Page 51 of Her Orc Blacksmith

The room was silent for a few beats, each of us seemingly lost in our thoughts. Then, Vorgath moved toward the bellows, and with practiced ease, his strong arms worked the bellows, sending a gust of air into the heart of the forge. The symbols on the orc metal glowed softly, and the offerings within began to shimmer, sparking to life.

And in a quietwhoosh, a flame flickered to life in the forge.

There it was—our fire.

The colors of the flames reflected in each of our auras, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world held its breath. The forge glowed like it hadn’t in years, but it wasn’t just the warmth I felt.

It was hope. My hope.

Tears swelled in my eyes as I looked around at the people who had made this moment possible. My friends. My family.

“Looks like you’ve got a well-tended fire here,” Sylwen said quietly, his starlit aura swirling as he smiled at me. His gaze softened when it lingered on our interwoven flames.

Thyri, wiping away a dramatic tear, sniffled. “Well,” she said, “it’s about time! I was getting cold.”

The tension lightened immediately, laughter bubbling up unchecked amongst us. Even Vorgath chuckled, his deep laughter rumbling through the smithy, a sound that sent acomforting shiver down my spine. It was like the flame had reignited more than just the forge—it had brought us all a little closer together.

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Time slipped away unnoticed after that, fueled by lively conversation and more of the delicious moonwine. To my surprise, Sylwen seemed genuinely captivated by Thyri, despite their stark differences. He listened with rapt attention as she recounted her wild escapades in the Hargrave kitchen, hanging on her every word.

When she got to the part about nearly setting the councilman's pants on fire, he interrupted her with a long-fingered hand on her arm. “While I’m no fan of the councilman, perhaps you’d be interested in learning a rune or two to prevent such mishaps in the future.”

Thyri nudged him playfully with her shoulder. “Only if you teach me how to make those elvencrusts they sell every year at the Moonshadow Celebration.”

“And what do I gain from this arrangement?” Sylwen asked, feigning a thoughtful look.

“All the stolen sweet rolls your elf heart desires?” Thyri suggested.

Sylwen chuckled. “How about friendship instead? I’d like to add a talented human chef to my collection.”

Thyri’s expression turned mock-serious as she raised an eyebrow. “Your collection?”

The room erupted in laughter, the camaraderie between them brightening the atmosphere. Their auras shimmered in response, swirling together—Thyri’s warm oranges dancing playfully with Sylwen’s cool blues, creating a beautiful contrast

As the night deepened, I settled closer to Vorgath, enjoying his warmth. Our auras also danced in unison, the vibrant reds and purples mingling as I nestled against his side, feeling safe andcontent. It was comforting to be surrounded by friends, their laughter echoing off the forge walls while the flames flickered, casting playful shadows around us.

Eventually, Mrs. Crumble gave a sly smile and excused herself from the group. “Time for me to get to bed,” she said, brushing a bit of ash from her apron. “Someone has to be up with young Elias first thing, and I have a feeling it won't be any of you.” With a wink, she vanished in a swirl of leaves and wildflowers.

Thyri tipped her cup despondently. “What I'd give for another glass.”

Sylwen sighed dramatically. “Alas, I don’t have any more with me. It seems the night has turned against us.”

“Well, lucky for us, I know where the councilman keeps his Elderberry wine,” Thyri said, standing abruptly. “What do you say? Are you up for a little sneaking around?”

Sylwen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “If you were to learn a few runes, you wouldn’t have to do quite so much sneaking.”

“Why do I need to learn when I have you?” she quipped with a grin.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I fear your friendship might be more trouble than I bargained for.”

“That's probably true,” I chimed in. “Do you remember that time—”

Thyri turned to me and pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh! Don't scare off my new friend. I need him now that you're otherwise occupied.” She lifted one eyebrow and glanced meaningfully in Vorgath's direction.

Vorgath smirked. “Do not discourage her if it means I get time alone with you.”

Sylwen stood now, too, setting down his empty drinking tin and holding out his arm for Thyri. “I do believe that's our cue to make ourselves scarce,” he said.

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