This is a wild Elucien headcanon…
but please imagine Lucien being in a really dangerous situation with the Autumn court, like something happened and they have him as a prisoner, or unable to leave.
And Elain is there listening to how Lucien could potentially be held captive in a cold cell or even tortured.
And shes there when Eris says the only way to save him is if he has real ties to the Night Court or if he officially becomes a member, and the only way to do that is if he gets mated/married to someone from there, not anyone, but the High Lady’s sister.
And everyone is outraged with what he is suggesting but Elain is suddenly quiet.
And she suddenly says “I will do it” and everyone gapes at her, some try to talk her out of it (possibly Feyre or Nesta) but Rhys just nods.
And they send notice to the Autumn court that they cannot harm Lucien because he is a Night Court citizen, but Beron doesn’t believe it, he demands that Elain goes there so he can determine it.
Chaos, outrage, but she agrees, and she obviously doesn’t go alone. She convinces herself that while she doesn’t owe Lucien anything, she is tired of the bloodshed, the loss, and if she has the power in her hands, she will act. That is all, she couldn’t care less about him. She convinces herself she would be this worried for anyone that is close to her sister, it’s not because shes worried and scared and petrified of something bad happening to him.
They’re in the Forest House, they bring out Lucien who is luckily generally unharmed but Elain looks at the binds in his wrists and her whole body reacts to the sudden urge to protect. Beron takes one sniff at them and knows it is true. They’re mates. But Beron says an unfulfilled mating bond is not valid (listen idk about these fae laws bear with me) they need to marry. Elain declares that was the plan all along. Lucien is shocked. (I just imagine what must be going through his head seeing his mate stand before Beron in the same room where Jesminda was killed)
They let Lucien go with his mate but they have to stay in the Forest House until everything gets resolved. Elain and Lucien are shoved into a room, no more chains on him, but he doesn’t understand any of it.
Both of them are standing awkwardly in the room. Lucien is staring at her as if she has grown ears, still shocked, still reliving moments, furious at them for being so dumb as to risk themselves for him. He supposed he really was a big asset for Rhys to have done this. But her… why was she here? Why did she put herself in this position?
“Did they make you do this?” He says through his teeth.
She muses on what to say. “No” she gets offended with the assumption that she can’t make decisions for herself. “I agreed to this and came on my own free will”
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“Because I’m tired of people dying, I wouldn’t forgive myself if I could have done something” A silence and for some forsaken reason Elain has the need to add. “This doesn’t mean what you think it means”
Something irks at Lucien then, and the awoken nerves on his body make him respond to that. “And please tell, Lady, what do I think it means?”
Elain clenches her fists. “That I’ve changed my mind about you… about this” She signals between them. “This is just temporary, out of necessity”
Lucien just stares at her.
“I never entertained that you did, I can assure you.” It is easier to turn on her, on this beautiful female that is putting herself at risk for him, than to be hurt at the continuing rejection from her. “You’ve always just assumed that I’m some brute fae that wants to steal you away, let me tell you now that we’re speaking frankly, that its not the case. I can’t control the pull from the bond, but I have no interest in pursuing a female who doesn’t want me”
That sends Elain to retaliate. “What about the gifts then, was that not pursuing?” She cocks her head arrogantly.
“I was bringing them to Feyre as well. That was me being polite, but guess you don’t know the first thing about that”
“You are one to talk about politeness when I’m here risking my life for your neck and this is how you treat me” She takes one step closer.
“I never asked you to do it” He mirrors her and steps closer with his broad hands clenched in fists.
“I will just let you die next time then”
“Fine by me, as long as I don’t have to endure you shoving it on my face”
“I’ve been called worse” A sly, angry smile creeps at one corner of his mouth. She suddenly realizes they’re breathing on each other’s face.
“And all this time I thought you were a gentleman” She summons her anger to keep focused.
“You will learn I can be a gentleman, Elain” Her name on his lips, for the first time. “But I can be so much worse too”
His breath is hot on her face, their hearts already beating fast.
“You admit you were pretending then, to win me over”
A sharp breathy laugh from him. “If I wanted to win you over, I would not have tried to be gentle”
Her lips form a thin line as she holds herself, the pull, his words, the sudden effect of his mismatched gaze intense on her face.
“You shouldn’t have done this” He says quietly, roughly, his eyes showing something beyond just annoyance, she sees the fear in them. She pushes it back.
“What’s done is done” She says. “We will pretend, see this through, and then we’re done”
She’s startled. Her nostrils flare. She ignores the outrageous pet name he just used on her. “I’m going to take a bath, I suggest you do the same, you stink” She begins to walk away and stops herself “I mean after I’m done” She frowns as she strolls away.
He watches her with sudden amusement.
He’s scared, hes pissed and hurt. He’s tired. But something inside him sparks, and he can’t really put a name to it.