Chapter 250

Lucien watched Elain fasten the pale blue cloak he had given her around her shoulders, and he smiled. She was clearly keen to see the Illyrian camp, and that excitement was just about contagious. He hoped that the vision she'd had did mean that she was meant to go and help her sister, otherwise he suspected that they would be getting in the way. Part of him suspected that they would not be welcomed in the town, and he hoped that the sudden presence of a couple of High Fae did not rub the local Illyrians the wrong way. If they were already under duress, he didn't think they might take too kindly to High Fae showing up and, perhaps in their eyes, telling them what to do.

"Are you going to look for some exciting new flowers?" he asked, grinning at his mate who turned her dark eyes on him with a smile of her own.

"Well, I think it may be habit now…" she nodded, "But it's kind of a relief that there's no more pressure to do so for the book…"

"Just your own interest, then." He said, bending to pick up his pack as Elain did the same, nodding again. He settled the strap over his shoulder, looking down at her. Lucien could see the excitement built, and the light in her eyes grow brighter as she thought about it.

"I imagine there might be lots of mountain flowers that I've not seen before…"

"It's likely." He agreed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and leading her out the door and down the stairs to where Azriel would be meeting them to take them to the Illyrian Camp. Elain loved this, he realised. She was always filled with excitement and fire whenever they were about to head somewhere new. There was adventure in her, and he supposed that after her life as a mortal where she had been stuck in one place and facing a life behind that Grayson bastard's wall, there was freedom in her life now, and she absolutely cherished the chance to travel to new places and see new things. Lucien was beyond thankful that this was something he was able to do with her, that he was in a position to take her all over Prythian and get to explore these places with her.

Elain bounded excitedly over to the door, standing beside Feyre who also appeared ready to leave, and Lucien smiled as he continued to watch his mate. He did hope, however, that when they arrived in the camp, she would be able to contain her excitement, at least on the outside. It probably wouldn't look too great if Elain showed up to help with the troubles Cassian had gone to sort out, looking as if she were grinning from ear to ear. Nobody else would know that she was excited to see a new part of Prythian, and they may just think that she was excited by whatever issues they were trying to sort out.

"Are you all ready?" Azriel asked, doing up a buckle across his chest, and Lucien gave a single nod, adjusting his pack.

"I think we've got everything." He replied, and Elain nodded her agreement, linking her arm through her sister's. Feyre gave a small smile to Rhys, and Lucien watched as they winked at one another, evidently having already said their goodbyes upstairs before coming down to join the rest of them.

The Shadowsinger led them outside, and Lucien followed behind Elain, still able to feel her excitement as she just about bounded down the path.

Gripping her mate's hand, Elain tried to contain her excitement as they approached the main street of the Illyrian camp which Azriel had brought them to. She thought that she recognised a few of the shops from her dream of Nesta, and she began looking for the clothing store which belonged to the young Illyrian female. Emerie, had been her name in the vision, and Elain hoped to find that this was true in reality. That would mean that she probably was supposed to come here, and it hadn't been some fanciful dream about her sister getting to have an adventure she did not. Smiling at that thought, Elain wondered when she had become so adventurous to begin with.

When Lucien drew her carefully along with them, glancing down at her, she smiled again. It had probably had a lot to do with her mate, and her growing confidence in who she was now and who she was meant to be. As she grew even further, Elain knew that she would need to develop a sense for this sort of thing if she was meant to stand beside Lucien when he took the throne of the Day Court.

"Where is it that we are going?" Feyre asked, and Azriel turned his head to meet his High Lady's eyes.

"Cass will have taken Nesta to his cabin a little up this way…" the Illyrian pointed up a nearby road. "I have one nearby… as does Rhys…"

"That will do nicely." Feyre said, before turning to face her sister. "You'll stay in Rhys' cabin with me…"

"Alright." Elain nodded, trying to get the bounce out of her step. "Will we find Nesta and Cassian then?"

"Yes, after we get ourselves set up." Feyre said, "It shouldn't take too long…"

Elain followed her sister, Lucien still gripping her hand as they walked. She returned her gaze to the streets, now noticing the faces at the windows peering out at them, and even from this distance she could see the worries expressions on those faces. She wondered what they might be thinking to see a handful of High Fae suddenly walking their streets, but she hoped that Azriel would be recognised and that they would realise that the group were not a threat to them. Surely they must be panicked if they were facing frequent and brutal raids.

Trying to look as friendly as possible, Elain continued to follow Feyre. Nobody came out to greet them, and she glanced uncertainly at Lucien as they headed for a row of little cabins just out of town.

"It will be fine." He told her, "As soon as Cassian and Azriel speak with them, I'm sure they'll realise we aren't here to do them further injury."

"I hope you're right." Elain murmured, glancing back in the direction of the main street.