Heart Over Sword-Chapter 250: Between Friends (2)

Evanna nodded, and they quickened their pace, though she had to help Ger a few times so he didn’t fall into the snow or the rocky surface. When they finally caught up to the rest of the group, they were almost at the bottom of the hill. Axel stopped for a moment to regain his energy, breathing heavily.

"Fiza, what did you give me? I feel like I have the shakes!" Axel exclaimed, showing his gloved hand to shake slightly. The group stopped and stared at it for a moment, watching the exchange between the giant and the tiny night fae.

Fiza shrugged. "Serves you right for sleeping all the time. Don’t worry. It will wear off by tonight."

"Good, staying awake for three days is not good for my heart!"

Fiza stepped up to Axel, smiling overly sweetly at him. "You’re not going to sleep on your post again, though, right?"

Axel shook his head. "No, ma’am." She could be so scary! Sexy or not, she was still scary!

Fiza tsked him and turned away. "Do not call me ma’am.. It’s just Fiza."

"Are you both done? We need to make it to the other side of the lake before nightfall." Arawn glared at Fiza and Axel.

Arawn was right. The lake was huge, and although it would be preferable to at least be inside the tunnels under the mountain, nobody fancied sleeping atop the ice. It looked thick, and Balin said it was safe, but they didn’t want to risk it.

Their tents heated up overnight. It also meant they couldn’t set up a fire. One could slowly sink them into the icy depths of the lake, and the other meant they’d freeze to death or lose their toes.

"Come on, guys!" Ronan sang, seeming high in spirits even through this arduous journey. "I want to skid along the ice! It’s probably quicker than walking!"

"Ohhh, that sounds fun!" Evanna smiled, her eyes lighting up from Ronan’s suggestion. Arawn’s eyes softened for a moment noting how much her expression brightened at the mention of skidding along the ice. He’d note it down for later.

Evanna knew if it was too icy, then they could always skid along their knees. If it didn’t rip into their clothes, of course.

It wouldn’t take such a toll on their arms and legs. That’s if it actually worked. Otherwise, they might take ages because everyone would be falling over. They rushed as fast as they could through snow, the thickness reducing the closer they got to the lake.

The moment their boots touched the ice, they started gliding forwards, though a few fought for balance. Arawn seemed the most skilful. Of course, he would be. Evanna was happy to not be continuously climbing the snowy hills anymore.

This was much lighter. Even if it was a little slippery. They continued like that for some time, watching sprinkles of snow swoop across the icy lake from the onslaught of the relentless wind.

Their moods did not sour, though; their goal was clear. Ronan fell back to walk with Ger and Axel, still trying to maintain their balance, while Evanna advanced forwards, staying in line with Arawn. Occasionally they’d glance at one another, their masks hiding most of their features, but their eyes twinkled and slanted as though they were smiling with their eyes.

Walking, or more like stumbling behind them, Axel patted Ger’s shoulder, almost falling over in the process. "How are you, lad?" When Ger looked at him questioningly, Axel pointed his chin in the direction of Arawn and Evanna.

Axel observed Ger’s reaction and nodded. The poor lad was still recovering, but after seeing Evanna and Ger talking like normal earlier, hope clutched at his chest. They were at least talking to each other now, and it warmed his heart to see his siblings, ahem- he looked at them like an older protective brother- were conversing again and almost seemingly back to normal.

"She is brilliant," Ronan began, causing Ger to look at him, questioning where this was going. Axel’s expression matched Ger’s. Where was Roach going with this? "But too brilliant for you and I, I’m afraid."

Ronan clapped his hand on Ger’s other side. But he shook it off, and the pair lost their balance and fell on their backs. Ronan chuckled and slapped Ger’s chest, even though he felt all the air in his lungs had been knocked out of him. "Don’t take it so much to heart, Ger. There are plenty of others. It’s not like you’re ugly. If you were, I wouldn’t be so worried about losing women to you now!"

Ger sighed, rolling his eyes and looked at him. "You tell me this now.. while we are knocked down, asses freezing and almost sticking to the ice."

Ronan grinned and sat up, looking back at Ger. " ’ Course I am. Ugh.. look at that face." Ronan reached forwards and pinched Ger’s cheek. "Grow your beard out again, and cut your hair. I can’t bear to look at your annoying good looks."

Ger only scowled back at his friend. Though it was all in jest because he cracked a grin after.

"Alright, lads. That’s enough now!" Axel held his hands out and managed to help them up without falling over himself. "If you keep admiring yourselves, you’re going to make others who are not so fortunate in such areas feel terrible."

"I’m just cheering him up, Axe. I don’t need to keep bigging your ego, big boy!" Ronan smacked the giant’s ass and then dodged his large hand.

Ger shook his head, chuckling at his ridiculous friends. Without them, he wasn’t sure where he’d be today. They’d saved each other’s lives over the years, been through thick and thin, and now they were more like family.

"Come on, lad. The elves are so far ahead now. They’re probably mocking us!" Axel moaned, pointing in the direction of the others. He was right; there was a bit of a gap now.

Ger watched them for a moment, eyebrows slowly tugging into a frown as he concentrated. Something ahead was glowing. "Men.. Do you see that?" He pointed at Evanna.

He knew it was her even with the hood on from this distance because she was carrying three swords on her back.

"Woah, what is.." Ronan trailed off.

Something wasn’t right.

Ger was already racing ahead. An unknown sense in his gut told him something wasn’t right. The closer he was getting to the others, as slow as it was, the clearer it became. The middle sword on Evanna’s back was glowing a brilliant red.

"Evanna!" He shouted. He didn’t know if he should, but what else could he do.

"Evanna!"

Ger’s heart skipped a beat at the strange sound beneath his feet. Evanna looked at him, holding her hand up, telling him to stop. She already knew something wasn’t right. Of course, she knew. She had that sixth sense.

A strange cracking sound started. Slowly he looked at his feet. A large crack was forming, splintering towards the others in rapid succession.

"Evanna!"

She turned around so suddenly, eyes wide in fear.

A rumbling sound, like an earthquake, made his entire body vibrate until his knees gave away, and ice exploded behind him.

"GER!!!!!"

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