Thalinal and Loraven took to the dance floor, and without any more words shared between them, their footwork and teamwork mended the distance that had grown between them. All was well once more. Both were too old now for such old grudges. Their partners were gone, showing just how fleeting life was, even for those with such longevity. Their lives felt longer now without the one by their side.
Now, with Arawn and Evanna marrying and living in Direwood forest, Loraven began to wonder if it was time for her to move back to the elven lands. Now that her daughter was of age and found her partner, there was no need to remain in Dunhurst.
"*You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish,*" Thalinal said as though reading her mind. It was sometimes eery how on point the elven King was.
Loraven smiled sadly, her gaze moving to Evanna and Arawn gracefully dancing to the tune like long-lost soulmates finding each other again. "*I feel at a loss. Where do I belong now?*" It was humourous, really; she was much older than her daughter, yet she fit in snugly here with the Flori, as though she was always meant to lead down this path. Loraven was more than proud and happy for her.
Yet now, Loraven felt like the teenager who ran away from home and was lost, searching in the dark for a place to call home. Dunhurst had never been her home, and Osian did provide protection, and the hallways and palace did bring about her some small fraction of peace, reminiscing about Selvin and wondering where his favourite spots were. Had he been a rebellious child like her daughter? Adventurous? Studious?
It had been a grand pass time of hers. But while Evanna went on her quest to help Loraven recover from an illness that was indeed years of poisoning, Loraven found herself to be lonely, homesick even. Homesick for Lyvaria? No, homesick for her love.
Selvin had not been around for years. Maybe it was time she left Dunhurst and enjoyed the company of an old friend.
"*You belong wherever your feet take you, Loraven.*"
⚜⚜⚜
Evanna was ready to finally take a seat. Feeling Arawn pressed up against her throughout most of their dances made her somewhat dizzy at times. Would she ever grow old of his good looks and charming personality? No, and the wild thumping of her heart would forever dance for him.
As they began to wander towards their table, Arawn and Evanna paused, both slightly shocked at discovering their parents dancing and dancing so well together as though they’d been dance partners for years. Evanna narrowed her eyes at her mother. There were still many stories she was yet to hear from her, and one may include Loraven’s association with the King of the Flori.
King Thalinal and Loraven stopped before them, and the King faced Evanna, extending his hand to her. "It is about time I dance with my daughter-in-law."
Evanna’s eyebrows shot up. She shouldn’t be shocked, it was most likely customary for Thalinal to dance with his son’s bride. The moment her hand slid into his and he led her across the dance floor, Evanna began to wonder if she had calculated it wrong. Many gaped at them dancing.
"*I assume your mother taught you Muranthian?*" Thalinal asked after lifting Evanna in the air and elegantly dropping her on one foot, where her leg rose like that of a ballerina before her foot lowered to meet the other.
"*I do. I apologise for deceiving you,*" Evanna began, then clamped her lips shut at Thalinal’s glare.
Or was it a glare? There seemed to be a twinkle in his silvery eyes. "*You were trying to survive. You are much like your mother, and it irritates me that it took so long for me to see the resemblance. If I had known, maybe your time in my palace would have been much nicer for you.*"
"*Doubtful, Your Majesty. I did initially steal from you...*" Evanna shut up instantly. Was she trying to get on his bad side?!
Thalinal smirked. "*And that is why you are ’forced’ to marry my son, to make amends.*" A chuckle followed his words, and this time, Evanna couldn’t stop her lips from gaping.
Her gaze flicked to her mother. What did she do to this icy King that once almost made her pee her pants?
Like Arawn, his laugh was musical, pleasant on the ears. Evanna was sure not many had heard his tune. Her chest panged with sadness as she realised Thalinal was without a wife, and if Arawn was like his father, then the King must have been a romantic. Did he smile and laugh openly back then? What was the previous Queen like?
"Ah, he hates to dance. Yet I see my son put in so much effort for you..." Evanna followed the King’s gaze, and she smiled softly at discovering Arawn dancing with her mother and Loraven laughing and responding to her husband.
"*And you are the same...*" Thalinal noted after watching Evanna sigh happily in the prince’s direction.
"*Of course. We have been through much together. My heart belongs to him and nobody else. If he tells me to jump...*" Well... She’d jump. Many would say it was foolish to be so wrapped up in one another, but there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him. Arawn had already proven himself again and again since becoming his prisoner in the Flori palace.
"*Good. I hold no doubts that you would make each other happy, and from what Arawn has reported to me, you will have no problem ruling this land by his side.*"
"*Ah, but that is not for a long time, Your Majesty,*" Evanna added with a polite smile, returning her gaze to her dance partner.
"*You may call me Thalinal.*" The King’s eyes crinkled in a soft smile whilst the rest of his face remained in its usually chilled expression. Thalinal was making amends with her, and it touched her in a way that she hadn’t felt in so long.
After discovering her closest people had betrayed her all these years, there was a part of Evanna that remained forever guarded. But it seems she would not need to do that with Thalinal now. Though he looked and acted frosty, those silvery eyes that once seemed haunting, like that of the moon on a misty night, now looked at her as though he’d accepted her as his daughter.
Without much further thought, Evanna flung her arms around the King, grinning broadly. "Thank you. Is it too soon to call you dad?"
"Not even Arawn calls me dad..." Thalinal replied grumpily, though his hand did softly pat the back of her shoulders, accepting her hug. Many eyes were on them, and she could already hear their shocked whispers. "I will not rule it out for you, though."
Evanna pulled back, unable to hold back her smile. "Continue to smile at my father like that, and I’ll begin to grow jealous," Arawn whispered into Evanna’s ear from behind her as his hands found their way possessively around her waist, and he tugged her back into him.
"*Easy now, Arawn.*" Thalinal smirked before stepping away and disappearing to the side, where Loraven handed him a chalice.
Evanna, on the other hand, felt her cheeks flame from the press of his body behind her. Where he touched, set her body aflame. She looked up behind her and cupped the side of the prince’s cheek, pressing a tender kiss to his sharp jawline. "I am all yours," she whispered.
"After tonight, you will be." Arawn’s husky voice and his words purred through Evanna’s being, igniting a flame that would not extinguish. The touch of his skin against hers, the feel of his silky white hair, and the press of his hard body behind her made her impatient to leave with him.