Chapter 442

There was so very much to be done. Elain scrubbed her hands over her face, pushing her fingers up into her hair as she tried to put together a priority list in her mind. She had known that this would not be just a matter of planting a few trees and then washing her hands but, until she had seen the garden Helion had decided would be the Memory Garden, she hadn't quite grasped the scale of the operation. This was huge.

Lowering her hands, Elain peered around the space from where she stood by the exit. Much of what was here would have to be removed to make space for the trees that would be planted in memory of those who had died. That would be a large enough job as it was, but then there would be the next massive undertaking of landscaping the area. There would need to be a path put in, a way through, so that visitors had access to the trees and would be able to find the tree for the specific loved one they wished to remember. Beyond the trees themselves, Elain knew that she had wanted a leafy backdrop. There was a large stone wall behind, and in order to soften that look, she wanted to cover it in vines. She had seen around the city a certain dark green leafy sort of ivy that would be perfect, but within the palace itself, she had not come across any of it.

"This is a big undertaking…"

"Oh…" Elain turned to find Kera standing nearby, watching her. "Yes…"

Moving closer, the blonde faerie clasped her hands behind her back, eyes sweeping the garden. "Do you know what you will do?"

"Bits…" Elain admitted. "I am still trying to work out the rest." She slanted a glance at the other female, wondering what it was that Kera was after. They had not spoken since the blonde had thanked her for what she had done in the Throne Room and admitted that she thought Elain would be a positive addition to the Day Court. "…did… you have any ideas?" She asked, "For the garden…?"

"No…" Kera turned to her, a slight headshake sending her blonde hair shifting in the breeze, "Not at all. This is not my forte."

"Ah…" Elain smiled.

"I did want to offer my help, though." Kera lifted her chin as if preparing to be knocked back. "I… I can see what others are doing, being useful around the Court, and I… I need to do something to assist."

"Oh…" Elain looked carefully at her, understanding the need to do her part. She would not want to feel useless, especially at a time like this. The Court was essentially being rebuilt, and nobody wanted to go into this new period of time feeling like they had no place here, no role to play.

"So… is there something that I can do?" Kera prompted when Elain had said nothing further.

"Ah…" Elain looked around the garden again, going over her list in her mind again. "Yes…" She said, looking at the blonde again. "I have seen around the city a dark coloured Ivy. There doesn't seem to be any in the palace. I want it to cover that wall…" she gestured at the stone wall. "Do you think you would be able to source some of it?"

Kera thought for a second, her light eyes moving over the stone wall. She nodded after a moment. "I think I know the one you mean. It's all over the city."

"Yes." Elain agreed.

"I would wager too, that your friend Sheera would know where to get some…"

"Yes…" Elain supposed that was true.

"I'll go to her shop."

"Alright…" Elain was more than a little surprised that Kera was willingly going to seek out Sheera, especially after things the blonde had said in the past. She kept her face neutral however, and just nodded. "That is a good idea…" She did not wish to embarrass or dissuade Kera if she was willing to be useful.

"I'll do it now." Kera said softly, taking a step back. "The sooner the ivy is planted, the sooner it will establish and grow over the wall…"

"Thank you…" Elain just watched as Kera nodded before disappearing out the exit and was lost to sight. "Alright then," She turned back to the garden, her eyes moving over it all again. There was still so much to do, but at least with the ivy taken care of, that was one less thing she had to worry about. She couldn't do the rest of his by herself, she knew that, and she knew that Helion had sent for Tamlin. Lucien was off collecting him right now, but Elain needed more. More help. She needed to ask the High Lord if she could have the assistance of more of his Court. Perhaps he would be able to spare a few of his soldiers, for they would surely be able to make short work of clearing the space out, and preparing the earth to be planted.

Deciding to put it off no longer, Elain headed for the exit. She would find Helion right now, so that things could be organised more quickly. She knew then, as she strode up the hallway, that Lucien had returned to the Palace, because she could feel him and hear his heart more closely than she had the last few hours. Smiling, Elain lengthened her stride.