"All the same" by Kostas Mavros

Since I was born I was told to be afraid of some creatures

such as agres,trolls,orc and many other beasts that walk our land
.


My father was a farmer.My older brother became one, too.But I

beleived tha the life of a farmer was not the one I should live.

So I left and joined a mercenary army.I spent eleven years of

my life learning how to wield a sword and fight.

I was almost thirty when I left that army and started my travels

across the land.



One day I met one of beasts I was told to be aware of,

an orc.For a moment we stood still and looked at each other.

He was tall,taller than me,and his skin as green.His armor

was nothing like what we call an armor.It was mostly parts of

different armors all put together with leather.But also he had

a sword.His sword looked more like a sharp piece of metal,

rather than a sword.But it huge,and it was sure that if it could

cut you then it would break your bones.



The moment pasted.

We grabed our swords and attacked.

I was carring a shield and a short sword.His first attack

hit my shield,broke it,knoked me down,and broke my arm.

I stood up fast trying to keep a safe distance from him.

He charged against me,I dogded his sword and hit him

in his left leg.I saw the blood gausing out and I felt satisfied.

Unfortunatelly,the orc was moving as if I had missed him.

I was feeling dizzy because of my broken arm,and he looked

just fine!

He attacked again.

I dodged.

I saw a small opening.

I attacked.



He hit me with the hilt of his sword and two or threee ribs.

I hit his lungs.The pain I felt was so great,I could hardly stand up.

This attack did also some good damage to the orc.He was standing

still,looking at me,waiting fo my next move.We stood still for a few

minutes.Then he fainted.I could have killed him.He was in front

of me,unconsious.However,I didn't kill him.I fainted.



I woke up the next morning, and found my self lying on a

bed,in a small wooden house.I stood up.My armor was

next to my along with my sword.I stepped outside only

to find the orc sitting next to an old lady.

When she saw me se simply said "Good."

And then she entered the house,which was more like

a hut,and both of them disappeared.



"She was a spirit of the forest.She took us in

and healed our wounds.My name is Grimdelb.

You didn't kill me,so I no longer consider you

an enemy."

"My name is Garmir,son of Themar."



It's been nineteen years since that fight.

Grimdelb and I became companions and friends.

We have travelled almost all over the land.

And we shall keep on doing so,till the very end of our lives,

me and the beasts I was told to be afraid of.

It looks like that in deep inside we are all the same.