Evie turned and looked at the n. She felt touched at their willingness to follow along with her plans without questions. However, she could not possibly take all these able-bodied n with her. They are Gavriel's most trusted n, warriors most elite and the best of the bunch. There are people here who will be needing their protection as well. Evie thought of all these as her eyes looked around, noticing the older won and young children. They would need more protection than she did.
"I am very thankful… but I would not be taking all of you with . So of you will need to stay back here to protect everyone." Evie said. The n imdiately looked quite disapproving.
It was then that the duchess butted in. "May I know the reason why you are going to the heart of the land, Princess?" the other vampires who heard her question all nodded their heads in assent. Evie looked at her and though she knew the duchess was only concerned, she could not tell her the details of her reasoning.
"I'm sorry but I can't say it yet." She replied apologetically, but the duchess did not seem to have taken offence to Evie's rejection.
"I see… I know there must be a good reason behind this. You are not a na?ve woman. Nor are you one who is impulsive and jumps into things without weighing out the pros and cons. I always knew you'd beco one hell of woman soday… and I guess that soday would be today." The duchess smiled as she said this. "You are very brave, Your Highness." The duchess praised Evie as she reached out her hands to gently fold them over Evie's own. "And so… so strong."
Evie nearly wavered at the duchess kind words and the genuine care that was shining forth from her eyes. But she held herself strong and kept calm.
"Thank you…" was all she could say, and the duchess smiled at her, as if she knew everything that was happening within her.
"I know you'd beco even stronger." The duchess gazed deep into her amber eyes. "That is why you should take all of Gavriel's n along with you. Now that His Highness isn't here, their new master now in his absence would be you. So, don't worry and just bring them along."
What she said had surprised Evie. She did not expect the duchess to say that. "B-but…"
"Don't worry about us, Princess Evielyn. Most of us are won here but we are not helpless. We can protect ourselves and fight if it were necessary. Moreover, we are going to stay right here in this spot and wait for your return. Since the beasts can't enter into this place, we'll be safe here. It is you who need these n as your own guards the most." She explained and everyone agreed.
The won standing further away from her all had confident looks on their faces and Evie realized that she had forgotten for a mont that these won were not frail and fragile flowers, but vampires. And not just vampires. They were mothers and sisters and daughters. They all had many precious others to protect too. The will to protect was the greatest motivation and strength for them to fight. These won were warriors in their own right.
She looked at Gavriel's n and they all nodded encouragingly at her. All of them were in full agreent of the duchess' statents.
Evie could only smile helplessly before giving in. She too, knew that she truly needed these n's protection as they had already once nearly reached her destination before. She knew she had strange abilities now, but she still knew they were nothing when being put up to real combat. And she did not even know if her abilities would be able to do anything against the beasts. Rembering the beasts Gavriel had killed in the Dark Valley, Evie knew that she might never even survive a few seconds if she were to go there without the protection of these n.
And thus, the decision was made and all of Gavriel's n including Elias would go along with her.
Everyone imdiately prepared for the journey. With Elias being the busiest of them all, as there were many things that he wanted to prepare to pack and bring along with them.
Until at last, it was ti for them to head off.
Evie was standing by the lake and staring off into the clear waters by herself. She rembered Gavriel telling her this place would look even more beautiful in daylight. And he was absolutely right. The lake was just breathtakingly picturesque. So breath-taking that Evie's heart began to ache.
She wished she was seeing this spectacular view together with him.
Just as she was about to fall to her knees and cry, a small voice called out to her. She turned back to look, and it was the boy nad Elijah. She had t him in Dacria's town that one night and he had given her a flower.
He was giving her flowers again this ti as well.
"I wish I could co along to protect you too, Princess." He said and the ache in Evie's heart dulled a little as she smiled at his earnestness. "But it's okay. Once I grow up, I will beco strong too, like Samuel and that ti, I will protect you. For now, I will protect my mother and everyone in here while we wait for your return." The boy said in confidence and Evie's smile widened as she patted his head.
"That's right. One day, you'll be one of the strongest." Evie told him as Elias ca to inform her that it was ti for them to leave. She embraced the little boy and then whispered to him. "Thank you so much for the flower."
The boy grinned innocently, and Evie felt a surge of emotions welling from within her that seed to strengthen her.
Lifting her head up, Evie squared her shoulders and followed after Elias to join the now more than prepared n.
One last ti, Evie and the n looked back at the vampires they were leaving behind before they finally stepped out of the protected forest and took the first step of their journey towards the heart of the forbidden land.
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A/N: Read my note in the comnt box ^^
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