Chapter 318: Distracting the Mind
Although Scarecrow was gone from the palace and Arawn quietened those who spoke badly about Evanna for good, they remained under the waterfall for a while longer. Cedric was sent home to see his wife and child, whilst Garrett was ordered to wait outside the cave door. They were Arawn’s closest confidants, but in times like these, when the royal family was in turmoil, King Thalinal dead, and the throne had already, within hours of his return, passed down to him, he needed some time alone with his wife.
The weight of his kingdom, of his men, pressed down on his shoulders, and on top of that, he had to look collected, strong and ready to take charge. Right here in front of Evanna, though, Arawn needed her comfort and her strength. The King was dead. His father was dead, and he never even had a chance to say goodbye or bury him. He no longer had parents, and the only family he now had was Evanna.
Arawn needed at least a few hours to mourn his father and collect himself before he left the cave as the man his father expected him to be. What the kingdom expected him to be. Right now, he clung to Evanna, his head buried into her neck as he inhaled her floral smell, allowing it to sweep around him, cocooning him and comforting him.
The longer he stayed like this, though, the worse his heart began to crumble, the more his thoughts burned with memories of his father, early memories of his mother, and the childhood he’d had once; it was... overwhelming. As though Evanna could sense the smothering emotions gutting Arawn, she asked him about what happened in the woods whilst she fought with Scarecrow. It distracted the prince, and he allowed himself to speak of the nonsense that happened in Direwood.
It was nonsense to him now. It was all so insignificant to him. There had been many Faceless in the forest, but not enough that warranted any worry. Some of his men died, but the creatures they did come across were also killed. It concerned him where the other creatures went.
Arawn’s attention returned to Evanna after she shivered. They’d been sitting on the blanket she used to sleep on, and he was once again reminded of the attire she was wearing and how damp it was. The sorrow that had been gripping at his body slithered away, not completely, but enough that he was utterly focused on his wife.
"Take your dress off," Arawn ordered in a low murmur. He was already leaning against the cave wall, legs spread and his wife between them, leaning against him. He hadn’t noticed how wet his clothes were becoming either because of how cold he had already felt from his grief.
Evanna looked over her shoulder and searched his eyes before following his command. She began to undress, revealing her curves and the goosebumps along her otherwise smooth skin. Arawn watched with interest and started to remove his jacket and shirt. Evanna tossed the dress to the side, where it landed with a splat, and turned, kneeling before Arawn.
Wordlessly, the princess climbed on top of Arawn, aware that her husband needed to be distracted. His head tilted back as she arched her body into him. His hands slid along her thighs and backside whilst watching her. Her chest hurt from seeing the pain brimming behind Arawn’s eyes. He needed her right now, and she would happily try and distract him and hope that she could help him, if even by a little.