eternalstarrlight

[eternalstarrlight]

Guilty as Sin

(If Elain discovered she's not only a Seer, but also has the power to make things... grow.👀🌷🪻🌻 I'm a day late with this prompt, but better a day than four and a half years... lol😅)

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

Author's Note: Please keep comments respectful regarding ships. Constructive conversation and discussion, as well creative input, are always welcome. Thanks! 💜

Reminder, I do not own ACOTAR, nor any of it's affiliated characters. This is merely fanfiction to read and gush over! Happy reading! 🌸

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

The faint glow of dawn teetered on the horizon, painting the sky golden. A gentle mist hung suspended in the air, capturing the light and shadows in an ethereal dance. Birds began to wake, chirping and singing melodies through towering lush green canopies.

Elain couldn't help but think how serene it appeared as she took in the view through the alcove of trees she laid under. It was almost surreal, the beauty of the morning reflecting the blissful lull she felt permeating her entire being.

A smile graced her lips as she snuggled in closer to the male beside her, a contented hum escaping as she nuzzled into his warm chest, his arm draped over her. Her eyelids drooped as she breathed in deep, his scent filling her senses along with the overwhelming smell of flowers—

Flowers?

She blinked, brown eyes opening wide as she glanced over her surroundings with the barest lift of her head. She immediately noted the clusters of various colored blooms, so close it was as if they'd been planted around their entangled limbs.

"Um, Azriel?" Elain's quiet voice floated up to the dozing male's ears, knowing he'd hear her.

"Yes?" Came his rumbled reply, sleep lingering in his tone as he hugged her tighter to his chest, one dark wing partially curling up and around her.

Her mouth quirked at the display, before asking, "Were we always laying in a meadow of flowers?"

"Huh?" Confusion gave way to alertness as his eyes snapped open to look around.

Elain leaned partially up from his embrace to pick one forementioned bloom, a lovely shade of violet, that was peeking up from behind his shoulder, and showed it to him with twirl of her fingers.

He sat up with her, scanning the scenery. There were flowers upon flowers stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. It was a stunning sight, but it didn't wash away the concern of where exactly they'd all come from.

After a few minutes of pondering, Azriel suddenly grinned, his face alight as if some great realization had taken place. Hazel eyes met hers, sparkling with amusement, "I think I've figured it out."

"You have?" Her eyebrow rose, uncertain of what he'd pieced together.

"Mhmm," he responded, not taking his gaze from her.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense. What is it?"

His grin stretched wider, "I think you mean who."

Her brows pinched together, perplexed. Who?

His hazel eyes roved her face as he appeared to be holding back laugher. In which case, he wasn't very successful, as a chuckle slipped out just before he gently bumped his forehead to hers, their noses brushing.

"You," he breathed softly, their lips near touching at how close they were.

Heat stole over Elain's cheeks as her eyes widened at his meaning, "You— You think..." She trailed off, feeling a mixture between appalled and scandalized as her head whipped back to the vibrant meadow encircling them, "Oh my... I-I didn't know my powers could..." She swallowed hard, "That they would..."

His grin intensified at her flustered rambling, flashing her the hidden dimple in his left cheek before a look of pure male satisfaction settled on his face, "You must've made them when you—"

"Az!" She squealed in embarrassment, not needing him to say it aloud.

"I'm sorry," he choked out amidst a new bout of laughter.

Her face burned to the tips of her ears, "How will we explain this?" No one was supposed to know about them, what if they were found out because of this? Granted, no one else knew of her newly discovered powers just yet, but eventually...

She bit her lower lip, hand clutching his forearm.

"No one comes to this part of the isle," he assured her soothingly, "and even if they did, I don't think anyone would think much of it."

Her shoulders loosened with a sigh of relief, right before another thought crashed into her, "You don't think this will happen every time we—" She halted, catching a glimpse of her white lace shift dangling high above them, being tugged at by the breeze.

How did that get all the way up there?

Azriel followed her line of sight, a smirk twisting his lips.

She didn't miss the look, even as he ducked his head. Well, she supposed she had her answer concerning that. Now she was afraid to know where all their other articles of clothing had been scattered, especially with the thicket of blossoms covering the entirety of the forest floor. They may never be found.

Elain gave a delicate cough, clearing her throat to continue, "Surely, this won't happen every time." She meant to sound confident with that statement, but her uncertainty won over, making it sound more like a question.

Az's hazel eyes gleamed with merriment, "I don't know." The words nothing less than teasing, "It might very well happen again, perhaps every time." She gasped, shooting him a half-horrified look, and he couldn't contain the laughter that tore from him.

Giving one last chuckle, he reached up to tuck a stray whisp of golden-brown hair behind her ear. "If you're so concerned," a mischievous glimmer entering his gaze, "I'm more than willing to put your theory to the test, we simply have to find a new location—"

"Azriel!" Elain squealed, her face bright red as she gave him a playful shove.

His boisterous laughter made her heart squeeze as he leaned in with a low half-whisper, "That wasn't a 'no.'" Her breath caught just before he tumbled her beneath him. "You did say you wanted to make more gardens," his voice matter-of-fact, grin clinging to his lips, "if your theory proves correct, I'm merely helping make your wish come true."

A soft snort escaped her as giggles rose to her lips, their laughter mingling together in beautiful a song before she pulled his face down to meet hers.

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

Bonus:

Sometime later at the River House...

"We've received over a dozen reports that flower glades have randomly appeared all across the region, and we have no idea why." The High Lord spoke, skimming through several papers as he lounged in a chair by the fireplace.

Elain's eyes widened from her place by the window of the family room, struggling to keep her face neutral as her cheeks pinkened. She snuck a peek at Azriel from the corner of her eye. He was by the doorway, his face stoic and blank as ever.

Except she didn't miss the small twitch at the corner of his mouth, the twinkle of mirth in his eyes as his gaze subtlety shifted to the floorboards. To anyone else, he seemed decidedly bored and indifferent, but she knew better. He was on the verge of laughter, and desperately trying to contain himself.

"How strange," Feyre commented, folding her arms as she leaned against a small side table. "Is it around a central location or sporadic?"

"There seems to be no indication, but I was hoping to send someone out to survey the affected areas."

Azriel's eyes flickered to Elain's. Her breath hitched, she hadn't realized she'd been staring at him. She quickly glanced away, gripping the book she'd been reading tightly in her hands, trying hard not to fidget.

"It doesn't seem that serious... but it is rather odd. How many areas are there?" Feyre asked curiously.

"At least seven," Rhysand told her. "One being on the Continent."

Elain's face burned, fighting the urge to fan herself as she subconsciously bit her lip. She hadn't kept track, but she knew there were far more than seven places overrun with new vegetation.

They'd gotten carried away, she admitted... but she couldn't bring herself to regret a moment of it.

"Azriel," Rhys's voice had Elain's gaze darting to the shadowsinger. "I'd like you to fly out and inspect the source of each site, there must be a central location of origin. Some sort of indication of what occurred in the creation of these areas."

The spymaster didn't say a word, just dipped his head at the command, shadows drifting lazily around him.

The conversation soon concluded, Rhys listing a few more locations and what limited details he knew. Once he was done, Azriel took his leave, immediately exiting the room to fulfill his mission.

After his departure, Elain shortly followed suit, excusing herself to make her way up to her room.

She made her way up the stairs, entering her bedroom and quietly closing the door. The room was dark save the pale moonlight streaming in through the two windows. By which she saw a shadow move.

For a moment, she froze, briefly startled before loosing a sigh of realization, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be flying around the Courts all night."

A familiar shadow emerged from the sheer draperies, once again solid and visible to the eye. "My orders were to inspect the source," Azriel countered, advancing across the room to close the distance between them.

Her heart quickened at his approach, his eyes a caress as they glided over her, a silent acknowledgment that they both already knew what... or more accurately, who, that source was.

"Azriel!" His name a gasp, as he brought her flush against him.

"Don't worry," he murmured, the low timbre of his voice making her stomach tighten. "I plan to be very thorough."

[eternalstarrlight]

Star-Crossed

(All I have to say is... I'm so sorry. But also... not really.🙃)

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

Author's Note: No shipwar drama in the comments, please! Just enjoy reading this angsty little thing... and shedding a tear... or two. But enough spoilers, read on! 🥀

I do not own ACOTAR, nor any of it's affiliated characters, this is merely fanfiction to gush and cry over. Have fun! 🩵

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

Azriel stared at the flames crackling in the hearth of the Town House, the place having become a sort of refuge of late, so much quieter than the House of Wind these days. Peaceful, in a way, with it's long held familiarity and memories.

Do you truly wish to be alone?

Her question rose, unbidden, and he closed his eyes at evocation of her words, the softness of her voice, the way she'd looked when she'd asked him that earlier tonight.

Yes. He'd said, keeping his face blank and unyielding to emotion. But alas, it was no good, not when it came to her, because he saw it in the fathomless depths of her eyes, no clearer than if he was reading her mind.

Liar.

But she hadn't pressed further, merely nodded once, and left him alone. Like he'd proclaimed he'd wanted to be.

His gaze re-met the dimming embers before him, as he consented. She was right. He was a liar. Had to be. If he wasn't, then he'd do something foolish. Something that would take them both down a path that would only lead to pain and destruction and ruin.

He didn't want that for her. She deserved every happiness that this world had to offer. Deserved to be with someone that matched her light and goodness... not wreathed in shadows and darkness.

A charred piece of wood snapped, and Azriel shifted in his chair. The fire having completely died down now, leaving only the faint, lingering smell of smoke. He rose from his seat, making his way to a wide-arched window to peer out into the star-flecked night.

It was Starfall.

Radiant streaks of light danced across the sky as he looked up. As always, it was nothing less than breathtaking, the display often making one reflect and ponder upon their life.

Perhaps he'd been wrong to leave everyone so early, to not stay late until the glow of morning. But even as guilt ate at him for disappearing, he didn't regret his departure... hadn't been able to find it within himself to stay... couldn't bear to watch her eventually find her way to him.

Her mate.

Azriel's heart twisted at that. A daggered reminder that she was never meant to be his. Couldn't be his. And yet, why was it her heart that beckoned him? In the same way the wind sung to his wings to take flight, he could hear her.

He shook his head, partially leaning into the pillar of the window as he crossed his arms. Maybe this was his punishment, for all the atrocities he'd committed, destined to watch her be with someone else for the rest of his life.

Sweat beaded his brow at the thought, making him swallow hard. It would be torture, worse than anything he'd endured until now. The eleven years of imprisonment as a child... Training and serving under Rhysand's father... Seeing Mor bring male after male to her bed for centuries...

A suffering worse than death.

His fists clenched, the scarred and tattered skin stretching tightly across his knuckles. It felt as if he were back in the prison of his childhood again, the darkness creeping in... the cold, dank air suffocating... Leaving only a void. Nothingness.

Would he survive losing her? He wondered, before scoffing at himself. How could he lose something he'd never even had? It was ridiculous, bridging on the edge of insanity. She's not yours. He sharply reminded himself. As if that would help anything. She may not have been his, but he was undeniably, irrevocably hers.

His gaze travelled along the trails of starlight with a wistful half-smile as he acknowledged the truth. Not everyone was allowed epic love stories that rivaled fairytales. No, many were found unworthy and left wanting.

They weren't Rhys and Feyre after all... They were not bound by Fate's hand. Nothing tied them together...

No... for them, the stars had failed to listen... and their dreams went unanswered.

~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~⋆☆⋆~

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard the clatter of the front door. He tensed, mentally preparing himself for it to be one of his friends checking in on him and demanding answers for why he'd left so abruptly.

But as he turned, making his face impassive to greet them...

There she was.

Her unbound curls windblown, golden in the soft faelight, her chest heaving as if she'd run here, now standing frozen in the entryway.

"Elain," he was unable to keep the surprise from his voice, the flash of shock from his features.

She said nothing for a long moment, long enough where he began to question if his mind was playing tricks on him... if she wasn't really there at all.

"I don't wish to be alone either," she finally spoke with a broken whisper, tone echoing all his own tumultuous feelings.

He held her bright gaze, wondering what had happened to make her come here, assessing her for any harm. But the more he studied her, the more he began to realize that perhaps it wasn't just herself she'd fled here for... perhaps, she'd been worried about him... had somehow known that he...

His throat tightened at the thought. That he'd needed her.

As if on some deep internal instinct, he abandoned his place at the window to make his way to the center of the room before reaching out and offerring her a hand. An invitation, a concession to both his former lie and the yearning to feel her skin against his, "Then don't be."

He didn't miss the way her lips parted in a sigh of relief, her shoulders loosening as her face lit up. A smile curved her mouth as she stepped forward, closer and closer her feet carried her to him, until...

Her hand met his.

And in that moment, everything felt inexplicably, right.

[eternalstarrlight]

Death & the Maiden

(I didn't plan to write anything for Elriel Month, but somehow THIS happened lol. I suddenly started getting ideas that were demanding to be written... so I just complied... because, why not? I love Elriel, and it's nice to jot stuff down for funsies lol. So, here's a little drabble for the Death & the Maiden prompt. I may do some of the other ones, but still deciding. Anyway, enough of my rambling, onward to the story!)

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Author's Note: Please keep comments civil, and if you're offended by that ask, I'm probably talking to you. To everyone else, please enjoy reading! 💙

I do not own ACOTAR, nor any of it's affiliated characters, this is merely fanfiction to read and gush over.⚘️

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Death stared at the Maiden from the shadows of the forest's edge. She was not aware of his presence, but he did not expect her to be.

He had not come to bother her, nor make himself known. No, he merely wanted to catch a glimpse of her. To bask in the peace of her presence if only for a moment.

She was resplendent, bathed in the glow of the morning sun as she meandered through her blossoming meadow, stopping to gather blooms.

A more breathtaking sight he'd never beheld.

Death only allowed himself to come steal a glance of her when the burden of his task became too great... the weight too much to bear.

For she was everything he was not.

Goodness... Light... Love... Hope...

Life.

The exact thing he took away. The one thing he could never experience. For his life was death.

Even still, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to meet the Maiden face-to-face.

Would she cower before him as so many did? Flee at the mere sight of him? He was a monster afterall, inducing terror and leaving only despair in his wake...

Or perhaps, maybe... she would offer him a smile. Her hand, as she invited him to stroll with her for awhile. Despite what many believed, Death was not heartless, he felt many a thing, even when he wished he didn't.

But it was times like this, that held these secret, fleeting moments, he was grateful to feel. For the Maiden somehow had become his hope, a light that scattered the darkness...

She made him believe that Life would prevail over Death.

And he loved her for it.

[eternalstarrlight]

Unfinished

(An Elriel story idea I've had since last year.<3 I figured I'd try to finish spiffing it up and go ahead and share it for Elriel Month. It doesn't really coincide with any of the prompts, but I hope ya'll like it!)

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Author's Note: Please keep comments and interactions respectful, I know there is a lot of debate of who will lead the next ACOTAR book, as well as who the couple will be. If you don't like Elriel as a ship, that is totally fine, you are entitled to your opinion, just as I, and others are. Scroll or read on, the option is yours!

Thank you for those who stay and read this lovely little thing I wrote :)

I do not own ACOTAR, nor any of it's affiliated characters, this is merely fanfiction to enjoy and gush over.<3

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Birdsong floated through the open windows of the kitchens as a pair of arms slipped around Elain's waist. An answering smile bloomed across her lips, knowing full well who stood behind her. "I'm busy right now, you know," she teased playfully to her captor, even as her body relaxed into the familiar embrace.

"I can see that," a soft male voice returned, sending shivers down her spine. A pleasant hum escaped her, just as he asked, "What are you making today?"

"Fruit pastries," she supplied, lifting her hands to showcase the flour coating her palms. A faint puff of white powder clouded the air as she made a gesture to the dough waiting to be rolled out.

"Sounds delicious," he murmured into the golden waves of her half-unbound hair. "Though," a subtle growl entering his voice, "there are a few things I'd say are even more so." The words danced along her skin as he nipped her ear, nose trailing down the column of her throat.

Red stained her cheeks as she craned her head back to look at him. "Az," she softly admonished. But that beautiful face held no remorse, only a carelessly splayed grin and a mischievous twinkle that lit up those hazel eyes of his.

An unspoken promise of things to come.

Her breath caught, and she swallowed hard. "I have to finish this," her whispered words were half-hearted. She knew he knew that, heard it in her voice, as the the green hues in those hazel eyes deepened, flaring with a mixture of heat and amusement.

"By all means, finish." The words came out like a dare, a temptation... because they both knew, it wouldn't take much convincing to get her to abandon the task entirely.

Her breathing grew shallow, and his smirk stretched wider. Oh yes, he knew exactly what he was doing to her.

She couldn't seem to tear her gaze from him as he teased, leaning his head in even closer, "What are you waiting for?" His breath a caress against her cheek as her eyes drew half-mast.

"You should hurry," his voice deepening, "there's something I need to finish as well." Azriel's fingers began making small, tantalizing swirls across her stomach, and she bit her lip, not missing how his eyes lowered, drawn to—

"Elain." She heard her name as if from a great distance. Odd, she thought, confusion knitting her brow, Azriel's mouth hadn't opened.

"Elain." It came again, and she blinked hard, her surroundings slowly coming into focus, as if waking from a dream.

She was still in the kitchens, hands covered in dough and flour... but the winged male who'd stood behind her just moments ago was now nowhere to be seen.

"Are you alright?" Nuala's concerned voice drifted through the fog of Elain's thoughts. "I've been calling your name for over five minutes."

She blinked again, realization crashing over her.

Everything that'd just occurred... had only been in her mind. It wasn't real... had never been real... just a mere figment of her imagination.

Her heart squeezed painfully at the undeniable truth...

He was never here.

The sudden screaming of the kettle jolted her. "I'm sorry," Elain finally responded, finding her voice, "I guess I was lost in my thoughts."

"It's fine," her friend said, worry still written on her face, and Elain could tell that Nuala knew it was a pitiful half-truth, that there was indeed something more going on behind Elain's lack of response, her brief lapse from reality.

And of course there was. Elain had been having random daydreams like this for weeks now... Usually rare, scattered here and there, short and fractured, consisting of an image, a sound, a few seconds of dialogue. But there had been other ones recently. Longer ones, that were so immersive they seemed to pull her from reality and into the world of dreams. It'd have terrified her, if she hadn't already lived through something similar two years prior.

And yet, she struggled to figure out what it all meant. The fractured images, the waking visions... Perhaps it was her powers reawakening, forcing her to acknowledge them... or maybe she really was losing herself to madness... or maybe...

She huffed a sigh... maybe it was simply her own foolish heart stirring up those secret, tucked away desires of hers. Her mind colluding with said heart to conjure up impossible, forbidden fantasies just to plague her.

"If you need a break," Cerridwen interjected from her place at the stove, "we can finish this."

"Oh no," Elain said quickly, beginning to knead the dough again. "I can finish—"

She trailed off, mind flashing to Azriel's previous words, You should hurry, there's something I need to finish as well.

She gasped, flushing to the tips of her ears.

Elain wrenched her hands from the dough in front of her. "You're right," she consented half-breathlessly to the twins. "I think I need a break... and fresh air."

Without waiting for a response, she frantically wiped her hands on her apron, yanking it off and tossing it on the nearest counter before fleeing the room.

Before she could properly consider where to go, she found herself already making her way toward the gardens. Somehow, it always felt easier to breathe there amongst the earth and flowers.

Feet trailing the well-worn path, she decided she'd check on the new rose bushes she'd put in, if there were any new buds needing tended to.

Thankfully, the summer heat had tempered off the last few days, the evenings akin to dipping one's feet into a cool riverbed. She was especially grateful for that now, as the breeze that'd settled in felt like a much-needed balm against her overly warm skin.

The tenseness in her body loosened as she entered the color splashed greenery of the gardens. She let her fingers trail over furling leaves and various flower petals as she pivoted around meticulously trimmed hedges and made her way to where the roses were planted.

A smile claimed her lips as she rounded the last corner, eagerness to assess the flowers dousing the last remnant of her spiraling thoughts regarding the occurrence in the kitchens. But before she knew what was happening, she ran straight into something.

No... someone.

Elain gasped at the impact, head jerking up at the same time she noticed hands at her shoulders. Hands that caught her before she'd slammed fully into the person they belonged to. Hands that were adorned with faded scars... hands that she longingly wished to feel against her skin...

She'd recognize those hands anywhere.

Azriel.

She stilled at the sight of him, blinking several times, questioning if she was seeing things. She had to be, right? She knew he wasn't here, couldn't be here... he'd left two days ago on a mission and wouldn't return until tomorrow.

Irritation instantly flooded her, hand-in-hand with frustration at herself for her mind summoning him once again. She jerked back from his hold. She had to put a stop to this, had to try to grasp some semblance of reality and cling to it for as long as she could.

So, she did the only reasonable thing she could do.

"You!" She pointed a finger at him, some residue flour dusting out from her hand, "Go away." As if her command was enough to banish the apparition before her.

The male in question blinked, obviously taken aback by her display, "I'm sorry?" Confusion laced his tone, his usually absent shadows making an appearance to twirl around his towering wings.

"You should be," she scowled, not bothering to hold back her ire. "Stop following me around," the words coming out as a hiss.

His cheeks darkened with color as those mesmerizing hazel eyes grew wide, his elusive companions pausing as if to study her. "Elain," despite the apprehension she heard, the sound of her name on his lips made her heart quicken. "Are you alright?" He inquired, instinctively shifting toward her, those magnificent wings fluttering a bit.

At his question, a bewildered laugh escaped her before she threw all rationality to the wind. "Alright? Alright!?" She choked over the word, half-hysterical. "No, I'm not alright, and do you know why?" She didn't give him time to respond. "All you do is ignore me... well, the real you... it's like I don't even exist to him anymore. And now, I keep seeing you," she flung a hand over at him, "dream you, everywhere."

"Can I not have some peace?" Desperation leaking into her voice, "I know my mind's probably just over-compensating for me missing you after months of tactical evasion. But do you know how utterly torturous it is to constantly see you, only to wake and discover everything wasn't real?" Tears misted her eyes for a moment before she wiped them away.

"This has to stop," she stated firmly after taking a calming breath, "it's getting out of hand. Last week it was the library when Lucien was visiting—" Had she imagined it, or did Azriel flinch? "—then it was in town while I was shopping with Feyre, and now..." She swallowed as she remembered the ordeal in the kitchens, the other times hadn't been like that... so intimate and... a soft pink warmed her cheeks, "If you don't stop... appearing... people are going to believe I'm going mad!"

A whirlwind of emotions twisted his features, too many for her to identify them all. But she did see his concern... sadness... frustration... a flash of anger... At her? She wasn't sure. But she knew that face well enough to know that he looked tormented by what she'd said, like he was warring with himself over his next action.

Then, without a word, he took a step forward.

And for some inexplicable reason, perhaps it was sheer desperation to wash that look from his face, she threw up a hand for him to stop and blurted, "Whoa, if you think you're 'finishing' what you began in the kitchens, think again."

He froze in place, face carefully blank, staring at her. The same way she'd imagine he'd stare if she'd declared she was to marry the High Lord of Spring and she was departing this very hour.

She snorted at the thought and crossed her arms, at least that look was gone, "You know, you always disappear when—"

"What happened in the kitchen?" He abrupted asked, cutting her off.

Elain's face burned as heat suffused her cheeks. He wanted her to say it? But instead she said, "Don't you know?"

Silence was her only answer.

Her mouth dropped open with bafflement. He didn't remember. She scoffed, offended. The audacity. Her doe brown eyes narrowed, "If you've forgotten so easily, then it doesn't bear repeating... much less, doing."

She pivoted on her heel, planning to stalk away as she muttered under her breath, "I can't believe—"

"Wait!" Azriel called out, closing the distance to gingerly snatch her arm, halting her departure.

She spun around, exasperation threading her voice, "What do you want?"

His eyes searched hers, darting back and forth. His stare so deep and intense, she found it hard to breathe.

She inhaled slowly, before purposefully arching a golden-brown brow at the male. For a moment, she felt a little bit like Nesta.

"This isn't a dream," the words came out soft as he finally spoke. "I'm really here. Now. With you."

Her face contorted, perplexation pinching her forehead.

"Nonsense," she murmured, scanning him, "you're not supposed to be back yet..." She trailed off, recalling how they said you could pinch yourself to know if you were dreaming. But she knew she was dreaming, she had to be... so she tried a different approach.

Without warning, she lifted her hands, abruptly capturing Azriel's cheeks between her palms to squish his face.

Pure, undiluted shock rippled over his features, and she had the sudden urge to laugh at his expression.

And before she could restrain it, a giggle slipped out, and then another, and another. She couldn't help herself as the laughter poured out of her at how ridiculous he looked.

She was practically cackling with the delight of a madwoman when there was a loud clearing of a throat.

Synonymously, both their heads whipped toward the sound, discovering Rhysand standing a few feet away. "May I ask what exactly is going on here?" The High Lord not seeming too pleased by the scene playing out before him.

It was in that moment, Elain knew, she knew that what Azriel had said was true. This wasn't a dream, it was real, and she'd just—

She tore her hands away from Azriel's cheeks as she stuttered, "We— I—" Her gaze jerked back to the Shadowsinger's, taking in the vague handprint-shaped flour smears on either side of his face. Her own blooming bright red before draining of color, "I'm so sorry."

She retreated back a step, and then another, almost into the aster blossoms behind her.

"Elain," Azriel offered gently, almost consolingly, as he stretched a hand toward her... as if hoping to keep her there.

Her brown eyes were impossibly wide as she gave a slight shake of her head, like a deer caught before a predator.

"Well?" That commanding voice of night came again, startling her. She peeked over at Rhys nervously, having temporarily forgotten his presence, before re-meeting Azriel's gaze for a fleeting moment. Just a moment, before, just like a deer, she spun and darted off, lifting her skirts indecently high to sprint through the foliage and flowers.

"Elain, wait!" Azriel yelled after her, "We're not finished!"

Heart in her throat, her stomach flipped at the familiar words, but she didn't dare glance back over her shoulder, didn't dare cease her full-out run. But if she had, she would've seen that the tortured look had returned to Azriel's face... Would've noticed the scowl painted over Rhysand's as he stared at Azriel... noted the tattooed hand that held him back from pursuing her.

Even so, Azriel's words followed her on the wind, and she knew he was right. There was much left unfinished between them, and they could only run away from that for so long.

[eternalstarrlight]

My Reaction to the House of the Dragon Finale:

All I can say is that... I knew what was gonna happen...

...and I didn’t intend to get so emotionally invested...

...yet, behold, here I am... both terrified and excited for the next season.

[eternalstarrlight]

LB: GeT LOsT LiTTle BuTtERfLy!

Me: Ahh, this makes sense, a year of pent up rage of having to deal with the same thing over and over again is finally making it’s escape...

Deep breaths, Mari, just let it in, let it out and let it go...

Thank God, she can’t find me, ‘cause I was laughing so hard.. XD

[eternalstarrlight]

Mari: HuRry Up aNd eAT yOuR mAcaRoON!

Tikki: You think I’m having fun!? I’ve been doing this for thousands of years, you know!

Me: Poor Tikki... I wonder what’s going through her mind...

Me: O.O ...ok, nevermind... I’m with Plagg on this one...

[eternalstarrlight]

I just watched Chat Blanc 2.0... 

...and I don’t know which one hurts worse.

[eternalstarrlight]

She knows, she has to know...

The lightening hits just like when he first gave her his umbrella...

Do you think she sees the flash of Adrien because she’s finally allowing herself to acknowledge her feelings for Chat Noir??

...and so now she can finally realize they’re the same person!?

[eternalstarrlight]

Oh my God... The teaser for Ephemeral...

Don't mind me... I'm just screaming at all the reveals happening before my eyes...

[eternalstarrlight]

I'm just gonna say it...

There's no way Alya doesn't have backups and hard copies of these...

She's a journalist.

[eternalstarrlight]

Did anyone else notice the look Mari gives Chat as people applaud him walking down the aisle of the bus??

She's so proud of him.❤

[eternalstarrlight]

Guys, I think... they're finally going to start realizing the love of their life's been right in front of their eyes this whole time.

Like, this end illustration, speaks VOLUMES... I can't even... It's beautiful.💕

Not to mention the confession, OMG!!

[eternalstarrlight]

I think Plagg's downplaying the entire Sugarcube situation juuust a tiny bit... 😅

...but I gotta admit it's rather sweet<3

[eternalstarrlight]

I'm just grateful this scene wasn't about Chat Noir trying to stop Ladybug from eating Marinette's Grandpa...

Legit, that could've happened and it would've been quite breadful... 😅🙃😂

[eternalstarrlight]

The way she giggles when he asks her to be his Queen, is an answer within itself. ❤

I'm loving the subtle, yet obvious, indicators that LB is falling for Chat Noir throughout this season... Like, the emotions on their faces, and the fact that she literally said YES to being his Queen... I can't even, it's just so... well, Miraculous lol!

[eternalstarrlight]

*squeals* Guys, the way she keeps smiling and looking at him!!

The last three screenshots are all within the same sentence and yet you can see the subtle ways her eyes and smile changes as he's talking. It's just too cute!