Chapter 283: Reunion

"Oh, Evanna." Loraven pulled her daughter into a tight hug, tears blurring her eyes. "My sweet girl, I’ve longed for your safe return."

"I know," Evanna whispered, her voice thick with emotion as her heart swelled from the embrace of her warm and healthy mother. Loraven was still tiny, most bones, but already the colour had returned to her cheeks, her eyes brighter, her hair healthier. If not for the weight loss that was evidential, it would appear as though she’d never been sick at all.

"Magnificent," Osian breathed. He stumbled forward, settling on the other side of the bed and peered at Loraven with concern. "Our daughter is so much like you, Loraven."

He shook his head, his gaze filled with delight as he marvelled at her resemblance to her mother. Osian’s eyes then shifted to Evanna and flicked to Arawn.

"You must have many tales to tell us. Prince Arawn, if you’d be so kind, I’d like to spend time with my daughter after such a long absence without her."

"Of course, your majesty." Arawn bowed his head and shared a look with Evanna. She would see him after, although she didn’t feel comfortable telling Osian about their relationship without the prince there in the room. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly. But if he asked, she would not deny him an answer.

Osian walked beside Arawn as though guaranteeing the elven prince was leaving the chambers, handing him off to Sir Hugh, who had been behind the doors again. Evanna remained beside Loraven, her hand holding her mother’s. Loraven’s thumb stroked over Evanna’s as though she was the one in need of comfort.

It was her mother who had been in such a dire situation all this time, yet here she was comforting her. Evanna sat back once Osian returned, feeling his gaze on her, but she couldn’t help but keep looking at her mother. All of the dread and pent-up anxiousness seeped out of her, leaving her feeling raw and fatigued. So fatigued.

Evanna had been chased by the living dead, fought monsters and forced to attend elven banquets, and now her mother was well; it all seemed to crash down on her like a brick.

"You look tired, dear," Loraven noted, squeezing her hand.

"It was..." Evanna smiled gently, "quite an adventure."

Loraven’s expression lit up. She had been so worried about Evanna, but now that her daughter was here, she was relieved and couldn’t help the excitement from hearing about this adventure. She could tell already there was much to tell.

"She made quite an entrance... Hopping off the back of a dragon," Osian mentioned, sounding both disapproving and smug.

Loraven’s gaze flicked back to her daughter. "A dragon?! My, it’s been centuries.. How did..." She trailed off, seeing the slight flicker of saddening emotion behind Evanna’s eyes. "What happened? Was everyone... Did everyone make it?"

"Barely... Ger..." Evanna’s gaze dropped to her lap to their connecting hands. "We thought the dragon killed him, but instead... He took its place..."

Osian’s brows furrowed as he sat on the other side of the bed. "What do you mean-"

"Ger became the dragon. He can transform into it," Evanna explained, getting straight to the point.

Osian’s eyes widened. "So my men weren’t going mad from the sudden... attack."

"I wish to get out of bed," Loraven announced. "I want to catch up while wearing something more than my nightie! I’ve been in bed far too long!"

Evanna and Osian were dismissed to the adjoined living room whilst Loraven changed without the help of her chambermaid, who waited nearby and had been watching her in shock. Evanna strolled around the room, suddenly aware of another presence besides those she knew about. She peered around the small balcony, opening the doors, pretending to air the rooms out, and paused upon seeing Killian.

The vampire grinned, making a point of showing his fangs. Killian swept Evanna a gallant bow, remaining quiet as the sounds of her father’s approaching footsteps stopped him. "We will speak later," Evanna whispered just as Osian arrived, peering at the balcony.

Evanna tensed and followed his gaze, only to release a breath when she saw Killian was gone in that crazy vampiric speed. "Evanna? Is everything okay?" Her father asked, and she nodded.

"Maybe I got too used to sleeping under the stars and always feeling the wind against my skin," Evanna smiled and leaned into Osian, where he placed his arm over her shoulders.

"It was a dangerous thing to do," Osian sighed. "You have no idea the lengths I went through to try and get you back to Dunhurst."

"Oh, I do..." Evanna peeked at the king. "I felt betrayed when Conrad came to claim his prize." The faint undercurrent of resentment crept into her voice involuntarily.

"I’m sorry and thankful you returned without that... brute’s help." He sat down on the sofa, and Evanna followed. "Were you.. in Direwood forest the entire time?"

Evanna could see how her father came to that conclusion.

"Hold up! I want to hear as well!" Loraven called from the bed chamber before rushing inside the living room, her skin glowing, her movements smooth and graceful. This was the woman Evanna had grown up with. So vibrant and warm.

"There were..." Evanna’s thoughts turned to Cilv, "complications. We went to Lyvaria."

Loraven stiffened, and Evanna looked at her and then Osian. "Were you ever going to tell me?" Evanna asked quietly, gauging their reactions.

Osian and Loraven looked at Evanna blankly, so she added with a wry smile. "I met my.. grandparents." She grimaced at the term and noted Loraven’s paling features and Osian’s sharp intake of breath. "King Nuvian and Queen Iolena... They told me..."

Evanna trailed off, looking at Osian. "You are still my father... You raised me, protected me..." She then looked between them. "*I cannot imagine what you have been through... my uncle... or...*" She switched to Muranthian, remembering the chambermaid waiting in the other room.

She was loyal to her mother, but still, this was a huge royal family secret.

"Evanna, we never meant for you to find out this way," Osian began as Loraven still looked pale upon hearing her parent’s names. "We wanted to tell you after your birthday..."

Evanna nodded, she felt a great weight lifting off her chest and leaned forward, clasping her father’s hand, squeezing, and holding her mother’s hand, looking between them. "One day... Tell me more about the previous king."

She looked at her mother, whose eyes misted. "*Tell me about the man you loved; I wish to know more.*"

Loraven nodded, squeezing Evanna’s hand back.

"As for my quest... Well, it might have been reckless, but we got results. Mother, Father, you taught me well, and I am surrounded by those who care and protect me."

"Does that include a white-haired elven prince?" Osian asked, his voice growing stern as he narrowed his eyes at her.

Evanna swallowed. She might as well tell them. There was no point in waiting now. Things were falling into place, and all that was left was for her family to accept Arawn. "Arawn proposed to me..."

Osian inhaled sharply.

"And I said yes."

"What have you done?" Osian clipped.

"Osh-" Loraven began.

"No! I do not approve-"

"Arawn is a better man than any," Evanna hissed, instantly feeling defensive. Her mother was an elf, and she was part elf. This had to stop. "He is far better than Conrad. You do not know him-"

"You’re naïve, Evanna," Osian sighed, standing from the sofa. "I don’t trust-"

Evanna jumped up from her spot. "I have learnt a great deal on my travels, and that includes seeing clearer after years hidden behind the palace walls. I no longer trust easy. But Arawn is a good man and has saved me many times without any hidden agendas. Besides... Marriage between Dunhurst and the Flori is something to celebrate, father...

"We will be allies. Besides, my dear grandparents approve. If Hatherland tries to attack Dunhurst... We will have the Flori and Lyvarian elves to aid us." Evanna thought to Conrad, who perhaps might plan something of the like so she would be his queen.

It would be pathetic if he did, though.

Osian sighed. "It seems you have everything planned already..." He wiped a hand down his face and stared at his daughter. From the small interactions he witnessed between them, the king knew this was more than a contract marriage for alliances. Evanna was intelligent enough to use a diplomatic approach than what was truly in her heart. It was understandable.

Even the prince couldn’t hide his affection for Evanna. Arawn, the cold-hearted prince who was so similar to Thalinal, looked at Evanna like she was something precious and someone he would protect. His striking eyes that glared at everyone in his presence in their walk down the hallways softened at Evanna, those firm lips gentle. But could he give his daughter away to the Flori?

Osian remembered his tours to their lands, though it was nothing like the Lyvarians. Would they treat Evanna like their own?

Instead of speaking of his concerns, he would prefer to ask these questions straight from the man himself. "Then I should at least have a drink with my future son-in-law," Osian said, meeting Loraven’s eyes that already twinkled as though she knew exactly what he would do.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read