wingedblooms

[wingedblooms]

Hello, friends. I am going on hiatus. I usually try to make the best of the non-answers, strange secrecy, build up for nothing that we receive, but I cannot muster it this time. I am tired. I wish you all nothing but health and happiness. 💕

[wingedblooms]

[wingedblooms]

ᴇʟʀɪᴇʟ ᴍᴏɴᴛʜ 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧 | ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ & ǫᴜɪᴇᴛ

✨ 𝓢𝓸 𝓰𝓸 𝓪𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓻𝓪𝓹 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓮 ✨

Azriel and Elain share the secret language of silence. Their love lingers in the fleeting brushes of fingers, the flickering of eyes, their unwavering commitment to protect each other. They didn't need words when they rescued each other in Hybern's war camp. They didn't need words to communicate that they saw each other's pain and desire on solstice. They just needed each other, and the peace and quiet they find together. I can't wait to see them linger in the comfortable silence together, speaking their own silent language of love.

Babies, this was my first commission ever 🥹 I am so in love with everything morwenaert creates, but her sketches are especially stunning to me. I am so happy and honored to finally be posting this gorgeous piece of art that I've been clutching for weeks.

🌸🦇 Art by morwenaert

🌸🦇 Commissioned by me, @lunaatthezoo

🌸🦇 @elriel-month 2025

✨ Please do not repost. Likes, shares, reblogs, and comments are appreciated. ✨

[wingedblooms]

Peace & Quiet

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. 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, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.

⟢ Art by @litafleur

⟢ Commissioned by me

Instagram | Twitter | @elriel-month

Please do not repost.

[wingedblooms]

𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕

༻𖤓༺

⁣⁣⁣⤞ art by trxxvon_

⤞ commissioned by me

⤞ Peace & Quiet

༻𖤓༺

Instagram | Twitter | @elriel-month

please do not repost.

[wingedblooms]

𝔽𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕖𝕤

💙 Art by @sunshinecovey

🩷 Commissioned by me

Instagram | Twitter | @elriel-month

Please do not repost.

[wingedblooms]

Elriel Month: Peace and Quiet

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒛𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 - 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕. 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒆'𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑶𝒓 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.

I’m hoping to get many soft and intimate moments between Elain and Azriel in their book and in this commission, I wanted portray the moment Elain spends the night in Azriel’s bed for the first time. After spending months staring at Elain’s gift with longing throughout the night, Azriel is finally able to worship Elain in his bed till sunrise. They are each other’s soft place to land and in each other’s arm, they’re truly at peace.

I have been obsessed with Elizabeth’s work for years now and I’m so grateful I got the chance to work with her! She is so incredibly talented and truly delivered a masterpiece 🥹 Thank you so much for creating this for me!

Art by diielliee and commissioned by me!

Characters belong to Sarah J. Maas

Please do not repost without permission. Likes and reblogs are appreciated!

@elriel-month

[wingedblooms]

Elriel Month // Peace & Quiet

For some prompts, I have longer captions but for today’s the idea is simple: I just wanted to show a peaceful, intimate moment between these two, and bonus points since it includes Azriel worshipping Elain exactly how she deserves. I truly think their quiet moments together are going to be so special and beautiful 💜

*******

🎨 Art by @trxxvon_

✨ Commissioned by me for @elriel-month

💙 Please do not repost. Reblogs are welcome! 

[wingedblooms]

“True loves kiss conquers all, even the deepest slumber.” – Sleeping Beauty

“I truly believe love conquers all – love is an incredibly powerful force, both in this world and in fantasy ones.” – Sarah J. Maas

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Elriel Month 🩷 Fairytales

This piece is inspired by the tale of Sleeping Beauty, with a slight change – the maiden rescuing the prince. We love the theory that Koschei will lure Azriel and Elain – Elain – will be the one to save him, with none other than a true love’s kiss.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

A huge thank you to (unii) for creating this gorgeous artwork. You were an angel to work with and so communicative at every step of the process 🩷

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Art by @x_x.uniii

Commissioned by @theseersgarden, @aoitavacorte, @lovelyfawnxx, @rae2velaris, & @landofthefaerie

Characters belong to @sarahjmaas

For @elriel-month

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Click here for Instagram post

Click here for Twitter post

🚫Absolutely no reposts please!🚫

[wingedblooms]

Peace & Quiet | @elriel-month

There’s a kind of love that doesn’t need to be loud. It exists in glances, in quiet rooms, in the soft peace of simply being seen.

That’s Elain and Azriel.

He is the love that would trump a mating bond, the choice that defies fate. And she is the love that makes his shadows still... and his mind go quiet.

No pretending. No posturing. Just two souls who see each other for who they are not what they are.

And choose each other anyway.

Because sometimes, true love isn’t destiny. It’s peace. And that is the most powerful kind of magic.

Thank you to the lovely and wildly talented @jessamyart for capturing this sacred softness between them. Your art feels like a breath of calm in a loud world. 🩷🫶🏻

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Art by @jessamyart and jessamyart on IG

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Commissioned by me

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Please do not repost without permission

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Instagram

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

[wingedblooms]

Elriel Month 2025 🌸 Prompt: Peace & Quiet

This was such a wonderful commission, and I am so grateful to my co-commissioners for helping me make this happen—and to @tpiola_ (IG) for working on this with us! We had a hard time finding a good reference at first, and she was so kind and helpful in translating a verbal description to this gorgeous art! Thank you a million times over!

We really wanted to capture the comfortability Elain and Azriel have always had, even from their first meeting. I’ve always thought that both Elain and Az would be great huggers, so what better to commission for the @elrielmonth Peace & Quiet prompt than the two of them in an adorable embrace. 🥰 The soft purple-pink dusk setting is so perfect for Elriel, and I’m honestly never recovering from how adorable they are in this art!

“And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.” I smiled at the thought—at how handsome they would be together.” — A Court of Mist and Fury

“Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports.” — A Court of Wings and Ruin

“Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house.” — A Court of Frost and Starlight

Art commissioned by:

@elrielsgarden

@saraannereads

@rae2velaris

@greenleaf777

Artwork by the lovey @tpiola_ on IG

Please do not repost. 🫶

Likes, shares, etc. are greatly appreciated!

[wingedblooms]

There's something about Merrill

Disclaimer: this is a theory that makes no claim of being canon. It's been percolating in my mind since 2021, I'm just finally getting down to posting it, although not as part of the "Lightsingers in the Library" meta I keep delaying - that will hopefully happen soon. Ish. 🫣

Spoilers: ACOTAR series only, nothing from the extended Maasverse.

These two lines, both from Azriel's bonus chapter in ACOSF, have bugged me no end since 2021:

Fury was a moonless night on Rhys' face.

Just this taste in the dead of the longest night of the year, where only the Mother might witness them.

Amongst my friends, I have previously suggested - but never fully discussed on Tumblr - that Merrill may be inspired by the Erinyes (also known as the Furies) of Greek mythology, and that she may have been acting on Koschei's behalf (though not necessarily as his true ally, I still think any involvement on her behalf will be complex) throughout ACOSF. The notion that Merrill may be a spy is not a new one, as many of us found her suss right off the bat, but I haven't seen this take on the theory before.

Has Koschei been using Merrill to spy on - or "witness" - the Inner Circle or others, and even possibly on Winter Solstice evening, having been tipped off by Death's shadows (who are monitoring the situation in Velaris), or by using her own ties to the murky realm?

Merrill laughed, that phantom wind around her whispering. "Do you not know who I am, girl?" "I know that you are keeping us from our work," Nesta said with that flat calm she knew made people irate. "And I know that this is a library, but you hoard books like it is your own personal collection." Merrill bared her teeth. "You think I do not know you? The human girl who was shoved into the Cauldron and came out High Fae. The female who slew the King of Hybern and held up his head like a trophy as his blood rained upon her." Surprise lit Gwyn's face at the graphic description. Nesta didn't allow herself to so much as swallow. "The wind whispers to me even here, under so much stone," Merrill said. "It finds its way in through the cracks and murmurs the goings-on of the world in my ear." Merrill snorted. "Do you think you are entitled to do as you please now?" Nesta's power rumbled in her veins. She stomped on it, shoved it down and strangled it. "I think you like to hear yourself talk too much." "I am descended from Rabath, Lord of the Western Wind," Merrill seethed. "Unlike Gwyneth Berdara, I am no lackey to be dismissed." To hell with this witch. To hell with restraint and hiding. - ACOSF, chapter 29

Merrill claims to descend from Rabath, the Lord of the Western Wind, but many - myself and @wingedblooms included - have long questioned whether her "twilight eyes" hint specifically at some sort of Dusk (or Starborn) heritage. Would this be why she is able to understand the wind (which I suspect speaks Wyrd), just as I think both Azriel and Elain can speak the language of "shadow, wind and stone"? Can she also understand shadow and stone, as well, and is this how she was able to hypothetically spy on, and maybe even control Rhys on solstice evening?

In addition to being Chthonic goddesses of vengeance, or personified curses, some sources suggest that the Furies or Erinyes possibly began their mythological lives as the ghosts of the murdered, especially those concerned with children murdering their parents; this ties in nicely with the Slavic Rusalki, which many have discussed in terms of lightsingers (see @silverlinedeyes, @wingedblooms and @merymoonbeam), but it might also fit with the wards set around Velaris, which were made by a past High Lord spilling his blood into the earth as the spell was cast.

No one in the other courts knows of its existence, either.” “How?” “Spells and wards and my ruthless, ruthless ancestors, who were willing to do anything to preserve a piece of goodness in our wretched world.” - ACOMAF, chapter 15

“To preserve it,” Rhys continued, “he kept it a secret, and so did his offspring, and their offspring. There are many spells on the city itself—laid by him, and his Heirs, that make those who trade here unable to spill our secrets, and grant them adept skills at lying in order to keep the origin of their goods, their ships, hidden from the rest of the world. Rumor has it that ancient High Lord cast his very life’s blood upon the stones and river to keep that spell eternal. - ACOMAF, chapter 29

Given what we learnt from Silene in HOFAS, it is unlikely that Merrill was actually the High Lord (Lady) who was sacrificed, but was she their child, or related in some way? Did she possibly wield the knife herself? She was almost certainly high born, we just don't know how high, but regardless - if the Erinyes sprang from Uranus' blood as it hit Gaia/Earth, what if Merrill's metaphorical journey began as the High Lord's blood hit the ground in Velaris?

She knocked on the shut wood door. "Enter." Nesta opened the door to a rectangular cell of a room, occupied by a desk on the far side and two bookshelves lining both long walls. A small pallet lay to the left of the desk, a blanket and pillow neatly aligned. As if the hooded priestess with her back to Nesta sometimes couldn't be bothered to return to the dormitory to sleep. - ACOSF, chapter 13

Merrill turned at that, and Nesta was greeted with a surprisingly young face—and a stunningly beautiful one. All the High Fae were beautiful, but Merrill made even Mor look drab. Hair white as fresh snow contrasted against the light brown of her skin, and eyes the color of a twilight sky blinked once, twice. As if focusing on the here and now and not whatever work she'd been doing. She noted Nesta's leathers, the lack of any robes or stone atop her braided hair, and demanded, "Who are you?" - ACOSF, chapter 13

Gwyn mastered herself enough to say, "I don't know how, but Merrill learned you swapped the book out." She gasped for air as she pointed up to a level high above. "You should go." Nesta frowned. "Who cares? I'm not going to let her scare me off like some errant child." Gwyn blanched. "When she's in a fury, it is—" "It is what, Gwyneth Berdara?" crooned a female voice from the stacks. "When I'm in a fury, it is what?" Gwyn winced, turning slowly as the white-haired beauty appeared from the gloom. Her pale robes flowed behind her as if on a phantom wind, and the blue stone atop her hood flickered with light. Gwyn bowed her head, face paling. "I meant nothing by it, Merrill." - ACOSF, chapter 29

Where Nesta had been in contented silence before we found her, Elain's silence was... hollow. Empty. Her hair was down-not even braided. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen it unbound. She wore a moon-white silk dressing robe. She did not look, or speak, or even flinch as we entered. Her too-thin arms rested on her chair. That iron engagement ring still encircled her finger. Her skin was so pale it looked like fresh snow in the harsh light. I realized then that the color of death, of sorrow, was white. The lack of color. Of vibrancy. I left Cassian and Rhys by the door. Nesta's rage was better than this shell. This void. - ACOWAR, chapter 15

IF Merrill is the ghost of a murdered faerie (or if the fate of the ghost of her ancestor is being used to control her), then the following would make a lot of sense:

Merrill's room was described as a cell - I suspect she may be trapped in service to Koschei, but also that she might be acting as a double agent against him

The dormitories have windows which would allow for easier access to her - maybe she sleeps in her study to avoid unnecessary contact with Koschei winds

She was wearing a hood, and even blinked herself back to the present, which could tie in nicely with both @wingedblooms and my theories that discuss Elain and her powers - specifically the way she appears to blink when she has a vision/comes out of it (here) or the way she may need darkness to access her powers/the murky realm (here)

Merrill has hair the colour of "fresh snow," and Elain's skin was described the same way - death and misery

Elain's "moon white" dressing robe could be further tying her to (as of ACOWAR) an unnamed priestess whose story might intersect with hers one day

Whom might she be seeking vengeance against? Did someone lie to her, or swear a false oath?

Now of course, these could all be plot seeds that have since been given away to others, but I know I'm not alone in thinking that Elain's journey will still involve the priestesses in some capacity, even after the latest couple of books. How important is it that Elain and Merrill might both be able to access the space between, and will they ultimately work together, or against each other? Only time will tell, but I do think it's suspicious that Rhys has been acting off, and "fury" was a "moonless night" on his face. Moonless. Was he - or the person who was hypothetically controlling him - free or hidden from the Mother/Wyrd? Compromised by Death, or the Deathless? Has Merrill been channelling Koschei, or acting as his conduit? Is she the Night Court mole, or a member of the IAFT headcanon that I love so much (shared by @silverlinedeyes and @merymoonbeam), or both?

It has to mean something, even if it's just that Merrill's illustrious ancestor became the Suriel lol. I hope to discuss at least one of the possible theories soon. 🤞🏻

[wingedblooms]

Please SJM give Elain a POV that feels like sinning on a Sunday.

Sometimes, Elain thought she could taste him in the air. Not in the way people taste rain or sweetness, but in the way you taste blood when you bite down too hard, in the way you taste the metal of the knife you press against your tongue just to see if you still can.

She hated the idea of him slipping under her skin, hated how his absence could crawl inside her and settle, like a bruise she couldn't stop pressing.

She wasn’t supposed to want him that much. To think about the weight of his gaze on her mouth. To think about his hands and how they might feel like promises or punishments or both. To Think about the fact that she did this to herself. Over and over. That she made a garden and locked the door and still planted him right in the center. That she lied to herself. That she liked it.

Because she did want him. Gods, she wanted him in ways that made her feel like something unspooling, blooming too fast, wild and too bright. She ached for him with a hunger that didn’t fit the softness everyone saw when they looked at her. She burned for him with teeth and wickedness. With trembling and foolish desperation.

And maybe the worst part of it was that she wasn’t sure which version of herself he saw when their eyes met.

Was she the girl with dirt under her fingernails and too many secrets in her heart? Did he see the cracks she tried to fill with flowers and lace, or did he see the dark, gaping holes she couldn't quite sew shut no matter how many polite smiles she stitched over them?

Sometimes she wanted to scream at him. Look at me like I’m not made of glass. Break me if you must, but make me feel something other than this pretty ache.

She could lie about it. She was good at lying about it.

Inside, the girl she tried to suffocate beneath flowers and good manners stretched out her long, hungry claws and smiled with all her teeth.

And when he turned away, she let herself burn.

[wingedblooms]

Fairytales | @elriel-month

In The Snow Queen, it is Gerda, kind-hearted, brave, and unwavering, who journeys north to save Kai.

Not with weapons.

Not with force.

But with love that refuses to be forgotten.

It’s hard not to see Elain and Azriel in them.

Elain, the light who would walk through ice and snow to bring him back.

Vallahan lies in the cold, distant north. And there’s foreshadowing, so much of it, telling us we may end up there soon.

Maybe that’s where their story will finally bloom.

Because in this fairytale, Elain gets to be the one who saves him.

And Azriel is just waiting for someone who sees him clearly… and still accepts him for who he is not what he is.

Feel free to read more about the theory.

From @acourtofquietdreamers post

As well from @womanexile post

Thank you so much to the gifted @evaroseart for this beautifully imagined piece. It’s pure fairytale magic, and your storytelling through art never fails to leave me in awe. ✨

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Art by @evaroseart

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Commissioned by me

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Please do not repost without permission

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Instagram

⊱❊⊰⁣⁣⁣

[wingedblooms]

Thank you so much for your kindness, @chiefenthusiastwitch 🥹 and this incredible murder garden headcanon. 🔥 I am obsessed.

Here’s to Elain and Azriel doing the dirty work for their court in the next book.

“I think she’s kind, and I’ll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven’t yet seen all she has to offer.” A corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way.” (feysand bonus)

-

Az, he kept for himself as his personal shadowsinger—mostly for spying and his dirty work. (acofas)

[wingedblooms]

Here’s to Elain and Azriel doing the dirty work for their court in the next book.

“I think she’s kind, and I’ll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven’t yet seen all she has to offer.” A corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way.” (feysand bonus)

-

Az, he kept for himself as his personal shadowsinger—mostly for spying and his dirty work. (acofas)

[wingedblooms]

@offtorivendell, your thoughts always bring me back to the fandom even when I am genuinely frustrated with the silence. Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh. Anyway, I agree that Elain has been bound for the continent for a long time (probably since that seed Sarah planted in acotar) and I would love if we found out Mor originally wanted to bring her on the mission to Vallahan.

I also love that this post—unknowingly at the time—brings together two potential plots: the secrets of the Asteri (rotting darkness of the HC) buried in the land and Elain’s sensitivity to it, and future missions on the continent and beyond. It makes perfect sense to me why Elain is paired with Nuala and Cerridwen: their powers thrive in the places where the Asteri buried their secrets, like the underground palace (UTM) they navigated in acotar, and espionage in foreign courts, as in acomaf. Theirs is a different kind of strength. 🌚

First off - I love your blog. The way you connect things for Elain/Elriel is *chef's kiss*. I've been rereading ACOTAR and came across something that might be useful for your theories (or maybe not at all but is, at the very least, interesting or maybe is completely dumb and irrelevant lol). This is also long... so sorry.

In ACOFAS chp. 24, Mor talks about "Rhys's request." She states "her blood called to her" and told her to "Go on the wind." Seems a little witchy to me. Especially because of how she describes witches at the Illyrian war camp.

Now what is VERY interesting happens a few lines down: "She had not mentioned it these past few days in Velaris." At first, it's easy to assume that she's talking about "Rhys's request", but as I'll explain I don't believe this is true. Next: "She knew Azriel would say no, would want her safe. As he had always done." This literally cannot be related to her traveling to the continent for Rhys. In chp. 14 of ACOFAS, we have Rhys's POV and he's talking to Mor. Talking to himself, he says "I debated asking her if she wished to know where AZRIEL AND I THOUGHT she might fo first." Clearly, Azriel is aware of Rhys's plan. This would not be news to Azriel and would not "cast a shadow."

Back to ACOFAS 24, "Cassian would have said yes, Amren with him, and Feyre would have worried but agreed. Az would have been pissed and withdrawn even further into himself. She hadn't wanted to take his joy away from him. Anymore than she already did. "

I think whatever decision she is trying to make has to do with Elain. I don't have a lot to back this up off the top of my head tbh, but Mor's mention of "joy" sticks out to me. We know earlier in ACOFAS, Azriel laughed a very "joyous" laugh. We also know that since that night, he has kept Elain's present to him on his nightstand at the HoW to look at every night. I don't think this is a coincidence. ACOWAR thru ACOSF provides plenty of instances that showcases Azriel's protection of Elain, as you know. Also, the fact that she thinks "Cassian would have said yes" sticks out to me. ACOSF shows that Cassian doesn't want Nesta involved with the trove and goes all alphahole when Azriel says Elain shouldn't mess with it because it would mean Nesta would have to. Cassian agreeing to Elain going with Mor somewhere would mean Nesta wouldn't have to.

What's weird is no mention of Rhys here... which suggests to me that he already knows what's going on with Mor. My thinking is whatever decision she is trying to make has to do with the hissing she shut out a few lines up in the same ACOFAS chapter, as this discussion occurs right after that. It makes me wonder if Elain is somehow involved with that hissing, too...

Finally, "But she'd have to tell them, regardless of what she decided, at some point." This means there are 2 things at work here: 1) the "news" and 2) her decision (which cannot be about going to the continent).

I realize this might make no sense but have you noticed this? Am I overanalyzing? Probably lol. But what could this be about??

Thank you so much for sending this intriguing ask! I’ve been taking a break from tumblr due to a bunch of life stuff, so I greatly appreciate your patience. Your ask inspired me to go back and review these sections before responding and after rereading, I do think the sections you highlighted are focused on Mor and her mission on the continent. BUT, they helped me notice an interesting parallel between Mor and Elain that aligned with something I had in the (at this point, endless) drafts, so please read on.

Warning: spoilers for all three series—TOG, CC, and ACOTAR—are below.

I’ll start with Hewn City, which (in part) seems to motivate Mor to accept Rhys’s request. HC has a different kind of darkness than Velaris. It is described as eternal, rotting, and smothering, and it withers all life. (No wonder those families are eager to get out of there. 😅)

There was no light in this place. There never had been. Even the evergreen garlands, holly wreaths, and crackling birchwood fires in honor of the Solstice couldn’t pierce the eternal darkness that dwelled in the Hewn City.

It was not the sort of darkness that Mor had come to love in Velaris, the sort of darkness that was as much a part of Rhys as his blood.

It was the darkness of rotting things, of decay. The smothering darkness that withered all life. (acofas)

I was struck by this language because it reminded me of Elain’s black dress in HC—the unflattering dress that seems to suck the life from her. But in Velaris? Elain is a curvy, glowing goddess wrapped in amethyst velvet. Is it possible that Elain, like Mor, is bound for adventures beyond HC? Or is Sarah setting us up for one of her infamous contradictions?

With scaled beasts of stone and sneering courtiers, HC is also associated with hissing (we’ll circle back to this when we get to the parts you referred to).

And the golden-haired male standing before her in the throne room, amongst the towering pillars carved with those scaled, slithering beasts—he had been created from it. Thrived in it.

The sneering tone. She could still hear the hissed insults beneath it, whispered long ago in her family’s private suite, whispered at every meeting and gathering when her cousin was not present. Half-breed monstrosity. A disgrace to the bloodline. (acofas)

Even though she was born and raised in this smothering darkness, Mor is eager to escape it. And like everyone else in the IC, she dons a mask of cruelty when she is there. She is never able to be herself there.

The words came out of her without thought. And her voice, the voice she used here … Not her own. Never her own, never down here with them in the darkness. Mor kept her voice just as cold and unforgiving as she corrected, “To what do we owe this pleasure, High Lord.”

This mask is something she is accustomed to now, but we have a hint that it did not come as easily to her as it did for Feyre. The fated High Lady of the Night Court became the mistress of HC with far more ease:

Feyre had fallen into the role of mistress of this horrible city with far more ease than she had. Clad in a sparkling onyx gown, the crescent-moon diadem atop her head, her friend looked every part the imperious ruler. As much a part of this place as the twining, serpentine beasts carved and etched everywhere. What Keir, perhaps, had one day pictured for Mor herself.

It’s also not surprising that Lady Death dominated her first event in the rotting darkness of HC. But the third sister? Like Mor, Cassian indicates that the cruelty of HC bothers Elain. And yet she still insists on going and supporting her family. She dons the equivalent of a black grandma dress and Cassian thinks about how it sucks the light and life out of her…much like the darkness of Hewn City, withering all life.

Mor used to enjoy her role (punishing Rhys’s detractors, especially her family) in HC, but we start to see that change in acowar when her father and Eris grow closer. Then in acofas, their solstice meeting triggers one of her most traumatic memories, possibly because Eris wears the same mask of indifference now as he did then:

Eris wasn’t fazed. Nothing had ever disturbed him, ruffled him. Mor had hated it from the moment she’d met him—that distance, that coldness. That lack of interest or feeling for the world. “Then I would suggest to you, High Lord, that you speak to your dear friend Tamlin about it.”

And like the hissing insults of HC, he is also compared to a serpent.

Eris’s mouth curved in an adder’s smile. “Because Tamlin’s territory is the only one that borders the human lands. I’d think that anyone looking to expand would have to go through the Spring Court first. Or at least obtain his permission.”

While Sarah has hinted that Eris is more complex than what we have been led to believe (we know there is a reason for his behavior), he and his court seem to be as cold and cruel as HC, rotting beneath a beautiful veneer:

Warm, buttery sunlight through the leaves, setting them glowing like rubies and citrines. The damp, earthen scent of rotting things beneath the leaves and roots she lay upon. Had been thrown and left upon.

A pale, beautiful face appeared above her, blocking out the jewel-like leaves above. Unmoved. Impassive. “I take it you do not wish to live here, Morrigan.”

She would rather die here, bleed out here. She would rather die and return—return as something wicked and cruel, and shred them all apart.

He must have read it in her eyes. A small smile curved his lips. “I thought so.”

She wished she could grow claws—grow claws as Rhys could—and rip out that pale throat. But that was not her gift. Her gift…her gift had left her here. Broken and bleeding. (acofas)

Eris’ behavior makes Mor wish to become a monster, like the clawed monsters lurking just beneath the skin of the High Lords. It is also reminiscent of witches, who (as we learned from Cassian) become something other—something cold and wretched. In Erilea, ironteeth witches grow iron teeth and claws, and are known for ripping out throats. Mor specifically wished for claws that can rip out throats…but that was not her gift. Six chapters later, Elain asks about changing form, and in the next book, her sisters note how she seemed to grow claws…

“Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.” (acosf)

And showed some teeth…

“Elain showed some teeth,” I observed. “I wasn’t expecting that.” (feysand bonus)

This reference to claws and teeth reminds me of a few things: court inheritance, as that is what Mor specifically compares it to in this scene; shapeshifting (1, 2); and witches (especially ironteeth witches in Erilea). It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that we first learned about witches in the Illyrian camp, where Mor snorted and stepped aside to reveal Elain after Nesta was accused of being a witch (and of course I’m still hoping something will come of that accusation). Illyrians possess an explosive power (raw killing power that, if not controlled through siphons, can kill the wielder) like ironteeth witches, who have a combination of demon (Valg) and fae heritage. There are theories that Illyrians might have demon and fae heritage as well.

In addition to their solstice experiences in HC, and growing (metaphorical and/or actual) claws, Mor and Elain share other similarities:

golden features and warm eyes

arranged romance with an AC male (via family and/or mating bond)

embodiment of light and color

powers that uncover/verify hidden information (both respond to specific questions and weigh the words of others)

I wouldn’t be surprised if they shared another connection in the future: working as spy and courtier and ambassador to secure peace. The sections you mentioned in your ask seem to refer solely to Rhys’ request for Mor, but the more we learn about the position, the more it seems fitting for Elain as well.

“Az can infiltrate most courts, most lands. But I might need you to win those lands over.” Because the pieces that were now strewn on the table… “Treaty negotiations are dragging on too long.”

“They’re not happening at all.”

.

“You wouldn’t need to be gone for months. Just visits here and there. Casual.”

“Casual, but make the kingdoms and territories realize that if they push too far or enter into human lands, we’ll obliterate them?”

I huffed a laugh. “Something like that. Az has lists of the kingdoms most likely to cross the line.”

.

She glanced sidelong at me. “When would I need to leave?”

“Not for another few weeks, maybe a month.”

She nodded, and fell quiet. I debated asking her if she wished to know where Azriel and I thought she might go first, but her silence said enough. She’d go anywhere.

As the spymaster, Azriel gathers intel from multiple sources and uses that information to protect and serve his court. He already has a list of kingdoms on their “watch list,” and this is what Rhys seems to refer to in this scene. While he might be in possession of this list and the general strategy, Rhys often operates alone and keeps secrets from those he claims as family. It sounds like Azriel does not know that Rhys has asked Mor to carry out this mission, which is similar to him asking Cassian to step in and play spy in the Band of Exiles because Azriel is juggling a lot at the moment…but he still has time to train Valkyries? More likely, it’s hard for him to work closely with Lucien at this point given how he feels about Elain, and Rhys knows that because of his conversation about tracking Lucien’s movements in chapter 7.

Rhys offers this position to Mor because they are trying to establish lasting peace.

“You always have a choice. If you don’t want to go, then it’s fine.”

“And who would do it instead? Amren?” A knowing look. I laughed again.

“Certainly not Amren. Not if we want peace.” I added, “Just—do me a favor and take some time to think about it before you say yes. Consider it an offer, not an order.”

This position requires someone who can win others over, someone who is a peacemaker. Later, Mor describes what this position would entail:

How far away the continent seemed, Rhys’s request with it. To go, to play spy and courtier and ambassador, to see those kingdoms long closed, where friends had once dwelled … Yes, her blood called to her. Go as far and wide as you can. Go on the wind.

Mor would be playing spy and courtier and ambassador (and yes, @whysterian, I agree that go on the wind sounds very witchy 😍…it also sounds a lot like an owl). She seems eager to serve her court in this way, but as Mor thinks about the offer, the hissing voices of her past—her family, Eris—start to invade her thoughts and she shuts them out.

But to leave, to let Keir believe he had made her go with his bargain with Eris … Coward. Pathetic coward. She shut out the hissing in her head, running a hand down Ellia’s snowy mane.

We now know that Mor accepted this mission and it is not going well…

“I’ve spent weeks in that blasted court,” Mor said, poking at the flaky pastry beside her teacup, “freezing my ass off, trying to kiss their cold asses, and their king and queen refused the treaty. I came home on the earlier side today because I knew any more last-minute pushing from me would be unwelcome. My time there was supposed to be a friendly visit, after all.”

because of the human queens:

“Why won’t they sign it?”

“Because those stupid human queens are stirring—their army still isn’t disbanded. The Queen of Vallahan even asked me what the point of a peace treaty would be when another war, this time against the humans, might redraw the territory lines far below the wall. I don’t think Vallahan is interested in peace. Or allying with us.”

And who was tasked with monitoring their activities? Azriel.

Az ran a thumb down Truth-Teller’s black hilt, the silver runes on the dark scabbard shimmering in the light. “What about the human queens?”

“We continue to watch. You continue to watch.”

“Vassa knows that the Queens of the Realm will be a threat until they are dealt with,” I said at last. Another tidbit that Lucien had told us. Well, Az and me at least. “But unless the queens step out of line, it’s not for us to face. If we sweep in, even to stop them from triggering another war, we’ll be seen as conquerors, not heroes. We need the humans in other territories to trust us, if we can ever hope to achieve lasting peace.” (acofas)

But they are stirring again and he can’t tackle this issue on his own (or through the source he might usually interact with). Enter, Cassian. Rhys asks him—the last person you’d expect, who also happens to be dismissed as a loyal dog much like Elain—to play spy out in the open. They need information from a trusted source and that is no longer Lucien, their emissary who is becoming increasingly loyal to the Band of Exiles.

“Az and I have good reason to believe that the human queens are scheming again. I need you to look into it. Deal with it.” (acosf)

.

Rhys went on, “Azriel is juggling more than he’ll admit right now. I’m not dumping another responsibility on him. This task of yours will help him.” Rhys flashed a challenging smile. “And let us all see what you’re really made of.”

“You want me to play spy?”

“There are other ways to glean information, Cass, besides peeking through keyholes. Az isn’t a courtier. He works from the shadows. But I need someone—I need you—standing in the open.

He needs someone who can play spy in the light. Through his spying out in the open, Cassian learns that the three remaining queens have scattered to the winds:

Eris said, “I have it on good authority that the other three queens have scattered to the winds.” Cassian tucked away the information and the questions it raised. How did Eris know that? “Briallyn has been residing alone in their palace for weeks now. Long before my soldiers vanished.” (acosf)

And Koschei, the mastermind whispering on the wind, has been influencing them for quite some time.

“Why was he imprisoned?” Cassian asked. “The story is too long to tell,” she hedged. “But know that Briallyn and the others sold me to him not through their devices, but his. By words he planted in their courts, whispered on the winds.” (acosf)

Most importantly, they are still a concern at the end of Nesta’s story:

But Nesta smoothed his bunched brow, as if she could see those worries there. “Later,” she promised. “We’ll deal with all that later.” Including the remaining queens, Koschei, and a still-looming war. (acosf)

But will Mor and Cassian continue to play spy, ambassador, courtier, etc? Negotiations on the continent are proceeding poorly because of the human queens who have scattered on the winds. What does that mean for the stability of their territories? Someone will need to locate them swiftly and, at some point, convince other leaders not to claim vulnerable territories as their own. Sadly, Cassian’s efforts have yielded little information on the whereabouts of the queens. And Mor can’t seem to leave Vallahan fast enough after her latest attempt to convince their leaders to sign a treaty. Enter, Elain.

Why Elain? We know she wins over others easily (her staff adored her, and everyone and their mom wants to protect her), gets answers to her questions with ease, keeps secrets as well as the spymaster, and routinely surprises others with her stealthy appearance. She can maneuver silently in the light and among the shadows. And unlike her sister, Elain tends to be a calming presence, more of a peacemaker.

“You still can barely talk to Nesta,” I said. “Yet Elain you can talk to nicely.”

“Elain is Elain.”

“If you blame one, you have to blame the other.”

“No, I don’t. Elain is Elain,” he repeated. “Nesta is … she’s Illyrian. I mean that as a compliment, but she’s an Illyrian at heart. So there is no excuse for her behavior.” (acofas)

.

Illyrians were strong, proud, fearless. But peacemakers, they were not. (acofas)

And Rhys hints that, as a gardener, she is willing to get her hands dirty for a pretty result—like peace.

Cassian will likely be occupied with the Illyrians and the Valkyries. Mor, who can hold her own against any illyrian…

There was a reason she’d held her own in battle, and could hold her own against any Illyrian. My brothers and I had overseen much of the training ourselves, but she’d spent years traveling to other lands, other territories, to learn what they knew. (acofas)

…might return to Prythian and join Valkyrie training in Azriel’s place as @offtorivendell predicted in this post.

Mor grinned. “You mind if I start joining you once this business with Vallahan is over? I never got to train with the Valkyries before the first War, and after it, they were all gone.”

“I think the priestesses would like to see you,” Nesta said, and glanced to Cassian to make sure he didn’t mind. He waved a hand. (acosf)

Elain could use her powers to track down the queens (as she did with the Suriel, who traveled like the wind) in real time and play peacemaker on the continent. Spy and courtier and ambassador. This would also bring her closer to her two love interests—one a spy and the other an emissary—and heighten the tension between them. These tasks are even more important with the looming threat of the Asteri (who may be connected to Koschei, creator of chaos and influencer of human queens). Divided as their world is now, they are an even more vulnerable target.

So while I don’t think those sections are about Elain (yet), @whysterian, I do think they might foreshadow her future as a peacemaker who is more than ready to get her hands dirty.