Chapter 440

She could see Amala in the distance. As she stood by the window in the hallway, Elain watched as Amala was escorted away from the Palace. Guards were either side of her as she walked, a pack slung over her shoulder, and Elain wondered just how much of her life Amala had been able to stuff into that one small bag. It wouldn't have been much, especially considering that she was going to have to begin her entire life again. Elain wondered where Amala would go. Would she go to one of the other Courts? Which one? Would she head for that bit in between where Lucien's brothers had gone? Would she have no Court? Elain did not think that Amala would go to the Mortal Lands.

Watching until Amala was out of sight, Elain turned and continued up the corridor. After breakfast she had spent some time speaking with Tisia, and she had decided then to head to the Throne Room. Ashk had told Elain that Helion did not expect her to help clean up the mess there, and that her contributions in organising the Memory Garden would be more than sufficient, but Elain did not want anyone to think that she was hiding or that she couldn't face it. Lucien would be there, doing his part, and Elain had never been one to shy away from getting her hands dirty.

Upon entering the Throne Room, Elain paused. She had not expected the smell. The scent of blood permeated the air, hanging like a heavy blanket and not even the open doors seemed to be doing much about it. Knowing that she wouldn't get used to it, Elain moved forward. Those present were going about many jobs, but the one that caught Elain's eye was the faerie lifting the last body from the ground into his arms. Kaii. Elain moved toward him.

As she approached, Kaii met Elain's eyes and he nodded his head in greeting. It didn't feel right to speak, not while he was carrying the body of a Courtier, and so Elain fell into step beside him. They walked in silence until they were outside and a different scent reached Elain here. There was smoke now, and she saw that some of the funeral pyres had been lit. There were more faeries out here, and she knew that many of them had come to say farewell to those the pyres had been lit for. Kaii moved to a nearby pyre that was not yet aflame, and then he returned to stand by Elain, his arms now empty. Elain watched him from the corner of her eye for a moment, and then he sighed heavily.

"How are you?" Elain asked, him, voice low so as not to disturb those nearby who were watching the pyres burn. "You were injured…"

"I saw a good healer." He replied, "I am well." Elain nodded, pleased by that. "I am surprised…" he went on a moment later, "How many came…"

"As am I." she agreed, "Although, I suppose this would help many say goodbye and let go…"

"I think you are correct."

Elain lifted a hand to her mouth, stifling a cough when the wind shifted and brought the smoke from a nearby pyre directly over her. Through the smoke that stung her eyes, Elain caught a glimpse of red hair and then Lucien was there. He slipped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her into himself, and then he had produced a square of linen, pressing it into her hand. She glanced up at him before bringing it to her face, covering her mouth and nose in an effort to breathe more easily.

Around them the smoke billowed. The rest of the pyres were lit, and then the sky was thick with grey. There were enough pyres that the heat from them all forced those present to retreat a distance, and Elain kept the linen to her face while those around them coughed and squinted through the smoke.

"They will need your garden after this." Lucien told her softly, and Elain nodded. "Helion has sent word to Tamlin to ask him to assist."

"Assist?" Elain asked, glancing at Lucien over her shoulder. He nodded.

"He thinks Tam will be able to help get the trees established and flourishing more quickly."

"Likely…" Elain agreed, wondering if she might get the High Lord of Spring into her own garden instead of having to wait so long to get everything established the way she wanted it. Figuring that might be cheating, considering a large part of gardening was the waiting, Elain wondered if she minded.

Through the thick smoke, she could see Helion standing with his Courtiers. Ashk was not present, and the High Lord was surrounded by other Day Court fae. She could see the way they looked to him, and she could tell that they were taking comfort from his presence. Every so often, one of them would look toward Lucien, and she knew they thought the same of him. They were glad Lucien was here, and she wondered if she and her mate would even have time this afternoon for the picnic they had planned in their garden.