Chapter 291

Lucien watched his father from across the Throne Room. The High Lord of the Day Court had said that he wished to speak with Lucien once he and Elain had settled back into their room, and Lucien had only really spared the time to shower and change into the Day Court attire which had been provided for him. Elain had done the same, and then Lucien had kissed her on the cheek and left her to her own devices in their room. He completely expected to return later and find her covered in dirt out in their private garden with perhaps several vases full of flowers arranged around their room.

Leaning back against the wall, Lucien continued to survey Helion. The High Lord was speaking to several of his courtiers and Lucien watched the easy way that his father was with his subjects. The casual arrogance that was his usual manner was evidently still there, but in a less flashy and grandiose way. Helion had an innate gracefulness that was apparent even as he sat on the throne, leaning toward the courtier who was currently speaking with him, and the High Lord's laugh was easily heard across the busy room. Lucien noticed then that at the sound of that rich, deep laugh, half of the courtiers around the Throne Room turned their eyes toward the dais. The smiles that followed those eyes told Lucien that the faeries of the Day Court more than respected Helion; they liked him.

Wondering if, when he became High Lord, his subjects would ever look at him like that, Lucien chewed the inside of his cheek as he continued to watch his father. He didn't think anybody had ever really paid him that kind of attention as it seemed as if everyone in the room was attuned to Helion's moods and reactions. He'd certainly never been paid that kind of attention in the Autumn Court as he had been the least important of Beron's apparent sons, and when he had gone to the Spring Court there hadn't been that much of a Court around to even look at him at all, as if they even would have as Tamlin's emissary. Lucien had never been important enough to receive the kind of love and attention that Helion got from his Courtiers but, at the same time, Lucien could tell that it wasn't Helion's title of High Lord that got him that affection.

Did he even want it? Lucien tilted his head, looking at the way that everyone in the room seemed to respond to every move Helion made. He didn't know if he would even like being watched like that, and Lucien wondered if Helion did. Probably so, he thought, remembering the way that Helion seemed to know how to work an audience better than almost anyone Lucien had ever met. If he didn't like it, Lucien knew that Helion would have had other options. He could have cleared the room, only seeing those with business for him. He didn't have to hold Court like this with dozens of his courtiers milling about the room, watching and listening to everything he did. This was the High Lord giving his time to his subjects who clearly appreciated that fact, and that they got to see him and speak to him daily. Helion was a strong presence in his Court, he was accessible and reasonable, and this was a part of that. It was something for Lucien to remember, even if he wouldn't enjoy it himself.

When Helion's amber eyes met Lucien's across the room, the High Lord smiled and got to his feet, dismissing the nearby courtier with an elegant wave of his hand. Lucien pushed himself back up straight as his father crossed the room, movements as elegant as ever as those around him parted to let him through.

"Lucien, you've come back quicker than I had anticipated."

"I hope I wasn't interrupting."

"Not at all."

Lucien was surprised when Helion hooked an arm through his and steered them both toward the door. "You left Elain?"

"I'm sure she would appreciate some time alone with the garden." Lucien replied, "She's been away from it probably longer than she would have liked."

"It's true, I didn't expect you to have been gone for as long as you were."

"Ah…" Lucien nodded his head, glancing at Helion as they strode together down the hallways, "You would have heard what happened in the Illyrian training camp?"

"Rhysand sent word that there was some trouble among some of them…"

As they continued up the hallways and out onto one of Helion's private balconies, Lucien explained how all the males from the town they had visited had been away and another group had tried to take advantage of that fact. He told Helion about how Cassian had tried to train some of the females to fight back, and how they had gotten them all into the training centre when Elain's vision had warned them that an attack was imminent. Helion had listened, leaning against the edge of the balcony in the bright afternoon sun, his onyx hair shining vibrantly in the light, and Lucien liked the way that his father listened to everything he said without interrupting or asking questions mid explanation. The High Lord just took it all in, nodding silently, his amber eyes on the horizon.

When Lucien broke off, having just told Helion what Cassian's plan had been once the attack had begun, his father turned his head his way. "Would you have thought it would work?" Lucien asked, eyebrows raised.

"If they had the skill to hold the shield…" Helion shrugged one elegant bare shoulder. "Although, power from so many would have made the magic unpredictable. It would have been like they were fighting one another trying to control it." Amber eyes flicked toward the sun and then back to Lucien. "A waste of energy."

"Ah." Lucien nodded. "They all contributed magic." He said, "They all poured some into the shield. And I held it."

"Alone?" Helion asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." Lucien said, "I was able to use it as a weapon. I killed dozens of them…" Helion tilted his head, interest clear in his bright eyes. "Tore them apart…"

"Was it effective?"

"It was." Lucien nodded, "I held it until it seemed to have drained everything from me… I have never been so exhauseted."

Helion was leaning on the balcony again, nodding thoughtfully. "Using so much magic with the level of control that would have required would have put many to sleep for a week, if it hadn't killed them." A perfect smile flashed Lucien's way. "Well done, Lucien."

"They said…" he paused, "the argument was that my body would be better prepared to handle all of that power because I am… your son."

"Likely true." Helion replied, "You're one day going to be a High Lord. You will be wielding a great deal of power then…" Lucien thought then about when he had done the Rite of Calanmai for Tamlin, and had taken the magic of the Spring Court into himself. Perhaps he had been capable of that because of who he had been without even knowing it then. He chose not to mention that to Helion, however.

Helion was looking at him curiously, and Lucien tilted his head, waiting for the questions that would likely follow. "Were you surprised?" Helion asked, "Surprised that you could do it?"

"I… no…" Lucien thought about it. "Elain told me that I could. It seemed as if she knew it for fact, as if she may have seen something that told her I could. She told me one day I would be able to do anything I could imagine…" Helion's smile widened. "Also, I didn't have the option to fail." Lucien murmured, "Failing would have meant those bastards would have gotten in; gotten to her."

"You did what you had to."

"Yes…" Lucien glanced toward the sun, sinking slowly toward the horizon. "Elain had to give me some of her power." He said slowly, "When I was nearly drained." Helion nodded, showing his understanding, and Lucien went on. "When I returned here and was walking in the sunlight, I felt as if I had been revitalized…"

"Ah…" Helion's understanding was clear in his voice.

"That was the sun…"

"Yes. You can draw from it…" amber eyes looked at Lucien, "It's stronger here in the Day Court, but it is possible elsewhere." Lucien nodded, as that was what he had figured. "You likely noticed it this time because you had been so exhausted, and also you have now been named heir and recognised as my son…"

"Oh…" that made sense to Lucien and he gave a small smile, somewhat pleased that his abilities were to develop and grow as he lived here and got to know Helion better. It was, he supposed, going to be quite interesting.