Chapter 128: Elven Prince Meets Demon Prince (1)
In the wilderness of Direwood forest, Arawn sat on his horse galloping through the trees towards the woods entrance. The wind whipped his hair backwards, the golden leaf crown resting above his brows as his icy gaze looked ahead. He had been riding since he left Evanna earlier, his mind racing with countless thoughts from his previous conversation with his father.
He did not mean to act so indifferently towards her, but as he stared at Evanna during breakfast, it made him come to the realisation that she was much more of a mystery than he anticipated. Did she know of her heritage, or was she keeping it a secret to prevent a war between the elven kingdoms?
"* Sire,*" Garrett caught up to him, so their horses were side by side, Garrett’s horse just as powerful as his own. Arawn pulled on the reins, slowing down to a trot so they could talk. "* What has you so troubled?*" Garrett continued; his brows were drawn together as he searched the prince’s face before eying their surroundings once more.
It was unusual for them to ride their horses through the woods, and Arawn preferred to travel on foot, climbing and running along the wilderness. But this was a matter of meeting with some humans asking for entry to Direwood forest. Due to the unrelenting risen roots and compact space between trees, it was usually quicker to travel by foot. However, only the Flori knew of a route that could be traversed by horse.
"*What makes you say I am troubled?*" Arawn replied dully, as though the conversation was not worth his breath.
"*The forest is growing cold, your highness. A trail of ice follows behind you,*" Garrett replied with his eyes looking ahead as he spoke. He knew the prince was in a foul mood; he and his men knew the prince well enough to know something was wrong. To anyone else, Arawn would appear like his usual, icy self, even with the trailing ice behind him. But it was not true; the prince would never unknowingly use his power.
Arawn clicked his tongue in annoyance, and the cold and dark atmosphere dissipated instantly. "*There is much to do. It seems the Lyvarian envoy is returning to the mountains, there are unknown monsters roaming the forest, and now humans of higher status are asking for entry.*" And Evanna is possibly a princess, Arawn finished in his mind.
He knew his troubled mind was aimed at her, not because of the issues raised to Garrett. The prince could handle those issues, but to imagine Evanna was possibly related to her.. It would undoubtedly put a strain on their growing relationship. He scoffed; what relationship?
They were bound together by such thin strings that could easily snap. Their foundation needed to strengthen before Arawn could even possibly consider a relationship with her. As he urged his horse back into a run, his mind wandered once more, and how to break this prisoner mindset Evanna was falling into. Should he release her? But then he would not see her, and his mother’s gem would gone.