Chapter 295
Sitting on the small wooden bench, Elain pressed her hands into her back, straightening her spine. "Ugh, my back is killing me…" she breathed, smiling when Sheera came over to her. She could see the thoughts running wild behind her friend's eyes, and she knew that there were a million ideas being formed in her friend's mind.
"I'm sure a nice long soak in the bath tonight will fix you right up."
"You're probably right." Elain smiled again, getting to her feet. "It has been a while since I have spent so long in a garden."
"You've been busy of late, I hear."
"That's true."
"I don't imagine you had all that much time for digging in the dirt when you were visiting all the different Courts."
"I didn't." Elain agreed, "I had time for walking around and making my notes, but it wasn't the same as being hunched over a garden bed, digging away." She stretched, arching her back. Elain had no idea how she had used to do this just about all day every day.
"It'll come back to you." Sheera said, "Plus, now I am sure that you could have a dozen helpers here to do it for you as soon as you ask."
Shaking her head, Elain made a face. "I wouldn't want that. I like doing the work myself." Sheera nodded her understanding, agreement clear across her face.
"Yes, there is something satisfying about knowing you've done everything yourself, and then seeing the rewards of that labour as everything grows."
"Exactly." Heading for the garden bed by the far way, Elain glanced toward her friend. "So, did you think the Dahlias for Lucien would work well over here?"
"Yes." Sheera followed her, "The shade from the wall will give them the best protection from the full impact of the Day Court sun, and that should let them have the best chance at what they're after…"
"That's what I had thought." Elain was pleased to have her idea confirmed, "And you will be able to get established seedlings?"
"Absolutely."
"Wonderful." Elain's eyes caught on Sheera's face then, and she could see something that her friend seemed to be considering. "What are you thinking?"
"Oh…" Sheera smiled gently, "I just had a thought… that would depend… If you're thinking forward at least a couple of years for this garden…" she seemed hesitant, but Elain was keen to hear her thoughts, "You might consider a shade tree over here…" She moved to a space a small distance from the wall, "Perhaps two… If you did them here, then you would have shade during the day, at least for this corner of the garden. It would leave the rest of it open to the sun, but you would have a softer environment for other varieties of flowers in the gardens up this end, and you could even have a little sitting area…"
Elain let her eyes sweep the area. She thought it was a wonderful idea, and she already knew that she would be looking to plant some of the pink flowered tree from Rhys' garden out here. Sitting beneath that tree in the Night Court with Lucien had been so important to the beginning of their friendship and relationship. It would be absolutely wonderful if she was able to bring some of that here into their new home. "Yes..." she bit her lip, her eyes on Sheera. "One moment…" Turning, she hurried into their room to fetch the little book he had given her and which she had carried from Court to Court. Once she found it, she brought it back to Sheera. "Do you know this tree?" She asked, wondering if she might ask Rhys for a cutting of the one from his yard if Sheera didn't know where to get some.
"Oh, yes…" Sheera tilted her head, "I recognise it from your book…"
"But you don't have any?"
"I don't…" her friend appeared to consider. "Is was from the Night Court?"
"Yes, it was in Rhysand's garden." She watched Sheera think for several moments, "I was thinking I might ask him for a cutting and then see if…" she broke off, wondering how long established trees would take from a cutting. "It would take several years, you are correct…"
Sheera smile brightly at her. "It's a good thing that you have those years then." Elain returned the smile. That was true, she figured. She and Lucien were planning to be here for a very long time indeed.