Sarah said recently that she likes writing stories about disliked characters, which makes sense considering how long Nesta was hated (really long).
With that in mind, every time I reread ACOSF, I have the feeling Sarah was deliberately talking to the readers about Elain.
You think Elain is boring?
I think she's kind, I'll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven't seen all she has to offer yet.
"Elain doesn't have what it takes"
“Including Elain, who is more than
capable of defending herself against the darkness of the Trove, if she chooses
to. Don’t underestimate her.
"How will she get a book? All she does is gardening, she's better off doing that"
“Shall I tend to my little garden forever?”
“You can’t have it both ways. You cannot
resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do
anything greater.”
"Sarah will have a hard time to make me like her"
We'll see a different side of her emerge.
Maybe you’ll
become interesting at last, Elain.
"Nesta was by her side for weeks, she's ungrateful"
I went into the Cauldron, too, you know. And it captured me.
And yet somehow all you think of is what my trauma did to you.”
Elain was right.
We’ve become so focused on how her trauma impacted us that we forget she was the one who experienced it.
"She doesn't even care about Nesta"
You have your lives, and I have mine, she’d said to Elain last Winter
Solstice. She’d known how deeply it would wound her sister.
She’d passed her sister in the bustling market square they called the Palace
of Bone and Salt, and though Elain had halted, no doubt intending to speak to
her, Nesta had kept walking. Hadn’t looked back before vanishing into the
throng.
And plucked the cerulean-and-cream scarf Elain had given her for her
birthday this spring off the hook on the wall.
She’d been as
riveted as Feyre to hear Cassian tell of it: first of Nesta and the others’
interest.
I’m happy that Nesta finds interest in something again.
"But what would she even do?"
Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all
twisted toward her, “Using me.”
I think she’s
got you beat for secret-keeping.
She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d
been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she
called friends.
And
because you are Made by it, you are immune to the influence and power of
the Trove. You might use them, yes, but they cannot be used upon you.” A
glance to Elain. “Either of you."
and Elain,
with whatever powers she has—is here.
All three sisters
blessed by fate and gifted with powers to match your own.
All three sisters were now High Fae with considerable powers, though
only Feyre’s were let loose. (And now Nesta's, which means...)
"She can't even make her own decisions"
Elain remained in the doorway, her face pale but her expression harder
than Nesta had ever seen it. “You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta."
Elain cut in sharply, “I am not a child to be fought over."
Elain said, “Then I will find it. I might require some time to …
reacquaint myself with my powers, but I could start today.”
"She doesn't belong to the night court, Cassian said it"
When Feyre had offered to let
her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was
a part of this court—and would do whatever was needed.
*Sight* I could go on and on but I have a limit of how many of those comments I can read.
Sarah probably knew what kind of reaction to expect, since she already experienced that with Nesta. If Nesta was hated, why wouldn't Elain?
But also, if Nesta surprised us, why wouldn't Elain surprise us as well?
Elain is an Archeron, do you really think Sarah wouldn't write her a journey just like she did with Nesta and Feyre?
Therefore, SJM made herself clear in ACOSF, by contradicting every hateful comment towards Elain. So, we are going to see another side of Elain - and be surprised af.
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