Ch 111

The next few days were spent rather pleasantly around the Dawn Court. Lucien still hadn't worked out what he planned to say to Helion when arriving in the Day Court, but he had managed not to panic like he had when he had first received Rhys' letter every time he thought about it. He knew that Elain was trying to help him with it, because every evening when they had crawled into bed, she had pulled out the book on the Day Court that she had gotten for him, and they had read a new chapter. There wasn't really anything he hadn't known as it had all been things he had been aware of as emissary for the Spring Court, or things he had learned himself on his own visits to the Day Court, but Elain had learned a lot, and he appreciated the effort she was going to to try and help him.

He hadn't yet broached the subject with her about the possibility of seeing the Dawn Court as their home, but he still planned on asking her for her thoughts. For the few days they had spent around the court with nothing attacking them or demanding their attention, he had enjoyed the way he had been able to spend time with Elain, and if the routine they had come up with had the possibility of being any kind of normal, he knew that it could be a good life. Although, he figured, any life with Elain would be a good life.

When she had finished packing her bag, he slung his own over his shoulder and headed for the door to the hallway. Elain followed him, and they headed downstairs to where Thesan had said he would see them off.

"Aelius and the others are outside. They will take you to the border." The High Lord told them, and Lucien nodded.

"Thank you. We do appreciate it."

"It is the least I could do." Thesan's brown eyes looked between him and Elain for several moments. "Don't forget, if you wish to return… You would be welcome."

"We would like to come back." Elain said, glancing at Lucien before looking back to Thesan, "Well, I know I would." She smiled, "Your court is beautiful."

"I definitely would, too." Lucien agreed, "This has been, apart from the obvious, quite a relaxing time."

"Apart from the obvious." Thesan agreed, smiling.

As they strolled through the court toward the border, Elain couldn't help trying to look at absolutely everything. She had been unconscious on their trip in to the palace the first time, and she had missed much of this. Taking Lucien's hand, she bounced alongside him and he slanted a glance at her.

"You seem… excited." He said, his tone accusing.

"I didn't get to see this when we arrived."

"True…" he looked at her again, "You like the Dawn Court…"

"Of course." She grinned, "It's lovely." Sensing apprehension from him then, Elain tightened her hand around his. "You have considered Thesan's offer? You could belong here…"

"Do you think I could?" He sounded hesitant, "What do you think about the possibility?"

"I think…" Elain mused, pausing to consider as Aelius and his Peregryns moved ahead of them on the path. "that Thesan sees you for what you are."

"And what is that?"

Raising an eyebrow, Elain pulled Lucien around to a stop. He blinked at her in surprise and she moved closer. Lifting both of her hands to cup his face, she met his eyes. That metallic eye clicked and whirred and she could feel the surprise coming off of him now. "A strong male." She said, holding his gaze, "Who is clever and kind and good…" She just looked at him, as he appeared to try and read her face.

"Is that what you see?" he asked, his voice soft as his hands came to rest on her waist.

"Yes." She replied simply, "That is what you are."

"Is it…"

"Yes." Elain let her hands slide to his shoulders, "And Thesan sees it too." She ran one of her hands down his chest. "He sees your value." She smiled, "And if you want to think about maybe spending time in the Dawn Court when we're done with Rhys' little reconnaissance … I think that we should talk about it." She felt one of Lucien's hands wind its way into her hair as he just looked at her.

"We…" he murmured and she nodded.

"Wasn't that clear?" She asked, "Would be a bit hard being mates if you were in a completely different court to me…"

"It's just… different to actually hear it." There was fire in his russet eye when he bent a pressed a kiss to her forehead. "We should keep walking… before Aelius comes back to find us."

"I suppose an escort isn't very useful if we lose them…"

Elain took his hand again as they resumed their progress along the path. She wasn't sure how she would actually feel, being separated from her sisters if she did move to another court, but she knew that she would survive. It wasn't as if she would be on her own, anyway. She would have Lucien. They would be properly mated by then, and she would be happy. She could feel that in her core.

As they approached the border for the Day Court, Lucien's stomach twisted. Elain tightened her hand on his, sliding closer to him and he bit his lip.

"Do you have a plan yet?" She asked, "For when you see him?"

"No plan." Lucien forced the words out tightly, "Just panic."

Elain slid her other hand up his arm to rest in the crook of his elbow. "Don't panic…" she told him gently, "There's no need…"

"There is." He murmured, "Historically, whenever I am flustered, or don't know what to say… my mouth just runs itself and the results aren't always pleasant."

"Helion isn't going to rip your eye out because you say something awkward." She told him, and he felt her pause, "Is he? From what we read, he doesn't seem the type…"

"No, I doubt he would do that." Lucien was pretty certain that the High Lord of the Day court was not into such things.

"You did tell me he was nice."

"As far as I have seen, he has always been so."

"There we go then."

"It's… not the fear of that." He told her, "What if I say something that…" He felt Elain lean into him, one of her hands moving over his arm.

"Do you think you might say something that makes him decide he wants nothing to do with you?" The moment she had said it, Lucien knew that he did indeed fear that, and he nodded. "I doubt that could be the case. He and your mother had actual affection for one another, didn't they?"

"I believe so."

"Then I don't see how he could not want to know you."

"What if he thinks I'm a threat to his rule, and wants to eliminate me?"

Elain looked sharply up at him. "… is that…?" she broke off for a second, "The Day Court is different to the Autumn Court, isn't it?"

"… Yes."

"Feyre once told me that the Autumn Court is known for being cutthroat…"

"It is."

"Well, let's not assume that Helion would try to kill you just because you might be a threat to his rule."

Nodding again, Lucien knew that she was right. "Habit, I guess…"

"Not everyone wants to kill you." She told him, her smile teasing.

Raising an eyebrow, Lucien tilted his head. "How novel." That was a world which he would have to get used to living in. There had always been the threat of someone wanting him gone, ever since he had left the Autumn Court and three of his brothers had come after him. Even before then, he supposed. As a youngling, he had hid from them, fearing what they would do if they found him, how far they would go with their games. It seemed bizarre now, that nobody wanted him dead.

After several moments, he noticed that Elain was walking strangely, and looking at her feet. "…what… is the matter?" he asked, frowning. She came to a stop, clinging to his arm with one hand, as she reached for her shoe.

"I… think my sock has a hole in it…" she murmured, before adding with a growl, "And my foot is exploring…"

Smiling, Lucien just helped her balance as she took her shoe off and adjusted her sock.

When Elain linked her fingers through his, interlocking their hands, he looked back down at her. Aelius gave a wave, telling them that the border was right ahead, and that he hoped they would return soon. Lucien smiled at him, and then led Elain across the border and into the court ruled by his true father, into the Day Court.