The Ruby Empire

Rube the Orc

Male Monster x Female Reader

You've been alone for a long time now. Your husband left for the war not long after you were married. He would appear every now and then and then disappear again. It was like getting a visit from a distant relative as the years went by. Eventually, the visits stopped and you were delivered the tale tell letter wrapped in black silk. You were saddened of course. Who wouldn't be? Your husband was dead. But at the same time, guilt crept into your heart. You had stopped missing him a long time ago. With his death, you didn't miss him at all and you felt horrible for feeling this way.

You were grateful though, your husband never left you for wanting. You didn't have to lift a finger if you needed. Ever since you were young, you've always had health issues. Some days were good and some days were bad. You had learned to cope. You had friends who came and took care of you. You had even hired someone to help take care of the house. She said her name was Liddy. She always seemed to know when she was needed too. You suspected she was a fairy, but you had no basis for it aside from her odd habits.

You were having one of your good spells, which always happened during spring and lasted until the start of fall. You were tending to your garden when you heard a racket from the front of the house. You saw a man ride up on a horse. Both man and horse were massive beasts. As you watched, hidden by your rose bush, you saw the man was actually an Orc. Your eyes widened in terror as he dismounted his horse. He came towards your front door and you saw the trail of blood behind him on the cobblestone path.

He pounds on the door and you're not sure what to do. Should you answer? Should you ignore? You knew you couldn't hide in the garden forever waiting for him to go. He would see you or smell you eventually. The blood begins to pool under his feet at the front door so you decide you have to let him in.

He towers above you and for a moment you feel as if you've let your death inside. "Please," you whisper, extending a tiny hand towards him. "If you're injured, come in. Rest."

He looks surprised by your words and tiny voice. He grunts and takes a step inside. He's breathing heavy. Each breath is shallow and labored.

You lead him inside and he collapses, grasping onto you as he falls. You hold back your scream as you fall to your knees with him. "Fetch your father, child," he growls.

"My father is no longer alive," you reply. "And I am not a child."

He laughs and coughs. His massive hands could wrap around your little arms twice. "Lady of the house then," he breathes and looks into your eyes. "If I die here, you're next." He succumbs to his wounds and falls to the floor.

You sit there, terrified and worried. You don't know what to do. That's when Liddy appears. "What have you done, my lady?" She sighs as she steps over the orc.

"He's injured," you gasp.

"I saw," Liddy grumbles as she kneels down beside the orc. "Go to your garden," she replies. "Go fetch me things from the herb garden I planted you."

"Like what?" You shudder.

She touches your face and smiles. "Don't get excited too much," she coaxes. "You're doing so well. Fetch a sprig of each. I have a feeling I'll need it all."

You nod and dash to the garden. You do as told, plucking one of each from the herb garden she planted for you when she first arrived. When you go back into the house Liddy has the Orc flipped over and has removed his armor. She's cleaning him, wiping away the blood. She's located the wound and is studying it with a keen eye.

"Go and make some tea," she tells you. "I'll only be a moment."

"Are you sure, Liddy?" You gasp.

"Positive, my lady," she smiles up serenely at you. "Orcs aren't as complicated as they try to make themselves seem."