#kochei’s lake

[velidewrites]

A Court of Thorns and Roses Locations

⤷ KOSCHEI'S LAKE

For @ultadverb

[kochei0]

i still really like this old doodle of my lancelot (x)

[acourtofthought]

Counter to all those Elain's book arguments

Contains TOG Spoilers

"Elain's book can't be next because she was barely in SF"

Throne of Glass - Chaol 492 mentions

Crown of Midnight - Chaol 604 Mentions

Heir of Fire - Chaol 400 Mentions

Queen of Shadows - Chaol 480 Mentions

Empire of Stroms - Chaol 12

Tower of Dawn - Chaols Book

The book before Chaol got his own he wasn't even on page. His name was only mentioned through other characters. Though he had previously had his own POV in other books, SJM chose to completely eliminate his POV in Queen of Shadows in favor of waiting until his own book.

"Elain's book can't be next because she isn't connected to the plot"

In Empire of Storms Aelin, Rowan, Aedion, and Lysandra rearrange a meeting with the surviving lords of Terrasen but they reject her as a ruler due to her age.

Witch armies fly to Rifthold so Aelin send Rowan to rescue Dorian while she leaves for the coast to gather allies.

Elide is hunted by Ilken.

Aelin wants an alliance with the pirate king.

There is a battle scene and Aelin is taken by Maeve.

If Elain can't have the next book because she's not connected to the plot then how was it possible for Chaol to have his own book when he had nothing to do with the plots of EoS?

Not to mention Elain is connected to some of the major plots of ACOWAR / FAS / ACOSF:

ACOWAR - She went on before I could answer. "I do not have much time left - before I must return to the lake. To him."

ACOFAS - But Vassa's freedom would end. Lucien had said as much months ago, and still visited her often enough that I knew nothing in that regard had improved.

ACOSF - He should have asked someone before coming here how much time remained before Vassa would be forced to return to the continent.

Koschei said, "Tell my Vassa I'm waiting"

Elain had always wanted to visit the continent to study the tulips and other famed flowers.

Elain is the only one who had visions of Koschei, the girls along with Vassa who are trapped at the lake, as well as visions of the onyx box that's important to him. Elain is connected to Lucien who is living with Vassa who is a captive of Kochei and who is the driving force of a lot of the unrest in their world, whispering on the winds to stir up trouble. Beron now wants to ally with him and that also involves Lucien and Eris as his sons. Az may have always hated Eris but he's Lucien's brother and SJM started building the idea that they'll be reconnecting back in ACOWAR and continuing through SF while SF basically had the NC using Eris as a pawn.

ACOSF - With a new war possible and Briallyn up to her bullshit with Koschei, we need a strong ally. We need the Spring Court's forces.

"No. But we need to summon Lucien." "We need to tell him the news and permanently station him at the Spring Court to contain any damage and be our eyes and ears."

Nesta's throat constricted, and she surveyed the swaying cerry blossoms overhead. Elain would love this place. / But Elain...The Spring Court had been made for someone like her. / Too bad her sister refused to see her. Nesta would have told Elain to visit this place.

So yes, Elain is connected to some of the most pressing concerns in the ACOTAR world. Not to mention with the peace treaty remaining unsigned, that's definitely more of an Elucien story than an Azriel one.

"Cassian and Chaol had Bonus Chapters and got the next book so Az will get the next book since he got a Bonus"

Cassian's Bonus hinted at his mating bond but it wasn't accepted until 2 books and almost 2 years later on the timeline. He didn't actually get the next book after his bonus because Feyre got the next book (ACOWAR).

Azriels Bonus did hint at his mating bond but just as Cassian and Lucien's bonds were introduced / hinted at but not accepted for years, it's possible Az's bond won't be accepted for years.

Neither Lucien or Elain needed a bonus to hint at their mating bond because their mating bond was introduced into the actual series.

Also, the Chaol bonus chapter had nothing to do with hinting at his endgame love interest and is different from either Cassian or Az's bonus because on the timeline his story picked up immediately after his bonus while neither Cassian or Azriel's did.

"Elain hasn't hit rock bottom"

Throughout SF, Elain faced pushback from Nesta. They had the worst fight they'd ever had in all their years, Nesta tried blaming Elain for their fathers death, she faced opposition from Nesta on choices Elain made for herself, and she dealt with rejection from Azriel, ending his bonus with hurt and confusion.

In comparison, Azriel began his bonus with feeling put out at his lack of a mating bond, jealousy toward Lucien, then mad at Rhys and himself. But by the end of his bonus he left feeling more hopeful and at peace. And in the actual book there was nothing to indicate that Az was at rock bottom.

I'm not sure either is truly at rock bottom (Elain already reached hers in ACOWAR and I don't think she's ever going back to that) but Az is definitely not worse off than her. Especially when his issues were a sum total of "why don't I get someone to love" while Elain's dealt with people calling her entire character into question.

"Elain isn't ready for a book, she hasn't had enough development."

Elain cocked her head. Didn't dissolve into the crying mess she usually became when Graysen came up.

Elain, surprisingly held her ground.

Challenge filled each word. Challenge - from Elain, of all people.

"Using me."

"You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta."

"I am not a child to be fought over."

Feyre said to her, gratingly gentle, "It wasn't an easy choice for me to ask Elain to endanger herself like this."

"You think Elain is boring?" "I think she's kind, and I'll take kindess over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven't yet seen all she has to offer."

"Let's focus on helping one sister before we start on the other."

"Including Elain, who is more than capable of defending herself against the darkness of the Trove, if she chooses to. Don't underestimate her."

When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was a part of this court - and would do whatever was needed.

Wasn't the entire point of the first half of the Feysand bonus chapter telling us all about Elain? How she surprised them? How she's probably capable of more than they had given her credit for? How Feyre didn't mention anything to her but thought how if Elain had accepted Lucien's gift (metaphor for Lucien himself), no harm would have come to her? How after they help Nesta they'll focus on helping Elain? Didn't SF also demonstrate the same?

People keep saying Elain needs to be more involved in the ICs business to have a book but Nesta began her journey refusing everything to do with the IC. And if Elain is not staying in the NC, why would she be majorly involved in what they're doing?

Elain herself said she's ready for more. Rhys and Amren confirm it as well. All that now needs to happen is her putting that into action in her own book.

"Elain isn't connected to the crossover"

First off, Az isn't connected to the crossover in the ACOTAR series, there were no hints that Truth Teller was part of prophecy in SF. I imagine SJM will eventually merge the two storylines but we don't know if that's going to happen in the next ACOTAR book. As it stands, these series are still marketed on Bloomsbury and SJMs websites as standalone series and SJMs website still says you can read them in any order you want.

If you look back over SJMs interviews she once said she knew who the first two books of the spin-offs were going to be about but was leaving the third open (and was considering a book set in the past). She had already done research for Elain's book at that time which to me logically means the Koschei storyline was never going to extend past book 2 and she wasn't sure whether Az would have a spin-off book.

In another interview she said her initial pitch for the spin-offs hadn't changed and that SF simply expanded the world. You can interpret that a few ways but one of those interpretations is that Elain's book is still second as she originally intended and now that the world expanded she knows who the third book will be about (and any books beyond that). And that does mean Koschei could still be dealt with in the second spin-off, paving the way for possible crossover storylines to be introduced in the third (and later dealt with in any future ACOTAR books she may have signed on for). Remember, the point of SF was to try to stop another war in their world from happening, they are trying to prevent a repeat of ACOWAR.

Everything above is based on facts though my own interpretation.

This part is a complete personal opinion and not based on any fact but, I truly don't think Az deserves his HEA right now. He called Elain a mistake yet he gets to end up with his mate in the next book? That would be a little like Tamlin finding his HEA before Feyre after what went down in book 2. Az barely blinked at the thought of killing Lucien and is insanely jealous of him yet Lucien deserves to continue suffering for another book while Az gets rewarded?

I don't think Az is deserving of anyone until he realizes that Lucien is a good male and that he's happy for Elucien.

Cassian was jealous of what Rhys and Feyre had but he was still happy for them, still felt no one deserved it more. When it comes to Lucien, Az is resentful through and through and until he can see Elain happy with Lucien and not feel bitter, I don't think he's in a position to end up with his own mate.

Also, the series started with Feysand and I know some feel the series should end with an Archeron sister but that makes less sense to me. The series started with Feysand and the Night Court. The series should end with the Night Court.

Chaol's journey took us away from Aelin and Rowan to a part of the continent only he had reason to travel to then SJM brought all the characters back together in the final book in the main lands. It doesn't make sense to me to have an Elucien book that would end the spin off series in Spring, Day and the continent as I don't think much of their storyline will take place in the Night Court. To me it makes the most sense to step away from the NC in the next book then eventually bring it back to where Feysands story started. Az is part of the IC and I imagine his book will deal with Feyre and Rhys a bit more than Elain and Lucien's will.

Then if there is going to be a more major crossover storyline down the road, the current spin-offs will have ended with Feyre and Rhys in the mix of things (they represent the "Dumbledore" or "Gandalf" of the series, nothing new happens without their involvement).

I think either an Elucien or Gwynriel book is still a possibility but I don't agree with the arguments as to why Elain's can't be next. And I really hate the arguments claiming that anyone who thinks Elain could be the next book is delusional.

And it's not just about Elain. Lucien's story has been coming since book 1 and when the author talked about getting into the groove of writing ACOTAR 5, where she's got that feeling of having a crush, a possible Elucien book that would most likely feature Lucien (with fire in his blood), Helion (who she's weirdly obsessed with), Eris, Elain (who shares her own real life energy), Jurian and Vassa could absolutely be a reason for her to feel smitten. That is a book filled with a whole lot of sass, snark, and side characters who she'd finally have a chance to explore in greater detail.

[impossiblescissorspeachpaper]

Love confession prompts:

#8 Tears drench your cheeks as you confess. The last thing you hear before dying is them screaming your name

Mor and Andromache (her mortal lover ) 👉🏻👈🏻

If anyone can, it's you.💖

I’m sorry this took me so long to write this but I actually really enjoyed doing so! Even though this was probably the first thing I’ve ever written that brought me close to tears.

So I guess sorry for the lateness as well as the pain this may inflict… enjoy?

Love Confession prompts list

Love Confession master list

Morrigan always knew she’d go down like this. Drenched in her own blood as well as that of their enemy’s, swinging wildly to protect those she loved most.

Cassian had fallen. Like a mighty hero, he had taken down no less than four dozen warriors with him in a fantastic display of unrivaled valor and brute strength. From that final act alone, she knew his name would become legend, spoken in revered tones for eternity. Much like the warriors of Illyria he idolized before him.

Azriel had followed not too far behind him. Bellowing in anguish as his brother fell, he had hurled himself sacrificially into the fray, his shadows spearing from him like vipers just as the cobalt blast from his siphons had decimated the earth. She’d never heard such an tortured cry. The cry of a man losing the closest thing he had had to a brother, a kindred soul, someone who knew his every scar and sharp edge and could match them with his own. His shadows had dispersed in an explosion of dark mist, like trapped demons finally released to the heavens as his beautiful body lay broken in the crater he had blasted.

Her heart shattered irreparably as those crimson and cobalt siphons spluttered and dimmed for the final time.

Her cousin was battling across the muddied plain, almost unrecognisable as his beast form had morphed his usually handsome features into wicked looking black scales and sharp talons tipped his fingers. His deep well of power was flagging, his misting power now only reaching a small radius around him and his mate. Feyre fought at his back gallantly, standing shoulder to shoulder with her husband. Stoically defending all they stood for on the front lines, all they had built, in their beloved Court of Dreams.

Another firebird swooped on her left, Morrigan ducking just in time to avoid being scorched by the bespelled woman. They were his soldiers now, after all. The cursed ladies of Kochei’s lake. Vassa unwittingly among them.

Mor picked herself up off the ground, her hands sinking into the bloodied mud beneath her as she stumbled to her feet, tired and aching from hours of battle. But she would not surrender yet. She would not allow herself to die for nothing. Would not let her family’s sacrifice be in vain.

For at the end, everyone always thought of their family. Their loved ones. But for Morrigan it was not the memories of the abhorrent ilk in the Court of Nightmares of which she had been born into that eddied in her mind. No. It was the family she had found. The family she had chosen for herself after years of having no choice at all. It was of Rhys and Amren. Of Cassian and Azriel. Feyre and Elain and Nesta. And of course… Andromache.

Her sweet, beloved Andromache.

Andromache, whom she had only been granted a cruel, tauntingly brief amount of time to love. But she had never felt anything more intense. Nothing had ever been more real. Or deep.

No matter how far and wide she searched in the centuries that followed her lover’s death, nothing ever came close to that soul-deep feeling of belonging. She had loved Andromache for many years after the human queen had passed from the mortal world. Perhaps she would be reunited with her in the afterlife. Soon. So very soon.

A guttural cry croaked from her dry throat as she swung her arm again and again and again, her longsword slamming into shields and armoured bodies alike. Flaying and slicing and ripping. Soldiers of rotted flesh and burning feathers fought back. The fray on the battlefield truly chaotic now as bodies piled up where she stood, engulfing her senses. If she could help only Feyre and Rhys survive, then her sacrifice would be worth it.

Daring a glace toward her High Lord and Lady, Mor screamed. One single, desperate shout of warning across the battlefield. Rhys’ violet eyes flashed to hers, reading every emotion on her face as he struck behind him, just in time to skewer the foolishly brazen warrior attempting to attack Feyre. Rhys’ dark power sent a bolt through the soldier’s chest, halting his advances immediately as his body was reduced to nothing but a plume of smoke and ashes before he’d had the chance to tumble to the ground.

Rhys shot her a tired grimace from across the battlefield just before his eyes widened in horror… Just as Mor felt a blade pierce her side. Her ribs cracking open as they were left unchecked in her distraction.

A novice mistake, and a fatal one. She crumpled wordlessly to the ground, Rhys’ resounding scream ringing across the gore filled plains. An echo to the cries that had ripped from his chest as his brothers had fallen hours before.

Ruby red blood bubbled from her lips as her vision went hazy, hot tears born of something akin to relief streaming down her grimy cheeks. It wasn’t as painful as she thought it would be, dying. It was cold, but a sweet voice was calling her.

Morrigan. Morrigan. Morrigan.

She closed her eyes as she welcomed her passage into that land of milk and honey. Sent a final prayer to the Mother, beseeching her remaining family’s protection as she followed her queen to their final resting place. Took her last breath as she heard her lover calling her name, as sweet and luring as the siren’s song, guiding her to eternal paradise.

*******

tagging: @offtorivendell @fawnandshadows @the-laughing-bubble @swankii-art-teacher @pagemasters @sakurakittypeach @tswaney17 @thefangirlofhp @wingedblooms @alwayssara @ultadverb

[kochei0]

Viviane, Arthur & Excalibur

[read Gradalis]