix of awe and sorrow. "And here I am, barely able to hold a stave." She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh, but there was no bitterness in it. "I must seem so pathetic."

She hesitated, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. "I don’t know if I have that strength you’re talking about, but… I'd certainly like to be more than what I was before.." She managed a small, shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly under Agatha’s gaze.

"And for the record, I don’t think you’re full of yourself. I think you just know who you are, and that’s something to admire." Rori’s hand twitched slightly, as if she wanted to reach out but wasn’t sure if she should. Instead, she kept her hands resting atop her stomach, though her gaze remained locked on Agatha’s.

"Thanks for trying to figure me out.." she smirked. "Let me know if you find anything interesting."

 

[Agatha]

'Who's to say I haven't already?' With a wink, Agatha rolled onto her back. She had seen the way Rori had reacted to her words. The slight reddening of her cheeks, the way her hand had fluttered against her belly, as if she had wanted to bridge the gap between them physically but had thought better of it at the last moment.

She's new to this, Agatha reminded herself, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. The freedom. To choose, to act how she pleases without fear of undeserved punishment.

Agatha had known her fair share of assholes. Men and women who couldn't keep from lashing out at the world around them simply because they could. A few resided with the cohort, biding their time, drinking and dicing and acting out when they thought they could get away with it. Hard bastards. To like and to control. They were the main reason her officers didn't take any shit. Discipline was the key.

Discipline, and a strong sword arm.

'I think you'll find your place here.' Staring up at the stars, and using her hands for pillows, Agatha continued, 'You'll find a way to become more than what you were before.' Glancing at Rori, the she-orc shuffled a little closer. 'You've been hobbled by fear for most of your life, I can see it in your eyes.' She shuffled closer. 'It was one of the first things I noticed about you. Of course, I put it down to shock... at the time.'

Laying side by side, Agatha propped herself up on one elbow. Brown hair fell across her vision, and she took a second to brush it away from her eyes. 'I can see it clearly now. The anxiety, the uncertainty,' she paused, frowning. 'The future holds many possibilities, and none of them are set in stone. But know this: you do not have to be afraid anymore.'

Agatha smiled, her face pale in the moonlight.

'You have my word.'

Rori

 

[Rori]

Rori's heart pounded in her chest as the Captain shuffled closer. A flutter of nerves—nerves that twisted into something more, something deeper, the closer Agatha came.

Perhaps, she's just...cold? Rori wondered, her breath hitching as she tried to convince herself that this was merely a friendly gesture, nothing more. But the warmth of Agatha's presence, the way her words wrapped around Rori like a promise, made it difficult to believe that. Her gaze drifted to Agatha's face, studying the strong line of her jaw, the curve of her lips, and the way her hair fell in disarray over her forehead.

What the fuck was she feeling?

Rori could hardly remember the last time she’d felt this way. This...flustered, this shy, but also this enamoured. It was as if every nerve in her body was hyper-aware of Agatha's proximity, her mind a web of emotions she hadn’t felt in years, if ever. Fuck she was magnetic.

What are you doing? Rori's inner voice questioned, her fingers twitching at her side. The safe thing would be to do nothing, to let this moment pass as a memory she could carry with her. But another part of her, the part that Agatha had awoken, urged her to be bold. To take the step she had never dared to take before.

What if she isn’t interested? What if I’ve read this all wrong?

But what if you haven’t?

Oh for fuck sake Rori.

The thoughts collided in her mind, and for a moment, Rori was frozen in indecision. Her eyes flicked down to Agatha's lips, then back up to her eyes, which were watching her intently, waiting. Was there a flicker of something more in that gaze? A challenge, perhaps, or an invitation? Agatha had empowered her, made her feel like she could be something more, someone more. And now, in this quiet, starlit moment, Rori wanted to believe that she could be.

'You've been hobbled by fear..'
'The anxiety, the uncertainty..'
'You do not have to be afraid anymore..'

Screw it. The decision was made in a heartbeat. Rori surged forward, her lips colliding with Agatha’s in a sudden, almost desperate kiss. It was urgent, raw, a clash of emotion and desire that she could hardly deny. The unintended force of it surprised even her, the way her lips pressed against Agatha’s, as if trying to pour all her pent-up feelings into that single moment.

The contact was brief, and just as quickly, she pulled back, her heart pounding wildly in her chest and her mind racing faster than she could keep up with. Her eyes widened in shock at what she’d just done, her cheeks burning hotter than ever.

“Shit. Fuck. I’m sorry,” Rori stammered, utterly aghast at her own boldness. She stared at the Captain, half-expecting anger, rejection, or worse.

 

[Agatha]

It took her by surprise, the kiss. Brief, fleeting as it was, it kindled a feeling within the she-orc like no other. Eyes closed, Agatha felt her breath hitch in her throat as the redhead pressed her mouth to hers. Fierce and yet yielding, soft but oh so decisive, she took the initiative and held it. A second. Two.

Withdrawing, Rori stammered an apology, her accent thickening with every word to pass her lips.

Blinking away the shock, Agatha took a moment to collect herself. I suppose I should have seen this coming, she thought, noticing for the first time how her heart was pounding inside her chest, like the rolling thunder of a hundred hooves.

'I...' Agatha found herself hesitating. 'I- No, no, I'm sorry! There's no need to apologise!' Holding up her hand in an attempt to placate Rori, the she-orc found herself grinning from ear to ear. Her face felt like it was on fire. The taste of Rori's lips on hers left her yearning for more.

What the hells am I feeling right now? What is this?!

'I, um... I should probably be the one apologising. I did not know-... I did not think-' She shook her head, tried to stem the tide of emotion welling up from her chest. 'It's been a while since anyone's kissed me,' Agatha admitted coyly. Her eyes met Rori's, her gaze smouldering, touched by flame. 'Sincerely, meaning. Like they wanted it, too.' She sighed, knuckling her forehead.

Stupid, stupid! Why would you say that?!

'We should probably be getting back,' she continued, her voice faltering. She knew in her heart that was the last thing she wanted.

'Unless...'

Rori

 

[Rori]

Rori’s face was burning, her heart in free fall as she realised what she'd just done. Her lips still tingled from the kiss, and her mind scrambled to make sense of everything. Gods, what was she thinking? The fucking Captain. The urge to disappear into the ground was overwhelming.

The second Agatha started to apologise, Rori’s felt her stomach twist, sure that she'd read the situation oh-so-wrong. She had misinterpreted the captain's kindness, misjudged everything, and now she'd ruined the one safe place she’d found in her life.

“No. Shit. No no no, it was my fault. I.. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she blurted, shaking her head quickly. “Please, don’t apologise, it was stupid of me.”

As Agatha suggested returning to camp, confirming her fears, Rori’s heart plummeted. The thought of putting space between them tore at her, but she couldn’t stay here, not after what she’d just done. Not when she could still feel the warmth of Agatha’s lips on hers and she could barely breathe under the weight of her own embarrassment.

“Yeah, we should..” Rori muttered under her breath, cursing herself as she rolled away from the she-orc, her movements awkward as she scrambled to her feet. She fumbled for the stave, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped it tightly, desperate to have something to hold onto. If only it were wide enough to hide herself behind.

Without another word, Rori started back toward camp, her legs moving faster than her mind could process. She dragged a hand down her face, trying to wipe away the mortification that clung to her. She needed to get away, needed distance between them before she said or did anything else to make this worse.