#starborn fae

[silverlinedeyes]

In Their Starborn Era

(HOFAS spoilers below)

The starborn age has ended on Midgard…

…and the Archeron Starborn Era is about to begin on Prythian. LFG!!!!

The Archeron Sisters are Starborn

As @offtorivendell has theorized here, @wingedblooms has theorized here, I have theorized here and here, we think each of the Archeron sisters is starborn and has part of Theia’s (or her children’s) light.

Elain has Helena’s.

Nesta has Silene’s.

Feyre has Theia’s (or maybe her son’s if that crack theory is right lol).

Though I wonder about Nesta’s Starborn power, and if she gave some of it back to the Cauldron at the end of ACOSF…and what that might mean for her ability to use Gwydion or TT at all on her own, like Bryce can. So what does that mean?

We get hints that Elain has strong starborn power:

So will Elain at first be the one to wield Gwydion and TT as she (and Az) go on their quests? Potentially to revive Dusk, or other parts of Prythian, as @offtorivendell and @wingedblooms have theorized?

And might she in part use them to help herself? To unMake her bond with Lucien using TT to free them both of it, and to potentially Make a new bond with Az (if a bond doesn’t already exist), either using her powers, or using Gwydion?

Together They Can Activate TT and Gwydion

Only united can Theia’s starborn power activate Gwydion and TT and be used to kill the unkillable. The Asteri in Midgard. Koschei in ACOTAR?

The Sisters’ Bonds

Right now, the bonds between the sisters are somewhat fractured, particularly still between Nesta and Elain.

Those bonds will need to finally heal so that they can come together to use Gwydion and TT to save Prythian.

[korrinamoe]

Bryce Quinlan is one of my favorite Crescent City baddies. The way she is literally unstoppable is *chefs kiss*.

Art by me @korrinamoe. Come be friends with me on Insta, TT, and Twitter too :)

Please don’t repost or use on any type of media anywhere without permission.

[bryceandhunt]

[aesthetic-solar-space]

Princess Bryce Quinlan of the Starborn fae

What can I say about my love of Bryce?? There’s so so much. Her darkness after the events in the beginning of the book that slowly turns brighter and brighter until she a shining star. Until she’s healing herself.

The losses she went through and the actions she had to commit could not have been easy even in a fictional world, but just imagining them in our everyday world - it would be catastrophic. Yet she prevailed and went on.

Bryce honestly reminds me both of Nesta Archeron as well as Aelin Ashryver Galathynius. These three women are beyond strong - they are basically gods with the power they possess to handle the events of their lives especially in such a short amount of time.

(Try to remember for every one of their series, the books only add up to a matter of months - a year or so if lucky.)

[catzgam3rz]

I would like to thank the Witch Craft SMP for gifting me a reason to draw Ihascupquake fanart in the year of our lord 2023

[popnovelspn]

Friendly reminder:

Hunt looked a nurse dead in the eyes, with his back bleeding and a painful cringe on his face and said ‘I can still fuck though, right?’

And the nurse had to keep a straight face.

[dylanswiftacheron]

bryce and nesta r on my mind 24/7

[cpeersmann]

What a formidable trio!

Hunt Athalar “Zap Daddy”

Bryce Quinlan “Legs”

Ruhn Danaan “Night Daddy”

Art by: gonzalom.art on Insta

[ircnwrought]

sjm book prompts

❛ Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy. ❜ // @homebehind (danika) !!

__________✷    SHE KNEW SHE'D NEVER BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER LIKE JUNE. though what she may lack in grace, she more than made up for it in passion. something about the music, about the rhythm clears every thought from her head until all that is left are the notes that pull her body in time. only she had burst through the apartment door, tossing her bag across the room after practice today. she knew she'd never be top of the class, she knew it'd never be a career. to be forced to stand against the barre in front of all the other students, to be berated for missing a step, to be told she doesn't have the body to succeed && might as well quit ... she suddenly became aware of every curve, every eye in the room assessing.

✷__________    IT IS DANIKA'S WORDS THAT PULL HER OUT OF THAT SPIRAL. her bruised pride && temper disguising the deep hurt over the episode. she offers her friend a small smile, bravado trying to replace what seems to have cracked open in the embarrassment. ❛  fuck them, right ?? they can stick their opinions up their asses.  ❜ a sigh as she buries herself deeper into the couch, honeyed eyes rising to the ceiling above. ❛  does it make me a coward for wanting to find a new studio ?? i don't think going back there is particularly at the top of my list of things to do.  ❜

[theunchosenpotato]

Ruhn was by far my favorite character in CC2! #ruhn #crescentcity #houseofbreathandsky #sarahjmaas #houseofearthandblood #fanart #thechosenone #starborn #ruhndanaan #fae #cc #crescentcityfanart #bookish #fantasyart #booklover https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUd6Hkp2B1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[rainingriversofyou]

Lidia Cervos, The Hind

Ruhn Danaan, Crown Prince of the Valbaran Fae

Bryce Adelaide Quinlan, Heir to the Starborn Fae

Hunt Athalar, The Umbra Mortis

Crescent City - Art by Lua / luaartiste

[silverlinedeyes]

I’m C/P from a post that I made, but I’d love your thoughts!!!

Ok - now I’m seriously connected to the idea that Helion and Lucien may be related to the Archerons. We’ve learned enough now through HOFAS to know that the Dread Trove objects are only wielded by those who are Starborn or have Starborn power which means that if Helion is hearing the mask call to him in some way that there’s a good chance that he’s somehow in the Starborn lineage, which would mean that Lucien is as well! Now, Elain describes her connection to Lucien as “a thread tied to a rib”, and we know that she’s so far exhibited no romantic feelings towards Lucien, a feeling that seems to be mutual aside from the initial instincts that Lucien expressed. Now, knowing that SJM uses a lot of biblical imagery, my mind of course went right to Adam’s rib and the “bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh” ideology. The term “rib” is commonly used as a way to express a familial connection, but also as “a lateral relationship as partners, to work and to live, side by side.” So, I am curious if we will find that Lucien (as Helion’s child) will find that he is in fact related to Elain, and that her true connection to him will be as a partner (perhaps to help him liberate a certain firebird?!)

Any thoughts?!

Hi @elrieldreamer thanks for the ask!

So I definitely agree that Helion and Lucien might be starborn, and I actually made a post about that theory and how I think that’s how Feyre got her starborn powers here.

I don’t know if I necessarily think that Helion and Lucien are related to the Archerons, though maybe!

To me, the answer to this in part comes down to where Starborn powers come from. We know that both Starborn fae and Cauldron-Made fae can wield trove weapons. Is that because there is a connection between the two? Is it possible that Starborn powers first originated from a Cauldron-Made fae, and their descendants have the Starborn power through that? For example, was Theia originally a human slave that Vesperus Made fae in the cauldron because she wanted to keep her, and that’s where the Starborn line started?

If that’s true, then Nesta and Elain would be starborn from being Made by the Cauldron, and Helion must have gotten it from an ancestor connected to theia or another starborn ancestor (assuming helion is Starborn).

Or it’s possible that the Archeron sisters descended from a starborn fae in their mother’s line, in which case that starborn fae could be related to Helion (and Lucien).

[violetasteracademic]

I think, possibly, half of the fandom have either began to blend the bat boys together, or are getting them mixed up.

Azriel never said he wanted a mate. Absolutely never. Not in any context, any language, or any interpretation. He only said he wants Elain (a female who already has a mate) and is confused that she isn't his mate because of how he feels about her, not just because he wants a mating bond with her. Which is impossible as far as he knows.

There is no way he actually thinks he can create a mating bond with Elain out of thin air. He just knows Elain isn't interested in Lucien, while Azriel and Elain have developed deep feelings for each other, thus: What if the Cauldron was wrong. Do we actually believe Azriel thinks he can magically form a mating bond, or get rid of Elain and Lucien's mating bond? Where in the text does it suggest that? Now, I for one hope they manage to do this 🤣 but Azriel certainly isn't saying he thinks it is possible. He just thinks he could beat Lucien's ass in a blood duel *if* Lucien called for one (which is doubtful.)

If he had the same feelings about Gwyn, and she also had a mate already, then he would be questioning the Cauldron for her instead. He's not out here saying: I want Elain and I want her to be my mate. In fact, he most certainly thinks that is impossible. What he is saying is: I want Elain and she wants me and it feels wrong that she was "assigned" to someone else. How is that not a fair and valid thought to have? And now that he knows the Cauldron has been corrupted, how could he possibly *not* continue with that line of thought? His thoughts and feelings were validated, and now he is just going to... walk away?

Cassian, however, literally wants a mating bond and was jealous that Rhys and Feyre had one and he didn't:

Cassian was the one who explicitly stated his jealousy over the mating bond, how Feyre and Rhys showed that the tales of the "glory and wonder" of the mating bond are real.

Cassian wants a legendary mating bond. He saw Rhys and Feyre prove the mythicality of it right, and now he has wants it for himself even if he never has before.

Azriel just wants Elain.

Azriel also never said he wanted kids. It is so bizarre to invent a storyline where Azriel would change his mind about the woman he wants because she may have some risk during the pregnancy, which is already so debunkable in a million ways. Yes, Nesta changed her own pelvis but now she isn't sure she even wants kids as of HoFaS. And let's not forget what happened to Feyre was explicitly because she was in Illyrian form during conception. Rhys was *not* afraid to get her pregnant in her Fae form because the risk is way lower.

Azriel is also now 99% if not 100% confirmed to be Starborn, which would make him not fully Illyrian. This is also backed up by his ability to winnow and do other things Illyrian's cannot. At least one of the Made sisters possessed the power to change a pelvis when they wanted to. So how is this still a thing? The fact that people think Sarah would ever even write an "Elain doesn't get chosen because Azriel wants a female who can have his babies" is so offensive and unhinged I hate that I'm even talking about it, but most importantly it is inaccurate to the text. Again, the most important actually relevant piece of information is the fact that Cassian is the one who said he wants kids, not Azriel:

Azriel is asked if he wants children and he says what he wants doesn't matter (then Cassian notices how Azriel has moved on from Morrigan and he doesn't really get why. We all know it is because of Elain, regardless of whether or not you think they are endgame.) Cassian was asked if he wanted children, and he said of course he does.

All lines explicitly stating a desire for a mating bond or children are assigned to Cassian. So why is the fandom thinking they are Azriel's?

Azriel and Cassian are completely different characters, with completely different wants and goals. Cassian's goals, in his own words from his own POV: mate and babies. Azriel's goal, in his own words from his own POV: Elain.

[bryceandhunt]

I’m not crying, you’re crying

“You want to join?”

Rain splattered the pavement, but Ruhn stopped. His eyes filled with such hope and happiness that Bryce’s chest hurt. 

“You really want me to come home with you?”

[yazthebookish]

I agree with @bookofmirth

I think ACOTAR5 will fill in the gaps we're left with in HOFAS (on the ACOTAR side). I think that will be covered in the first 30% of the book.

I'm very excited for it because SJM dropped some delicious crumbs for Azriel and tied his Illyrian heritage to the crossover and questions about his origins, backstory and magic:

• Truth-teller being the knife of Enalius, the first of the Illyrians. How did he find the knife? It's interesting that the knife went from the Fae back to an Illyrians.

• Illyrians being made by the Daglan and what are the implications of that on them.

• The Daglan fed on the Illyrians power through the Tithe, and just as I suspected they channel firstlight/raw power and its destructive without the wearing siphons (which I assume are quartz crystal too).

• Ramiel potentially being a thin place and also has a core of firstlight, does the Blood Rite contribute to giving it more firstlight/secondlight? What makes the Illyrians all have magic on the night before the Blood Rite?

• Azriel's origins. I still think he is fully Illyrian since he can wear Siphons (unlike Rhys) but I find it interesting Bryce questions if he has Starborn bloodline. Avallen Fae and Theia's daughters had shadow powers so it might be something that will be explored.

• In the bonus chapter he seems fiercely protective of his mother and mentions that she is anything but awful. However he refuses to discuss it more which seems a sore spot for him.

It's obvious SJM is laying down the groundwork for Azriel's arc and it's not going to be confined to a sad lonely depressed love interest, he has a bigger role.

Rhys will 100% be very concerned about people from other worlds showing up in Prythian, he saw two female aliens (Aelin and Bryce) in a span of months.

I need to do a proper post later on but I am so fucking excited I've been waiting for his story and it's going to be nothing short of epic!!

[wingedblooms]

The dreams that are answered

When they were children, the Illyrian brothers dreamt of wielding the legendary sword, Gwydion, to slay wyrms and rescue damsels.

And the stars who listened answered those dreams. Feyre slew a wyrm and rescued Rhysand. Nesta rescued Cassian in their book and now, with the release of hofas, has slain a wyrm. These patterns tend to come in threes in Sarah’s writing, like a Welsh triad, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Elain defeated her own wyrm (or better yet, if it yielded to her, like the scaled creatures yielded to Bryce) and she rescued Azriel in their story.

The Starborn blades have been returned to the Night Court for a reason. Nesta has her own trove of blades, and Azriel clearly cannot carry them by himself…

He hasn’t even unlocked the full potential of Truth-Teller’s blade after possessing it for years.

Vesperus, the Asteri in the Prison, makes an interesting comment here that reminds me of the Illyrian brothers’ childhood games. She accuses the Fae of playing with weapons they don’t fully understand. Their minds couldn’t hold all the possibilities at once. But we do know someone whose mind might be able to hold multiple, if not all, possibilities at once: Elain, the seer.

It was Elain who appeared out of nowhere, out of shadow, with Truth-Teller:

She may have opened a portal into nowhere, the void, with her power (which, like the Harp, might influence time and space) while linked to Truth-Teller, allowing her to appear exactly where she was needed, when she was needed to protect her loves ones.

Our damsel made her moment with a legendary weapon count. And it wouldn’t surprise me if we learn that—with her heightened, Cauldron-blessed senses—she can hear the blades singing to each other, tugging at her hidden powers.

And perhaps, when they explore the powers of those legendary blades together, Elain and Azriel will open a portal and travel the space between to places she’s only seen in her dreams.

Because the stars do listen—and dreams are answered.

Special thanks to @willowmeres, @offtorivendell, and @psychologynerd for their inspiring reactions to and thoughts about these connections.