Heart Over Sword

Each member of the group was provided with their own room. Fiza was the only one who remained in the hall to speak with the king and queen. Evanna realised that their journey together was now ending, and the night fae would continue with her own path.

For the remainder of the day, Evanna rested and ate, regaining her strength. The room she was given was absolutely stunning, with one wall at the end entirely clear; if it were not for the glass, she imagined how dangerous it would be to stand by the wall. Though she was fascinated by the décor and grandeur of the room, which was something fitting for a princess, Evanna felt on edge.

Without seeing Arawn or her friends, she worried for their safety and wanted to keep checking on them. But the guards by her door kept her from leaving, stating the queen hoped for her to recover by the evening so she could thoroughly enjoy the entertainment. It was only her unyielding fatigue and her body’s need to sleep that she fall into a deep sleep.

Hours later, Evanna found herself walking down the halls, halls that looked so familiar to her, yet it was the first time she had walked down them. Or was it? She’d shared dreams with her mother, who had been the Lyvarian princess this entire time.

Shaking her head, she focused on the present. Standing before the grand doors, Evanna wore one of the dresses gifted to her by the king and queen. She’d grown used to the gowns in the Florian palace, but even this was a little too skimpy for her. But after walking past nobles, unable to look away from her, she knew this was normal.

The almost sheer green dress wrapped around her neck and dove down to cover her breasts, leaving a small circular gap revealing her skin before a skin-coloured corset wrapped around her stomach, and the green skirt flowed gracefully. Her bare shoulders and arms were graced with golden bands on the top of her arms, and the same material of the dress flowed down loosely. With her hands folded at her front, the sheer fabric draped behind her elbows. Evanna’s hair was pulled up in ringlets, revealing an open back until the corset.

The doors were opened by the guards, and the princess found herself in the icy hall again, this time with a small gathering of nobles at tables. Evanna’s gaze remained ahead of the king and queen; though she wanted to search for her friends, she could not. Too many eyes were on her, too many people were whispering.

She would feel better with Arawn by her side, especially whilst wearing such a dress, a dress that was the most modest out of the lot. But from the feel of a heated gaze on her body, she knew Arawn was already there. She would seek him out after.

Evanna entered and curtsied to the king and queen, whose presence was ever so intimidating. She did not let it show, though.