Chapter 118 - The Teacher: Part One

Evanna took a deep breath, bracing herself as she stepped forwards into the space the prince just stood. A gentle breeze blew strands of her hair across her face as she gazed upon the gardens waiting for her lesson to begin. Even though the prince was no longer on the spot she now stood, she could still feel an energy swirling around in a circle along the ground. But there was no black mist, nor did she feel any pain, so she presumed it was safe.

Arawn walked to stand in front of her and began instructing her on the first few steps. Which seemed to be simple: Focus on the energy you feel inside of yourself. Evanna knew without further explanation what he meant. She already felt the rush of life flow through her when she tried to heal the plants earlier. Although it seemed even when she focused, with a scowl on her features, it did not do anything. 

Maybe her teacher was too much of a distraction. He was standing directly in front of her with a stern facial expression. It wasn't his blindingly beautiful, good looks, but the pressure of being stared at while she tried to concentrate at calling on her gift.

Evanna shook her head and focused on his chest area, not his looks, as she drew from the thriving energy she felt from within her. Her lips twitched into a small smile from the slight thrum of power radiating from her being; the gift felt like pure happiness, as though if she used it, she could giggle. But Evanna knew how that sounded and settled on smiling instead.

"I can feel it. Good," Arawn praised as he approached her again. "Now, you need to reach out to the power, and when you have it in your grasp, that is when you start the arm movements. But only after you hold onto it." 

Evanna still held her gaze ahead, this time keeping her concentration even as Arawn came closer. His voice was calm and soothing. He circled her while she tried to 'grasp' at the gift, not fully understanding what he meant.

"Close your eyes," Arawn whispered by her ear. Evanna jumped at his sudden close proximity and how his breath tickled her ear. He did not do anything else, so Evanna knew Arawn was on his 'best behaviour' and was there to help her. 

Evanna obeyed his instructions and closed her eyes. Arawn did not move from by her side, and maybe she thought too soon because his hands suddenly slid past her waist and rested on her stomach. Evanna jolted, but he clicked his tongue in annoyance, silencing her instant protests.

"I want you to imagine a knot inside of your core," He whispered gently. His hands tapped lightly on Evanna's stomach once more, and she felt herself cooling down in the area he tapped. Was he using his gift on her? "Imagine the knot, and you are trying to unravel it.. When you feel it unravelling, that's when you grasp at it and begin the hand movements."

With Evanna's eyes closed and the prince's close proximity, not only by touching her and his voice right next to her ear, she was finding it harder to concentrate. But she tried repeating his words in her head and not the feel of his fingers or how her body was both heated and cool by the prince's presence. Evanna followed what he said.

She focused on this knotted string she visualised inside of herself and tried reaching out to it and untying it. It was odd because now that she imagined it, she could tell that it was not just her creative thinking but her true gift she reaching out to. But every time she got closer to this knotted string of power, it would suddenly be out of reach.

"*Breathe Evanna..*" Arawn's gentle whisper sounded so distant. As though he was not right next to her. She inhaled deeply and released her breath slow and gently, following the same rhythm. She did not know how long she was in this state for, her eyes closed, breathing deeply and trying with her might grabbing at that damn knotted string. 

But it must have been a while because she felt the wind pick up and the shadows crawl over her skin from where the sun may be getting closer to the ground and the dark blanket of night slowly emerging. Droplets of sweat sprinkled across her forehead, and at long last, she finally reached the knot and began to unravel it just as Arawn said.

Evanna's arms moved automatically as though she knew the movements off by heart and felt natural to do so. She gradually opened her eyes, and her eyes widened at the change in scenery and temperature that she had blocked out from her mind. Even Arawn's hands which were no longer on her stomach, had become a part of her earlier. But what made her almost lose focus were the vines swirling in a circle before her. 

The vine's leaves flourished outwards, and she saw tiny pink flower buds beginning to materialise. 

"Finish there for today, Evanna," Arawn murmured calmly from behind her. She wanted to continue on, but as though her body and mind were separated, her arms automatically relaxed. Then her body seemed to slump forwards from exhaustion. The ground came closer to her head, but instead of hitting it, she felt strong arms around her waist stabilising her. 

Evanna released a breath and felt her voice get stuck in her throat as Arawn lifted her bridal style. She was ready to protest, but her head slumped into his chest from over-exhaustion. "Shh, you've done a lot today," The prince stroked the top of her head, the soothing sensation making her lids slowly close together. "* You are very powerful for someone who is part elf. Most cannot make it to the gifted circle on their first day,*" He whispered next to her ear; his low deep voice rumbled through his chest, comforting her more.

Prince Arawn carried her through his garden, emerging out of the archway to where Cedric and Anwel stood guard. 

"*Your highness! *" The pair of them were flustered after seeing Evanna drowsy and falling asleep in the prince's arms.