Let's play a game

It's not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us.

[xouru]

CRESCENT CITY EXCLUSIVE CHAPTERS

Please note that English is not my first language also I re-writed it from photos so there might be some errors.

HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH

1. Bryce & Hunt Waterstones

2. Ruhn Books-a-Million

3. Tharion Target

HOUSE OF FLAME AND SHADOW

1. Bryce & Danika Indie

2. Bryce & Hunt Barnes & Noble

3. Bryce, Nesta & Azriel Target

4. Ember & Randall Books-a-Million

5. Ruhn & Linda Walmart

[merymoonbeam]

Beautiful

Nessian

“Do you know how your eyes glow when your power rises to the surface? Like molten steel. Like silver fire.” He’d done it on purpose—riled her like this. To get her to show her hand. Nesta’s fingers curled into claws at her sides. She took a step toward him. Cassian held his ground. So she took another step. Another. Until they were close enough that a heaving breath would have had her chest brushing his. Until she was baring her teeth at his still-smirking face.Cassian surveyed her. Gazed into her eyes and breathed, “Beautiful.”

Elriel

Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.”

[ashleyodellart]

Celeste's room 🌙⭐️☁️

[silverdreamscapes]

I’m as sick of the necklace debacle as anyone else, but one of the things that I see g*ynriels repeatedly referring to is the symbolism of Elain rejecting the necklace and therefore rejecting Azriel. There’s all of this focus on the the fact that she returned it, but not on the WHY.

First off, she did not reject the necklace. She returned it and there is a difference. Her first instinct, her first reaction is to be excited by it when she sees it. She sucks in a breath that causes Azriel’s shadows to skitter back. She calls the necklace beautiful and asks that he be the one to put it on her. After Azriel places the necklace around her neck, they both become aroused and nearly kiss. OFFER AND PERMISSION. This is a cue, a way for the author to show, that Elain does in fact accept not only the necklace but the mutual feelings and attraction they both share for one another, which is in direct contrast to the gifts represented by Lucien. She politely accepts them, but she does not use them or wear them, even if they could make her life easier like the gloves he gives her.

Which brings us to Elain returning the necklace. She did not reject it or say “no, I don’t want it”. She accepted it and then returned it only after she thought Azriel rejected her and stopped the kiss, leading Elain to believe that he thought it was a mistake. As the reader, we know that’s simply not true. He didn’t end the kiss because he thought kissing her was a mistake. He’s been thinking about her every night for a year, staring at the gift she got him and keeping it on his night stand. He very much wanted to kiss her. He stopped because Rhys caught them and then ordered him to stay away from Elain. But she has no idea about any of this. She returns the necklace when she thinks Azriel is the one to reject her, and she more than likely didn’t want another piece of jewelry as a reminder of a man she had feelings for rejecting her once again.

The almost kiss, the returned necklace, and Rhys’ order is a classic case of miscommunication. It’s an often used trope and plot device used in romance to misdirect the characters and create obstacles. Azriel doesn’t have feelings for Gwyn, at least not that we’ve been presented with. His two strongest emotional connections in terms of relationships right now are Elain and Rhys. He has feelings for Elain but he has loyalty to Rhys as his High Lord and brother. That is where the most dramatic tension lies. Not Gwyn. The most important part of the bonus POV isn’t Gwyn potentially having the necklace. I doubt that will even lead to much of anything narratively. It’s Rhys ordering Azriel to stay away from Elain and the miscommunication and obstacles that creates because that causes the most drama and conflict.

[ratabrasileira]

Elain is not shy nor submissive.

“You know Elain wouldn’t feel comfortable in a place like this [tavern].”

She arched a well-groomed brow. “A place like this? What sort of place is that?”

Indeed, some people were turning our way. High Lady—I was High Lady. Insulting this place and the people in it wouldn’t win me any supporters. “Elain is overwhelmed by crowds.”

“She didn’t used to be that way.” Nesta swirled her glass of amber liquid. “She loved balls and parties.”

(...)

“If you bothered to come by the house, you’d see that she’s readjusting. But balls and parties are one thing. Elain never patronized taverns before this.”

ACOFAS, Chapter 13

In ACOFAS we see that she's traumatized. But Elain likes to talk, she likes to party, she likes to know/to learn. She's curious, brave and interesting. She's an Archeron.

Days passed. The shadow within me didn’t lighten, and even the thought of painting was abhorrent. Instead I spent most of my time with Elain in her little garden. I was content to listen to her talk about every bud and bloom, about her plans to start another garden by the greenhouse, perhaps a vegetable garden, if she could learn enough about it over the next few months.

ACOTAR, Chapter 29

The ball was a blur of waltzing and preening, of bejeweled aristos, of wine and toasts in my honor. I lingered at Nesta’s side, because she seemed to do a good job of scaring off the too-curious suitors who wanted to know more about my fortune. But I tried to smile, if only for Elain, who flitted about the room, personally greeting each guest and dancing with all their important sons.

ACOTAR, Chapter 31

Two in the morning, and yet the party was showing no signs of slowing. My father held court with several other merchants and aristo men to whom I had been introduced but whose names I’d instantly forgotten. Elain was laughing among a circle of beautiful friends, flushed and brilliant.

ACOTAR, Chapter 31

And it was Elain—Elain—who sighed and murmured, “I hope they all burn in hell.”

ACOMAF, Chapter 40

Elain cut in sharply, “I am not a child to be fought over.”

ACOSF, Chapter 21

But Elain turned on her heel. “Find me when you wish to begin.” The doors shut behind her.

ACOSF, Chapter 21

Stop picturing her as someone who doesn't have wishes or feelings. Elain is a person.

[sncinder]

‘He felt her lower herself to the ground before him, her head level with his own, before tender hands had grasped either side of his face, raising it to meet hers.“You aren’t going to lose me, Azriel.”

Elriel from Chapter 13 of @rhysanoodle ‘s wonderful fic The Night We Met

Enjoy! <3

[louiseleblancdiggory]

“during the extra chapter, azriel said that he hadn’t thought much further than that moment, and so that obviously mean that he’s only interested in elain sexually”

eeeerrrrrr…. no.

az’s character is not used to getting what he wants just because he wants it— we see that very clearly in his love life, but that also shows in his work life: the dude’s job is literally forcing information out of people. he doesn’t get it because he wants, but because he pushes it. point is, azriel is used to not allowing himself to want things, and when he does, he usually doesn’t get them. and that’s why he didn’t allow himself to plan any future with elain. he is so used to not being chosen, to having the things he wants taken away from him, that if he doesn’t have any hopes in relation to elain, then maybe he can just get a small part of her. azriel hasn’t thought of a future with elain not because he isn’t interested in her (he is, and we can see that in previous books), he’s just terrified that if he wants her enough, then that’s when he’ll lose her.

azriel is a guy who has been through so much that he naturally thinks lowly of himself. he is used to not being the favorite son, to not being the guy the girl picks. to want elain— someone who not only is an amazing woman, but also someone with a mate— must be terrifying to someone who feels like they’re always bound to lose. in the chapter, when he implies that maybe the cauldron should’ve made elain his mate, he’s not speaking out of arrogance. he’s speaking out of desperate hope. if the cauldron had chosen, then maybe it would be ok for him to want her too. then maybe it was the universe telling him that, just this one time, it was ok for him to want someone and be open about it. az is falling hard and fast for elain, so much so that the mere thought that she might not reciprocate, or worse, be taken from him, makes him not allow himself any hope for a future.

the reason why azriel hadn’t thought of a future was because it would be too damn heartbreaking to see it not happen.

[ningensusker]

My poor baby. They will be happily together soon. 🥺💕

[offtorivendell]

When Azriel first met Elain, in ACOMAF, she made him smile:

After the war against Hybern, in ACOWAR, Elain’s smile made Azriel's shadows brighten from all the way across the room:

In ACOFAS, Elain made Azriel laugh with more joy than Feyre had ever heard, his eyes brightening more than she had ever seen before:

Then, three days after Rhys forbade Azriel from seeing Elain, in ACOSF, he was still stone-faced and unable to smile:

And you're telling me that these two wouldn't give us an amazing friends-to-lovers forbidden romance, filled with light complementing dark imagery, intrigue and adventure?

[sncinder]

‘He felt her lower herself to the ground before him, her head level with his own, before tender hands had grasped either side of his face, raising it to meet hers.“You aren’t going to lose me, Azriel.”

Elriel from Chapter 13 of @rhysanoodle ‘s wonderful fic The Night We Met

Enjoy! <3

[elisiarin-deactivated20220114]

Elain Archeron

Art by me

[nikethestatue]

Our beautiful flower 🌸 girl

Art: diielliee

[leiaamidala]

I couldn't tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, "Beautiful."

--A Court of Wings and Ruin, by Sarah J. Maas⁣

Art by @katjazart ,commissioned by me.⁣ ⁣✨Thank you Katja for this absolute masterpiece. I am forever grateful! Thank you for bringing to life my vision, and making it even better. This piece is inspired by the above scene, reimagined in a future where Elain and Azriel have found their happiness together-- the triumph of choice over so-called fate. ⁣

⁣As always, this is for my Elriels🌸🦇⁣

reposts allowed ONLY with tagged credit to @katjazart and me

[mardereads19]

Elriel Propaganda, YAY!

Hey hey! I usually don’t do this, but since a Gwynriel really wanted to debate with me on the comments of one of my posts (though they swore this was not about the ships), then I might as well do it on its own post so that all my elriel besties rest assured. 😌

It is long, but I assure you it is worth it. (You will also get an Elriel breakdown!!! Fun!)

They said: ‘places the necklace around Elain's neck we see him mention his scars e.g. 'Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin.' and 'Such terrible things that it was a scarilege for his fingers to skin, taunting her with his presence', however, in the same chapter while he teaches Gwyn how to hold the sword he does not mention his scars once.

doesn't think about his insecurities with her

I say: This one is easy to counter argument: Azriel doesn’t think about his scars because he doesn’t care what Gwyn thinks about them or even himself, for that matter. People get nervous/self-conscious around the people they like or want to impress. Azriel doesn’t need or wants to impress Gwyn. Why should he care about what she thinks of his scars? About him?

And for all you say about him not “thinking about his insecurities with her” you forget how uncomfortable he was during that meeting. The man wanted to leave.

It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running, Azriel landed in the ring a few feet from where Gwyn practiced in the chill night.

The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was.

“Fine," he said, and realized a heartbeat later that it wasn’t a socially acceptable answer. "It was nice."  / Not much better.

She opened her mouth to ask more, but he didn't feel like explaining. Or demonstrating, since that was surely what she'd ask next. So Az jerked his chin to the sword dangling from her hand. "Try cutting the ribbon again.”

…grateful for its bracing bite and the distraction of this impromptu lesson.

Compare that interaction to this one:

Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, “Can you truly fly?”

He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, “Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind.”

“That’s very beautiful,” she said. “Is it not—frightening, though? To fly so high?”

“It is sometimes,” Azriel said. Cassian tore his relentless attention from Nesta long enough to nod his agreement. “If you are caught in a storm, if the current drops away. But we are trained so thoroughly that the fear is gone before we’re out of swaddling.”

Regard how Azriel did not shy away from Elain’s questions. He did not even debate answering her. He was comfortable with her asking questions. In fact, below you’ll see it was mostly him who spoke to her.

Self-conscious does not mean uncomfortable before anyone brings it up.

They said: 1. Also it's a common theme with mates in the ACOTAR series for them to be drawn to one another, we see this with Rhys ('Maybe that's why i couldn't keep away'), Cassian ('Because i couldn't stay away'), Lucien ('That was all he wanted-to see Elain only once') and even Elain ('The half step she took towards the stairs-as if to speak to him. Stop him'). with Azriel we see that when when referring to Elain he had been 'keeping away from Elain as much as possible' but with Gwyn he 'found himself at the library beneath the house of wind' (to give her the necklace) and 2. when his shadows do not warn him of her presence at the training ground. The shadows alert him about everything. They warned him before Koschei made a move, you'd think they would warn him if someone was around but they didn't. I believe it's because they can detect the mating bond (can hear and feel things others can't) they are drawn to her, they do not need to be alert around their mate. Oh but you're gonna say that it's because she's a lightsinger

I say: 1. Where to begin?… First off, Elain is no longer drawn to her mate. So that’s not really true.

“You’re welcome to stay for the night,” I said, since Elain certainly wasn’t going to. / Lucien lowered his hands into his lap and leaned back in the armchair. “Thank you, but I have other plans.” / I prayed he didn’t catch the slightly relieved glimmer on Elain’s face.”

My sister rose to her feet. “I should get refreshments.” / Lucien rose as well. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m—” / But she was already out of the room.”

“I don’t think she’ll tolerate two minutes alone with me, so forget about two weeks.”

Elain, the wretch, had taken the seat between Feyre and Varian, about as far from Lucien as she could get.

Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

And Lucien isn’t always crazy to see Elain either:

“I am not always in this city to see my mate.” The last two words dripped with discomfort.

However, Azriel (up until the bonus chapter) has always been the one to approach Elain. Not the other way around. (Here you’ll find how he was the one to iniciate the convos)

Cassian claimed the spot beside Elain, who clenched her fork as if she might wield it against him, and Rhys slid into the seat beside me, Azriel on his other side. A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel’s mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silent.

Elain said, “It’s all very disorienting.” / “I can imagine,” Azriel said. Cassian flashed him a glare. But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.”

“He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door. / Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. / Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?”

I dragged a hand over my face before going to Elain and touching her too-bony shoulder. “Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.”/ “I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand.

His hand is covered in scars, but he still extended it to her. He may feel self-conscious, but it doesn’t stop him.

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports.

“So you three … because you were Made, you can hear it? Sense it?” / “It would appear so,” Amren said… / But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”

Azriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. “I’ve never stayed in this room.” His midnight voice filled the space.” … “No,” Azriel said, not turning from the window. … Azriel remained at the window.… Azriel said, turning from the window at last.

I found Elain studying it, beautiful in her amethyst-colored gown. I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. / The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysand’s—the fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, “Happy Solstice.”

Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea, but I sent him a silent prayer of thanks for his kindness before Rhys and I slipped upstairs.

This was at 3 am and Azriel needed to leave the next morning, here he’s not pressuring himself to sleep, something he is doing with Gwyn in the bonus chapter. Look it up

Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.

Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

And Elain is drawned to him, too:

Rhys chuckled, Cassian’s wrath slipping enough that he grinned, and Elain, noticing Azriel’s ease as proof that things weren’t indeed about to go badly, offered one of her own as well.

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” / She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

The whole Eriel scene in Az’s Chapter. (She takes the initiative. Good for her ♥️😌)

What was that about mates being drawn to each other?

There are many more scenes that I didn’t add here because, well… the point was made. But off the top of my head, there are all the scenes in which Azriel is the one to listen to Elain when she’s talking about her visions. (He’s the one to discover she’s a seer.) There is also the whole rescuing Elain from Hybern scene. And more Garden scenes, I’m sure. ( @silver-flames had a post of the Elriel + Garden and @izzyhavilliard has this post about Elriel Moments —includes the ones I didn’t mention.)

Azriel only begun to keep his distance after he realized what they felt for each other. Elain has a mate, and he thinks that it is wrong to pursue her after the fact. But we still learn that they’ve shared looks and brushed fingers. (Swoon!)

“It had never gone this far. They'd exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching.”

However, the “found himself at the library” moment with Gwyn, can be explained away by the Lightsinger theory (or, in other words, by Gwyn’s powers).

Instead, he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind, standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening.

You had argued that SJM wouldn’t have written their scene if it weren’t for a reason. Well, here’s the reason for his “found himself at the library” scene:

The wooden pews that filled the massive, red-stoned cavern were packed with pale-hooded figures, their blue gems glimmering in the torchlight as they waited for the sunset service to begin…A bell rang seven times somewhere nearby, echoing through the stones, through Nesta’s feet. Each peal was a summons, a call to focus. Everyone rose at the seventh peal…As that seventh bell finished pealing, music erupted. / Not from any instruments, but from all around. As if they were one voice, the priestesses began to sing, a wave of sparkling sound.

Hmm, that’s weird. Azriel “found himself” at the library at seven in the evening… the same hour the priestesses (including Gwyn with her melodic voice that lured Nesta into scrying) start their evening service. The night before, Azriel notes:

Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

The same way Nesta says:

The priestess drew up to her full height, which was slightly taller than average for Fae females. A crackling sort of energy buzzed around her, and Nesta’s power grumbled in answer.

It’s clear to see SJM used the chapter to tell us something about Gwyn and her powers. Azriel is not being “drawned” to her like you claim mates are. He is drawn to her for something else. Remember Azriel said:

…he found Elain's necklace amid the pile. He pocketed it. Spent the rest of his day, even the blasted snowball fight, with every intention of returning it to the shop in the Palace of Thread and Jewels. / But when he returned from the cabin in the mountains, he didn't go to the market square.  / Instead, he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind.”

It was not his intention to go there. He just “found himself.”

Also:

“If there’s another priestess here who might appreciate it, give it to them. But I’m not taking that necklace with me when I leave.”

And:

He wouldn’t go so far as to call Gwyn a friend.

Chemistry and romance at its finest. 🥰

2. Also, if you want to use the argument of his shadows not warning him of Gwyn’s presence as evidence of them being mates, then what do you have to say about this:

But even the silence weighed too heavily, and though the shadows kept him company, as they always had, as they always would, he found himself leaving the room. Entering the foyer. / Soft steps padded from under the stair archway, and there she was. / The faelights gilded Elain's unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

The shadows didn’t warn him of Elain’s presence either and she was literally in the other room under the stair archway. Does that prove they are mates?

The shadows also helped Azriel give Elain her gift:

He pulled the small velvet box from the shadows around him. Opened it for her…Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?”

I do think they are pretty comfortable with Elain. Especially when “they’d always been prone to vanish when she was around.” Like you said, his shadows are alert and warn him when someone is around (like how they were when Koschei made his move), which means they don’t consider Elain or Gwyn a threat. However, only when he’s around Elain, (and previously Mor) did they “vanish.” Based on your argument, they wouldn’t leave Az if there was a threat, so if they vanish when he’s around Elain, then it means they don’t consider her a threat, but the contrary, they feel comfortable in leaving them alone together.

See how I didn’t say anything about Gwyn being a Lightsinger for this one?

They said: Contrast:

1. ' she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars '

2. compared to - ' “Azriel slaughtered all of them within moments. He didn’t hesitate.” '

Elain is unaware of his brutal side. Gwyn has seen, heard and accepted it.

I say: 1. Elain killed the king of Hybern with Truth-Teller, Azriel’s favorite knife. Elain is not dumb. She knows it is not a butter-knife. This is a killing knife. A maiming knife. She was the recipient of these words:

“This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to”…“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.”

To which she answered: “I don’t know how to use it.” She knows Azriel does. And even more impressive, she ends up using it.

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.

I love how more Elriel imagery comes up without me intending it.

It is also super canon that Elain is observant. She noticed how much Azriel rubbed his temples during Acofas and she gifted him a headache powder. Elain was the first to found out Feyre was pregnant. Elain was the one to tell everyone about Nesta’s passion for dancing and how good she was. The fact that so many people think Elain is oblivious about what Azriel does is hilarious to me. She’s the quiet observer. She was handed Truth-Teller by him. She knows.

She’s the seer.

Additionally, though she’s not a violent person by nature, Elain has proven time and time again that she is not going to shy away from violence or violent things if it’s necessary.

She kicked hounds with her bare feet.

She stabbed the king of Hybern through the neck.

She volunteered to scry for the Dread Trove.

Because she is not a warrior with swords and shields, does not mean she is not a warrior in a different way. Being bright and spreading kindness when the world wants to cover everything in darkness is a strength of its own.

And if “violent” people could only end up with equally “violent” people, then there wouldn’t be a grumpy and sunshine trope.

2. This argument is… not an argument? Gwyn was being r-worded. He had to kill those people. Just as he would have killed them if it had been Nesta in Gwyn’s place. Or Feyre. Or Elain. Even Nuala or Cerridwen. That scene is not even romantic. It’s straight up human decency. He had to get her out of there. And Gwyn had to see, hear, and accept what he did because he saved her life and saved her from being hurt further. Please don’t ever use this scene as prove of anything regarding Gwynriel. It’s insensitive.

However, we can use the:

Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” / Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. / Nesta said, “Then you will die.” / Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

And compare it to:

“Winnow me to her. Az, you find Emerie and Gwyn.” … Azriel said tightly, “My spies got word that Eris has been captured by Briallyn.” … “Az said, “We have to get him out.”

That is all.

They said: He nodded to Gwyn and Emerie, the former glancing toward Azriel, who watched din silence. '

' Gwyn again glanced to Azriel, who drifted closer.

I say: Gwyn was saved by Azriel, he was the only person who saw her at her worst. It’s expected she’d be glancing at him. And he was curious about what they were doing with the ribbon. That darn ribbon. Next.

They said: Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. "See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger," she tossed over a shoulder. Azriel stared after her, brows high in amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. "You have no idea what you just started," she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway. "Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?" Nesta winked and clapped the Shadowsinger on the shoulder. "You're the new ribbon, Az" '

I say: What am I supposed to be looking at here? Gwyn saying she’s going to see him tomorrow at training and Nesta saying Gwyn is going to beat the course the same way she beat the ribbon. If you guys think this is romantic, it’s not. There is literally more banter between Nesta and Az than between Az and Gwyn. The girl had left when Nesta said that darn line you guys love to use as “romantic” evidence. Nesta. Said. The. Darn. Line. Not Gwyn.

They said: ' Azriel laughed. "I'll give you that." Gwyn smiled broadly. "Thank you." Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed.

I say: Here again fits the Lightsinger theory (Gwyn’s powers). His shadows respond to them, as I already explained above.

But also (this is a flex):

Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” / Silence again. / Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. / I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous…Elain smiled again, ducking her head. / Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

Above were compiled another bunch of Azriel smiling for and because of Elain.

They said: so much for "2 sentences" sweetheart? I can link you so many more, you just selectively ignored all these things cause you hardcore shipped Elriel and in some part of your mind already hated Gwyn. I do feel bad for doing this on the post, but I don't hate Elain, and I was an Elriel shipper for a while, but I will voice my opinion on Gwyn and the lightsinger theory, you think it's good? cool, what I think it is, is victim-blaming

I say: There aren’t many more, not romantically at least. “He snorted” isn’t something romantic. And he smiles at Gwyn the same way he smiles at Cassian or Nesta. Az is not as emotionless as the fandom paints him to be, but his smiles are only for the people he knows. Their interactions are platonic.

As you can see, I never made any hateful comment towards Gwyn. I only used canon to counter argument your points. I have absolutely no reason to hate Gwyn, her character is fun and enjoyable and her development is amazing. And I don’t consider her a “threat to Elriel” or anything similar, so which should I hate/fear her character?

I barely mentioned Gwyn except when it was strictly necessary. A lot of my mutuals do the same. Including the people who write about the Lightsinger theory. If there are elriels who make fun of Gwyn’s trauma, I don’t represent them or condone them. But it’s a theory, just like there is an actual “Evil Elain” theory that goes around and you don’t see me up in their comments searching for a fight. Also, the Lightsinger theory has nothing to do with her trauma. If there was one or two Elriels who tied it to it, they are insensitive and cruel. But it wasn’t me. And saying Gwyn is a Lighsinger (has those luring powers = canon) is not victim-blaming.

And to close off, please stick to your tags. My post was under the Elriel tag. If I wanted Gwynriels to debate me, I’d have tagged them. The last thing I do is go around this platform looking for trouble, but it infuriated me that you kept attacking me and spreading Gwynriel propaganda in a post meant for Elriel stans.

Stick to your tags like I stick to mine ♥️

[mardereads19]

Elucien’s Mating Bond 🌸🦊

I don’t know if someone already pointed this out. I haven’t hung around the Elriel tag since Elriel Month began, so I wouldn’t know. I have to catch up on all the goodies here.

I had heard of the theory that perhaps Elucien’s mating bond was not real, but I had pushed it away because Azriel could smell their bond and Lucien had tugged on it during Acowar. However, during my latest reread of Acosf, I noticed this quote and some things simply connected in my mind.

Let’s get to it! ✨

1. Spells (according to Helion) feel like threads around an individual.

Helion (aka the High Lord with the power to undo spells —Isn’t he called spell cleaver or something like that?) said that spells are like threads. He, with his powers, can feel them, manipulate them, undo them. It’s exactly why he had been called to check on the males from Autumn in Acosf. But those males were not under any spell.

We still, however, got to hear what a spell feels like.

Here is Elucien’s descriptions of the bond:

Elain felt the tug from Lucien and called it strange. “A thread tied to a rib.”

Lucien is the one to tug on it and say: “A real thread.”

Spells: threads bound around an individual.

Elucien’s bond: A thread tied to a rib.

2. Lucien was the one to pull on the thread.

Listen, this is important. Up until know, we don’t know if Elain can tug on the bond, but we do know she felt it. It was Lucien who was able to pull on the thread, able to manipulate it.

Lucien is the son of Helion and has inherited some capacity of his powers. He actually used them to break free of Hybern’s control on him during Acomaf. So it would make sense that he (with his powers) can sense the thread and tug on it.

Isn’t it a little strange how his powers manifested moments before the mating bond was revealed and how we conveniently learn that Helion is Lucien’s father in Acowar? Feyre was the one to discover this in a matter of seconds after studying Helion, but Rhys had not pieced it together after centuries of knowing Helion and his affair with the lady of Autumn? Hmmm.

Lucien also mentions how his metal eye can see beyond what his normal eye can see (in other words, his metal eye can glean spells and stuff), but it’s not really so accurate, since he never saw through Feyre’s glamour on her scent or tattoo while on the spring court.

Let’s not forget about how well him having these powers ties in with the whole Vassa and Koschei dilemma! If there really is a spell between Lucien and Elain, it can be broken by the next book and the last book could easily center around the Band of Exiles (a spelled Queen and a Fae with spell-cleaving powers two of the three members) and Koschei.

3. Description of Feysand’s and Nessian’s mating bond

We have all discussed how Elucien’s mating bond feels like a (single) thread, while Feysand’s and Nessian’s feel like a bunch of threads.

But also notice: “Between the souls/between the people”

Feysand’s (clicking after acceptance):

“The bond between us.”

“Between us.”

Nessian’s (clicking, but acceptance still pending):

“Golden threads between their very souls.”

“So much gold thread between their souls.”

What was Elain’s description, again?

“It felt... strange. Like you pulled on a thread tied to a rib.”

Hmmm. I don’t know about you guys, but this feels off. Even when Nesta had not yet accepted the mating bond, it had felt beautiful and wonderful. A bunch of golden threads between the souls. Elain said hers felt strange. It felt like a single thread tied to a rib. Perhaps around a rib?

That is not a description of the mating bond we all love so much.

I also think the bond did “click” for both of them at this moment because Elain had focused on Lucien:

So it’s not that the bond clicked for Luecien and not for Elain. Either this is a real mating bond that simply feels off, or this was the moment a spell was worked around both of them.

Concluding Thoughts ✨

In my opinion, it would make sense that a spell was woven between these two people. Perhaps something the Cauldron and Mother themselves did (since I am so in love with @themissyvonne ’s theory).

It also explains why Azriel is able to smell Elucien’s bond while Amren (with her ancient powers) had been the only one able to scent Feysand’s. If spells can be scented in accordance to the purpose, maybe everyone smells a mating bond between Elucien even though it’s not real. Even when the other mating bonds only gave scent after acceptance or were scented before acceptance only by powerful beings (like Amren pre-war and Lanthys).

Additionally, I find it interesting how we have never seen Helion and Elain/Lucien in the same room. Would he be able to tell that there is a spell in place? He can feel those things. I guess we’ll know soon.

I know this theory could be a reach, but I do think it merits at least some thinking on and considering. And since SJM already has said plenty of times that she planted little seeds for the upcoming books, why couldn’t this Helion quote perhaps be one of them?

Thank you for reading! ♥️

[rhyssescups-deactivated20211222]

Reasons I Believe Elain and Azriel are Endgame:

(Tumblr only lets you include 10 photos, so I had to chop some of the quote screenshots. Sorry!! 🥺)

First off, I would like to say that while I definitely don’t mind people shipping Elain + Lucien, I am bothered by some of the reasons individuals use to support the ship. Saying that Lucien has had a difficult life, so he “deserves” Elain & Azriel deserves “his own person” are both statements that rub me the wrong way. They make it seem as though Elain is an object, or a consolation prize that Lucien “deserves”. Elain is not “owned” by Lucien just because she’s his mate. Yes, Lucien has been through a lot & definitely deserves to be happy!! However, Elain has also been through a lot & deserves to be happy too!! She is her own person & deserves to be with whoever she chooses, she doesn’t owe anything to anyone.

Now that that is out of the way, I’d like to discuss why I believe Azriel and Elain will end up together.

Firstly, Feyre brings up a Azriel + Elain being a match a couple of times throughout the series:

- Chapter 49 of ACOMAF: “And I think Elain-Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.” I smiled at the thought-at how handsome they would be together. If the warrior ever stopped quietly loving Mor.

- Chapter 24 of ACOWAR (while watching Az & Elain garden): “Why not make them mates? Why Lucien?”...”You said your mother and father were wrong for each other; Tamlin said how own parents were wrong for each other. So it can’t be a perfect system of matching. What if that is what she needs?”

In my opinion, chapter 24 of ACOWAR isn’t discussed enough. It feels as though everyone ignores it. I view it as the biggest indicator / foreshadowing that Elain will end up rejecting the bond since Feyre and Rhys are literally having this discussion while watching Azriel and Elain in the garden.

Adding onto Elain rejecting the bond,

Chapter 54 of ACOWAR is also extremely important: “It means nothing...I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”

This displays that Elain has the backbone to reject the bond. If she feels as though she’s in love with someone else, she will not allow the bond to get in between that.

Chapter 24 of ACOWAR: “I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful”.

I feel as though this quote speaks for itself, no? (I 100% believe she was looking at his scarred hands 👀)

Chapter 63 of ACOWAR: Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”

When the Cauldron attempted to lure the “made” fae (+ Amren) away, Azriel was the only one thinking of Elain.

Chapter 64 of ACOWAR: “I’m getting her back.” ... “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back”.

Chapter 65 of ACOWAR: “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Chapter 65 of ACOWAR: “Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek”.

These three moments are when I truly believe Elain started seeing Azriel as a potential partner. Yes, this is complete speculation on my part however, I believe this moment set him apart from the rest. When Elain was captured by Hybern, Graysen didn’t even attempt to save her or accept her for the fae she had become, he just gave up on her. Lucien also didn’t attempt to visit her after Hybern threw her into the cauldron & changed the course of her life until Feyre gave him an opportunity to flee the Spring Court. I do understand that it was difficult for him to leave Tamlin and just venture into Night Court territory, but still...

Finally, we’ve reached the big whammy.

Chapter 69 of ACOWAR: She refused the knife Cassian handed her, though. Went white as death at the sight of it. ... Elain weighed my words ... and slowly closed her fingers around the blade. Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade— Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

This scene was deemed important enough to include in the ACOTAR coloring book!! 👀

+ Elain giving Azriel headache medicine for Solstice 🥺:

In conclusion, I believe that Azriel and Elain will end up together because they truly understand one another. They both relate to their powers not being understood by others, dwelling in the shadows. Azriel was the only one who didn’t believe Elain was “crazy” and was the first one to understand that she was a seer. He is gentle with her, never pushes her to do anything that she’s uncomfortable with or isn’t ready for. He helps her with her garden because he knows that it was something that she enjoyed in her human life before she was forced to become a fae. He thought about her when even her sisters hadn’t, he risked his life to save her from Hybern. He lent her Truth-Teller when he hadn’t let anyone else (Rhys, Cass, Mor, etc.) touch it. I love Elain and Azriel and they both deserve to be happy. Whether they become each other’s happiness remains to be seen, but I am definitely rooting for them. 🥺💜

[sabrinaacarpenters]

[high-lady-feyre-archeron]

Nesta when Cassian leaves for a week after their mating bond snaps into place...