Heart Over Sword
Chapter 224: Loraven (1)

Chapter 224: Loraven (1)

Sitting in front of Selvin’s statue with her favourite orange flowers blooming on the ground, Loraven stared at the previous King of Dunhurst. The weather was cooler now, but to a snow elf like her, a Lyvarian, it felt mild. Still, the King insisted a blanket lay on her legs and her fur-collared cloak wrapped around her shoulders that made one sweat more than anything.

She wished Osian would put more effort into keeping the King’s garden in good condition. Though it was winter, it still remained the same in the summer. The only flowers that were alive were the orange ones she tended to.

The surroundings were full of weeds, the ground hard and cold leaves on the bushes brown. The King loved his brother and once kept it vibrant, but Eleanor complained the servants who tended to the garden were needed in her own extravagant one. Osian did settle it by getting more servants, but they, too, were stolen by the Queen for other matters.

After the fourth time, the King quit, relenting after his wife’s tiresome antics. It was sad that Eleanor would not allow Osian this tranquillity, though Loraven assumed it was because Selvin never liked the woman. How she had stayed at these courts for so long, she did not know.

That wasn’t true. A promise made kept Loraven and Evanna there. If it was only Loraven, she would have sought new climates and realms. Why else would she put up with women like the Queen? Though her stunts were laughable, pathetic and nothing more than child’s play to a she-elf such as herself.

But that was not why she sat there today. It was her self-reflection time to truly think through her choices in life. Even with the dying plants around her, Loraven sought comfort in the King’s garden, in the previous King.

Lady Loraven sat quietly, Evanna’s new friend, the vampire- Killian, was currently spying on Queen Eleanor. Somehow Evanna acquired quite the character. When he first popped up on in her room like a phantom, Loraven had managed to stab him three times before her health caught up with her forcing her to collapse. It was embarrassing, but Killian never fought her; he picked her up and placed her in bed.

The vampire healed before Loraven and told her of his quest. Evanna had saved him and fought beside him for a short while in Direwood forest. It brought a smile to her lips to hear of her daughter’s wild adventures, making her crave her own.

But as any mother, she also worried. This Killian had been locked away for a reason, and at first, Loraven feared him. Only the witches were able to bring such a man and his kingdom down.

It didn’t take long for the vampire to earn her trust, though. Killian tried to help, his blood healed her, but it was only momentarily, now he had been giving it to her three times a week like it was medication. On the days it was in her system, she felt young and energetic again. But the next day, she would return to her frail self.

Killian couldn’t tell what disease or illness she had and came to the conclusion that she was being poisoned. But even after monitoring her food and drink, there were no traces if there was such poison. So he decided to watch the Queen and her daughter, Princess Isabel.

Surprisingly, with all the guards in the palace, King Osian was not aware of the vampire. Loraven and Killian agreed to keep him hidden. It would cause too many rumours if the King’s mistress was accompanied by a ’young’, dashing man everywhere. Though she thought of Osian as a dear friend, one who would not harm her, she could not risk exposing Killian.

There might be spies everywhere, and if the King was aware of Killian’s existence, someone else might find out too. Loraven sighed and started to roll the wheels of her wooden chair forwards so she could stroke the orange petals before King Selvin. She did not care for her health anymore and only wished to see her daughter.

Loraven neither cared for it in the first place. Only her daughter, her Evanna, brought her peace and happiness. Without her, she was like this garden, gloomy and uncaring.

Evanna had been away too long. Though it was only months, it felt like years. Loraven knew even though this quest of hers would be treacherous, it would be the best months of her daughter’s life. It was in them not to be trapped by the walls of society, like a bird in a gilded cage. Now, though, she feared more than ever for Evanna’s safety.

Killian reported to her Evanna’s discovery and how she wished to go to Lyvaria to retrieve the gem. Many times, Loraven had tried to dream walk to her daughter and tell her to return. The Flori were ’brutes’, but Lyvarians were cruel. It was not worth it.

She had her father’s stubbornness, though.

"This is my fault. If I had stopped her from going, she wouldn’t have been going to such a dangerous place. Evanna is not safe there. If they find out who she is.." Loraven trailed off with a gasp, her hand going to her lips and tears filling her eyes. Her heart pinched, and her ribs seemed to tighten and squeeze around her lungs, stopping her from breathing.

"Loraven." King Osian stepped up to her from behind the chair. "You have been out here for too long. Let us return to your chambers."

His hands were on the handles, one going to her shoulder and squeezing lightly. "She has gone to Lyvaria, Osh!" Loraven cried, turning to look at the King. Osian sighed and knelt beside her, his attention going from the beautiful elf with tears streaking down her pale cheeks to the statue of his brother. He rubbed her back over the fur, his brows pinching together in concern.

Selvin, you would know better what to do than me. Osian cleared his throat, "Evanna is a warrior, just like her mother. I am sure they would not.." He trailed off after Loraven fixed him with a heartwrenching stare, her hazel eyes hard, and he sighed.

He did not know what the Lyvarians would do to her. In the time he’d visited there, it never once grew on him, even with such beautiful scenery. Like the snowy scenery, they were stunning and cold.

Loraven tightened the cloak around her, though she was not physically cold. As Osian started pushing her away from the statue of his brother, her thoughts turned to the first day she met him. The day he was a young prince, with bright blue eyes and full of life, his brown hair short.

She had found him odd and amusing.

That day she almost killed him.