Chapter 312

Everybody in the garden moved about while they waited for the minstrels to prepare for their performance. Elain had gotten up from the picnic blanket where she had sat with Lucien, Feyre and Rhys, and she decided to get something sweet to snack on. While perusing the desserts on offer on one of the tables laden with food, she didn't notice several courtiers approaching her until they were right beside her.

"You really should try the chocolate tart." One said, and Elain turned to look at her. The female standing before her had dark hair and startling ethereal green eyes. When Elain did nothing but look at her for several moments, the female gestured at the plate of chocolate tarts. "Really." She said, "The texture is amazing."

"I…" Elain looked past her to the others who were standing behind, her eyes quickly looking for Kera among them. When she didn't find the blonde, Elain picked up a chocolate tart with a smile. "Thank you." She said, eyes going back to the one with dark hair.

"We haven't met. I'm Tisia."

"I'm Elain…"

"Yes, we know." Tisia smiled, "We have been hoping you might join us one morning. After breakfast we usually take a walk around the palace or into the city."

"You do?" Elain asked. She hadn't been aware of that piece of information.

"It keeps us informed of things happening around the Court." Tisia said, glancing over her shoulder at the three others who stood with her. "Sometimes," she continued, "we are able to bring things to the attention of the High Lord." Tisia smiled, "He cannot get out and about like we can and it helps give us purpose beyond the usual Courtly duties."

"And you want me to come with you?" Elain asked, looking from one to the next.

"Not… if you do not wish to." Tisia replied, eyes a little wider than before. "We just thought you might like to see some of the Court and…" Elain sensed hesitation behind the pause, "we would like to get to know you." Tisia smiled a little then, "Now that you and Lucien have decided to stay and the High Lord has named him heir, you will likely be here for quite a while…"

"You wish to know me?"

"Well, we were hoping we might be friends…" Tisia said, and Elain could tell Tisia was beginning to lose whatever nerve she had worked up in order to approach her. Glancing from the female before her to the others behind, Elain tilted her head.

"Are you friends with Kera?" she asked, and she saw the surprise on Tisia's face.

"Well, I suppose so." Tisia said, "She is one of us, and we have all lived at the Court for most of our lives. Many of us were younglings together."

"Oh." Elain nodded, figuring that there was good reason for them all to be friends.

"Do you know Kera?" Tisia asked, "I hadn't thought that you had actually met any of us…"

"I met Kera the other day in one of the gardens." Elain replied, then thought that there was no reason to keep anything hidden in regard to this topic. "She was rude to my friend." She was actually pleased to see surprise cross Tisia's features then, as it meant that either the rudeness was not common among the Courtiers, or that it was uncharacteristic of Kera herself.

"Your friend…" The dark-haired female asked, green eyes sweeping the garden. "The… one who owns a flower shop?" Tisia was clearly trying to think as she looked around the garden. "Sheera?"

"Sheera." Elain confirmed.

"I am sorry to hear that." Green eyes returned to Elain, meeting her gaze. "Kera has always been… opinionated."

"Opinions are not cause for rudeness or cruelty."

"I agree." Tisia said. "Please do not think that Kera's opinions or behaviour are held by all of us. Sheera would even be welcome to join us on our morning walks, if she wished."

Smiling, Elain nodded. "Thank you. I will let her know that." She didn't think that Sheera would be at all inclined to join the Courtiers on their walk, but she appreciated that Tisia had extended the invitation just the same.

Tisia stepped aside then, and Elain had a better view of the three females standing behind her. "This is Eria, Noor, and Amala." She indicated each in turn, and Elain smiled at them. If what Tisia had said was true, and they did not hold the same opinions or values as Kera clearly did, then Elain was hopeful that she might be friends with them. It would be ideal in trying to build that trustworthy home and Court that Lucien had been talking about earlier. If they were to live here, and he was to rule one day, knowing that his family were safe, then she would need these Courtiers to be her friends and be trustworthy. Perhaps, it might start now.