Those Who Dream of Orcs

Clover and Ouhgan Chapter 9

Ouhgan paced the kitchen floor back and forth, every once in a while glancing out the window towards the setting sun. He sat down, then stood up, then sat back down again.  This time resting his head on the kitchen table. He huffed, he puffed, then glanced out the window once more. Waiting, hoping, praying to see Clover walk past then push the door open and smile at him like she had done so many times before.

          When Ouhgan heard the front door creak open his eyes widened and he jump to his feet. He would be sure to give Clover a tongue lashing she would never forget.

"Clover I-, Oh," he let out a heavy breath.  "Bula, it's just you," Ouhgan's shoulders slumped.

"What do you mean 'just you', dear husband," she laughed. "were you expecting someone else,"

"No," he clenched his forehead as if he were suffering from a terrible headache. " I didn't mean... Clover is missing," he blurted out. "I haven't seen her all day and I'm just worried is all,"

"You worry more about your slave than your wife?" Bula wrapped her arms around Ouhgan's neck.

"No, no of course not my love it's just not like her to disappear like this." he backed away from her embrace, gently pushing Bula aside and gazing out the window once more. "Are you sure you haven't seen her?"

"No, I haven't," she hissed.

"Maybe I should go look for her," he grunted.

Bula's eyes narrowed as she loured at his back

"Ouhgan, I'm sure the girl is fine," Bula insisted.

"But I-"

"Ouhgan! Don't you think you're being a little overprotective of that elf? You of all people know how that girl feels about you. Maybe she came to her senses and just ran away. I mean you're married, she could never have you"

"I know, I know, I'm just worried about her,"

"Well, why don't you spend less time worrying about that elf and more time worrying about your pregnant wife,"

"Yeah, yeah I hear you," he continued looking out the window. "Wait, what? pregnant, " he turned around and looked at her belly then trailed up to her smiling face.

"I'm going to be a father," he giggled like a young girl. "I'm going to be a father!" He repeated.

He rushed to embrace his wife only to stop short of taking her in his arms. His smile disappeared and his brow furrowed and his jaw tightened.

"You're pregnant and yet you reek of strong drink woman,"

"Oh, it was only a few drinks," she smiled. "Yeah you know, to celebrate,"

"A few," he snarled. "You smell like a drunkard," he frowned.

"Don't worry about it, I promise I won't take another drink, I was just celebrating," she smiled, throwing her arms around Ouhgan once more. " Don't make that face dear husband, we're having a baby,"

"Yeah," he smiled. "You're right, we're having a baby''

"So are you going to come upstairs and celebrate with me?" Bula smiled wide. "We can try for twins,"

"Yeah," he replied, unwrapping Bula's arms from around his neck.

"I would love to celebrate but I just don't think I can with Clover-"

"You know, now that I think about it, I'm sure I saw her at the drinking house before I left,"

"The drinking house," Ouhgan questioned. " Are you sure? I don't remember Clover being much of a drinker and I doubt she would want to hang out at that-"