Heart Over Sword
Chapter 183: Under the Moon and Trees

Chapter 183: Under the Moon and Trees

Evanna’s eyes wandered to the rest of the campsite with sleeping bodies scattered between the tents, the fires still flickering, bottles spilt on the ground, and more than a few men were in very uncomfortable positions. She could still smell the lavender in the air though it was becoming faint, and she could only guess that her sixth sense was the only reason she awoke at all. But even among all of this, the Princess soon found herself gazing down where her fingers slipped comfortably between Arawn’s.

Out of everything to worry about right now, in this instant, Evanna was staring at the growing warmth spreading between their hands. Earlier, she accepted his outstretched hand automatically following decorum, although that ship had long sailed between them. But once their hands touched, a bolt of awareness shot through her, and interlacing her fingers into his seemed both exhilarating and just right.

Neither of them spoke, yet there was not a single discomfort or awkward silence between them. That was more terrifying than the act itself. Swallowing down her trepidation Evanna focused on the situation at hand. She looked at the back of Arawn’s head as he led her through the thickening trees where she conversed with Conrad mere hours before.

Unlike before, it was easier to get through. It seems Conrad’s temper snapped on his return journey to the camp, the trees were bent out of shape with handprints on, and others had even been snapped, leaving in its place a path. While Evanna assessed Conrad’s ’fine’ work, she quietly used some of her gift to heal the trees as they walked through before stopping at the edge of the cliff. Arawn released her hand, bringing her attention back to the Prince and away from the deadly drop and dark woodland.

Arawn looked at her and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her to his side, Evanna instantly began to wiggle out of his hold with complaints ready on her tongue, but Arawn spoke before her. "Pardon me." His grip tightened on her as the rock beneath their feet started to shake and then levitate with them standing on it.

Evanna yelped and clung onto Arawn, her arms wrapping around his back as she stared below their feet, where the rock floated them across the cliffside and started to lower down to the trees below. "*You are really intent on kidnapping me,*" She gasped, but there was a hint of exhilaration in her voice as she watched the trees swallow them into their darkened land, and the ground gradually grew closer to them. Her damp hair blew away from her face causing her to shiver.

Arawn’s arms tightened around her almost protectively, and the rock turned them slightly, using his body to shield her more from the wind. "*You do not sound so aggravated by the idea, Princess," He murmured over the top of her head. "I do not wish for us to be disturbed.*"

A shiver ran through her body from the tone of his voice. The slight vibration of his chest clearly revealed his quiet amusement at her body’s response. Being this close to each other, they were so acutely aware of the other. But Evanna focused on their surroundings. Evanna was quite certain they wouldn’t be disturbed at the cliffside, but she would not argue about taking extra precautions.

They landed gracefully to the ground, and Arawn again took her hand in his. It felt so natural, and so Evanna followed without questioning him, although her heart thudded rapidly in her chest. Her gaze swept across the tall coverage of trees and the small streams rushing past them.

While Evanna and Arawn slowly walked up a gradual slope, her gaze turned to the side where blue fireflies started to flutter past them. No, not fireflies; their wings were far too large, and the way they flapped their wings was gentle and graceful. The colour of the wings sparkled and glowed; it was almost like the sparks trailed behind them before disintegrating.

These were luminous, bright blue butterflies. All at once, they seemed to ascend to the sky from where Evanna and Arawn walked and disturbed them. Evanna watched in awe as this part of the forest was alight with the soft hues of blue with these beautiful, winged creatures that fluttered about or paused on branches and nearby rocks.

The Princess didn’t realise she’d stopped walking until she felt her arm gently lock. It was then she also noticed that they were standing on a giant, fallen tree, its roots clawed into the ground as the remainder of the trunk elongated above a small stream. The stream was so small she could step over it, but it was still all wonderful.

Evanna lifted her gaze back to Arawn, and her lips parted for a moment. The soft lighting of the butterflies flittered across his eyes and cast shadows along his handsome features. She stared at the Prince in just as much awe. With his moonlight hair, sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and those eyes with infinite hues of shining blue back at her, she could truly call him nothing less than an ethereal being.

Evanna glanced away as she remembered to breathe again and gazed upon the beauty of the woods they stood among. "I know you must have questions for me, but.. I cannot help but stop and stare, all matters that are of importance slipping away from my mind.. This is so beautiful. Sometimes this journey hardly seems real," She whispered, her eyes glazed over from the pure joy the forest, the butterflies and the elven Prince stirred in her.

The Princess reached her hand out just as two butterflies dancing and spinning around one another neared them. They landed softly on her fingers, and her breathing stopped before they fluttered off her once more and rose high above their heads. Evanna watched them, her lips pulling into a carefree smile as they flew away and became small dots of light in the distance.

Evanna flicked her gaze back to Arawn after feeling his stare on the side of her face and her cheeks heated at finding him still watching her unabashedly. The Prince had not been watching the butterflies, he had been watching her, and the longer he stared, the more his eyes softened.

Arawn took a step towards her, clutched her other hand, bringing her knuckles to his face and kissing each one gently, staring at her with sparks of heat starting to burn in his bottomless blue eyes. "*Evanna. Let us speak not as Prince of the Flori and Princess of Dunhurst but just as we are, as Arawn and Evanna.*" Arawn’s voice was so soft and gentle, his gaze almost searing through her while his words called to her in this magical atmosphere. The last ounce of wariness towards the Prince was crumbling.

Evanna’s chest rose and fell deeply as she stared back at Arawn. A flicker of doubt crossed her mind again, but his earnest, piercing gaze swept it all away, and she could only stare back at him. Arawn was the man who, despite the odds, made her feel safe, and he shouldn’t have been. They were meant to be enemies. Yet here she stood, wanting to tell him everything.

"*Will you still deny me the truth?*" Arawn’s voice lowered as he gently released her hands. Evanna already missed his touch, and the small distance growing between them was starting to make her chest tighten the longer she didn’t speak.

Arawn was standing in front of her, his usually guarded eyes and stoic features now showing so much emotion before her, and she could see hurt brewing behind them. Her heart pinched, and her stomach dropped; she was the reason to cause this look on his face. She almost gasped when his hand brushed across her cheek and realised tears were spilling down them.

Arawn closed the small gap between them, his hands now cupping her face, gently brushing away the tears on her cheeks. "*Shh, it’s okay. You’re okay, Evanna. Whatever troubles you, let me lighten the burden,*" He held her so softly and peered at her with such caring eyes it made the tears form and spill more.

Evanna closed her eyes and swallowed past the lump forming in her throat. "*Evanna, Evanna.. my Evanna, I am here. My darling, my ferocious Princess.*" His whispers continued to caress her ears and fill her with this sweet warmth until her eyes started to dry. His sweet words flowed through her like magic, calming her, cocooning her, and telling her everything would be fine.

The Princess took a deep breath in and gulped. "*I knew the moment I stepped out of the palace what risks I was taking.*" Her voice was hoarse and in dire need of water, but she cleared her throat and proceeded. "*It was and never will be my intention to wage war against the Flori. You must know that, Arawn..*"

"*I believe you. Whether it was pure naivety or something else.." Arawn paused his commentary as his eyes flicked between hers. "Tell me, what made you act so rashly, my dear Evanna?*"

Evanna noted how Arawn kept speaking so endearingly to her. It was almost like something had shifted between them, and she didn’t not like it. But this wasn’t something she could wrap her head around while discussing something of much more importance: The possible outcome of their kingdoms surviving her reckless deeds. Arawn’s father would never overlook that the Princess of Dunhurst trespassed and stole from his palace.

Evanna looked down, feeling the guilt gnaw at her and to find the courage to speak her next words. She couldn’t bear to keep looking at Arawn, and even now, she felt the weight of his gaze on her face. The sights, his touch and the feelings bubbling inside her were overwhelming. The rising tension and nervousness made her still at the sudden conclusion that she wanted to cave in; she wanted Arawn to know.

The slight change in Evanna’s stance and the realisation awakening on her face did not go unnoticed by Arawn. He had been waiting for this moment, but everything had changed now. They were standing before each other, exposed and bare, and as much as he could see it frightened Evanna, there was no turning back now.

"*My mother is sick. Very sick. She is dying,*" Her voice broke at the last word, and she felt Arawn’s hands slip down to her neck, but his thumbs swiftly started making small comforting circles on her skin. "*My mother has only months left to live.*"

She swallowed, feeling the tightness in her throat as the following words left her lips. "*The gem..*" His hands stilled. "*Has been said to heal all fatal wounds and any sickness. It is my last hope.*"