#the shadowsinger and the valkyrie

[bookishwithathought]

I need Azriel to have a confessional moment with Gwyn, similar to Rhys with Feyre in the cabin. Doesn’t need to lead to a chapter 55 moment (I actually prefer if it doesn’t lead to anything physical so it doesn’t distract from the tenderness of the confession, and the last thing Az needs is getting physical too soon with his mate, boy needs the inner work to happen first), but more than anything he needs someone he will trust on that level, where he’s unfiltered and uncensored. He’s not even like that with his friends of centuries, he shuts down even with his closest people.

I need it so I can hug my box of tissues with snot running down my chin and vision blurred by tears while reading it.

I need Gwyn to take his face into her hands, stare at his face until he meets her eyes, and say “you’re enough. You’re good. You are exactly what you ought to be and exactly who I want, and I’ll always remind you in case you forget. I’ll also kick your ass in the process” with a wide grin at the last.

Amid tears. Azriel grasps her hands still on his face and smiles. “It would be my pleasure to have my ass kicked by you everyday. Just be here everyday.”

OK BYE 😭

[estellaluna]

In the training room with Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie

Nesta: WHO ARE WE?

Gwyn and Emerie: THE VALKYRIES!

Nesta: WHAT ARE WE?

Gwyn and Emerie: WE’RE WARRIORS!

Nesta: AND WHAT DO WE LIKE?

Gwyn: Smut novels!

Nesta:

Emerie:

Cassian: *snickered*

Azriel: *pursed his lips*

Gwyn: Oh, wrong answer. We like to kick asses!

[tpcanvas]

Az telling gwyn a secret about his shadows in the library 🩵

IG: TP.canvas

[shadowsingerofnight]

Azriel: you did WHAT

Gwyn: oh just drop it

Azriel: you could’ve got badly hurt

Gwyn: *rolling eyes*

Gwyn: but I didn’t, that’s the whole point

Azriel: stop acting like it was nothing

Gwyn: it was nothing

Azriel: oh yeah? then I’m telling Nesta

Gwyn: *eyes wide* you wouldn’t

[sunshinebingo]

imagine...

The Valkyries show up at a meeting in Windhaven. Gwyn acts as their spokesperson and explains the training plans they came up with for Illyrian females. Devlon stands up and opens his mouth to throw some insults at her. But Azriel silences him with a, "Be careful how you speak to my mate."

[arcturustarlight]

I'm JUST saying.

Cassian and Azriel are so damn lucky that they're gorgeous males and their mates (Yes, I consider Gwyn Az's mate) are heterosexual females.

Gwyn and Nes would be ALL over each other if it wasn't for for Cass and Az's wingspans.

[velidewrites]

Nesta: WHY would you give Gwyn a knife?!

Azriel: She said she felt unsafe

Nesta: Now I feel unsafe!

Azriel: I’m sorry

Azriel: …Would you like a knife?

[shadowdaddies]

Could I request an angst and fluff/comfort fic where the reader is the long lost half-sister of both Azriel and Cassian. (She shares a father with Cassian and a mother with Azriel.) She’s super shy and they are protective of her. Maybe they find her in a dangerous situation and save her. Thank you and I love your writing ☺️

hi my love! thank you for the kind words and for the request. I love this idea, I hope you like it💜 (omg I wrote and posted this whole thing before I noticed the “long lost” part I’m sorry)

A New Illyria

Cassian x Azriel x Valkyrie sister!Reader

Warnings: mentions of injury, violence, mentions of torture

Cold snow seeped through your combat boots, the familiar cold air of Windhaven bringing a pink tinge to your nose and cheeks. Teeth chattered next to you, a smirk on your face as you turned to see Nesta rubbing her arms as she fought the cold.

“How do you stand this?” she gritted through her teeth, eyes focused on the Valkyries sparring on the training mats ahead of you. 

“I was born here. Velaris is almost too warm for me,” you joked, pausing the conversation to call out a correction to a young warrior’s form. 

Nesta made a gagging sound at the mention of your childhood. “I will never understand how you turned out even relatively normal growing up here, and with Cassian and Azriel as brothers?” She rolled her eyes in jest, a small laugh escaping her at the thought.

“I wouldn’t have survived without them, really. Azriel protected me from our father, kept my wings from being clipped. And without Cassian, I never would have met Rhys and his mother either. They’re a better family, and brothers, than I could have dreamed of.” 

Willing back the tears that lined your eyes at the thought of your family, you stepped assertively into the ring. Turning over your shoulder, you winked at Nesta, adding, “and best of all, they trained me.”

“Alright Valkyries, listen up,” you called, Nesta stepping up to stand along side you as you addressed your warriors. “You are dismissed from training for today. I suggest you get some good rest tonight, because we’ll being sparring with the Illyrian males tomorrow as we prepare to combine forces against Koschei.” 

With a nod of dismissal, you and Nesta left the training center, heading back to the strategy tent where your brothers stood with Rhys and Feyre, all focused on a map of Prythian. Cassian wrapped Nesta in a hug, her attitude instantly improving at his warm arms wrapped around her. Azriel came over to you, your brother pulling you in for a hug as he brought you over to the strategy board.

“How did training go?” He asked, hazel eyes watching carefully as he brought his arm around your shoulder. 

You glanced at Nesta, the two of you sharing a tired look as you let out a wry laugh. “It was fine. The Valkyries are more than prepared, but I can’t say the same for the Illyrians. I saw Devlon and some others watching our training. They’re still furious about our being welcome to train here.”

Rhys’s violet eyes pierced you, the raw power of a High Lord shining through. “They will follow the orders given to them, or face the consequences.” You nodded to him, his promise doing little to settle the unease that filled you as you recalled the looks you’d received since your arrival.

You ate dinner quickly at the Valkyries’ food hall before  heading to your private tent on the females’ side of the camp. As feelings of restlessness and nausea roiled through your body, you tossed and turned in your cot for what felt like hours - until you heard a crack in the distance, followed by a shout. 

Drawing your dagger, you crept through the flaps of your tent, vision struggling to focus in the dark night as you left to investigate. A rustling sound came from the edge of the camp, your instincts on alert as you prepared to face your attacker. 

You released a deep breath as Nesta revealed herself as the cause of the noise, peering out of her shared tent with Cassian as her silvery eyes locked with yours. She strode towards you, looking around warily when she reached your tent. 

“Did you hear that shout?” she whispered, a white-knuckle grip on Ataraxia as she examined the surrounding tents for any sign of disturbance. 

You nodded, gesturing towards the other edge of camp where a light flickered behind a tent. “It sounded like it came from that direction. Might just be nothing,” you breathed, that nausea creeping in your gut from earlier. 

Wiping the sweat from your brow, you looked to Nesta, who seemed as unsteady as you felt. “Let’s just go check it out. Make sure everything is okay,” she whispered, not waiting before stalking towards the light.

As you neared the tent, you heard muffled sounds, a clatter of metal before glass shattered to the ground. The tent caught fire, flames quickly spreading across the structure. Opening your mouth to let out a call for help, a hand wrapped around you, dagger piercing your wing as your vision grew blurry. You saw the glint of Ataraxia in the moonlight as it clattered to the ground from Nesta’s hand before the world faded to black.

The first thing you noticed when you awoke was the pounding against your skull, your vision fading in and out of focus. Your tried to bring your hands to rub your eyes, instead feeling cold iron shackled around your wrists. Alertness came to you at the realization, suddenly more aware of your arms stretched high above your head, the sharp pain through your wings, spread out and nailed to the wall.

Your voice echoed faintly through your mind, heavy head craning to see Nesta, Gwyn, and other shackled to the walls on either side of you. “Faebane,” you uttered out, recognizing the feeling from what you’d heard of the drug.

Gwyn nodded, her eyes heavy as she leaned against the cold stone. “They laced our food with it. All of the Valkyries.” 

You didn’t have the energy to respond, searing pain cutting through as your wings twitched against their restraints. You had failed these females, your soldiers. You bit your lip to hold back the tears that threatened to fall when a heavy door swung open.

Devlon strode into the room, the smug grin on his face mirrored by the number of Illyrian males flanking him on each side. “Your halfbreed High Lord is a fool to believe he has control over these camps. Much less your bastard brother,” he clicked his tongue, glancing toward where Nesta glared at him from the other side of the room.

“We will not allow our resources and weapons to be sullied by females any longer. You are a waste of space, hindering real warriors’ abilities to prepare for the upcoming war.” Devlon pulled a dagger - your dagger - from his holster, a wicked gleam in his eye as he held it to the light. 

“Despite our attempts at discussion as to why you are a plague on this camp, our message seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Unsurprising when halfbred bastards are in charge.” 

Refusing to show your fear, you maintained eye contact with Devlon as he slammed your dagger into the stone just above your wing, grazing the blade against the sensitive membrane. “I think that your wings on display at camp would be a fitting memo, don’t you?”

Gathering what little moisture remained in your weakened body, you spat in Devlon’s eye, the warlord rearing back in anger as he delivered a slap to your face. You smiled through bloody teeth at him, the Illyrian visibly shaken by your reaction. Curling his lip in disgust, Devlon pulled your wing taut as he twirled the dagger in his other hand - only to be interrupted by the door bursting open, blue and red light flashing throughout the room as male warriors dropped dead.

Heads turned, a bright smile lighting your features as you finally let the tears fall at the sight of your brothers. Rage filled their eyes, Cassian cutting down any male who stood between himself and Nesta as he sought his mate. Azriel ripped Devlon off of you, flinging the male to the ground as his head hit stone with a sickening crunch. 

Rhys followed behind, waving away your shackles with a flick of his hand. Azriel caught you, holding you close to his chest as your brother apologized profusely. You shook your head, holding him as close as your sore muscles would allow. 

Cassian pulled Nesta along with him, the three of you embracing while Azriel went to help Gwyn and the rest. When you returned to the camps, they were noticeably more empty than usual, and one look at the dark swirls of anger in Rhys’s eyes told you all that you needed to know. 

Your army would be down in numbers, but stronger in alliance as you prepared to defend your home. All of you slept in the cabin that night, finding comfort in being with your brothers, and planning for tomorrow when you would rebuild the Night Court - forming an army that defended and valued all of its citizens.

[onlygwynriel]

Rhys being protective of Gwyn just melts my heart because there’s a reason he’s so protective and it’s because he relates to what she’s been through and knows what trauma like that does to someone. And now it’s making me want to see more Rhys x Gwyn sibling-like interactions. Kinda like Azriel x Nesta and Feyre x Cassian.

Like just imagine Rhys randomly appearing at Valkyrie training one day and Gwyn is challenging Azriel to a duel. Rhys watches in disbelief because he’s never seen someone that doesn’t know Azriel for long challenge him like that. And then Rhys sees how far Gwyn has come and it makes him so happy, he tells Gwyn all of Azriels weaknesses and cheers her on just to piss Az off and Gwyn is loving every second of it…

UGH SARHA PLEASE I NEED IT 😩

[acotar-taylorsversion]

Ok, so i am pretty sure I just got blocked for bringing this up to a gwynriel, but why does everyone think that Gwyn or even the valkyries are gonna be involved with the Koschei storyline? Like has everyone forgotten about Vassa? She is literally still cursed by Koschei. And she is tied to Lucien, who is the son of a curse breaker. Can everyone else see the vision of them and how they can help the inner circle defeat Koschei? Imagine, Elain is Made and helps Nesta and Az with all this trove stuff and finding Koschei and all that. Elain and Az grow closer and choose each other but she has to do something about her bond with Lucien, real or not, they have to answer to it. They both agree to reject it and he goes back to Vassa and Jurian. This would leave it open for Lucien and Vassa to be together because he obviously has a better time with her already. This would allow the inner circle, now complete with the 3 brothers x 3 sisters, to work with Lucien and Vassa, who has every right to be the first one to fight Koschei (its for her freedom, hello?!). Like, bringing in just Gwyn and Emerie literally makes no sense when you think about the acowar and everything. And with everything that we learned in hofas, its obvious that shes setting up elriel, which would set up vassien. I just don't see how the valkyries fit it as main characters for the next books. Call me crazy or whatever, but I choose to remember the first 4 books in the series, not just silver flames.

I don't know, am I crazy? lol

Am I not understanding the story i've loved so much for nearly 10 years now?

[dealfea]

Nesta being so comfortable with her powers and being the badass Valkyrie she deserves to be makes my heart so full 😭😭🥰

Also, Azriel and Nesta being friends and him not being afraid of her one bit... Az bringing her back when she is wearing the Mask *chef's kiss* I love it so much 😍😭😍

Bryce's description of the two bring me so much joy 🥰

[maherdraws]

#gwynrielweeks2024 day six: mates.

since acosf came out i had this feeling that gwyn and az could have a beautiful connection, honestly I love both of them and think that the little moments when they coexist together are really cute and wholesome. I love that they love music, they’re warriors, they’re determined and love loveee that Azriel’s shadows are calm and curious around gwyn.🌌🦇🗡️✨

— do you like this ship?

[dawneternal]

Just a Favor

✦ A Gwynriel first kiss one-shot (turned into multiple parts after requests for more)

✦ Inspired by a true story 🫣 when I started dating my wife in high school I had never been kissed before and she kept very politely asking if she could kiss me and I kept getting too nervous and saying no. That went on for like two months and then I finally told her to kiss me without asking or I'd keep saying no lol and she did. The end

✦ Word Count: 1.7k

✦ AO3 Link / Masterlist

"I have a favor to ask you," Gwyn's voice pulled Azriel from his thoughts.

She sat across from him at the kitchen table, half-eaten plates of lunch in front of them. The Valkyries had stayed for lunch after training, Gwyn lingering after Cassian had left to fly Emerie home. Nesta had excused herself to find a book for Gwyn, leaving the pair alone.

Azriel had not thought anything of this sequence of events, but now that he was looking at the Gwyn, head tilted to the side with an inquisitive gleam in her eye, he was finding it all suspicious.

"It's kind of an unconventional thing, so prepare yourself." Gwyn continued. He took note of her fingers fiddling with a buckle on her leathers.

"Okay," Azriel said slowly, resisting the urge to furrow his brows. Or maybe run away.

"Are you prepared?"

"Yes, I won't react."

"I want to be kissed."

True to his word, Azriel's face remained unchanged. Though his stomach had done a flip and his heartbeat thundered.

"Okay, you can react a little," Gwyn cried, indignant and incredulous.

"Are you asking me to kiss you?" Azriel surprised himself with his own calm tone.

"Either that, or help me find someone. Because I trust you to help me find someone who isn't an asshole." She had shrunk into herself a little, like her confidence had waned. Her gaze drifted down to her plate.

"Why me, though?" The corners of his mouth quirked up just a touch.

"Nesta hates everyone, Emerie only knows Illyrians and they hate Valkyries, Cassian is Cassian, and I'm not asking my High Lord or Lady to find someone to kiss me."

They were all fair arguments. He didn't bother asking why she wanted to be kissed so desperately. All of her actions pointed toward wanting to move on. He'd overheard the Valkyries several times encouraging Gwyn toward what they called 'the last step' - moving out of the library.

"I'll do it," Az said, cursing his voice for cracking. How could she unnerve him so?

She was just a woman. Except that a singular word could not fully capture what Gwyn was. Priestess, Valkyrie, Carynthian, she was something incredible. The most brightly colored thing in his life. Copper hair, turquoise eyes, white ribbons, auburn freckles.

Gwyn cheered and gave him a triumphant, toothy grin. He could not help smiling in return.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked, unsure how to proceed.

"I just want you to kiss me like you would anyone you really liked," Gwyn was blushing, now. Eyes a little wild, like she hadn't expected to get this far.

"That doesn't really tell me what you want," Azriel protested.

He picked at a leftover sliver of sandwich to give his hands something to do. His shadows buzzed with energy, darting to far corners of the room and reporting back about the dust that lived there.

"Well...what was your first kiss like?" Gwyn asked. She smiled at one shadow that approached her outstretched hand like a shy kitten.

"Probably not what you'd want," Azriel flashed a sheepish grin, still embarrassed by the centuries-old memory, "It was pretty bad. This will be your first kiss?"

"Yes," Gwyn kept her gaze on the tendril of shadow weaving through her fingers. "I think maybe I don't want you to ask me first,"

"I always ask before I kiss someone, no matter how I feel about them."

"Well, the problem is that if you ask, I might chicken out and say no," She sighed, "So I may need you to just do it."

"Ah," Azriel grinned, "I see. You want me to make it a moment."

Before she could answer, he stood and crossed to her in a few strides, turning her chair to face him and bracing one hand on the back of it. Gwyn looked up at him, eyes wide, lips parted. He leaned in close, nose a few inches from hers. Somehow, her nervousness had cancelled his out and returned his confidence. At the very least, he knew he was capable of making her first kiss better than his had been.

"I have no qualms with a surprise, if that's what you want." He said, deep voice rumbling in his chest.

"Yes," Gwyn whispered, heart hammering in anticipation.

This close, she could count every freckle scattered over his bronze skin. There was a beauty mark she had never seen before right on the edge of his full bottom lip, and glimmers of gold in his amber eyes. She hoped desperately that he could not hear the catch of her breath.

Azriel stayed still for a moment, gaze fixed on hers, letting her wonder if this was the moment. A part of her hoped that it wasn't, just so she could feel this again, have another chance to memorize his features. To breathe his piney scent, feel his shadows caress her skin.

Perhaps she should have just asked him to help her find a stranger.

Azriel straightened, flashed an insufferable smirk, and walked out of the room. Gwyn heard his footsteps echo down the hall, leaving her alone in the silent kitchen. She felt as though a summer storm had just rolled through her world, dark and alluring and thrilling all at once.

Nesta, with her brilliant intuition, returned a moment later, squealing when she took in Gwyn's red cheeks.

A few nights later, after a family dinner at the River House, a little group set out to the far corner of the estate. There, a little branch of the Sidra curved through the meadow before pouring back into the sea. A small stone bridge crossed over it, leading to an ivy covered gazebo. Azriel, Cassian, Nesta, and Mor all set out to get a moment of fresh air and a glimpse of the moonlight dancing on the water.

Gwyn followed, giggling with the group at Mor's tipsy stumbling and Cassian's booming voice declaring that he could definitely skip a rock father than the rest of them. This, of course, illicited a challenge and they all began a search for perfect rocks. Gwyn was particularly skilled at skipping stones and giddy at the idea of surprising the group with her talent and wiping the smirk from Cassian's face.

But just as she stepped over the little stone bridge, a hand grasped her arm and whirled her around. She found herself in Azriel's arms, among the swaying grass and delicate flowers. They stood halfway down the bank of the stream, Azriel's boots braced against the slope, holding them upright. The mossy stone bridge hid them from sight, only the tops of their heads visible if the rest of the group bothered to look.

It took Gwyn a moment to register what had happened, to calm her heart and adjust to the feeling of the shadowsinger's arms wrapped around her waist. He smiled down at her, moonlight gleaming in his hazel eyes. This was the moment.

Azriel softly placed his hands on her face and pulled her in a little closer. He was silent, giving her long moments to stop him if she wished. But she tucked herself into him, hands resting on his chest, fingertips just brushing the skin above his collar. She blushed deep red, looking up at him through lowered lashes, though the glimmer in her eye was eager.

Azriel could not help but notice how perfectly she fit in his hold, like her face and his hands had once been a single block of marble, the curve between them cut with a single motion. Something about it so familiar, so deeply rooted it felt almost ancient. Sacred.

And Gwyn could not help the feeling that bloomed in her chest when he brought his lips to hers. Soft, sweet, reverant. His touch was warm, every place where they connected sent sparks through her body.

She knew, deep down, was no fleeting feeling. This was the feeling of something beginning. Perhaps this was a spectacularly stupid idea, after all, as she was certain that no other kiss would ever feel this way.

Azriel pulled away, thumb brushing over her cheek. The moment he met her eyes, he felt it. It was nothing like he thought it would be. Neither pain nor pleasure, something so unique there was only one thing that it could be. Gwyn glowed before him, her aura golden. So bright, the star his whole being now orbited.

He knew he looked like a fool. Gasping, chest heaving like her kiss had hurt him. And the concern on her face stung, because it meant she had not felt it, too.

"Azriel?" She whispered, her rose-tinted stupor fading. Azriel let go of her, hands dropping stiffly to his sides. His skin burned, already craving more of her touch.

"How do you feel?" He croaked, though he knew the answer. She did not feel as he did, no matter how much she had liked it.

"Are you okay?" She asked, instead of answering. Her hands still rested against his chest, and now her fingers curled around his shirt collar, holding tight. He looked like he was beginning to panic.

Azriel shook his head, wings spreading out with a snap. It was too much. The sorrow, the longing, the roaring joy. Subtle hints of her own emotions drifting down the newly forged bond.

Mind swirling, he placed a hand on his chest and stepped back. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Just staring at the dazzling girl before him, who had been so shy about being kissed. Surely she would not be happy about such an intense bond, not be ready. And she had asked him for a kiss because she cared so little for him. She had hoped for a kiss that would not matter. No, she would not want this.

He could only think of one word and it was likely the only thing he should not say. Instead of saying anything, he shot upwards into the sky, disappearing as a dark smudge in the night. A single streak of blue in the darkness.

Gwyn was left alone, hands hovering where he had been. Confused, concerned, and entirely unaware of the bond singing in Azriel's chest.

[tpcanvas]

The Valkyries villain era ⚔️PART 1⚔️

- Gwyneth Berdara🖤

Exploring a concept I call the Villain Era of the Valkyries, my focus is on drawings capturing their powerful facial expressions. What piques my interest is the potential twist – imagining these Valkyries utilizing their powers in unconventional ways. It adds a layer of intrigue as they could either sow chaos or unexpectedly become agents of salvation. Nesta's entry into this narrative is up next and it promises to unfold another dimension to this theme. I’m so excited!

My art IG: cutiegwyn (u can also find my progress there)

Disclaimer: OPEN FOR COMMISSION!!

[jmoonjones]

It's Valkyrie Week!! @officialvalkyrieweek

Day 1: Training

Happy Valkyrie Week! Day 1: Training (montage)! Cassian motivates Nesta up the rope with promises of a reward 😏

Emerie and Gwyn practice agility on the massive Wipeout course built by the boys 📍📍📍

For the comfort of the priestesses, Az asks the shadowbabies to demonstrate a good left hook. This is some Fiona Apple-approved shadowboxing 🥊 

(I had this whole Fight Club sideplot for the shadows but it got too silly)

@officialvalkyrieweek

[sunshinebingo]

She is gone...

Cassian enters the House of Wind. Azriel is sitting by the window looking like the most miserable puppy, head on his arms, looking out at the city with sad eyes.

Cassian: What happened?

Azriel *sighs*: Gwyn

Cassian: What about her?

Azriel: She is gone

Cassian *starts to panic*: What? Where??

Azriel shrugs

Cassian: What the fuck is happening??

Emerie *lounging on the settee with her smutty book on the other side of the room*: Relax. She will be back

Cassian to Emerie: How are you so calm?

Emerie: Gwyn hasn’t run away to another court. She is just in Velaris with Nesta.

Cassian turns to look at Azriel

Azriel *sighs again*: My Gwyn

Emerie *mutters*: Pathetic males

Cassian to Emerie: Do I also look like that when Nes isn’t here?

Emerie: Where do you think Shadowboy got this from? *goes back to her book* I hope whatever you two have isn’t contagious