Agnes clutched her side and winced. "It's the earth," she gasped. "It's in agony. Something's happened, somewhere close by. It's a stabbing pain."

I noticed blood seeping through her fingers from her side.

Agnes's words hit me like a cold slap. "It's all your fault."

My heart clenched at her accusation, my breath caught in my throat. "Agnes, I..."

"No, Evie." Agnes held up a hand, her expression a mixture of pain and determination. "You can't help with this."

"But I can't just leave you like this." I reached out to her, wanting to do something, anything, to ease her pain.

Gethin moved closer, and I felt reassured by his presence despite the growing nausea I felt looking at Agnes. "Agnes, let me take you back to your place. You need to rest," he said.

She shook her head, her curls bouncing in the moonlight. "No need to fuss. This is bigger than a scrape and a bruise, Gethin."

I felt a sting at her words, a sharp jab of guilt. What had I done which had caused her injury? I didn't understand. I hadn't physically done anything to me and I'd grown to trust her enough that she wouldn't blame me for something for no reason. My mind raced with thoughts of arcanite and shadows, of secrets unearthed and ancient curses whispered by the wind. Had the arcanite somehow enhanced my powers? Is that how I'd hurt her?

"Let me go with you," I insisted again, feeling a lump in my throat as I tried not to cry. "I can't stand by while you're hurting."

Agnes's eyes softened for a moment before she regained her composure. "No," she said before moving towards her cottage slowly.

Maeve stepped out of the forest, her usually bright eyes dark with concern. She must have heard Agnes's harsh words as she looked between us, trying to work out what was going on.

"Agnes, what's happened?" Maeve's voice was soft towards Agnes, but she glared at me and I could feel the tension between us.

Agnes let out a breath that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "It's hurts," she said. "Pain."

Maeve moved closer to Agnes, offering her arm for support. "Come on, let me help you home," she said, more a command than a request.

Agnes shook her head and, for some reason, insisted she was taken to Willow Grove. Maeve tried to object, but Agnes was having none of it.

I watched her lean on Maeve for support as they headed towards my home, rather than Agnes's. Before they had taken more than a few steps, Maeve stopped and turned back to me. There was a fire in her eyes I hadn't seen before.

"And you," she said, pointing a finger at me. "You need to stop this. How could you hurt Agnes? You better start making things right, or this will be the longest year in your life before you can leave. I will make sure of it."

The threat hung in the air, unspoken but clear. I felt my heart race. Maeve's warning was a stark reminder that I was an outsider.

I felt confused, as if I was in a whirlwind. Nothing made sense. What had I done? Why was I being accused of hurting Agnes? Why was she not going home? Just the thought was like a claw in my chest. I had meant no harm. I couldn't have hurt her, not on purpose. But Maeve's words weighed on me like the earth itself.

I looked to Gethin, hoping for some of the comfort he'd given me before.

"Gethin," I said. "You believe me, don't you? I wouldn't, I couldn't do this."

He held my gaze for a long moment before taking my hand in his. "Evie," he said. "It's not about what I believe, but I know you have done nothing deliberately. We've been together all day. We need to find the truth. It's about what we can prove. The villagers are quick to jump to conclusions and, at times, slow to accept facts."

"But why would someone frame me?" I asked. I couldn't make sense of the chaos which was taking over.

Gethin's thumbs gently stroked the back of my hands. "That's what we need to find out," he said. "Maybe it's something else. Think about it, Agnes wouldn't go to your home if she didn't trust you. For some reason, she wants to be around you. She knows more than she's saying."

"I..." I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

"Evie." Gethin's voice softened. "You're not on your own. But we need to be thorough. For everyone's sake."

I nodded.

"Let's go back to yours," Gethin said, nodding towards the inn. "We can talk more there. Hopefully, Maeve will have left and Agnes can explain what has happened."

I followed him but felt lightheaded with the stress, which seemed to infuse every cell. I didn't know what to ask as we walked back to Willow Grove Inn in the dark. Why was I being framed?

Gethin remained silent as we walked. His quietness added to my worry as he felt out of reach, even though he was right next to me. He didn't speak until we had entered Willow Grove, when he visibly relaxed.

Agnes was in the kitchen in family quarters.

"I'm sorry," I said.

She took my hand and shook her head. "It should be me who is sorry. I know you have done nothing on purpose."

"Agnes, I have done nothing at all."

Agnes looked as if she was weighing up what she wanted to say. As she did, Gethin moved around the kitchen and appeared familiar with the layout. He must have been here before. He put the kettle on and rooted around in the cupboards for mugs and tea. I watched him, on edge at each quiet clink of crockery.

"No child, I don't think you have. The nature of being a nymph is when the earth is harmed, depending on what is damaged. We are physically harmed. There is a specific landform, which I am closely attached to. It must have been wrenched apart somehow."

Gethin handed me a mug of tea. Our fingers brushed as I took it. It was only a brief touch, but it made my arm tingle. He sat down at the kitchen table quietly listening, but I could feel his attention on me.

"Where is it, and why did you think Evie damaged it?"

Agnes looked at him and seemed to notice how closely he sat next to me. "For my own safety, I never reveal where it is. It's a secret I don't share, you know that." Agnes brought her attention to me. "I blamed you because of what you are capable. You are an Earth Elemental who can do amazing good, but until you understand you powers, you can rip the world apart. Without realising it, you hold the lives of many of us, like Maeve and myself, in your hands. My life depends on you understanding who you are."