Chapter 279

Rhys had tried to get the Illyrian females to return to their homes so that they could rest while the rest of them took care of cleaning the place up, but they had refused to do so. The one that Elain recognised as the female who ran the clothing shop had come to tell Rhys that respectfully, they would rather do their part and be useful in the clean-up. Rhys had replied that it was not necessary, but she had insisted, and the large group of females had stood nearby, not going anywhere. After a few moments, he had relented and he had begun then handing out different roles and jobs that needed to be done.

Watching them, Elain understood why they had wanted to be a part of it. They had decided to step up and begin training because they wanted to learn how to defend themselves and their home. They had tried to fight, before being sheltered in the square, and now they wanted to help clean up what had happened. By doing this, they were a part of every single thing that had happened here. If the time came where something like this would happen again, they would be able to face it with the knowledge that they had done it before. Perhaps next time they would not have to rely on anyone else. This would make them stronger. Elain respected them for that choice.

Some of them, Rhys had tasked with helping to gather the bodies of the dead, and pile them in several places within the common open field nearby. This was where the pyres would be lit. There were too many to bury. Elain watched this happen for a time, before shifting her gaze on. Some of the others had been asked to help collect wood for the pyres, and this seemed to be a slow process. She supposed because one didn't often walk into the trees and come across perfectly useable firewood. Some of it had to be cut and then carried to the appropriate places. Others yet were busy scrubbing the walls and trying to wash the blood from everywhere. It had not been a tidy process, protecting them all, and half the square was bathed in blood. As the heat of the sun baked it all, a scent that had begun to turn Elain's stomach had permeated the air.

When her stomach had twisted and then begun to rumble, Elain's thoughts turned toward the evening meal. They would all be hungry after what had taken place earlier, and then all the work of cleaning it up. Heading for Rhys, Elain explained her thoughts.

"Nobody will have had time to make dinner…" she said, "They'll all be hungry."

"Ah…" The look he gave her told Elain that he hadn't at all considered what she had mentioned. "You're right, of course." Rhys nodded then, looking up and around at everyone going about their tasks, "What were you thinking?" he asked her, those violet eyes returning to Elain to meet her gaze. "A dinner for everyone all together?"

"I…" Elain paused, she didn't know what she had been thinking, but she supposed it was probably something like that. "I guess so… is that possible?"

"I should think so." He tilted his head, "I'll send word to Cerridwen and Nuala." He nodded again, "See if they can organise food to be brought from Velaris."

"Where do you want it?" Elain glanced around, "In the training square?"

"I think they've probably all spent enough time there for today, don't you?"

"I suppose so…" Elain thought again. "If we had the tables, we could do it in the main street…"

"Tables can be collected." Rhys replied, "I'll get Azriel on it."

"I…" Elain bit her lip; she hadn't meant to create extra work for those who had already done so much today.

"It's okay." Rhys was watching her. "It's good you thought of this." He told her, "Else everyone would be going hungry come evening. You just tell others what you need, and they'll see to it. You're in charge."

"Alright…" Elain turned to look back down into the town, thinking about what else they would need. Her mind began to race as she considered plates and cutlery, they would need glasses and serving dishes. "Okay…" she began to move, hardly noticing Rhys return to what he had been doing behind her as she walked. She knew that she should find whoever it was that owned the pub, as they would likely have enough of what they would need.

It wasn't long before she noticed Azriel bringing tables from somewhere into the street, and then she saw Feyre attempting to locate chairs and bring them out to the tables. Elain and the Illyrian who ran the pub began carrying stacks of plates and dishes full of cutlery out and then another female appeared with a few tablecloths. Before Elain knew it, bits and pieces were coming from everywhere as it seemed that everyone had something to contribute. Perhaps, she thought, this might be a pleasant way to end the day.

When the first tendrils of smoke rose up from behind the training square, she knew that the first pyre had been lit, and Elain was thankful that the wind was blowing that smoke up the mountain instead of down into the town. She looked the other way, taking in the way the breeze moved through the wildflowers that grew on the edge of town. They were pretty, and a stark contrast to much of what they had seen today, and this made her pause to consider.

Figuring then, that she would be able to find a few glass jars or bottles to serve as little vases, Elain grabbed a nearby basket and headed off into the nearby fields to collect some wildflowers for their tables. Some table decoration could only serve to further lift their spirits after what they had gone through and, if nothing else, the light floral scent of the flowers would be nice in comparison to the bodies and smoke that most of them would have been breathing in all afternoon.