Chapter 61
Dinner that evening was a lavish affair. Lucien surveyed the table with interest. He had always had pleasant experiences at the tables of the Winter Court over the years and he let his eyes scan the table before them as he looked for anything he might remember. There were all kinds of potato dishes, and some kind of pork flavoured with lingonberries. Several different kinds of soup sat nearby in deep ornate dishes, and Lucien was sure he could see a delicious pumpkin variety that he had fond memories of. He watched Elain dish a healthy amount of a thick stew onto her plate and then he smiled at the large vase of Eisblume sitting directly in front of her. He suspected that it was not by chance, and that Kallias or Viviane had made sure the flowers were right before her.
Elain's pretty dark eyes were focused firmly on the flowers as she ate silently, and he could see she was absolutely enchanted by them. He truly didn't know if they were made of ice. He wouldn't have thought so as they did grow… But, he supposed, it could have been some kind of magic he didn't understand. He watched Elain's eyes moving carefully over the ice blooms and knew that she was trying to take in every detail she could. Deciding that he would have to ask Kallias if they could have some of the flowers in their room, Lucien looked toward the High Lord.
Kallias was watching Elain with his pale eyes, a smile on his face and Viviane, beside him, was doing the same. "How did you find the gardens?" Viviane asked, turning her eyes on Lucien.
"Beautiful, as always." Lucien replied, bringing a piece of potato to his mouth.
"So pleased you thought so." Viviane was smiling at him in a way that Lucien had trouble deciphering. He watched as she linked her hand through Kallias' and set both of them on the table between the two.
"Did you not expect that to be my answer?"
She smiled knowing at him. "I like that Elain thought to dress for dinner."
"She needed to change." He told her, "Needed some dry clothes."
"Yes," Vivian remarked softly so as not to be overheard, "One tends to get a bit wet on their knees in the snow."
Lucien's eyes flicked directly to Elain, but it seemed as if she had not heard them. Her eyes were still on the vase in front of her as she worked her way through her dinner. Looking back to Viviane he raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"I'm sure you are." The Lady of the Winter Court stretched a little, rolling her neck slightly and adjusting her shoulders and posture. "Have I ever told you that Kal and I have a great view of the Eisblume garden from our chamber? It's really quite stunning at sunset."
Lucien kept his face carefully neutral. "I did not know that." He said, his tone conversational. Viviane grinned at him, as wicked as any white fox.
"We like our view, don't we Kal?"
"Very much." Kallias put in, turning his own eyes on Lucien. "We spend a lot of time at that window, and have a nice little setup with cushions for …reading, and …other activities."
Lucien picked up his goblet, taking a long drink of water. He was glad that Elain wasn't listening because he didn't know how she would react to the knowledge that Kallias and Viviane had seen what they had done out in that garden while at the window for their own lascivious adventures. "Sorry." He murmured, knowing that it was indeed quite inappropriate to come to their court and do something like that. He hoped they wouldn't tell anyone.
"Not at all." Kallias replied easily, "In fact, Viv and I have organised something for you for after dinner. Elain, do you want to know what it is?"
Lucien felt Elain turn toward them. "Oh?"
"It will be waiting for you outside when you've finished eating."
"So you're not even going to tell us?" Lucian asked, grinning despite himself.
"It's a surprise." Viviane smiled brightly at them. "You're welcome."
Lucien looked around to Elain who was eyeing him in turn. "What have they done?" she murmured and he shook his head.
"I have no idea."
"Do you like the Eisblume?" Kallias asked and Elain smiled brightly at the High Lord, nodding.
"They are the most stunning flowers I have ever seen."
"There's nothing like them in all of Prythian." Kallias told her. "A perfect entry for your flower book, I presume."
"Oh, yes." Elain agreed, flashing a smile at Lucien before looking back to Kallias. "They are exactly the type of thing I had in mind when I came up with the idea." Lucien could feel the excitement coming off of Elain in waves. He wanted to touch her, but resisted, not wanting to draw her attention back to him. Instead he just watched her, letting her have her moment, her excitement, letting her experience this place, the faeries here, and see that she could engage with them, with this life. Lucien listened to Elain talking with Kallias about the flowers while they continued to eat dinner.
By the time they had finished, the hall was nearly empty and Elain took his hand as they headed for the doors themselves.
"Remember." Viviane said to them, "Just outside…"
"How could we forget?" Lucien replied, smiling at the Lady of the Winter Court. He wrapped an arm around Elain's shoulders and took her outside.
"I feel like we will need cloaks…" Elain's voice suggested she were already cold, and Lucien pulled her closer. He had been about to suggest they go and retrieve their cloaks first, but then his gaze caught on what Viviane and Kallias had arranged for them.
Elain made a high pitched sound at the sight of the pair of white reindeer and she made to head straight for them, evidently intending to give them the petting he had no doubt they would love, but Lucien held more tightly to her. "Oh, where do you think you're going?" he grinned and she looked up at him with a small pout. Lucien pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose and indicated with a tilt of his head the sleigh that was awaiting them.
A small faerie with translucent wings and a large furred coat sat holding the reins. The faerie sat staring straight ahead and Lucien had the distinct impression that while the faerie would drive the sleigh for them, he would give them no conversation. Stepping up into the sleigh, Lucien then turned to help Elain up with him. The moment she was standing beside him, he bent to pick up a heavy fur blanket from the pile of similar coats and blankets and cushions awaiting them.
Lucien spent a moment draping the seat in the blankets before he lifted a large cosy looking coat and stood to wrap it around Elain. She smiled at him as he did it up in the front, and he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek before helping her onto the seat as he dropped beside her. Grabbing one of the larger blankets, Lucien had just wrapped it around both Elain and himself, folding it over their laps to keep them both warm when he noticed Viviane and Kallias suddenly standing beside the sleigh, watching them. They had seemingly appeared out of the snow and Lucien nearly jumped in shock.
"Are you comfortable and warm?" Viviane asked, and Lucien felt Elain nod beside him. "Good…"
"You will be taken up to the ridge," Kallias explained, "There is an exquisite view of the valley and of the palace from up there. Then, it will be back through the forest and around the exterior gardens."
"The Aurora should be bright tonight." Viviane put in, and Kallias nodded.
"Also, should you feel cold…" The High Lord reached forward and opened a small box, and Lucien could see mugs and a flask inside. "Hot chocolate is quite effective."
"And delicious." Viviane added, smiling at them.
"You organised all of this?" Elain sounded surprised, and Lucien couldn't blame her.
"Of course." Kallias said, stepping back from the sleigh and slipping an arm around his wife. "Let it never be said that guests to the Winter Court aren't given the full experience."
"Oh, we would never say that…" Lucien bit back a smile and Kallias' pale eyes flicked up to meet his own.
"Have a good evening." The High Lord smiled at them and then turned and led Viviane back inside.
"What are they expecting?" Elain whispered, looking around and up at Lucien who shook his head, "Do they think we're going to come back mated?" Something tugged at his heart and Lucien made a face.
"I don't know." He murmured, "Maybe."
Elain leaned into him and he relaxed again, wrapping an arm around her inside the blanket as the sleigh lurched into action. Elain looked up to the sky as the snow fell around them in quick flurries and Lucien moved to lift the hood of her coat up over her hair. She turned to smile at him and he watched as her dark eyes looked him over for a moment.
"Here…" Elain bent and then lifted a scarf from the pile of blankets and coats. She turned and began wrapping it carefully around Lucien's neck, tucking the edges under the blanket to prevent any cold air getting in. He smiled at her, taking her hand and tucking it under the blanket with his own.
It didn't take them long to reach the ridge Kallias had mentioned and Lucien found himself at a slight loss for words, looking out across the valley and at the stunning lights of the palace.
"How is it even more beautiful at night?" Elain breathed, and Lucien stroked his thumb across her hand beneath the blanket. "The lights reflect off the snow and the ice… it's like a sea of lights…"
"You make it sound even lovelier." He told her, his eyes lifting toward the sky when green light erupted over them. Elain gasped and he glanced at her, smiling at the awe he found on her face.
"Have you seen this before?" she asked, turning her eyes on him and Lucien nodded.
"The Aurora dances every night here…"
"How is this place real?" Elain's eyes went back to the sky before returning to Lucien once more. "I'm so glad we came here."
"As am I." Lucien said softly. He really was. Before he had returned to Velaris, he hardly would have dared dream he would have the chance at so much time alone with Elain, let alone have the chance to travel Prythian with her. He loved getting to have these moments with her, share these experiences, and he loved getting to see her experience the beauty of their world. He loved that she didn't just go through life without truly seeing what was around her. Elain saw the beauty in everything, noticed the detail, and took joy from what she saw. He watched her now, a wide smile across her face, as she watched the Aurora above them flickering green and purple.
"You're looking at me." She said, her eyes still on the sky.
"Can't help myself." Lucien replied, still watching her face. "The way you look at everything…" Elain turned toward him, her eyes moving over his face, "I was so bored with the prospect of immortality," he told her, "A long and lonely existence where one thing blurred into another… But you see the world. You see beauty worth noting in the petals of a flower…"
"All the more beautiful because its life is fleeting." Elain commented and Lucien nodded.
"I could never be bored with that existence." He murmured, "I love that you've brought that to my life."
Elain untangled her hand from the blanket and brought her fingers to Lucien's cheek, ghosting over his scar. "The dancing light is reflecting off you eye…" she told him softly and Lucien blinked, "It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you think so."
"I do." She dropped her hand to the scarf around his neck, gathering the tails together and gently pulling him toward her. Lucien knew what she wanted and he smiled, all too willing to comply. He slipped his own hand into her hood and around to the back of her neck, drawing her to him as he brought his lips down to meet hers. Her lips were cold but, when she parted them, her tongue was warm, and Lucien pressed on quickly deepening the kiss as he just about pulled her into his lap.
"Are you cold?" Lucien asked when he felt Elain shudder.
"You can warm me up." She replied, grinning at him. Lucien raised an eyebrow at her, and then leaned toward the box Kallias had opened earlier. He pulled out the mugs and flask, and poured some hot chocolate. Pressing one of the mugs into Elain's hand he watched as she lifted it to her lips for a small sip. Her hands were beginning to shake and Lucien told the faerie in the driver's seat that they would do well to begin heading back to the palace.
Drawing Elain closer to his side, Lucien tucked his arm back around her as they headed back down off the ridge. The air became marginally more chill as they moved through the thick forest, and Lucien watched as Elain cradled the warm mug in her hands. She glanced at him, as if sensing him watching her, and she leaned further into him, resting her head against him comfortably. Closing his eyes for a moment, Lucien flicked a little of his power into the coat Elain wore, ensuring that it would keep her warm and she smiled up at him. "Thank you."
He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, holding her closer. "Watch for the emergence of the palace as we come out of the trees…"
"It's like a dream." Elain said softly when the shining palace came into view. The aurora seemed to reflect off a million ice crystals and the colours from the sky appeared to disappear into the snow around them. Lucien nodded, rubbing his hand up and down her arm as he held her to himself. He was pretty sure he'd dreamed of this a hundred times.