The following afternoon, Elunara sat by her post in the courtyard, carefully documenting everything she saw.
"Ok, I thought about it all night!" Ricky pounded his fist into his hand. "I know exactly what I want." He struck a pose. "Like this!"
She laughed. "You know you'll have to stay still for long periods while I get it just right."
"You got it, boss lady."
She carefully sketched the pose and marked out lighting.
"Oh, yeah, I could hold this allll day."
With a small smile, she began to fill out the details. He began to talk incessantly, but she wasn't listening. As she worked, her eyes tracked towards Grogek, calling orders. She added detail to several pages she had spread out on the modified writing desk she'd had a couple of grunts create for her.
A line here, a scribble there, and she was able to draw faster and more efficiently with her new set up.
"Man, my arms hurt."
"Take a break, I'm thirsty."
"Right away!" He saluted and ran off.
Elunara flipped to a previous drawing and contented herself with filling out the sketches from the night before. With a sigh, she accepted the drink from Ricky, and began to sketch the persistent little goblin again.
Finished, she handed him the portrait.
"Oh man, you are one of a kind, lady." He hugged the picture to his chest. "The others will be so jealous!"
"Go then."
He hesitated. "But, uhh..."
"That's a command. You'll annoy me until you do so."
"Whoohoo!" He ran off, the paper flapping above his head.
She chuckled as she started work on another paper.
"What did he do to earn that?"
Elunara jolted, as she didn't expect Grogek's appearance. Calmly, she erased the jagged line that shot across her paper.
"Not a thing."
"Hmm."
She did not look up, as she continued sketching.
"Grommash summons you to the war room."
Elunara gathered her things and collapsed the table down into its portable shape. She followed Grogek into the hall. Grommash was leaning over the map, his fingers tapping the table. He looked up and grinned.
"Once again you bring me victory! You have proven yourself among my kind! Strange though it may be."
Elunara simply nodded.
"What would you ask this time?"
"Freedom."
Grommash narrowed his eyes.
She waved her hand at him. "Oh, nothing like that. I just wish to walk freely around the fortress."
Grommash leaned on a fist on the table. "You already do that."
"No I don't. I am always on an invisible leash, led by Grogek, or whatever other peon is around to make sure I am where I should be. I have proven myself over and over, and have only wished to do what I want. I continue to do so. If I wanted to leave, I would have already been gone. Your chains do not bind me; your troops do not scare me."
Grommash looked to Grogek, a muscle twitched in the orc's face, but he said nothing. Grommash looked back at Elunara. "It is done."
Elunara bowed and walked away.
"I do not trust her." Grogek frowned.
Grommash laughed.
Wandering past several workers, she made her way to the tower on the corner wall and climbed. She shook her head at several of the passing orcs. Many had already been in her chamber. Once she was at the top, she set up her little work table before moving to the center of the wall. She shifted her body and moved her arms. Back and forth she walked across the wall, her eyes intent on the fortress below her. She held up paper, held up a pencil, changed angles; shifted her head several times, before finally sitting down and drawing again.
"By the Gods, she's done it." The human guard hiding in the tree line lowered his binoculars. "She actually did it."
"Sir?" The young apprentice craned his neck.
"Take a letter, boy."
Elunara sat down and began to sketch out on several pieces of paper. Grogek appeared at the door to the tower and marched up to her.