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allthepoetsaredead · 9 months

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This>>>>

Also, like is nobody mildly concerned about how he referred to Elaine, he thinks he deserves her? Because his brothers got her sisters? Like isnt that a red flag? Objectifying someone, he thinks of Elaine as a trophy that he deserves because his brothers got the other sisters.

And I’m not saying Az is a bad dude, he’s been through a lot of trauma and it probably affected how he deals with emotions love etc. but Elaine is not in the right mental state, or the right personality to help Az fix himself. Gwen on the other hand, she could help Az, she is strong enough, and is bold enough to call Az out.

Im sure I could think of a better way to explain this, and if you need me too I will, but I’m tired

Azriel’s shadows

Like I have seen a lot of theory’s and things about Azriel’s shadows. Which includes that the shadows protect Elain, that his shadows hide when azriel feels safe or comfortable, his shadows are there to protect him and that’s why they are around & disappear around certain people, that it is a good thing that his shadows disappear, that he’s going to get rid of his shadows and a lot of other stuff. These arguments can all be easily disproven if you just read the series.

I personally think that Azriel’s shadows are sentient. They have their own thoughts and opinions but they are also an extension of Azriel and his moods and behavior. Like they can clearly communicate with Azriel effectively and Azriel even mentions how they tell him to sleep and that they like to warn about him things.

So here’s a list of descriptions of Azriel shadows throughout the entire series, including his bonus chapter.

Acomaf

* “Azriel’s brows flicked up with approval as the shadows seemed to wrap tighter around him. As if he were the dark hive from which they flew and returned” (pg 160, ACOMAF)

• So rhys told them of the cauldron, and the reasons behind the temple pillagings, to no shortage of swearing and questions—and revealed nothing of what I had admitted in exchange for the information. Azriel emerged from his wreathing shadows to ask the most questions; his face and voice remained unreadable. (Page 205, ACOMAF)

* The spymaster had waited in silence. I tried not to look too uncomfortable as he scooped me into his arms, those shadows that whispered to him stroking my neck, my cheek (pg 240, ACOMAF)

* People often made the mistake of assuming Cassian was the wilder one; the one who couldn’t be tamed. But Cassian was all hot temper—temper that could be used and forge and weld. There was icy rage in Azriel I had never been able to thaw. In the centuries I’d known him, he’d said little about his life, those years in his father’s keep, locked in darkness. Perhaps the shadow singer gift had come to him then, perhaps he’d taught himself the language of shadow and wind and stone. (Page 275, ACOMAF)

* The shadows gathered around his shoulders, like they were indeed whispering to him, shielding him, perhaps. His broad chest expanded with a deep breath that sent them skittering, and then he set into an easy, graceful stroll after them. (pg 285, ACOMAF)

* Azriel, wreathed in shadows by the front door, chuckled quietly. Cassian shot him a glare. “I don’t see you spouting poetry, brother.” Azriel crossed his arms, still smiling faintly. “I don’t need to resort to it.” (Page 392, ACOMAF)

Acowar

* “Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. Elain’s golden brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders” (pg 253, ACOWAR)

* “Shadows curled around Azriel’s shoulders, whispering in his ear as he stared down Eris (pg 270, ACOWAR)

* “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” (Pg 315, ACOWAR)

* Azriel squeezed, Eris thrashing beneath him. No physical brawling—there had been a rule against that, but Azriel, with whatever power those shadows gave him..perhaps those shadows that now slid and eddied around the Shadowsinger hid him from the wrath of the binding magic. The others made no move to interfere, as if wondering the same. (Page 428, ACOWAR)

•While shadows gathered around Azriel, Elain at his side, wide eyed at the spymaster’s display” (pg 479, ACOWAR)

* Azriel silently faded into blackness—until he was my own shadow and nothing more. (Page 566, ACOWAR)

* Azriel stepped out of a shadow. “What is that,” he hissed. My brows rose. “You hear it?” A shake of the head. “No—but the shadows, the wind…they recoil. (Pg 560, ACOWAR)

* “That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room” (Pg 693, ACOWAR)

Acofas

* Az, too—in the strange way that Az could move through the world without technically winnowing. He’d never asked. Azriel certainly had never explained. (Page 22, ACOFAS)

* A corner of Azriel’s mouth curled up, the shadows about him sliding over his neck living living tattoos, twins to the Illyrian ones marked beneath his leathers. (pg 66, ACOFAS)

* Shadows different from anything my powers summoned, spoke to. Born in a lightless, airless prison meant to break him. Instead he had learned it’s language (pg 66, ACOFAS)

“the illyrians are pieces of shit,” he said too quietly. Shadows gathered around his wings, trailing off him and onto the thick red rug. (Page 67, ACOFAS)

Acosf

* Nesta straightened at the shadowsinger’s appearance, the darkness clinging to his shoulders as he offered her a grim smile. (Pg 100, ACOSF)

Azriel was nothing short of beautiful. Even with those scarred hands and the shadows that flowed from him like smoke. (Page 100, ACOSF)

* She set down her teacup. “Is that a threat, Shadowsinger?” Azriel said coolly, “I don’t need to resort to threats.” The shadows coiled around him, snakes ready to strike. (Pg 101, ACOSF)

* Azriel chuckled, shadows skittering. “Did you listen at all last night?” (Pg 221, ACOSF)

• His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. (Page 221, ACOSF)

* “No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like shadows preparing to strike” (Pg 233, ACOSF)

* He jerked his chin toward Azriel. “Why are you up here?” “I thought I’d do some training myself before heading out for the day,” Az said, his shadows lingering in the archway, as if fearful of the bright sunlight in the ring. (pg 250, ACOSF)

• A shadow curled around Azriel’s neck, the only one brave enough to face the sunlight. “Something like that.” (pg 252, ACOSF)

• Azriel blushed and stepped back, shadows swirling. (Page 603, ACOSF)

• Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “what do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. (Page 623, ACOSF)

* “There are plenty of other unspeakable things that could be happening to her,” Cassian said, voice thickening. “To Emerie and Gwyn.” The shadows deepened around Azriel, his siphons gleaming like cobalt fire. (Page 688, ACOSF)

* Even Azriel’s own shadows kept tucked behind his wings. Koschei laughed, and Azriel stiffened. Like his shadows had murmured a warning. (Pg 710, ACOSF)

Azriel’s bonus chapter

• Sleep, they seemed to whisper in his ear. Sleep. I wish I could, he answered silently. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• But even the silence weighed too heavily, and though the shadows kept him company, as they always had, as they always would. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• Elain sucked in a breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They’d always been prone to vanish when she was around. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

• he had only allowed himself these thoughts in the dead of night. Had only allowed his hand to fist his cock and think about her then, when even his shadows had gone to sleep. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* He aimed for the training pit, giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage and frustration and writhing need. He found it already occupied. His shadows had not warned him. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* “It’s fine. I came to retrieve something I forgot.” The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was. His shadows peered over his wings at her. The young priestess smiled—and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* “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. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

I blame Cassian for this. He’s too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days.” 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 him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. (Azriel’s bonus chapter)

* Gwyn nodded farewell, again facing the ribbon. A warrior sizing up an opponent, all traces of that charming irreverence gone. 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. (Azriel’s bonus chapter )

So the question is where in the text does it prove that Azriel’s shadows protect Elain? Protection definitions include keeping safe, keeping from harm, defend, shield, take care of, care after. They never left Azriel’s person to protect anyone. The only person they directly touched in this series was Feyre. They tend to vanish around Elain’s presence, like 98% as confirmed by Azriel himself. So how are they there to protect her when they tend to vanish when she’s around? You can’t protect someone you are not around. His shadows turning into snakes ready to strike in the corner is not them protecting Elain, it’s them reacting off Azriel’s mood, because we’ve seen the shadows do the exact same thing when nesta asked Azriel was that a threat in the beginning of acosf and he answered nesta coldly without Elain even being there.

The next theory. That the shadows hide when Azriel/they feel safe. Like 98% of the time Azriel’s shadows are out when it comes to the IC, Feyre, nesta, the Valkyries and the women he’s training in acosf. So if they hide when Azriel feels safe, why don’t they hide when he’s around his family, friends, the women from the library that he’s training?

Azriel’s has known Rhys, Cassian & Mor for 500+ years and going based off that logic, why doesn’t Azriel feel safe around his brothers to the point his shadows don’t disappear? Because we can see they tend to hide around Mor as well. Is it just women? If that’s the fact then why don’t they disappear around nesta? Gwyn? Emerie? What about the new trainees from the library that can’t physical hurt him because he’s been trained to fight his whole life and they haven’t? Because mind you, he’s helping train women that’s in the library and we all know the reasons why they are in the library and wanted Azriel’s help to train. So why would they be a threat to Azriel?

Do we know what his shadows did when he was around Koschei in acosf? A literally death god, that’s a threat who is planning to take over prythian? They hid behind Azriel’s wings. Do we know what his shadows did when they heard the cauldrons “siren song” that led Elain away from the camp to get kidnap by hybern’s camp? They recoiled. You know what recoil means. It means drawing back or jumping back. That means when Azriel’s shadows come into contact or around things they don’t seem safe, they hide, not the other way around.

Why do his shadows dance in Gwyn’s presence? Why did Azriel say that his shadows felt calm and he felt something restless settle within him when he talks to Gwyn and his shadows didn’t disappear but lounged on his shoulders instead like they were just content to be there? He and his shadows obviously felt safe enough to stay and talk with gywn after she gave azriel an out to leave.

So all this literally debunks the fact that Azriel’s shadows disappear when he feels safe because there is no reason why Azriel shouldn’t feel safe in the presence of his family & friends. But they hide and recoil when it comes to true danger and manipulation. I don’t think that them vanishing and skittering back makes Elain to be a bad person or a threat to Azriel but it’s telling that SJM mentioned in Azriel’s bonus chapter that the shadows tend to vanish around Elain and that Azriel does his weird freaky stuff with that damn headache powder only in the dead of night when his shadows are gone to sleep.

To me personally, it seems that Azriel finds solace in his shadows. They comfort him. His shadows are his companions. They were there even before he met Rhys & Cassian, meaning they’ve been with him 520+ years. They are not something to get rid off, they are a literally apart of Azriel’s identity as to why he’s a shadow singer and a spy master. He himself stated that they will ALWAYS be apart of him. Azriel is a grown fae that can protect himself without his shadows, they don’t need to protect him. They help him more than anything.

Azriel has been described to work best in the shadows. That he doesn’t like to be the center of attention to the point where he doesn’t even like opening up presents with his family because he doesn’t like the attention on him. His shadows help him hide from peoples view better, why wouldn’t he be comfortable in them and find comfort with them being out and surrounding him?

I understand wanting to argue for a ship and stuff but literally coming up with lies and false information to make it seem like something is more than what it is when you can easily pick up the books to disprove these arguments is ridiculous.

#azriel’s shadows #azriel acotar #azriel bonus chapter #acowar #acomaf #acosf #elain archeron #gwyneth berdara #the inner circle acotar #azriel spymaster

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