#pro elriel

[sunnyshadows24]

The Antis do enjoy their fanon over actual canon…

[coeurdedior]

But Azriel looked at Elain with pity. Ok, like Hunt with Bryce.

But Elain rejected Azriel’s gift. Ok. Like Nesta with Cassian.

But Elain didn’t look back (when she gave truth-teller to Azriel). Ok. Like Elide with Lorcan.

But Azriel said it was a mistake. Ok. like Aelin with Rowan.

I love parallels.

Thank you for pointing to us all the points in commun that Elriel has with sjm’s other couples.

[violetasteracademic]

On Mate Behavior: Elriel

So, when it comes to Azriel's mate behavior, I would say the most commonly discussed point (which I definitely agree with) to *disprove* that Azriel displays any mate behavior towards Gwyn is his overall calm demeanor and focus on Eris when the Valkyrie are kidnapped in the middle of the night and dropped into the Blood Rite.

However, there is another example that additionally highlights the lack of "mate behavior" in the bonus chapter, and I truly don't see it come up that often, though I think it is even more telling!

When he meets Gwyn's gaze, and that bloody memory of when he first "met" her (if you would like to call that their meeting) flashes, he is otherwise completely unruffled. He simply reflects on Gwyn's growth, and two seconds later, is snorting and having an easy, playful conversation.

While this certainly points to their comfortability and fun banter that they share, it does not scream *mate behavior.*

ToG and CC spoilers ahead

I think about Rowan seeing Aelin's ruined back for the first time, and being so overcome with anger at discovering the violence that had been enacted on her that he took to the skies to get control of his violent instincts:

I think of Cassian in his bonus chapter with Nesta- going into a rage as he smelled Nesta's fear while she recalled Tomas's attempted assault. He would have gone to kill him right then, I have no doubt:

I think of Ruhn hating Lidia, being sick over discovering the female he had fallen for was The Hind. And yet, when Pollux lays a hand on her, he was ready to rip out his throat for hurting Lidia. He couldn't understand how he could hate her and need her and want to kill for her at the same time:

So I do think it's interesting that in comparison to the to the other mated males who get a POV and an inside look into their heads while they reflect on trauma their mates have been through (even before knowing they are mates, which is the case in all three of these examples) they are completely unhinged. And yet we get this pointed moment where Azriel actively reflects on Gwyn's trauma, the absolute horrors that had been done to her and... nothing. A snort, and a little bit of form correction and teasing.

Meanwhile in this same book, Elain gets called boring and Azriel's shadows are like hoe who do we need to mf-ing end right tf now:

Azriel has already established that he believes the Cauldron could be wrong. While I personally disagree that there is foreshadowing to Azriel and Gwyn being mates, even in trying to give it a fair and unbiased look and say okay- could they be mates? I still wind up drawing the conclusion that even if they are, it would mean as little to Azriel as Elain's mating bond currently means to her.

I am personally super open minded about whether or not Azriel and Elain are true mates. I think a reveal that they are could be lovely. I also think them choosing each other above all, even fate, would be lovely.

But there is simply no denying that these two already have a set up plotline of questioning the Cauldron, and the only two characters *acting* like mates in this scenario are Az and Elain.

As always, I am Lucien and Gwyn positive even though I ship Elriel, so be kind in the comments! But I just really don't see how this could possibly play out any other way. Azriel has had too many on page opportunities, even from his personal POV, to display mate behavior towards Gwyn and there is nary a lick. It's just... not how a lead up to a mate reveal typically goes. So the pure, undiluted facts are that even if you think Sarah is a "fated mate" author above all, she is not treating these characters as she usually does. And that is noteworthy.

Thank you for joining me on this dissertation!

[kopfkino-o]

🕯️🕯️ beloved mutuals, we've gathered here today to manifest an Elriel announcement upon the 1st of May 🕯️🕯️

[elrielmoments]

Azriel after his bonus chapter:

“Three days passed with no word from Cassian. He’d been replaced in training with a stone-faced Azriel, who was more aloof than usual and wouldn’t even give her a smile?”

Azriel is still very much upset about the whole thing with Rhys forbidding him from being with Elain (obviously). His feelings for Elain and her feelings for him are still very much there (obviously).

[acourtofquietdreamers]

“Elriel ended in ACOSF!” “It’s just lust!” Meanwhile ACOSF:

Sarah is screaming at us to see how much Azriel cares for Elain. He has lingering horror and pain at the idea of Elain being taken again just like Nesta. He hesitates for Elain to scry because of what happened the last time just like Nesta. He worries for Elain’s safely and takes precautions to protect her just as Feyre and Nesta would.

It’s not just lust. It’s not just a fling. He is protective of Elain because he deeply cares for her. And personally, I loveeee to see Az go feral at the idea of someone/something hurting Elain.

[howmanysideblogscanihave]

In ACOFAS, Elain gets Feyre paint brushes and Az gets Feyre paint from the continent.

In ACOSF, Elain (and Feyre) get Nesta a year book-buying credit to her favorite store. Az gets Nesta a reading light.

I can’t help but put them together when the story does it in whatever way it can.

[cassianfanclub]

People who are like “keep your song, we have this random 2017 FB comment from SJM” are so funny bc it’s like, ok!

We will keep our song…

And we’ll keep the books, and SJM’s recent interviews, and Pinterest boards, and Time Magazine, and People, and Business Insider, and Today.

The song didn’t confirm Elriel for us. Guilty as Sin was just some fun sprinkles on top of an already massive Elriel sundae. But that’s the thing about actually having canon support your ship, you can celebrate the fun, random little things too!

[bright-side20]

Antis Logic

Do you guys remember acofas special edition where Elain is holding a tulips bouquet?

Or remember when her sister feyre painted tulips on Elain's drawer:

I slung off my outer clothes onto the sagging dresser—frowning at the violets and roses I’d painted around the knobs of Elain’s drawer.

Or Remember when Elain was compared to a tulip bloom :

But Elain wrapped her own blue cloak around herself, averting her eyes from all of those towering, muscled warriors, the army camp bustling toward the horizon … She was a rose bloom in a mud field. Filled with galloping horses.

Do you remember when she missed flowers, and her father, with whom she was close, out of all the species, carved her a wooden tulip? Yeah, I remember:

She plucked another figurine from the mantel: a rose carved from a dark sort of wood. She held it in her palm, its solid weight surprising, and traced a finger over one of the petals. “He made this one for Elain. Since it was winter and she missed the flowers.”

But wait, can you imagine what Azriel gifted her?

It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

A tulip necklace. Yes, he doesn't know Elain well, he doesn't even know her favorite flower.

which is a rose because one time she heard about a roses field in the continent and wanted to visit it with Feyre :

“These bulbs,” Elain said, pointing with a gloved hand to a cluster of purple-and-white flowers, “came all the way from the tulip fields of the continent. Father promised that next spring he’ll take me to see them."

They sound like this 🙂

[valentiinexo]

sjm chose her words very carefully when she said “elain is a quiet dreamer” in an interview and people still don’t think she’s going to stay in the night court and be part of the court of dreams? girl bye.

[acourtoflight]

So I re-read Azriel’s BC and the Gwyn lightsinger clues are so blatant and in-your-face that I’m surprised anyone doubts the theory, especially pairing that with Nesta’s reactions.

“Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.”

“Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.”

I’m sorry but I’m unable to see that as romantic, I just don’t get why so many people do! Gwyn’s singing and glowing is ALWAYS emphasised and it’s so easy to see, you don’t even need to pay that much attention.

Wanted to add that I don’t believe Gwyn is or will be evil, she was so important to Nesta’s healing and the way her story developed was so lovely.

[lakewillowmerewraith]

This passage exists and people still want to say that Gwyn isn’t a light singer? 🤔

The words of Gwyn’s merry song were in a language Nesta didn’t know, but for a heartbeat, Nesta allowed herself to listen—to savor the pure, sweet voice that rose and fell with sinuous ease.

Gwyn’s hair seemed to glow brighter with her song, skin radiating a beckoning light. Drawing any listener in.

[methimmondaykissedhimfriday]

I really want Elain to save Azriel.

Then he madly kisses her in front of everyone, puts his forehead to hers and is like, “Fuck the Cauldron”.

[violetasteracademic]

Friendly Reminders: Elain Archeron and Sarah J. Maas

After Elain got dragged by the fandom for being boring and useless online, Sarah J. Maas- knowing full well that she as an author loved Elain and couldn't wait to tell her story that has been brewing for nearly a decade- wrote this:

-ACOSF

And this:

-Feysand Bonus Chapter, ACOSF

After certain members of the fandom collectively decided that Sarah J. Maas so *obviously* ended Elriel because she may not be able to have Azriel's babies and nothing is more important than that, or she owes Lucien her time because she is his mate and he deserves her, she wrote this:

-HOFAS

It's almost as if the author of the books has heard the things people said about a FMC whose book she has described as being *obsessed* with writing, like when you have a crush, and explicitly addressed and dragged the legitimately abhorrent takes surrounding the remaining Archeron sister.

Sometimes I truly wonder why one would read a book from an author they so vehemently disagree with. The author has told you her stance on these opinions. And it is... not positive. She does *not* agree with these ideas. Full stop.

I have no doubt most will be won over by Elain's book. But I find theories antithetical to the beliefs of the author to be at best bizarre, and at worst needlessly harmful to women. And the author has made it quite clear she has no interest in catering to those ideals.

[rae2velaris]

Thank you @livywoohoo for the inspiration from your post!

[elrielmoments]

“Elain isn’t happy in the Night Court.”

Meanwhile, Elain:

“Elain, who would not eat, or speak, or do anything at all. Elain, who had somehow become the adjusted one.”

“Tending to the gardens of Feyre’s veritable palace on the river, helping other residents of Velaris restore their own destroyed gardens—she had purpose and joy, and friends: those two half-wraiths who worked in Rhysand’s houshold.”

“She glowed with good health. Except … her brown eyes were wary. Usually that look was reserved for Lucien. The male was definitely in the family room.”

“And then Elain burst out laughing. Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath.”