Chapter 128 - Elven Prince Meets Demon Prince (1)

In the wilderness of Direwood forest, Arawn sat on his horse galloping through the trees towards the woods entrance. The wind whipped his hair backwards, the golden leaf crown resting above his brows as his icy gaze looked ahead. He had been riding since he left Evanna earlier, his mind racing with countless thoughts from his previous conversation with his father. 

He did not mean to act so indifferently towards her, but as he stared at Evanna during breakfast, it made him come to the realisation that she was much more of a mystery than he anticipated. Did she know of her heritage, or was she keeping it a secret to prevent a war between the elven kingdoms? 

"* Sire,*" Garrett caught up to him, so their horses were side by side, Garrett's horse just as powerful as his own. Arawn pulled on the reins, slowing down to a trot so they could talk. "* What has you so troubled?*" Garrett continued; his brows were drawn together as he searched the prince's face before eying their surroundings once more. 

It was unusual for them to ride their horses through the woods, and Arawn preferred to travel on foot, climbing and running along the wilderness. But this was a matter of meeting with some humans asking for entry to Direwood forest. Due to the unrelenting risen roots and compact space between trees, it was usually quicker to travel by foot. However, only the Flori knew of a route that could be traversed by horse. 

"*What makes you say I am troubled?*" Arawn replied dully, as though the conversation was not worth his breath. 

"*The forest is growing cold, your highness. A trail of ice follows behind you,*" Garrett replied with his eyes looking ahead as he spoke. He knew the prince was in a foul mood; he and his men knew the prince well enough to know something was wrong. To anyone else, Arawn would appear like his usual, icy self, even with the trailing ice behind him. But it was not true; the prince would never unknowingly use his power. 

Arawn clicked his tongue in annoyance, and the cold and dark atmosphere dissipated instantly. "*There is much to do. It seems the Lyvarian envoy is returning to the mountains, there are unknown monsters roaming the forest, and now humans of higher status are asking for entry.*" And Evanna is possibly a princess, Arawn finished in his mind. 

He knew his troubled mind was aimed at her, not because of the issues raised to Garrett. The prince could handle those issues, but to imagine Evanna was possibly related to her.. It would undoubtedly put a strain on their growing relationship. He scoffed; what relationship? 

They were bound together by such thin strings that could easily snap. Their foundation needed to strengthen before Arawn could even possibly consider a relationship with her. As he urged his horse back into a run, his mind wandered once more, and how to break this prisoner mindset Evanna was falling into. Should he release her? But then he would not see her, and his mother's gem would gone.

Arawn and his men soon arrived at the entrance to Direwood forest in the late afternoon. He arched his eyebrow at the numerous tents scattered about. It looked like a large camp, enough for a small battalion. He narrowed his eyes and could see the distinguished banners of two groups. It seems both Dunhurst and Hatherland wanted entry to his land. But why?

The prince pulled on the reins, and his horse came to a stop before the camp. Garrett and the others followed behind him, keeping a distance and scanning the surroundings. The human men scampered up from their seated positions, one of them running into the larger tent with the two kingdom banners hanging down the entryway. Two men exited and marched towards him. These were the ones in charge. 

Arawn scanned them from head to toe, his face impassive, his eyes looking on in boredom. The first man he knew instantly from his build, dirty blonde hair and golden eyes along with his attire of a black fur collard cloak with an eagle emblem pinned to his chest – he was the second prince of Hatherland. But the man by his side, dressed in silver armour that clinked, his brown hair and eyes were bland in comparison, yet he, too, radiated a powerful presence. He appeared to be a knight from Dunhurst.

"Thank you for meeting with us, your highness," The prince stopped at a safe distance and bowed his head along with the knight. "I am Prince Conrad of Hatherland."

"And I am Sir Baldwin of Dunhurst. His Majesty, King Osian has requested entry to the forest," said Sir Baldwin as he kept his head bowed. 

"You may raise your head," Arawn replied coldly. His voice was emotionless as he eyed the rest of the camp. Even with their pleasant introductions, he was not at all trusting of these humans. In fact, he already set up half his men to stay sheltered in the forest, bows at the ready for his order to release an onslaught of arrows onto them if he wished. "Why would I grant you access to Direwood?"

"We are in search of the princess of Dunhurst, your highness. It is imperative that we find her," Sir Baldwin continued and held his hand out with a scroll. A scroll from the king, Arawn presumed. As there would be no doubt that these pesky humans would not be allowed entry without King Osian requesting it or without the elven King or Prince granting it.

Arawn laughed and kicked his horse lightly to start walking towards them and circling them as though they were his prey. He knew already, without looking at the scroll that the king sent them. Why else would there be such a large force of royal guard at his doorstep? 

"Why would a princess go into the deadly Direwood forest? Is she a fool?" He chuckled once more, wondering what sort of child the king rose.

"She most certainly is no fool," Prince Conrad interjected, his voice an almost growl. Arawn smirked at the prince's reaction. "In fact, I am quite certain she would enter only to wait for us to pass by. His Majesty knows his daughter well."

A fool indeed. 

"How interesting. And why are you here, prince Conrad? Does his Majesty have jurisdiction over the prince of Hatherland?" Arawn replied calmly, enjoying the fire burning behind the prince's eyes. He elegantly flipped off his horse, so he stood but a meter from them. Garrett and three others appeared behind him protectively. 

"He does not. I am here of my own volition. I am a dear friend to the princess and only seek for her safe return," Conrad replied, his gaze unwavering, his voice steady. 

"She must be quite the person to have such an entourage camped outside of such a fearsome forest," Arawn muttered. But his voice was loud enough for the prince and knight to hear. He smirked at the knight's hardening features. The man was young, of about 20 years of age, yet he seemed skilled enough to be sent out on a critical mission commanding many men.

It also made Arawn more intrigued by this princess. A princess would not last long outside the protective and lavish walls of a palace filled with riches. Yet, prince Conrad proclaimed that she was of high intelligence and would hide in the forest. Surely that did make her foolish? There were creatures known even to humans that could easily kill someone defenceless.. 

Unless.. She was no ordinary princess.. First off, the princess had to make it this far. His mind began to spin and started pointing towards Evanna; she was a remarkable woman who took on the faceless and survived. Arawn's face stayed emotionless, not letting the Hatherland prince or the knight have insight into his thoughts. 

"Have you seen a young woman enter this forest recently?" Sir Baldwin asked after clearing his throat. 

He had..

"When you say recent.. How long ago would that be? Time is different to us elves as it is to humans," Arawn replied as he clasped his hands behind his back, holding onto his elbows. He began to walk nonchalantly among the humans, refraining from laughing when a few scurried out of his way in fear. He was, after all, a cruel elven prince. However, he noted that only the men in silver armour, the men from Dunhurst, feared him. 

He glanced at the men dressed in cloaks, their brown leather studded armour, with the golden eagle emblem on their right chest. There were only five of them, and they seemed fearless in his presence. Very interesting. But it made much more sense for them not to fear him; why would the prince of the Flori attack the humans of such an important party. It seemed Conrad's men had some common sense. He almost rolled his eyes at the soldiers of Dunhurst and their stupidity. 

"Is this your way of beating around the bush, your highness?" Conrad's deep voice whipped across the distance between them. Arawn looked over his shoulder and smirked. 

"Why would I 'beat around the bush', as you say? I am merely explaining the simple differences between each race. You perceive time differently from us- we live much longer lives.." Arawn replied tiredly as he casually flicked his wrist and continued to walk across the camp. 

Sir Baldwin caught up to Arawn. The prince either thought of him as either bold or stupidly courageous. "Princess Evanna went missing six weeks ago, your highness," The knight said, only to stop and turn around after Arawn halted in his footsteps. 

Princess Evanna...

Baldwin took this chance and revealed another scroll, unwrapping it to show the portrait of the dark-haired beauty known as Princess Evanna Goodrich.