Chapter 519
Warmth moved through Elain, and she knew that the smile across her face was almost manic. Her cheeks hurt from how hard she had been smiling, but she made no effort to stop. It was pride, she knew. Pride as she watched Lucien standing beside his father, greeting Kalias and Viviane and, although she knew that he was friends with Viviane and had been for a long time, he was doing everything the Heir should be doing and saying and he was doing it perfectly. After the Winter Court had been properly welcomed, Thesan and his Court had arrived within moments, and Elain had stood next to Ashk as they had watched the whole thing together.
Elain had somehow been surprised by the show that Helion had put on, although she wasn't sure how or why she had been surprised. Perhaps a part of her had gotten used to the informal and familiar way he was around the palace and with them and his Court. But these visitors were not his Court. She also knew that Helion loved putting on a show, and she should not have been surprised that he had taken this chance despite the way that he had insisted Lucien be responsible for the organisation of the whole thing. The High Lord was not taking credit for it, though. Elain had noticed that, at every given opportunity, Helion reminded everyone that it was Lucien who had done this, and it was Lucien who was the reason they were all gathering. That made her smile, too.
"Lucien seems different." Viviane had come to stand beside Elain.
"You think so?" Elain turned her head to look at the blond female.
"Yes… somehow…"
Looking at her mate, Elain wondered what it was that Viviane was seeing. "He's… grown more confident in himself…" She said softly, and Viviane made a small noise of agreement.
"Yes… he seems somehow… more…"
"More?" Elain glanced at Viviane again.
"I wonder," Viviane said, her eyes on Lucien, "is it the Bond, perhaps… or is it being here…?"
"Being named Heir?" Elain asked, frowning a little.
"Being able to be himself, and to know who that is…"
"Perhaps it is both." Ashk put in gently, and Elain hadn't realised that the older female had been listening to the conversation at all. "Simply being with Elain, even before the Bond was accepted had impacted upon Lucien. I could see that in him when you first visited the Autumn Court. He has continued to grow since then."
Smiling again, Elain remembered the visions she had seen of Lucien's future and what he would become. "He will continue to do so."
"Oh, I have no doubt of that." Viviane commented. "It is quite pleasing to see."
"I'm pleased that you can see it." Elain smiled at her friend, pride moving though her again. It was wonderful that others could see in Lucien what she could. She loved that it wasn't just something she had noticed, but that it was plain for anyone who looked at him. Viviane hadn't been in the Day Court for half an hour and she had noticed how Lucien had grown, and Elain knew that everyone would be able to see it soon enough. The Courtiers here had begun to see it, and now all of the Courts of Prythian would see it, through their High Lords. Elain watched as Lucien moved down the steps to Thesan who greeted him like a friend, and then Lucien was looking across at her. He extended a hand and she knew that she was being asked to join them.
"Excuse me." She said softly to Viviane and Ashk before moving across the Throne Room to her mate.