#gwnriel

[sarahsoba]

Your honor, I love them.

[potatoheartsyou]

the reason I don’t like elriel is because it’s just so painfully cliched. like, both of her sisters are with his two best friends. I think elain would feel obligated to be with azriel bc it’s what everyone expects. he would be like we’re meant to be and you belong with me and elain would just feel so controlled and like she has no say in her own life. elains whole reason for not accepting the bond with lucien is that she doesn’t want to belong to somebody. she doesn’t want her relationships to be preordained. she wants to have a choice. and I feel like she wouldn’t have one with azriel.

also pls don’t go hitting me with the “elain doesn’t deserve lucien” or the “lucien was a bad mate” because have you even read the books? lucien gave elain space when she needed it. he gave her comfort when she needed it. and elain isn’t a bad person. she was going through so much already with the whole being turned high fae and then she got saddled with a mate into the bargain? of course she’s going to be overwhelmed. her entire life just got decided for h. she wants to have control over one thing at least.

and of course lucien would be attracted to her if there was no mating bond. she’s such a kind and social person, lonely lucien would be drawn to her immediately. check out this post if you want even more reasons elucien is endgame!

note: this post is not anti azriel. I love him but i just don’t ship him with elain. gwnriel for life!!!

[acourtofthought]

Heyy, good morning!

I read several of your posts (which are divine) and, as I love your analysis, I would like to know two things:

1; What do you think of the theories (from what I've seen of the Ewriels) about Gwyn being a lightsinger?

And it is believed that the following excerpt, present in acosf in the scene in which the priestesses sing, has some “deep” meaning or clues for the future;

"The music took form behind Nesta’s eyes as the priestesses sang lyrics in languages so old, no one voiced them anymore. She saw what the song spoke of: mossy earth and golden sun, clear rivers and the deep shadows of an ancient forest."

Sorry if something seemed confusing, my English isn't very good...

Thank you very much!!! And I have to say, I really love the color coding you added into your message, my eyes are enjoying how it was all presented (and your English was excellent so no worries).

1. I think the way E/riels view the lightsinger theory is their method to eliminate Gwyn as a possible love interest for Az and that is something I completely disagree with. A way to make Gwyn evil and an excuse to explain away any draw Az might feel to her.

Could Gwyn have some sort of lightsinger heritage? I don't think it's a complete impossibility. We know that she's a quarter river nymph. We know that her grandmother seduced a High Fae male. Not that Gwyn is out there trying to seduce anyone, the sins of our elders are not the sins of our own.

But there is something in her grandmothers background to suggest that maybe she was out to "lure" the man she seduced (though we don't have enough information to know whether it was truly born from sinister intent or not) and we're told that lightsingers do lure their victims to them.

SJM did use language to describe Gwyn's song, as if it were beckoning and summoning those listening to her. It put Nesta into a bit of a trance like state which led her to the Harp.

That language could be SJM hinting at there being a power there or SJM simply telling us people get lost in the music in their world as they do ours.

Nesta tells us there's something about Gwyn she can't quite figure out just as lightsingers appear one way but end up another but again again, that could just be her setting up for Gwyn's secret father reveal

So it's not like there isn't a case to be made for her having some lightsinger in her background (though it would be a small percent) but those that claim she's be evil for it are being ignorant to literally every other power that exists in the IC.

SJM decided to give us the Valkyrie storyline in SF and Rhys tells Elain that while they could be lovely, the second they stepped into the battlefield they became bloodthirsty.

Mor is described as being bloodthirsty.

Rhys killed people at Amarantha's request.

Feyre used her powers to trick Tamlin into believe she was getting a bit too friendly with Lucien.

Feyre slipped into Lucien's mind without his knowledge.

Azriel tortures people in what Cassian tells us is a symphony of pain. He attacked Eris in a High Lord meeting when all Eris did was make a inappropriate comment.

Rhys and Feyre both used their powers to attack Ianthe for her inappropriate behaviors towards men.

Would it really matter if Gwyn was part lightsinger and could use her powers to manipulate their enemies?

How is that any worse than what the rest of the IC has done?

Just because someone has a dark power doesn't mean they'll use it on innocent people and even when some of the IC have used their powers against innocent people (like Feyre allowing Spring to fall despite what it meant for the innocent and Rhys allowing Claire to be taken by Amarantha despite knowing she was not Feyre), they are still considered the good guys regardless.

Honestly, I don't think E/riels realize that the lighsinger theory actually builds up the compatibility for Gwyn and Az considering Az struggles with the dark things he's done and Gwyn having a matching darkness would be a way they could help one another accept both the good and the bad within them.

You know, I don't know if this excerpt:

"The music took form behind Nesta’s eyes as the priestesses sang lyrics in languages so old, no one voiced them anymore. She saw what the song spoke of: mossy earth and golden sun, clear rivers and the deep shadows of an ancient forest."

Is supposed to have a deeper meaning in regards to ships but what I think it does is show us the way SJMs mind works. She has decided that "mossy earth and golden sun" are complimentary things and that is Elain and Lucien. She has decided that "clear rivers and deep shadows" pair well and Gwyn's clear eyes are described as bodies of water and deep shadows is clearly a reference to Az.

[velarischronicles]

I see this war between Elriel and Gwnriel with my popcorn and think: but guys, Azris would be so much cooler! Or, listen to me, Elain + Gwn!

Like, people wear themselves out shouting theories everywhere and cursing each other instead of having fun with the story. Let's calm down! Gay is better!

[broodybatboy]

Azriel, staring out the window, brooding:

Gwyn: He is so handsome and thoughtful. I wonder what deep, intelligent thoughts are crossing his mind today?

Azriel: Wens-day... Whens-day... Wed-nes-day?

[lightitup-1989]

Gwyn: *setting down a card* Ace of spades

Nesta: *pulling out an uno card* 4+

Emerie: *throwing down a Pokémon card* Jolteon! I choose you

Azriel and Cassian: What the hell are we playing?

[c-e-d-dreamer]

“permission to speak freely? that’s fucking stupid.” + gywnriel omg

Thank you so much for sending! I hope you enjoy simp-Azriel :)

Permission to speak freely? That's fucking stupid.

“The movie is at 8:20, so we’re thinking we’ll meet up for drinks and appetizers at like 7:00?” Cassian’s tinny voice comes through Azriel’s phone.

“Sure, that works for me,” Azriel says back, turning his phone on speaker and setting it down on his countertop while he roots around his fridge.

“Cool. And Gwyn got all the tickets, so the four of us can sit together.”

“Four?”

“Yeah, no one else could make it, so it’s just you, me, Nes, and Gwyn.”

Azriel’s hand freezes from where he was reaching for the bag of spinach, and he’s glad Cassian is on the phone and can’t see the way he closes his eyes and forcefully swallows down the sigh trying to squeeze his lungs. It’s fine. Does he know his brother and girlfriend well enough to know that they will be running off? Sure. But he and Gwyn have hung out before. Maybe not one on one, but they have, and they’re technically friends.

And it’s not like Azriel spends his nights lying awake wondering how Gwyn’s scarlet hair would feel threaded between his fingers. Wondering if her lips would feel as soft as they look, if her skin would. Wondering if that smattering of freckles that’s kissed across the bridge of her nose and the apple of her cheeks leads to freckles hidden elsewhere. Wondering how she’d fill the empty space of his bed with her bright smile and warm personality. He definitely doesn’t wonder—

“Az?” Cassian’s voice cuts through the fog of Azriel’s thoughts.

“Is this a double date?” Azriel asks before his brain can catch up and put a stop to the words blurting out without abandon.

“How could it be a double date when you and Gwyn aren’t dating?”

“Exactly. We’re just friends,” Azriel rushes out, and before Cassian can even get another word out, he pushes on. “Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at 7:00, alright?”

After Azriel hangs up the phone, he goes back to making himself some food then decides to straighten up his apartment just to keep his hands and mind busy. When the sun starts to dip low in the sky, long shadows stretching across the floors and the soft glow of the street lights beginning to twinkle to life outside the windows, he knows he can’t procrastinate any longer. It doesn’t take Azriel long to change and get ready, and then he’s heading to the bar and restaurant. His friends are waiting outside, and once he joins them, they all head inside.

"Can we get a table for four?" Gwyn asks the hostess.

"A booth preferably," Nesta cuts in, shooting a look over her shoulder at Azriel that has his brows pinching in confusion.

The hostess turns to lead them through the restaurant to their table, but Azriel grabs onto Cassian's arm before they follow the girls.

"Did you tell Nesta?" Azriel asks, keeping his voice low.

"Tell Nesta what?"

"Never mind."

The hostess is able to accommodate the booth request, which is how Azriel finds himself pressed in next to Gwyn. This close, he can feel licks of heat through her tights where their thighs are touching, and Azriel has to keep his fists firmly clenched on the table before he does something stupid like reach out and settle a hand on her knee. With the way his fingers twitch, and the desire settles in his chest like a blooming, suffocating weight, he fears he may lose the battle. And if that isn't enough, every time Gwyn reaches for her drink or for the appetizers they ordered for the table, her hand brushes against Azriel's arm. Thankfully, he's wearing long sleeves so no one can see the goosebumps the small, accidental touch leaves crashing across his skin. The worst of all, though, is Gwyn's laugh right in his ear. The light, lilting sound is a melody he wants to memorize, wants to grasp tightly with both hands and hide away in his heart to play on repeat whenever he needs it.

Azriel finishes his drink probably a little too quickly.

The movie theater is in the same shopping center, so they decide to just walk over. They’re barely halfway through the movie when Azriel hears low voices and breathy laughs coming from his right. And then Nesta and Cassian are sneaking out of their seats hand in hand. Azriel rolls his eyes as he turns back to the screen.

“We should have made a bet for how long they’d make it,” Gwyn whispers to his left, holding out the popcorn toward him. Azriel merely snorts softly in response, taking a handful of the proffered snack.

After the movie ends, they make their way back into the night, a breeze ruffling the red strands of Gwyn’s hair as pulls her phone out. Azriel stuffs his hands in his pockets to keep himself from brushing it away from her face and behind her ear. Under the light of the moon, her skin seems to glow and the cool air leaves a faint dusting of pink high across her cheeks. Azriel is well aware that he’s just blatantly staring at this point, but no amount of willpower it seems can tear his eyes away.

“Do you think they’re coming back?” Gwyn asks, looking up from her phone with a frown.

“Have you met them? I doubt it.”

“They were my ride home.”

“I can give you a ride.”

Gwyn offers him a wide smile in thanks that has Azriel’s heart tripping over itself in his chest. He turns and leads them both back to his car. With his back turned to her, he can focus on trying to slow back down the wild thump of his heart, trying to calm the anxious heat that creeps through his veins. He pulls open the passenger door for Gwyn to slide in, then, with a sigh and a silent prayer that he can keep his sanity, Azriel makes his way around to the driver’s side.

“Your apartment is off of Wilson, right?” Azriel asks, turning over the engine and throwing the car into drive. At Gwyn’s nod, he throws the car into drive, making his way onto the main road.

“Okay, what’s wrong with you?” Gwyn breaks the silence after a few minutes of driving.

“What? Nothing’s wrong.”

“You’ve been acting weird all night.”

Azriel clears his throat awkwardly, tightening the grip he has on the steering wheel. “I guess I just didn’t want you to be uncomfortable is all. I mean from the outside, someone might think it was a double date or something. Even though it obviously wasn’t. Since we’re just friends.”

Azriel knows that he’s rambling, but he can’t seem to stop, the words dancing off his tongue of their own accord without any input or thought from him. Azriel genuinely considers bashing his head against the steering wheel a few times just to knock some common sense back into his brain.

“Permission to speak freely?” Gwyn cuts in. “That’s fucking stupid. Of course it was a double date.”

“What?” Azriel chokes out, hitting the breaks a bit too hard as his eyes snap to Gwyn before skating back to the road.

“Why do you think Nesta and I set this up? We both knew you were too much of a coward to ask me out yourself.”

“I am not a—” Azriel pulls the car over to the shoulder, throwing it into park so he can turn and face Gwyn fully. He takes a deep breath, hoping the flood of oxygen fuels the courage building deep in his chest as he stares at those teal eyes. “Gwyneth. Would you like to go out with me on Friday?”

“Now that’s more like it. Of course I would.”

Send me a ship name and prompt! (angst prompts)

[saramoonbeam]

Gwynriel as Friends

Azriel being Joey when he was in love with Rachel

Azriel: this is just a crush... It's okay it will go away

Gwyn:Hello Shadowsinger

Azriel: i love you