Chapter 497

Narrowing her eyes critically, Elain eyed the bunch of flowers before her. She twirled the dahlia she held between her fingers, trying to work out where it could be placed in the bunch to best advantage. Smiling then, as she placed it, Elain admired her work for a moment before glancing across the table at Sheera. Her friend had arrived at the palace not long after Feyre had left, with a rather large selection of freshly cut flowers. She had reminded Elain of her idea for Elain to put together a few bunches of flowers to sell, highlighting fact that she had personally arranged them, in the hopes of building Sheera's business a little, and Elain had been only too happy for the distraction.

"What do you think?" She asked her dark-haired friend.

"It is quite colourful." Sheera replied, looking at the arrangement.

"Yes," Elain agreed, smiling at the reds and yellows she had selected for the bunch. "I felt like a bit of colour this morning."

"There's nothing wrong with that." Sheera leaned across the table to bind the bunch with a large red ribbon, and then she pushed an empty vase toward Elain, ready for the next one. Elain fluttered her hands together in a small clap as she looked at the rest of the flowers awaiting her selection.

"I think there are many in the Court who could use a colourful bouquet to brighten their day." She said, picking up a long stemmed lily. Holding the lily for a moment, she looked at the others. There were three or so more lilies, and they were all white. So, Elain considered using the white as a main feature with perhaps softer purples and blues around them. She looked at the vase Sheera had put before her, pleased that she thought that it would be tall enough for what she wanted to do.

"I'd say that you are right about that."

"Are you sure that anyone is going to care about the fact that I arranged these?" Elain found it hard to believe that that would make a difference.

"I've had signs up for a few days now. There have been questions about it. I know more than a few are waiting…"

"That's just so weird." Elain muttered, placing the lilies in the vase. She paused for a moment and then took them out. She would start with the purple and blue for support and then add the lilies at the end.

Sheera shrugged and fiddled with the red bow. "I don't think it's so strange. They see you as a bright spot… and like you said, they need a little brightness right now. Having one of these is a way they can touch that; take it home with them."

Glancing at her friend again, Elain thought about that. It was quite flattering, and she would be lying to herself if she even tried to claim that it didn't touch something inside of her, that she didn't like the idea. "That's kind of nice…"

"It is, isn't it?" Sheera smiled at her. "Now, I told them that I would have at least five arrangements today, and I brought enough flowers that there will be enough left for you to put one together for yourself." Sheera grinned, "I did tell you that you would receive one each time you did this for me."

"You don't need to do that." Elain replied, adjusting the purple flowers she'd just placed in the vase, "I really enjoy this…"

"I can tell." Sheera chuckled, "But you'll have one just the same."

"Thank you." Elain couldn't help the wide smile spreading across her face. She would greatly enjoy having lovely fresh flowers in her room all the time, and Sheera's flowers were truly among the loveliest she had seen. She was still smiling a moment later when Nesta strode into the room. She hadn't seen her sister since she had left her alone with Cassian, and Nesta's face gave nothing away as to how the conversation had gone. "Still decided to stay?"

"Yep." Nesta strode toward the table and sank down into an empty seat. Those silver-blue eyes swept the table, taking in the flowers and the arrangements, and she said nothing further. Elain didn't push it, but just went about continuing her task. Sheera chattered away about her shop and her plans for the future, and Elain kept one eye on Nesta as she worked. As the minutes passed, Nesta's posture eased a little, and she became less rigid as she relaxed.

"I'll bring you some more colourful options next time." Sheera said, clearing the leftover mess from the table as Elain secured the final bunch together. "I'll have some tulips ready…"

"Ohhh…" Elain smiled at her friend, "That sounds lovely." She watched Sheera packing the bouquets carefully into the large basket she had brought with her, leaving one on the table.

"This is for you." Sheera held out the little yellow and white bunch to Elain and Elain took it with a smile. "I will see you in a bit… I should get these back to the store."

"Alright."

"See you both later…" Sheera grinned and hurried for the door, and Elain gave her a small wave.

"So…" She said, turning to look at Nesta.

"So…" Nesta replied, lifting her gaze to meet Elain's. Elain fiddled with the bouquet in her hands, unsure of how to proceed.

"How'd your talk with Cassian go?"

"As I had expected." Nesta readjusted her position on the chair and then slowly got to her feet.

"And how was that?"

"With zero resolution." Nesta said, smoothing her dress down over her slim waist. "I'll stay here… and he will return to the Night Court."

"Did you ask him to stay?"

"No."

"Okay…" Elain continued to fiddle with the flowers. "But…. You… want to be with one another…?"

Nesta was silent for several moments, and then she nodded. "Yes."

"And that's what you spoke about?"

"I had to reassure him that just because I wish to remain here for a while, nothing between us has changed…"

"He thought you changed your mind about him?"

"He was concerned."

"Right… and now?"

"Now I am here and he is in the Night Court."

Elain looked down at the flowers in her hands. It seemed that nothing really had been resolved between Nesta and Cassian, like her sister had said. If Nesta found a place she felt she belonged, that could be her home, would Cassian leave the Night Court to be with her?

As they both moved toward the door, Elain glanced at Nesta from the corner of her eyes. "I'll be working in the Memory Garden for a bit if you wish to join me…"

"I might."

"Here." Elain held the yellow and white bouquet out to her sister, figuring Nesta needed a little brightness in her day. "These are for you."