Chapter 59

"How were the reindeer?" Lucien asked her and Elain smiled, taking his hand in hers.

"They were adorable." She told him and he squeezed her hand lightly as they began to walk slowly through the garden together, watching as the snow fluttered down around them lightly and elegantly. "Was your meeting with Kallias pleasant?"

"It was." He told her, "He is keen to re-establish trade routes that were shut down by Amarantha between some of the courts."

"Why did she do that?"

"Just another way of isolating us." Lucien murmured, and Elain nodded as she let her gaze wander over some of the nearby bushes, her eyes flicking quickly between the surprising array of colours. "Have you seen much of the gardens?" his tone was light and conversational and Elain shook her head.

"Just a little." She replied, "I always thought that Winter had a beauty of its own, but I never really knew that so many exquisite flowers would thrive in such cold…" She paused to look at a large Camellia flower of palest pink. "It's wonderous how something so delicate and beautiful can come out of something so harsh…" She turned her head to look up at Lucien, thinking about the Autumn Court and what he had gone through there. "But maybe I should have known that."

Lucien lifted her hand to his lips, his gold and russet eyes moving back and forth across her face. "Yes, Petal." He said softly as she turned to face him better, "Think of that tiny little house Tamlin found you living in, starving and relying on Feyre to hunt to feed you…" Elain blinked and his other hand came up to her cheek, "And look at you now. All three of you…" Elain couldn't look away from him, her eyes locked on his gaze as his fingers stroked her cheek.

"I haven't done anything…" she murmured, and Lucien shook his head.

"You survived." He replied, both russet and golden eyes focused intently upon hers, "You survived and remained good and gentle and you care about others."

"Just like you."

Lucien smiled, and Elain moved closer, going up on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. She felt his arms wrap around her waist and she pressed a soft kiss to the side of his throat. Lucien's hold on her tightened, as she felt him shudder, and Elain smiled. It seemed almost impossible that someone like him, so worldly and clever, would think that she was in any way impressive. "Have you seen the Winter Court's famed Eisblume plants?" he asked, and Elain shook her head, stepping back when he released her. "Come on…" he took her hand again and Elain let him lead her through the gardens.

Smiling as they passed several garden beds overflowing with pale violet crocus flowers, snowdrops as white as the snow they were name after, and larger hellebore plants of ivory, blush, and green, Elain continued to allow her eyes to wander. She hadn't imagined such colours in a winter garden, and knew that she would have a hard time choosing which to include in her book. "So…" she murmured, her hand tightening on Lucien's to get his attention, "Did Kallias use you to send Viviane up to their bedroom so they could…?"

"Yep."

"I…" she stifled a laugh, "She couldn't stop talking about him…"

"He was the same."

"They're very in love."

"They're newly mated and very happy, and they want everyone else to be just as happy as they are." Lucien smiled at her and Elain nodded her head in agreement. "I believe the Eisblume grows around here…" Elain held on to Lucien's hand as he led her around a corner, close to the palace walls and into a sheltered area where the biting winter winds wouldn't reach.

"Oh…" Elain came to a stop, struck by the sight of dozens of beautiful flowers growing about knee height as the gentle winter sun reflected off of them. She glanced at Lucien and then back to the flowers, moving closer to get a better look. "Are they made of ice?" she asked, reaching out hesitantly to touch one. "Will it melt?"

"I don't think so…" Lucien's voice was soft, "I've seen them in vases inside on several occasions…They seem to do alright, even with all those fires."

"They're…" Elain traced a finger across the translucent petals of the closest flower. "They feel like ice…" she ran her finger down the stem, "They look like lilies made of ice…"

"Did you bring your book?"

"Yes…" Elain turned to face Lucien who was smiling at her. Everything around them was white and blue and so very pale, yet there he stood, so very red and vibrant, like a blazing fire in the middle of a snowstorm. "Oh, if I could draw you…"

"Me?" he asked, incredulity evident in his voice, "When you're surrounded by so much beauty…" Elain moved toward him, her eyes trained on his face.

"I know what I said." She took his hands in hers. "You're beautiful and I love you."

"Because I'm beautiful?" he asked, a grin on his face. Elain shook her head.

"Not because of that."

Lucien's grin slowly faded and he met her eyes. "Why, then?" he asked, his hands tightening on hers.

"Why do I love you?"

"Yes. Despite knowing everything you know, all that … darkness… that the bond has shown you. It's nothing but a sad story…"

"Have you forgotten what we talked about five minutes ago?" she asked, pulling one of her hands from his and lifting it to his chest to settle over his heart. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her hand, strong and powerful. "Your heart." She murmured, "I have been able to hear it beating since I came out of that cauldron. It has been the one constant in my everchanging world. Strong. Powerful. A good heart." Her eyes moved across his face, wanting to see him listening to her. "When you were gone I missed many things about you, realised that I had come to rely on having them in my life… Your voice, your kindness, your wit…" She lifted her other hand from his hand to his lips, "Your mouth…" she said, and he snickered. Elain lowered her hand back to his, linking their fingers together as she went on, "The fact that you will say what is on your mind, no matter who you are speaking to. You are genuine. You don't pretend to be anything other than what you are. All of these things. More. But, mostly your heart. Hearing it has become part of my world. I trust it." She smiled at him, "I trust you. I know that I could come to you with any problem, no matter how big or small, and you would do everything in your power to help me. I know that I will never be alone…" she rubbed her hand over his chest, and Lucien slid an arm around her waist, drawing her closer.

"Of course I would do whatever I could to help you…" His lips pressed softly to Elain's forehead and she leaned in to him. His arm tightened around her waist and Elain slid her own around him as she sank further into him, now resting her cheek against his chest.

"I love your good heart." She breathed, listening as that heart began to beat more quickly.

Both of Lucien's hands came up to cup Elain's jaw and he lifted her face to him so that he could kiss her. The moment she opened to him, responding to his kiss, his hands slid down to her waist and he lifted her to himself. Elain wrapped herself around him, unable to help a soft groan at his teasing licks, but then his tongue swept her mouth and Elain felt heat flood her. The same heat was radiating down the bond from Lucien and then he had put her back on her feet, his hands pulling her closer, sliding into her cloak and tugging at her.