Heart Over Sword

Evanna blinked at the sudden question. He was acting as though they were now having a pleasant conversation at dinner, but she knew he was beginning his little act. Either way, she would answer. These questions were easy, and she didn't mind replying to them.

She looked down at her hands then back up to his exquisite facial features. There was a softness behind his eyes as she gazed into those fiery depths of blue.

"Not really. It was good to use to pass the time in the evenings, but even then, I preferred talking and sitting with my friends.." She trailed off and looked to the side. She internally scolded herself. Already she was too comfortable and just blurted out what came to her mind.

"Oh? So, were you aware of the faceless on the left side of the river?" He continued with his question. This, however, gained Evanna's attention, and she looked back at him.

"No. We were warned to never go that side-"

"Yet, you did. If someone forewarned you, did you not think to actually pay heed to their caution?"

Evanna's mouth dropped open at his question, "Well, if we weren't being chased, we would never have gone that side."

"If you weren't on my land, then you would not have been chased.." Arawn retorted.

"If I didn't need to come onto your land, then I wouldn't.. it's against the accords anyway," She waved her hand nonchalantly.

"Why were you in Direwood Forest?" He probed gently.

"You know why, to steal the gemstone."

"To… sell?"

"Sell?" Evanna scoffed and shook her head, "I don't need to sell it, it's-" She snapped her mouth shut at almost disclosing the reasoning behind taking it.

Arawn observed her, tilting his head to the side and spoke ever so softly, "As I said before, it is only a matter of time before I have your friends. My men are closing in on them as we speak. The more men, the easier it is to get information. Especially if torture techniques are needed.."

Evanna gulped and lowered her head, looking down at his shiny shoes. She hoped they would make it out, and now it seemed none of them was making it out alive. Not only had she failed her mother, but she failed them as well. They were her responsibility.

"Raven" Arawn's voice was soft like the fibres of the richest silk wound together. Evanna looked up and felt her heart begin to race under his gaze. He parted his lips as he took a step closer, his hand raised to her hair until it stopped midway, and his eyes lowered, his attention snapped to her neck.

Arawn's hand changed its course of action and wrapped around the gem on her necklace. He pulled it closer to him, and she watched as his thumb slid over the smooth surface, and he looked up at Evanna, stunned. His widened eyes snapped back to neutral, and his mask of composure slid back on within a blink of an eye.

"Where did you get this?" His voice hardened, and Evanna tried to gauge his expression, but again the elf's icy façade was back.

"Why?" She whispered back. She knew it was of elven make, but if she said it was her mother's, then there would be more line of questioning in regard to her mother, and the accords would be brought into it. 

Arawn scoffed, "Do not play dumb with me, Raven. You and I both know that this is Lyvarian."

That much she did not know. It was her mother's necklace that had some spell placed on it to let her mother know of Evanna's health.

"It was a gift," Evanna replied nonchalantly.

Arawn placed it back on her skin, and his hand slid across her neck. His cool fingertips sent tiny sparks of fire across her milky skin, making it redden under his touch. Evanna's breath hitched when she looked back into his eyes, those eyes that had never left hers, while his hand slowly went to the back of her neck. 

His other hand flipped her hair to the side, and she felt them trying to undo the clasp. He hissed and retreated his hands back quickly as though he had been zapped.

"This is a very expensive gift for a thief, girl. Not only is the gem scarce, but it also has an enchantment on it. I cannot take it off. Who. Are. You?" He bit out the last words. Evanna could see his composure becoming frosty. He didn't like not knowing things; that much was certain.

"I have already told you, your highness," She dipped her head.

His hand smacked the wall beside her, startling her, and she looked up, instantly leaning her head back into the wall. Arawn towered over her, and his face was inches from hers again. She felt caged in from his overbearing presence and his hands that held her prisoner at the sides of her head. There was nowhere to look but at his almost luminous blue orbs.

A shiver erupted through her as the air she breathed became cold. Her eyes lowered to Arawn's lips, and she was fascinated to see the air he breathed was also puffing out in clouds.

"Stop LYING to me, Evanna," Arawn snapped, her eyes flickered back to his, alarmed by the startling realisation that the elven prince always knew her name. What more did he know about her?

And was she losing her mind? Or could she see the walls becoming frosty?

"Why isss ss it s-so cold?" Her teeth chattered as she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind that seemed to snap the brewing tension between them. The air immediately warmed up, and Arawn leaned away from her, his face cold and eyes distant.

He turned around abruptly and marched out of the cell. Evanna breathed a sigh of relief and sagged forwards slightly. However, her relief shattered. Two guards arrived and grabbed her by the arms, dragging her out of the cell.