57 Uninvited Guest

Axel was scratching the back of his head for the tenth time before shaking it as he stared off at the spot Evanna ran off to earlier. A scowl was setting on his features while he gripped his axes harder. The princess knows what she is doing. He tried to convince himself.

Axel turned his head back after feeling someone's gaze on him. Ger was looking at Axel, who had unknowingly been shuffling on his feet. Axel was impatiently waiting for the princess to return, but he watched Ger point his arrow at Axel's feet, mouthing, "Come on." He looked down then stopped what he was doing before mouthing back,

"Sorry, needa piss."

Ger rolled his eyes and set his arrow back in a relaxed position across his bow. He looked back at the corridor, keeping guard. Even as he eyed the magnificence that was the elven palace, Ger still couldn't believe he was standing there. It wasn't long ago since he and Evanna were outside her balcony planning for this moment.

Ger sighed; his anxiousness was rising the longer he stood guarding the hallway, so he inhaled deeply. He needed to keep his heart rate at a steady beat, even lower if he could, but steady was good enough, for if some unwanted guest did turn up, his aim had to be immaculate for the newcomer not to survive and alert others. 

**

Evanna's eyes darted around the darkened room, trying to see if the king was there. But much to her delight, she found it empty, and her senses weren't alerting her to anything. She knew from walking across the large room that this was, in fact, the kings; the adjoining two rooms for a husband and wife were a small indicator. 

When Evanna opened one of them, she found it was a vast room, filled with clothes and a mirror. Without wasting any more time, she began floundering through the clothes and drawers full of women's garments, once again coming up short.

Evanna left the adjoined room and opened the other to find a similar space, with a more masculine décor and smell. She began scrambling through items and clothing again. Evanna found herself taking more time; the women's wardrobe seemed to have little to no clothing compared to this room. There were assorted weaved baskets and chests neatly stacked on the bottom and top part of the shelved walls.

While Evanna quickly searched through the baskets and chests, she was so absorbed searching for the gemstone that she didn't realise her back was growing colder. The sudden sound of the double doors opening halted her hand on the basket as she looked up at the closed door, holding her breath. Evanna stared across her while she heard muffled voices outside.

"* The prince will be here any second! Why didn't you clean the floor? *" Evanna heard a man's voice.

"* He asked for other duties to be finished first… *" A feminine voice quivered in response.

"* That doesn't mean you don't finish the job. Get this done. NOW! *"

Evanna slid open the basket slowly while she heard someone sweeping the floor in the bed-chamber. While she put the basket back after discovering it empty, her eyes caught onto a sparkling light. Evanna tilted her head as she crawled on her hands and knees slowly. Her heart pounded against her rib cage as she neared a slightly ajar wooden chest.

Her breath caught. She slid the top open, and inside at the bottom, underneath letters and miniature paintings of a stunning she-elf, was the gemstone Evanna had been searching for. She reached for it, almost hesitantly, as though it was not real. Her eyes were wide in amazement as she held the crystal-blue jewel in her hand.

The painting in her scrolls did not show that the gem had a white light that glowed, almost throbbing as it moved from one side of the stone to the other, almost as though it was alive. The gem shone on her face entrancing her as she watched it. Evanna could feel the power emanating from it; the pulsing sensation coursed through her forearm.

While Evanna eyed the gem in awe, the double doors to the bedroom suddenly burst open. The princess stopped and put the jewel in her cloak pocket, closed the chest quietly and hid behind some tunics and cloaks that were hung up. She stilled her breathing after hearing loud footsteps marching towards her position. The door swung open, and the sound of footsteps came forwards.

Evanna tried melting into the wall behind her back; the only comfort she felt was from the door that kept her covered more.

"* But your highness, the king has been waiting for your arrival- *"

"* Tell the king I have urgent matters to deal with. *"

"* But-" 

"* I hope I do not have to keep repeating myself. You know how bothersome it is for me.. *" Evanna could hear a deadly tone to the elf's icy voice, a male elf who was on the other side of the door. And a voice she recognised but could not figure out who it belonged to. The most important thing right now was not to get caught.

She guessed the servants had left this prince to whatever urgent business he needed to deal with. The elf walked further into the adjoined room, making Evanna's heart thump loudly against her chest; so loud, she thought he could hear it. Keeping herself as still as possible, she hoped her spot behind the tunics and partially behind the door would be enough to keep her hidden from the elven prince. 

Evanna's breath hitched after catching the sight of the boots on the prince, now facing in her direction and began walking towards her. Evanna began shrinking herself a little more into the wall and the cloak in front of her. She could see his hand reaching towards her and-

"* My prince! You are home!? *" A sickly sweet, feminine voice called out to the prince. His hand stopped, and she heard him sigh in agitation before walking back out of the adjoined room. Evanna placed her hand on her chest to stop herself from sighing in relief. The prince did not close the door, meaning Evanna could sneak out somehow.

She turned around and looked through the small gap between the wall and the door to better look at the inside of the room. The prince was chastising a beautiful she-elf who wore a near see-through dress, only meant to seduce a man. Evanna's eyes widened, hoping she would not be stuck in the closet room while they had a night of fun.

Her brows knitted together after realising the elven prince had long white hair.. like the ranger in the woods.. Shaking her head, she needed to focus and get out of this dam room! Evanna inhaled profoundly and decided to risk it.

From what she could see, the prince was ushering the seductress out of the room. With his back to the room, Evanna crept out of her spot and slid out from the adjoined room, half sprinting across the bed chamber and sliding down to the enormous bed in the middle of the room.

Evanna stayed crouched down, hidden behind the height of the bed and glanced to the side where there were these magnificent glass doors, with thin white branches growing out from the side of the wall and across the width of the doors. Autumn leaves hung from the branches, merged inside the glass, providing some privacy to the bed-chamber. And behind those beautifully designed doors was a balcony.

The sound of the double doors closing and footsteps approaching the bed made Evanna roll under the large bed. With her belly flat on the cool, marble white ground, she kept her eyes on where his boots were walking. After hearing him sit down on the bed, she bit her lip and watched as he removed his dirty boots.

What was wrong with him? He has ruined an immaculate floor. Unless he is a prince uncaring of the work of the maids? FOCUS!

With his boots left to the side, she watched his retreating feet walk back to the adjoined room.

Now's my chance.

Evanna lifted a part of the luxurious bed sheet, making sure he was, in fact, in the other room before she rolled back out and crept towards the doors. With her hand on the golden branch shape knobs, Evanna slowly pushed them open and was relieved when no noise alerted the prince.

The prince walked back out of the adjoined room and was startled to see a figure opening the balcony doors. A feminine figure, he already knew, was Evanna. Her clothing and swords gave her away; other than that, her hood was up, and when she turned around to close the doors, he saw only her stunning green eyes above a mask.

Those green eyes seemed to be more focused on closing the doors quietly than looking at her surroundings again. The prince tried not to chuckle before pushing the doors wide open and making his presence known. 

Evanna was already at the balcony edge, checking for an escape route, only to turn around, stunned by the noise of the doors opening again. Her eyes widened, and her body froze when she saw who it was. Mr blue eyes stood across from her, shirtless, revealing his lean, muscular body in full view. Evanna gulped and forced her eyes back at the elf before her.

"You weren't on the guestlist.." The prince's eyes twinkled with something Evanna couldn't comprehend. But his chilling yet charming smile set her heart in gear as panic swarmed her body.

Evanna jumped atop the balcony surface, causing the white-haired elf to take a step forwards. She faced him again; alarmed by his footsteps, her own slipped on the vines wrapped around the balcony. A squeak escaped her lips before she fell from the balcony. 

Evanna's lungs crushed into her ribs from the shock, and her breath escaped her as she fell backwards. Her hands outstretched to grab onto anything. But it was impossible; this was it, she would die tragically, falling to her death.

Yet, while her hands were outstretched and wishing for something to help, the unthinkable happens. The vine unwrapped itself and flung towards her. Evanna grasped onto the vine and found herself falling with the vine; a screech escaped her lips before she swung forward and fell into one of the open arches of the floor below.

The prince ran forward and grabbed onto the balcony, grasping at it to the point his knuckles went white as he looked over the side. Nothing, she wasn't there. A loud crashing sound echoed from the floor below.

One side of his lips twitched into a smile before it fell as though it was never there in the first place. As much as he enjoyed his little nighttime visit, it didn't hide the fact that Evanna may possibly be an assassin. He marched back to his room and almost swore because of having to put half of his attire back on. 

Before he did so, he announced to the guards outside his room about an intruder on the floor directly below. They rushed off immediately while he angrily shoved his boots on.

**

Evanna crash-landed straight into an armoured guard; the pair fell on the ground making a loud crashing sound. Evanna immediately jumped up, grabbed the sleeping powder and blew it in his face. Turning around, she started making her way down the hallway that joined the area where the stairs were. As she turned the corner, another guard was marching quickly in her direction, stopping when he saw her. 

Evanna sprinted towards him, reaching for the powder and clasping at barely a few grains worth. The powder had run out. Instead, she jumped onto the side of the wall, pushing off, using the jump's momentum behind her to punch him in the face. Her swiftness took him by surprise as he fell back a few steps with a bloodied nose. But he immediately swung a punch, which she dodged and used his arm to swing around him onto his back and grip onto his neck in a chokehold.

His hands floundered on her arms, and she squeezed a little harder to knock him unconscious quicker. Time was of the essence. As the guard went limp, Evanna let him slide quietly to the ground while she heard an order shouted out to find her and alert the others. She looked back at the two fallen guards; there was no point in hiding them now.

Evanna scrambled up and bolted as quick as her legs could take her; she didn't bother sticking to the shadows and creeping through now. Their cover was blown, and it was now or never. The gem was in her possession, and she was not about to give up when things suddenly became a lot harder.

** 

Cilv jumped out of the room and landed softly in a crouch at the entrance, looking up at Ronan in amusement. The ruby dropping to the ground set off the first of many traps in the treasury. But she managed to get out unscathed, if only for one cut on her sleeve. 

Cilv walked out and looked for the princess with a crease forming on her forehead; she didn't know how long Evanna had been gone for, but they needed to get out. The party was still in full swing, but the quicker they are out, the better.

While her thoughts were occupied with the 'what if's'. The princess suddenly emerged, speeding around the corner and past Axel.

"RUN!"