Everything happened all at once in a blur and simultaneously in slow motion. Everyone knew who the King’s right-hand man was, and all eyes turned to the knight, who remained impassive even now. Evanna’s heart thumped wildly in her chest. She could hear herself breathing as her head pulsed and betrayal speared her heart.
The place was in an uproar. The Queen started to snicker until she felt Loraven’s glare and was smacked in the face, essentially knocking her out. Evanna’s mind worked enough to stop her mother from doing anything worse to Eleanor. The nobles continued to talk louder, each trying to get the King to listen or anyone to listen to them speak. At the same time, Osian ordered the guards to take Sir Hugh in.
This was a matter they would resolve another day. It was clear that the Queen would be punished, and Sir Hugh was to be tried separately for the assassination of King Selvin. Evanna kept her gaze on Loraven, who stared at Sir Hugh with ashen features. Evanna’s gaze moved to him and looked away, then returned to look at him. She’d grown up with this man. The man, who was stern with her, scolded her and sometimes snuck her some sweets when her parents weren’t looking.
Evanna couldn’t look at him, yet she couldn’t stand not to look at him.
In a rush, the guards surrounded Sir Hugh, who removed his weapons and placed them on the ground. Evanna watched as the older man who had served the King and quite possibly her birth father before that strode through the doors. There was no air of arrogance like the Queen before. There was nothing.
Sir Hugh remained quiet the entire time, accepting the nobles’ insults. After that, the court couldn’t be settled, and Loraven and the King were both upset by the events. The King called for a break, leaving the nobles in the Great Hall to argue amongst themselves.
A great deal had been shared with those in the trial today, though Evanna could not understand how they could continue to spurt nonsense to one another. It was all part of the political game. Evanna left with her father and Loraven, taking time to spend outside in the fresh air. Arawn fell into step beside Evanna as they passed an open corridor before the private gardens of the King. It was as though he’d appeared out of nowhere or had been waiting all along to see Evanna.
Osian was in a daze as his mind ran through the events of the day Selvin died. Sir Hugh had been there. He’d been sad. Osian was sure he could not fake such emotions. The man was a statue most of the time. Was it guilt? Regret?
Eleanor had always been power-hungry. It was in her noble blood. The house of Roth had grown its power over the years, becoming one of the strongest out of all the noble houses. Osian never expected all of this, though. Once Eleanor got her position as Queen, he believed that would satisfy her. He also didn’t realise she was aware of who Loraven was and that she held such hatred for the elves.
The way Eleanor spoke sounded more like her father’s twisted words. Eleanor had always looked for his praise and would do anything for him. The Duke was trying to sink his claws into his grandchildren as well. Osian only allowed a small amount of time for him to visit Isabel, William and George. He didn’t want them to be influenced by such a man.
".. and I will be glad when she is gone."
Osian turned his head to the side after Loraven spoke. Her hand was clasped on his arm as they strolled through the gardens. The same hand that almost killed his wife in a heartbeat.
Not once had Osian forgotten how lethal Loraven was. She may have been ill the last few years, but within days of the poison leaving her body and in recovery, Loraven showed how skilled she was. The nobles didn’t know who had been walking among them silently for so long until that moment.
Osian should have been more concerned that Loraven tried to kill Eleanor, his wife, the mother of his children. But he wasn’t. Eleanor killed his brother, all so she could be Queen and prevent Loraven, an elf, from sitting on the throne. Unless Evanna had a younger brother, her chances of ascending the throne would have been slim, but circumstances may have evolved. Selvin and Loraven would have been key catalysts for change, potentially paving the way for Evanna to assume the throne.
"Eleanor?" He questioned, making Loraven roll her eyes. Those hazel eyes were slightly red-rimmed. Osian placed his hand atop hers and squeezed lightly, his thoughts turning to Selvin and how he should be the one in his place right now, strolling beside his wife and watching Evanna grow into the beautiful young woman she is.
"Don’t you think they look good together?" Loraven’s gaze moved ahead, and he followed. Evanna walked beside Arawn. From a distance, it looked like they walked side-by-side like Osian and Loraven, but Arawn kept his hand interlinked with hers atop his bicep.
The sunlight shone on the couple as though they were gods walking among mortals. Evanna rested her head on Arawn’s shoulder as she spoke to him while the prince gazed at her softly. In the short time he’d known the elven prince, Osian knew that only Evanna could bring out different emotions to his usual stoic and icy mask of indifference.
"They do." Osian nodded in agreement. He didn’t know what to think of the icy, pretty boy at first, but he could see how compatible they were. "You want Evanna gone?"
Loraven smiled softly. "You know I do not mean it like that. This palace is too small for our girl. I am glad she found Arawn."
Osian continued to watch Evanna until Selvin’s statue came into view, causing the pair ahead to stop and Osian’s thoughts to spiral once more into darkness.
Evanna sighed, feeling better after getting some fresh air, sunshine on her skin and Arawn by her side. She stared at the former King, Selvin, her father. If Eleanor was not so power-hungry, then he would still be alive, and there wouldn’t be any issues with her mother’s health, the multiple assassination attempts, or the need to search for the gem to save her mother.
Slowly, Evanna’s gaze fell on her fiancé. If she had never gone on such a journey, then she would not have met Arawn. Fate had a funny way of showing you how every little step, every puzzle piece, painful or happy, fell into its rightful place. She stared at Selvin’s statue again, feeling a small ache in her chest, one she couldn’t ignore.
Osian was her father, but she’d heard so many things about Selvin. He was a great king, even though his reign was not long, and for her mother to fall for a human and follow him across lands must have meant he was pretty special.
Evanna wished she could have met him.
"What do you plan to do with the Queen?" Arawn questioned, cutting short her thoughts.
"Isn’t it obvious?" Evanna questioned back, not wanting to discuss it further. Instead, she slid her arms around Arawn’s waist and snuggled into him, not caring about the small audience of Osian and Loraven. She needed Arawn’s warmth after the drama in the trial and the betrayal of a man she thought of as a stern uncle.