Chapter 416

The healing was complete well before Helion had returned with his guards and anyone else who had gone with him. Elain had watched her mate walk slowly across the room, sinking into a chair nearby and resting his head in his hands. He allowed himself only a few moments like this before he lifted his head stoically and leaned back against the headrest. Wanting to get up and go to him, Elain reached out with the bond. She knew that if she walked over there, she would end up crawling into his lap, and that would likely not be appropriate in their current company. Lucien's eyes met her a moment later and she knew that he'd had a similar thought.

Around them, soft crying continued as the sun sank closer to the horizon. Now that the physical hurts had been mended, Elain wondered what was to be done for the emotional wounds. She would have wagered that everyone in this room had witnessed horrific death, most of them likely being those they were close to. She looked at Tisia nearby, watching as her dark-haired friend leaned into Ales' chest, tears trailing her pretty face to her chin. Tisia had seen Eria killed, and the scars of that would last for years. They would all need something to help them move past this, but she didn't know what would help. Were there healers who possessed the ability to heal the mind and heart like they could a broken bone? Perhaps Thesan would be of help. She knew that he had once offered to try and help heal her when she had come out of the Cauldron and had withdrawn into herself. If he had been confident that he would have been able to help her, then perhaps he could help these faeries with what they had seen and experienced? She would have to ask Lucien or Helion if that were even possible.

"Elain?" A soft female voice brought Elain out of her thoughts, and she looked around to see Kera crouched near the armrest of her chair. Picking up the cup she had sat there so that it would not be knocked and spill all over her dress, Elain met the other female's eyes.

"Yes?" Kera had cleaned the blood and gore from her face, much like Elain had done for herself, but her blonde hair was still matted with it, and her appearance still startled Elain.

"I… I just… I wanted to… apologise… to you." The words were soft and almost clipped, and it was as if Kera was surprised to hear herself saying them at all. "I misjudged you, and Lucien… and I was wrong."

"Oh…" Elain didn't want to interrupt her when she was evidently having such trouble getting what she wanted to say out.

"You have made it clear in the last few days that you are strong. You are capable of leading, others look to you… and you would try to defend the Court. I think that you might actually not be a terrible addition to the Court and…" Kera tilted her head a little, "maybe would actually be of benefit…" Kera's brain seemed to begin catching up with her, and colour filled her cheeks. "I… am just trying to say that the Court is the most important thing and I only ever wanted it to be protected… I am sorry that I thought you were not a good fit here…"

"It's alright, Kera." Elain replied softly, and she saw the other female smile in relief.

"Alright," Kera's thin, bruised fingers rested on Elain's armrest, "I hope that from now on… what I said before won't stop us from… maybe… getting along and…" It was clear she was about to say something about being 'friends', but Kera cleared her throat then and fell silent.

"I don't plan on going anywhere." Elain smiled, "I assume you don't either…"

"I have never wanted to live anywhere but the Day Court."

"I know." Elain nodded, "It has been clear you love this Court from the day we met."

"Yes," Kera moved as if to get up, "And I am glad that Helion's heir is someone who would defend us." Kera's eyes flicked over Elain's face, "As is his mate."

"I just did what anyone would have done." Elain said, but Kera shook her head.

"But nobody else did." Those eyes flicked toward Tisia and Ales. "Ales is my cousin, you know? My own family, and I didn't do anything to help him… but you did." Ales was still cradling Tisia to his chest, his large hand smoothing over her shiny dark hair as she cried silently. Elain looked up as Kera got to her feet. "Anyway, thank you."

Nodding, Elain gave her a weak smile. She understood the feeling of guilt that Kera was struggling with. She understood feeling like if she had done something else, been faster, less hesitant, she too could have prevented horrible things from happening. It was not healthy, but it would take time to process and move past. "We all have a chance to help the Court get back on its feet." She said, and Kera's lip twitched in an attempt at a smile.

"I will do what I can."

"Would not have doubted that." Elain replied before Kera turned and shuffled away to sit with a group of Courtiers that Elain did not know. Sitting comfortably in her chair, Elain went over the conversation that she had just had with Kera. It had been unexpected to say the least, but she did truly hope that she and Kera might for something of a friendship in the future. This was to be her home, after all, and she did not relish the idea of having to live here with those who thought she did not belong. If Kera had changed her mind about Lucien and herself, then Elain hoped that was a strong indicator that the others had. The blonde had seemed most vocal about her dislike, but then Elain didn't figure that Colm's supporters had gone around voicing their own opinions so freely. Amala certainly hadn't.

With that thought, Elain sat up a little straighter. Where was Amala? She hadn't seen her since the other female had slipped out of the Throne Room before the fighting had begun. Lucien was watching her, she could feel his gaze before she had even looked over at him, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"It's okay." She mouthed her response and he nodded, his ruby hair shining in the afternoon light. Elain hoped that Helion would return soon, that the palace would be free from threats and they would be allowed to leave this room. She knew that the clean-up would take days, and that the Throne Room needed to be cleared of the dead who needed to be identified, but none of it could be started while everyone was tucked away in here. Around her, the sounds of quiet sobbing continued.