āElriel are just sex/lust not love.ā One, Two, Three, Four,Ā
How can you ship something problematic?
How can you have hope for Elriel?
Elainās Agency and wants, not being respected.
āElriel are a distraction before they go to their mates.āĀ OneĀ , Two, Three, Four (in comparison to Chaol/Nesryn), Five,
What was I expecting from his POV.
āAzriel was upset about Gwyn not Elain.āĀ
Do you think Elain belongs in the Spring/Autumn court?
Are you not afraid of Elriel not happening?
Az POV Opinions, One , Two, Three,
āThe sisters are not ending with all three brothersā¦ā
Opinions on the Rhys situation.
Gwynriel in relation to plotĀ vs ElrielĀ Ā (Another)
Do you think he just wants a mate not Elain?Ā & Another
āNesta thought about a threesome.āĀ
Anti-Elucien Thoughts as a result of the question. One, Two, Three, Four,
Lack of Elriel scenes after Solstice
āShe will marry for love & beauty.ā
Preliminary Questions
Fav acosf MOMENTSSSSS
That is a good chunk of my recent replies, I will keep adding as they become relevant, there are more varied answers, theories and characters if you want all that just check my replies tags!
Also some other just random posts that were informative/I liked, there are so many out there this was just the first I could find going back 10 pages on my tumblr.
Gwynriel As FriendsĀ &Ā Part Two,Ā āAzriel issa too hornyā,Ā Azriel isā¦[Insert whatever]
āAināt nobody telling Azriel Bat Boy what to doā,Ā Misconceptions
Sibling to just Sex in 0.2 Seconds,Ā Azrielās Shadows and their significance!
Yessss! This is exactly why I feel it will be Az and Elain at the end. THIS for every individual who says why! All these responses have analyzed multiple theories and addresses Gwyns role with open unbiased eyes. It just doesn't make sense to keep playing the Mate angle if you wanna keep people intrigued. There are too many breadcrumbs about a rejecting a mate and many references to having a choice. Elain has been disregarded for far too long and completely underestimated. Stop babying her! Its only logical that its her time to shine vs being tossed aside again for the sake of someone else's story much less a new character (I mean this respectfully) Also MAAS said each book would be a couple, the fact of Elains story still being untold combined with Azs bonus chapter make me believes it highly likely it will be them in which the next book focuses on. Possibly Mor afterwards. People talking about shadows and the necklace, AZ needs grow as a character so he can finally step out of the these shadows which have been his closest companions. He hides what he feels behind them. In order to be seen and loved for all that he is and can be, he needs to step into the light. Thats now where we find elain ready to provide what he feels he doesn't deserve. As for the necklace, the priestess saw his sadness in giving up this item and while I think she understood he wanted someone to appreciate it, Gwyn since thats the only one he knew there, I wonder if she might have held onto it instead and thats why we never saw it on Gwyn.
Till the End of the Moon | Ten thousand years ago, all Gods die after killing the ancient Devil God. Now, a new Devil God appeared abruptly. We donāt even know his name or origin.
I read 3 stories of elriel and I'm dying to find them. Pretty sure they were on archive of our own. Might be posted here too.
1st was the most recent. Elain and azriel both have shadows except I think hers were gold. The author gave them a nickname that made me laugh. They were chasing each other last time I read it.
2nd. A heartbreaking story about azriel being injured and forgets elain. He sad he can't love her because he has a wife. Everyone feels bad for her but she sees him everyday.
3rd. Last story was a cute one and part of connecting one shots i think. Azriel and elain were secretly married and az is asleep on elains lap. Feyre and someone else watches how innocent and vulnerable her is with her. Our tired bat boy! He wakes and they unmask thier wedding bands and the bat boys turn all mushy.
(This post will include all the visions elain had in acowar)
Idk a lot about seer abilities but based on what we saw of elainās powers, it shows that:
Theyāre able to see the future: āTwin ravens are coming, one white and one black.ā
Theyāre able to see the unknown (something that already happened): āI saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.ā
All the visions elain talked about might help predict next bookās plot (or just small mentions that might take place)
I will add some of my thoughts with each vision (my thoughts are not always right cuz apparently some people donāt get it)
Vision 1: The sea & heartbeats
āI can see so very far now. All the way to the sea.ā
āI can hear your heartbeatāif I listen carefully. I can hear her heartbeat, too.ā
Now elain said this while looking at the āsea beyond Sidraā so you might think sheās just trying her fae abilities but feyre knew that was not the case in the next line:
āI can hear the sea. Even at night. Even in my dreams. The crashing seaāand the screams of a bird made of fire.ā
āWill I hear the earthworms writhing through the soil? Or the stretching of roots? Will the bird of fire come to sit in the trees and watch me?ā
We all thought she went mad but well..it was just her seer abilities and that led the IC to find vassa.
Now with elain having visions about vassa and hearing her heartbeats...are they connected somehow? Because yes vassa helped in the war but I donāt think that was the only reason for the visions.
Vision 2: Through the stone
The very uncomfortable conversation between Lucien and elain led to some visions about a possible journey
While reading the quotes below i want you to notice how when elain is facing Lucien, she talks normally about things that already happened, like how he betrayed them, or how she remembers him from feyreās stories (in case anyone wants to read it: itās acowar chapter 24 may god be with you)
But when she faces the windows again she starts talking about all the stuff that doesnāt make sense.
āShe looked awayātoward the windows. āI can hear your heart,ā she said quietly.ā
āWhen I sleep,ā she murmured, āI can hear your heart beating through the stone.ā She angled her head, as if the city view held some answer. āCan you hear mine?ā
I donāt think she was talking to lucien, especially since in the previous chapters she was talking about heatbeats.
Some elucien stans use the quotes above to support their ship, but knowing that previously elain heard vassaās heartbeat....plus even lucien doubted elain was addressing him:
āHe wasnāt sure if she truly meant to address him, but he said, āNo, lady. I cannot.ā
She just stared somewhere far through the window and mentioned how she could hear heartbeats through the stone, which reminds me of ACOSF when nesta was in the prison:
āShe stared into the darkness above. āI think they used it to ā¦ to trap their enemies and their enemiesā children into the stone itself.ā
Again she isnāt trying her new fae abilities, she saw something no one can, and we now know that some people are trapped in stone (honestly i was waiting for nesta to free them but i guess sjm is saving it for later)
Vision 3: He saw me
āNo one ever does. No one ever lookedānot really.ā A bramble of words. Her voice strained to a whisper. āHe did. He saw me. He will not now.ā
Whenever i read this Iām like elain, honeyāyou mean to tell me the man who rejected you? the man who didnāt accept your new self? Something you couldnāt control.....He saw you? How in the living hel-
But then i read this post and it made sense, especially since no one guessed the suriel was talking about a different highlord, so why are we sure that elain was talking about graysen?
Considering elain is a seer, she either saw the future or the unknown. Now who is the only character who saw her?
āIt made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not ā¦ Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.ā
This makes me think elain was shown the future, and saw herself with someone who understood her, but something happened he disappeared / died and he no longer sees her.
Vision 4: cassian dying
āHe snapped your wings, broke your bones.ā āItāll take more than that to kill me,ā āElain only said to Cassian, āNo, it will not.ā
āNot twenty feet away, Cassian was on the ground. Wingsāsnapped in spots. Blood leaking from them. Bone jutted from his thigh. His Siphons were dull. Empty.ā
Looking back, elainās vision came true. That mightāve been the scene she saw and as a result she saved the day by killing the king.
But i added this just in case it wasnāt the scene she was talking about.....and to give you more anxiety :)
Vision 5: koschei
āThey sold herāto ā¦ to some darkness, to some ā¦ sorcerer-lord ā¦ā She shook her head. āI can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything ā¦ save for them. The girls. He keeps other girlsāothers so like herābut she ā¦ By day, she is one form, by night, human again.ā
āMor leaned forward. āDo you know why the other queens cursed herāsold her to him?ā
āElain studied the table. āNo. Noāthat is all mist and shadow.ā
Well, there are many theories about koschei (donāt know how you guys do it) and Iām not going to come up with more theories about my dude, but based on my quick research that onyx box contains his soul (or not? Please heās so complicated) and the fact that elain saw it...
Here are also few questions:
Why was vassa sold and cursed? What did the queens gain from that? And why was this truth unknown to elain?
Vision 6: Vassa and Lucien
Right when Lucien said that heāll bring vassa back, this happened:
āElain now watched Lucien warily. Blinking every now and then. She revealed no hint of whatever she might be seeingāsensing. None.ā
Elain saw something, and it wasnāt him dying because he came back unharmed. So what did she see?
This whole scene screams āgoodbyeā to me, because after this scene Lucien found his band of exiles. This was their last chance, and elain saw it all.
Even feyreāour baddest bishāsaw it:
āA bird of flame ā¦ and a lord of fire. I wondered if theyād found each other yet.ā
A bonus vlucien moment cuz why not (this scene was the last Lucien scene in acowar):
āVassa still remained inside, chatting with Lucien animatedly. I supposed that if she only had until dawn before turning back into that firebird, she wanted to make every minute count. Lucien, surprisingly, was chuckling, his shoulders loose and his head angled while he listened.ā
Also how did papa Archeron convince koschei to free vassa (temporary)?
Anyway like miss Morrigan said āThere is a reason why Elain is seeing these things.ā
I just wanted to include a little note that this is a theory post ! So, these are just my thoughts, the things included in this post may or may not happen ! :)
Dalgan Hounds:
āLife and death and rebirth. Sun and moon and dark. Rot and bloom and bones. Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.ā (ACOMAF - Chapter 57)
(the pink text is whatās referring to Elain)
Please - keep the above statement (āHello, fanged beast and trembling fawnā) in your mind while reading the rest of this post !
While discussing the above scene with some friends the other night, I began to have an inkling as to what the āfanged beastā part of Elainās prognostication is referring to.
So, after doing some research, this is what I found:
In the vision that Lanthys shows Nesta in the prison, she observes these āenormous onyx beastsāscaledā, noting that theyāre the same beasts that are carved into the Hewn Cityās pillars.
āShe saw herself on a black throne, a matching crown in her unbound hair. Enormous onyx beastsāscaled, like those sheād seen on the Hewn Cityās pillarsālay at the foot of the dais.ā ... āA fourth object lay on the altar, veiled in shadow. But she couldnāt make out more than a gleam of age-worn bone āā (ACOSF - Chapter 54)
In this vision she also glimpses the fourth trove item - the āage-worn boneā thatās āveiled in shadowā.
After Nesta + Cassian visit the Prison and acquire the Harp, they return to Velaris to speak with the other members of the IC.
Upon their arrival, the pair begin to relay the events that unfolded while they were searching for the desired Dread Trove item (and essentially battling for their lives) and along the line, the Daglan and their hounds are mentioned:
āThe Daglan delighted in terrorizing the Fae and humans under their control. The Wild Hunt was a way to keep all of us in line. Theyād gather a host of their fiercest, most merciless warriors and grant them free rein to kill as they pleased. The Daglan possessed mighty, monstrous beastsāhounds, they called them, though they didnāt look like the hounds we knowāthat they used to run prey to ground before they tortured and killed them. Itās a terrible history, and much of it might be elaborated myths.ā āThe hounds looked like the beasts in the Hewn City,ā Nesta said quietly. (ACOSF - Chapter 55)
Rhys describes these hounds as āmighty, monstrous beastsā and says that they āused to run prey to ground before they tortured and killed themā.
Nesta then notes that the Dalgan hounds were the beasts that she saw in Lanthysā vision:
āLanthys showed me a vision. Of ā¦ what he and I might be. Together. We ruled in a palace, king and queen with the Trove, and at our feet sat those hounds. They looked like the scaled beasts carved into the Hewn Cityās pillars.ā Even Rhys had no answer to that. Cassianās jaw tightened. āSo even while he tried to kill you, he was trying to seduce you?ā Nestaās stomach churned, but she refrained from mentioning how graphic that vision had been. āThere was a fourth object in the vision, but it was in shadowāwas there ever a fourth part of the Trove? All I could make out was a bit of ancient bone.ā (ACOSF - Chapter 55)
Nesta (once again) goes on to state that the beasts that she saw in her vision - the Dalgan hounds - resembled the āscaled beasts carved into the Hewn Cityās pillarsā.
She then (once again) mentions that the fourth Dread Trove item also appeared in her vision - it was āin shadowā and the only thing that she could make out was āa bit of ancient boneā.
āGreat, scaled black beasts were carved into those gates, all coiled together in a nest of claws and fangs, sleeping and fighting, some locked in an endless cycle of devouring each other. Between them flowed vines of jasmine and moonflowers. I could have sworn the beasts seemed to writhe in the silvery glow of the bobbing faelights throughout the mountain-city. The Gates of Eternityāthatās what Iād call the painting that flickered in my mind.ā (ACOMAF - Chapter 42)
In ACOMAF - when the carved pillars of the Hewn City are described - Feyre notes that āgreat, scaled black beasts were carved into those gates, all coiled together in a nest of claws and fangs, sleeping and fighting, some locked in an endless cycle of devouring each other.ā
Also in ACOMAF, we receive the message from the Book of Breathings that I stated at the beginning of this post (and asked you to remember, but just incase you didnāt Iām including it again): āHello, fanged beast and trembling fawnā.
While Feyre is observing the gates of the Hewn City, she also notes that āvines of jasmine and moonflowersā flowed between the beasts.
Now - who was described as having a ājasmineā scent in ACOSF ? Elain.
āElain was in the private library. Nesta knew it before sheād cleared the stairs, covered in dust from the library. Her sisterās delicate scent of jasmine and honey lingered in the red-stoned hall like a promise of spring, a sparkling river that she followed to the open doors of the chamber.ā (ACOSF - Chapter 17)
So, what if Elain will either be able to control (or perhaps awaken) these Dalgan hounds, or even become one herself ?
TLDR: The Dalgan hounds are described as being āblack beastsā with āclaws and fangsā, which would fit with the BoBās āHello, fanged beastā statement. This makes me think that Elain will have some sort of relationship / connection with the hounds.
Once again, I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that this is just a theory of mine and that itās fine if you donāt agree / donāt find this to be plausible. To each their own ! :)
Perhaps this is just my view on the situation and Iām being biased because this is my theory, but I donāt think that itās a coincidence that in chapter 55 of ACOSF we receive mentions of the Daglanās beastlike hounds and the ābit of ancient boneā that was veiled in shadows - both of which relate to the Book of Breathingās foretellings about Elain.
Bones:
āLife and death and rebirth. Sun and moon and dark. Rot and bloom and bones. Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me.ā (ACOMAF - Chapter 57)
In ACOSF, we learned that the Dread Trove items cannot be located by those they do not wish to be found by:
āMade objects tend to not wish to be found by just anyone,ā Amren cautioned. āThat they have faded from memory, that even I didnāt think of them immediately in the fight against Hybern, suggests that perhaps they willed it that way. Wanted to stay hidden. True things of power have such gifts.ā āYou say that as if the objects have a sentience,ā Cassian said. āThey do,ā Amren said, storms drifting across her eyes. āThey were Made in a time when wild magic still roamed the earth, and the Fae were not masters of all. Made objects back then tended to gain their own self-awareness and desires. It was not a good thing.ā Amrenās face clouded with memory, and a chill whispered over Nestaās spine.ā (ACOSF - Chapter 20)
If Nesta was supposed to find the fourth Trove item, the āancient bit of boneā wouldāve allowed her to do so - she wouldāve already found it in her own book.
āWhen Briallyn was Made, it likely removed from her the Dread Troveās glamour, for lack of a better term. Recognized her as kin. Where she might have glanced over a mention of the items before and never thought twice, now it stuck. Or perhaps called to her, presented itself in a dream.ā All of them, all at once, looked at Nesta. āYou,ā Amren said quietly, āare the same. So is Elain.ā (ACOSF - Chapter 20)
ACOSF was Nestaās book, so as I mentioned above, if she was supposed to find the fourth trove item then she wouldāve done so already. Who is left thatās been made and has the ability to find other made objects and hasnāt received her book yet? Elain.
āNesta stiffened. āIf theyāre all enchanting you to forget, how is it that Azriel was able to remember and bear the information here?ā āPerhaps once you learn of it, recognize it, the spell is broken,ā Amren said. āOr perhaps the Dread Trove wants us to know of it now, for some dark reason of its own.ā The hair on Nestaās arms rose. Cassian shifted in his seat. āSo we track down the Dread Troveāhow?ā Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, āUsing me.ā (ACOSF - Chapter 20)
I believe that the scene above is one of the biggest indicators that Elain + Azriel will be the ones to hunt for the fourth trove item in ACOTAR 5.
First, we get confirmation that Azriel is able to remember the information regarding the Trove - it doesnāt erase itself from his memory.
Then, we have the question of how theyāre supposed to track down the Dread Trove items, and at that moment Elain walks into the room and declares that theyāll use her to do so (which we havenāt seen come to fruition yet).
To me, the information and foreshadowing above makes it quite clear that the next book will focus on Elain + Azriel and their journey to find the fourth trove item, (their journey as a couple), etc.
Both of the items that I discussed are featured in Lanthysā vision, but were not dealt with in Nestaās book - leaving it open for Elain to search for the fourth Trove item and acquire the Dalgan hounds in ACOTAR 5.
TLDR: ACOTAR 5 is Elain + Azrielās book, Elain will be the one to find the fourth Trove item, Elain is connected to the story in numerous ways (she even had visions about Koscheiās onyx box, but I didnāt mention it in this post).
Not officially part of elriel month but this just came to me when I watching and I had to share. Especially when it reminded me of when she asked about him flying. ššā¤
Ok so for people saying Elain is not gonna be with Azriel because of her anatomy, shame on you. If Sarah decided this it would send a bad message to those who experience infertility. Also reminder SJM was adopted. I'm not saying Gwyn and Az won't happen. I'm saying if you are using this as a reason justify your ship, then shame on you.
Let me remind you that in a court of wings and ruin, Rhys says that Azriel taught him that its the family you make, not the one you born into. So with this is mind, I dont think Az will reject someone because she can't give him children.
I feel like SJM's live yesterday has made me more sure than ever of Elriel being endgame, especially when she said that we'll get a scene of Azriel singing.
Do you guys remember these quotes?
I talk a bit about these in this post if you'd like to read it!
So I think it's obvious they refer to the 3 Archeron sisters, teasing us about their fates.
"Rot and bloom and bones" - Let's talk about the word choice of 'rot' and 'bloom'. What do we know that does these things? Flowers. And who in ACOTAR is associated with flowers? š
"Sing me" - Not only is Azriel a shadowsinger, but he has the actual ability to sing and we'll get a scene including this, therefore hinting that this refers to him.
Some people believe that as Azriel was revealed to have a singing scene, it means he'll sing with Gwyn but as I said, I think it links to the quotes above and they definitely don't refer to herš¤·āāļø
What is past is present: Azriel and Elain, Helion and Lady of Autumn Court
This post is going to be a long one. I will be talking about parallels between Helion - Lady of Autumn Court - Beron and Azriel - Elain - Lucien situation. How their relationships mirror each other, how the blood duel mentioned in ACOSF and ACOWAR will come to an end, but also how the first triangle was used as a plot device in ACOWAR. I believe it is not a coincidence that SJM decided to put these scenes and histories in the same book with such a short span of time passing between things happening on the pages of their story. I would like to say that this post is a pro Elriel meta, so if they are not your cup of tea please scroll past this. Many thanks to Gardening Tools, especially @silverlinedeyes !
We are going to start with the Lady of Autumn Court and the scene at the High Lordās council. She is there with her husband, Beron and as the conversation surrounding Hybern increases in intensity, we are presented with a bit of background information about the Lady.
Lady of the Autumn Court had 2 sisters that died during Hybern's soldiers' attack. We got to see another family of three sisters, two of them dying for their sister. What's even more important is a mention of Hybern's war camps and how it's very unlikely for anyone to survive their time there.
Here Beron taunts Kallias by telling his mate that Hybern and his people probably torture and abuse women before killing them. (Please be sure to remember that because we're going to go back to this notion later in this post.)
Another big insight about Lady's life and this particular accident comes from no one else but Helion.
Few things that are very important to mention:
- she had already given birth to a few of her children
- Hybern directly attacked the estate they were in
- her sisters let her run away because they loved her
- she tried to fight and stay with them till they convinced her to run
- the beasts sent by Hybern tailed her and finally cornered her in a trap
What Feyre says in this particular scene - about Helion knowing too many details holds great importance for the further quotes. We also get to know that, in fact, it was Helion who rescued the Lady - not only saved but found her. The setup, the build-up and the fact that it wasn't her "husband" that came for her are the main things I wish to bring attention to, as we are going to analyze different scenes from the same book with this knowledge.
He could have ended it differently, yet he didn't. Why? The question seems to be imprinted in Feyre's mind as she tries to connect the dots and points she was given, just like us readers. I do believe that what we are being presented with is the notion of the mating bond. Helion's rage at Lady's attack projects typical mate behavior - such as unnecessary violence against the ones who dared to hurt their mate. It also goes with the information of him finding her - how was that possible? Her husband wasn't there, it was Helion who essentially knew that something was wrong. How? Well, by applying the mating bond in this picture we can easily deduct few things: Helion probably felt her distraught through the bond, was able to locate her and save her.
Another insight given by Helion is about Lady's relationship with Beron. Not only it gives us information about her young age (cue to Rhysand's mother and how her young age was also brought up as something very disturbing and not in favour of some mating bonds), but also we get to know that her marriage was arranged. Just like the reader, Feyre is left with these very personal insights and detailed descriptions - so she presses Helion more, to speak, to see if her suspicions are correct.
Another person jumps into the conversation and it is Mor who hands the information of a possible romance between Lady and Helion. We learn that both of them met at an equinox ball before she was proposed with an arranged marriage with Beron. Feyre's curiosity is evident in the way she perks up at Mor's words. Helion on the other hand counter-attacks and provides us with the political background of the story. The Lady was basically left without a choice when it came to her love life.
Helion saved Beron's wife during the war. And Beron didn't know and still doesn't have an idea that it was Helion who saved the Lady.
Feyre tries to fish for more information - and Helion seems to be very reluctant to answer her question about his relationship with the Lady. It makes us think that, in fact, their relationship was somehow forbidden, being kept in secret. Moreover, what's even more interesting is the fact that we suddenly have a shift of focus on another person - Azriel. We are deliberately made aware of the fact that Azriel is listening to this important conversation.
We are starting to see Helion becoming slightly less humorous - Feyre can spot the difference between his usual self and the way he delivers his question. It suggests that the relationship and potential mating bond is a very touchy subject for him.
Their forbidden relationship went on for decades. They were secret lovers till Beron found about them. We see that contrast between the Lady with Helion - all brightness and smiles, Lady with Beron - withdrawn, timid, scared.
I clenched my teeth. āIf you were her lover, why didnāt you stop it?ā The wrong thing to say. Utterly wrong, by the dark fury that rippled across Helionās face.
āBeron is a High Lord, and she is his wife, mother of his brood. She chose to stay. Chose. And with the protocols and rules, Lady, you will find that most situations like the one you were in do not end well for those who interfere.ā
Helion reacts with anger at Feyre's inquiry about his lack of participation in the case of the Lady's wellbeing. "Dark fury rippling across Helion's face" is also an interesting word choice. Again we are reminded that their romance was meant to end that way due to the notions of choice and politics.
āBeron never called you out for it?ā
āTo publicly do so would be to admit that his possession made a fool of him. So we continue our little dance, these centuries later.ā I somehow doubted that beneath that roguish charm and irreverence, Helion felt it was a dance at all.
Helion reminds us about politics that bind different Courts - in this case, we can easily see that the matter of choice in this example ends with Lady choosing duty over love. It also supplies us with an idea that if Helion would have wanted to fight for Lady he would need to participate in a blood duel. Yet, the Lady chose Beron - we don't know why Helion probably was left alone with the same question. However, by analyzing this situation I believe that Lady knew about the possibility of a blood duel happening she didn't want her potential mate to be hurt. So, in the end, she opted for a life in a loveless marriage with Beron. Furthermore, we have Rhysand and Feyre coming to the conclusion that Lucien is Helion's son - and he is the fruit of the loving relationship between Helion and the Lady.
What does this mean, though?
Nothingāultimately nothing. Other than the fact that Lucien might be Helionās sole heir.
And that ā¦ it changed nothing in this war. Especially not with Lucien on the continent, hunting that enchanted queen. A bird of flame ā¦ and a lord of fire. I wondered if theyād found each other yet.
The usage of the word "this war" is not a coincidence, as well as Rhysand's poor prediction of the future. Because as we know, right now - it changes a lot. Elain being his mate bounds him to the Night Court, so losing that relationship puts the Court at risk. Especially now, when Lucien doesn't know that Helion is his father. Another very important addition is the part about Lucien and Vassa. Feyre has prophetic tendencies and her thoughts about both Vassa and Lucien always focus on their... relationship. Not to mention that it was brought up after that whole conversation with Helion.
With all these things above, I would like to move on to Elriel parallels. Starting with the Cauldron kidnapping Elain. Please bear in mind that this scene happens after the meeting with Helion, after learning about the story of Lady's and Helion's romance.
But Azriel asked softly, āWhat about Elain?ā
The one who noticed that Elain was absent was Azriel, we can speculate whatever it was his intuition, his shadows, or perhaps some kind of feeling that made him aware of her absence. Yet, it's not a coincidence that another male character, the one who doesn't have an official mate is the only one who either felt/realized that she was taken. That's the first parallel I would love to bring to your attention - Helion was the one who found and rescued the Lady.
Now, the situation is almost identical - Hybern attacks via Cauldron takes Elain to the war camps.
And what Hybern would do to Elain, might already be doingā
From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, āIām getting her back.ā
Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azrielās hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, āThen you will die.ā
Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, āIām getting her back.ā
Azriel reacts with rage, a silent debate raging within him. He is battling something deep inside him, which is obstructed from the reader's point of view. I wonder why? He is the one who swears to find her and rescue her. Also, worth mentioning how Feyre seems to realize the graveness of the situation - as if she can remember the conversation she had with Helion about what happened with sisters of the Lady of Autumn Court. War camps. Nobody would walk away from them alive.
We looked to Rhys, to Cassian and Nesta, to Morāright as she appeared, breathless, between the tent flaps. Her eyes went to me, then the shadowsinger, and flared with shock and fearā
In this scene we also have Mor. Mor was present during Helion's conversation and gave input about their love and forbidden relationship. Mor that possess the power of Truth. Is it possible that Mor knew about the mating bond between Helion and the Lady? Is it possible that Mor knows about the truth of the mating bond between Lucien and Elain? Does Mor know about the potential mating bond between Azriel and Elain? There are so many questions and we don't get an answer. Mor keeps secrets, which is understandable yet it provides a whole new aspect of Mor being the one who realizes what's happening. (Not to mention that Mor is always present when Elain is with Lucien, assessing them.)
Screaming.
A shadow gripped my shoulder, reminding me not to run.
Ianthe would not runāwould not show alarm. My mouth went dry as that scream sounded again. I couldnāt bear itāto let it go on, to see what was being doneā
Azrielās shadow-hand grasped my own, tugging me closer. His rage rippled off his invisible form.
It is Azriel who reacts once again with - rage. At the thought of Elain being tortured, abused, or being killed. Feyre can't stomach the idea of what is happening to her sister in this war camp.
I could feel Jurianās smile against my ear. āSheās in his tent. Chained with steel and a little spell from his favorite book.ā
Shit. Shit. Perhaps I should have gotten Helion, who could break almost anyā
The mention of Helion is such a beautiful parallel. We, as readers, are amidst a rescue mission. A situation that was very similarly described few chapters before, a situation in which it was Helion in Azriel's shoes. In the past it was - Helion and Lady, here in the "future" we have - Azriel and Elain. The same circumstances - Hybern attack/Hybern powers, three sisters, and the only one is targeted, a savior that isn't husband/mate finding and rescuing the girl.
Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth.
āAre you hurt?ā She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it.
āYou came for me.ā The shadowsinger only inclined his head.
I could write a whole meta about this quote because it's ridden with such enormous parallels and foreshadowing. Let's start with the simplest one, which is the word "devour". It has very strong connections to physicality, it basically means that Elain greedily took him in, he was her focal point at that moment. Also, the following addition of her not quite believing that, in fact, it is Azriel who arrived before her - she hadn't expected him to rescue her and you may be wondering why? It all beautifully goes with the idea of two mates/true mates theories - what is making me say this with so much certainty? Well, first of all, ACOWAR is full of descriptions of how a healthy mating bond works, for example, Feysand one. It's a bridge connecting two souls through which our emotions, thoughts can be perceived for the other person.
Find me, find me, find me, I tried shouting down that bond.
But my mateās wry voice didnāt answer.
There was only the roaring void.
This happens at the begging of ACOWAR when Feyre tries to communicate with Rhysand through their mating bond. I find it very interesting that throughout the whole book the trope of "finding your true love, significant other" is very persistent. This brings me back to the theory that both Azriel and Helion heard their mates' cries of help and that's how they were able to rescue them and find them. In addition to that Elain's "you came for me" is striking so many questions. What does she mean? Why is she so docile and peaceful? As if she somehow had an idea that someone will come for her - did she perhaps inwardly call through the mating bond? This, again, brings us to another parallel - Beron doesn't know that it was Helion who rescued the Lady. Lucien doesn't know that it was Azriel who saved Elain - which, we really don't know if he even felt/knew that something has happened.
The hounds closed in, two breaking awayāto cut to the side. To herd us. For that was a cliff at the other edge of the camp. A cliff with a very, very long drop, and unforgiving river below.
I'm bringing this up because the setting is oddly familiar with the run of Lady of Autumn's one. The isolated place, a trap etc.
Azrielās roar echoed off the rocks as the hound slammed into him, dragging those shredding talons down his spine, his wingsā The girl screamed, but Elain moved. As Azriel battled to keep them airborne, keep his grip on them, my sister sent a fierce kick into the beastās face. Its eye. Another. Another. It bellowed, and Elain slammed her bare, muddy foot into its face again. The blow struck home. With a yelp of pain, it released its clawsāand plunged into the ravine.
Parallel on parallel. We have Hybern's beasts, we have a similar setting again and fight. What is different, however, is that in Helion's case it was solely him that destroyed beasts while rescuing the Lady. Here, however, it is Elain that fights against beasts - she who had never trained, she who is a gardener is fighting against evil. She is kicking as the beasts hurt Azriel. She took the initiative and killed the beast at that moment when they previously hurt Azriel. Also, the most beautiful comparison in my opinion is the fact that after Elain knocks the beast it falls down the ravine, dying. It is somehow very symbolic that Elain kills the beast that falls into the ravine, whereas Lady of Autumn is stuck in the ravine as beasts approach her and it is the moment when Helion saves her.
The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire timeāa trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out.
After that intense battle, they arrive in the safety, but Azriel still holds on Elain even if he himself is bleeding all over the place.
Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, āWe need Helion to get these chains off her.ā Yet Elain didnāt seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsingerās cheek.
Another mention of Helion in that very parallel setting. He was very present during the rescue mission, which is a neat way of showering the audience with foreshadowing. If I wanted to indulge even more in the symbolism of this scene, I would point out that the chains on Elain are very symbolic as well. They could either mean the restrain of her powers, but also the chains of the "lack of freedom", "lack of choice". Being freed by both Azriel and Helion is something that I believe is very important to remember while waiting for the next book.
Because even if Elain is a mirror to Lady - Elain will change the course of her story. Elain is going to choose love over duty, she will choose Azriel - which ends with them discovering that, in fact, the bond was there from the beginning. Helion getting rid of those chains is also a metaphor for what is to come. He will break Lady's chains by fighting with Beron during the blood duel. In this timeline, Azriel and Elain are symbolism of healthy love, mating bond, freedom of choice. Lucien doesn't mirror Beron, because he himself doesn't want to be with Elain since both of them don't feel comfortable with each other, they are making each other miserable. Not to mention the fact that their mating bond is... very weak and through the ACOWAR and ACOSF we see that it is different from the true mating bonds that are present in the universe.
Azriel-Elain-Lucien triangle will break the past wheel of unhappiness and forced love, changing it by their own rules of free choice. As for Helion-Lady-Beron love story, if I may be so bold, the blood duel is going to happen and Beron will die - freeing Lady and Helion from him and politics that kept them away.
If you are still not sure if these two situations are foreshadowing I would love to put this quote as the ending of this very long meta.
Azriel shrugged. āWeāRhys, Cass, and Iāwill occasionally remind each other that what we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength. And that the most unlikely person can alter the course of history.ā
And as you can guess, that very unlikely person who altered the course of history in ACOWAR was Elain when she killed King of Hybern.
Koschei the Deathless / The 3 Sisters & The 3 Brothers
This is another theory post, one that somewhat ties into my previous posts about Elain, the Prison being the 8th Court, and the three brothers/three sisters prophecy.
Arguably the biggest hint about the plot of future books lies in āThe Death of Koschei the Deathless,ā a Russian fairytale that SJM is clearly inspired by (she didnāt even bother changing the name of the villain). This particular fairytale inspired many others that are somewhat similar to it (the magical number three can be found in each one, always in the form of three sisters), but before I continue, letās look at what happens in the original fairytale:
When the story opens, Ivan and his three sisters are approaching the death of their parents. Ivan is tasked with ensuring that the young women each find a husband. Indeed, suitors come for each woman: Princess Marya weds a youth who transforms into a falcon; Princess Olga marries a youth who transforms into an eagle; and Princess Anna marries a youth who transforms into a raven.
This is one version. Another one:
Russian folklorist Alexander Afanasyev, stated that the eagle, the falcon and the raven (or crow) are connected to weather phenomena, like storm, rain, wind. He also saw a parallel between the avian suitors from the tale Marya Morevna with the suitors from other Slavic folktales, where they are the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind.Ā
And another one:
In the Eastern European tale of The Story of Argilius and the Flame-King (Zauberhelene) after his sisters are married to the Sun-king, the Wind-king (or Storm-king) and the Moon-king, [ā¦]
And another one:
In another Russian variant, āIvan Tsarevich and Marya Marevna,āĀ the young Ivan Tsarevich takes his sisters for a walk in the garden, when, suddenly, three whirlwinds capture the ladies. Three years later, the Tsarevich intends to court princess Marya Morevna, when, in his travels, he finds three old men, who reveal themselves as the whirlwinds and assume an avian form (the first a raven, the second an eagle and the third a falcon).
And another one:
A Czech fairy tale, O SluneÄnĆku, MÄsĆÄnĆku a VÄtrnĆku, where the princeās sisters are married to the Sun, the Moon and the Wind.
And another one:
A Croatian variant titled "The Tsarās Son and the VĆla.ā In this tale, the Wind-King, the Sun-King and the Moon-King (in that order) wish to marry the tsarās daughters.
I could honestly go on and on because almost every single culture/country has its own version of the same fairytale, always involving three sisters/daughters, and their three husbands, who are somehow related (either by them all being birds or having a bird-form, or by them being elements).
Now, letās look at ACOTAR. We have three sisters (Nesta, Elain, and Feyre) and three men who can fly (a raven, an eagle, and a falcon). Or, we could look at it differently. We have three sisters (Nesta, Elain, and Feyre) and three brothers who are bonded in spirit (the Sun, the Moon, and the Wind).
Does this sound familiar?
Or even:
The matreshka-style measures protecting Koscheiās mortality are, in this case, symbolic representations of the world. The ocean-sea is water, the basin for life; the island is the soil that nurtures it; the oak tree is life itself; the animals are subsistence for the living; and the chest contains natural resources, the most precious one being the egg.Ā
Fun fact: Koschei is derived from the Slavic word for bone (kostka).
Another fun fact: According to legend, Koscheiās mortality is contained in a needle thatās placed somewhere highly inconvenient and very far. But, finding and breaking it is the only way to destroy him. Itās hidden in an egg, inside a duck, inside a hare thatās inside a chest; the chest is buried under the roots of an oak tree, which grows on the invisible island of Buyan, at an undisclosed location in the middle of the ocean-sea.
What does this remind us of?
Which brings me back to the original fairytale:Ā
Ivan had three sisters. After his parents die and his sisters marry three wizards, he leaves his home in search of his sisters. He meets Marya Morevna, the beautiful warrior princess, and marries her. After a while she announces she is going to go to war and tells Ivan not to open the door of the dungeon in the castle they live in while she will be away. Overcome by the desire to know what the dungeon holds, he opens the door soon after her departure and finds Koschei, chained and emaciated. Koschei asks Ivan to bring him some water; Ivan does so. After Koschei drinks twelve buckets of water, his magic powers return to him, he tears his chains and disappears. Soon after Ivan finds out that Koschei took Marya Morevna away, and chases him. When he gets him for the first time, Koschei tells Ivan to let him go, but Ivan doesnāt give in, and Koschei kills him, puts his remains into a barrel and throws it into the sea. Ivan is revived by his sistersā husbands, powerful wizards, who can transform into birds of prey. They tell him Koschei has a magic horse and Ivan should go to Baba Yaga to get one too, or else he wonāt be able to defeat Koschei. After Ivan stands Yagaās tests and gets the horse, he fights with Koschei, kills him and burns his body. Marya Morevna returns to Ivan, and they celebrate his victory with his sisters and their husbands.
My question is this: What if we are looking at this wrong? What if this is not what is to come, but a version of what happened when Koschei was imprisoned by the female Fae warrior (Marya Morevna)? This is what we know about the female warrior from the Bone Carver:
Which brings me to Vassa. At first, I thought that maybe the bloodline runs through the Archeron family, but what if it runs through Vassaās?
So why did Koschei want Vassa, specifically? Is it because the female faeās bloodline runs through her veins? Could it be because she might be the keyāor at least part of the keyāthat will free him from his lake?
Letās look at this differently. So far, we have:
Koschei
Marya Morevna (Vassa)
Ivan (Lucien? Jurian? Both?)
Three sisters (Nesta, Elain, Feyre)
Three males who have ābird-formā (Rhys, Cassian, Azriel)
All the players of the original fairytale, coming together again. What if it really is a prophecy? What if this is not a coincidence? What if the Cauldron, as Azriel said, WAS wrong, but was wrong on purpose? To prevent a prophecy from coming true, one that could free Koschei from his prison and unleash him upon the world?
āThe Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how itās possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another.ā
āAll three sisters were now High Fae with considerable powers, though only Feyreās were let loose.ā
āAll three sisters blessed by fate and gifted with powers to match your own.ā
Okay I have to rant for a minute and please donāt kill me as this is just my opinion:
I literally think that I am the only one that only sees Azriel and Gwyn as friends only.
I went back and read the Az POV, which we know takes place the night of Solstice. Then, I went back and read the chapters in ACOSF that happen after the fact and I truly only see this as a friendship.
Let me explain why.
When Gwyn is telling Nesta and Emerie about her rape and Az saving her, it got me thinking.
Az saw Gywn and her lowest moment ever when he saved her and the gift of Elainās necklace and imagining her smile about it makes him happy because he sees that heās overcoming her trauma and is able to smile. Along with the singing as well. She was practically mute when Mor healed her and brought her to the library so to hear her being able to sing now, makes him happy because sheās becoming herself again.
If that was my friend, who went through those traumas, hell yeah would I be happy about them smiling and singing.
I think some people are missing the point that heāll still be able to see Elainās necklace, even if it is on someone else, which I believe is his reasoning for not selling it.
Quite frankly, every scene that happened between Gwyn and Az before Solstice is meaningless to me at this point. Itās meaningless because Az was still thinking about Elain and had such strong feelings towards her. I would also bet money that heās still thinking about her even now after Solstice. I donāt think this is something that a guy, who has spent the last five centuries in love with another women, is just going to let go because he got a slap on the wrist and was told NO.
For Azriel to now start to let Mor go all while building feelings for Elain at the same time has been in the making for over 2 years now.
Now before you come at me and say that heās only looking at Elain as a piece of meat, I donāt believe thatās accurate at all. Our bat boy is depressed by massive proportions. Itās no secret that in all those years of being in love with Mor, that he had sex with other females. All while still being in love with Mor. We see heās starting to let go of Mor because he is falling for Elain. (ACOFAS was the biggest hint of this ever) Our guy literally stares at Elainās headache medicine that she gave him instead of using it.
The point Iām trying to make is that everyone keeps romanticizing everything. Thatās why the fandom is blowing up in the first place: because a flirty character flirts with a guy so it must mean romance.
Absolutely not.
Maybe if in Azās POV he was thinking about kissing Gwyn and her lips, etc. it would be romantic but I really canāt help but see this as a friend helping a friend.
Also, following the Solstice disaster, we donāt see Gwyn wearing any type of necklace. This seems like something Nesta would point out because sheās pretty observant towards what the priestesses are wearing almost always. (Thatās just my opinion so please donāt crucify me, I beg of you)
The trio makes friendship bracelets and thatās literally all she wears. So the question is: where is the damn necklace?
I think people are forgetting the fact that Azās POV took place in the middle (maybe not middle but you get the idea) of the book.
Also, Rhys gifted Cassian and Nesta the House of Wind as a mating gift. That being said, is Az going to continue living with them? I doubt it.
Hot take: We still have no clue what is going to happen so getting mad at him for anything other than regifting it is not really helpful! Also I think it is a really reallllllyyy interesting point where is the necklace for 30 chapters? Do we know?
āElriel are just sex/lust not love.ā One, Two, Three, Four,Ā
How can you ship something problematic?
How can you have hope for Elriel?
Elainās Agency and wants, not being respected.
āElriel are a distraction before they go to their mates.āĀ OneĀ , Two, Three, Four (in comparison to Chaol/Nesryn), Five,
What was I expecting from his POV.
āAzriel was upset about Gwyn not Elain.āĀ
Do you think Elain belongs in the Spring/Autumn court?
Are you not afraid of Elriel not happening?
Az POV Opinions, One , Two, Three,
āThe sisters are not ending with all three brothersā¦ā
Opinions on the Rhys situation.
Gwynriel in relation to plotĀ vs ElrielĀ Ā (Another)
Do you think he just wants a mate not Elain?Ā & Another
āNesta thought about a threesome.āĀ
Anti-Elucien Thoughts as a result of the question. One, Two, Three, Four,
Lack of Elriel scenes after Solstice
āShe will marry for love & beauty.ā
Preliminary Questions
Fav acosf MOMENTSSSSS
That is a good chunk of my recent replies, I will keep adding as they become relevant, there are more varied answers, theories and characters if you want all that just check my replies tags!
Also some other just random posts that were informative/I liked, there are so many out there this was just the first I could find going back 10 pages on my tumblr.
Gwynriel As FriendsĀ &Ā Part Two,Ā āAzriel issa too hornyā,Ā Azriel isā¦[Insert whatever]
āAināt nobody telling Azriel Bat Boy what to doā,Ā Misconceptions
Sibling to just Sex in 0.2 Seconds,Ā Azrielās Shadows and their significance!
