Chapter 296

The sun was setting before Elain and Sheera left the garden. Lucien was sitting on one of the couches in their room, and he smiled when Elain came toward him, amusement clear in his russet eye. "So," he began, and Elain stopped before him, her hand on her hip. "just what is this garden plan going to cost?"

"Nothing too extravagant, I'm certain." She replied, unable to help the grin spreading across her face. Her mate lifted a disbelieving eyebrow, tilting his head and sending his ruby hair cascading over one shoulder, as he looked up at her.

"Is that so?"

"It is." Elain replied, "I want to plant some of the trees from Rhys' garden, so I was thinking we might ask him for cuttings…"

"The pink blossom?" Lucien asked, and Elain could feel the shiver of pleasure down the bond.

"Yes." She inched toward him, knowing that he understood why she would want those trees here with them. "It will take a while for them to be anything substantial… but we have time."

"We do…" Lucien agreed, "But also…" he met her eyes, "Tamlin has the ability to… change… things like that…"

"He could make it grow?"

"I doubt he could make a cutting a fully adult tree…" Lucien said, "But he could make a difference."

"Would he?" Elain felt hope stirring within her. Even if Tamlin could help to get her trees established, she wouldn't mind waiting for the rest. Gardens took time and everything had its own time… "Do you think he would agree?"

"I'd bet he would if you asked him." Lucien nodded. "He likes you."

Elain turned toward Sheera, excitement growing within her. "That would be helpful."

"You…" Sheera was looking a little stunned where she still stood by the door to the garden, "are going to get cuttings from the High Lord of the Night Court and then ask the High Lord of the Spring Court for a personal favour to help them grow…"

"Yes." Elain said simply. Sheera just stook her head slowly, as if trying to take that in.

"It sounds impressive, doesn't it." Lucien snickered, and Elain glanced at him. Her mate grinned at her, and she made herself take the time to consider why Sheera had that expression on her face. She supposed their reactions to those names would be different. Elain had not grown up hearing stories and tales about Rhysand or Tamlin, she had had no clue who the High Lord of the Night Court was. She'd grown up hearing about the fae, and when she had gotten over suddenly being surrounded by fae, those individuals she had gotten to know had become her sister's mate, and her mate's friend. She supposed that she was much less impressed by Rhys and Tamlin than Sheera might be.

"Would you like to meet them?" Elain asked, her eyes on her new friend and Sheera froze.

"Would I what?"

"Well, you could." Elain said, "Feyre and Rhys will certainly visit here… and if I ask Tamlin to help the trees then he will likely have to come here too…"

"You could begin with the High Lord of the Day Court." Lucien said, and Sheera looked a little pale. "It's dinner in a few minutes."

"I cannot…" Sheera began, "I'm…" she gestured at her dirty dress, and Elain waved a hand.

"You can borrow from me."

"I…" Sheera's hands came up to brush at herself, as if trying to clean herself off a little.

"Come…" Elain headed for the bathroom, and fetched her friend a clean towel. "Take your time, and I'll have a dress for you when you're ready."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely." Elain nodded, as Lucien got to his feet out of the corner of her eye.

"I will leave you both to that." He said, heading for the door. "I need to find my mother before the meal."

Elain gave him a grateful smile, knowing that he was making himself scarce in order to make Sheera more comfortable with bathing in their room and changing into one of Elain's dresses. "See you at the table." She said, smiling again when Lucien winked her way. He closed the door behind himself, and Elain headed for her wardrobe, trying to find something within that would compliment Sheera's darker complexion. Her friend's colouring was vastly different from her own.

Eventually, Elain pulled a silky olive green dress from the cupboard and carried it toward the bathroom. She knocked quickly and then went inside when Sheera called that it was okay for her to do so. Her friend had just climbed out of the tub and had the towel tightly wrapped around herself. "Thank you…" Sheera said, her eyes catching on the dress.

"It's not a problem." Elain replied, hanging the dress on a hook. "I think this will suit you well…"

"It's lovely…"

Elain smiled at her friend over her shoulder and headed for the door again. She knew that it would be no small thing for Sheera to go to dinner with her, knowing that the High Lord would be there, ad she wanted the other female to feel as comfortable as possible. She liked that she had made this new friend, someone she could share ideas and hopes with and who seemed to have no interest in Elain because she was a Seer with abilities that might further her own interests.