Heart Over Sword
Chapter 195: ’Evil’ elves

Chapter 195: ’Evil’ elves

Evanna turned her head toward Arawn and Garrett, casually wiping goblin’s blood from their swords and sauntering towards them. Ger instantly pulled Evanna back, shielding her from them, and Axel stood in front of them while Ronan stood beside the night fae, keys in hand, glancing between the other men.

"*Such simpletons,*" Garrett commented as he sheathed his seraph blade.

Arawn’s eyes flashed in mirth as he stopped before Axel’s tense body, sizing him up but then in approval. "And how would you protect Evanna without any weapons? I commend you for your courage and loyalty to your princess, but it was we who helped you, humans." He began to step around Axel, but the giant placed his hand on Arawn’s shoulder, halting him midstride. The Prince’s cold gaze flicked up to his full height, challenging him to do more.

"Stop!" Evanna blurted as Garrett’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword.

"We won’t let them take you again. They’ll have to go through us first," Ger snapped in a hushed whisper.

Evanna twisted herself out of Ger’s hold. "Our plans have changed. Prince Arawn and Sir Garrett are here to help." She held Ger’s bicep, squeezing gently to stop him from moving forwards before meeting Axel’s gaze.

Axel read the determination on her face and stepped away, bowing his head, though his large hands were clenched tightly, his bushy brows creased.

"Do not tell me you trust them!" Ger growled, grabbing her upper arms and turning her to face only him, shielding her still from the ’evil’ elves. Evanna could read the panic and anger behind the depths of his ocean eyes.

But she needed him to work with the elves to continue their journey. If not, then Evanna would be glad to send them back to Dunhurst, back to where it was safe, because although they had left such a deadly forest, the princess felt like that was only the beginning of their troubles.

"Arawn has sworn himself to me," Evanna replied quietly so only he could hear. Ger’s brows scrunched further, and his eyes blazed furiously, ready to counteract that it didn’t mean anything. "We must trust one another. He must trust in me as much as I to him.." She leaned forwards, her eyes meeting Arawn’s as she spoke into Ger’s ear. "We need their help Ger. The gem.."

"Is in Lyvaria," Ger finished in a whisper. Evanna pulled away, startled, and met his eyes, trouble filling hers. "We tried to get it back from her.."

Evanna searched his eyes for the answers to her questions. What really happened to them?

As though his words were his undoing, his anger and panic depleted, leaving Ger to slide to the ground, lowering his head to her boots in a kowtow. Evanna jolted back in shock, her eyes wide, her hands moving to stop him. But she halted her actions when his deep voice interrupted her.

"We failed you. In more ways than one. We failed to protect you and then to finish what you started, what you instructed us to do- getting the gem back to Dunhurst." Back to Lady Loraven, his unspoken words told her, not revealing the meaning behind stealing the gem. Though Arawn now knew everything.

"I’m sorry, your highness; I know my apology is nothing compared to the pain I have caused and will gladly accept a just punishment for this undeserving knight to be in your presence." Her heart pinched at his words and the grovelling position her best friend put himself in.

Instantly, the princess knelt in front of Ger, clasping his face and tilting his head up to look at her. "Stand tall, Ger. There will be no punishment here. I am just as accountable as you for these events, if not more so." Her hands slid to his shoulders, and she helped him to stand, once more staring up at him. "I am your friend. Do not kneel before me in such a way again. This is a perilous journey, and things are bound to happen that are out of our control."

Ger stared back at her, his eyes wide with unshed tears. Strands of his hair flew across his features from the mini bun he’d put it in. Evanna raked her eyes over his features, his stubble had turned into a trim beard, but it suited him, making her friend appear more rugged and manly. He looked worn and slightly dirty from whatever misadventures they had entailed.

As she assessed Ger quietly, he did the same. Though only weeks had passed between them, there were changes more apparent in Evanna. Her stunningly green eyes brimmed with power, confidence and only a slither of naivety left in them. Whatever the princess had been through seemed to have brightened her features, her eyes sparkling as though she was surer of herself now. It was beautiful to see. She was beautiful.

Her beauty seemed almost blinding now, like the years in that palace had dulled her. She sparkled like no other now, and as much as he hated to admit it, Ger suspected it had something to do with the elves. There were no indications that she had been mistreated, though he would question her when they were once more alone.

"Am I to be enslaved to humans and elves now?"

A woman’s voice snapped the pair out of their inner thoughts, and they spun to see the night fae crossing her arms and looking disgruntled at watching all that had transpired between the group. Evanna had forgotten all about the fairy, though she suspected Ronan hadn’t by the way he shifted uncomfortably on his feet, as though he was ready for an attack, his free hand hovered near his sword.

"*We do not need any extra baggage.*" Garrett stalked towards the fae, halting when the woman smiled, revealing sharp teeth, her eyes gleaming dangerously. Ronan’s hand grasped the hilt of his sword, but Evanna watched and assessed this new being unknown to her. From the look on the fae’s features, she was using her infamy to lure the group towards her.

"Leave her be," Evanna commented quietly, stepping away from Ger, who followed her protectively.

Garrett snorted, and Axel looked at her, brows raised, eyes wide like she was mad. It made her wonder just how long they had been in her company for him to quietly disapprove. But if her instincts were correct, which so far there had been a high percentage of being right, this fairy was leaving, whether that was by negotiations or with the intent of hurting them.

Evanna tilted her chin higher, meeting Garrett’s gaze. "Remove the manacles."