Heart Over Sword-Chapter 279: Return to Dunhurst (1)

Staring in awe for seconds more that ticked by in a slow state of ethereal beauty, Evanna and the others jumped back, startled by Ger’s sudden movement. The mighty beast tried lifting off and instead collapsed, nose first to the ground, not looking so mighty anymore. Garrett was the first to snort and laugh as Ger moved awkwardly, adjusting to four legs, a long tail and wings that extended so wide.

Ronan smacked Garrett on the arm, causing the elf to pause and look at Ronan sharply. The man glared back. "That’s Ger. Yes, he looks like a blundering idiot, but at the end of the day, he’s the one who will save our tired asses on this journey. Show him some respect."

Evanna and the others turned to Ronan, eyes slightly wide, eyebrows raised to Ronan’s scolding. The casual charmer was for once serious and defended his friend who had recently come back from the dead. While everyone’s attention was on Ronan and Garrett, however, the white creature behind them rose to its feet; its brilliant blue eyes gleamed brightly, slowly pulling Evanna’s eyes away from the men and to the beast.

Ger hopped off the ground and spread his wings to take off. Those wings shook the earth, the gust of wind causing their eyes to squint, hair to fly back and clothes to flap wildly. Everyone looked at the dragon in the air. It roared to the sky and, on its next inhale, blew fire towards the clouds and glared at everyone on the ground. Evanna frowned, noting Ger’s movements were suddenly smooth, with expertise that would come from practice or experience.

Not that she knew anything about dragons. But Ger did just fall flat on his face.

Another almighty roar silenced her thoughts, and she watched in shock as the beast turned and flew away. They were left there to stare at the spot where the dragon grew smaller and smaller in the distance until it disappeared completely.

"Well... there goes our ride," Axel grumbled.

"Something was different about him just then..." Evanna murmured her thoughts aloud. "He was no blundering idiot just now..."

"Give him some time," Garrett said, surprising them all. "We were never going to return immediately."

How was Garrett always so knowledgeable about these things? She was aware his people used to tame dragons, but how did he know so much to this degree? Or did he guess and make it up as he went, ensuring he sounded somewhat wiser than the rest of them?

"And if he doesn’t return?" Ronan asked, sounding more like a boy pleading with a man with all the answers and hoping to hear what he wanted.

Garrett was no such man to soften a blow, though. "Then he doesn’t. We have ponies. Our journey does not alter. If Ger remained dead, this would have been our path going forward anyway."

Ronan flinched at the elf’s words and turned from him, not speaking again for the rest of the night. Each was left to their own thoughts about the dragon that had erupted hope in their hearts to a shorter journey and crumbling back down to the campsite and accepting they would ride the ponies for the rest of their trip.

Evanna, on the other hand, worried about her friend. Arawn was quick to distract her inside their tent, though, until she passed out in a blissful state.

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The group travelled for another two nights, fighting small creatures that passed them by and were swiftly dealt with. The ponies did well and did not startle upon seeing them, merely trotting away to a safe distance until they were needed again. No injuries were suffered, and they all waited in anticipation for Ger.

If he never returned, did that mean it was the last they saw of their friend? It weighed heavily on Evanna’s heart, but there was bittersweet happiness that came with the loss Ger left. He may not return, but he was alive. That was all she needed to know. And if she found out he lived in happiness, then this load would lighten.

On the third morning, their worries cleared as they opened their tents to the loud, rumbling sound of the ground vibrating. Evanna rushed out, eyes wide as she saw the white dragon again. Arawn’s arms wrapped around her from behind, stopping her from venturing forward towards the dragon that might be more beast than Ger at this point. The creature appeared to be normal, but one corner of his mouth was slightly red. Red with blood.

"You’ve hunted," Garrett was the first to speak, disrupting the other’s dazed expressions.

’I needed to learn... a few things,’ Ger’s words entered their minds. Again, he sounded like himself and a beast simultaneously. ’Let’s go back now.’

Evanna’s heart fluttered at his words, and she looked over her shoulder to Arawn, who continued to embrace her from behind tightly. His eyes were on Ger, still seemingly unconvinced by Ger’s statement.

"Ready to meet my parents," Evanna joked, giggling at Arawn’s sudden sharp turn of his head and widened eyes at her words. She grinned at the shocked look none could ever usually see on his otherwise stony and cold expression like the ice prince he was. Still feeling ecstatic, Evanna kissed Arawn’s cheek gently and patted his hand on her waist.

Arawn’s eyes softened momentarily as he gazed at Evanna before casting a glance at the dragon. "That’s if we survive this ride," he muttered.

"With you by my side, that shouldn’t be a problem, right?" Evanna smirked, causing the prince to chuckle in return.

"Right. I’ll always be by your side."

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Flying on a dragon was not what it was cracked up to be. Especially when that dragon didn’t have a harness and had little to hold onto. Evanna yelped, her body sliding to the side as Ger steered to the side, her hands clawed at one of the scales to remain in the same spot. Her thighs were bruised and aching from remaining in such an awkward position.

Arawn was behind her, stopping others from staring at her backside.

Again, the positioning was awkward, with the bitter wind blowing their hair everywhere, their bodies being flung to the side, and their stomachs dropping whenever the creature would nose dive. From the sound of the slight rumbling of his chest, Ger was finding it amusing how everyone was slipping and sliding on the back of him.

The prince was about to complain about Ger’s idiocy and that one or more of them would fly off to their deaths when the clouds started to blow past them, clearing to reveal the grounds below. Such flat greenery, farmlands, and simple houses that only humans would create, the river Stye that flowed through his kingdom.

"Dunhurst..." Evanna whispered, her words carried away by the wind. Arawn was close to her, close enough to catch the longing in her voice.

Was Evanna homesick? Would she long for such a simple home when she returned to the Florian kingdom with him? Or was it because of her mother and the task ahead?

Arawn could feel the anticipation and anxiousness rolling off Evanna. She had been separated from her mother, embarking on this quest to rescue her, and now it all came down to this.

Leaning in close to Evanna’s ear, Arawn held her firmly, whispering proudly, "You possess courage beyond measure. You are the bravest woman I know."

A smile played across Evanna’s lips as she nestled closer to Arawn.

"You’ve yet to meet my mother."

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