SPELLBOUND

After some time, the king finally shifted his attention to Evie.

"Alright, I know we all just finally had our most awaited family reunion but… I need to know what is going on, Queen Evielyn. It seems even Gideon and Vera themselves know nothing about this at all." As the king said these words, Gideon's expression hardened a little.

He did not like what was going at all. And he just could not accept the fact that Evie just did that without even letting them both know what was going on first. Gideon felt that whatever the reason, Evie was overstepping her boundaries.

"I understand I just did something a little too inconsiderate, and I sincerely apologize for that." Evie said, lowering her gaze at the king then to Gideon and Vera as she apologized gracefully. "However, I hope you all will also try understand the reason behind my actions. Doing that was the best option I have right now."

"Reason?" Gideon narrowed his eyes a little. "You need to tell us about this reason, my dear little-sister-in-law –"

"The reason is because she had seen the future." Gavrael was the one who spoke up, cutting Gideon's words off. He was still upset at how Gideon was behaving so affronted.

"W-what?" Gideon and Vera had the same expression. Both of them looked at Evie with shock.

"She had seen the future, but she is not allowed to reveal everything she had seen so directly. She had to find a way to convey what she wanted to tell without spelling it out in black and white." Gavrael continued answering for Evie, staring at Gideon with a very serious gaze now. "She can't say many things out loud and that was why she's trying her best to find a way to communicate with us. To tell us about the important things she had seen. She's also trying to do everything so she can to find a way to change the bleak future awaiting us all. She's doing her best to help us! So even if you don't understand what she's doing, just try not to come at her so fiercely like that, even if you think she was doing something a little ridiculous."

Gavrael stated with so much conviction that Evie herself fell utterly speechless as she looked and listened to her husband explaining all of that on her behalf. "Evie already has a lot on her plate. All of us might not even have an idea on what she's going through right now because she can't share even if she wanted to. She's carrying a lot all by herself right now. So I'm asking everyone not to push her any more than this. Just… put your trust in her… no, I'm asking you all to just put your trust in her instead of questioning her every action like this when she can't even answer."

The tent became absolutely silent. Evie felt the corners of her eyes became hot at the words Gav had said. She never… she never had expected him to say all these things. She could hear the sympathy for her in his voice, and she felt her throat hurt a little. It was like he was hurting for her even as he said that. And it made Evie feel like crying. She never would have thought that Gav had truly felt her struggles. It almost felt like… he really knows everything she was going through… as if he knew the horrors that she had gone through… but that was not possible, right?

"Son…" The King finally spoke as well. "I apologize if I am being too inconsiderate of Evie, sometimes. You were right, we should be as patient as possible to her, knowing the fact that she can't even answer whenever she was questioned about these matters." He then looked at Evie with an apologetic look in his eyes. "Evie… forgive us if we're lacking. Please know that we acknowledge and appreciate that you are trying your hardest. Rest assured that from here on, I will make sure to support you as much as I can."

Feeling emotional, Evie smiled at the king and queen brightly. "Thank you!" she told them, letting them know how thankful she was hearing those words of support. This was what she needed the most right now. Her loved ones' undying and unconditional support. This alone was enough to raise her flagging motivation.

"This matter about the ice-dragon-keeper…" The King then looked at Gideon. "Evie couldn't say the exact name of the person involved. So she probably had to do it this way to let everyone know that Vera's the ice dragon keeper she's talking about. Am I right Evie?"

Evie just stared at them with that gleam in her eyes that the others have come to recognise as her 'yes' look whenever it is related to the vision of the future.

"That was a yes," Queen Beatrice told Gideon and Gideon leaned back, still looking at her a bit in disbelief.

"She can't even answer 'yes' or 'no'?" Gideon asked.

"She can't. And that's why she constantly looks for other ways to tell us what she wants to say about matters related to the future events." Gavrael then replied for her and Gideon did not even know what to say anymore.

"I know you have so many questions about this." Evie spoke up this time, then her gaze fell to Vera. "I know you are very confused right now too, Vera." At that, her friend could only nod as a lopsided smile spread across her face.

Evie reached out and held Vera's hands in hers. "But I want you to trust me, Vera. I will find a way to tell you more about this matter. Alright?"

As the two stared at each other, Evie felt Vera's hands tremble a little and she saw something strange in her eyes for a brief moment. When Evie let go of her hand, Vera grabbed onto hers and did not want to let go.

"Evie…" Vera swallowed hard. "Can I… can I speak with you for a moment? Just the two of us?"