Those Who Dream of Orcs

Cicada and Rugorim

Cicada gazed into the fire then glanced over her shoulder at the window. He hasn't come tonight either. But she couldn't shake the feeling he was on the way. That at any minute the window would creak open and he'd push the curtains aside and smile at her like he had done so many times before.

She waited and waited, hoping to feel that cold gust of air and the flickering of the fireplace when he pushed the window open but it never came, he never came. And once again Cicada had to face the hard truth that she would be sleeping alone, again.

"Ci...ca...da!"

Cicada's eyes snapped open to the muffled sound of Yrilssa yelling her name from downstairs as she stomped the ground as hard as she could.

"Cicada! Cicada!" She yelled again.

"I'm up," Cicada fumbled out of bed and ran to the door. "I'm up!" she cracked the door and yelled.

"Good it's about time," Yrilssa grumbled.

Cicada cursed herself the whole time she was getting dressed. She couldn't keep waiting up for Lord Rugorim.

Yrilssa hated waiting and she especially hated waiting on Cicada. Cicada readied herself as fast as she could, cursing herself for lying awake worrying over Rugorim. All this was his fault and she would be sure to give him a piece of her mind. If he would ever talk to her.

She hurried downstairs where Yrilssa was standing by the stairs waiting.

"So nice of you to join us in the land of the awake,"

"Excuse me my lady I-"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Cicada. Just hurry up,"

"Yes, my lady,"

"Today is unusually warm, and I don't want to waste it. This winter weather has had me cooped up in this house and I finally get a day warm enough to go out and you want to sleep."

"Yes, my lady,"

"Don't yes my lady me,'' Yrilssa hissed. "Honestly Cicada, sleeping in this late in the day, carrying on with that orc the way you do. People will talk. As if they haven't already. Everyone knows you're sweet on that orc. You should be embarrassed."

But she wasn't, there was no way she could ever be embarrassed about Rugorim; she loved him and didn't care who knew.

"If you took the time to get to know them you would see the orcs are no different than-"

"Just get the door," she ordered. " I don't want to hear your sympathetic speeches just because you're sweet on an orc. Honestly Cicada," she giggled. "What kind of life do you think you'll have with an orc? What kind of life could an orc even give you? A housewife in some dusty old town. Why would you even willingly choose a life like that and with an orc? And especially that monstrous brute of an orc Rugorim."

"Rugorim is not a monster or a brute, he is kind, gentle, and warm," she smiled.

"Cicada," Yrilssa laughed. " You sound like you're in love with this orc,"

Cicada's silence and blushing face gave her away. Yrilssa clenched her stomach and doubled over in hysterical laughter.

"You're in love with an orc," she taunted. "Oh Cicada, you're in love with an orc," she laughed so hard that tears filled her eyes. " What are you hoping for? Marriage, babies? With an orc, are you mad girl?"

"Cicada," Yrilssa took a deep breath and regained her composure. "For your sake, get any idea of being with that orc out of your head. You of all people should know, that is a union that will never come to pass."