Heart Over Sword
Chapter 217: Shattered Hearts

Chapter 217: Shattered Hearts

Nightfall came when the group stopped again. Unlike before, when they stopped at the first sign of the sun drooping to the ground, they continued through the darkness. They had not been attacked by anything, and the land started to slope upwards once more, but the terrain remained grassy. The slope also revealed the first signs of snow in the distance. Evanna had stopped upon seeing it, but her fascination quickly faded as it was merely white scattered across the lands.

The drop in temperature, though, was concerning. The furs they retrieved would keep them warm during the night, but daytime, their lighter attire would expose them to frostbite. Evanna knew of such injuries through reading, though she had never met someone who had been inflicted by it.

"Arawn? Axe?" Evanna called them. The giant joined the pair at the front during the late afternoon. The conversation between the three had been surprisingly pleasant though occasionally, she caught Axel studying the prince with narrowed eyes. He was getting along with him, though, and they worked together, planning the next stage of the journey.

It surprised Evanna that Garrett was allowing such a thing, but when she turned to look for him, he was still walking by Fiza’s side. They did not speak. Garrett scowled at the dark fae while Fiza looked ahead, brimming with confidence and a twinkle in her eyes. Evanna decided to leave the pair to whatever was happening between them.

Now the group had built a quick shelter from tall fallen trees that had been uprooted. From the missing branches, it looked as though travellers used it for firewood. There were still some remains in a crevice between a few boulders and black soot where once a fire had been. The men carried the trees and placed them above the boulders, sheltering them from any changes in weather. It wasn’t much, and the space was smaller than what they had been used to, especially for the men that took a lot more space up, but it was better than being out in the open where the wind could shake their bones and chatter their teeth.

With Fiza’s blue fire burning, casting flickering shadows across their small camp, they sat closely together, furs beneath them ready. After feasting on the last of the meat from the day before, Ger was the first to go on watch. He announced it and left without glancing in their direction.

Evanna had been sitting with Ronan and Fiza after Ger refused to sit next to her and sat separately with Axel keeping him company. It had been quite hard to do in such a small space, but Evanna felt the growing distance in her heart, and it chilled her. She slipped away from the group quietly as their chatter and laughter echoed in the small rocky shelter, though they all knew she was leaving.

In the dark and cold, Evanna found Ger standing with his back to her. Without speaking a word, he knew who it was. "You should get some rest," he said quietly, dismissing her politely. But Evanna could read through his politeness for what it was.

"I know you do not trust him and not like him, but I’m asking you to give him a chance-" he scoffed, making Evanna pause and bite the inside of her cheek when she felt his glare directed at her. She continued. "Ger, I am not a fool. I would never let him close to me if I thought he was a danger or-"

"You don’t understand, Evanna. How could you?" Ger spun around abruptly. His blazing eyes studied her as he stepped towards her slowly. "You are no fool, but you can be so blind."

Evanna frowned at that. She started calculating and figuring out where Ger was going to go with this. She was no fool, yet right now, she felt like one. How could she not know what was on her best friend’s mind? Was it jealousy that she would not have much time with him now? But they were in a group, and her time was already split with the others.

Ger must know he was one of the most important people around her-

"Even now, I can see you trying to work everything out." Ger took one final step towards her. His hands cupped her face, making Evanna’s eyes widen. His face was getting closer to hers, so close she could feel his warm breath fanning her skin. "I have been in front of you this entire time. I.. I’m in love with you, Evanna."

"Wha-" Ger’s lips brushed against hers, startling her from his confession and that her friend’s lips were pushing against hers. She was frozen on the spot, confusion swirling in her mind. His lips were so warm, gentle, and comforting, but the kiss felt stolen like it was meant for only one man. That man wasn’t Ger.

The light brush of Ger’s tongue against her lips snapped Evanna out of her stupor. She gripped his wrists and turned her head away, a blush coating her cheeks and guilt tingling along her pink lips. Ger leaned his head against hers, his breathing slightly laboured. "You do not have to tell me," he whispered. "I know you do not love me. I just.. If I had more time if HE hadn’t come into the picture.. would we have been something?"

"Ger.." Evanna whispered. She hated hearing the despair in his voice, and she was the cause of his pain. But she couldn’t tell him something that would not come to fruition. She did meet Arawn, and from the moment her eyes settled on him, she had been enthralled. If not for his captivating, good looks, then his mind and personality that nobody ever saw.

Even when Evanna was his ’prisoner’, she had been swept away by him. Sure, she held her own and kept her head on her shoulders because her quest and kingdom came before any man. But Arawn kept reeling her back in, if not from the seductive dance between them, then from his words and acts of kindness. Yes, he was kind. Only his enemies or those opposing him met his cruelty. This kiss, this confession proved more so to her that Arawn was the only man for her.

Staring back at Ger, Evanna knew what he was waiting for. He needed to hear her say it to him so he could move on. Memories flashed between them, their childhood, the mischief they or, more like, she got them into and to the man he’d grown into now. She hoped their friendship would remain.

If not, then she’d lose a piece of her heart. Conrad may have betrayed her, but this pain was entirely different. Ger was her confidante, and she couldn’t imagine him not being by her side.

"I’m sorry, Ger. I will not give you fake scenarios or half-truths. You have always been my closest friend, but there can never be anything between us. I.. Arawn, he.. has proposed marriage." Evanna grimaced as she saw Ger’s world shatter behind his deep blue eyes. But she had to be truthful. He needed to know how serious it was between her and Arawn.

Tiptoeing around it would hurt him worse in the long run. She could never do that to him. Sure, the engagement could be called off, like it did with prince Conrad, but Ger knew her well. She would not bring this engagement forth unless she had agreed or intended to say yes.

"Have you given your answer?" Ger asked, voice trembling, hands dropping by his sides like he’d been burnt and all hope was pointless.

"*No*, but I know what my answer will be. Ger, I.."

"Say no more." Ger stepped back and, with those steps, brought forth a distance between them that would never shorten again. "I need some time to process this.. I knew.. I knew you would be married off or something at one point, but to marry someone you lo- have feelings for.. hurts. I’m sorry."

Ger bowed his head and turned around to leave. Evanna took a single step, her hand raised as though she might follow and comfort him, but it was she he needed comfort from. The princess watched his form submerge into the darkness. "*Fiza, send Axel after him.*" Evanna had known the fae had been there the entire time. Her steps were always quiet, but when she was close enough, her pattern was more distinctive than the others, like she was always sneaking and tiptoeing.

Fiza didn’t respond like she didn’t want to be caught spying on them, but it was evident when Axel shot out with a small ball of blue flame hovering by his side. He rushed off into the darkness, carrying only his throwing axes. Evanna hoped the area was safe and knew she wouldn’t stop worrying until the pair returned.

Evanna didn’t return to the camp, she wanted the cold night air to kiss her face more, and to let it clutch at her chest, which ached already. "*Come here,*" Arawn’s voice pulled her out of the darkness surrounding her. His arms slid around her from behind, and he leaned his head on her shoulder.

"*He will get over it,*" he whispered into her ear before biting on her earlobe.

The princess gasped from the action, and the heat shot down her body. It only took this handsome elf to rid the darkness circulating her and the cold brewing in her chest. Evanna turned around then, delighting in the way his hands remained on her hips possessively. Did Arawn see Ger kiss her?

"*Do you think? I’m worried about him. This isn’t the safest place to wander off.*" She looked up at him, her hands on his chest. If Ger came back now, something like this would hurt him.

Evanna began to pull away, lowering her hands and stepping back. They should keep their interactions to a minimum for now. Arawn had other ideas, though. He yanked her hand back to him, and she fell into his body. In one swift move, he pulled lightly on her hair, tilting her face up and slanting his lips against hers. Instantly her toes curled, and her stomach did somersaults, her heart racing. She whimpered against his mouth, and he deftly slid his tongue in to meet hers.

Her legs grew weak against his onslaught, and her hands gripped at Arawn’s cloak to keep her upright. When he pulled back, Evanna was left breathless. Lips were swollen and pink, and a throbbing and need between her legs as she stared back at Arawn and the lightning flashing behind his eyes.

His thumb brushed along her bottom lip, eyes darkening as he growled, "*So you don’t forget.. these are mine, princess. Do not let anyone else kiss you, I will not be able to refrain myself next time.*"