Fierce woman

[moonshadows]

“Mrargh. I was wrong, son of Saurfang. Now let me up.”

“Not this time.”

“What?” Head jerks, foot on warrior’s tail making his neck wrench. “That’s the way it’s always been – the loser admits defeat and the winner lets him up.”

Hand tightens on his wrist, keeping the arm twisted back, left arm trapped beneath him. “Not this time. You brought my mate into this, so you’ll apologize to her before I let you up.”

I walk up to them, look down at him. He glares, cheek pressed into the dirt.

“What are you smirking at?”

“You. Someone’s finally given you the thrashing you deserve. After four years of keeping silent as you try to dishonor my Warchief with your poisoned words, this feels pretty good.”

Growl. “You’ve wanted to fight me for four years, and you did nothing?”

Shrug. “Thrall told me not to.”

“What honor is there in that?” Sneer.

“In not doing something I know my Warchief would not want me to do? Let me tell you, son of Hellscream, what happened when your father did something he knew Thrall would not approve of. He drank demon’s blood – again – and slew a forest god who had been a father to the Kaldorei for ten thousand years. Some Kaldorei live to be ten thousand, including the priestess who leads them. It will probably be another ten thousand years before they forgive us for that. Grom died a hero to our people, but left us with an enemy. Now, I managed to get some of the Kaldorei druids to admit that I, personally, am not that bad. They still won’t let me into Moonglade, but they don’t want to skin me either. And do you know what it took to earn that bit of respect?” Squat to look him right in the eyes. “It took swallowing the insults and the slights to my honor in the name of upholding the Horde’s honor. And that’s really what it comes down to, Garrosh. Are you part of the Horde, or aren’t you? Because when you’re part of the Horde, you’re part of something bigger than just you. Honor you gain acting for the Horde increases the Horde’s honor. Your dishonor also dishonors the Horde. And sometimes, not defending your personal honor raises the Horde’s honor. I allowed myself, as the Horde’s representative, to be insulted to prove that the Horde is not a collective mob of howling madmen eager for bloodshed. And it worked.” Pause to let that sink in. “Now, I believe you were questioning my loyalty to my mate.”

“Ryxl Ironheart, Champion of the Horde, I apologize-“

“Not yet you don’t.” Hold his eyes. “First, you’re going to listen to the reason I have taken pleasure from so many men. I don’t do it to dishonor my mate, but to add to Thrall’s honor. Some years ago, I learned that Thrall loved a woman who he hoped would someday be his mate and bear his children. A woman he loved and honored so much that he refused to satisfy the hunger of his body with any other woman. Now, the magic that makes me his champion also binds me to him. I found a way to use those ties to let him give that hunger to me so that it could be satisfied without him being untrue to the mate of his heart. My mate knew this before he asked me to hunt with him, and to his honor, accepted it. I understand that with me taking pleasure from so many men, it would be natural to question the fatherhood of my child.” Lift my tunic, pull down the top of my breeches, see his eyes widen at the scar. “Because of events that are none of your business, I am unable to get with child unless I invoke the magic that caused my conception – and that magic requires me to designate the father of the resulting child.” Stand back up, back off a step and nod to let him know I’m done.

“Ryxl Ironheart, I apologoze. My words were false and bring me dishonor. Your loyalty is without question and your child is the true child of your mate.”

“I accept your apology, Garrosh son of  Hellscream.” Nod to him, grin at Sarok. “You can let him up now.”

He stands slowly, shaking out arms and brushing dirt off his skin, rubbing his neck gingerly. Shakes his head ruefully at Sarok.

“That is one fierce woman you have as your mate.”

Sarok grins. “You have that backwards, old friend. That’s one fierce woman who has me as her mate.”