Chapter 288

The warmth of the sun pleased Lucien in a way that he hadn't anticipated upon their return to the Day Court. Growing up in the Autumn Court, he had always rather found the brightness and the heat of the Day Court to be a lot. He remembered squinting as a youngling, trying to limit his activities during the midday hours whenever he had come here as an Emissary. It had not been something he had particularly enjoyed but now he revelled in it. He strode beside Elain now, his eyes closed and his face turned upward with a smile across his lips.

"Are you soaking in the light?" His mate sounded curious enough that Lucien opened his eyes and looked down at her. He blinked at the look on her face when he saw the awe in her eyes. "You're… shining."

"Am I?" he felt warm, and like he had been recharged. He hadn't felt this energised since before he'd tried to hold that shield.

"You know the way that Helion does…"

"Yes…" he had often noted the way that the High Lord of the Day Court often shone with an inner light. "Am… am I doing that?"

Elain nodded, her eyes still on him. "You are…" she slipped her hand into his and he held it gently. "Also you feel warm…"

"I…" Lucien considered as he walked, "I feel better…" he said, "I feel rested and energised…"

"By being in the sun?"

"Maybe…" he squeezed her hand, making a mental note to ask Helion about it when he had the time. If he was somehow able to draw energy and power from the sun here, then Lucien didn't know where the limit for what he could do would be. If he was in the sun in other Courts, would that have the same effect? Did he somehow now have an endless supply of energy. If the sun had been shining more brightly in that Illyrian camp, would he have been able to draw from it and hold that shield indefinitely?

"Like a flower…" Elain was grinning at him and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Oh?"

"Yes." She said, "Put in the sun for long enough, and you grow and bloom and become strong and beautiful…"

"If you say so, my love." He was actually supremely pleased by her comparison. If she wanted to compare him to the things in the world that she loved the most, then he was complexly okay with that.

"I love you more." She said, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

"Did you hear that thought?" he asked, and she gave a half shrug.

"Not in words, but the general gist…"

"Ah…"

"It's true though." She said. "I love flowers… everyone knows that. Gardens are wonderful… and I completely intend to make them all over Helion's palace." She grinned at him, "But I love you way more… and my sisters…"

"I know that, Petal." He stopped walking and pulled her around, bringing his free hand up to her cheek and tilting her face up to himself. "Of course I know that."

She smiled up at him and Lucien very much enjoyed the look that she gave him when his fingers brushed her cheekbone. "I'm going to plant you some dahlias." She told him, and he grinned more widely than he had all day. Of course she would remember his favourites, and he knew that if anyone was able to make Autumn Court flowers bloom in the Day Court it would be Elain. She had gotten Spring Court flowers to thrive in the Night Court, after all.

"I look forward to that, my sweet."

She smiled at him, and her smile was nearly as brilliant as the sun. For a moment, Lucien wondered if he was able to draw power from that smile as well as he could apparently do from the sun. He wouldn't be surprised if he could. They slowly continued to walk, their joined hands swinging between them as they continued up the street and toward his father's palace. His palace. This was his home, Lucien realised. They were home, and he was excited for what exactly this would mean for himself and Elain.

"Do you know what Dahlias mean?" Elain asked him as they walked, and Lucien slanted a glance her way. "As all flowers have a meaning…"

"I know that they have meanings." He told her, "But I don't think I know what Dahlias specifically mean…"

Elain was smiling to herself as they walked and he tried to read her expression as he waited for her to explain. "It is said," she began "That they represent empowerment. That they are a reminder than even one person can make a difference." Lucien rather liked that, and went to say so, but Elain went on, "Dahlias remind you that you are powerful and only you can fulfill your life's purpose. They help you realise that being powerful doesn't mean being pushy or threatening. You can make positive life changes by being in balance. You have an amazing light within you, and you need to accept it so that others can enjoy your beauty."

"Really?" He asked, "That's the meaning of Dahlias?"

"It is." Elain smiled at him, "Perhaps that is why they have been your favourites. You were meant to learn their message, and heed it."

"Well, considering my mate is always surrounded by flowers and better at growing them than anyone I've ever met, perhaps you were always meant to tell me their meaning."

"The Cauldron really thought of everything, didn't it?" she murmured, and Lucien nodded. He rather thought that Elain was right. It did seem as if the Cauldron had foreseen all of this. He should have known that when Helion had told him that when the Cauldron Made Elain Fae and gave her the gifts of a Seer, it also provided her with him so that he could save her from madness.

"Yes, Petal." He said softly. "It would seem that it did."