I fall down the acotar rabbithole all the time.
This blog is pro Tamlin, Lucien, Eris, and Nesta!
People who are disrespectful gets blocked.
I'm a woman in my 30s.
Rhysand plays the other characters like a chess game.
How he manipulates with words and actions + his daemeti power, he's a mastermind when it comes to it all.
I think Rhysand is pulling a lot of strings, I think he worked as Amarantha's second in command because he was no prisoner. I also think he worked with King of Hybern, and uses Feyre as a puppet to get everything he wants, and he wants to do the same with Nesta and Elain. I think he tries to avoid that the other courts goes to war against him (Hewn and Illyria would hopefully not be on Rhysand's side). Because Spring Court, Summer Court, Winter Court and Autumn Court all have strong reasons to go to war against him, Feyre and the IC. I think Day Court would join if Helion knew about Lucien being his son.
We read time and time again that he lies and changes the story or leaves out things, either with his own lips or through Feyre's mind. He uses his powers as it suits him, not anyone else. Because why didn't he use his powers on the guards in Summer Court when Feyre and Amren stole the book? And why didn't he help at all? Also, the way he teaches Feyre to read seems very much like mind compulsion. And why would he teach someone to read by making them read and write only good things about himself if it's not more behind it? Maybe he can do spells? Do we really know about all his powers? We do see in acotar (book 1) that he and the wraiths apparantly knows about painting symbols, which seems like some sort of spell/spells.
People are suprised with him during acosf because we see Rhysand (and Feyre) through Cassian's and Nesta's pov + it's in third person. But the thing is, this is how Rhysand has been all the time when we look outside Feyre's perspective. She's not a realiable character, first person pov never is. And Rhysand is deep in her mind all the time, we see him talk into her mind with her own voice at the weavers cottage. Rhysand is a daemati, he loves mindgames and uses it to his own gain, no one elses. I just wonder what his end game is. Become High King? He made sure his bloodline continues, that (and his pride) was more important than his mate apparently. He is a Tyrant, we see that with how he rules and keeps his court segregated. He plays and uses women to his own gain, I'm sure he is constant in Cassian's mind as well. He undermines his own IC, we see that with Cassian and Mor. And why does Azriel need to torture when Rhysand can go into peoples minds? And did he plan to die in acowar to get the other HL's to give him a kernel of their powers like with Feyre? He is cunning, so I wouldn't put anything beneath him.
I don't trust Rhysand (or Amren or Mor) at all, they are brewing on something. Or Rhysand absolutely is, I hope he is the villain or one of them because he'd be a perfect morally dark/black villain (he is not morally grey. Tamlin, Eris and even Lucien are more morally grey). And his actions would make way more sense if he is, fingers crossed!
PS! This is my safe place to share my thoughts about acotar. So keep it mature and nice in the comments.
Word Count: 3400 (longest fic I’ve written in forever)
Warnings: None, Fluff, OC/AU mentioned
Pairing: Tamlin x Selena, minor Tamlin x Lucien implied
Summary: Selena decides to pamper Tamlin by styling his hair.
I hope you like it! 💕🫶💕
Late Morning Pampering
The warm morning glow filled the verdant gardens of the Spring Court, dancing through the panels of glass lining the halls as Selena padded through the manor with the fiery haired male stalking beside her with that vulpine grin of his.
“So what’s on the agenda today, oh Lady of the Manor?” Lucien mocked playfully, his golden red hair falling over his shoulder as he tilted his head towards the dark haired female next to him. He kept his arms folded behind his back and his footsteps were light, a sign that he was in a mischievous mood.
She lifted her chin as her plush lips pulled into a smirk. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She teased back, her dark rose skirts swaying with each step. She gave a lazy shrug, tucking a silken dark brown strand behind her ear. “With the preparations for the reconstruction of Spring underway, there isn’t much besides helping oversee everything going smoothly.” She inhales deeply. “Although…”
His copper brow lifted with curiosity. “Although…?”
Her eyes darted away, biting her lip. “I’m worried… about Tam.”
Lucien nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Ah. So that’s it.” He shoved his hands in his pockets as they passed the intricate golden doors to the southern garden. “He needs time, Lena. You know that.” A beat. “But I get it, Tam’s been… he’s still a mess. If it wasn’t for your nagging and pushing him to crawl out of his pitiful state, he’d still be a golden beast prowling the forests, half feral.” He rubs the back of his neck, the morning light glinting against his golden eye. “Shit, I probably wouldn’t even be here right now, given months ago, the bastard dropped off my things like…” He sighed at the memory of nearly losing his home after being kicked out of Spring while his High Lord chose to throw himself into despair. The thought still made his stomach twist.
Their footsteps clipped against the tile floor as they continued to walk in silence. Selena continued to chew her lip before looking up at the red haired fox beside her, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Speaking of our High Lord’s pitiful state…” Her lips twitching into a grin. “How hard do you think it’d take to convince him to let me work some magic on him?” She playfully waved her hands in the air before her.
Lucien looked at her with suspicion before he mirrored her mischievous grin. “Work your magic, huh?” He leaned down conspiratorially to meet her eyes. “What did you have in mind, Lena?”
Selena stopped in her tracks as she noted Tamlin’s study just down the hall before them, then turned to Lucien. She pushed locks of her dark brown hair behind her shoulder before she spoke. “What about something simple? Something to maybe brighten his mood? I could… do his hair?”
That earned a sharp snort from Lucien and he moved to lean his shoulder against the ivory wall, crossing a foot in front of the other, a hand on his hip. “You want to do Tamlin’s hair?” He chuckled. “Gods, you really make it sound so simple, don’t you? You really think playing hairdresser will get that golden grump to stop brooding?” His sharp grin was down right wicked as his red brow rose.
She crossed her arms in slight offense. “Obviously it’s not a cure-all, but maybe, I don’t know, it’d make him smile for a little bit. Something positive in his life.”
“If you want to make him smile, just bribe him with a walk through the garden. You know he’d never refuse if you asked.” He teased.
She huffed in frustration as she turned her head away. “You’re impossible, Luci!”
His features softened a bit before reaching out and capturing her chin to look at him once more. “I’m serious, Selena. If anyone can talk any sense into that stubborn bastard, it’s you. If you think playing with his hair will help, then I’ll support it.” His hand drops as his playful smirk returns. “Besides, I’d love to see what you do with that golden mane of his. Though I do warn you, if you make that beast too handsome, we’ll have to barricade the manor from all those suitors from court that’ll be banging down those wooden doors.”
His words earned a giggle as she finally smiled again. “If anyone can protect our dear High Lord from unwanted attention from courtly ladies and gentlemen, it’s us, don’t you know?” Selena tilted her head in mischief.
Lucien couldn’t help but laugh in return, running his tanned fingers through his hair. “Alright then, if you truly plan to go through with this, you better have a decent bribery strategy on hand. I can’t exactly imagine Tam agreeing to getting his hair styled off the cuff like that.” He winked that russet eye of his.
She leaned in playfully and let out an amused huff. “No worries, my darling fox, I always have something up my sleeve.”
After Lucien’s departure for his patrol duties, Selena made her ways to the kitchens to grab a little snack. She carefully tiptoed around the kitchen fae busy preparing for meals throughout the manor as she made her way to the chef. She clasped her hands in front of her skirts before politely asking “Sorry to bother you, chef. I wish to have something prepared for the High Lord, if that’s okay. Tea and something sweet?” She smiled.
The plump old chef looked up at the brunette standing before her, her deft long fingers stilling on the mixing bowl she was using. She gave a silent nod before waving a hand to summon a kettle to heat the tea. “For the High Lord? Then how about a lemon blueberry tart this morning, my lady?”
Selena perked at the mention of tarts, clapping her hands together “That would be lovely. Thank you!”
With a nod from the chef, Selena moved to wait by the door so as to not to disturb the staff until a young thin fae with mossy green hair brought over a gilded tray holding a porcelain teapot, a pair of cups, and that fresh warm tart. Selena took the tray from her slim hands with a quick ‘thank you’ before making her way down the hall once again.
Tamlin was sitting in an ornate rosewood chair with plush crimson and ivory damask cushions behind his study desk, papers stacked and scattered atop it. The warming mid-morning sun illuminated the Spring Court crest seal leaning on an open ink pad and the empty porcelain tea cup from some time this morning from a minimal breakfast. A growling sigh escaped him as he scanned reports and glanced over budgets. He ran a rough, golden tanned hand through his mused gilded locks. Reviving the Spring Court was a tiring task that had the Spring Lord eluding sleep, not that he would have slept regardless. Terrors still haunted his mind of memories behind him under that once sacred mountain tainted by that blood haired sorceress who once coveted him like a rare jewel.
“Cauldron spare me… With the reduced sentry forces, we’re spread so thin as it is…”
His mind was consumed with logistics. The pressure to keep the Spring Court safe for the citizens that remained in the territory loomed over him. With the added complication now that the Wall was destroyed, he simply didn’t have the manpower to protect the border between Prythian and the Human Lands.
Despite the shadows that clung to his mind, citizens had been returning to his lands, progress had been made, and the manor… The manor was no longer a husk of itself. Tamlin let out a heavy sigh.
Before his thoughts could completely consume him, the rattle of handle to his study door roused him. His gaze shot up as he bristled at the sudden intrusion, but as the door pushed open, the familiar scent of ripe strawberries, peach nectar, and peony blossoms mixed with a warm scent of lemon verbena, mint, and blueberry.
Selena walked into the study with the metal tray in hand before setting it on the oak coffee table. Her voice hummed, “I figured you needed a break and something to give you an energy boost.”
Tamlin straightened in his chair as he watched her come in, clearing his throat, voice coming out rough from hours of silence “Thank you…” He watched as she prepared his tea the way he likes and cut him a slice of the tart. “You… didn’t need to do this.”
She just chuckled and rolled her eyes as she served him, “Of course I did. Knowing you, Tam, you would have worked through lunch without a second thought if I wasn’t around to drag your but to the dining room these days.” She prepared a cup for herself before sitting on the couch, “And a High Lord who neglects himself is no use to his court, you know.”
A short, huffed laugh escaped his lips before sipping his tea. Warmth spread through his body as he breathed in deeply, a rush of calm settling over his aching muscles at the scent of lemon and mint. “She’s always like this,” he thought to himself, “Making sure I don’t brood myself into oblivion.” He took a fork full of the lemon-blueberry tart, the citrus custard hitting his tongue with a refreshed sigh.
Selena hummed into her tea before setting it down with a clink, “So I had a request…”
“Oh?” His brow raised, curiously.
She cleared her throat “I would like… to do your.… hair.”
Tamlin’s emerald eyes widened as he blinked at the female before him, “Excuse me?”
She traced her fingers over the embroidered fabric beneath her, cheeks beginning to heat. After a deep inhale, Selena looked up at him once more, “I think it’d be a good way to relax. And I like your hair… so I thought that maybe, if it’d be alright with you, I’d like to play with it.”
Laughter rumbled out of him in disbelief before leaning back in his chair, gripping the arms. “Your idea of a break is… to play with my hair?” He chuckled, “Gods help me, the ideas you come up with.”
“Is that a no?”
“No,” he grinned.
She sat up and smiled brightly “Good! Then afterwards, we can go for a walk in the garden. How does that sound?”
“Lovely,” he nodded.
The pair made their way to Selena’s chambers in the East Wing of the manor. She swung the door open and gave a slight bow as her other arm extended to direct him towards the chair in front of her vanity, “Please take a seat, my Lord.” She chuckles, watching as he sits, the mischief in her eyes already beaming at the thought of touching those golden strands. She took her place behind him and carefully removed the tie that bound his hair lazily in a half done messy bun earlier while he had been focusing on court documents.
Selena smiled as she worked her fingers through his silken strands “Just relax, alright?” She massaged his scalp before picking up her brush from the vanity and began brushing back his soft waves.
A sound mixed between a groan and a sigh rumbled from Tamlin as she worked, his posture loosening almost immediately, “Mm… If I had known this came with a massage, I would have let you corner me into this silliness weeks ago.” His eyes fluttered shut as she relaxed into her touch.
The brush moved through his hair with practiced strokes. Glancing into the mirror, she couldn’t help but admire how handsome he looked with his hair down, flowing just to his shoulder blades.
A smile stretched on her lips as she worked, brushing his hair into a slick back style with gentle ease “Your hair is soft…” she murmured softly. “Now let’s see what style I think will suit you best.” She guided her brush down through his hair, watching as it moved beneath her hand, all the way down between his shoulder blades. For a male with a body toned to be a honed warrior, there was a softness to him that she appreciated. Tamlin could be gruff, broody, stubborn, and grumpy as a beast some days, but he could also be quite lovely when he was comfortable. A quiet charm that only his closest friends seemed to witness, because in truth, despite all the training and fighting, Tamlin had the heart of a bard. If fate had been different, he and Lucien would probably be traveling through Prythian right now. Tamlin with his fiddle and poems, and Lucien with his wit and the cunning way he spins engaging tales. They would have been the talk of the taverns if things were different. Selena knew though, in his heart of hearts, her beloved longed to feel that peace for a moment between duty and expectations of the court, and if this moment of playful mischief could give that to him, so be it.
She put the brush back down on the vanity before gently opening a small wooden jewelry box of trinkets. “I had Alis find a few things that might suit you.” She picked up a golden hairpin designed to look like vines of laurel leaves. Her nimble fingers begin to slowly weave the hairpin into the back of his hair, gathering the golden threads she just brushed out. His hair was still mostly down, but his hair was slicked back and partially pulled back to be out of his face with the laurel hairpin holding everything together. She picks up a hand mirror and angles it just right behind him so he can see himself at every angle with the trifold mirror “How does the first style look?”
His golden hair gleamed under the late morning light dancing through her windows, swept up and half-bound with the laurel pin. Elegant and regal, but it didn’t make him look delicate; more like a fae lord from a ballad.
He studied his reflection with quiet thought. “It’s strange,” he finally spoke, “how something so simple can change how I see myself…”
She chuckled as she placed the hand mirror back on the vanity table, “Well, this is only the beginning so sit tight. I have some other styles I want to try.” She picked the brush up again and started removing the laurel pin before slowly gathering his hair once more. Sectioning off some strands on the side, she pushes the rest over his shoulder to stay out of the way as she begins making braids on either side of his head. As her fingers weave the silken gold, she lightly hums to herself happily. Once the braids were done, she took a verdant hair tie into one hand as she gathered all his hair together into a sleek high ponytail, and using the glimmering hair to hold it together. She left some of his hair to create a sweeping bang and a couple of strands fell near his delicate arched ears. She picks up the hand mirror once again to show him.
He stilled under her careful touch before observing her work once again in the mirror. A small grin tugged on his lips, “Well, if I didn’t know better, maybe I should hire you to do my hair every morning.” He turned his head to get a better look at the braids, “Is this what you’ll be parading me around in the garden or are you saving your best work for last?” It was a strong look that would probably be excellent for sword training with the sentries.
She grinned as she looked at her work in the mirror, twisting the ends of his ponytail between her fingers as she leaned in from behind him “oh, my love, I’m just getting started. Bron and Hart might not recognize you by the time I’m done,” her tone teasing.
Tamlin huffed a laugh, low and amused. The high ponytail pulled his features tighter, sharper; making his cheekbones more defined, and jawline more pronounced. He looked striking in a way that didn’t just say High Lord, but commander, warrior, leader, with just enough softness to hint at the poet beneath the surface. “If Bron and Hart don’t recognize me, I expect you to take full responsibility for any confusion among the ranks,” he smirked into the mirror. He tilted his head, admiring her work, “I may have to wear this one again the next time I’m in the training ring.”
She laughed and shook her head, positioning his head just where she wanted it to look forward in the mirror, “Now now, enough jokes. Time for the finishing style.” Determination as she gripped the brush. She readjusted the braids she previously put in as his hair fell from the ponytail. She took the braids and loose hair to weave them all together into a long elegant braid. She tugged on the hairs to make it nice and full as she went before tying it off with a hair tie with a gilded floral charm adorned with an emerald in the center of the bloom. “This charm is nice because the emerald matches your eyes.” She hummed as her fingers continued to work, adding gold rings, clips, and jeweled charms to the braids throughout his head. Once she was done, she carefully laid the braid over his shoulder to fall over his chest. “Simple but lovely, with a bit of sparkle.”
A warm, amused huff escaped him, “Mother above, you want me to sparkle now?” He scanned the new look in the mirror and gave an approving nod, “You did well. Definitely says High Lord of Spring, wouldn’t you say?” He rubbed his chin with a large hand.
Selena placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned into his back, smiling into the mirror. “Wonderful! Now, Tam, shall we go on our stroll and maybe even have our lunch brought to the garden today for a picnic?”
“Well, well, well…” a familiar amused chuckle from the fiery haired fox met their ears as Selena and Tamlin walked into the lush blooming garden. Lucien had been waiting for them, eager to see the results of Selena’s handwork that she promised. He took a lazy step towards Tamlin before circling him once as his golden eye whirred, taking in each detail of the braised and assorted accessories, “Well I’ll be damned, Tam. You really let her do it, huh?” He put a warm hand on his long time friend’s shoulder, giving it a soft squeeze, “You look good.”
Tamlin’s gold flecked eyes rolled at the amusement in Lucien’s voice, smugness creeping into his smirk. “Jealous?” he teased.
“Jealous?” he laughed, shaking his head, before fingered lifting the delicate golden braid over Tamlin’s shoulder, letting it fall back on to his chest, “Now what makes you think that?”
Tamlin straightened, feeling a surge of confidence he hasn’t quite felt in a long while. He flashed a fanged grin at the red haired male, “Maybe because after seeing Lena’s handiwork, you already can’t seem to keep your hands off me.”
Lucien’s jaw dropped the second the last word of Tamlin’s joke left his lips. He burst into laughter again, combing his vermillion locks back in astonishment, “Cauldron boil me. Are you trying to turn Tam into the court’s next heartthrob, Lena? Because if the courtiers see this, there will be duels.”
“Lucien…” the golden beast rumbled, but there was no real annoyance.
Selena gave an exasperated huff, hands on her hips, “You’re a menace, Luci. And I say that with complete love.” She placed one hand over her heart. “Maybe I should do your hair next?”
The two males exchanged a look and laughed before each extending an arm to Selena.
“Now, shall we go on that stroll?” Tamlin’s smile softened towards her.
“Ah yes, I heard the servants saying we were having lunch in the garden today. This should be interesting.” Lucien grinned down at her.
She hummed and looped her arms with both of them, squeezing their toned biceps, “Yes, let’s be off. I can’t wait to see what the kitchen has prepared today!” She let out a small giggle before the trio set off towards the fresh blooms of roses, hydrangeas, and irises that seemed to just get brighter around them.
Warning: OC/AU mentioned, NSFW (I’m not used to write smutty things 🫣)
🌲 Tamlin has a spicy fantasy where he and Selena play a game in the forest. She’s wearing one of her soft, white, knee length romantic nightgowns that are actually a little modest. Tamlin is in his beast form while he tracks her scent and hunts her down. She gets a head start before the hunt begins. When he finally catches her in the meadow amongst soft green moss, he tackles her in his beast form, growling over her, knowing it turns her on before shifting into mostly his fae form, keeping his claws, fangs, and smaller antlers. He shreds the nightgown and takes her there in the middle of the forest, his hands gentle, fangs grazing her neck, and deep, rough thrusts.
🫦 The manor has been their playground… Tamlin’s bedroom, Selena’s bedroom, the manor library, Tamlin’s study, private areas of the garden, hidden places in the forest, and even near the Starlight Pool. They try to be good, they really do, but… one thing leads to another… Poor Lucien has walked in a couple times.
☘️ When it comes to sex, Tamlin prefers to have Selena all to himself when he has her alone, but given the fact that Lucien lives in the manor and he is most comfortable with him out of anyone, Tamlin and Lucien have shared Selena in bed a couple of times. Tamlin tends to be the most dominant, pleasure dom, while Lucien is the one to tease and edge her until she begs. Selena always comes out of the encounter flustered, but sated, cuddling Tamlin while Lucien spoons her from behind. Her shy, sweet embarrassment gets Tamlin and Lucien grinning shit eating grins at each other.
🌸 Tamlin once got Selena something made of silk and lace to wear to bed. It was a sage green slip that clung to her curves. The sight of her in it made his magic explode, vines and blooming flowers covering the bedroom. His golden skin was flushed red, not only because he lost control, but because she kept giggling. It got even worse when he climaxed that night and he lost gripe of his magic again, making little soft pink flower petals rain down over them. He cursed at himself and begged the Cauldron to boil him.
😴 Tamlin tends to sleep naked, especially after sex. He tends to run warm and prefers the skin-on-skin contact. If he feels the need to wear something, he prefers soft drawstring linen sleep pants in earthy colors like forest green, sage green, sand brown, taupe, etc. He always wears it loose and low on his hips, so there’s a clear V. Nudity is very normal for him so he doesn’t get flustered being seen butt naked.
🐺 Tamlin will never admit it but he loves when Selena gives him belly rubs in his beast form. Lucien once caught them once in one of the manor sitting rooms while Selena was scratching Tamlin’s golden belly, and he laughed for 10 minutes straight. After that, Tamlin swore Lucien to secrecy.
🦁 Tamlin purrs when he is relaxed in his beast form. He especially purrs when he gets scratches behind his ears and the base of his antlers.
🦌 Tamlin has used his earth magic to grow vines and flowers on his antlers. They make him happy. He also summons his antlers when he’s under the full magic influence of Calanmai.
🐻 Once when Tamlin was extra broody, refusing to get out of his beast form and his fur was matted from rolling around in the forest for days, Selena forced him to take a bath in the garden in his beast form and washed him like a dog. Rhysand was disappointed he didn’t have one of those cellphones from Lunathion because he really wished he filmed the encounter when he showed up to Spring, unannounced as usual, and saw Selena bristle broom to scrub Tamlin’s back since his beast form is so big.
🐾 On nights when he really just wants to be cuddled, he’ll change into his beast form in bed so he can lay his big head on Selena’s stomach while she soothingly pets him, running her fingers through his golden fur.
💕 Tamlin has used his shapeshifting during sex. Not just the usual claws and fangs, though Selena loves those, but they’ve been experimenting a little here and there to see what else makes things more interesting. He once summoned a lion’s tail and Selena maaaaay have had a little too much fun tugging it, making Tamlin try to hide his blush in her shoulder. Poor Tam 🤭
💐 Tamlin started slowly courting Selena after the events of under the Mountain. They started with calming, quiet walks together, picnics in the garden, picking wildflowers, and little conversations here and there. Tamlin taught Selena how to make a flower crown for the first time while they sat in a field of flowers one afternoon.
🎻 Tamlin started playing his fiddle for Selena more often, introducing her to songs he enjoyed. Given she loves music, and loves to sing, these private little concerts were comforting for the both of them.
📚 In return, Selena started sharing her favorite stories with him more, often sitting together by the fire, often with Lucien there as well, and she’d read aloud. She loves romance, adventure, mystery, and gothic tales, among other things, so she’d always have something new to share. Tamlin would blush a little when she’d attempt to read spicy chapters out loud with a straight face. Lucien always made it worse with his teasing.
🥀 When things became more intimate between them, it was clear they were both using it to comfort themselves and each other when the nightmares would hit. They care for each other deeply, but their early romance became two drowning people trying to hold each other up.
⛅️ After some time of them both truly learning to heal, Tamlin felt more at ease with the dynamic within his home. As much as he wished for Selena to be his mate in the truest sense, she continued to choose him of her own free will. She came back for him under the Mountain when she simply loved him as a friend and her new family. She came back to him after the nightmare Amarantha put them through. She came back to him after the war even when he had made mistakes and kept things from her. There may be no magical string tying them together but he was grateful for her.
🦊 Lucien has been Tamlin’s closest friend for centuries now, the person who knows Tamlin best and they stuck by each other during broken moments. So when Selena’s love extended to Lucien, Tamlin didn’t feel threatened. In fact, out of everyone, Lucien is the one he trusts most with Selena because Selena and Lucien are his most important people. In his own way, he loves them both.
🫖 Meals with the trio are always light and fun. Lucien with his sass and wit, Selena with her stubborn kindness and sharp tongue, and Tamlin, who watched in amusement, throwing in a few teasing jabs of his own. It felt like a strange little family.
🧺 Dates with Tamlin usually include something simple. He loves warm, homemade, hearty meals and going out into nature. Since Selena is still learning about the fae world, he will often show her little wonders like will-o’-the-wisps or little magical animals or unique natural phenomena such as a grove of singing trees. The pair will also go into local villages when Selena drags him. He smiles softly whenever he watches her look at stalls and shop windows. More than anything, he loves just spending time with her, especially the moments he gets her all to himself.
🐺 During the curse, Tamlin cared for Selena and had a deep fondness for her as he was slowly falling for her. She too cared for him, building a strong friendship between herself, Tamlin, and Lucien, and making Spring her new home. She helped the servants, she made a sincere effort to make amends with the sentries over Andras, and she fell into a comfortable rhythm with Tamlin and Lucien.
🥀 Selena felt guilty for not being able to break the curse by telling Tamlin she loved him before Amarantha took Spring under the Mountain because she did not feel romantic love yet, despite Alis’s scolding. She went under the Mountain out of platonic love rather than romantic, much to Amarantha’s amusement.
⛰️The short moment Tamlin was able to speak with Selena under the Mountain, he confesses that he was grateful for her coming into his life and her coming for him and his people. That he regrets that he could not do more to protect her. He gave her a chaste kiss on her lips and told her he loves her for allowing his life to feel full for this short time. That he would rather lose his freedom forever than go another century without knowing her.
🗡️ Selena could not dare to take more innocent lives. During the third trial, all she could think of is the wolf, Andras, and how she let hatred and fear cloud her judgement once before. She would not make the same mistakes again and chose to answer the riddle. When answering the riddle, she thought about Tamlin’s words the night he snuck away from Amarantha’s side to speak to her. She thought about his love. She thought about how Alis had scolded her for not being able to break the curse the first time by telling Tamlin she loved him. She thought about why she came under the Mountain at all. Love, no matter what form it took, was the reason for any of this.
✨ When Selena’s first words after revival was a ridiculous joke about his lack of tan lines after 50 years as she saw him without his mask for the first time, that’s when Tamlin knew he didn’t just care for her because the curse demanded him to. This infuriating, stubborn, reckless, caring woman was someone he didn’t want to let go of again. That this was real love now.
💕 One most important thing Tamlin inherited was his mother’s emerald teardrop gold earrings. While the High Lord may not be the best dressed male in the Spring Court, those earrings are a precious reminder of the mother he lost, and he will often wear at least one of them when he doesn’t have to go into battle. He especially wears both to court functions when he’s required to dress up. These earrings are more than just jewelry to him, they’re a reminder of the soft, safe parts of his childhood when he was small and still had his mother’s warmth. Before court politics, his brothers’ cruelty, and his father’s tyranny. For him, they are a grounding piece of the soft, innocence he wants to hold on to that reminds him there can still be good in him despite what the world may say.
🌱 Another item he inherited is his mother’s rectangular princess cut emerald gold ring he hopes one day he’ll give to his Lady some day as a token of devotion. Sometimes when he thinks of Selena, he pulls out the ring, turning it over contemplatively between his large fingers, imagining what it may look like on her finger someday in the far future if she were to accept his offer. Because this ring belonged to his mother, he doesn’t want to give it to just anyone, so he keeps it safe and waits until he knows for sure he found the one he wants by his side for the rest of his life.
🌸 Green is a color Tamlin can’t escape. Whether he’s dressed in just a warrior’s tunic or wearing a tailored suit for a court event, green is incorporated into his wardrobe. His mother always insisted the color made him look handsome and matched his eyes. It’s become somewhat of a comfort thing for him these past centuries. He’s tried wearing other colors only but he always feels a bit off. He wants to branch out a little more but even if it’s just a pocket square, he likes to incorporate his signature color.
Remember when Tamlin and Lucien said something like:
“The Night Court does what it wants,” Tamlin said. “They have their own codes, and their own corrupt nature.”
“They are sadistic murderers,” Lucien said. I dared to look at him; he was now crouched on the stone wing of the heron. I turned my face away again. “They find pleasure in all kinds of torture and would find this type of prank funny."
I have a feeling they weren't lying, lol. Rereading ACOTAR is a truly horizon-broadening experience.
I watched SJM's interview about Akotar 6, and I can't keep quiet.
Am I right in thinking that she's afraid to write Tamlin's arc because she doesn't want to upset her readers who've gone through a similar experience? But at the same time, Rhysand is just "a guy who was scared for his wife and so hid information from her." Am I right in thinking that she wasn't afraid to upset readers with this trauma?
Lol, okay.
I only understand one thing: nothing good will happen to Tamlin. I only pray that SJM forgets he exists. The fandom and I will write and draw everything ourselves, okay?
There are literally people in this fandom who think Nesta needs to apologize for setting boundaries. Apparently, her asking Cassian to leave her alone multiple times is her lashing out in rage and intentionally trying to hurt his feelings, and asserting her right to create a boundary is justifying her being a mean girl.
Women should never feel compelled to date a guy because his feelings would be hurt otherwise. Women should never feel in the wrong for setting boundaries and demanding those boundaries be respected, even if a guy gets his feelings hurt because of said boundary. No woman should ever feel compelled to accept a present from a man they're not interested in and who disrespects their boundaries so as not to hurt his feelings.
This fandom is loud and clear about the fact that Elain doesn't owe Lucien anything, that she has a right to establish boundaries and ignore him, and that she should never apologize to him for it, while being very loud and clear that Nesta owes Cassian her time and space, that he has every right to violate her boundaries, and that she needs to apologize to him for not behaving like he should be entitled to her.
I have never seen such misogynistic takes as I do against Nesta.
Ngl, it was triggering hearing Elain say “We’re only doing this because we love you”. I hate it so much. I started tearing up when Cassian asked Nesta what SHE did, like the thought of Nesta being the wronged party was inconceivable. Pisses me off so much.
And then Elain running to Rhysand afterwards, making Rhysand want to harm Nesta… Shit…
During that scene I resented everyone.
Made me think of all the times I was in Nesta’s place.
So yeah, but right now, fuck you Elain. Fuck you Rhysand. Fuck you Cassian.
That dark place Nesta went while staring in that fire, I’ve felt it before too.
I have seen many call Tamlin abusive due to some of his actions and behaviour. But I see something else when reading canon.
As SJM said in the podcast, he is a man who grew up in an abusive home. Which shapes you. He is traumatised from UTM, who knows what happened with him behind closed doors. He had to sit neutral while watching Feyre go through the trials plus Rhysand abusing her. And then to get stabbed by Feyre, when he has zero magic so he doesn't heal. Then to watch Feyre die, he begs Amarantha to stop while crawling when he is severly hurt.
Feyre has a bargain with Rhysand which doesn'y get fulfilled, so he has to watch her still getting abused by Rhysand. While they both suffer from PTSD, and he has to be a High Lord. Rebuilding his court and then a war starts at his border. He tries to fight for her freedom from the bargain. Tamlin never gets a break at all. At the same time he has never learned any tools to deal with trauma, and he has no real supportsystem. When he tries to communicate, he gets shut down. Rhysand is seen as a danger to Feyre and Spring Court, rightfully so as he is not a good person. On top of everything he suddenly has all his magic back after 50 years, which is hard to control.
What I see is a man who's severly traumatised, who show trauma response after trauma response. Is it toxic? Yes, it can be. But the man is no mindreader, he does try to change when he gets communicated with. And he says he's sorry. He does listen, he does try to be better. To me it would be healing to read a healing arc for him, to see that when you spiral with trauma, you can find friends and heal. And learn how to cope. He deserves that after everything he did to save Prythian, and even his own enemy while telling Feyre to be happy, even when she abused him. He doesn't need redemption. He needs healing and growth, to rebuild his court and be happy.
