Heart Over Sword
Chapter 191: Then there were four

Chapter 191: Then there were four

The small band of elves and Evanna escaped the forest before sunup; she did not recognise the area but assumed they were going in the correct direction. Before the last of the trees fell away to open fields, Arawn ordered Cedric and Anwel to return along with the other elves in their company. Her guards earned their return, and Evanna was happy to see them return to the palace, especially for Cedric, the soon-to-be father. Garrett was the only one to remain by their side and surprisingly continued to carry Ronan on his back.

Once sunlight scattered across the earth, the small party of four began to search for the better ground to rest at. Evanna stared across a vast ocean of green and yellow fields. Upon these open fields, strong winds roared at them, sending shivers down Evanna’s neck, but they found a spot behind a hill, among grass as tall as trees. The shelter did nothing more than hide them from any potential threats; otherwise, the wind still chilled them to the bone.

The night had been tiring for all, but they would only rest for an hour before leaving again. Garrett plopped Ronan down, not so gently and smirked when he gasped and jumped up, his legs wobbling and collapsed to the ground. Evanna let her body fall back onto the earth and looked at her friend, whose eyes darted around like a startled animal.

"Are we.." Ronan began, then wiped his hand over his face, rubbing at his eyes before blinking at the vibrant colours of the grass around them. "Are we in the forgotten plains?"

Arawn sighed and gracefully planted himself beside Evanna, closing his eyes with a slight twitch in his brow as though Ronan’s voice irritated him. "There is nothing forgotten about these plains; it is only humans who are quick to forget," Arawn replied tiredly like speaking was too much effort to waste on such a simple subject.

"A simple yes would do.." Ronan replied, then jumped up again in shock. "Raven! What the.. Are we.. Are we prisoners to the Flori now? What is the meaning-"

"He yaps a lot," Garrett commented in Ronan’s native tongue, so he understood his mocking, then glared in his direction, quietening her friend, who stepped back warily. "Be quiet. Unlike you, we have not rested all night."

Ronan looked from Garrett to Arawn and, lastly, to Evanna, who struggled to keep her lids from closing. "Roach.." She whispered, reaching her hand out towards him at the incline position her body was at from the hill. He was kneeling before her in seconds, his hands wrapped around her slender one. "We are safe."

"If you are so worried for your princess, I suggest standing watch. If you know of these plains, then you know what dangers could lurk nearby." Arawn flicked his wrist, dismissing Ronan before turning on his side, and staring directly at Evanna.

She wanted to comment on how he spoke to her friend, but her fatigue would not allow it, and she was also reminded of her Prince’s well-known frosty personality. Arawn may show affection towards her, but he is not so kind to everyone else.

Ronan searched Evanna’s face worriedly, then sighed before marching towards Garrett, who somehow sat elegantly on a small rock. He tapped the elf on the shoulder, telling him to sleep, but Garrett stared at him in response before returning to scan their surroundings, remaining on guard. Ronan threw his hands up but did not complain as he glanced at Evanna, scowled at Arawn, and then stepped away from Garrett, watching him cautiously and remaining on guard with him.

Evanna watched, her lids drooping, blinking slowly as she adjusted to this new environment, along with the thoughts that kept her mind more awake than her body.

She hoped Conrad would not pursue them any further. He had more important things to worry about than chasing after her, such as the throne in the North.

Thanks to Cilv, the gemstone is gone and is allegedly in Lyvaria.

She had yet to hear from Killian and-

"*Calm that racing mind of yours." Arawn planted a soft kiss on the side of her head, whispering, "my feisty princess.*"

At the touch of his lips and the words were spoken so softly against her skin that the weight of the night’s adventure fell upon her like a heavy blanket. Just like magic, Evanna was asleep in seconds, even with the wind roaring against her.

⚔

When Evanna next awoke, she stared up at bright blue skies with a soft wind caressing her stray strands of raven hair away from her face. With a slight frown, her gaze rested on a large tree to the side of a balcony, and besides that, a man leaned against it, crunching into an apple, his arms crossed and long black hair falling down his back. She slowly sat up, blinking at the ruby eyes alight in amusement at her gaping.

"Princess." He bowed extravagantly, his hands spread to the side, whilst holding onto the bitten apple, staring up at her with a crooked smile.

"Killian," she whispered his name, then jumped up with renewed energy bursting with the excitement of news about her mother. Now that her mind was no longer foggy, Evanna realised they were in her private gardens near the tree across her balcony.

Did that mean Killian was successful and had visited the palace, seen her garden, and seen and helped her mother?

"Evanna."

Evanna stopped mid-stride and spun on the spot, her eyes widening when she saw Loraven, her skin glowing, her cheeks full or as full as they could be for her slender form. Her mother looked radiant, her hair plaited into a small crown along her head. Completely forgetting the vampire in the shade, Evanna sprinted to her mother and hugged her. Still, she made sure not to hug too tightly to match the swelling of emotions in her heart.

"Mother," she whispered. "You are well?"

Loraven pulled back and gazed at her sadly, the palm of her hands cupping Evanna’s cheeks. "*Look at you. You have spent your powers. What has happened for this to be so? Were you in such danger-*"

"*Do not fret for me, mother. I am fine. But most importantly.. Is this an illusion, or do you really look like this?*" Evanna questioned, peering at her mother like she was the child to be fussed over.

"*It is all thanks to your friend,*" Loraven replied, though her hazel eyes tried to convey what her lips did not. There was more to be said. "*His blood has given me...*"

Her words suddenly started to echo back to Evanna, who frowned, feeling as though she had gone suddenly deaf as her mother’s lips kept moving, but there were no words. Yet the sound of the breeze remained while the colours around them became distorted before her mother suddenly disappeared.

"Mother.. Mother?" Evanna looked around, but she knew it was useless. Though she found it strange to still be in the dream.

"I took over the dream," Killian said from the tree he remained leaning against. The sun slowly descended while the moon rose, and the scenery turned to dark blues and greens illuminated and shining, which was more magical and not realistic to what her garden usually looked like.

Evanna’s hands clenched together as she stared at her breathtaking companion. "Did you kick my mother-"

"I would never," Killian growled and stepped away from the tree, throwing the apple to the side.

Evanna released her breath and then shook her head. "I’m sorry.. It has been a long day." As though to prove her point of fatigue, she sat down and crossed her legs, only then noting her attire. She was still dressed how she was in the real world, her clothing worn, crinkled, dirtied, and slightly bloody. Her mother had reason to be concerned, Evanna did not know what her face looked like, but there must be dark circles under her eyes.

Killian flopped down beside her, pulling a stray hair away from her face before staring up at the moon like everything around them was real. "If we had spoken like this before I left Direwood, I would have stated again to never leave your side.. You look awfully pale and in need of at least a few days rest and here.. I cannot help you..." He shook his head before she could interrupt. "But I know you can fight and can tell you are surrounded by those who would protect you.."

He flicked off invisible dust from his trousers before continuing. "And.. you were right to send me here, Evanna." He looked at her, his ruby eyes sparkling under the light of the moon and stars. "Your mother.. My blood could not cure her. She has recovered immensely, but within a day, I could already smell her health declining."

Evanna pursed her lips and clenched her eyes shut. The absolute joy she felt from seeing her mother and at how full of life she appeared, the glow of her skin, warmed her heart so much she thought it might burst and melt. Well, it burst now with this sad news.

"So, I am to continue my search for the gem?" She whispered, opening her eyes to gaze at the moon like it might have all the answers in this dream world. "What if.. after all this time, it doesn’t work.. What if the story is nothing more than that.. a story about a magical gemstone?"

"Evanna.. Do not lose hope. You believed vampires to be extinct, yet here is one sitting beside you. My blood may not have worked, but.. it has granted her extra time. That counts towards something, and the gemstone might cure her fully. Evanna.." He called her again, gaining her attention from the moon that seemed so sad and lonely to her right now. "What if this is not some incurable disease.. what if..."

Evanna held her breath as the tension in her chest tightened at what Killian may have been suggesting, but like before with her mother, Killian’s words never met her ears. "Killian, stay by her side, please! Please, you must!" She screamed, but already she could tell the vampire could not hear her. But his eyes watched her lips. He was reading them and nodded, clasping her hand and pressing it against his chest, his lips moving, but unlike him, she could not tell what words were spoken.

Then the world around her slid down in colours like paint on a canvas, mixing while she fell backwards into what appeared to be water. Evanna gasped and sat upright, blinking at the scene before her. Arawn’s hand clasped at her shoulder, his startling blue eyes full of concern. She stared back at him for a moment, catching her breath and clutching at her chest where her heart beat rapidly like the dream she was in was nothing more than a nightmare.

Maybe it was. Her mother, who had been fed vampire blood, was cured only momentarily. They were given more time, but how much time, she did not know.

"Our journey continues to Lyvaria.. To retrieve that gemstone and get back to Dunhurst, back to my mother."

⚔