Chapter 114

Lucien slipped in front of Elain, putting himself between her and Helion as they entered the large dining hall they had been summoned to for dinner. The High Lord strode toward them, a welcoming smile on his handsome face, and Lucien tried not to seem as if he was staring, searching the other male's face for any sign of resemblance.

"Lucien and Elain…" Helion reached them and smiled more widely.

"Good evening." Lucien kept his body between his mate the High Lord.

"I am told that you visited one of our libraries this afternoon."

"We did."

"How did you find it?"

Nodding, Lucien slid a hand around Elain's waist, keeping her close. "It was quite impressive. We were actually hoping that Elain might be able to borrow some books while we are here…"

"Of course. I will have it seen to." Helion's amber eyes slid toward Elain, and Lucien was thankful when one of Elain's hands reached for one of his own. He could feel her down the bond, seeking to soothe him, keep him calm. Glancing her way for a moment, Lucien gave her a thankful smile. "If you would both like to take a seat at the table," Helion went on, "Dinner is due to be served any moment now." He indicated the table, with several vacant chairs nearby.

"Thank you." Elain's voice was gentle, and she squeezed Lucien's hand, signalling to him to move toward the table. He went with her, choosing some of the empty chairs and seating himself beside her. Helion was sitting on Lucien's other side, and Lucien tried his hardest to stop himself from constantly looking the other male over. His eyes kept catching on Helion's nose however, and he couldn't help but see the similarity to his own.

"Lucien…" Eris voice had Lucien's head snapping up to see his brother sit down on the opposite side of the table.

"Eris…" Even as he said his brother's name, Lucien's eyes were scanning the table and the room, looking for his mother. If Eris had come to dinner, then his mother should have as well. He smiled when he saw her walk into the dining hall, her long red hair fanning out behind her as she moved. She strode toward Eris and took a seat beside him, her russet eyes meeting Lucien's a moment later.

"Lucien… Elain…" those eyes, so like his own, slid to Elain for a few seconds, before flicking Helion's way. "Good evening to you all…" She fell silent, and her gaze dropped to her empty plate before her. Lucien resisted a frown, his own eyes sliding to Eris whose expression mirrored his.

"How are you?" Lucien asked his mother, looking at her once again. She had only ever shrunk like that when she knew that Beron would disapprove of something she had been about to say or do. She had tried her best to avoid disapproval from her High Lord, but Beron was dead now. Was she doing the same thing for Eris? Judging from the look on Eris' face, Lucien doubted that. As much as he had always tried to avoid his eldest brother, Lucien knew that Eris was not like Beron.

"I am well…" His mother smiled gently at him, and Lucien's heart eased just a little. "I am glad to see you well…" His heart stuttered at those words, and he swallowed thickly. He had not yet had the chance to apologise to her and tell her he was sorry that she had lost three more of her sons. Elain's hand came to rest on his thigh under the table and he cast her a quick glance before leaning forward and stretching his hand as far across the table as he could. After a moment, his mother shifted forward in her own chair and stretched to reach him, taking his hand gently. Her eyes met his then and she gave him a gentle smile. "I really am glad to see you well." She said, and Lucien nodded. She released him then and sat straighter in her chair, and Lucien did the same.

"So, what brings you here?" He directed his words at Eris then.

"Rhysand isn't the only High Lord interested in intercourt relations…"

"You don't have an emissary?" Lucien asked and Eris shook his head.

"Not yet."

"Anyone in mind?" Lucien didn't miss Eris' gaze flicker quickly to their mother and then back.

"Not especially…" Running a hand through his hair, Eris sighed lightly, "I… am in the middle of a rather extensive overhaul of the way things work in the Autumn Court."

Lucien could believe that. "I'll bet."

Most of the conversations around the table died then as several platters full of various kinds of fruit were lay before them on the table. Beside him, Elain leaned forward curiously, and he could feel her excitement as she took in the colourful platters.

"I… don't think I have seen many of these fruits before." She said softly, and Lucien smiled at her. "…what is that?"

"I think that's a sliced dragonfruit." He replied, frowning at the platter.

"Ooh." Elain reached forward and began selecting a few pieces of everything she could see, arranging them all neatly on her plate. Lucien took a few pieces of fruits he remembered enjoying the last time he had visited the Day court and set about eating quietly.

Glancing at Helion again, he noticed the High Lord's attention was split between his own plate and Ashk. Slanting a glance across the table at his mother, Lucien saw his mother in much the same position. Her russet eyes continually moved from her plate to Helion and then back to her plate. He wondered if they had had the chance to speak alone since his mother and Eris had arrived. Not specifically about him, but just a chance to talk with one another, without anyone else around and listening to them. He hoped they got that chance before too long.

After dinner, when everyone was milling around the dining hall and spilling into the sitting room through the nearby door, Lucien took the chance to approach his mother who was standing by a window. "Are you really okay?" he asked her, slipping an arm around her shoulders when she smiled up at him, reaching for one of his hands.

"I am."

"I am sorry…" he told her softly. "I really am… for Malak and Tallan and Connal…"

His mother squeezed his hand. "I know… and I know that they attacked you."

"They were still your sons."

"They were." One of her hands came up to stroke at his shirt, smoothing it over his chest. "And I will mourn them for a time to come. But, I am happy that you are alright. You and Elain…"

"We are both just fine." He hesitated, before going on, his voice low. "She wants to accept the bond…"

Ashk's smile was bright when she looked up at him. "Of course she does." She said. "She loves you. That was clear from the first time I met her when you first brought her to the Autumn Court."

"Was it?" Lucien asked, trying to remember. He had only just kissed her in the Spring Court that first time, and then they had gone to the Autumn Court. He remembered his hope that Elain would feel something like that for him, but it certainly had not been obvious to him then. Maybe he had tried to prevent himself believing it in case it had turned out to not be true. "You knew?"

"Yes." His mother replied, "She was more concerned with you than anything else going on around her."

Lucien smiled. "Well…" he said softly, "It's clear to me now…" His eyes scanned the room for Elain, and he felt himself stiffen when he saw Helion standing with her, taking animatedly about something he could not make out. His mother's hand stroked his arm gently.

"I spoke with Helion." She said, and he could hear the hesitation in her voice. Lucien wanted to turn and look at her, but couldn't take his eyes off of Elain. His whole body was screaming at him to go to her, to get her away from the male standing over her. "He… he is aware… that he is… your father."

Lucien looked at his mother then. "He is?"

"Yes."

"… and what is he doing right now?"

"… speaking with Elain?"

Lucien tried not to snarl, and his mother gave a light sigh. "Oh?"

"That's the bond, Lucien." She said gently, "That possessiveness… it's the bond. Helion is not doing anything that should cause you alarm."

Swallowing, he ran a hand through his hair. "If you say so."

"Trust me." She said, "I know him."

He looked at her again. "Yes, you do…" he mused. "Did you come here to tell him that?"

"Yes."

"Does Eris know that's why?"

"Yes."

"And he supports that?"

"He does. If Helion acknowledges you as his son and heir, then you're publicly not Beron's son and that's further distance between you and Eris' throne."

"He already had me publicly deny any claim."

"And this would further that."

"I see."

"….what… what was Helion's reaction?" He asked, unsure if he really wanted to know the answer to that question.

"He was surprised." She said gently, "But he understood why I hadn't been able to tell him earlier."

"That's good…" he murmured.

"He said he was looking forward to your visit…"

Lucien's eyes went back to the High Lord across the room. "I'm assuming we will have an interesting conversation tomorrow." He glanced at his mother, finding her eyes locked on Helion across the room, and he hugged her closer with one arm around her. It was clear to him that there was affection there, and it pleased some part of him, knowing that he came from genuine love. Not everyone could make that claim.