On CHD SJM Just Confirmed What Elriels Have Been Saying for YEARS
And what *they* mocked and ridiculed us over
SJM: “It's kind of like your destined true love in a way, but it's complicated, because there's a biological component to it, where you can be mated to someone that is not actually your true love. So, there's, like, true, true mates, and then there's kind of, like, nature made a mistake, like Rhys's parents did not love each other, like, it was not a great relationship, but they were mates, and it was, like, there's a biological thing where they're, like, we want to be together, but then it's, like, we're fucking miserable with each other, especially his [Rhys's] mom, so it's tricky, but then when you find your perfect mate, like, Rhys and Feyre, Cassian and Nesta, like, that is the last little piece of your soul that was, like, kind of a little broken and now you found your person.”
We have been saying there are two types of bonds: a biological bond, and a “true mate” bond:
From this post about mating bonds, originally from February 2022.
Elriels have talked for years about how there are two types of bonds*—a normal mating bond that is more biological but can be “wrong”, and a true mate or a soul mate bond. And Sarah just confirmed that.
*we still don’t know if these are actually two different bonds themselves, or two different types of mating bonds. Sarah did not say one way or the other.
ELAIN’S CHOICE AND PREDESTINY VS FREE WILL
SJM: “[Elain has gone through so much trauma, she was human and then is turned fae] And like surprise, you’ve been like forcibly like essentially married to a stranger who like also was involved in bringing you into this world and betraying and like shoving you into the cauldron. And so like exploring a concept of free will, like what does that look like with a mating bond? Does nature like get it wrong sometimes? Does it get it right sometimes? Like what—. As a writer, I like to find things that make me interested. Like, what if you’re mated to someone and you don’t want to be mated. I’m like look, what do you do? You’re like stuck with this person? Like, what? Like, what do you do? … it’s something that I find to be a really interesting concept, versus Feyre and Nesta where it was so easy for them. Like, nature picked right.”
Again, we’ve been saying for years that Elain’s story is going to be about the interplay between her free will and the mating bond that was forced on her:
From this post about why I think ACOSF made it obvious Elain’s book is next, originally from March 2021.
From this post about the Azriel and Lucien setup and why I think it means Elain’s book is next, originally from October 2021.
Elain’s arc has always been about free will and her choice, and the tension between her predestiny and what she actually wants and chooses for herself. And Sarah just confirmed that loud and clear.
And I am not the only elriel who has made these posts. Countless of us have, including @wingedblooms @offtorivendell @icedflames @psychee92 @elriell @psychologynerd @cassianfanclub @dancingwithfae @merymoonbeam and so many others I’m forgetting to name right now I’m sorry. But I am so glad to finally hear Sarah confirm out of her own mouth what we’ve been theorizing about re the mating bond and Elain’s arc for years.
And everything Sarah said last night tells me that she has been writing Elain’s story, that she’s excited to show us Elain’s journey, and that she is really interested in showing us what happens when a mating bond is wrong and the pairing decides to exercise their free will.