But have you read the Bonus Chapter?? His Shadows sing for her!!!
I’m so tired of this GA argument. It is taken out of context so much and it is so frustrating to see how it has evolved into a in indomitable monster that has fueled a crackship and turned it into cult.
Here is my take on the four key pieces of Azriel’s bonus chapter that GAs have latched onto like a leech feasting on fresh blood.
We’ll start when Azriel lands at the training ring after the fight with Rhys, then move onto the supposed “the shadows sing for Gwyn” part, and end with spark in his chest and the reaction of Azriel’s though of Gwyn smiling at receiving the necklace.
At the end, I’ll throw in what we know about lightsingers in here too because of how I believe it relates and justifies how and why Azriel is feeling and thinking these things without realizing it.
“How was the party?” Her breath curled in front of her mouth and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.”
“Like it heard” A reaction (dancing with the breath) when hearing something.
“Like it heard” A change in body (or shadow) language or attention due to a suspected noise (dancing with the breath.)
You could almost say it’s a playful shadow that heard something cool and wanted to check it out but then went back to its master when the breath dissipated. One single shadow reacting to a breath. I fail to see the romanticism here.
“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. “
“Could have sworn” is most often used to express surprise or confusion when reality contradicts your memory.
“Could have sworn” also means you were completely certain about a past memory or belief, even though it turns out you were wrong or mistaken.
Here, Azriel and his shadows are not entirely sure what’s going on when he thinks he hears something and his shadows supposedly respond. Confusion, uncertainty, possibly luring? I think this passage gives a really good hint to the lightsinger theory and it is not so much a romantic moment since Azriel isn’t even sure what’s going on because of the use of the phrase “could have sworn,” not only once, but twice within the same passage.
“Something sparked in Azriel’s chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn’s teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason…He could see it.”
"Something sparked in his chest" means a sudden, unexpected emotion was ignited. It describes a sudden surge of physical or emotional feeling. Depending on the context of the story, it generally represents one of the following reactions: romantic or magical connection, sudden inspiration or resolve, a wake-up call of passion, a surge of emotion.
While GAs use this as confirmation that the spark is the mating bond, I think the subsequent actions littered throughout SF debunk this theory because Azriel does not display mate behavior.
These actions include (there could be more but these are the ones that came to mind):
His stone-faced attitude that Nesta noticed after Solstice when he was training the Valkyries while Cassian was in Illyria; no smiles to be seen.
The ribbon cutting took place approx 5 days after Solstice and the Blood Rite Qualifier roughly two weeks after that. And while we got the “You’re the new ribbon” comment from Nesta, I don’t find that particularly flirty or romantic because the ribbon was a challenge they had to defeat in order to become Valkyries. Azriel being a challenge to defeat does not sound romantic. Proving Azriel wrong for saying they wouldn’t be able to pass the obstacle course is a reasonable assumption to him becoming the new ribbon.
His tepid reaction compared to Cassian’s at the Valkyries being kidnapped and entered in the Blood Rite and him caring more about Eris being taken by Briallyn.
If Gwyn was Azriel’s mate and he knew it, he would have given zero fucks that nobody is allowed to interfere in the BR, he does not care for Illyria or Illyrian traditions, he had previously offered to go into the BR and kill the troublesome Illyrian that was inciting unrest within the camps, but Cassian said no because of the rules/traditions, but even Rhys was considering because who would ever know or find out.
His lack of concern after Gwyn returned from the Blood Rite and instead of checking in on her well-being to make sure she was not traumatized because mates, right? He instead detailed to the Valkyries all the things they did wrong and all the ways they messed up during the rite like a coach or trainer would do in order to help you improve.
Where is the mating bond spark GAs are so insistent about? It just doesn’t exist and the text supports this.
Going back to the bold and underlined part of the passage above before I get too carried away, “For whatever reason” means that something happened, but the exact cause or motive is unknown, unclear, or unimportant.
Again, Azriel is not sure of why he is seeing something. Why is he seeing Gwyn’s smile? The use of “for whatever reason” here is another great hint for the lightsinger theory and not so much a romantic moment in my opinion.
Azriel doesn’t know why he thinks of Gwyn’s smile and/or he dismisses it as unimportant because it’s unclear why he pictured her smile to begin with. Could it be because he is being lured by a lightsinger? Again, not really spelling out romantic thoughts with this particular wording.
Cassian describes lightsingers as lovely, ethereal creatures that lure lost prey by taking on friendly faces. Once the victim is in their arms, their true, monstrous faces are revealed, and they drown their prey in the bog just for sport.
A lure is something that attracts, entices, or tempts with the promise of a reward, pleasure, or gain.
As a verb: Lure means to persuade or draw someone into a specific place or action, often by offering something they want or leading them into a trap.
Who is lost and at their lowest point after Solstice? Azriel. He’s been told to stay away from Elain, forbidden from pursuing the female he is clearly developing feelings for, his feelings of unworthiness have been revalidated, he’s been reduced to a sorry sap who has to pay for sex, and was essentially told his happiness doesn’t matter. All this by his ‘brother’ who is supposed to know him and love him. Of course he’s at his lowest.
Who else was lured by Gwyn when they were at their lowest? Nesta. She was in the beginning phases of her recovery after hitting rock bottom so she’s still in a rough place. During the evening service, she was lured by Gwyn’s actual physical singing, her magic reacting so strongly that she unwittingly scried for the trove.
Azriel drops off the necklace during the evening service, as evidenced by the clock peals that signal the service the same way it was detailed when Nesta arrived at the evening service and was lured by Gwyn’s singing.
One more to add to the list that I hadn’t thought of before until now. The text tells us Azriel intended to return the necklace to the shop at the Palace of Threads and Jewels. Instead, he “found himself” in the library in front of Clotho as the clock chimed seven.
“Finding oneself” somewhere in this situation can mean one of two things: An accidental arrival which implies he didn't consciously plan to go there. He wandered aimlessly due to stress or grief and suddenly realized he was standing in front of Clotho. Or he was drawn by subconscious need meaning that he didn't actively make a decision to enter, but his mind or some alluring magic guided him there because he was is emotionally lost and is seeking safety or an escape from his intrusive thoughts.
Azriel might not have heard the actual singing, just like he didn’t hear it at the training ring on Solstice night, but his shadows must be sensitive enough that they are reacting to Gwyn’s lightsinger magic without physically hearing it and as a result he is having these “like it heard”, “could have sworn”, “for whatever reason”, “he found himself” moments he can’t really pinpoint or explain. He is being lured.
So, does that mean Gwyn is an evil lightsinger? I don’t think so. Gwyn is an important part of Nesta’s story and her found family. I highly doubt SJM will take that away from Nesta. I do think that lightsingers might be suffering from a mischaracterization like the Suriel though.
The Suriel was touted as this scary monstrous creature that was bound by magic to answer your question should you be able to snare it. But then Feyre befriended it and we found out it was a dreamer that wanted the world to be a better place.
I think lightsingers, if the hints are pointing in this direction and SJM builds upon it, will have a similar development where we find out they aren’t evil after all. My thought is that they will be reclassified as a powerful, healing force, capable of guiding lost, hurting souls to safety when they are too blinded by their own grief to find the way themselves.
I also think Gwyn might have no idea she is a lightsinger to begin with and she’s just out here swinging her magic around affecting people without her knowledge. Because what happened to both Nesta and Azriel after they were lured? They got something they needed in return. Nesta found the trove item (can’t remember which one) and her healing started improving so much more after befriending Gwyn and later Emerie at her side. And Azriel felt better after regifting the necklace…Which is a whole other subject for a post because, really? Regifting? Come on, Az! The point was that he felt better, content at the thought of making somebody else happy even if he isn’t able to be happy. Whether it was Gwyn or whomever Clotho decided to give the necklace to. We all know how he’s all about self-sacrificing for the good of the court and those he loves.
Anyway, that was quite the tangent on lightsingers and it took off and away from the main topic of this post.
Going back to Azriel and Gwyn, all the key interactions GAs appoint to the supposed mate behavior from Azriel and his Shadows is surrounded by phrasing that makes the romantic certainty of those interactions questionable. I personally do not find them romantic in the least and there is evidence in the actual book (ACOSF in this case) that provides enough doubt for those interactions to be labeled as romantic or mate behavior.
 One thing I think gets lost in these “ ship” discussions is the difference between a passing detail and narrative emphasis.
Authors don't spend pages on something by accident.
Elain rescue scene
the truth teller scene
Azriel carrying Elain over the threshold to then take her into the Garden
Azriel figures out Elain is a seer
Azriel taking the potatoes from Elain and making sure everyone waited for her before starting dinner.
The headache medicine soltice gift scene
Etc.
When a story slows down, lingers on imagery, dedicates multiple paragraphs to describing an interaction, has other characters comment on it, ties it to symbolism, and then makes that moment pivotal to the plot—that's the narrative telling you to pay attention.
Azriel giving Elain Truth-Teller wasn't a throwaway moment.
Feyre literally pauses to describe it like a painting. The scene is given weight, imagery, and emotional significance. Then Elain uses that same knife to kill the King of Hybern, one of the defining moments that ends the war.
That's how stories create meaning.
So yes, I struggle when fandom turns a one-line interaction, a glance, or someone lifting an eyebrow into "proof" while simultaneously dismissing entire scenes that the narrative itself put under a spotlight.
You don't have to ship Elriel. But at some point we're talking about narrative structure, not preferences. One side keeps pointing to moments the author spent chapters building. The other keeps pointing to an eyebrow.
Like the second half of the Book of Breathings sang:
Life and death and rebirth
Sun and moon and dark
Rot and bloom and bone
•
Love me, touch me, sing me.
•
And as Feyre concluded, this was Chaos. The force the Princes of Hel would never defile with violence.
The Starsword and Truth-Teller unlocked the land’s ley lines and unleashed its pure, inherent magic. Like other parts of nature, it communicates through song: a symphony of life and joy and beauty. The stones bones of the earth move in perfect harmony with that earthly music, and its skin blooms with life once again.
i haven’t had a care in the world since the CHD podcast and 🩷💙, everything that’s come since has just been the sprinkles on top of my delicious elriel endgame cake
Someone will talk about how feyre ships elriel (she pretty much manifested them) and g.wynriels will come at them with "YOO RHYSAND SHIPS GWYNRIEL" and that always leaves me surprised because where and when did rhys ever talk about g.wyn in relation to azriel? I remember rhys mentioning mor in association to azriel but never g.wyn so I'm genuinely curious to know where is the whole "rhys ships g.wyn and az" coming from? Is there a part of acosf I didn't read?
I’m sorry but I’m almost sure that Rhys would be horrified to learn Azriel is sleeping with G. He’s in a position of power above her as a trainer, she lives in a place where males (including Azriel) have to get special dispensation to visit because of the nature of the trauma some of those women have endured, she’s still not healed from her trauma (& just went through a boat load more thanks to the blood rite), has stated she’s not even sure she will attend her besties mating ceremony because it means leaving the library, and she acts like a teenager. Rhys just caught Azriel & Elain about to kiss, followed by Azriel questioning the cauldron & him saying he’d fight for her.
I also am confused where anyone gets Nesta shipping Gw*nriel from. I think it’s only the “you’re the new ribbon Az” line but I interpreted that way more as Nesta saying Azriel is her new challenge because it’s right after Cass and Az are setting up the obstacle courses for them and Gwyn is determined to beat him. I personally think this scene from Nesta’s pov in ACOSF reads way more as shipping or support for Elriel than any positive emotion I’ve seen Nesta have toward Gw*nriel. Nesta and Az have such a sweet unspoken bond and this scene is so tender that it told me Nesta supports it because of how outspoken we know she would be if she didn’t.
When the first couple of chapters of The Theory of Blooming got posted, I loved it so much, I couldn't stop thinking of college Azriel & Elain's story and have been collecting pictures that remind me of them since then.
There are many quotes I love from this fic but couldn't fit on the collages so I ended up putting a bunch of them on one picture, sort of a medley of quotes, in the end. Because they were still worth putting somewhere for sure haha. ☺️
You should can read it here. 🩷💙 This story is dear to me, thank you @mortalfae7!
I do not own these images. All these beautiful quotes are from chapter 1-9 of the fanfic linked above.💖
The first Elriel AU fanfic that changed my mind about AU stories. Thank you so-so much, @fauxdette - I treasure your fic!
I loved the ways Azriel showed up for Elain. How effortlessly they communicated without words. How their connection stayed strong even after not seeing each other for years.
I loved the portrayal of the Archeron sisterhood. I always appreciate fics where they bond together and they show up for one another like only sisters can.
Also found Cassian's character to be the most fun of them all!
You should can read it here. 🩷💙
I do not own these images. Lovely quotes are from the fanfic linked above.🖤
Slip Away by Oh Wonder really fits this fic so well. 🤍
Months had passed, and life, relentlessly and practically, had filled the space where something fragile had once tried to bloom. Azriel had thrown himself into duty, helping Cassian train the priestesses, spending long hours at the House of Wind, where discipline and purpose could drown out everything else. Elain heard of it only in fragments, in passing remarks not meant for her, and she started to quietly and stubbornly make herself smaller around his absence.
On a mild afternoon in Velaris, the middle Archeron sister kept her head down as she moved through the busy streets. She had a basket looped over her arm which was half filled with herbs and carefully chosen seed packets. The city glowed in soft sunlight, but a cool breeze announced the first touches of a dying summer. Elain pulled her cloak closer around her shoulders, more for comfort than pure necessity, while drifting from stall to shop with quiet purpose. She paused here and there, her fingers often gently brushing the displayed goods, exchanging soft words with merchants, before wandering toward a row of smaller storefronts where books and fabrics spilled into the street.
It was the fabrics that caught her attention this time, their rich colors draped in numerous colours, as well as gold threaded silks and soft rose linens. Elain slowed, drawn in by them thinking about which fabric Feyre would love or which colour Mor would look spectacular in. Her gaze lifted to the open glass shop door they belonged to. Inside stood a female, strong grounded and totally in her element and Elain tilted her head to the side. Her sight whispered that it was Emerie and flashes of her training alongside Nesta pushed themselves into her periphery. As quickly as they had emerged, they disappeared again and let the seer stay in the present. Elain watched her for a moment, noting the ease in her posture and the quiet confidence and smiled in envy at the strong female who had found a place in this world. As she was about to turn away her attention snagged on a low sound she would have recognized in a screaming crowd.
Azriel.
Her breath caught as her eyes found him inside, standing near a red-haired priestess. They stood close together, speaking easily, as though the space between them required no effort at all. Azriel murmured something she couldn’t hear, and the female leaned in with quiet interest. Emerie laughed at something that was said and then Elain heard her sister’s voice and Elain froze like a deer in the headlight. Nesta emerged from a changing room, holding some leather pants in her hand, chatting easily with the group. And Elain… Elain remained motionless outside, watching a world she did not belong to. It wasn’t jealousy that struck her, not really, but something quieter and heavier. It was the realization that there were parts of their lives she would never be part of. She just didn’t belong.
She tore her gaze away slowly and turned to leave not being able to bear the reality of her situation. She pulled her oversized hood up slowly, shadowing her face, and began to walk measured and calm steps to put distance between herself and the store. She swallowed and schooled herself to blend into the background and not let her emotions surge to the surface but the bell above the shop door chimed and Elain heard voices spilling out behind her. Panic rose, sharp and immediate. She could hear them now; Nesta’s voice and a female’s lighter tone and she gritted her teeth, pushing her emotions down as they stirred restlessly.
Elain took a deep breath and let her hidden magic brush outward and veneered to the closest refuge: an old bookshop just ahead. She pushed the door open and she stepped inside letting the scent of aged paper wrap around her. Elain fought the urge to turn around and look to see whether her sister and the Shadowsinger had already passed. She paused just beyond the threshold, breathing once and twice to steady herself before smoothing her expression into something gentle. By the time the shopkeeper looked up, she was already smiling. “Good afternoon,” she said softly, as if nothing had happened at all and no one could have guessed her inner turmoil.
Azriel was standing inside Emerie’s shop, and he had not intended to linger. He had shadow walked Nesta and Gwyn there at their request and faded, as he always did, into the edges of the room while they spoke. He was only half listening to their chit chatting when it hit him soft and unmistakable: jasmine and honey. Elain. Every instinct in him snapped taut, and his shadows reacted before he could stop them, darting out beneath the door, chasing the scent with a hunger he could not contain. They returned in a rush, a chaotic chorus flooding his mind: outside, she’s here, just beyond and he was already moving before thought could intervene. Just one look, that was all he needed, he desperately wanted to see her face again, but Nesta’s voice stopped him. “We’ll head out with you” and he forced himself to wait, every second stretching thin as his shadows pressed restlessly toward the door.
The moment they were finally finished, he stepped into the sunlight and there she was. Just ahead, lifting her hood over her head, but the briefest glimpse of Elain’s face was enough to send his heart slamming hard against his ribs. Azriel recognised her instantly, even as the hood fell and hid her from the outside world. He watched her walk away with careful calm and his shadows surged after her, desperate to follow but they struck something solid and unseen, and recoiled violently, hissing loudly. It was a magic barrier, deliberate and unyielding which she had risen like a quiet wall between them. His shadows lashed against it, hissing like an angry serpent and desperately searching for a way through, but there was none. As she slipped into the bookshop and the door closed behind her, she was cut off completely from his sight.
Azriel stopped in his tracks and his shadows curled back in agitation, their voices sharp and accusatory with frustration. Behind him, Nesta and Gwyn laughed, their voices light and easy, but he heard none of it. His gaze remained fixed on the closed door, as if staring long enough might undo the awful reality he was in.
No bc truly, how dare you insinuate that I don't recognize and appreciate enemies to lovers???
You mean my BREAD AND BUTTER??
It truly baffles me when the Eluciens are like "ALL of SJMs couples hate each other and then fall in love it's enemies to lovers"
LIKE I SOMEHOW WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE A TROPE THAT PRACTICALLY RAISED ME?
I have been an avid enthusiast of enemies to lovers since I learned to consume media in all forms. Not even joking, I was out here shipping Zuko & Katara from SEASON 1. I was out here contributing to the epic literary works belonging to the Dramione ship.
I love this trope. In all flavors, and time periods, and universes. Whether it's Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy, or Jude & Cardan, or Kate & Anthony, Damon and Elena--
I. Love. It.
So for that entire side of the fandom to say "oh HEUEHEUE Elriels are so dumb they don't recognize it's SJM's classic enemies to lovers trope"
GENUINELY WHAT ARE THEY ON?
Because the fuck you mean I don't recognize it?? I have recognized this trope from a singular first line - nay - a first GLANCE.
Because enemies to lovers starts with chemistry. It starts with that sense that something is significant. Like a little bell making you sit straighter and pay attention. It feels all consuming even from a GLANCE. It is burning passion. The floor, the looks, the barbs, the banter - it's all lava.
What Elain & Lucien have is room temperature, tepid water.
I would describe their interactions as a plate I left on the counter and avoid eye contact with instead of just putting it into the dishwasher.
(Idk why I went with that analogy but just... bear with me ok, yk what I meant 😔)
It's NOT enemies to lovers. It's nothing. It is two people who do not want each other but are forced to say awkward hi hellos over and over for the sake of being proper, until they die.
Wow. What a romance.
It's not that Elriels don't recognize enemies to lovers. It's that Elucien DOESNT CLASSIFY as enemies to lovers. They're missing like the literal only requirement:
Mind you for years it was "reluctant mates" and "regency coded" and "arranged marriage" and they only changed the tune once the placeholder tropes came out.
Because ignoring tf out of each other isn't being enemies or hating one another. It's that... Ignoring each other, being uncomfortable around each other for years.
They never wanted to admit Elain resented Lucien for being directly associated with the man that kidnapped and turned her and Nesta against their will. They insisted she was SO head over heels for him and just needed to "stop being a brat" and then romance would develop.
And then SJM came in with a chainsaw and said the bond was like forced marriage and that Lucien threw her into the Cauldron and they still refuse to listen to reason.
At this point it'll just be too funny to watch them buy these books and find out that covering their ears and feeding each other's delusions for like a decade was for nothing.
Do you guys remember that account on Twitter (while it was still Twitter, this was a while ago) called like "CanonGwynrielMoments" but everything they posted was an Elriel quote and they'd go "oh no oh wait i'm sorry that was the wrong one hold on!!!" and then they'd do it again 😂 That was a great time
• Azriel who had his sunlight taken from him when he was a mere child and locked away in the darkest corners of his father's cruelty
• Elain who is a bright light in the sea of darkness. Who has time and again been referred to as light
• Azriel barely had a taste of light before it was snatched away from him again
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THE ANGST AND PAIN AND TORTURE IN THEIR STORY? HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THE BEAUTY OF THEM FINDING PEACE AND SOLACE WITH EACH OTHER? AZRIEL BASKING IN ELAIN'S LIGHT AND ELAIN FINDING CALMNESS IN AZRIEL'S DARKNESS????????
Finished my Silver Flames reread and doing this with fandom theories in mind is SUCH a different experience.
Two thoughts:
1. Silver Flames should’ve been two books. Parts 1 and 2 were amazing, part 3 was still solid, but part 4 felt insanely rushed. Literally all the major events (the Blood Rite, Feyre’s pregnancy, Briallyn) happened back-to-back with barely any depth or breathing room. It’s sad because the setup was so strong.
2. G.ynriel genuinely doesn‘t exist in the text the way fandom acts like it does. Gwyn’s entire arc is about healing, strength and becoming a Valkyrie. They say she is connected to whatever future Illyrian plot. But she literally says she doesn’t care about titles or Illyrian stuff. She is a Valkyrie. People completely misinterpret her character and build a whole ship out of like two conversations.
If it was just wings then I would happily admit that it's a pretty general symbol to be used for ACOTAR, even though it would clearly hint towards the Batboys (Azriel). But I could totally see it being thrown as a suggestion for a "placeholder" symbol for a while.
But that eye symbol? That changes things completely.
You cannot convince me that it doesn't mean anything. There's just no way that the team at Juniper Books randomly selected this eye for the symbol of ACOTAR6 with no significance.
Genuinely ask yourself, who else could this possibly hint towards? Cause only a handful of characters have any links to eyes, but only one makes sense.
Elain = She's a seer with unexplored powers and someone that SJM has constantly discussed as a future MC.
Lucien = Has only 1 eye, sure, but SJM said it was obvious who the next book would be about and this guy has barely gotten any attention from her.
Jurian = Was nothing but an eye once. Not a priority character currently.
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