The Old Orc

I approached him and asked what he's doing. He says "I am waiting for a good death."

"A good death?" I reply

"Yes. Were I to simply lay down and die, it would not please Malacath."

I asked him why he wants to die.

"My time has come. I am old. Too old to become chief. It would be wrong for me to take wives at this age. So I will die. Malacath has given me a vision of a glorious death. I am to wait here until it finds me. As you can see, it has not yet arrived."

I tried to reassure him by telling him he doesn't look that old, and that he is surely still a strong and capable warrior.

"Indeed. One should find his death while he can still call himself a proper man. We Orc men are not like these Nords and Imperials who carry on until they are grey and feeble and their hair falls out. To cling to something past its usefulness is unseemly, how much more so when that thing is you?"

I somewhat understood what he meant, so I offer to him "Perhaps I could give you this good death you seek?"

He replies "Perhaps... Are you sure about this?"

I tell him "Yes, I will give you a good death."

"Hmm. We shall see."

The battle begins, he swings his axe towards me and I swiftly move out of the way. I return a swing to him and he blocks the blow with the hilt of his blade and then shoves me away.

I get around his side and manage to clip his side however this doesn't do much to get past his armor.

He kicks me in my hip and I stumble backward, and as I tried to regain my footing he lands a mighty blow straight to my chest, my armor protected me from being sliced open however the blunt force still did a number on me and I fell to my knees.

Heartache struck, I felt weak and humiliated. I couldn't even slay someone who wanted to die...

But there on the ground thinking about what could have been my death, I realize.. I'm better than this. Faster than that. Stronger than this.

And a surge of Determination shoots into my veins as I get back up with all my remaining strength and swing at him again.

He looks shocked as I lunge towards him, I swung towards his neck but he just barely moved out the way, still landing a mighty blow on his chest.

"That's it. Show me a real fight!" He says.

He retaliates, pushing me away by my shoulder, then swinging towards my throat.

I swiftly duck under and dodge the attack, and counter with a hilt bash to his face.

His nose begins to bleed, he smiles and says "Oh that was dirty.."

I smirk back at him and the battle continues.

Swing by swing, Blow by blow, he begins to look winded. I backed him up against a rock and said to him "Farewell my friend." And I buried my axe into the side of his neck.

"Thank...you.." I looked down at his body reflecting upon my decision. I thought I should've felt bad at first but I soon realized that I should take pride in the fact that I helped someone reach what they want, even if what they wanted was death. With his last breath he thanked me for what I had done, so I was happy for him. Rest in peace, and may you please Malacath in the afterlife.

I did end up taking his armor and weapon but I fitted his body with mine so he kept his dignity.

Back at Riverwood I sold my old axe to Alvor in exchange for some Corundum which I infused into the Steel of my helmet to go with the armor.