Acotar oneshots

Lucien x Elain

A quiet humming sounded from deep in the garden as Elain plucked flowers for the vases at the House of Wind. Lucien took silent steps, careful not to startle her, as he knew that she would be quite far into her work. He rounded the corner of the little greenhouse Feyre had built when she had the estate constructed. on the other side of the small stream that flowed through the garden she kneeled in the dirt, gazing at pink hydrangeas cradled in delicate hands.

He stepped of the little white bridge and sat beside her. "They're beautiful. Are those the ones you planted in November?" She glanced up, nodding. "Look!" She pointed to a thin petal where a tiny green spider crept. "Isn't it cute?"

"I think you are the only person to say that about a spider."

She smirked at him. "Whats up?"

"You went out here almost three hours ago. Just wanted to make sure that you are okay."

She placed the beautiful flower on the cobblestones and wrapped her arms around him. "I didn't even hear you. You really are a fox."
"I am indeed. But you're a like a little bunny."
"Opposites attract."

"Mm." He kissed her on the cheek. Once, twice, thrice. "I must confess I didn't only come out to check on you. Rhys sent me out to tell you we are having dinner at the House of Wind in an hour."
"An hour?" She cried. "But its barley..."
"Five o'clock?"
"Ah."   

She let out a long sigh. "I'll go home and get ready now. Will Feyre fly us up?" He nodded, fiddling with her hair. "You should plait your hair." She smiled at him. Elain loved the way her was always so nervous around her, even though he knew she loved him. "Only if you do." Lucien raised his eyebrows. "Maybe. I usually save plaits for dangerous stuff. Y'know, wars and rescuing cursed queens."

After a moment Lucien had winnowed them back to their little apartment. Elain had moved in a few months ago, and Lucien had put in a lot of effort to make her feel at home. There was no garden, but she kept many houseplants. 

"How is Vassa?"
"She's alright. Haven't spoken in a while, she pretty busy being a ruler and all, but Jurians been sending letters. I'm going to visit them in a few weeks."
"Did Jurian finally tell her how he feels?"
"No. Stupid guy thinks she doesn't like him back." He laughed slightly and shook his head. 

~

Elain wore a long, flowy dress, the same color as the hydrangeas she had picked earlier. Just like Lucien had asked her, she plaited her hair into two long braids. 

She met Lucien on the roof. "Hey, you didn't plait your hair!"
"I said maybe!"

Feyre landed on the roof, her long, night blue dress flowing out behind her. 

"Which one of you lucky fellas is flying first?"
"You go, Lu." Elain gave him a smile as Feyre wrapped an arm around his waist. 

As they shot into the air, Elain turned to the sprawling city that had become her home. It had been hard to adjust, but after she had finally thrown that iron ring into the Sidra, it was like she had been unchained, like she no longer had to feel like she had to miss the human lands. 

Accepting the mating bond had been the best decision of her life. Living there, in this elegant apartment with Lucien, she was happier than ever. 

Lights flickered across Velaris as she heard a quiet thump behind her. Feyre was back

"Ready to go?" She gave her a wide smile. "I am."

~

Stars began to appear as they landed on the largest balcony the House of Wind had. It hung of the enormous dining  room, filled with delicate rugs and cabinets of silverware and crockery, that rattled slightly as she walking past to the table. She had always been grateful that they rattled; when she had been living there after being turned, it was one of the things that reminded her it was always real. Even if she hated the thought, it helped her accept the fact and begin living again.

As she slipped into her seat beside Lucien where he sat at next to the head of the table, she frowned at the empty vases on the table. "I will put new flowers in these soon." She said, more to herself than anyone else. 

"I don't think its bad without the flowers. I can see you guys better this way!" Mor laughed. Elain just shook her head. "Ready?" Feyre asked as she settled at the head of the table. Opposite Lucien,  Rhys gently rocked Nyx back and forth. 

Feyre clapped her hands a few times, and dished appeared all up the table. Duck garnished in herbs and lemons, scallop potatoes, beef tenderloin steak. Every dinner dish you could think of. Sitting across from Elain, Cassian began piling some of everything onto his plate and Nestas. At her raised eyebrows, he just grunted "Protein." Before stuffing his face.

"You are such a pig." Mor stated from Nestas other side. "Maybe," He said around his food. "But at least I'm happy." 

Azriel chuckled from where he sat opposite Feyre, the other end of the table. 

Elain eagerly bit into her lobster tail, gardening must have made her hungrier than she realized.  But on her other side, Amren sat unmoving, staring at the spread. 

"What?" Elain asked.
Amren still didn't move. "Is this still about your whole blood thing?" She asked. 
"There is no 'blood thing', girl, I'm just struggling to adjust."
"Its been over a year!" Mor cried. Amren fixed her with a hard stare.

Beside Amren, Varian let a long breath, and put a small bit of lobster on her plate. She frowned at it. "I don't like seafood."
He smiled grimly. "You don't like any food, so I don't care. Eat the lobster." 

She sighed, but relented. Chewing quietly, she smiled slightly. "Its fine." But when Elain offered her the dish of lobster, she piled it onto her plate eagerly. 

~

Hours later, the sun long fallen below the horizon, she stood beside Lucien on the balcony. The laughter of everyone inside flowed out, like music. Finally, Elain felt at home.