Heart Over Sword

Arawn took the scroll and eyed the portrait. His mind almost going numb at what was just revealed to him. He looked over the painting; Evanna looked so regal, her attire of a long sleeve navy dress of the human’s fashion, puffed out from the waist with a tiara resting atop her long raven locks. Her smile was almost force and not genuine, her eyes piercing him even through a picture.

He looked up, not knowing that he had walked quite a distance and now stood behind the tents, with Prince Conrad, Sir Baldwin and his guards following behind. His eyes landed on two prisoners who were tied up, their mouths gagged with a cloth. Little bits and pieces fell into place as he recognised the man and woman sitting on the ground.

These were two of Evanna’s comrades who entered the forest with her. Arawn recovered his composure as the pair looked at him with widened eyes and started making incoherent noises, trying to possibly alert the other humans. He was the one who captured the princess, after all.

"Please heed them no mind, your highness. They were the last to see her highness and will be punished accordingly," Sir Baldwin voiced from behind Arawn. "Have you seen the princess?"

Arawn spun around then, closing the scroll in his hand. "I have not. But if I ever lay eyes on such a woman, I would not let her wander these woods. Fear not, I will grant you entry," He glanced from Prince Conrad to Sir Baldwin, a sly smile curling his lips. "But I must warn you, there are several creatures in Direwood. You have indeed come at dangerous times. A few of the faceless creatures have escaped and ventured into the forest."

Prince Conrad was the first to react, his eyes widening at Arawn’s warning. "How can that be? They were-"

"Yes, I am aware of the situation, Prince Conrad. As I have stated, you must be wary. I can provide you with some of my men, but even we find it difficult to take down such things." Arawn glanced at the knight again, who looked lost at their conversation. "I shall leave it to you to explain to Sir Baldwin about the characteristics of such beasts."

The elven prince put Evanna’s portrait inside the inner pocket of his cloak and pulled out another scroll, holding it out for the prince to take. With his seal and the magic he placed upon it, all elves in Direwood forest would be aware that this group of humans had the prince’s approval to enter. And so, they would not be harmed. Prince Conrad received the scroll and bowed his head. "Thank you. And I will take you up on that offer. It would be in my men’s best interest if there were more of us if we do run into any faceless."

"Very well," Arawn replied and started walking towards his horse. As soon as he placed his foot in the stirrup, lifted up to sit on his horse, he looked back at the prince of Hatherland. He wondered what the relationship was between the ’Demon Prince of the North’ and Evanna. Was she fleeing him? No, that did not make sense. Why did she steal the gem? Numerous questions spun in his mind once more at the revelation that Evanna was a princess, but the princess of Dunhurst?

"*Poldo! Wade!*" Arawn called for two of his warriors. They jumped down from the trees, gracefully landing on the ground and strolling towards them, their eyes searching the perimeter as they did. "*You will accompany these humans while they stay in Direwood forest. Guard them as much as you can. Report to me about anything you find.. odd.*" Arawn continued in a calm and collected manner, with his gaze still on the Demon Prince.

Arawn gestured to his men. "Poldo and Wade will accompany you on your travels through Direwood." Arawn began and almost smirked at Conrad’s scrutiny of his men. "I assure you, they are more than capable of assisting you. *Two of my men are equal to twenty of yours.*"

"Thin-era, prince Arawn. *You must not have fought Hatherland warriors before.*" Conrad replied with a smug smile on his face. Arawn did not show his surprise on his statuesque features. Conrad was not from Dunhurst, where the elven tongue was not spoken, but it was still shunned upon people in the north. And just like in Dunhurst, there didn’t seem to be any who spoke Muranthian.