#parallelriels

[offtorivendell]

When Elain first met Azriel, she armed herself with a fork. With Truth-Teller, Azriel just completed her place setting. 🍴

[offtorivendell]

Azriel and Elain Archeron, just living up to their names

Please don't share or screenshot this post without credit.

I've spoken before about their name parallel, and others have also, but when I was looking up the passage where Elain stabbed the King of Hybern for a different theory, it finally clicked for me that Feyre said that Elain - not the Cauldron - had answered her prayers. This distinction should really put an end to people reducing her role in the king's death, but people love to hate Elain, so maybe not.

I've already posted about Azriel's first corresponding quote, but there is a second, so here they all are, side by side.

Azriel

Azriel may be the angel of death, but in Hebrew it also means "god is my help."

Cassian’s dark brows narrowed. 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. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went. - ACOWAR, chapter 30

Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option. “This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.” [...] Elain’s eyes widened at the obsidian-hilted blade in Azriel’s scarred hand. The runes on the dark scabbard. “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.” “I—I don’t know how to use it—” “I’ll make sure you don’t have to,” I said, grass crunching as I stepped closer. 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 the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife. - ACOWAR, chapter 69

Elain Archeron

Elain/e has a variety of different meanings, such as "fawn," "bright, shining light," "sun ray," and, as an added bonus, is associated with Helena* (therefore Oleanna), and Elena. In Hebrew, however, Elain means "my god has answered me."

* A reblog from @wingedblooms.

Nesta did not move from where she shielded Cassian’s body. The king raised his hand, power whirling like a dark galaxy in his palm. I knew they’d both die the moment that power hit them. Anything, I begged the Cauldron. Anything— The king’s hand began to drop. And then halted. A choking noise came out of him. For a moment, I thought the Cauldron had answered my pleas. But as a black blade broke through the king’s throat, spraying blood, I realized someone else had. 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.” - ACOWAR, chapter 74

Coincidence? Possibly. But it's interesting that Azriel helped Elain to answer Feyre's prayers at the end of chapter 74 in ACOWAR, by lending her Truth-Teller earlier that day. Azriel, who Feyre had previously called "the knife in the dark" (ACOMAF), indirectly assisted Elain in taking on his role when she stepped out of a shadow with his legendary dagger, which had "never failed" him, and would "serve" her well.

I'm working on a theory in which I hope to explain how Elain may be referred to as "the Shadowsinger's knife" in the future, or possibly is even now - I'll link it below when it's done - but really, the Truth-Teller scene was pivotal for them both, and I suspect will be crucial in their future story (manifesting Elriel being carranam, please). I really hope we learn about it from their points of view. 🤞🏻

Further reading about Truth-Teller and carranam:

Carranam #1 - a reblog from @silverlinedeyes

Carranam #2 - a reblog from @nikethestatue

Truth-Teller hints at a relationship between Elriel

[offtorivendell]

A mate's laughter could be music for the soul...

Please don't screenshot or share this post without credit.

Disclaimer: a small, non plot-based spoiler from CC1 is discussed below. I noticed this parallel when finding quotes for my reblog of this great post from @wingedblooms, in which I discussed a potential clue behind the Archeron sisters' hypothetical Fae ancestry that could be hidden in their love of music.

In CC HOEAB, we learnt that it is fae nature to be drawn to music, and to love it.

Back in ACOWAR, Rhys described Feyre's laugh as more beautiful than any music played in a Velaris music hall, whereas Azriel's was a "deep rumble."

In ACOSF, at winter solstice in the evening before Elain and Azriel had their almost-kiss, Nesta surmised that Az must have come to check on what had caused Elain's laugh... but what if, like Rhys in ACOWAR, he was drawn to it? Is this a potential hint that Azriel and Elain Archeron will end up as mates?

Are mates inherently drawn to the sound of their partner's laughter because it's in their nature to be drawn to music, and the bond heightens the sound?

Check out this post by @merymoonbeam for a different laughter parallel between Elriel and another canon couple. Mery and I also realised we had pulled the same laughter quotes at the same time, because apparently we share a single brain cell, and it is drawn to Elain and Elriel parallels.

[offtorivendell]

Powerful parallels between Bryce, Elain and Theia, as well as Feyre and Nesta

Please don't screenshot or share this post without credit.

Disclaimer: spoilers for the entire CC and ACOTAR series to date.

Following on from the potential associations I drew between Bryce and Elain's powers the other day in this reblog* of @wingedblooms great post about Hope shining through the Void, which included the discussion of evidence that suggests that Feyre, Elain and Nesta Archeron could be descended from a different branch of Theia's line than Bryce and Ruhn - obviously one that eventually returned from Midgard to Prythian - I wanted to discuss the parallels that exist between Theia, Bryce and the Archeron sisters, but especially Theia-Bryce-Elain.

* The linked post isn't required reading, but it would give a more thorough grounding for what I'm about to discuss.

In Greek mythology, Theia is a goddess of both sight and light; I don't think it much of a stretch, then, to consider that SJM's Theia, who, per Aidas, had a very specific light, may also have had the power of Sight. We know Bryce almost certainly descends from Theia, and has her light while coincidentally, or not, Elain - whose name can be derived from "Helena," the name of one of Theia's daughters - was granted the power of Sight, we assume as she was Made by the Cauldron.

Given the above, the following parallels are, in my opinion, worth considering:

Theia, a Starborn Queen

A Starborn fae.

Potentially inspired by the Greek goddess of Sight and Light.

Was she possibly the Mother goddess, or a different deity? Is there a potential link with the Cauldron? Did she sacrifice her immortality for an alliance with Fionn, in order to cast out the Daglan from Prythian? Did this mean she was Made in some way, when she bound herself to her (hypothetical) non-deity form?

Queen to High King Fionn, who may or may not have been an Under King to the Daglan (as the Under King of Lunathion is to the Asteri), who is potentially known in Prythian as Koschei the Deathless (or the Death God), and was possibly the original shadowsinger? Is Koschei associated with the Void? This marriage may or may not have been political in nature.

Loved by Aidas, the Prince of the Chasm, the fifth level of Hel. Associations with the Void.

Bryce Quinlan

A Starborn fae.

Powerful Starborn light, specifically Theia's; bears Luna's horn on her back.

Potentially Made - similarly to Feyre - with donations of power from the Heart Gate when she completed her drop in CC1; there are parallels between Bryce's drop and Feyre's rebirth, with her receiving drops of power from each High Lord and having to fight her way back to her body, but that's another post.

A politically arranged engagement with Cormac Donnall, a Starborn prince from Avallen.

Mated to and carranam with Hunt Athalar, an angel known as the Umbra Mortis (the shadow of death), whose ancestry will likely be a twist, linked with the Void and/or Hel. Hunt shares parallels with Thurr, a minor storm deity.

Elain Archeron

Potentially a Starborn fae, like her sisters; possibly by descent, if not the Cauldron (or both could be true).

Has the power of Sight, potentially from Theia; is she a conduit of some sort for the Mother, and do prayers help her activate those powers? Has associations with a fabric known as the Void.

Cauldron Made.

Currently shares a Cauldron-Made mating bond with Lucien, who may also be Starborn through Helion's line. This bond is, so far, politically advantageous to Prythian, but doesn't appear to be romantic in nature - in my opinion, yours may of course differ.

Potentially true mates and/or carranam with Azriel, a shadowsinger of mysterious ancestry, who has both explicitly been called Death, and whose name is shared with the angel of death in Islam and Judaism. Azriel's ancestry may likely be traced back to the Void and/or Hel, and also the Dusk Court.

But what about Feyre and Nesta Archeron? Well, I believe they fit in with this format, too.

Feyre Archeron

Potentially a Starborn fae, either through descent and/or from Rhys and Helion's seeds of magic.

Has Helion's light, amongst other powers from Prythian's various High Lords.

Made, possibly in a similar manner to Bryce.

Her engagement to Tamlin, High Lord of Spring, was quite political in its management after their time Under the Mountain.

Found her soul mate in Rhys - High Lord of the Night Court - someone of whom Prythian did not approve and with whom there would have been political ramifications in the face of their union without the presence of their mating bond. Rhys is likely Starborn, and may descend from the same ancestry as Azriel, with links to Dusk, Hel, and/or the Void. Has also been referred to as Death.

Nesta Archeron

Potentially a Starborn fae, either through descent and/or the Cauldron.

She was left with some form of light at the end of ACOSF, after sacrificing the silver flames/death magic she took from the Cauldron.

Cauldron Made, like Elain.

A potential political alliance through marriage was at one point suggested between Nesta and Eris Vanserra of the Autumn Court.

Mates with Cassian, the general of the Night Court's armies, who hails from a race of faeries whom I suspect has its origins in Hel or the Void. He may even be descended from Enalius, if the fandom theory holds true. Known as the Lord of Bloodshed.

Please excuse me while I fall even further down this particular rabbit hole, as it seems... coincidental that SJM, who appears to utilise cyclical time and events in her stories, and who has set up characters and imagery and plots - the Ouroboros mirror, and the prophecy spoken by the Book of Breathings, for example - that both suggest and support this theory throughout TOG and CC and ACOTAR, would create these parallels without following through.

All three of SJM's series have powerful characters with significant similarities to each other, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks it's unsurprising that they are all appearing - converging - at this point in time, mating bonds and all (are true/soul mates actually carranam, with all of the implications that would have on power? I have a crack theory about this) when an intergalactic enemy is on the rise.*

* @silverlinedeyes and @merymoonbeam have a theory about this that I cannot wait for them to share, but in meme form...

[offtorivendell]

After an entire book centred on Nessian, in which Cassian didn't verbally profess his love for Nesta, his own mate (though his actions prove otherwise, of course), it shocks me that people haven't considered that just maybe it was done as an intentional, direct parallel to Azriel and his "lack of a love declaration" for Elain - to a belligerent Rhys, of all people, and in the bonus chapter of a book that wasn't following his journey, of all places - when Azriel has shown that he values Elain as a friend, cares deeply for her, and is willing to sacrifice himself for her for at least two books and a novella. How is one acceptable, but not the other? Ship whomever you like, but let's not call characters out as awful when others get a pass.

[offtorivendell]

Another parallel between Rhys and Azriel

Please don't share or screenshot this post without credit.

Both sunning their wings when "their" Archeron sister was there, with specific mentions of:

Feyre thinking she was watching unseen, while the male was actually fully aware.

The wrought iron garden furniture.

A drink in someone's hand; some sort of liquor for Rhys, and tea for Elain.

ACOMAF, chapter 38

ACOWAR, chapter 24

Could be nothing, but it could be something.

[offtorivendell]

A Winter Solstice and Rosehall Parallel

Please don't screenshot or share this post without credit.

Disclaimer: this parallel isn't necessarily much, if anything at all, but it potentially could be; my apologies if someone else has discussed this.

Many people in the ACOTAR fandom have noted the way in which the Solstice interactions between Azriel and Rhys act as foils for each other - scenes that can be compared and contrasted - 12 months apart. The obvious difference is the change from friendly to aggressive behaviour, which I'll cover for the sake of a complete discussion - not to mention that Rhys seemed to pick up on something going on between Azriel and Elain in ACOFAS, then played dumb in ACOSF - but I think I've noticed something else, which extends beyond Rhys and Azriel’s heated meeting in Azriel’s bonus chapter to include his rendezvous with Elain... a subtle variation on Rosehall.

ACOFAS Solstice

Rhys: was magnanimous (generous or forgiving), smiling, and speaking to Azriel as a brother. Azriel even called him 'generous.'

Azriel: likewise, he gave Rhys one of his own rare smiles, and was open with his Solstice plans, too.

Rosehall: was mentioned - the fandom seems to agree that this is where Azriel’s mother lives, but we could be wrong.

Shopping: Azriel still needed to do some shopping (again, we assume to buy a solstice gift for his mother, and anyone else whom he may have met at Rosehall when he visited). As far as we know, Az didn’t buy Elain a gift in ACOFAS... but did he want to? He did ask Rhys whether he should.

ACOSF Solstice

Rhys: in stark contrast to the year before, Rhys was speaking to Azriel as his High Lord (not his brother), and being neither generous nor forgiving; his power was rippling through the room, intending to intimidate. Instead of smiling, his face - and his snarls - clearly demonstrated his fury.

Azriel: following Rhys' lead, Azriel donned a frozen mask and shut down, giving away neither his plans, nor his emotions. Could he have prevented himself from thinking of them at the time, in case he thought too loudly in the presence of a daemati?

Rose + hall: instead of mentioning his (fandom-hypothesised) mother at 'Rosehall,' Azriel gave Elain a rose necklace while they stood in the hall, 'with only the Mother' to see them.

Shopping: in a reversal of last year, Azriel meant to return a gift he had bought for Elain, rather than make a new purchase.

So, there's obviously nothing huge here, but it's a sneaky, new little Elriel 'Rosehall'/'rose' + 'hall' parallel or (potential) hint, nonetheless.

[offtorivendell]

The doe, utterly unaware that "her death" awaited her

Please don't screenshot or share this post without credit.

Disclaimer: the following post is a discussion of a passage from ACOTAR, which makes no claims of accuracy. This is simply a theory.

ACOTAR, chapter 1

There are many potential plot nuggets to unpack in the first chapter of ACOTAR (the first few chapters, really), in my opinion, and, like many other topics, I have notes for a longer post at some stage, but I figured I'd finally post this little passage that appears to contain some pretty blatant Elriel imagery, as it's been burning a hole in my mind for months now.

Elain - a small doe; hungry, as we know Elain, and all the Archerons, were at this point in time; the doe skin was also referenced as a potential new cloak for Elain. Feyre has continuously referred to Elain with doe/deer imagery, especially her brown doe eyes, but most notably as "The Lovely Fawn" in ACOWAR, when she was accepting Truth-Teller from Az. Additionally, and perhaps importantly, in terms of Elain on her own, the wolf creeping up on the deer could be a metaphor for her eventual embodiment of the "hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn" line in the Book of Breathings' prophecy.

Azriel - her death; Azrael is the angel of death, and in the ACOWAR Truth-Teller scene, Azriel was referred to as the "Death" to Elain's lovely fawn. Feyre was constantly describing her own actions in the terms of not only a hunter, but a spy, too (so very silent, like Azriel, her future Spymaster); the golden eyes possibly come full circle when Azriel declared that he was "getting her (Elain) back" from Hybern's war camp, and his eyes glowed golden from the shadows.

Of course, Rhys is also associated with death and the dark, so I did wonder if this could have been a hint for Feysand, but Feyre isn't associated with deer/doe like Elain is. Also, hello Koschei imagery, I see you hiding there. SJM could, of course, have been planting seeds that she decided to discard later on (for instance, the doe skin cloak, which gives shape shifting vibes, might not eventuate into anything other than playing into Elain Archeron's now established imagery - spring, regeneration, rebirth), but this appears to be Elriel on page at the very start of the series, and I'd love to see it fulfilled.