reyna

just elriel, really (but i also adore zutara, rowaelin, mythology, jane austen and more)

[winterofherdiscontent]

'…meet me in the moonfire gardens'

[ work in progress close up from a larger illustration ]

[lilithsaur]

Death and The Fawn

[merymoonbeam]

A story in three parts

One

Most males bought their wives and mates jewelry for an outrageous Winter Solstice present.

Two

My Nesta. Elain shall wed for love and beauty, but you, my cunning little queen … You shall wed for conquest.

Three

“The golden necklace seemed ordinary -- its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”

Anyways... 🥱

[hereforelainarcheron]

let’s make some things clear for those who are not capable of understanding SJM. There will never be an Azriel book. And there will certainly never be a Lucien book. However we will definitely read an Elain book next october. And maybe a Vassa book, someday.

[sanktilyas]

DEATH AND THE FAWN (Azriel + Elain)

“you are to stay away from her.”

“you can’t order me to do that.”

[meglap15]

A few of the unnecessary intentional times that Elain has been on the page and was compared/linked to Azriel. SJM didn’t need to do it… but she did anyway.

Painting us a picture. 🖼️

At this point Elain is still “technically” engaged to Graysen, who could have been her obstacle with Lucien.. not Azriel. But sure let’s wonder if Azriel is what Elain needs. 💍

The potato steam will always be so funny to me… because why are being told that it is like Azriels shadows. 😂🥔

Love the DIRECT comparisons to Azriel in regards to secret keeping and spying.🕵🏼‍♀️

And finally one of my favorite silver flames quotes. Elain’s rose carving half hidden in shadows and Nesta’s reaction to it. 👀

I know Elain can and will make her own path as a strong FMC… but I love the connections sjm has went out of her way to make between her and Azriel. 🩷💙

THIS is foreshadowing. THESE are crumbs. THAT is how you setup a romantic pairing.

[bright-side20]

I need Elain to convince the king of Vallahan to sign the peace treaty

[duvetdaybooks]

Part of why Elain probably loves her garden is that Lucien isn’t there! It’s her little oasis from the world. Her safe haven.

We never see him bother her there. He has no idea she doesn’t even wear gloves while gardening as he buys her some but Feyre even knows she won’t use them.

But do you know who does spend time with her there, sunning his impressive wingspan in front of her while they relax in the garden, who listens to her plans for her garden until the wee hours of the morning? Azriel!

[bolinhoelriel]

I TRULY believe that Elain's true mate is Azriel.

I think their bond is the one blessed by the Mother, since the author seems to mention the Mother A LOT when it comes to them.

They are suffering as hell with the bond created by the corrupted Cauldron, we can obviously see it.

Azriel showed ALL the traits of being Elain's mate:

he understands her like no one else,

they talk to each other without words,

he heard the sound of her laughter and wanted to know what had caused it,

his shadows were about to attack Nesta for making Elain feel bad and they often disappear in her presence as if she were a bright ray of light, making Azriel feel safe and comfortable,

he was missing Elain and felt the need to go after her immediately,

he sacrificed himself to save her during a bloody war and didn't want her out of his hold, even though he was severely injured,

he trusted her with the Truth-Teller without ever having given it to anyone before,

they (together) triggered an fanart in Feyre's mind while Elain and Lucien nothing,

he made Mor freeze and stare at the place he left when she looked at him while he was looking at Elain,

he discovered what was wrong with her instead of her mate,

he doesn't want her to be exposed to danger and feels very protective of her,

he can't stop looking at her and strongly feeling her presence wherever she is,

he suspects something is wrong,

he is no longer in love with Mor, even though it was a strong feeling that lasted 500 years,

he doesn't give a fuck anymore about his own religion because of Elain,

he can smell Elain's bond with Lucien and makes him feel very sick,

he is celibate and can only find pleasure when he thinks about her,

the scent of her arousal makes him want to kneel and beg to taste her,

he feels this strong arousal and need to have sex with Elain,

he is feeling depressed and snapping at his own brother for not being able to be with her.

Meanwhile, Elain feels intense discomfort around Lucien,

she's not attracted to him,

only feels like something is tied to her ribs and pulling forcefully,

she doesn't want the bond and seems to actually hate it with all of her being,

all her arousal, need and romantic thoughts and feelings are for Azriel.

It seems like they're clearly the true mates here.

[lovelriel]

three sisters for three brothers. ♡

art by art by asayris.

[mortalfae7]

Elain x Azriel

[bright-side20]

Acowar

“Do you think she and Lucien match well?” (...) “You know them better than I do. But I will say that Lucien is loyal—fiercely so.” “So is Azriel.” “Azriel,” Rhys said, “has been preoccupied with the same female for the past five hundred years." “Wouldn’t the mating bond have snapped into place for them if it exists?” Rhys’s eyes shuttered. “I think that is a question Azriel has been asking himself every day since he met Mor.”

SF

Rhysand blinked. “What of Mor, Az?”   Azriel ignored the question. “The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it’s possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another.” He had never before dared speak  the words aloud.   Rhys’s face drained of color. “You believe you deserve to be her mate?”

Azriel scowled. “I think Lucien will never be good enough for her, and she has no interest in him, anyway.”

Turns out Azriel has been asking himself why Elain isn't his mate. It always makes me laugh, Rhys was like that wasn't on my bingo card.

[protectorofvel]

Look at the respect shown by Rhys and Cassian, who remained silent about the bond even though they knew it was there until Nesta and Feyre found out—and then at Lucien’s foolish audacity in approaching Elain during one of her weakest moments and saying, “You are my mate.” What was he thinking? Did he really think Elain would say, “Oh, is that so? Well then, show me the way and let’s reach our happy ending”?

[hereforelainarcheron]

He is just that weak of a man

[cybersigilisticpony]

“(…) she was generous, loving, and kind — a woman I found myself proud to know, to call sister.”

— A Court of Thorns and Roses 😭🩷🌸

[bolinhoelriel]

What's the deal? Everyone with a brain should understand that Sarah J. Maas' priority in ACOTAR is the Archeron sisters. The third sister will get the third brother. It is in the prophecy of the damn story. Deal with it or freak out.

[badlucksav]

No because how was I not supposed to believe Zutara is romantically coded when they fight against/for each other in all 3 season finales??

At the end, it’s always the two of them. Always.

[valkybree]

Something that occasionally irks me is people, GA's and EL's, make acotar more complicated than it actually is as far as ships or pairings go.

All you have to do is follow the bread crumbs and the patterns are there.

Feyre may have accepted the first love shown her way from Tamlin, but she eventually realized that wasn't what she wanted or needed. She met Rhys, and realized what she was looking for and wanted for her life. Before and after being fae.

Nesta kept fighting the obvious pull she had with Cassian because she did not think she deserved him even though he was exactly the sort of man she wanted on sight and getting to know him. Despite believing she should've been with Eris because he's an awful person and believed herself to be the same. Before being fae and after, it was always Cassian.

Elain was the one who initiated a conversation with Azriel. She looked to Azriel for ease in times of tension. Azriel observed and watched Elain and kept an eye out for her. After she became fae it was amplified. He was gentle, offer and permission, doesn't tell her what she needs, gives her choices and asks, etc. Lucien pretty much runs the mating bond on assumptions. What he thinks a mate wants. What he thinks Elain wants. Forces the issue even when Elain has made it clear she doesn't owe him her affections and she's connected him to her trauma. She doesn't even come close enough for Lucien to touch her. Azriel? She lets him guide her. Hold her close. Protect her. Stand up for her.

It's not exactly vague here. 💀