Taking a deep breath Evanna opened the clasp on the chest. Once opened, dust particles floated in the air out from the wooden box. Evanna found countless of letters addressed to her mother, she started to reach for them before stopping herself. This was not the time to pique her curiosity, she needed more information on the gem.
She read through countless of parchments and looked through all sorts of maps of lands she had never heard of before. Her eyes roamed further before stopping on a leather tube that was hidden at the bottom of the chest. Reaching for it she opened it to find an ancient looking scroll curled together, the material felt like it would crumble if too much pressure was applied to it.
On reading it, Evanna gasped. These were the instructions needed for the gem, that informed a person on how to use it to heal someone who is injured or ill!
She knew her mother had a thing for antique collections and objects that people would admit it was hard to find. Yet, here in her mother's chest was the very thing that she needed to help her. What were the odds of that? But, why, after months had she not revealed this to her? She may have even recovered by now if they had the gem in their possession.
Evanna looked back inside the tube to find another parchment at the bottom of it, turning it upside down it fell on top of the other parchments in the chest. She grabbed it and sat down on the couch, opening it just as carefully. It showed a small painting of the gem.
Before she could even fathom what to do next- a loud bang rang in the room. She looked behind her to see that a blonde haired, blue eyed figure came waltzing into the room with servants following behind her. Her sister, Isabel. Her face immediately scowled at the intrusion and at her awful sister, who she tried to keep a distance from at all costs. She was not scared of her or would not openly evade her but the drama she brings always caused Evanna terrible migraines.
"I want the room to be brighter, of course these awful rugs will be replaced with some brand new ones I will pick out.." Isabel ordered the servants, who kept their heads down.
Her mother slowly sat up in bed watching her in fascination and amusement!
"WHAT do you think you are doing?" Evanna asked, placing the scroll back down in the chest and shutting it behind her. She came back into the bedroom and looked at Isabel who had opened one of the curtains on the far-left wall.
"I am sorting my new room out for when SHE passes away" Isabel smirked as she watched her sister's face get angry.
Evanna's blood boiled, how dare she!? The audacity! Did she hate them so much that she waited readily for her mother's death?
Before continuing with her itinerary to the servants, Isabel walked towards the now raging Evanna, her steps purposely slow, just as she was a step away from her sister she stopped. Smiling at her, her voice lowered as she said, "You know, once her body is rotting in the ground, that will be one less person to protect you"
Evanna knew that she was baiting her so she 'played her at her own game', scoffing she replied,
"Protect me from who, you, sister?", she took the last step forwards, challengingly, her face becoming menacing the longer she looked down into her older sister's eyes.
Isabel's smile faltered, unlike her sister, she did not learn how to fight or sword fight. She had been brought up as a proper princess, her hobbies were of a normal feminine nature, preparing her for when she would get married. She had often laughed when they were younger, watching Evanna dressed up in men's attire and going to training.
This, however, did not mean that she was not slightly frightened of her, her sister could beat her up if she wished. But Isabel liked to play games, she often started rumours about Evanna, that spread throughout the court. Sometimes, however, she just wanted to rub more salt into a wound. Her mother's decline in health was the perfect opportunity, her hate for her sister was that deep.
Isabel ignored what Evanna said and turned back around to continue with her game. Walking back to the curtains on the far left, she honestly could not understand why they were being used.
"I think these curtains will definitely need changing, royal blue? Eww, so last year.." Isabel continued, as she reached up to investigate the material in her hands with a look of disdain on her face.
Within a second, a whizzing sound and a whip of wind passed her face as a dagger ripped through the princess's sleeve on her outstretched hand, pulling her back into the wall placed behind the curtain. The dagger wobbled as it attached Isabel's sleeve from her dress to the curtain. Her eyes widened as she looked back towards Evanna and stared at her in disbelief.
"If I were you, sister, I would leave. Next time I will not miss." Evanna snapped, staring angrily at her. She had enough of her vile presence in the room.
"You ruined a perfectly good gown; you wait until father hears of this!... You are barbaric!!" She screeched back at her while trying to remove the dagger from her sleeve.
Evanna stormed over to her sister's side and pulled the dagger out from the wall, with the dagger still raised at Isabel's eye level, she shouted,
"LEAVE! NOW!"
Isabel jumped at her voice and scurried out of the room; the servants followed behind her as they looked down at the floor sheepishly. Evanna knelt down and placed the dagger back inside her boot before looking over at her mother, who held back a giggle and smiled joyously from the scene. She shook her head at her mother, who always found laughter when there should be none. That would be something she would miss...She shook her head again. She will not think that way.
"* I brought you some herbs mother, let me make you some tea, *" Evanna's voice grew hoarse, her mother nodded, her face concerned. She turned her back and walked towards the table across from the bed where the herbs were still placed inside the basket.