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reverie-verse · 10 months

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I would love to see pregnant!reader x Azriel fic where she gets kidnapped and Az goes crazy cause not only are they mates, but she’s also very close to being due, and I love angst, i love worried but caring Az, and I love happy endings. 🤍🤍

Azriel Shadowsinger x Reader: His World

I’m letting you decide if it’s a boy or girl and the name because I couldn’t decide😩.

Baby Gender = Y/B/G

Your Baby’s Name= Y/B/N

It’s kinda lengthy, I got really invested 😂

Beware there is some torture-ish stuff. If you get triggered please DO NOT READ THIS FIC.

Last thing, I just wanna say, I have no idea where I was going with this plot, I am so sorry if it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t even go with what’s going in the books 🤷🏽‍♀️

My requests ARE OPEN!!!!!!

———————————-

Most of the entire inner circle had stationed themselves downstairs in the living space of the Town House. Rhys and Azriel were nowhere to be seen. Everyone had cringed in discomfort as they heard your vicious scream tear through your throat from upstairs. Mor shook her head as she paced the room. “ They should be back by now” she practically whispers but everyone hears her.

Feyre sighed, rubbing her forehead “ I tried to reach through the bond, but it’s quiet. Azriel has no idea she’s giving birth”

“ One of us needs to go up there and check up on her.” Cassian says.

Amren stood up from the couch, “I’ll do it, she’s been there for me more times than I’d like to admit “ She leaves the living space quickly rushing up the steps. She opens the door only to find you standing at the edge of the bed, one hand gripped onto the comforter, the other hand gripping your stomach. Your hair was pulled back but sweat rolled down the side of your face. You cried as you pushed like Madja had told you to do. You shook your head. “ I can’t, I can’t-“ You were trying to catch your breath.

“ You must Y/N!” Madja encourages you. You shook your head as you wailed. “ You have too”

“ Y/N” Amren rushes towards you. “ What are you doing?!”

Your head shook again “ No, No please I don’t want you to see me like this. Please just get me Azriel, bring my husband to me.” You sobbed. Amren's heart broke into a million pieces while swelling with joy and sadness. You were suffering but you were also bringing a beautiful soul into this world. Amren not one for sentiments, but this moved her in ways that she normally never considered, and still might not. But to each their own, she passed no judgment but she understood you wanted your love with you.

“ I’ll do what I can Y/N” she says as she exits the room, Mor stood at the bottom of the stairs hands fidgety.

“ Anything?”

“ She wants Azriel” Everyone sighs and groans.

“ Feyre you need to try the bond again” Cassian says as he crosses his arms. “ Either that or we get Elain to look forward into the future”

“ That won’t be necessary, I’ll try again” Feyre stood up looking around for a piece of paper to write on. In the midst of her search the home rattled as two figures appeared in the room. Rhys and Azriel trying to catch their breath, their clothes ripped, skin cut and bruised. Feyre rushed to Rhys’s side, but Azriel’s eyes scanned the room and you were nowhere to be found. Everyone rushed to their sides, with an instant the bond that was quiet during his time on the prison island was loud and clear. You scream echoed through the home again, Madja tried to shout over it urging you to keep pushing.

Azriel’s eyes widened his gaze snapping towards everyone “ Y/N?- she’s-“ His voice rasps. Your crying and sounds of moans through your gritted teeth as you pushed were heard through the bond and from upstairs. “Y/N?!” Azriel takes off running for the room, his head boots hitting the floor. There you were hunched over Madja trying to help the baby. Your eyes shut closed, your hair starting to fall into your face. “ Push Y/N Push! I can see the baby’s head!”

The weight of your body and attempting to further push out your child was beginning to weigh down on you, your legs were beginning to buckle you gripped onto the bed until your knuckles started hurting, the material starting to rip. Azriel’s heavy boots pounded against the ground until he got to you. He slid his hand over yours, his other hand wrapping around the one that held your stomach. He stood behind you and off to the side. Warmth comforts your body, and your mind, it seeps around you and practically through you. You lean into him, “ Az-” You turned to look up at him noticing all the cuts in bruises.

“You asshole“ You winced “I told you not to lehhheaavvee-aaaahhh fuck!” You screamed as you felt Madja reach for the baby’s head and shoulders. Azriel couldn’t focus on your words, as he was amazed and awestruck. He couldn’t have been more in love with you right now at this moment. He knew you would be mad at him but right now he didn’t care, he was here with you, with your child who happened to be making its way home.

“Forget about that--I’m here now-“ Azriel shook his head, kissing your head and shoulder, his fingers intertwined with yours, you at this point gripped his hand with all your might. His other hand did the same with yours as you held onto your belly. Your body sinking further towards the ground, at that point Azriel held most of your weight.

“-You gotta keep pushing, I know you’re tired. ” He tells you softly, the baby was half way out of your body, from what Azriel could see. An indescribable feeling bubbles in his chest so many words, and phrases but nothing could truly convey what it was.

You shake your head “ We are-so not- having another- Kiiiihhhhdddddd-” Your body moves to squat as you push your words cutting offer as your breath completely leaves your lungs.

Azriel smiles “ That’s it! One more push, just one more. I can see the babies legs” you nodded hearing his words Madja sharing the same smile. You gritted your teeth hissing out in pain as you pushed one more time. Your eyes widened, you let out a breath of relief, when the baby exited your body. Your tears slowing down, a tired smile graces your lips. Madja stood up with the baby in her arms, a servant rushing over to give her a towel to wrap the baby in. Azriel who’d still held you in his arms, tears filled his own eyes as he caught a look at his new world. The sweet melodic sound of a baby’s crying filling the room letting you both know the baby was there.

You hummed at the reassuring sound, Azriel switched his gaze instantly, his heart leaping out of his chest, your body had given out in exhaustion. He quickly threw your arm around his neck, grabbing both of your legs carrying you bridal style back to your shared bed. “I wanna hold our baby, Az” You sniffle.

“ I know” He whispers as he leans down, capturing your lips with his for a quick kiss, a much needed kiss. He pulls back an inch or too resting his forehead against yours. “ The baby Az” You giggled tiredly letting him know you wanted them.

“ Your baby Y/B/G needs a name” Madja says as she walks towards you both with the baby in her arms. By this point Azriel made the effort to sit directly behind you, your back to his chest, so he could hold the baby and you in his arms. The two of you stared down at your beautiful baby, cooing at it, talking about the features they shared between the two of you. By the time the two of you decided a name for the baby, the entire inner circle rested in your bedroom, they couldn’t wait anymore, they wanted to see their new addition to the family. It was sweet really. A moment the two of you kept sacred and cherished.

———

It was dark, the moon's light shining above the frozen ground. It's been six months since you’d given birth, and here you were running with your child in your arms. Your breath could be seen floating in the air as you ran. Your boots crunching through the snow. Your baby wrapped in thick clothing, their wings shielded hidden from sight and the cold. You were trying to get to the cabin, the only cabin that you knew would be safe. It was the only place you could escape to, the one that only privileged people could get through. Someone would get your child back to Azriel wherever he was at the moment. Either that or he’d find them here…

You were nearing the home as the tiny cabin began to grow in size the closer you got, “ Come on, come on come on,” you say through gritted teeth will your legs go faster. You barely make it to the front entrance of the door, the creature behind you swiping at your legs. You fell to the floor, the baby still in your arms. You landed on your knees, you didn’t waste a second quickly scrambling back up. You were lucky that your baby wasn’t really fussy or easily startled, rather they were quiet, instead an amused smile could be seen. You knew then the baby would take after Azriel and maybe some of their uncle’s tendencies too. Tears filled your eyes, you grabbed the basket that was once used for flower picking. Placing your child inside of it. As if in slow motion the creature behind you roared, you gave one final push to the basket past the threshold into the safety of the home. Brief whine of relief leaves your lips, the smile slipping from your baby's face a little scream sounds off as you are yanked back into the white snowy abyss…

——

Azriel lands down into the ground hard before taking off into a sprint. He practically smashes through the front door “ Y/N???! Y/B/N???!!” He stops about halfway into the living space; Mor holds his baby who cried profusely as Feyre attempts to soothe the little one with warm milk. His brothers and Amren search the entire cabin. Rhys however walked out of one room rushing to his brother's aide placing his hands on his shoulders. Azriel’s chest was tight and his heart ached, tears filled his eyes. He forces them away, he’s a spymaster, he has the ability to command shadows and darkness. He took on various opponents, ranging from different statuses. Yet he still managed to get his wife, his mate, kidnapped. He thought he’d done a better job at hiding the both of you, you had only barely given birth six months ago.

“ I need to find her” He growled, the wailing babe still calling out for their mother and father. But Azriel was distracted. Mor tried to rock the baby, the milk was no help, Feyre tried to find another blanket to wrap the baby in.

“ I know, and when we do we make them wish they hadn’t taken her.” Rhys responded as clenches his jaw.

Cassian moved towards his brothers, his nose flared, “Whoever took her will pay for it.” He growls.

Amren stepped towards the group, “ Do either one of you have a plan? Hmm? “

“ We don’t even know who took her” Feyre says as she stood with Mor, still the baby wailed, nothing could get them to settle down. Azriel couldn’t neglect his duties any longer swiftly walking to Mor. He gently took the baby in his arms holding them, the way you would, he leaned towards his baby’s head placing a small kiss. It’s beautiful big eyes that resembled yours, stared up at him, a sad smile graced their features. The wailing had come to a stop, instead little sniffles were heard. Azriel’s heart, though already broken and panicked, yielded a deeper pain, a pain for his child who witnessed the kidnapping of their mother.

Everyone had remained quiet watching the moment unfold and it was then that Azriel cried for the first time in front of everyone. He was good about hiding his pain, but not after he met you, not after he fell in love with you, not when the bond snapped in place, not even when he watched you birth the other half of his world. All those times you saw every emotion, every thought, all of it. At one point the group moved to grasp Azriel in a hug, and it did nothing for him. He only wanted your touch and your love. He wanted to be held by you. Azriel moved out of the way searching the home himself with his restless child in his arms. He couldn’t wallow in his feelings if he was going to find you. He needed to be the spymaster now, the Shadow singer. It was then did he call for his shadows to search other areas. Of course as they approached, they caressed the baby's face before disappearing. The baby in between shut their eyes, falling asleep finally. Everyone at that could relax just a little bit easier.

Azriel knew that you would’ve brought the baby here for this exact reason, that they all would come here. You trusted that by doing this, he would find you. The question was who took you. Azriel stepped into his room looking for anything that you might’ve left in there but you didn’t. A shadow reappeared dancing along his shoulder sneaking back towards the sleeping babe. His eyes followed the movement, the shadow quickly slipped through the blankets of the babe pulling out a note. Azriels eyes widened. How could he have missed that. He took the note, unfolding it. Ianthe. His breath caught in his throat, anger bubbling up the surface, the note in his hand crumbling the paper. He stormed back to the living space quickly handing Mor the baby. Rhys and Cassian stand up straighter.

“You know where she is” Rhys says.

“ Ianthe has her, the only place that could remotely bring her refuge is Hybren campsite. But I highly doubt it, the travel is distant, and winnowing can only get you so far before you become exhausted” Azriel replied.

“ You think she’s somewhere close by then?” Rhys suggests

“ She has to be”

“ So what are we waiting for? Let’s go get her!” Cassian retorts, his fists clenching into a fist ready to fight for his family.

“ We can’t until we know her exact location, I can’t feel her through the bond, we need to track her” Azriel moves forwards towards the door, grabbing the things he needed amongst that he ordered at least two or three of his shadows to remain with the baby. He was bringing you home.

Rhys looked at the group before deciding who stayed and went “ Amren stay here with Mor, Feyre I need you to come with us, you’re the only other person who might be able to save her” Amren gave a curt nod, Feyre moved next to her husband quickly, as the little group takes off and into the cold sky.

——————

You were thrown into the hard ground of a temple you’d never seen before. Your hands attempted to catch your fall before you were yanked back up by a soldier. You were breathing quickly and you struggled against the hold. Ianthe shook her head. “ I used to come here to pray, to find peace and solace. Now it’s ruined and destroyed, taken from me.” Ianthe clasps her hands together.

“ What does that have to do with me?” you say through gritted teeth, trying to wiggle out of the soldier's hold again his grip on you tightened.

“ I’m so happy you asked, boys, would you do me the honor and bring her up to the altar” She’s smiles, though to anyone else it looks sweet and meaningful, but in between you could see the malice behind it. You tried to fight off the soldiers as they dragged you up towards the altar, a slab of stone placed in the center. Another soldier had reached for the chains that were placed on the edges.

“ No-No-No!” You shook your head doing everything you could to get out of there to go back home, to your family, to your loved ones. But it was too late, two soldiers grabbed your legs and arms lifting you up, and placed you on the cold stone. Each soldier took your wrists and ankles, chaining them down.

“I am so delighted to tell you the reason you are here. You see, you are a sacrifice, you’re a librarian no? You know what is to come of these next few events. We will take all of Prythian and to do that I need my priestesses to be fully powered and well” She tells you as she takes steps closer to the Altar.

“ That has nothing to do with me!” You yelled. One of the soldiers back handed you and another socked you in the lower stomach. You yepped in pain, everything was still tender from when you’d given birth.

“ Oh but it does. You gave birth to an Illyrian baby, you are a lesser fae whose kind has never done such a thing. How you were capable of holding his child is beyond me. Which makes you my most unique sacrifice. You’ve read the sacred texts, books, poems, you know this is a rare occurrence.”

“ I don’t know what you’re talking about” You spit in her face.

Ianthe moved out of the way, the same malicious smile on her features“ Hmm but you do, you know as well as I do, that lesser fae can bring life force back into this temple. Your kind is known for its sacrifices, and we thank you for it-“She sighs happily as she takes a step back. “ -You may proceed with the preparations. I must retrieve my book, Sister, I need you to perform a blessings” As she walked away, her heels clicked against the concrete floor, another silent priestess walked in her place. She gave a simple nod to the soldiers, hands placed on your shoulders pinning you further into the stone. Your head was pushed to the side exposing the side of your neck. A hand pressed smashed your face into the stone. Your body shook, as you kicked your legs and yanked at the chains around your wrist. Another soldier walked in, a hot branding iron made its way towards you, to mark you.

“ Please don’t do this, I have a family” You begged, as the silent priestess sang her prayer. All you could think about was your family, your mind drifting to each person. You could see all of their smiles, you could hear their laughter echo in your mind. Your mind tracked back to sweet tender moments you shared with each person. But one you found yourself replaying was Azriel. You thought back to the moment you met him, you thought back to the time your baby was born. Your baby. Oh your baby, your little world- The soldier moved closer you could feel the heat of the branding iron making your skin rise. The hot burning metal pierced your skin. Your flesh burned, white hot pain shot through your whole body. You screamed at the pain, tears slipped down your cheek, your voice becoming raw. The symbols of various shapes of the moon branded into your skin.

The priestess continued her melody of prayer, the soldiers removed their hands and iron, Your wrists and ankles still chained. The sound of grinding gears and rotating drums echoed in the room. The slab of stone shook, shuddered and vibrated as it began to lower. You turned your head looking around you, water started to fill the slab you laid on. Your- Azriel’s tunic that you wore is becoming wet. The water is ice cold, you start to hyperventilate, to the point you could even think or speak. You didn’t get the opportunity to scream again for help as the water completely submerged you, you couldn’t focus, your oxygen was running low, you were starting to choke. You fought at least a few more times for air but you could feel yourself slipping, you were trying to hang on but you couldn’t. You could see shadows flying above you, maybe Azriel was sending you comfort, you weren’t sure, maybe you were imagining it, maybe this was it… peace…

A loud boom could be heard, the door to the temple blown to bits, voices boomed across the space, soldiers yelled and the priestess sang louder. Your eyes fluttering, you were close..The shadows above panicked as they scurried from one end to another. Swords and knives clashed. One flew past the water that swallows you whole. It hit the priestess who must’ve fallen onto the floor from the wound. More sounds emitted around you, death, death had come for you, this was not how you planned to die, but maybe this was the wish of Mother.

Azriel ran to the stone altar jumping into the water “Y/N?!” He called out to you. As he landed in the water, he could see your eyes had closed, you looked as though you were merely sleeping. Half of your neck is marked in those moon symbols. “ Fuck, Y/N?!! Cass?! Rhys?! I need one of you to help me get these chains off of her!” He kneels down into the water pulling on the chains. Cassian and Rhys run to the other side working on your ankles. Once you were free Azriel lifted up your body carrying you bridal style out of the water. He dropped down to the floor with you in his arms. His one free hand caressed the side of your face, tears painted his cheeks with stains. How could anyone do this to you, you deserved none of this. “ Y/N come back to me please” He whispers to you.

Your body limp and cold, Cassian had to look away from you, this memory would haunt him forever. His heart and soul shattered, and for someone who had seen so much death, this was one he wished he’d never witness. Azriel shook you, talking to you, trying to wake you up. He hadn’t thought to ask Feyre and Rhys. But the two were skeptical, they weren’t even sure they could bring you back. Azriel turned to his brothers and his high lady.

“ Do something!” He yelled. “ Anything please! Bring her back to me! I can’t live without her!”

Rhys frowned deeply, his heart aches for his brother, he walked over placing a hand on his shoulder. Feyre had turned away, wiping the tears from her eyes. She wasn’t ready to give up either just like Azriel, but she wasn’t sure if she could bring you back. Rhys knew it was too late for you to be saved. Azriel looked away from his brother and down towards you. His sobs ripped through his heart, mind and soul, as he lowered his head towards you. His forehead touched yours as he cried, a raspy scream left his lips and throat. Feyre and Cassian both moved toward each other, tears falling down their own faces. Rhys bowed his head, his silent tears dropping to the floor.

An unusual occurrence had taken place, Azriel’s shadows swarmed around you and Azriel both. Rhys took a step back, Cassian and Feyre grasped onto one another. Your eyes opened as you sucked in a breath of air choking on the water that was still in your lungs and you turned to the side spitting out the water. Azriel moved his head away from you, giving you a moment to breathe, couldn’t believe his own eyes. You looked around the room, your eyes finding Feyre, Rhys, Cassian, and then Azriel. The bond that was once quiet is now loud again. Azriel smiled, his glistening tears free falling once more. His hand gripped the tunic of his you wore. Your hand grabbing onto his forearm, he leans downward, his forehead touching yours.

“ Az-Azriel-“ You whispered breathlessly. He nods his head. “ My-My he-hero” you shivered from the cold.

“ Don’t-don’t you ever leave me” He tells you as his hand slides upwards to cup the back of your neck and intertwine in some of your hair.

“ I won’t” you whispered softly, he leaned down capturing your lips with his for a brief moment or two, the kiss sweet and languid.

“ We need to go Az” Rhys says, interrupting you both. Azriel sighs, his thumb running along your cheekbone. He removes his hands, one rested against your back while the other went under your legs, he carried just like he had when you gave birth. He walked out of the temple with you in his arms, taking off into the sky…

——-

When you arrived home everyone rushed to your side, Azriel refused to let you walk but you didn’t care. You forced your way out his hold, but his arm stayed wrapped around your middle holding onto you. You greeted everyone and told them you were okay. The mark imprinted on your skin permanently told you that you were a survivor, you didn’t want Madja to take that away. Azriel didn’t agree with that idea much, but it’s what you wanted.

You eyes searched the room for your baby, who to your surprise Amren held closely. Tears filled the brims of her eyes but as stubborn as she was, she never let them fall. Amren walked towards you placing the little babe in your arms. The babe had woke up from its slumber, a sweet smile spread across its face. Silent tears rolled down your face, as you leaned down to kiss your baby’s cheeks and nose. A giggle sounded off causing the group to grin from ear to ear. Everyone huddled close together wrapping their arms around you. That night everyone stayed in the cabin. Too worried about what might happen if they left. As cassian said “better with numbers”.

Azriel had walked you to the bedroom, helping you clean yourself up. You wanted to lay down with your baby and your mate. He respected that wish, it was the same wish he had. He laid down on his side, you tucked into his chest, the babe laid front of you both. You wrapped your arms around the baby, and Azriel wrapped his arms around you.

“ I love you” He whispers into your ear.

“ I love you too” You replied, you could feel Azriel tug you impossibly closer to him. That night he slept with both eyes open. Never again will he underestimate his enemies, and never again will he leave you and your baby defenseless. You, both were his world after all.

#azriel x reader #azriel x you #azriel x y/n #azriel spymaster #azriel shadowsinger #azriel x female!reader #azriel fluff #azriel angst #azriel #x poc reader #x you #x y/n #poc reader #x reader #acotar #acotar angst #acotar fluff #acotar x reader #acotar x you

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highladyjane · 11 months

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The assault at Sangravah happened in early ACOMAF (before Elain's existence even came into picture for Azriel - 3 days before he even got to meet Feyre)... So I don't get how G and Az are supposed to be mates when he's had all that time to feel something?

There's the parallel of Rhys' father feeling his mating bond snap into place the moment he met his mother being assaulted.

"One look at her, and he knew what she was..." (ACOMAF, ch. 16)

Or Rhys himself feeling the bond when Feyre was being tortured by Amarantha...

"And I knew as I picked up that knife to kill her... I knew right then what you were. I knew right then that you were my mate." (ACOMAF, ch. 54)

Or Cassian simply meeting Nesta. "Say what I've guessed from the moment we met" he breathed. What I knew from the first time I kissed you. What became unbreakable between us on Solstice night." (ACOSF, ch. 62)

Bonus from Nesta: “‘From the moment I met you, I wanted you more than reason. From the moment I saw you in my house, you were all I could think about. And it terrified me. No one had ever held such power over me."

Or even Lucien after Elain was Made and maybe even while being thrown into the Cauldron... I don't even need a quote for them, but even Lucien knew and has tried seeking Elain out after the incident.

It's stated in the books and shown again and again that it's the males who are deeply affected by the mating bond. That they can know from the moment they meet. They all in one way or another sought after the females. Even Nesta and Feyre felt something before they knew or opened themselves up to it. And since they all met - They. Couldn't. Stay. Away.

But there's like... no hint of it from Az after stumbling upon G? Like he just literally stumbles upon her - never actually even actively seeking her out through all those years? He hasn't even actively tried to stay away? He's just... *crickets*

It's been Gwyn making noises and attracting his attention through all their scenes together. It was Gwyn asking for dagger lessons. It was 'Gwyn' making Az the new ribbon (whatever that means). And it's Az's shadows reacting to Gwyn, not Az himself. But there's no real hint that Gwyn feels anything romantic for him. There's barely any interactions between them without linking it to her assault in Sangravah and her growth from it.

Besides Az's shadows reacting to G, and that ribbon moment that everyone deems so pivotal when Az realises what it means for the Valkyries (that he's had a hand in training) and maybe even reflects upon Gwyn's character development and therefore what the ribbon means for Gwyn - which made me feel proud too, and that's how I interpreted it - but I can't see an undeniable sign of it being a mating bond anywhere.

I thought at first that mayhaps he was giving her space because of the assault, but then the BC came and he went "It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running," and then "He wouldn't go so far as to call Gwyn a friend,". (ACOSF, Azriel's Bonus Chapter)

Let's not even mention the part where Gwyn was actually in danger (no matter how capable she was at that point), while Cassian was going ballistic at Nesta being in danger, but Az is all like "Let's go save Eris". Eris who both he and Cassian hates. Eris who Az himself nearly killed during the HLs' pre-war meeting (before he exhibited actual mate behaviour and sought and risked his life to save Elain who's not even his mate). But no, he gave just as much or even less action and reaction about Gwyn as Tamlin gave when Feyre was UTM.

And I was like...

How are they mates? Where's the mate behaviour every male - mated or not - in Prythian has exhibited throughout the books? Why did I keep seeing things about them being mates and endgame?

The only hint between them that I could even begin to consider it from is the second to last sentence in Az's BC.

"But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly."

But I basically have the same interpretation about that as this post from @merymoonbeam. (Although I'm still neutral about the lightsinger theory, it's the most interesting take.)

Because again.

Why hasn't Azriel felt/shown anything or actively sought her out or even actively stayed away if he's known Gwyn since Sangravah?

If they're mates, shouldn't he have felt and shown something - like that glow - and Gwyn be the one to snap him out of his 'love' for Mor before he even had the chance to meet Elain? If he's just lonely and jealous of his brothers having mates then... Why has he barely noticed or sought out Gwyn who's supposed to be his mate?

What, he had to wait until his shadows reacted to her to even think about her?

I'm not an expert at analysing things - I wouldn't even say I'm good at interpreting things especially when I've got my rose-tinted glasses on, so/but I'm always open to being wrong and changing my mind accordingly.

But/so convince me with actual canon and not just your biased opinions, delusions, self-insertions, or ships.

#this is me questioning people's reading comprehension as well as my own #and me wanting to respect it even if i don't agree with it #this was also me anticipating the hint of them being mates while reading ACOSF for the first time 'cause their shippers were everywhere #but like... it never came?#did i miss something #triggered by the hate their shippers are spreading when there's nothing to truly back it up with #it's too bloody late for SJM to backpedal #don't you dare waste 4 books worth of really good foreshadowing and emotional investment #you can't just throw gwyn in there after all that #they all deserve better than that #mate behaviour #azriel acotar #pro elriel #azriel shadowsinger

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works-of-heart · 6 months

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I don't get it.

Like seriously, I honestly don't understand it.

Sjm says that Elain was someone who she and Lucien didn't see coming. She had always envisioned him with Nesta, but realized they'd tear each other apart (not in a good way, as she loves that kind of banter, but theirs would be awful). She mentions 'without getting too spoilery' that and I quote:

"there was actually a great deal of tension, growth, and healing to be found for both of them (together)"

You mean to tell me, that she says there is a great deal of tension (which we've all been seeing between them), growth and healing for them TOGETHER ONLY to have Elain break her bond with him and leave him to suffer a broken bond?

You want to tell me that SJM planned to have Elain become Lucien's mate, so they could grow and heal together, only for her to dump him and choose Azriel, and leave Lucien alone with a broken bond?

This woman, who has written Lucien as kind, patient, understanding, and truly concerned for Elain, is planning on making his mate turn away from him? This man who is said to be fiercely loyal, who could have ANY woman in Prythian he wanted but has no interest in any females, who has suffered physical and emotional trauma to help his friends. You think Sarah is just going to be like "Yeah, I'm going to put Lucien with a girl who is all around perfect for him and just take her away so she can run into the arms of another man!"

Look, I torture my precious babies too, but that?! That's INSANE to me that anyone thinks Sarah planned to set him up with a mate and said all those things if she planned for it to be a failure.

Especially since she made a comment, unprompted mind you, about an Elucien date where they go visit the gardens in London, before heading out to the countryside, stating that they're BOTH happy in nature. So she's going to talk about Feysand, Nessien modern dating, and just throw in Elucien even though she doesn't even plan for them to be together?

it simply doesn't make any sense to me.

Like take a moment, to actually sit down and think, why would this author say those kinds of things if she as some had said "planned Elriel since MAF" when she literally states the opposite. She confirmed Nessien in that same moment as well, because the series was originally supposed to finish. Az and Elain didn't have anything together, they were never planned. She didn't change from that trajectory either (as stated in her interview that I guess people want to misquote, forget, or take her words completely out of context).

SJM did say there were SMALL changes, like some characters had been added (which I suspect are Gwyn and Em), Mor's sexual orientation, but the overall arch was still the same.

Honestly, here's what I think about that.

Azriel was always meant to have a mate. A lot of people pointed out that in MAF there was a lot of Moriel hints and they were meant to be endgame. When she got backlash for lack of LGBT representation, she just decided to have Mor's preference shift. I think it left Az without a mate, but by the time SF came around she began to leave breadcrumbs for who he'd end up with. That being Gwyn.

I personally think SJM wants Gwynriel so much so, that she retconned Az's backstory so he was the one at Sangravah. That he killed everyone in site, leaving none left alive (completely OOC for Az, yet fitting with mate behavior). Like if she had no intention for Az to be connected to her in such a way, why actively make HIM the one to save her? Why make it so that Az killed everyone and left not a single person alive?

Why did she have his shadows react to her in a very specific way, a way that's calm and happy? The way they sing and dance to her, reaching out to her in a playful way. Why would she change history and put attention on these things, if there was never any future for them? What, so we can see Az fall for Elain? You mean Sarah went out of her way to change parts of Az's story and how his shadows react specifically to Gwyn, just so he can turn from her and rush into the arms of Elain? Why bother?

And before anyone says "lightsinger" and Gwyn's 'evil powers' are causing Az's shadows to dance and sing... there's a whole bonus chapter where Az's shadows dance to Azriel's singing. Gwyn isn't even there, so that's debunked.

That's all, I just had to get that off my chest. I keep seeing so many people rant and say that SJM's old editor pushed for Elucien and her new one is pushing Elriel because it's more 'popular' and she's going in this new direction now. I have no idea where that came from when she said that nothing's changed from her drunken rant, so we'll see I guess.

#elucien #elucien supremacy #pro lucien vanserra #pro elucien #elain x lucien #pro gwynriel #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #gwyn x azriel

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nikethestatue · 9 months

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First, I love your page and all of your knowledge/theories when it comes to Elriel! Second, I wanted to get your thoughts on something if you are able to shed your opinion on it, but no pressure! :) I was chatting with a few friends who read the ACOTAR series, and I brought up the fact that I really don't think Sarah would tease a couple getting together in a bonus chapter. (AKA, if G*yn and Azriel were going to become a couple, then Sarah would've dropped hints in the actual books, and not just a bonus scene that not everyone knows about. If the bonus was that important, it wouldn't have been a bonus. It would've been in the book itself.)

However one of my friend's mentioned that Wings and Embers, a bonus scene, clearly set up the relationship between Nesta and Cassian before their book ever came out, and ever since hearing that I've began to have doubts. Do you have any thoughts on this? If Nesta and Cassian were actually set up in that bonus chapter before ACOWAR, ACOFAS, and ACOSF were published, then could it be possible that G*yn and Az might actually become a couple because of the ACOSF bonus scene?

I really hope not. Nothing about a secondary character (G) and a main character (Az) getting together is satisfying for me in any way, shape, or form. On top of that, it just doesn't make narrative sense.

Anyway, hope you have a nice day! :)

Thank so much!

So of course after 3 years of nonsensical Gwynriel bs, I think readers lost sight of what they actually saw in the bonus chapter.

And the question is--WHO actually was 'set up' in the bonus chapter? Elriel or Gwynriel?

Because, just like in Wings and Embers, the set up was with....a bat boy and an Archeron sister. Because the romantic part, which, btw, mirrors W&E very closely, is all with Elain and Azriel. What happens in both? Cassian and Nesta meet, in a semi-private setting. Azriel and Elain meet in a semi private setting. We are given confirmation that both are attracted to each other. Even further, mirroring W&E, we have Az struggling with a sense of self worth and confidence, just like Cassian! who circled the house once or twice, before even daring to step inside. Taking it even further--what happens? The ALMOST kiss. Both couples are going for it. And both times they are interrupted.

Let's take it even further--who interrupts the kiss? Those who eventually became the biggest obstacles to the romance.

NESTA. She knees Cassian in the balls. Who becomes the antagonist in ACOSF? Nesta. She is the one who needs to come full circle to accept love: give it and take it. She is the one who interrupted it initially, and she is the one who was the biggest 'problem' in the romance.

Who interrupts Elriel? Not Gwyn. Rhys. Rhys who is talking about Lucien. And who is NOT talking to Elain. What does Rhys symbolise? Power and duty (for Azriel). What does Lucien symbolise? Obligation (mate bond). What does the lack of Elain in that conversation symbolise? Lack of choice. She wasn't given a choice by Rhys, or even Azriel.

What does the interruption tell us? That the main obstacles to the romance will be duty, obligation and choice.

Not Gwyn. Gwyn has nothing to do with this, or with Elriel. She isn't an obstacle to their romance, because she isn't part of the equation. Her story is separate and her part of the chapter had nothing to do with romance--neither he nor she displayed even an iota of romantic inclination.

What DID we see? Silent music and shadows behaving weirdly (Lightsinger), and her squaring off with the ribbon like it was an opponent. Like Azriel, in some way, is an opponent.

Tell your friend not to worry! :)

#elriel #pro elriel

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beansidhebumbling · 8 months

Text

Babylon Rises

What Comes Before-An Introduction

Sleep had never been Nesta's friend.

Lavender oil, chamomile tea, yoga, melatonin- pretty promises that she'd land within the Sandman's grasp. Like the desperate do she tried them all and watched them fail. Her new nightime routine a pilates princess' wet dream, mood lighting and steaming mugs of flower water and the gentle stretching of aching muscles, was aesthetically pleasing and utterly useless.

***

In her youth it had seemed like a superpower.

She did not bow to the night.

Her resistance to rest had been useful when cramming for finals, turning pages in the wee hours in the Aberaes wing, Redbull night shakes entirely unnecessary. It had carried her through college and the early trials of corporate law.

In those hazy days of young adulthood, dancing to club music into the wee hours, glitter dusting her skin and coke her nose, it felt like being invincible. Frenzied messy fucking one hour, dabbing Velvet Teddy on her lips on the corporate commute the next.

Stilettos sharp, mind sharper- Nesta fucking Archeron.

***

But as 35 came and went, marked by middling sushi and excellent company, the creeping fear began.

"You know Nes, averaging 2 hours sleep isn't healthy for you."

Gwyn was in doctor mode, from the worried tilt of her fine brows to her crossed arms as she leaned across the glass table, her matcha pushed to the side.

"Yeah I know. I know. I'm on it, I swear G, just don't tell Em."

"Don't tell Em what?"

The familiar voice floated from somewhere behind her.

Fuck.

***

Nesta eyed her double shot macchiato and wondered for a brief hopeful moment if she could drown herself in it, before turning guiltily to meet her friend's hard stare.

"The tea you gave me didn't work."

"Well shit, Archeron. That should have cleared any grade 5 spirits. What the fuck is clinging to you?"

Emerie shook her head, waves of ebony curls writhing in shared disbelief.

Claiming a seat beside Gwyn, her friend pursed her blue-stained lips in a familiarly threatening way and Nesta found the celebration rapidly descending into an inquisition.

***

The grilling was nothing new.

The same roladex of suspects was resurrected each time- stress, diets, spirits. Each had their favourite.

Gwyn, doctor and yogi claimed it was stress. Her friend, a research fiend, sent links to Pubmed every second day on the hormonal and immunological consequences of stress. In a way that, ironically, did little but exacerbate the pressure she felt.

Nesta hoped for diet, lived in faith that eliminating some carb or nightshade or sugar would bring her the peace of a full REM cycle. And if she dropped from a size 14 to an 8 in the process, then maybe Elain would stop sending her emails about spin classes in that passively bitchy way of hers.

Emerie's theory was the strangest by a mile.

"I'm telling you Nes, with all due respects to any of Berdara's papers this problem is one on the spiritual plane."

The demon-hunter raised an ornately manicured hand as Gwyn opened her mouth.

"Before you start, I don't doubt for a second Archeron could do with taking that stick out of her ass, Berdara."

Gwyn settled back in her seat as Nesta huffed indignantly.

"Whatever this is, it has serious mojo. I'm getting worried, the Illyrian dream traps I've placed around your room are filling far too quickly."

"We live in a haunted house Em, that's not exactly surprising."

Nesta retorted, her eyes tightening as the familiar pulsing in her temples that preceded her routine migraines began.

Today was not going as planned.

"I know the girl who became a mere believer a decade ago isn't lecturing me. I am a hunter Archeron and this isn't my first rodeo."

Emerie's eyebrows raised in challenge.

"I'm not. Definitely not. But Em, like you said I'm just a believer, and only that because I know you. I've no affiliation to the Other. It seems more likely it could be dairy, I was..'

Gwyn's sigh caused the pretty waitress to glance up from her physics textbook at the counter, before returning to her work following Nesta's bashful wave.

"I cannot listen to the potential dastardly powers of brie again, Nesta. That is well trodden ground. Let the rodeo queen continue."

Emerie flipped the redhead the bird before continuing.

"The Others are less concerned with bothering the Unseeing than we are topside. So it doesn't matter that you can't See. They don't exactly mind their manners or well, I'd be shit out of a job. Lucky for you, I happen to be very good at said job."

Pausing, Em reached into the chest pocket of her favourite leather trench, before pulling out an egg sized red jewel with a look of sheer triumph.

"Is that a ruby?"

Gwyn gasped.

Emerie scoffed before muttering dryly.

"Easy to stay humble with you two. "

"This is no mere ruby. This, my idiots, is an Illyrian protection stone. A rumoured fable, I hold the first found in three centuries reportedly."

"By you?"

"Yes by me, Archeron."

Emerie harrumphed.

"You could sound slightly less skeptical especially considering it's for you."

With that Emerie stretched her tattooed palm across the table and dropped the stone in Nesta's palm.

With a lupine smile she added.

"Go buy me another Americano and I'll tell you how I've saved your life. Add a shot of caramel, it's the least you can do for your saviour Nessie."

***

In the sticky blackness of the Other Cassian awakened and mountains moved. With the crack of his wings the promise of war grew ripe in the air.

In his slumber much had changed.

Babylon had fallen. Like him.

But she had found him.

His mate.

And so, like the tide he would rise.

And find his way to her.

#nessian #acotar #nesta #cassian #I'm now sleep deprived #continue or nah?#gemwrites

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daphnedawns · 1 year

Text

Dusk court revival, an Elriel theory

I’m actually so glad the conversation has been brought to Azriel and his shadows reaction to Elain. Whereas I don’t find it to be a bad things that his shadows skitter away in her presence since I believe this to mean his shadows are comfortable with her. This conversation has brought me to a pro Gw*nriel argument that said Elain is bad for him because her sunlight makes his shadows disappear and that she basically cancels out his existence. But I don’t think this is the case with them at all.

We all know how Elain is sooo heavily linked with the dusk court.

Not only is the prison/dusk court her mountain to conquer. She has been likened to it multiple times. (These are just from the top of my head that I can cite without skimming through all the books)

When Feyre described Elriel together in the middle of the war, she called the space between their bodies light and dark, A BLEND BETWEEN THE TWO. I don’t think one cancels out the other, but they blend together and that blend surely relates to dawn/dusk!

To me, their juxtaposition isn’t meant to cancel each other out but to show us that they’re the two essential characters that will play a part in the dusk courts revival. SJM has already been putting in the groundwork for them!

I love the theory that they will be the potential high lord and lady of the revived dusk court. This piggybacks off of the theory that Az is a descendant of the Avallen Fae that ended up on midgard (cc) and with Bryces presence and the crossover happening, it would make so much sense for Azriel to take on the mantle of their high lord seeing as though he is the only direct descendant who is also Prythian. And who better to serve as their high lady than the cauldron blessed seer who can scry, who Az is already obsessed with, who likes Az back and who has the dusk court mountain to conquer!!

I can honestly stand by this theory a lot more than the ones that talk about G and Az and their nonexistent plot.

With the pacing of the plot in ACOTAR and the Maasverse in general, we find ourselves with Koschei and the prison/dusk court. Whereas, koschei is still heavily related to Elriel (being that Elain can scry for dead trove items and Koschei seems to have a particular interest towards Azriel) it can also be build up for a Vassa/Lucien novella! But with the dusk court/prison being a much closer plot point now with HOFAS coming and SJM mentioning how HOFAS will set up the next ACOTAR book, I am a 100% convinced this is the direction she’s going with Elriel!

Not only do we have all that CANON FORESHADOWING from the previous books to support Elriel, we also have CANON GROUNDWORK for the potential Elriel book. There’s literally so much canon material to work with when it comes to this pairing that it would make absolutely zero sense for SJM to just throw that all away in favor of a new pairing without any foundation besides a metaphorical ribbon and a regifted necklace we don’t even know she received. I’m sorry but there’s literally no set up there that would move the plot forward. They’d have to invalidate all that Elriel build up and start from scratch for their pairing to make sense.

🎨: clarywhy

#elriel #pro elriel #elain x azriel #elain archeron #elain acotar #acotar #acotar fanart #azriel #anti gwynriel #acotar theory

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stay-forever-sunday · 1 year

Text

Drop of Starlight

Summary: Feyre is obsessing over seating charts, Rhysand comes for the rescue.

Rating: G

Word count: 960

AO3

Feysand Week 2023 Day One: ✨Night Triumphant and Stars Eternal ✨

@officialfeysandweek2023

Seven days. That was how long she had until her precious little boy turned one year old. Seven days. And she had a feeling that her sanity would be completely drained by the time next Sunday rolled around.

Feyre hated planning parties. It was one of the things that kept nagging at her when becoming The Spring High Lord’s wife was still very much a possibility. Back then, she had an immortal future of pretty dresses, polite smiles, and fake conversations and had hated the prospect of being that trophy wife with every fiber of her being.

But she had come a long way from the fragile-minded and weak, underweight creature she had been then. This celebration was special – and she had probably set herself up for failure, but she was adamant about planning every single detail of Nyx’s first birthday party.

They would have it at the House of Wind, as close to the night sky as they possibly could. Velaris itself would also be celebrating down below, for that little boy was hope impersonated, and there was yet to exist a faerie in the city that didn’t love and dote on Nyx. A few of them had been personally asked to attend the festivities, the invitations made of starlight.

With the help of Elain and the twins, she had mapped out all the foods and drinks that would be available as snacks for the party itself, but also for the formal sit-down dinner that was not only for their family but also for a few of the other high lords as well. Tamlin was, by default, not invited; she refrained from wondering if he would have said yes if had indeed mailed that particular letter.

The cake and decorations would be of the night sky and stars. It might be bordering on cliche, but Nyx was the first baby to be born to a Night Court High Lord in centuries and Feyre hoped to be forgiven for the commonplace thought, but that baby was their tiny star.

“You need to relax for a little bit, darling”. Rhysand’s voice reached her like a soft caress, her tiredness showing as she rubbed the sting from her eyes.

He was fully behind her a second later, her back suddenly flush with his chest. Feyre sighed and let herself sink into the comfort and darkness of her love.

“I know, but I still need to figure out the seating chart for the dinner. I don’t want to risk Beron actually coming and the only place he has to sit is beside Lucien. Or Helion.” Her mumble sounded too much like a whine to her own ears. “Why did we even send an invitation to the Autumn Court? It is bad decorum to retract it, isn’t it?”

The nameplates she was writing down had the sketch of a sitting chart beside them, crossed over many times as she played with who would sit next to whom. Sure they had some semblance of peace, for now; and Spring had been the only court not to get an invitation at all. Feyre had decided she liked Lucien’s mother and if this was an opportunity for her to see her son –and maybe Helion– then so be it.

“I hope you know you don’t have to babysit our guests”. He murmured, picking up her hand and tugging her from the stool she sat at.

She instantly wrapped her arms around him and hid her face in his neck. “Then who is going to babysit them?”

Rhys chuckled at her grumble and held her close, his warm hand soothing her by traveling the expanse of her back, up and down and back again.

“Let the others take care of anyone who might misbehave. It’s our son’s first birthday. The only person we should worry about is him and pray to the Cauldron that Mor doesn’t sneak him chocolate all day long.”

“Great. Now I’ll have to add that to my list of worries.” She laid her forehead on his shoulder and pinched his side, a comeback for mocking her. And damn him for adding to her ever-growing anxiety.

“Try not to worry about it, darling. Here, let me help you with this chart.” Rhysand let go of Feyre and peered over her work. He took three of the blank, black nameplates and the silver pen she used to write their guests’ names with. “These are the only nameplates we’re bothering with.” He spoke with a finality that made her shiver the slightest bit. She loved it when her mate made decisions and took care of her worries, in a way that was entirely welcome.

The nameplates read Drop of Starlight and Stars Eternal. Lifting them up, he looked at her with a face-splitting grin. Feyre matched his smile with a bright one of her own. Incorrigible. But she’d be damned if she didn’t adore his playfulness.

“You seem to be forgetting another very, very important guest.” She took the pen from his hand and leaned down to write on the remaining plate. With a flourish, she added two stars beside the name, one of them very, very small.

Night Triumphant.

Rhys smiled, pulling her back into his arms, cuddling her impossibly closer, and chanced a look at their baby, silently playing on the floor, surrounded by Illyrian dolls. He held one tightly in his chubby little fist, the other hand yanking at the doll’s wings. He was obsessed with anything that had wings.

“I can’t believe he is turning one. I can’t believe we survived this.” He chuckled; Nyx had progressed to holding one doll in each hand and was munching on their heads, one at a time.

“Are you kidding? I can’t believe he survived us.”

#feysand #feyre archeron #rhysand #pro feysand #feysandweek2023 #feyre x rhysand #pro feyre #pro rhysand #nyx archeron

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violetasteracademic · 1 month

Note

What do you think about the passive language used in azriel’s bonus chapter? Azriel says he found himself entering the foyer right before elain comes and then he finds himself in the library at 7.

Oooooh my darling anon. You have me giddy and kicking my feet with excitement to talk about this! Once again, a simple anon ask has spiraled into a deep crack theory post. This is a long one!

I love this bonus chapter so much. The prose are some of her loveliest work and the treasure trove of details is simply masterful. And I'm so excited about where I think the story is headed.

I definitely understand what you mean regarding passive language: there's a sense of everything happening without intention. In fact- he is explicitly acting against his "every intention." but the devil is in the details. As you said, the bell chime for the seven pm service. The exact same bell chime from when Nesta attended a service and was lulled into non-con scrying session with ancient songs. Ones Clotho just happened upon below level seven of the library one day in a random stack of books. Azriel giving away Elain's necklace to G/wyn or any other priestess who would like it after meaning to return it to the store. There's so much to get into but for the sake of keeping this post a reasonable length (which I still failed at anyway), I am going to hone in on what is, in my opinion, the most important line in the entire G/wyn section of the bonus chapter:

For whatever reason.

One of the most difficult parts about writing is that it is so easy to get hung up on a catch phrase or a certain way of describing things. Whether it is through our subconscious minds, or more intentional developmental edits, there are phrases that invoke something very specific and it is hard not to re-use them. I struggle with this. SJM has definitely come under fire for this as well.

For whatever reason has been used 13 times in the entirety of ACOTAR including the bonus chapter (it takes .5 seconds to type it into the search bar on Kindle and it displays the number count up top, this is not as unhinged as it sounds 🫣) and two of those times were regarding G/wyn, three were regarding the Priestesses, and every single time it was used to express that there is hidden information at play- be in magic, motivations, or machinations- something out of character, or something we do not yet understand. It essentially means that there is a reason, but it is not being revealed.

All of Azriel's passive actions and the little parallels between Azriel's experience with G/wyn and Nesta's experiences in the book (hearing G/wyn's song calling to her, her power rumbling in response to G/wyn, the glow, so on and so forth) are also connected through this line:

Azriel:

Nesta:

If we trust that for whatever reason does in fact indicate that there is a reason, there is an oft overlooked detail that also connects Nesta and Azriel's experience on page: G/wyn's breath.

In Nesta's for whatever reason moment, G/wyn is guiding her through the Valkyrie breathing technique. Nesta continues to focus on G/wyn's breath, which leads her to feeling this rush of thinking about how amazing G/wyn is, how she is good at everything, and somehow nothing about it irks the easily irked Nesta. G/wyn's breath settles her and leaves her content to be there:

Contented. Calm. Distant. Stilled. Resting. These are all of the sensations listening to G/wyn's breath creates. Now let's look at Azriel:

Azriel's shadows hear the silent music in G/wyn's breath. Suddenly, Azriel and his shadows are calm. Content. Stilled. Resting.

Even more interesting? Both of these moments occur after deeply painful moments with Elain. For Nesta, this takes place after Elain calls her out for focusing on what Elain's trauma did to her. Azriel is obviously wrecked from being ordered away from Elain. Then they both find themselves with G/wyn, there is a pointed experience of them interacting with her breath, and they are suddenly distantly removed from the situation that was ailing them mentally. Settled, calmed and feeling abnormally giddy over thoughts of G/wyn and how amazing she is and how happy they are to make her happy- for whatever reason.

Now, if you are still with me, we are REALLY going to get into some crack theory.

I do not believe that it is a coincidence that in a book where Nesta and Cassian were the two POV's, only Nesta and Azriel experienced G/wyn's lulling effects. We are dipping into major HoFaS spoilers here, so stop now if you don't want to move ahead!

In HoFaS, we learned the Cauldron has been corrupted by the Asteri. They pooled their power into it so that it would work their will. I think there is likely a push and pull for power within the Cauldron itself between the dark corruption of the Asteri and the original power of fate and creation by the Mother. Both entities exist within the Cauldron, if you will. We also learn that Truth-Teller was made in the Cauldron as a weapon against the Asteri. But we also learn that Azriel himself was a weapon crafted by the Asteri:

I believe this is in reference to Shadowsingers, but either way, there is a suggestion that whoever- what ever- Azriel is, it was crafted by the Asteri.

I also believe that whatever Nesta stole from the Cauldron was not the power that the Mother had gifted to Elain when it recognized her, perhaps the Archeron bloodline (let's not forget the Bone Carver's words about salvation laying dormant in a human bloodline), but the dark corruption of the Asteri.

No longer just a tool of creation, but a deadly tool of destruction. Nesta's power of death. And Silene's parents turned the horrors it produced to their advantage. I assume this is in reference to Truth-Teller, the knife that can unmake things which was created the Starborn bloodline to defeat the Asteri:

A tool not of creation, but of destruction. Unmaking.

I absolutely love Azriel and Nesta's friendship, but I also think there is something deeper going on here. I think Nesta and Azriel both experience the weight of the darkness of the Asteri's powers. Yes, they both have trauma. But they also are deeply unsettled people who fight incredibly hard against the darkness that weighs on them.

I believe both Nesta and Azriel carry the literal corruption of the Asteri, and it is something only they, and not the rest of their family, has to fight. They are doing it. And they also lean on each other in a very deep and beautiful way.

UGH. I love them, Your Honor.

I also believe that Nesta gave back her corrupted powers at the end of ACOSF (hopefully). And the mother interrupted her giving back all of her power, leaving only what the Mother intended remaining. Nesta seems much calmer and more settled in HoFaS, and while we can attribute it to her emotional growth, I think again it is extremely important that Nesta and Azriel, the only two characters to have been affected by G/wyn's luring, were also the main characters in the crossover where the corruption of the Cauldron is revealed.

Okay- but what does this have to do with G/wyn? I know, I know, G/wyn's lightsinger theory is the most accepted theory. And it might be true. But I also don't think it is everything. There is more going on here, and something that specifically leaves Nesta and Azriel susceptible. Nesta was also welcomed to the library to work with the priestesses in ACOSF for whatever reason.

I have made a few posts now about the Priestesses as the likely next mini villains in the upcoming ACOTAR book in alliance with Vallahan. You can read those here and here if you are interested. But I believe the invoking stones of the priestesses might come into play. In this case, what is occurring isn't specific to G/wyn, and I don't believe that she is the only one that could have this affect on Azriel and Nesta. Or maybe it's both, her lightsinger abilities allow her to lure while the invoking stones allow her to lull. Either way, there is a wider picture of the Priestesses and the secret powers they hold involved.

G/wyn believes that the stones are filled with the power of the Mother, and can only be used to protect and not harm. However, Ianthe also used her invoking stone (that was my interpretation, anyways) to lull guards to sleep. Feyre also questions if the invoking stones contain power far deadlier. Lucien confirms that the power the priestesses hold can be utterly lethal if they choose it.

If the invoking stones are also Cauldron Made, then they too carry both life and death. Creation and destruction. Protection and harm. I truly believe that G/wyn is completely ignorant to her own power, what the stones are capable of, and what the intentions of some of the corrupt Priestesses are. To destroy the rule of the High Lord's and regain their power:

The feminist in me is like yes queens, get off your knees and take your power back. But in this context, I think we can safely assume this is not a good thing, as we know many of the High Priestesses are also corrupted and do not have good intentions.

I think there is a lot of evidence that the like calls to like occurring very specifically between Azriel, Nesta, and G/wyn, might have less to do with the (very fair and again possibly correct) theory that G/wyn is a light singer and much more to do with the warped power of the Asteri. I think it is most likely Gwyn is not a villain, nor has any impure intention in her heart. But she does believe in her religion, in the Priestesses, and that they solely enact the power of the Mother for good. That leaves her in a position to be easily manipulated by the "promise" of greater good. The sole fact that she doesn't even think the invoking stone or power of the priestesses is capable of harming when we know otherwise says a lot about her indoctrination.

I also don't even know if G/wyn will specifically play a role in what I assume will be the future luring and lulling of Azriel, or if she was just a deeper representation of the power the priestesses hold. Either is definitely possible.

So yes, Azriel was acting out of character, a bit dazed and passive and almost in a trance. Just as he and Nesta had both experienced around G/wyn before.

For whatever reason.

#elriel #pro elriel #elain and azriel #elriel theories

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rhysands-rightknee · 8 months

Text

******* SPOILERS************************

my thoughts after hofas that I can't expand on bc my phone is overheating...

a) sjm bring back your acomaf editors. hofas could have been so much shorter. soo much.

b) you can love rhysand profusely while also being critical of him (looking at u ember and randall chapter) 🦋💕🦋 I can't ignore the power imbalance, and all my pro-rhys sisters shouldn't either

c) where are the missing four brothers of Hell? it's stated that they're in other worlds, so Hell clearly has access to all worlds !!!

d) I knew that little (good) shit Bran was named after Brannon. I MISS YOU AELIN SO FUCKING MUCH AHHHH

e) I need to infiltrate sjms head to understand the timelines between the worlds and where Erilea falls, unless time is like our universe and doesn't exist (time literally doesn't exist y'all look it up. physics in these coming years is going to get so interesting)

f) one of the thousands of mystics will find elain. a seer so rare in a world is a weapon for good or evil.

g) I thought the asteri in prythian was Maeve for a hot second. I was so scared I had to stop reading

h) I still be wondering where Vaughn and Orcus + Mantyx (Maeve's husband and his brother) are at

i) I probably wouldn't have picked up hofas if it weren't for the acotar involvement idc

j) the drawings of the caves in Avallen and The Prison give me a feeling that Mama Archeron wasn't human.... and the three sisters are more important than we think... especially after finding out the Cauldron was an Asteri weapon

#hofas #hofas spoilers

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lovemyromance · 5 months

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Stop trying to bait us. All you do is make endless posts about how much Elucien and Gwynriel suck, trying to get one of us to respond so you can argue with them. Too bad nearly every single mutual I know has blocked your account, and for good reason. You're toxic as hell

???

LOL, you think I make Elriel posts to bait antis into fighting with me??

Pls, heavenly father, give me patience to deal with this troll

Every single one of my posts is tagged #antielucien (except one post where I was trying to ask a genuine question, not trying to start anything). Not even #anti elucien - so they algorithm doesn't even have a chance of putting it in the Elucien tag. How am I trying to bait people when I literally tag everything properly?

And before anyone even comes at me for the #elain #azriel tags - I see plently, PLENTY of elucien/gwynriel posts with Elain and Azriel tagged. But if I see it's #anti-elriel , I don't respond. I know it's not meant for me. And yet, I see so, so many antis commenting on Elriel, #anti E/L or G/A posts just because they see #lucien or #gwyn tagged. They know it's not for them, and yet, here we are.

Also - I can literally count on one hand the amount of times I have gone onto an anti-elriel post. The first time was when I was brand new and didn't realize this ship war was that serious (have learned my lesson since). Another time when I was defending another Elriel who got bombarded with Elucien trolls. The other 2-3 times I have commented on an anti post have been because the OP indirectly or directly referenced me, specifically.

It's funny you say that, because I haven't gone onto Elucien & Gwynriel blogs to rile them up in their comments/reblogs. They're the ones who start fights in my replies/reblogs. I simply respond to them, matching their energy. If they come onto my blog with a genuine question, I answer it sincerely. If they come looking for a fight, then they'll get a fight :) Because I don't tolerate personal disrespect when we're debating fucking fictional characters.

So it really does not change my life in any shape or form if the Elucien/Gwynriel blogs block me. I don't look at their posts, comment on them, or even go on their pages. It literally makes zero difference if they block me, and in fact, if they really can't stand to see a post with a different opinion than theirs, then I highly encourage that they block me. I'd enjoy being able to post my thoughts without any drama.

I usually just scroll past a post if I don't agree/don't like it. And I don't follow any tags, including elriel, so I see a LOT of anti-posts every single day. It's a little thing called self-control, feel free to exercise the right to have some. And if you really, really, don't have any, then feel free to block the Elriel tag too.

Hope this helps :)

#elriel #acotar #elain x azriel #antielucien #antigwynriel

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athirstygoblin · 5 months

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The Past, Present and Beyond

A gift for @captastra featuring their Tav, Everlith, and Gale, sharing about the then, now and after while huddled up by the fireplace. Everlith is absolutely gorgeous, and I hope I did her justice in this piece. Hosted by @zevlor and @carlosoliveiraa No warnings apply.

In the darkest hours of the night, in a quiet wizard’s tower, Everlith laid on the floor, a cushion under her head, and Tara curled up by her side. The wait for her lover to return took longer than expected, resulting in her unexpectedly falling asleep near the fireplace.

The creak of an opening door and the sound of footsteps stirred Everlith awake. She blinked to get rid of the groggy feeling in her eyes.

“Mm-Gale?”

“My love!” A startled, familiar voice rang out. A shadow walked up to her, a hand placed on her shoulder and a sigh of relief came out. “Forgive me, I did not mean to awaken you from your slumber.”

“Don’t apologize,” Everlith said, followed by a yawn. “I was waiting for you to arrive.”

Tara also awoke and stood up, stretching. It had taken some time for Tara and Everlith to become close but when Gale is not around, she would spend a lot of time glued to the cleric’s side when Gale wasn’t around. Gale had even remarked in the past that she would refer to Everlith as “Mrs Dekarios”, but Everlith wondered if that was Gale’s way of helping the girls bond.

The Tressym walked over to Gale for her mandatory scritches, but soon looked Gale up and down, meowing in a manner that sounded like a mother cat scolding her kitten.

“Tara,I can explain,” Gale began, before Tara meowed again. “Of course I’m not replacing you, I just-” Tara seemed to want none of Gale’s explanations, before she simply walked away. Sighing, Gale walked to Everlith, knelt down and kissed her on the cheek.

“Surely the bed would have been a more suitable place to fall asleep upon,” Gale noted, half jokingly and half out of concern. “For a moment I thought I’d have to ring up the local healer.”

Evie pushed herself into a sitting position, stretching, “Falling asleep on the floor was not exactly how it was meant to go.”

Now that Everlith was able to come to her senses, there was very little light, save for Gale’s lamp that he arrived with. In the fireplace, the remnants of the fire remained, orange and red in the embers.

“The fire’s gone out.” Everlith was about to get up, before a hand on her shoulder urged her to sit back down.

“Allow me.”

With that, Gale moved to the fireplace, and with a wave of his hand, fire began to crackle, before growing bigger until the room was lit by a soft orange glow.

Gale never missed an opportunity to show off.

The wizard sat behind Evie, and pulled her close to him. He kissed her on the cheek once again, arms wrapped around her, before he buried his face into the crook of her neck, a content sigh escaping from his lips..

“Someone had a busy day,” Everlith concluded from how he was a little more needy than usual, which elicited a chuckle from the wizard.

“There was an incident at the Academy,” Gale began. “We had the rather unfortunate privilege of witnessing one of my students, Elaine, summon rabbits. Dozens of them. Right at the end of the day. After a long earful from her parents about how it is our fault that we are ‘limiting her potential’. I suppose that was how Elaine let out her frustrations about her limited potential.” Gale chuckled. “We spent the rest of the night trying to find all of them. Believe me, you have no idea how many crevices a rabbit can fit into.”

Evie giggled, pulling a piece of white hair that was on Gale’s robes. “Well, that explains the white fur on your robes. And why Tara seemed so angry.”

As if on cue, Tara gave another annoyed meow.

Gale scoffed. “She knows I would never replace her.” He reached to place another kiss on Everlith's cheek. “Now, tell me, how has your day been?”

“I've been looking at some of our wedding plans.”

Gale raised an eyebrow.

“I haven't changed anything, I was just going over them.”

“Anything that caught your eye?”

“Well, I’m assuming there is no compromise about the guest list.”

“You know how my mother is, she would not stand for a ceremony such as this to be small. Not in the Dekarios family.”

Everlith chuckled, her mind going back to the Wintershield festivities not too long ago. The Dekarios family had proven to be just as eccentric as Gale had warned her about. And she had not even met the whole clan.

Evie’s thoughts soon traveled to her own list of guests. To say it was shorter than Gale’s was an understatement. Spending so much time traveling as a cleric of Selûne, she never managed to make many lasting bonds. It was only when she was abducted by the mindflayers did she manage to make such bonds, which included Gale.

She wished they could have been there.

“What’s on your mind?”

Evie had not registered that Gale was even talking to her. She took a moment to process what he asked.

“I was just thinking about our companions,” Everlith replied. “A part of me miss their company. I even wish they could be there.”

They each had their own problems. Lae’zel, Karlach and Wyll, Halsin, Astarion… it was even a risk to extend an invitation to her fellow Selûnite, Shadowheart, with the risk of Sharrans potentially attacking.

When Everlith first moved to Waterdeep with Gale, she had noted how quiet their new environment was without them. Without constant bickering between Shadowheart and Lae’zel, or Astarion’s sass. Without Wyll and Karlach’s enthusiasm for life. Halsin’s musings on nature. Jaheira and Minsc’s banter that would make her question whether these two were actually friends.

“How curious of you to point that out,” Gale mused. “Because I received a letter written from someone with a very distinct voice.”

Evie raised an eyebrow. “Who?”

Gale pulled out a paper from his pocket, handing it over to Everlith. She looked at Gale, still unsure, before she began to read it.

The letter had been written by Withers. An invitation, gathering her, Gale and their allies to the forest where all their mishaps began. For a celebration.

Evie slapped Gale playfully. “And when were you going to tell me.”

Gale laughed, feigning injury. “It had only just arrived now! I was planning on telling you in the morning, assuming that you had been asleep in our bed rather than the floor.”

Evie shook her head. “Alright, fair point.”

“We will have plenty of time to attend before the ceremony.”

Excitement bubbled in Everlith. To think she would be able to see her allies once more. Close compatriots.

“Of course, it is entirely up to you whether you wish to attend or not.” Gale gave a small bow. “Your wish is my command.”

Everlith laughed, turning her head and cupping Gale’s face so that she could pull him into a kiss. Gale’s hug tightened a little bit as he moaned softly, causing Evie to smile. Once she pulled away, she nodded.

“Only if you’ll be there with me, darling.”

Gale’s brown eyes twinkled in the firelight. “I would not wish for it to be any other way.”

Tara had returned after a moment of what Gale would likely call sulking, as she hopped onto Everlith’s lap. She smiled, running her hands along the Tressym’s fur. She hissed, however, when Gale attempted to do the same.

Gale raised his hands defensively. “She’ll come around.”

Everlith laughed once more.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #gift exchange #baldur's gate #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #everlith #bg3 tav #tav #bg3 oc #cleric of selunce #gale x tav #gale x oc #gale romance #baldur's gate 3 gift exchange

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elrielbaby · 14 days

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Hey, I just saw a video that came out on Tik Tok about the happy threesome between Nesta, Cassian and Azriel and I saw several comments saying that Sarah was going to add it to the story but they didn't let her because according to her Well, she wasn't in the genre youth. Then I read another comment that said Elain and Az wouldn't get together because Sarah was planning on having a threesome and it would be weird getting together with the guy who slept with your sister. What do you think about the trio issue and the comments? Do you think Sarah really didn't plan Elriel just because she thought of placing the trio that includes Azriel and Nesta? Honestly, the idea of the trio seemed strange to me, I won't lie.

Hello, anon!

Ah, this old chestnut. I’m not sure what they’re implying with that first comment but literally no one made her remove it because it never made it into the first draft that she sent her editor. She removed it before she sent it because she didn’t like the way it moved some of the emotional threads - which is an interesting comment to make I guess, because what emotional threads could she be talking about?

There’s the issue of Cassian & Nesta’s mating bond, to be sure - but then we have these feelings he has for Elain and it’s interesting that in the bonus, Azriel snarls at the suggestion of going to a pleasure house, and has been taking care of himself to thoughts of pleasuring Elain.

And to the point about them saying it’s weird for her sister etc, would it not also be weird for G\ynriel? The thought of being with someone a bestie was romantically entangled with, whether it be purely physical or not is suuuuuper icky to me.

In my opinion, she wrote it originally because she’d finally been given the go ahead to write in the adult space, and wanted to write a spicy book - there is no question that ACOSF is her spiciest novel to date and it was only on further reflection that she realised it would affect things later down the road. I.e, Cass & Nestas bond, and Elriel.

❤️

#pro elriel #anon ask

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ofduskanddreams · 1 year

Text

A Sunshiny Sound

For @thelovelymadone. The prompt: Regency Elucien, “Is it really that hard for you to admit that I’m clever?” “Yes.”

Elucien ✦ Rated: G ✦ 852 words ✦ on AO3

“Is it really that hard for you to admit that I’m clever?” Lucien’s drawn-out taunt sends a shiver down Elain’s spine.

Rolling her shoulders back, Elain doesn’t let her mind stick on the fact that he is half a step away from crowding her against the bookshelves lining the modest library, doesn’t let herself linger on the warmth she feels rolling off of him from here. She doesn’t know how they went from having tea to this, but Elain can’t say she minds.

“Yes,” she turns to face him, fingers curling into the folds of her dress. “Yes, it is difficult, sir, for me to admit a thing I believe to be false. I prefer truths.”

“Of course, Miss Archeron.” Lucien smirks, failing to ameliorate his smugness though he attempts a differential nod, silky red hair slipping over the shoulder of his jacket. “Do enlighten me. What truths have you gathered about my character, then? I would very much like to hear them.”

Of course you would. Elain’s lips twitch into a smile but she flattens them immediately.

Lucien Vanserra, youngest brother of Lord Vanserra, occupant of Oakbridge House (the neighboring estate to Elain’s family home,) and her chief tormentor for the past sixteen years. She can still recall the day they met: Elain, age five, wandering through the fields beyond the western paddock when she’d found Lucien, age six, crouching in the grass.

She’d surprised him—sent him sprawling across the ground and muddying his already dusty trousers—only to be lectured by this strange boy with overly bright hair dangling in his eyes on the finer points of hide-and-seek. It had been the start of an unlikely friendship, one that had weathered the fall of her father’s company and the tarnish on her family’s name despite Elain’s insistence that he keep away from her to avoid becoming the focus of any unwelcome speculations.

“Mr. Vanserra, I wasn’t aware that you were going fishing today,” Elain now allows herself to grin at the confused furrow between his brows. “Unfortunately, I believe you’ll find this particular source severely lacking in her stock of compliments.”

The words leave her without thought, and Elain wishes she could claw them back from the dust mote scattered space between them. She hasn’t seen Lucien since the late Lord Vanserra’s funeral last autumn; he's spent the last eight months in London with only a handful of letters exchanged between them. Elain had believed the dwindling communication signified the end of their friendship. It’s a thought that has kept her up on countless nights, a thought like a blade to her heart. Because her true feelings toward Lucien Vanserra extend past the point of mere friendship.

You just had to say what was on your mind, didn’t you? Elain chides herself. He’s not the boy you grew up with anymore, he is a man—a respectable gentleman of high standing.

“Forgive me—” Elain starts to apologize for the ill-mannered jab, but is cut off by a bright burst of laughter emanating from Lucien’s chest and filling the empty room with sunshiny sound.

“Please do not apologize, Miss Archeron.” Lucien manages to get the words out as he tries to catch his breath.

Elain’s breath is nowhere to be found, it’s been stolen by the expression of unmitigated joy on this man’s painfully handsome face.

“Bollocks,” Lucien whispers to himself, bracing a palm over his heaving chest.

She knows he didn’t mean for her to hear the expletive, but it’s all Elain can do to keep from laughing. It’s as if the boy he was is peeking through the polished gentleman veneer. The library, usually one of the colder rooms in the house, suddenly feels too warm.

“Please forgive my outburst. I haven’t laughed like that in a long while.” He pauses, russet eyes searching her face which Elain knows is flushed beneath his gaze. “I admit that I’ve forgotten my purpose for calling this afternoon,” he says after a time, looking slightly dazed.

It’s then that Elain feels the burning in her cheeks—the unfamiliar but recognizable sensation of a wide smile held unconsciously for too long. She wills her expression back to a respectable placidity.

Lucien’s lips turn down in a pensive frown, his eyes are fixed on her lips and Elain’s breaths come shallowly. “I missed you,” he finally says. The admission is soft, like he isn’t sure whether he wants her to hear him. Then his expression brightens. “I called today because I am moving back to Oakbridge, permanently. I…” Lucien trails off, a dark flush blossoming high on his tawny cheeks. He clears his throat. “I wanted to see how you were, and to inquire as to whether I may call upon you regularly?”

Oh. There is no mistaking the intention between his words. Elain’s heart thuds heavily against her ribcage as if trying to escape her. Hope, a flame that had been nearly extinguished over the past year, flares back to life inside her.

“You may,” Elain tells him, grateful that her voice doesn’t waver and allowing herself a softer smile. “I would enjoy that very much.”

✦ ✦ ✦

tagging: @octobers-veryown @damedechance @ablogofsapphicpanic @areyoudreaminof @moonpatroclus @foundress0fnothing @panicatthenightcourt @talons-and-teeth @kingofsummer93 @velidewrites @separatist-apologist @the-lonelybarricade @wittyrejoinder @bagelfyre @krem-does-stuff

If you want to be added to or removed from my Elucien taglist please let me know, my apologies if I missed anyone :)

If you would like to request a drabble, there is still plenty of time. Find the guidelines here.

#elucien #elucien fanfiction #elucien fanfic #pro elucien #regency elucien #elain x lucien #lucien x elain #elain archeron #pro elain archeron #lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #acotar fanfiction #acotar drabble #kate's celebratory drabbles series

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