Chapter 220

Music swirled around the throne room, and Elain stood against the wall. Her eyes swept the room, taking in the gorgeous autumn colours of the decorations that had been put up for the occasion. It wasn't Mabon, that had passed, but it seemed as if all of the Court were here and prepared to celebrate. She watched as couples swept around the dancefloor, all of the pretty dresses swirling around as if dancing to the music themselves. There were so many here, and Elain wasn't entirely sure she had seen all of them before. She and Lucien were scheduled to leave the Autumn Court the next morning, and Eris had announced that he would throw a farewell celebration to thank them for their visit. Helion would be leaving and heading back to the Day Court while Elain and Lucien would be moving on to the Winter Court. She hadn't expected the farewell to be this elaborate, but it appeared that Eris had spared no detail.

Lucien hadn't arrived yet, and Elain leaned back against the wall as she watched the room. Nesta and Cassian were present and currently over the other side of the room by the long table which held refreshments. Elain could see Cassian gesturing at the dance floor, and Nesta's flat expression as she clearly rejected his apparent suggestions to dance. Smiling to herself, Elain resisted a laugh. Cassian was going to need to be far more persuasive if he hoped to get Nesta dancing with him without a good deal of wine in her. Then, making a mental note to herself, Elain resolved to find the time this evening to ask Nesta what she was doing when she left here. She wanted to ask her sister if she were planning to return to the Night Court right away. When Elain had first gone to the Winter Court she had thought how Nesta would love the entire place; she had even told Nesta that she needed to visit there one day. Perhaps, Elain reasoned, Nesta would like to visit the Winter Court with herself and Lucien instead of rushing back to the Night Court.

Her gaze sliding from Nesta and Cassina, Elain continued to look around the hall. Eris was sitting on his throne on the dais, and Elain grinned widely when she saw Nera step up and move toward him. Instantly, Eris went from lounging casually to sitting up straight and the look on his face would have left nobody guessing as to his appreciation of Nera as she approached. Elain had not seen Nera wear anything so fine before, but she looked lovely in the silken dress of pale orange. It suited her skin in a most flattering and complimentary way, and Elain was instantly certain that Eris had been the one to have the dress given to her.

When Nera reached Eris, the High Lord got to his feet. Elain noticed that at least half of the Court was watching the pair up on the dais, although nobody was making it all that obvious, and the murmuring began when Eris took Nera's hand and began leading her down onto the dancefloor. More than a few of Eris' courtiers stopped what they were doing to watch, then. Eris ignored the lot of them, his eyes remaining on Nera and he turned her around to face him in the centre of the room. Elain just watched them, her grin wide, as Eris stepped closer to Nera, slipping one of his arms around her waist and drawing her in closer to himself, before beginning to lead her in a slow and graceful dance. It was beyond clear to everyone with eyes that the High Lord was in love.

"I guess he chose the risk." Lucien's voice was low in Elain's ear and she leaned into him. One of his arms went around her shoulder, and she felt his lips at her temple a moment later. "She must be supremely important to him."

"Just look at his face, Lucien." Elain murmured, her eyes still on Eris and Nera. "He loves her."

"Yes." Lucien agreed, his voice soft. "Wonders never cease."

Elain looked up at Lucien then, "Can you hear what people are saying?"

"They mostly sound confused." He paused for a moment, and she could tell that he was listening to the room. "A bit scandalised, too."

"Yes."

"It'll be good for them." He said a moment later, "Some of them need to think a little differently." There was no humour in Lucien's voice now, just a simple statement of fact.

"Do you truly think they will support him, or do you think that he's just put his throne at risk?"

"I think," Lucien mused, "It will depend on how strong the rest of Eris' reputation is. He's always kind of been known for cruelty and for being ruthless… and whether it was an act for Beron's benefit or not, it may be what saves him now."

"Ah…" Elain looked back to where Nera was happily moving around the dancefloor with Eris, and she hoped that it wouldn't be the High Lord's lover who bore the brunt of whatever was about to come their way. Eris had been there when Jesminda had been executed for loving Lucien, though. Surely he would have considered that she may be a target and he would do whatever was necessary to protect her.

"Dance with me, Petal?"

"Oh…" Elain smiled up at her mate when he took one of her hands and drew her away from the wall. "Of course…" Lucien grinned at her, his eyes moving over her in a way that suggested he would be after a different kind of dance later, and Elain allowed him to guide them onto the dancefloor. Nobody was really paying them any attention as most of the room was still watching Eris and Nera. This suited Elain just fine as she still wasn't a fan of getting too much attention.

"I have enjoyed our visit to the Autumn Court." Lucien told her, and Elain tilted her head back so that she could look up at his face.

"I am glad, love."

"We should make it a routine thing, coming back here every so often…"

"I would like that. So, I would think, would your mother…"

"Yes." Lucien nodded, and Elain saw him look up and around the room. "I haven't seen her this evening…"

"I don't think she's arrived yet…"

"She probably won't." Lucien said after a moment, and Elain frowned at that.

"Why not?" she asked, and Lucien lifted an eyebrow as he looked down at her. "… Well, Helion is set to leave tomorrow too…"

"Oh…" Elain nodded, figuring that Ashk and Helion were probably trying to make the most of the time they had left together. "I see…"

"Let's hope we don't." Lucien muttered, and Elain couldn't help cracking a smile, "Once was more than enough." He gripped Elain firmly by the hips then, turning her, and spinning in time to the music, and Elain gave a laugh as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding tightly as she laughed again.