New Day, New Problems

I woke up feeling better than I had ever felt, ever.

I was at an all time high emotionally, physically my body felt incredible satisfied, and I had the extra bonus of waking up next to four beautiful women.

The morning sunlight peeked into the room and gave a soft glow to the skin of all the elf maidens.

Linor, Ninor, Youla, and Velari were all still asleep each curled up in their own way around me.

I propped myself up a little bit to my elbows and that small action roused the girls from their sleep one by one.

Each of them seemed absolutely unperturbed by the situation we all found ourselves in this morning. I had felt comfortable about my having a relationship with all four of these women but I wasn't sure what they would think in the morning.

Luckily, we laid there and everyone simply basked in the warmth and the peace of the moment.

Finally Velari, ever the serious one, spoke up. "We need to get up, Mar you probably need to find your group to figure out what happens next and we have duties to attend to."

"Uugggghhhhh... She's right." Ninor said after a moment. Her statement didn't make her move my hand which was slowly caressing my chest.

"I can't believe that I'm the one saying this... But should we talk about this?" I asked. Honestly I was pretty amazed that I was the one who had to ask because by I'm the orc and I shouldn't really care who I screw and when, but for some reason I couldn't bring myself to do that and it would be especially unfair to Velari.

The girls all looked at me in amazement for a moment as I once again surprised them with my non-orcish behavior.

Velari looked at the other girls as well, since we had already confirmed our feelings it was more a matter for the other three.

I knew that young elves were incredibly promiscuous and so I didn't want to assume that this was anything more than a simple fling.

The twins and Youla had serious looks on their faces as they were forced to contemplate this relationship seriously.

"It's alright we can talk about this lat..." I start to say before Youla interjects.

"No, I don't need time to think about what this is.

Mar, you are different from anyone I have ever met and that is what drew me to you from the beginning.

I don't want you to think that this was just a sexually charged orgy,

I want to know you better and I want you to know me. I can't commit anything but it is more than a one time thing." Youla admitted bravely.

I was impressed by her way of putting all the cards on the table bluntly.

"Ninor and I feel the same way, right Ninor?" Linor said looking at her twin.

Ninor nodded back to her sister while still softly dragging her hand across my chest.

I was enervated by the positive approach the girls took to this relationship. I seriously wanted all three girls to be my women. I wasn't one to sleep with people and abandon them afterwords. My previous life was filled with this mindset but the world I was in at the moment was turning me into someone who cared for all my women.

I reached both arms around the shoulders of the four maidens and pulled them all into a tight embrace.

We all enjoyed the embrace for awhile but eventually we had to get up and so I rose from the bed and clothed myself while the girls followed suit.

After I was fully clothed I shared a quick kiss with each of the girls before I excused myself and left the house.

After I had taken a few steps down the road I saw Ossun approaching me cheerfully.

"Well, well, well, it seems like someone had a good night" Ossun said in greeting eyeing me mischievously.

I shrugged with a smile on my face. "it's a possibility" I reply.

He gives me a wistful look for a second.

"Ossun, if you want to talk about it you can, I'm not a part of your village and I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of what's going on." I supply trying to get him to open up.

"I appreciate it Mar, from the second I met you I felt like we could be good friends and that means a lot to me. Truth be told I feel like my present is getting away from me as I try to force the future to happen. The sad thing is that I don't even think the future I'm reaching for is going to happen either." Ossun revealed after a moment.

We fell into step together heading toward the Hall of Elders in the village after he dropped that bombshell on me.

I held a contemplative silence for a moment.

"Listen to me Ossun, I don't know everything but it seems like you are being pulled in tow directions. One direction is what you're heart desperately wants. The other direction is what your brain accepts as probably realistic. I can't tell you what direction you should take, I just know that you can't stand at the crossroads for forever. Both our people are being confronted with increasingly difficult circumstances and life is too short to not commit to a path.

So my advice would be to pick a path and follow it to the end without regret. Whatever happens I hope you find happiness."

I gave him my best speech and hoped that it would prove helpful for his development, I truly wished the best for Ossun.

At that moment the memory of raven hair and the incredible figure of Iniel appeared in my mind, she was without a doubt the loveliest creature I had ever seen but I didn't know her at all and it seemed like quite a few people were missing out on life because of her. For that reason I felt no desire for her. At least on the surface, she was incredibly seductive so it was impossible to eliminate all desire for her.

Ossun smiled at me. "Thank you friend, you raise a good point that I have always known but have been hesitating to accept."

I clap him on the back and we continue our walk without interruption.

Soon we reach the Hall of the Elders.

Ossun and I quickly enter the building and head toward the room where I met Elawan for the first time.

As we walk in we are confronted with a sight almost the exact same as the one I was first met with when I arrived at the village.

The elf elders were seated and seats had been pulled out for Jurza, Kashna, Balraav, and Lukshu.

They had appeared to be discussing something when we entered and interrupted the discourse.

Elawan rose from her seat and so did Jurza and Kashna as they scrutinized me.

"Welcome, Elf-friend Mar." Elawan greeted

"It seems you enjoyed yourself at the feast yesterday" Jurza added giving me a wink.

"Everything was splendid, I thank the Lakeborn elves for their hospitality" I bowed to Elawan.

She gave me a smile

"We have reached an accord, and were just discussing the next steps for our two people." Elawan explained briefly.

"At this point it has become expedient that the Bloodmoon tribe move further into the forest so that we can combine forces quickly given any threat. It should not be a problem since our tribe has always been nomadic." Jurza explained after Elawan.

"However I still need the consent of the chieftain before such a decision can be made. I anticipate no problem with this though because of the increasing threats on our borders.

Regardless, I still need to return to the tribe for a time." Jurza explained.

I realized that this conversation was a way for my grandmother to explain that she was leaving.

"So we are all going back?" I asked slightly saddened by the thought of leaving my new lovers.

Jurza shook her head. "Not all of us no, you need to begin to train and increase your level. We can no longer wait for you to mature because the world is getting increasingly dangerous.

Therefore it has been decided that Lukshu and I shall return to the tribe while you and your parents will stay here and you must start hunting incessantly.

The faster you reach an evolution the better" Jurza stated all this with a determined look in her eyes.

I sensed urgency in her tone that wasn't there before and I figured that the situation was worse in the territory of the elves.

If I wanted to keep everyone safe I was going to need to become powerful.

I placed my fist against my heart and bowed to my grandmother. "I will quickly grow strong enough to protect everyone" I vowed to her and she gave me an appreciative look.

"Very well, it makes no sense to waste any more time so Lukshu and I will be off." Jurza bowed once to the elves before wrapping me up in a warm hug. It was one of love that can only be felt between family. I hugged her back and as soon as we broke the embrace she was striding out of the hall with Lukshu who looked very unwilling to leave.

Soon, it was just my parents and I left with the elven elders and Ossun.

"Mar, it was decided as part of the agreement that as a show of good faith one orc would be given access to the armory of the lakeborn elves and receive one of their master craftsman weapons.

The tribe has smiths but we are no where near the skill of the elves. This is an amazing opportunity and it was decided that you would be given this honor.

You haven't committed to a weapon yet and so it's the perfect time to pick because we will be incredibly busy from here on out. You need a powerful weapon." Kashna explained.

"Yes mother" I replied, internally I was quite excited by the thought. I had been craving a weapon to call my own for some time but still hadn't quite landed on one that felt right. Of course the tribe didn't have a variety of weapons. It was mostly bows, swords, hunting axes, and the occasional spear. None of which felt right to me, though I did prefer the spear off all the choices.

I wanted something more though.

Elawan spoke up at this moment, "You will be choosing a weapon from the sacred armory, it contains the finest weapons ever constructed by our ancestors, forged from a special ore discovered at the bottom of Loch Anduin. It's incredibly strong and is usually only reserved for the mightiest of our kin but an exception has been made for you Mar

As such I have summoned the keeper of the sacred armory to lead you there and help you with your choice."

Elawan paused for a second and looked past me.

"You may enter Iniel"

Ossun visibly stiffened next to me, and I turned around and was met with the sight of the devastatingly beautiful dancer from last night entering the room. Iniel hadn't lost any of her beauty and charm even though I was now sober, her sensuous hips and curvy figure sauntered into the room with a grace that I could not even fathom.

The majority of my brain stopped working as her beauty began to entrance me but a small part in the back began to wonder why Iniel was the keeper of the sacred armory. I thought she was just a dancer and I wanted to ask Ossun but it didn't seem like the time or place. I guess everyone needs a day job though.

I snap out of the trance as quickly as I enter it. I have to stop letting her do that to me...

"My name is Iniel Midnight, it is a pleasure to meet you elf-friend" Iniel said with a melodious voice as she approached.

I bowed to her, "The pleasure is mine" I replied, retaining my courteous stance that I had taken the entire time I was in Te' Induil.

"Iniel, as I notified you last night our new friend Mar would have access to the armory, as such the elders task you with the responsibility to lead him to the armory and guide him in his selection.

Nobody knows the weapons as well as you and no one else is more qualified to accomplish this task.

This gesture will cement the relationship between elves and orcs." Elawan explained.

"Now please help Mar obtain his weapon so that he can begin his mission to gain more strength." Elawan requested.

Iniel nodded her head and turned to me. "Please follow me" She turned around and strode from the room and after a moment I followed suit.

It was time for me to choose a weapon.