Chapter 109

Thesan found them as they strolled along an outdoor balcony, overlooking the fields and soft meadows of the Court. Elain had stopped to inspect a small pink flower growing out a decorative pot and, as she pulled out her little book, flipping for a blank page, the High Lord approached them.

"Lucien…" Thesan came to a stop, his eyes moving over them, "Elain…"

Elain stood up, standing beside Lucien, and smiling at Thesan. "Good afternoon…" She said, smoothing her dress down carefully. The High Lord smiled at her in return before he turned his brown eyes on Lucien, and Elain could see that it was her mate he had come to speak with.

"I have sent the Night Court an account of what occurred yesterday."

"As have I." Lucien replied evenly. Thesan nodded.

"Yes, I figured you would have." Brown hands twisted together in front of him before Thesan gave a light sigh. "You saved my life." Those warm eyes were focussed entirely upon Lucien and Elain felt surprise reach her down the bond. "I know that you deliberately antagonised your brother so that he would become distracted with wanting to punish you. You bought me time."

"I…" Lucien straightened a little. "Yes."

"That was a very brave thing to do…"

"Oh…" Lucien waved a hand, "I'm used to my mouth getting me into trouble." He said, "I figured I'd put it to good use."

Shaking his head, Thesan looked intently at Lucien, "Not everyone would have done that." The High Lord told him. "Thank you."

Lucien bowed his head a little and Elain smiled widely, unable to help herself. She didn't suppose that it was a particularly common thing for Lucien to experience; someone recognising what he had done and acknowledging it. She could tell that he wasn't entirely sure of how to respond, and his heartrate had increased significantly. Thesan smiled at him a moment later, apparently pleased enough with the bow.

"I know that you have left the Spring Court and Tamlin's employ, and you are evidently currently residing in the Night Court but if you should ever tire of that…" The High Lord paused, "You would be welcome here. You are welcome here. You may stay as long as you like. You may stay permanently, if you wished. I know that Nuan would be pleased." He smiled at Lucien, "She has always spoken highly of you."

A strange emotion reached Elain down the bond then, and she wasn't sure that she recognised it. It was followed by more surprise and a sense of longing, and she knew that the fact Lucien still felt like he didn't have a home continued to hurt him. Taking his hand gently in her own she smiled at him when he turned his head to look at her. "I thank you for that." He said, his words directed at Thesan, "We shall keep that in mind…"

"Of course." Thesan replied, smiling as his eyes slid toward Elain, "Such things must be considered jointly when one has a mate." Lucien nodded and Elain smiled at both males. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your time here with us." The High Lord said, "Do you know when you are expected to head to the Day Court?"

"Not yet." Lucien replied, "Rhys has said he will send word in the next day or so."

"Well, you are, of course, free to wander the Court at your leisure. Should you need anything, you must only ask."

"Thank you." Lucien replied and Elain turned her eyes back on the pink flower she had been about to begin to try and sketch.

"If you make a tea from the petals of this flower," Thesan began, his voice gentle, "You can banish even the most stubborn of headaches…"

"Really?" Elain asked. He nodded and she began writing that down to accompany her sketch. "That's wonderful."

"It's also used in a massage oil." He added, "It is quite soothing in many forms…"

"Oh, perfect…" She wrote that down as well, then crouched to have a closer look at the flower. As she began her sketch, she heard Lucien clear his throat.

"Ah, Thesan? Can I ask?" he said softly, "What happened to Connal's… friends?" Elain glanced up to see Lucien frowning.

"The Peregryn chased them off." Thesan said simply, "Those who didn't perish in the battle fled back across the border and into the mountains…"

"So they're gone?"

"Effectively, yes."

Looking back to her sketch, Elain worked silently. She listened in to Lucien and Thesan's conversation here and there, but mostly she tried to focus on what she was doing. She had decided that she definitely wanted to try the tea made with this flower. If it tasted nearly as good as the flower smelled, she would bet it would be delicious.

Lucien followed Elain around the Court for most of the afternoon. She had told him that she wanted to finish her sketches as quickly as she was able, because she wanted to be ready to go to the Day Court as soon as they knew that they were scheduled to do so. He had enjoyed watching her work, and he had enjoyed showing her the best views of the Court that he had remembered. It had surprised him, that Thesan would offer him a place at his court. Other than Tamlin, nobody had ever really shown that they would value him for who he was. Sure, Rhys had offered him a job, and he had been told that he could stay at the Night Court if he wanted to, but he knew that was because he was Feyre's friend, and Elain's mate. They didn't want him for who he was.

But Thesan had seen what he had done, and had valued him. Lucien had always liked the Dawn Court, he supposed. It was pleasant here, and Thesan was a good faerie, and a decent High Lord. Nuan, and the others like her were clever. He had always enjoyed the conversations with those who lived at the Dawn Court, they were curious and intelligent, and he knew that he would find living here interesting. It was worth considering, he decided. It was worth discussing with Elain.

This was a gentle, beautiful place, and he thought that Elain would do well here. It was all too easy to see her in his mind, wandering the hallways and striding along the open balconies in the typical Dawn Court dresses. They were rather like what she often wore anyway. This could be a good place for her to have the space to grow and develop. There was no harshness here, and he knew that she would be able to make real friends here. He would be able to trust that she would be safe here, and that wasn't nothing.

By the time they had returned to their room before dinner, he had decided that he would ask her what she thought of the whole idea. She had liked each court, and he knew that she had been able to see the beauty in each of them. He knew that she wanted a home of her own, she had once told him that while she knew she would always be welcome in the Night Court because Feyre was the High Lady, she knew that it wasn't her home.

Perhaps this could be.