#acosf ch 60

[tato-acm]

gwyneth berdara - scenes (4/?): chapter 60

>> fav gwyn fc: kennedy walsh (21/?)

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.”

[...]

And when Gwyn reached the finish line, bloody and panting and grinning so wildly her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, she only extended her battered hand to Azriel. “Well?” “You already have your prize,” Azriel said simply. “You just passed the Blood Rite Qualifier. Congratulations.” Gwyn gaped.

[lady-embers]

Disproving the narrative of 'Azriel won't get his own book' + Who Will His Love Interest Be?

When asked if Azriel would get his own book... this was her answer:

In another live she mentions she knows who the next book is about but wouldn't mention if it was a male or female main character, but there will be a pegasus in it, and again she said it was pretty obvious!!

When she was asked a question about Azriel's shadows she had this to say:

"When it's time for HIS story to be told"

^All that proves Azriel will get his own book, in my opinion and..

As for who his love interest will be?

Well... this is her answer on characteristics that an enticing love interest would have...

Who is it that has Azriel feels a spark in his chest for in the bonus scene of HIS (which takes place between Ch.58/59 of ACOSF)? Gwyn.

Who is it that Azriel attention is fixed on more and more after feeling that initial spark in the bonus scene throughout the rest of ACOSF? Gwyn.

Who is it that has history with Azriel, as well as her own history left to still be explored? Gwyn. Reminder that Sarah wrote that Azriel was the one who saved her, slaughted the soldiers without hesitation, and even gave her his cloak to cover up with.

Who is it that can challenge Azriel and has bantered with him? Gwyn.

I also found this question in a live and her answer interesting when it comes to the Valkyries bracelets:

She went with her 'spiritual gut instinct' as to what colors she associates with the characters.

And in the scene with these three making the bracelets in Chapter 59?

Gwyn's bracelet: Blue, White, and Teal.

What do I think these colors could mean?

Blue for Azriel. Teal for Gwyn's eyes.

White for her powers (to compliment Azriel's darkness) or even when Gwyn does feel worthy of the Invoking Stone (which is also Blue). Gwyn even mentions this about the Invoking Stone in Chapter 15:

“It’s an Invoking Stone.” Gwyn unfurled her fingers, revealing the gem within her hand. “Similar to the Siphons of the Illyrians, except that the power of the Mother flows through it. We cannot use it for harm, only healing and protection. It was shielding us.”

And there is this to when Gwyn was holding the stone: It fluttered with light, like the sun on a shallow sea.

The Invoking Stone is similar to the Siphons of the Illyrians.... Gwyn has a Blue Invoking Stone that matches with Azriel's Siphons and the Invoking Stone is used for healing and protection, which is the perfect counterpart to Azriel killing...

Also, in regards to that earlier picture where she mentions the next book and a pegasus....

Who in ACOSF was most loved by a certain pegasus? Gwyneth Bedara (P.S. this was revealed during the ribbon cutting scene in Chapter 60, which I will post below, and again happens after the bonus scene takes place.)

"As if it had been following one path and now branched off in another direction" and "Right then and there. That's when it all changed." <--- This to me is Sarah telling us her plans changed and in this scene both the world and Azriel paused/stilled..... and he stilled as if aware that far larger forces peered into the ring as Gwyn moved.....

I think it's clear after reading ACOSF that Azriel will get his own book given how much he was prominent in it, and taking into account the bonus scene, and what happens after..... Sarah has shown us who his love interest will be.

These two will heal and grow, both individually and together, and I can't wait for their story to be told. 🥰❤🥰

[lullabesstie]

SJM’s interview (Nov 2020). Two months before acosf release.

Q: What characteristics do you feel make an enticing love interest in a book?

A: They need their own history and be able to challenge their romantic partner in some way. there has be conflict or a spark, There has to be an initial chemistry/spark with their partner. Sarah enjoys writing banter so much she wrote a whole scene in Crescent City (that was cut).

*We of course know the history they share, but I wouldn’t be talking about this one*

“be able to challenge their romantic partner”

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?”Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.”

Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder.

“Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?” Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. “You’re the new ribbon, Az.”

Gwyn to push her group harder. She wanted to be the first. Wanted Nesta and Emerie and her to be the ones who wiped the smirks from Azriel’s and Cassian’s faces. Especially Azriel’s.

Acosf ch 60

“there has be conflict or a spark”

“She deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her.” Something sparked in Azriel's chest,

Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

“Banter”

“ Literally the whole bonus scene “duh.

[gwynethshadowsinger]

Gwyn and Azriel Connections Pt. 2

Continuation of my last post, and this will be long as well due to me including text from the book itself and my thoughts I jotted down as I was reading.

Ch. 59 of ACOSF - I loved this part with the Valkyries. The friendship bracelets were a good bonding moment between them, and I love how each picked out colors that suited the others spirits. Nesta, in particular, picking out the colors that she did for Gwyn stood out to me.

What do these colors signify? Do they signify anything at all? Colors in question: Blue, White, and Teal.

My thoughts? Blue could be for Azriel and/or her Invoking Stone. White could be for the healing/protection aspect of said stone, or maybe Gwyn has some unknown power that still needs to be revealed. Teal, I could see Nesta picking for the color of Gwyn's eyes 🥹🥰

Ch. 60 of ACOSF - Gwyn cutting the ribbon was a BIG deal. Cassian looking over to notice Azriel attention fixated on Gwyn with "admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face." How Azriel goes wholly still as if aware of larger forces. The particular wording Sarah uses to describes Gwyn's movements "swift as the winds off the Illyrian mountains, her entire body working in singing harmony." Gwyn becoming the 1st Valkyrie.

Has Azriel attention shifted towards Gwyn? I love the way he is looking at her in this scene and how he went wholly still.

Does he sense a potential threat to Gwyn?

Has his fixation on Elain finally started to wane, and he's realizing Gwyn might become more important to him, but not sure why exactly?

Ch. 60 (still) of ACOSF - The competitive banter between Gwyn and Azriel is 😘. I LOVE that the shadows are dancing around Azriel during this scene & Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge with "we look forward to proving you wrong."

The shadows dancing has to mean something here. They haven't danced around Azriel while he's conversed, joked, or bantered around with anyone else. Maybe they sense Gwyn would be good for Azriel and like her themselves? Instead of appearing to react to Azriel emotions like in other scenes they've appeared in.

This scene also reminds me of Sarah's endgame couples. I think she's planting evidence for a Gwyn and Azriel endgame.

Ch. 60 (still) - The "See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger" toss over Gwyn's shoulder. AZRIEL STARING AFTER WITH AMUSEMENT & NESTA SAYING HE'S THE NEW RIBBON!!!!

AHHHH!!!!! If this whole scene isn't endgame foreshadowing, I don't want it. There is no way Sarah laid this down and wasn't kicking her feet with glee.

Ch. 60 (still 😅🤣) - She wanted to be the first. Wanted Nesta and Emerie and her to be the ones who wiped the smirks from Azriel's and Cassians faces. Especially Azriel's....

Why does this read as if it's from Gwyn's POV specifically?!? Did Sarah unintentionally, or intentionally, give us a little excerpt from Gwyn POV because she already has plans to write Gwyn's story and wanted to give us a little something beforehand?

Ch. 60 - Gwyn was grinning so wildly that her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, and she extended her battered hand to Azriel. And Azriel alone.

I wonder what Azriel was thinking at that moment of Gwyn's teal eyes glowing like that and her reaching out her hand to him 👀

What's also interesting is the theme of the book seems to be "keep reaching out your hand," and we have Gwyn reaching out hers to Azriel specifically 😉

Also, sheesh. In ONE CHAPTER ALONE, Sarah has put a lot of meaningful Gwyn and Azriel content.

Ch. 67 of ACOSF - The Blood Rite. Gwyn kept to the trees for two nights and watched the beasts. She learned where the beasts slept during the day and that they got angry when awoken. She used that knowledge to then lead one of the beasts to the male and his companions camp just in time to help save Nesta and Emerie.

That sounds like spy work.

Gwyn is cunning and great at biding her time for the right moment.

Ch. 68 of ACOSF - Near the beginning of this chapter, we get this scene from Cassian and Azriel in which Azriel talks about spying and Cassian mentions how unspeakable things could be happening to Emerie and Gwyn as well as Nesta. Azriels shadows appear to deepen around him, and his Siphons are said to have even gleam like cobalt fire.

It's nice to have confirmation Gwyn was indeed doing spy work like I had thought while she was waiting and watching those beasts. Maybe she'll become a spy as well and go on missions wit Azriel? They'd be one dynamic duo.

Azriel's shadows deepening and his Siphons gleaming like cobalt fire.. could that be a hint somehow? Because I don't remember his Siphons ever gleaming like cobalt fire in the series when anyone else is in danger of "unspeakable things" happening to them...

Trusting in the training they gave them? Sounds like mate behavior. Endgame couples tend to trust each other to make it out alive, even in dangerous situations where they are separated. I like this new side of Azriel trusting in the girls, maybe even Gwyn specifically.

Ch. 68 of ACOSF - Gwyn is talking to Nesta and Emerie. She mentions how she is tired of being in the library and wants to take a new road. A road that will forge them into something new. And after Gwyn's done speaking, "A cold wind blew off Ramiel's side. Whispering. Murmuring." Gwyn goes on to relay her side of the story of what happened to her and how Azriel saved her by slaughtering all the soldiers within moments & went on to give her his cloak as well as wrapped her in it.

Yessss Gwyn!!! I'm so proud of how far Gwyn has come. She is truly a warrior, a survivor, a woman to look up to. I can't wait to read about her own journey because there is NO WAY we won't get her story told after this.

Um... Azriel didn't hesitate? AND HE GAVE HER HIS CLOAK AND WRAPPED HER IN IT?!?

ISN'T THAT ALMOST EXACTLY LIKE WHAT LUCIEN DID FOR ELAIN (minus Lucien killing anyone given that circumstance)?!?!? And Elain and Lucien are mates soo....

The rest of the story.. I was a blubbering mess.

But Gwyn became Carynthian. Just like how Azriel is Carynthian. Which is just another point that led me to think Sarah is going to have Gwyn and Azriel as endgame. Mates are equal after all.

And while Gwyn might have went back to the library, I just feel and know her story is far from over. Her journey is coming, and Azriel will more than likely be her endgame.

[highladyjane]

Colour me delulu and lost, but I love how these 2 passages between 2 endgame couples from TOG and CC who CHOSE each other as mates follow it with

"I thought it was obvious" 👀

and how both scenes parallel with Elriel - which is by now more than obvious who the next Maas-novel will be about 😉

Does that perhaps hint and mean more than intended, Sarah? 😏

Funny how, in all 3 scenes they all were about to do "something" but suddenly can't go through with it right there...

Lorcan and Elide (EoS, ch. 60)

Probably don't mean much in context, but the same exact wording is also found in Elain and Azriel's very first interaction btw 👀 (ACoMaF, Ch. 24)

But just Who was Azriel willing to offer up his life for? Read 'A Court of Wings and Ruin', Ch. 64-65 😉 And in ACoSF, ch. 22...

... where in the very next page, Az says...

But, reading further, What (and Who) does Azriel really and actually want?

Bryce and Hunt's scene in HoSaB, ch. 17 has wordings that parallel well and has the same energy as Az's BC during Solstice in ACoSF where we find out exactly What and Who Azriel wants.

And it's pretty obvious who Elain wants - and she herself knows it too.

Another fun parallel is that Bryce is formally engaged to Cormac; while Lorcan is bound by the Blood Oath to Maeve at the time in both scenes - just like Elain formerly was with Graysen and then bound through the Mating Bond with Lucien - which were all the reasons why they couldn't do what they wanted to... Yet. 👀

Yet, will you look at that... Elorcan and Quinlar were endgame.

Through ✨️Free Will. Choice. True Love.✨️

I can't wait for Elriel to both finally figure it out and prove the Cauldron and "the forces that be" wrong and trump any predestined mating bond 😌

🥖🫓🥨🥐🍞👥️👀

*this has been in my drafts for a month while re-reading, and I haven't finished HoFaS yet, but pretty sure it still applies well 😜

[nyxreads]

"I am a Shadowsinger — it's not a title that someone just made up."

Is it romantic tho? Calling Azriel a "Shadowsinger", is it special?

Everyone who called him by his title (I'm gonna exclude all the times Feyre called Azriel "shadowsinger")

ACOMAF:

King of Hybern:

Ch 65:

He smiled at me. “If any of you interfere, the shadowsinger dies. Pity about the other brute’s wings.”

ACOWAR:

Eris

Ch 26:

Eris looked me over. The crown and dress. “You didn’t think that I knew your shadowsinger would come sniffing around to see if I’d told my father about your … powers?

Jurian

Ch 53:

“Then find them,” Jurian said. He jerked his chin to Azriel. “Send the shadowsinger, send whomever you trust, but find them.”

Ch 54:

Alone, Jurian said, “Tell the shadowsinger I’m sorry about the arrow to the chest.”

Ch 65:

Jurian’s grin was a slash of white in the gloom. “If you hear screaming, don’t panic.” His diversion. He smirked toward the shadows. “I hope you can carry three, shadowsinger.”

Rhysand

Ch 64:

“You get them in and out again, shadowsinger,” Rhys said to Azriel as I walked to the spymaster’s side,

ACOFAS

Amren

Ch 19:

“Thank you, Shadowsinger,” she said, inclining her head.

ACOSF

Ch 7:

Jurian:

“Send that shadowsinger of yours to track Briallyn,” Jurian ordered, his face grave.

Cassian:

Cassian ignored the barb. “Yes. What you know, I want to know. I will notify you of any movement on my father’s part regarding Briallyn. So send out your shadowsinger. And when he returns, find me.”

Ch 8:

Nesta:

She set down her teacup. “Is that a threat, Shadowsinger?”

Ch 14:

Eris:

Eris kept his eyes on Rhys. “I assume your shadowsinger is off doing what he does best.”

“I can delay my father from allying with Briallyn and starting this war for a little while. But not forever. A few months, perhaps. So I’d suggest your shadowsinger hurry.."

Ch 60:

Gwyn:

Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder.

Let's see how many people called his hand beautiful — Oh! Wait, only one: ELAIN

ACOWAR Ch 24: I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks,

credits to: @merymoonbeam and my Elriel friends lol <3

[princessofmerchants]

~25 ACOSF Days of Solstice~

They fell silent again as Gwyn shifted her feet, angling the blade. The wind waggled the ribbon again, as if taunting her. Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face. Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.” Cassian’s throat tightened, and even from across the ring, he could see Nesta’s eyes gleaming with pride and pain. Emerie said, “Nothing can break us.” The world seemed to pause at the words. As if it had been following one path and now branched off in another direction. In a hundred years, a thousand, this moment would still be etched in his mind. That he would tell his children, his grandchildren, Right then and there. That was when it all changed. Azriel went wholly still, as if he, too, had felt the shift. As if he, too, were aware that far larger forces peered into that training ring as Gwyn moved. Smooth as the Sidra, swift as the wind off the Illyrian Mountains, her entire body working in singing harmony, Gwyn lunged toward the ribbon, twirled, and as she spun, her arm opened up, executing a perfect backhanded slice that cut the winter morning itself. Half the ribbon fluttered to the red stone. A flawless, precise slice. Not one frayed strand rippled in the wind as the severed ribbon hanging from the beam flapped. Nesta bent down, picked up the fallen half of the ribbon, and solemnly tied it around Gwyn’s brow. A makeshift version of what the priestesses wore atop their heads with their stones. But Cassian had never seen Gwyn display her Invoking Stone. Gwyn lifted trembling fingers to her brow, touching the ribbon with which Nesta had crowned her. Nesta’s voice was thick as she declared, “Valkyrie.”

—ACOSF Ch. 60

This scene opens Chapter 60, and I believe this is SJM's writing at its best.

Three strong women, reforming an ancient female warrior group, their strength born from struggle and pain but finding light and purpose together...this is the moment the narrative bends around them.

Gwyn's invocation, "I am the rock against which the surf crashes. Nothing can break me," and Emerie's reminder that they are an "us" now. Nesta's admiration for her strong friend. It is archetypical yet utterly personal.

But the moment is told through Cassian's eyes. SJM is at her core a romance writer. The partners she writes for her strong heroines have this lens through which they grow to see and know their mates (used here in all senses)—a lens shaped by love, strength, admiration, and at times wonder.

(NB: I'll admit, for me, this moment is also one of the strongest bits of textual evidence that SJM's romantic plans for Azriel will involve Gwyn. His admiration of her here, albeit observed by his brother, is right in type with the mold of SJM's romantic pairings.)

But this part of ACOSF is also why I see....literally SEE these three females in future books playing a role that is world altering. I mean, it's right there in the text: "The world seemed to pause at the words. As if it had been following one path and now branched off in another direction. . . . Right then and there. That was when it all changed."

And I get chills reading this because while ACOSF gives us their participation in the Blood Rite as one way they emerge as a unit, I feel in my bones their role, and the role of the Valkyries which they have brought back to life, will shape the outcomes of the world conflicts to come.

I can't wait to see it.

25 ACOSF Days of Solstice Masterlist

[neverendingtrove]

ACOSF SPOILERS

I have to confess that there was this one scene in ACOSF where Gwyn and the girls are training with Cas and Az. There's this little sentence where Azriel looks at Gwyn in a certain way and Cas notices.

That's the moment when I dropped the book, moved like a tornado and threw my hands up in the air with pure joy. Gwyn will be Az's love interest (I'd love to add potentially, but my gut never lied to me when it came to SJM)

"Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face" - Ch. 60, p. 621 paperback edition

Thanks to @feigningconvention for helping me find the quote

[inardour]

ACOSF SPOILERS

favorite quotes (coincidentally also the same moments in the story when i was flat out sobbing)

“i want to feel everything. i want to embrace it with my whole heart.” - nesta (ch. 77)

“our stories are worth telling” - gwyn (ch. 56)

“nothing can break us” - emerie (ch. 60)

“valkyrie” - nesta (ch. 60)

“welcome back to the night court, nesta archeron” - amren (ch.61)

the friendship. the sisterhood. the healing. the acceptance. the general badassery. i am WRECKED

[tato-acm]

quarta-feira  -  05. 10. 2022

@emerieweek2022 - day 4: the valkyries 

Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.” Cassian’s throat tightened, and even from across the ring, he could see Nesta’s eyes gleaming with pride and pain. Emerie said, “Nothing can break us.”  - acosf, ch 60

[tato-acm]

domingo - 16. 10. 2022

gwyneth berdara - scenes: (2/?): chapter 60

>> favorite gwyn fc: kennedy walsh (10/?)

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?”

Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.”

Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.” […]

Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder.

Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. “You have no idea what you just started,” she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway.

“Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?” Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. “You’re the new ribbon, Az.” […]

And when Gwyn reached the finish line, bloody and panting and grinning so wildly her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, she only extended her battered hand to Azriel. “Well?”

[tato-acm]

19. 11. 2023 - domingo

gwyneth berdara - lacy by olivia rodrigo

Nesta was leafing through a tome of military history in the library—that had one paragraph on Valkyrie ambush strategies—when Gwyn appeared. “Tell me you found their secret to cutting the ribbon.” “You and that ribbon,” Nesta muttered, shutting the tome. Of all of them, Gwyn had become the most relentless about succeeding. - ch 51 acosf

Gwyn lifted trembling fingers to her brow, touching the ribbon with which Nesta had crowned her. Nesta’s voice was thick as she declared, “Valkyrie.” - ch 60 acosf

[tato-acm]

gwynrielweeks2023 - day 7 - teal x hazel  |  those eyes by new west

Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face. Gwyn whispered, “I am the rock against which the surf crashes.” Nesta straightened at the words, as if they were a prayer and a summons. Gwyn lifted the blade. “Nothing can break me.” [...]

And when Gwyn reached the finish line, bloody and panting and grinning so wildly her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, she only extended her battered hand to Azriel. “Well?” - acosf, ch 60

And you look up and give me those eyes 'Cause all of the small things that you do Are what remind me why I fell for you And when we're apart, and I'm missing you I close my eyes and all I see is you And the small things you do

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it. 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. - Azriel bonus chapter

gwynriel playlist - @gwynrielweeksofficial

[tato-acm]

gwynriel weeks 2023 - ​week 1 - day 6 | personalities - competitive

acosf - ch 23:

“Right,” Cassian panted through gritted teeth as he blocked Az’s kick and bounced a step back, circling again. “Whoever lands the next blow wins.” “That’s ridiculous,” Az panted back. “We go until one of us eats dirt.” Az had a vicious competitive streak. It wasn’t boastful and arrogant, the way Cassian knew he himself was prone to be, or possessive and terrifying like Amren’s. No, it was quiet and cruel and utterly lethal. Cassian had lost track of how many games they’d played over the centuries, with one of them certain of a win, only for Az to reveal some master strategy.

acosf - ch 60:

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.” [...]

Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder. Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. “You have no idea what you just started,” she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway. “Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?” Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. “You’re the new ribbon, Az.” [...]

Roslin, Ananke, and Deirdre were close on their heels, propelling Gwyn to push her group harder. She wanted to be the first. Wanted Nesta and Emerie and her to be the ones who wiped the smirks from Azriel’s and Cassian’s faces. Especially Azriel’s. [...]  

And when Gwyn reached the finish line, bloody and panting and grinning so wildly her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, she only extended her battered hand to Azriel. “Well?”

@gwynrielweeksofficial

[tato-acm]

sábado - 28. 05. 2022

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?”

Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.”

Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.” - acosf, ch 60

[tato-acm]

gwynriel week 2022 -  day 2  - different yet similar   @gwynrielweek2022

acosf - ch 23:

“Right,” Cassian panted through gritted teeth as he blocked Az’s kick and bounced a step back, circling again. “Whoever lands the next blow wins.” “That’s ridiculous,” Az panted back. “We go until one of us eats dirt.” Az had a vicious competitive streak. It wasn’t boastful and arrogant, the way Cassian knew he himself was prone to be, or possessive and terrifying like Amren’s. No, it was quiet and cruel and utterly lethal. Cassian had lost track of how many games they’d played over the centuries, with one of them certain of a win, only for Az to reveal some master strategy. 

acosf - ch 60:

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.”

[...]

Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder. Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. “You have no idea what you just started,” she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway. “Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?” Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. “You’re the new ribbon, Az.”

[...]

Roslin, Ananke, and Deirdre were close on their heels, propelling Gwyn to push her group harder. She wanted to be the first. Wanted Nesta and Emerie and her to be the ones who wiped the smirks from Azriel’s and Cassian’s faces. Especially Azriel’s.

[...]

And when Gwyn reached the finish line, bloody and panting and grinning so wildly her teal eyes glowed like a sunlit sea, she only extended her battered hand to Azriel. “Well?”