Chapter 102

The messenger that Thesan had sent for Lucien had informed him that the High Lord would like to speak to him out by the granaries, and Lucien was more than a little sure that he had gotten lost. The sun was beating down, with more heat than he would have expected for mid-afternoon, and he loosened his shirt just a little as he approached a nearby open granary.

As he walked through the door, Lucien caught sight of Thesan nearby. The High Lord was smiling at another male and, at the sight of their intimate stance, Lucien's steps faltered. There was a flutter of white feathers, and then Thesan turned to face Lucien, alone.

"I apologise," Lucien murmured, "I… didn't mean to interrupt."

"No, I didn't realise that it was time for us to meet…"

"He… didn't have to… leave…"

"Oh, ah… things to do." Thesan flashed a smile, but it faded and Lucien wondered if the High Lord wasn't nervous. A second later he realised that Thesan wasn't nervous, he was being cautious. It made sense as relationships like theirs weren't completely accepted across all the different courts, and Thesan didn't really know him all that well personally. He shouldn't have to be cautious, Lucien thought. Especially not in in his own court.

"Oh…" Lucien sought for something to say to put him at ease, "Y'know… Connal… I think, has the same… inclination…"

Thesan raised an eyebrow, tilting his head. "I did not know that."

"Yeah…"

"I can't imagine Beron was accepting of that."

"As far as I'm aware he never noticed."

Thesan nodded slowly and then turned to wave an arm around the granary. "What was it that Rhys would like us to update one another on?"

Lucien pulled his book from his jacket as his eyes moved around the room. "Progress and changes." He replied, "Any ideas you have for the future."

"Okay… would you like to take a walk?"

"Sure." Lucien followed Thesan outside and back into the sun. "It sure seems as if everything here is running smoothly."

"We are fortunate."

Smiling at the faerie who handed her the letter, Elain moved toward the window as she unfolded it. She recognised Nesta's handwriting and drew a deep breath before she began to read.

Elain,

Do you need me to come to the Dawn Court?

Rhys told us what happened to you and Lucien at the border, and that two of his brothers were killed. He said that you are in the Dawn Court and that you are safe, but if you need me to come and get you, I will. I want to hear it from you directly. Cassian has said that he will take me right to you.

Please let me know how you are as soon as you get this. I don't want to hear it through anyone else. I hope that you are well, and that you will be back soon regardless. I need someone to talk to who isn't a silly Illyrian or part of some sickly obsessive mated couple.

I hope you are okay. Lucien, too. Did he kill his own brothers?

Miss you.

Ness.

Biting her lip, Elain turned to rummage through her pack in order to reply. She could tell that Nesta was worried, while trying to pretend that she wasn't going out of her mind. There was no doubt in her mind that Rhys would have informed them all of exactly what had happened, but she understood the need to hear it from her sister herself. If their roles had been reversed, Elain knew that she wouldn't have been able to rest easy until she had heard directly from Nesta.

She set everything out on the small writing desk by the window and then she set out getting her reply down.

Ness,

I am okay.

Lucien and I are both fine.

As I am sure Rhys has told you, three of Lucien's brothers attacked us by the border, and Lucien killed two of them to protect us. The third has disappeared.

We were well cared for by Thesan and his Court, and things here are as normal as one would predict. While I do miss you, I do not need you to come to get me. I shall see you when I return to the Night Court. It shouldn't be too long now, as we only have the Day Court to visit before our trip is complete.

I cannot believe you only have two options for conversation. Cassian isn't entirely silly, and I know that Feyre can hold a conversation about something other than Rhys. For a few minutes anyway. I do know that you can talk to Amren. You also have the option to speak with Mor and Azriel. You could also go out to Velaris and make some new friends.

If I do need you to come, you know that I will send word.

I do want to speak with you about my decision to accept the Mating Bond between myself and Lucien, however. I have decided to do it, and I want to do it soon. Maybe then you will grow tired of my conversation if I become anything like Feyre…

Do you have any similar news for me? Any progress that you would like to let me know about? Do tell me what has been going on at the Night Court lately. I feel a bit out of the loop.

I really do think that you should visit some of the other courts. You would find them most interesting, and they are all uniquely beautiful. I think you would especially like the Winter Court. I would also like to go back, so maybe we can go together after I return.

I miss you too.

Elain.

With a sigh, Elain leaned back in her chair and stretched. She then folded the letter up and hurried for the door. If she got it sent soon enough then her sister would receive it before dark. She knew that Nesta wasn't going to sleep though the night if she hadn't had a reply to her questions and knew that Elain was okay.

After she had given her letter to the appropriate faerie, Elain nearly ran into Nuan in the hallway on her way back to her room.

"Elain, are you in a hurry?"

"Oh, no…" Elain shook her head, her eyes moving over the other female. She had decided that she liked Nuan. Lucien obviously thought highly of her, and that spoke volumes. Also, after what she had seen in her vision, Elain realised that Nuan was one of the very few people who had actually helped Lucien when he had needed it. It had been clear after her visions of her mate back in the Autumn Court, and what she had seen of what had been done to him Under the Mountain, that not many ever stepped in to do anything to help him. But Nuan had.

"Are you and Lucien staying long?"

"I don't think so." Elain replied, "Just long enough for him to craft a report for Rhysand, and I need to collect some Dawn Court flowers for my book, and then we are heading to the Day Court."

Nuan's onyx eyes moved over Elain and the faerie smiled. "You haven't yet accepted the Mating Bond…"

"No…"

"And you intend to."

"Yes." She didn't know why Nuan was asking her this, or why she was responding.

"I have business in the Day Court soon, maybe our visits will coincide."

"I… that would be nice." Elain didn't know where this was going. "Oh, I also wanted to thank you." She said, her own eyes moving over Nuan's golden skin and shiny dark hair. "I saw what you did for Lucien… and I really wanted to thank you for that. So many have ignored him over his life… and… he knew you would care enough to help him. For him to ask for you…"

"I know." Nuan nodded, and her voice was gentle. "He was a good friend. He still is. He's loyal and kind… and he would have done the same for me if he could."

Elain just smiled at her. Lucien was all of those things. All of those things, and more.