Aelin, Nesta, Bryce: the secret of the eight-pointed star.
My all time favourite SJM universe theory.
[Spoilers for ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City!]
In Empire of Storms, Aelin is seen wearing a Wyrdkey around her neck. Because of this, a temporary gate is opened inside of her, allowing Deanna to possess her body.
Within the Throne of Glass world, Deanna is a god.
When Aelin attends a religious service to honour Deanna and the other gods, it is noted that the High Priestess bears the marking of an eight-pointed star above her brow.
In the ACOTAR world, it has been widely speculated that the Cauldron - with its three magical legs - is also made from Wyrdkeys (thus creating a Wyrdgate). Items dipped into the Cauldron, such as the Dread Trove, also appear to take on similar properties to the Wyrdkeys.
When Nesta uses the Dread Trove items - just like Aelin and the Wyrdkey - a god-like being appears to possess Nesta.
Nesta also bore a tattoo of the eight-pointed star. The symbol of the gods.
Many believe that the fourth Dread Trove item is the Horn in the Crescent City world.
The Horn is embedded into Bryce's back. Just like the Wyrdkeys, it allows Bryce to open up doors to other worlds.
When the Horn was repaired... Bryce also gained the same marking of the eight-pointed star.
Thus, it appears that Wyrdkeys and the Dread Trove (including the Horn) allow gods, or higher beings, to possess the bodies of those wielding them.
However, unlike Aelin or Nesta, who can remove their access to these items, Bryce is stuck with the Horn permanently inked into her back.
In the final chapters of CC2, when Bryce reaches the Asteri palace, it is said that an eye opens within her soul, and "snarls."
This begs the question; is there someone inside Bryce as well...?
Interestingly, after the Horn was healed and Bryce is racing to save the humans, the Prime of the Wolves looks at Bryce and refers to her as a "wolf." As he says this, he points to his heart.
Similarly, when Bryce meets the Prime again in CC2, he once again refers to her as a "wolf" and taps his chest - his heart.
But, the Prime isn't referring to Bryce. He's referring to Danika.
Bryce's best friend, the wolf-shifter... the one who is always inside of Bryce's heart... literally.
Danika told Baxian that she was trying to find a way into a new world. But, she also knew that she was going to die before this could happen.
Perhaps it's then no coincidence that Danika inked the Horn on Bryce's back; creating a gate inside of Bryce - one that she could enter, even after death, should she need it.
Danika inked the Horn in the "language of universes" - Wyrdmarks.
In doing this, she spelt out the phrase "through love, all is possible." When Hypaxia asks Bryce about this very phrase on her back, Bryce explains the meaning: that she and Danika will never be parted.
Danika says the same thing herself; that even if Bryce cannot see her... she will always be there.
And, I don't think these are just pretty words. Because, through the Horn - a gate into Bryce's soul - Danika's own soul resides.
This explains how, after the Horn was healed, Bryce was able to the Drop.
The Drop is a descent into one's soul. When Bryce does the Drop, when she descends into her own soul... she found Danika there.
But, this raises an interesting question; can any deceased or otherworldly being enter Bryce through the Horn?
Or... is Danika someone important?
Given the theme of reincarnation within the SJM universe... it is possible that Danika was once a god, or a higher being, herself?
Well, the name Danika means "morning star." Or, otherwise known as Sirius.
In the Crescent City world, Sirius was the seventh (and long deceased) Asteri.
Sirius was known as the WOLF STAR.
Further, within various strains of mythology, Danika is known as the Goddess of Dusk.
...Danika's search for Dusk's Truth.
...The Horn, given to Bryce by Danika, is a beacon to Prythian. To the Dusk Court.
The Dusk Court (most likely situated on the Prison Island), with the same marking of the eight-pointed star.
The symbol of the Starborn fae.
With SJM's next (multiverse?) series speculated to be called Twilight of the Gods...
Twilight being another word for dusk...
It's all coming together.
(And, as an additional headcanon - if this theory is true - I wonder if this is all leading up to Starfall - the migration of souls. That we will see Danika's soul leave her place inside of Bryce, and join the other souls in the sky - destined to be reborn once more).
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