Heart Over Sword-Chapter 171: Head Held High

After the poisoning incident that involved her fiancé, two years flew by, and in that time, once again, Evanna only saw Conrad sparingly. Evanna did not seem to mind; she knew they would be wed, and then she would see a lot more of him if nothing changed in the dynamics of their relationship. The Princess also spent this time training herself harder, beginning her sword training with the best teacher she knew, Loraven. Since nearly being stabbed to death, Evanna wanted the skills to protect herself, that night the assassin had crept passed the guards, whether they were paid off or entirely useless, she couldn’t depend on them.

When her mother was not available, then she would train with the squire Baldwin. The other men were too busy or did not wish to harm the Princess, though Baldwin found himself at odds with her. He was an equally skilled swordsman to train with Evanna, and he was a little more daring in the way he fought. This pleased Evanna more; her mother did not shy away from cutting her own daughter, and so this taught her swiftly of about her mistakes. The same could be said about Baldwin, though he still knew his limits and never caused her to bleed.

Now with Ger gone on his adventure and Conrad away, Evanna found a friend in Baldwin though they dare not say it. She was the Princess, and he was a squire and soon to be a knight. But they delighted in cheerful conversation as they fought wildly with one another, or maybe it was just the acrobatic Princess that made their duels so wild.

The pair sat side by side, breathing heavily, sweat above their brows and gulping greedily from their water skins after training together.

"I think you should try wielding two swords," Baldwin said, lowering his waterskin as he squinted at the blazing sun. It was hot today, as it tended to in the heat of summer.

Evanna’s brows rose at his comment. She wanted to be a dual wielder like her mother; it was like an art form, something to be proud of, especially in the elven kingdoms. Though it was still relatively rare in both elven and human realms. But it was not merely about the title and grand looks of being a dual-wielder but the capability of such a skill. The Princess found the art and skill of sword fighting along with archery to be invigorating and she began to walk with more confidence not just faking it.

"Do you think I am skilled enough to wield two swords? What of you?" Evanna enquired, turning her head to gaze at him. Baldwin was older than her by a few years, but he still had rounded cheeks, dimples and his brown eyes warm, still friendly and inexperienced to bloodshed. novelbuddy-cσ๓

"What of me?" He smiled at her. "I have trained with a sword since I was five." He turned his hands around to show the callouses and scars displayed on them. "It is only now that my skills have started to do well. But your highness, you have a natural talent and have trained a meagre two years, and I am already at your mercy." He bowed his head slightly.

Evanna shook her own before standing up and looking down at him. "You flatter me, Baldwin. Please, call me Evanna."

"My words were not to flatter; I am merely telling you the truth, Princess."

Evanna parted her lips to reply, a jest on her tongue to hide away the growing blush his words brought to her cheeks.

"Evanna!"

The Princess’ head whipped to the side at the sound of her mother’s voice. Evanna presumed her mother was too busy today to spar with her, but from the look on Loraven’s face and the way she was dressed, Evanna must have forgotten something significant.

"Mother, what are you-"

"What am I doing?! What are you doing?! How could you forget your betrothed and his brother are set to arrive within the hour!" Loraven scolded from the steps leading to the training grounds. Evanna looked at the servants trailing her, then mentally shook her head; it was her fault, not theirs, that she forgot. Plus, she did not usually train so late, so she was not in the usual spot people often found her.

"I think I should take my leave now," Evanna muttered and cringed at her mother’s growing annoyance. She didn’t dare look at Baldwin as she started to rush back towards the palace, though she saw out of the corner of her eyes he was smiling whilst now standing and bowing his head in her direction.

"You better run," Loraven whisper-shouted at her daughter as she rushed by and urged her with a hand between Evanna’s shoulder blades.

Dressed within the hour, Evanna’s pulse raced as she dabbed a handkerchief against her brow and started playing with a ringlet of her mounds of hair piled stylishly on top of her head, falling down behind her back with golden hairpins shaped in leaves and bronzed flowers. Maggie slapped Evanna’s hand away from her creation, and her mother removed the handkerchief from her face. The Princess looked down at the golden gown with black embroidery at her waist, her shoulders daringly bare, but the sleeves reaching her wrists. She presumed the dress was to match her betrothed’s attire for the evening’s ball considering he was either in black or gold.

Though they would not enter together because of his travels, people would assume they were partners.

"Keep that chin lifted, my daughter. No man or woman shall ever see it lower. You are a radiant beauty, one that others dare wish to ask for, one that is still yet to be in full bloom," Loraven spoke next to her ear, her hand gently beneath her chin as she stared at her daughter in the mirror. "*And do NOT play the fool; it does not suit you. The court is in your hands now. What happens next is up to you.*"

Evanna knew of which her mother was speaking. Prince Conrad. Loraven was quick to hear the spectacle of what happened at the feast two years past and since then her mother had her own spies set up in Hatherland. Evanna was not to know, but on occasions, she intercepted the letters detailing her betrothed’s schedule and was no longer appalled by how many women he had shared his bed with.

"*And if I used my blade instead of my words, but still held my chin high, would you still be pleased, mother?*" She whispered back, holding her mother’s gaze.

Loraven smiled dazzlingly and wickedly so."*Much.*"

With those words of encouragement, Evanna left with her shoulders set and head held high as she digressed from her chambers and followed the growing sounds of the music in the hall.

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