Chapter 448

The first of them arrived with the first rays of light. Elain stood by the entrance, within easy reach of the many piles of tools and equipment that they would need, and she fixed a firm smile upon her face. Many of the first to arrive were members of Helion's guard, those she had set the task of removing the largest of the trees, and much of the heavy work. They seemed pleased with this assignment, and they set quickly about their task.

When Helion and Lucien had returned with the last of the ashes, Elain had asked the High Lord what was to be done with the trees, and he had agrees that if they could be salvaged for the city parks, that would be a wonderful idea. Elain had relayed this to the faeries who would be removing the trees from the ground, and they had assured her that they would do their best not to damage them too much. She had known that removing entire trees was tricky work and that perhaps not all of them would come out unscathed, but she was pleased to know that they would not all be killed, and she left them to their task.

Many of the Courtiers arrived when the sun was above the horizon and the clear day was apparent. This did not bother Elain, as they had still arrived with time to begin before a break was needed for breakfast. She knew that the hour was still well before they would have usually risen for the day, and she appreciated the effort. She set one group to sorting the stones that would be used for the paths, wanting them organised by size so that they would be laid more easily when the time was right, and she set another group to putting together low fences that would encircle the smaller garden beds. Yet another group were to prepare the trellis that would run up the far wall, and another were tasked with putting together small stakes and plaques that might hold the names of those who had died. There were a dozen other tasks that Elain had set aside for different faeries and, as the morning flew by, she looked around the space, pleased. Everyone had a task, and everyone was busy applying themselves to those tasks.

By the time Helion arrived and announced that it was time for everyone to join him for breakfast, Elain was already warm and more than happy to have a little reprieve from the morning sun indoors with a cool drink. She smiled when, the instant she walked into the dining room, a cold glass was pressed into her hands.

"Thank you." She said, and Nera nodded her head, a smile of her own on her lips. "How did you know I needed this?"

"Your mate." Nera replied, her lips quirking. "He spoke with Eris before, and then he asked me if I would make sure you had a cold drink when you came in."

"Where is he?" Elain asked, her eyes sweeping the room as she searched for Lucien. She hadn't seen him since he and Helion had finished bringing in the ashes. He had told her that he intended to stay with her, uncertain of the reasons for Tamlin coming to assist them, so she knew that whatever he had disappeared to do had to have been important.

"He left with the High Lord right after that." Nera told her, "He said he would be back for the meal."

Elain went with Nera to a seat at the table, and was greeted by a smile from Eris. "How is your garden coming along?" The High Lord of the Autumn Court asked her, "I hear good things…"

"It's beginning…" Elain acknowledged. "There is much to be done." She took a sip from her glass. "Why don't you come and see for yourself…?"

Inclining his head a little, Eris appeared to consider. "I would offer to help…" he said, "But I feel this should be something the Day Court accomplishes on its own…"

"Tamlin has come to help…"

"Yes…" Eris raised an eyebrow, "Apparently so…" he shrugged, "Still, I would perhaps come to see it…"

"There's nothing much to see yet," Elain smiled, "But there will be…"

"No doubt."

A warm hand at the back on Elain's neck sent shivers moving through her and she shuddered pleasantly as she looked up at Lucien. "Petal…" he bent to press a kiss to her cheek as he sank into the empty chair beside her.

"Where have you been?" She asked, slipping a hand into his beneath the table.

"Ensuring we had a delicious breakfast and new kitchen staff." He replied, "And fetching a list of the dead for those trying to complete the name plaques…"

"Ah…" Elain eyed him but then her attention was redirected at the delicious scent of warm pastry. Her mouth watered and there was nothing she could do about it. Around her, the Court's appreciation for the scent was evident, and she could see faeries sitting high in their chairs, craning their necks to try and see as trays were carried into the room.

"A lovely little bakery will henceforth be supplying us with breakfast goods…" Lucien breathed in Elain's ear, and she heard him chuckle at the small needy whine that escaped her lips. She had so very much missed baked goods, and she couldn't even remember the last decent fruit tart she had eaten. Turning her head his way, she grinned at him. She knew that he could see her excitement and she squeezed his hand appreciatively. It was clear he had organised this, and that he had done so knowing that she would absolutely adore having this kind of food served for breakfast for them regularly. "Are you happy?" He asked, and Elain nodded without hesitation.