#“cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing”

[acourtofthought]

If you like feral mates:

Touch her, smell her, taste her—

Mine. You are mine, and I am yours. Mate.

But Lucien’s attention went right to the hallway toward the back, his nostrils flaring as he scented Elain’s direction. And who she’d gone with. A low snarl slipped out of him—

His russet eye flashed with simmering rage. An uncontrollable instinct—for a mate to eliminate any threat. But he remained sitting. Even as his fingers dug into the arms of his chair.

If you like protective mates:

Lucien breathed, “Where is he keeping her?” I knew who he meant. I shook my head. “I don’t know. Rhysand has a hundred places where they could be, but I doubt he’d use any of them to hide Elain, knowing that I’m aware of them.” “Tell me anyway. List all of them.” “You’ll die the moment you set foot in his territory.” “I survived well enough when I found you.”

“My mate is none of your concern.”

“She is my mate and in my enemy’s hands—”

If you like mates who believe in the FMC:

But Mor tried again. “There is a reason why Elain is seeing these things. She was right about the other queen turning old, about the Ravens’ attack—why is she being sent this image? Why is she hearing this queen? It must be vital. If we ignore it, perhaps we’ll deserve to fail.” Silence. I surveyed them all. Vital. Each of them was vital here. But me … I sucked in a breath. “I’ll go.” Lucien was staring at Elain as he spoke.

Elain fell into step beside me, peering at Lucien. He noticed it. “I heard you made the killing blow,” he said.

If you like mates who will fight their way across the world to find her:

“I’m going with you,” he said again, face splattered with blood as bright as his hair. “I’m getting my mate back.”

Lucien, haggard and bloody, panting for breath. As if he’d run from the shore. His gaze settled on Elain, and he sagged a little.

If you like concerned mates:

And from the devastation on his face, I knew he’d heard every word. Seen and heard and felt the hollowness and despair radiating from her.

Too thin. She must not be eating at all. How can she even stand?

“Let me do something. About Elain.

“Please tell me,” Lucien said when I crossed the threshold into the foyer. “What the healer says. And if—if you need me for anything.”

“Should we—does she need …?”

If you like loyal mates:

I asked Lucien to escort me, and he’d been more than happy to do so, given that his own status as a mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days.

“I’m a mated male now.”

Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye—the longing and sadness. Then almost two years later -> Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing.

If you like mates who are completely gone for her:

But he couldn’t breathe as she faced him fully. She was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen.

“No—I didn’t have time. I felt her, but …” A blush stained his cheek.

I hereby declare Lucien, King of All Mates

[house-towers-westfall]

bro he's not even IN the night court at the moment... what secrets is he learning? it's not like they're telling him anything except that one conversation feyre had with him in FaS questioning his friend group's name 😭

IM TIRED OF THE SLANDER

[lindyr]

How Elain feels about Lucien vs Azriel:

Lucien:

As Lucien took off his jacket, kneeling before Elain. She cringed away from the coat, from him-

Azriel:

Azriel knelt before her.. gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.”  Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. “Hold tight,” he ordered her, “and don’t make a sound.” Elain glanced between us, but did not tremble. Did not cringe.

Lucien: 

It was the most uncomfortable thirty minutes I could recall. Lucien and Elain sat in stilted silence. Elain had picked up the teacup, and now sipped from it without so much as looking toward him.

Azriel:

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise lounge across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister within it.

Lucien:

She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left.

Azriel: 

Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, "Can you truly fly?" He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, "Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind. " "That’s very beautiful," she said. "Is it not—frightening, though? To fly so high?" "It is sometimes," Azriel said.

Lucien:

And whether she cared about the bruises on his face, she certainly hadn’t let on.

Azriel:

“It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” 

Lucien:

I nudged Elain, who blinked at me, then blurted, “You could come to Velaris.” “You’re welcome to stay for the night,” I said, since Elain certainly wasn’t going to. Lucien lowered his hands into his lap and leaned back in the armchair. “Thank you, but I have other plans.” I prayed he didn’t catch the slightly relieved glimmer on Elain’s face. “I don’t think she’ll tolerate two minutes alone with me.” “He brought you a present.” Those doe-brown eyes turned toward me. Sharper than I’d ever seen them. “And that entitles him to my time, my affections?”

Azriel: 

“I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went. It was three by the time the others went to bed. 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, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight.

Lucien:

My sister rose to her feet. “I should get refreshments.” Lucien rose as well. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m- ” But she was already out of the room.

Azriel:

"I should go," Elain said, but made no move to leave.  

Lucien:

Her brown eyes were wary. Usually, that look was reserved for Lucien.

Azriel:

She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open.

Lucien:

Though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

Azriel:

He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door. Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. 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.” “It's beautiful," she whispered, lifting it from the box. The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red and pink and white. Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?" 

Elain's actions, words, and body language make it clear to me that Azriel is the one she has strong feelings for. Feelings that she simply can't hide.

[yazthebookish]

Why an Elucien rejected bond storyline would be boring

Years ago Sarah briefly discussed Elain and Lucien's mating bond, she changed her plans from having Nesta as Lucien's mate to Elain since she saw there is a great deal of tension, growth and healing to be found for both of them (together).

In my opinion, we are currently seeing them go through the tension stage where there is this distance and strain on both of them due to recent events. Lucien was sexually assaulted by Ianthe and he is settled in the human lands to support Vassa and Jurian. While Elain has to mourn her human life and also the rejection of Graysen (who used the bond against her) + she also grieved her father. It's pretty reasonable for her to feel that resentment and hostility towards the existence of her mating bond with Lucien.

Part 1: As of ACOSF, does Lucien want Elain or did he move on to Vassa?

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

I won't make this part long because it's right there in the text. His longing. He still longs for Elain. He still tries. If he is so occupied and in love with Vassa, what is he doing spending Winter Solstice at Velaris to give his mate a gift instead of the woman he apparently "loves".

"But he lives with Vassa!"

The concept of friends sharing a house does not necessarily mean they're all hooking up, unless Lucien's comment on Vassa and Jurian liking to be at each other's throats is to be taken literal (and he's the third wheel in that scenario). I firmly believe Vassa and Jurian would end up together.

It's clear Lucien has eyes for one female only and that's his mate.

Part 2: Lucien doesn't want the bond and he can't stand it

And that's when arguments are formed based on out of context quotes, because context always matters to get the full picture.

But there she was. His mate. She was nothing like Jesminda. Jesminda had been all laughter and mischief, too wild and free to be contained by the country life that she’d been born into. She had teased him, taunted him—seduced him so thoroughly that he hadn’t wanted anything but her. She’d seen him not as a High Lord’s seventh son, but as a male. Had loved him without question, without hesitation. She had chosen him. Elain had been … thrown at him.

Is it not valid for him to feel conflicted about this entire situation because he is still processing the fact that the female who he fell in love with, who had chosen him, saw him, and accepted all of him, who was beheaded because she loved him, is not his mate? but this stranger is? He is trying to make sense of it. He doesn't know Elain yet.

Looking at her now … She was pale, yes. The vacancy still glazing her features. But he couldn’t breathe as she faced him fully. She was the most beautiful female he’d ever seen. Betrayal, queasy and oily, slid through his veins. He’d said the same to Jesminda once. But even as shame washed through him, the words, the sense chanted, Mine. You are mine, and I am yours. Mate.

His feelings and thoughts and instincts are all clashing at once. That is much evident in this entire scene.

"I can't stand to be in the same room as her for more than two minutes. I can't stand to be in this court and have your mate pay for the very clothes on my back."

This is often taken out of context to point out that Lucien doesn't want the mating bond or he can't stand to be around Elain. As a mated male, it's overwhelming for him to be around her because his instincts clash and he has to keep himself grounded around her. He doesn't know yet how to approach her or what she expects of him. It's extremely awkward and he can't stand it because he still didn't find a common ground with her.

Using this quote to imply he doesn't like her or stand her is absolutely false within the narrative.

I think so. It wasn't just about what he thought—it was the ... feeling. I sensed no ill will, no conniving. Only concern for her. And ... sorrow. Longing.

Part 3: Lucien is responsible for her trauma

Hard disagree on this one.

Even canon points out that the one who told the King of Hybern about Feyre's sisters was none other than Ianthe. This is not to defend Tamlin because he gave her an opening to do whatever she liked and did not hold her accountable in ACOWAR.

Now about Lucien, what power did he have over Tamlin's decisions when we have seen that despite being his friend, there is a power imbalance and Tamlin does lash out at Lucien. Lucien is not a character without flaws, but neither Feyre nor Nesta ever blamed Lucien. Even when Elain says to his face that he betrayed them, Lucien immediately says it was a mistake. He doesn't try to absolve his role in it or explain his actions to her, he calls it as it is.

I disagree with the statement that he is responsible for her trauma, Lucien was nothing but a spectator.

"But, but, he yelled at her and announced that they were mates!"

Cassian again stirred—trying to rise, to answer Nesta’s voice as she held my sister and cried her name again and again. But Elain was staring over Nesta’s shoulder. At Lucien—whose face she had finally taken in. Dark brown eyes met one eye of russet and one of metal. Nesta was still weeping, still raging, still inspecting Elain— Lucien’s hands slackened at his sides. His voice broke as he whispered to Elain, “You’re my mate.”

Right. He yelled at her.

Great reading comprehension.

And it's like we forgot when Rhys said the moment the bond snapped between him and Feyre, if he stayed a second longer he would've damned the consequences and took her with him. As soon as he winnowed back to Velaris the first word he said to Mor after 50 years was "she's my mate".

"Well he shouldn't have said it anyways"

Yeah because it's not like Lucien is a Fae male and the mating bond is something that alters the Fae on a biological level. It overrides their instincts.

Part 4: Elain choosing the mating bond + Lucien will be a disservice to her arc, it won't be a choice unless she chooses Azriel

“but it definitely offers a wealth of things to explore with this concept of freewill and what is true love. Is it something that’s destined? Or is it something that you make? Is it both?”

I like that Sarah briefly discussed the topic of a character's agency when it comes to mating bonds because it's something that has long been discussed in the fandom.

However, I disagree that if Elain chose Lucien it's not truly a "choice" because of the mating bond. We have seen with both Feyre and Nesta that they didn't choose to be with Rhys and Cassian simply because of the bond, the mating bond was just the cherry on top—they loved their mates for who they were.

"Elain's entire journey will be about choice"

Isn't she already making a choice? Isnt she choosing not to pursue the bond? Isnt she choosing to ignore the bond? Isn't she choosing to not reject it? Isn't she choosing how she is living her life in Velaris? Isn't she choosing how she spends her time? Isnt she choosing to garden and help other gardens in Velaris? And I can go on.

Neither Elain or Lucien had a choice in being mated to each other, but the notion that the mating bond left her with no agency over her life is partially incorrect because she is making choices. Yes, the mating does in a way take some of Elain's agency and Lucien's agency since it's something that alters them on a soul-level, but Lucien's agency is often removed from this conversation.

Currently, the ball is in Elain's court and not Lucien's. She currently has the choice of accepting or rejecting the bond.

And in my opinion, "choice" is a theme that is incorporated in the journeys of all the characters, it's not exclusive to Elain. I don't think "choice" is the core of her story because I think Elain's journey should focus on breaking out of the docile and gentle sister mold (not that she stops being gentle, but stopping others from infantilizing her), finding where she truly belongs, realizing who her true found family are, discovering the world (a trip to the continent let's go!).

Part 5: Azriel (warning: controversial)

This will be a bit of a hot topic but I'll do my best to keep it short (it really isn't).

This kind of follows Part 4, but I will tell you why Azriel isn't a "great" choice for Elain.

Yes, they had a sweet companionship and a friendship and that is usually a good foundation for a relationship, but to me there wasn't anything solid or deeper then that. We have to *assume* they had moments off-page, but we also know that they're not spending time together and Azriel confirmed this. So am I going to wait for chapters of flashbacks after flashbacks to see that build up from the past?

Before anyone jumps the gun, I am a hardcore Gwynriel and a hardcore Azriel fan and I fully understand and accept that Azriel is a flawed character who carries so much self-loath. I dont like him with Elain because I believe it's an unhealthy dynamic compared to how lighter and more open he is around Gwyn and this is not something against Elain, it's more tied to how Azriel perceives the logic of 3 sisters + 3 brothers. Dynamics matter and makes a difference between couples because e.g., Chaol and Yrene worked better than Chaol and Celaena. Mismatched pairings exist but it doesn't mean the characters involved wouldn't work out with others.

So how is the male that centered himself in his entire conversation with Rhys instead of prioritizing what Elain wants, is the ultimate choice?

He argued that the Cauldron was wrong because he didn't get the "third" sister while his brothers got her other sisters, and at this point we know Elain is not interested in a mating bond. If she is attracted to Azriel, it has nothing to do with wanting a bond with him because we know how she feels about it but it's Azriel who wants to center the mating bond in it.

So does that mean the relationship from Azriel's perspective wouldn't be complete without a mating bond? Then why is he arguing about this? Wouldn't it be more romantic for him to say I don't care if she is mated or not, I want her for her—but that's not the case here.

Notice that it's Azriel having these discussions about mating bonds and not Lucien who is her mate. and I promise you if it was Lucine having this exact discussion with Rhys, the entire fandom would drag him to no end.

Back to Azriel, so he also says that he hadn't gotten that far with his planning certainly not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to + and said Lucien is not good enough for her and she has not interest in him anyways. Again, he is speaking for Elain when we know one of the big problems surrounding Elain is how others speak for her and assume what she needs. If she doesn't want the mating bond, that's her speech and not Azriel's. I still don't get how people were fine with him speaking for her and I'm not even the biggest Elain fan.

Last but not least, he also was against her scrying despite publicly declaring that no one decides what she can or cannot do and wants to help. Is this truly the "ultimate choice" for Elain? But Lucien's only crime is being mated to her?

Part 6: finally, why Elain and Lucien rejecting the mating bond would be bad storytelling.

So we know that a bond can be rejected, only weakened but it will always exist.

"Elain would have our full protection if she rejects the bond. But it will still be a bond, however weakened, that will trail her for the rest of her existence."

"But he'd know if Nesta were dead. In his heart, his soul, he'd sense it. Would feel it. A mate always did. Even if she'd rejected that bond."

1. There isn't enough time to explore a rejection:

It seems there isn't a ritual or a tradition we are told of about a mating bond rejection, if the female doesn't want it then that's that but it does have a worse impact on males.

As of ACOSF, it's evident Lucien still longs for Elain even if they are distant or occasionally see each other. We know Elain resents the bond but we still don't have her POV to really know what she thinks of Lucien.

What do we get out of a rejected bond with Elain and Lucien? That she just doesn't want him and can say "no"? That she finally has a choice? Even though she is making choices as of the current canon to not explore the mating bond or do anything? I gave examples in Part 4.

And then what? Lucien moved on to Vassa or another female in the next book? That despite a rejection being devastating he's all cool and moved on within months.

No stakes. No challenges. No reprecussions. No consequences. Nothing interesting.

"But it's proof that not every mated pairing works" that would be interesting if we had enough time to discover that but not with two characters that barely spoke to each other and readers have no clue to what kind of dynamic they have.

A rejected mating bond would not be a good story to tell because there wasn't much there to begin with. It's underwhelming.

"I don't want it" "okay cool see you around" < and that's it? Groundbreaking.

"It's a big factor to play into a forbidden romance because Rhys is the obstacle here" easily resolved with one word from Elain and Rhys is removed.

I think Elain and Lucien's mating bond would still be interesting to read about because we never had a mated pairing that knew they were mates but weren't in love yet.

It's giving an arranged marriage trope and the best part about arranged marriage is when the spouses get to know to each other better, they fall harder—I think the tension between Eain and Lucien would be quite delicious and fun to read about as they tip toe around each other and the mating bond.

2. Parallel journeys:

I like what Mor said in ACOFAS and it makes complete sense since it reaffirms that both Elain and Lucien are going on parallel journeys:

Mor drank deeply from her glass. "Stay out of She's not ready, and neither is he, no matter how many presents he brings."

I lifted a brow. "Snoop."

Mor leaned back against the steps, utterly un-repentant. "Let him live with his Band of Exiles. Let him deal with Tamlin in his own way. Let him figure out where he wants to be. Who he wants to be. The same goes with her."

3. Promised HEAs:

SJM already stated that each book going forward will follow different pairings and by the end of their book they'll get their HEA. That's the standard traditional romance formula.

A mate rejection, especially in standalone books, are miserable. Not enough time is given to navigate through it or move on and it also sets an unrealistic and cheap outcome that the other mate could easily move on from the soul-level rejection. No, that doesn't entitle a mate to force their other mate to accept the bond because it would affect them personally, it's just something I think that needs more than a book to discover through the POVs of the characters involved.

This is why a mate rejection is a very rare and an unpopular trope in fiction. There was a temporary mate rejection in the Zodiac Academy series that scarred the ZA fandom because it's depressing.

You have Fated Mates authors like Kresley Cole who published around 21 books with each book including the Fate Mate trope. That's one of ACOTAR's trademark.

Till this day, every SJM character that found out about the mating bond ended up with their mate one way or another. It's an SJM trademark at this point.

4. Then which rejected bond would Sarah explore?

In my opinion, the true rejected bond story that would be extremely emotional, tragic and powerful is the story of Helion and Lady of Autumn.

What they had is the definition of a forbidden romance. Lady of Autumn was married to a High Lord from her Court and Helion wasn't even a High Lord of the Day Court then.

The stakes are extremely high they could've triggered a war between Day Court and Autumn Court. Even though a mating bond triumphs marriage, Lady of Autumn still has children with Beron. She chose her children over her mate in the end. She had to reject the bond because everything stood against them.

While this is currently theoretical but it's strongly pointed at in canon that they're mates.

This makes for a better story of a Rejected Mating Bond because enough time passed to see what were the repercussions, the consequences of their actions and how they both suffered. Do they find their way back to each other in the end or does one of them for whatever reason loses their life? Did Helion have to seek other people to distract him from not being with his mate and her not choosing him? Did their bond weaken?

Conclusion:

I didn't expect this to be long but I hope you enjoyed reading this "essay". The rejected mates storyline is controversial and so many readers feel strongly about it. Everything here reflects my own thoughts and why I think a Rejected Mating bond wouldn't be an interesting one to discover with Elain and Lucien.

I deserve another cup of coffee and on my way to get me one haha. I apologize for any typos in advance.

[acourtofquietdreamers]

“Why don’t you ship Elain with her mate? Don’t you know Sarah is a fated mates author?!”

Let’s take a look at Elain’s mate vs….

The person Feyre pictured with Elain and smiled.

“Autumn Court males have fire in their blood—and they fuck like it, too.”…Lucien caught me cringing at him when her words replayed for the tenth time an hour later…I shook my head, trying not to imagine Elain subject to that…fire.

“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.

The person willing to save her himself.

Lucien was shaking his head, panting, and whirled to us. “Get her back,” he snarled at Tamlin over the ranting of the king.

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

The person who made her feel at ease during their first meeting.

As Lucien took off his jacket, kneeling before Elain. She cringed away from the coat, from him

But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.”

The person she can sit in comfortable silence with.

It was the most uncomfortable thirty minutes I could recall.

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—likely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once he’d sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.

The person who knew she didn’t need anything.

Lucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, “Should we—does she need …?”

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

The person who understood her and saw her when no one else did.

“Did you sense anything?” “No—I didn’t have time. I felt her, but …” A blush stained his cheek. Whatever he’d felt, it wasn’t what we were looking for.

Lucien just stared and stared at my sister, as if he’d never seen her before.

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not…Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.

The person Elain enjoys spending time with.

Elain, at least, would be too polite to send Lucien away when he wanted to help. She was too polite to send him away on a normal day. She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left.

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, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea.

The person she has palpable chemistry with.

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

The person who gives her a gift that she wants to wear right away.

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings.

“It's beautiful," she whispered, lifting it from the box. The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red and pink and white. Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"

The person who looks at her and only thinks of her.

But there she was. His mate. She was nothing like Jesminda.

Soft steps padded from under the stair archway, and there she was. The faelights gilded Elain's unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

This supposed “fated mates author” has made it really difficult for me to ship Elain with her mate when a much more compatible option is right there. Four books with moments that solidify Azriel as the person for Elain, mate or not.

[elainsgirl]

Eluciens seem to have made it their biggest argument that Elain hasn't returned Lucien's gifts. I don't think Sarah has ever written what Elain has done with Lucien's gifts, but we know how Elain reacted to them.

In ACOFAS:

I handed Elain the small box with her name on it. Her smile faded as she opened it. “Enchanted gloves,” she read from the card. “That won’t tear or become too sweaty while gardening.” She set aside the box without looking at it for longer than a moment. And I wondered if she preferred to have torn and sweaty hands, if the dirt and cuts were proof of her labor. Her joy.

In ACOSF:

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

It's just sadness and no trace of her newfound boldness. Shrinking into herself. This isn't tension or angst. It's sad.

Compare that to "put it on me?" and getting wet from Azriel touching her neck.

Both Lucien and Azriel got Elain jewelry last Solstice. And her reactions to them is complete opposites. One is romantic, the other is just sad.

Hey anon 🫶

Elain is too polite to return Lucien’s gifts, she doesn’t even tell him to go away - simply stays quiet hoping he gets the hint and leaves himself - so idk why elucien stans think she would return his presents. And before anyone says “but she returned Azriel’s!” She was deeply hurt & embarrassed. It was an emotionally charged action where as with Lucien you get nothing. No emotion. Nothing said. Which is worse, because it shows how Elain truly does not gaf about Lucien and isn’t impressed or even affected by anything he does for her.

The fact Elain was smiling when receiving the box but it faded as she opened it because they were literally just gloves. In hindsight, sure it was a thoughtful but very surface level gift. Like getting your artist friend a set of simple paints. Its a good gift but generic. Plain. Shows how little thought went behind it. And here, Sjm tells us why Elain may not have liked the gift, because she liked getting her hands dirty. And I feel as though there’s two ways to interpretate that sentence: 1) Elain likes feeling the dirt as proof of her labour since it makes her feel capable of doing something. It shows her work, effort etc - it could be her way of making up for how she barely/couldn’t do anything during the archerons poverty era. 2) for someone ladylike, who would have been taught by her mother to always keep her hands clean and mess-free, gardening without gloves - feeling the dirt, could be Elains way of rebelling against her mother and her upbringing.

Anyways, this is why Eluciens have to make Luciens gift deep by saying he got her gloves cause he knows Elain “self h4rms.” And where does this come from? Feysands bonus where Elain got hurt by a thorn. What they missed is the fact, Elain wore gloves. They simply tore. She wasn’t gardening without gloves disproving that take.

Both Lucien and Azriel getting Elain jewellery in acosf was done on purpose by Sjm. To show readers how Elain feels about Lucien and Azriel. As you pointed out, Elain loses her boldness and simply sets the pearls aside. She doesn’t admire them. Yet with Azriel’s necklace? “It’s beautiful” “put it on me?”. Elain wants Azriel. She doesn’t want Lucien and that was Mass’s final way of making it clear to her readers.

The funny thing is, Sjm could have written a scene where Cassian catches Elain staring at the pearls, admiring them then blushing once realising Cassian was observing her. She could have had Feyre see Elain putting the gloves on or taking them out of the box - again, admiring them. Yet you get nothing. We do not know what Elain does with the gifts but we know how she feels and thats what matters the most. So whilst Eluciens can go on and twist it to be romantic that Elain hasn’t returned Luciens gifts because she secretly likes them or hates how well he knows her - those are HCs, completely made up and are not supported by canon material from the books. Its made up bs to make elucien seem deep & interesting when in reality they’re not any of those things.

[starsreminisce]

Elain ACOSAF Solstice

Elain looked over a shoulder at me as we entered the foyer, then turned left— to the dining room. In the sitting room across the way, all conversation halted at the smell of food. “Why wouldn’t I be all right?” she asked, a smile lighting up her face. I’d seen those smiles before. On my own damn face.

Elain ACOSF Solstice

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

It's ironic that some blame Lucien for causing Elain to withdraw further into herself when all he did was give her a present, treating him as though he isn't her mate.

As if Lucien couldn't sense when something was wrong. As if he didn't have a direct connection to her soul. As if he had discouraged her from searching for the trove. As if he vowed to keep a watchful eye on her while Nesta searched for the mask. As if he had remained silent when she mentioned needing to reconnect with her powers.

As if he couldn't see her.

Despite Lucien's absence for most of the year, Elain seems unwilling to be seen by the one person who would just know if something was amiss.

And why would she? She's absolutely fine, right?

[famouscyclenerd]

"The male protagonist doesn’t think about other women in a romantic or sexual way AFTER meeting the female protagonist."

U sure about that?

Azriel after he met Elain:

She took a sharp breath, and I could have sworn Azriel inched closer at the sound. (...) Mor's voice cracked, and again Azriel subtly shifted nearer to her, though his face revealed nothing. (Elain was present)

"No," Azriel said. Mor raised her brows, and a faint color stained Azriel's tan face.

Azriel just stared after Mor, distant and bored. I wondered if he was as much of a mess inside as I was.

Mor appeared at the edge of the crowd - her own features set in smug satisfaction. Even as Azriel approached her side, standing too close to be casual."

She wore a gown of pure white, little more than a slip of silk that showed off her generous curves. Indeed, a glance over her shoulder revealed Azriel staring blatantly at the back view of it, Cassian and the stranger already too deep in coversation to notice what had drawn the spymaster's attention. For a moment, the ravenous hunger on Azriel's face made my stomach tighten.

Even if Azriel was the one trying his best not to stare at her.

(...) Not the cold, beautiful shadowsinger who tried so hard not to watch her with longing on his face?

But beneath it, I could see the images that haunted him: the hand Mor yanked away, her weeping, distraught face as she had screamed at Rhys.

Az, to his credit, gave Mor a smile of thanks, a blush creeping over his cheeks, his hazel eyes fixed on her. I looked away at the heat, the yearning that filled them. (Elain was present)

"Did you tell Elain?" Before Feyre could reply, Azriel said, "What about Mor?"

"Where's my beautiful Mor?" Az said tightly, "Away."

Rhysand blinked. "What of Mor, Az?" Azriel ignored the question.

Lucien after he met Elain:

"I'm a mated male now."

Given that his own status as a mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days.

But he couldn't breathe as she faced him fully. She was the most beautiful female he'd ever seen.

Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye - the longing and sadness.

Cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing.

[acourtofthought]

"Gone to the mat again and again to fight for that future with Feyre"

Rhys may have stepped back and kept his distance for months when he thought Feyre would be happy with Tamlin but what Cassian said is true, Rhys did consistently show that he was willing to fight for Feyre.

Lucien fighting for his future with Elain:

Lucien breathed, "Where is he keeping her?"

"I don't know. Rhysand has a hundred places where they could be, but I doubt he'd use any of them to hide Elain, knowing that I'm aware of them." "Tell me anyway. List all of them."

"You'll die the moment you set foot in his territory." "I survived well enough when I found you."

"I need to find her."

I asked Lucien to escort me, and he'd been more than happy to do so, given that his own status of mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days".

"I'm getting my mate back."

"Tell me about her - about Elain," Lucien said quietly.

"My mate is engaged to a human male." I want to see her. Just once. Just-to know." "To know what?" "If she is worth fighting for. And then I'll ask your mate how he survived it - knowing you were engaged to someone else. Sharing another male's bed."

"I would like to see them first. I know you're anxious -" "Just do it," Lucien said, bracing his forearms on the stone rail of the veranda. "Come get me when she's ready."

But Lucien was standing in the doorway. And from the devastation on his face, I knew he'd heard ever word. Seen and heard and felt the hollowness and despair radiating from her.

Lucien stiffened - not at what I'd said, I realized, but at the tone. A hostess. But he asked, "What of - Elain?" "I need to think about it," I answered plainly.

"I would never hurt her."

"She needs fresh air." "We'll judge what she needs." "Take her to the sea. Take her to some garden. But get her out of this house for an hour or two."

"I sensed no ill will, no conniving. Only concern for her. And ... sorrow. Longing."

"Let me do something. About Elain. I heard - from my room. Everything that happened just now. It wouldn't hurt to have a healer look her over. Externally and internally."

"Please tell me," Lucien said when I crossed the threshold into the foyer. "What the healer says. And if- if you need me for anything."

"I'll go." Lucien was staring at Elain as he spoke.

Lucien, haggard and bloody, panting for breath. As if he'd run from the shore. His gaze settled on Elain, and he sagged a little.

"I heard - what happened. I'm sorry for your loss. All of you."

"I heard you made the killing blow."

Lucien now stood in the sitting room, close to Elain's side.

"How is she?" "Good. But is she still..." A muscle flickered in his jaw. "Does she still mourn him?

Lucien had encountered him, I realized. Somehow, in living with Jurian and Vassa at the manor, he'd run into Elain's former betrothed. And managed to leave the human lord breathing.

"The bigger box is for you. The smaller one is for her."

Cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. "

Two years after their bond snapped "he tried to hide his disappointment and longing."

From the start of their bond snapping until where we are currently at in the series Lucien is still fighting for Elain.

Is he being pushy? No, because that's not what would best for a female who recently had a broken engagement with someone she loved.

But does he still think of her? Does he still long for her? Has he been loyal to only her?

That is the author showing us that Lucien remains committed to their bond, he is fighting for their bond.

Authors do not write loyal kings as not ending up with their HEA and Elain will always be able to take comfort in the fact that he wanted her, he waited for her, he allowed her to set the pace of things while he suffered for her.

That is how you write a real love story. Not a guy who rejected her at the first real test to their love as Graysen did, not a guy like Az who hadn't thought of a future with her beyond his sexual fantasies and proceeded to feel a spark in his chest at the thought of another female's happiness mere hours after he rejected Elain.

Lucien is loyal to Elain regardless of what he's getting out of the situation and that's exactly what we saw from both Rhys and Cassian with their mates.

[hopelesslyhopeful11]

Azriel: Elain and Lucien’s Secret Number One Shipper

So, we know that Feyre, Rhysand, Cassian, Mor, and Elain herself are all big Elucien supporters with some of the classic lines of:

“But he is a good male…He cares for you…You don’t give him the chance to even try to do so.” ACOFAS Chapter 18

“You know them better than I do. But I will say that Lucien is loyal—fiercely so.” ACOWAR Chapter 24

“My money’s on yes,” Cassian said. “Want to make a wager” in response to Lucien showing up for Elain in ACOFAS Chapter 11 and “Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing” ACOSF Chapter 58

“Let him live with his Band of Exiles. Let him deal with Tamlin in his own way. Let him figure out where he wants to be. Who he wants to be. The same goes with her.” ACOFAS Chapter 18

“What can I get you Elain?”… “Sunshine” ACOWAR Chapter 29

But who would have thought that Azriel himself would be the biggest Elucien fan? See below:

Did Azriel, himself, just admit that in order for the full depth of Elain to be visible, she needs to have her mate, heir to the day court with the power of sunlight, be an amplifier by her side?

Is this why her mind is full of flowers that are blossoms waiting for bloom?

Because after all, what is the number one thing to make flowers bloom?

Seems like Azriel is Team Elucien

[lady-embers]

Lucien, Elain, Jurian, & Vassa

I think people forget this line when it comes to shipping Lucien and Vassa together:

“I asked Lucien to escort me, and he’d been more than happy to do so, given that his own status as a mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days.”

And Lucien also said this when talking with Ianthe:

“I’m a mated male now.”

Those happened in ACOWAR BTW.

Also, in ACOSF, Cassian notes this about Lucien when he gives Elain her Solstice gift from him:

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing.

And that was after he said this to Nesta when she asked about Jurian and Vassa:

“At each other’s throats, as they like to be,” he said, a tad sharply. <---- and this 'being at each other's throats' is a typical thing Sarah does for couples who will more than likely end up together.

Those things happened after the halfway point in ACOSF, and we know Elain rejected Azriel's gift he gave her later that night after their encounter which signals an ending between anything that was previously brewing between them (not that there was much anyways since Azriel himself said it was all lingering stares and brief fingertip touched and he'd been keeping away deliberately).

We also know Elain has appeared to keep the gifts Lucien has gotten her. One gift that was a pair of enchanted gloves that was a well thought out and suitable gift for his mate who loves to garden. Which means she's still open to him, despite appearing uncomfortable around him because that can always change and she can grow new feelings for Lucien.

So it's safe to assume that it will be Jurian and Vassa, not Lucien and Vassa, and Elain and Lucien endgame pairings given the evidence from ACOWAR and ACOSF.

[merymoonbeam]

What do you think about Elain returning everything that Azriel has given her, but has kept everything Lucien gave her?

Also, do you think Elain returning the necklace in the bonus chapter is the authors way of showing Elain rejecting/done with Azriel and the reason we didn’t get other interactions between the two for the rest of ACOSF?

Hello anon.

You have the answer to that Lucien part of the question in the books why she "keeps" them.

Elain, at least, would be too polite to send Lucien away when he wanted to help. She was too polite to send him away on a normal day. She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left.

And for azriel part you again need to compare it to every lucien gift she gotten. Examples:

Acofas

“Enchanted gloves,” she read from the card. “That won’t tear or become too sweaty while gardening.” She set aside the box without looking at it for longer than a moment. And I wondered if she preferred to have torn and sweaty hands, if the dirt and cuts were proof of her labor. Her joy.

Acosf

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

But with Azriel:

But tonight, here in the dark and quiet, with no one to see…He pulled the small velvet box from the shadows around him. Opened it for her.  Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.  The golden necklace seemed ordinary -- its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. 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.  “It's beautiful," she whispered, lifting it from the box. The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red and pink and white. Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"  

So as you can see she let him put in on her...they almost kissed but rhys stopped them and azriel called it "a mistake". And she returned the necklace not bc she rejected him but because she thought he rejected her.

And returning it is not a rejecting/being done way. Look at nesta and cassian gift scene in acofas. Nesta rejects the gift to his face and cass literally throws it to sidra. So I think we are good with a little misunderstanding between Elain and Azriel.

He was grateful the streets were empty when he hurled that box into the Sidra. Hurled it hard enough that the splash echoed off the buildings flanking the river, ice cracking from the impact.

And as for everything has given by azriel...tt was just for that day as told in the books. Anyways...

[inlovewithquotes]

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian's heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien's face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

-Cassian

[shadowqueenjude]

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. “You left us.” “I hadn’t realized I was a villain in your narrative,” Lucien breathed. Thoughts slammed into me, images and memories, a pattern of thinking and feeling that was old, and clever, and sad, so endlessly sad and guilt-ridden, hopeless— Lucien’s sigh ruffled my hair. “It will claim his own powers, maybe kill him. Magic is all about balance. It’s why he couldn’t interfere with your bargain with Rhysand. Even the person who tries to sever the bargain faces consequences. If he’d kept you here, the magic that bound you to Rhys might have come to claim his life as payment for yours. Or the life of someone else he cared about. It’s old magic—old and strange. It’s why we avoid bargains unless it’s necessary: even the scholars at the Day Court don’t know how it works. Believe me, I’ve asked.” “For me—you asked them for me.” “Yes. I went last winter to inquire about breaking your bargain with Rhys.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I—we didn’t want to give you false hope. And we didn’t dare let Rhysand get wind of what we were doing, in case he found a way to interfere. To stop it.” “I tried. I begged him for mercy. He didn’t listen. He couldn’t listen.” “And what of the brother you hunted down alongside me? The one whose lover you helped to execute before his eyes?” Eris laid a hand flat on the table. “You know nothing about what happened that day. Nothing.” “Get that pitying look off your face,” Eris snarled softly. “I know what sort of creature my father is. I don’t need your sympathy.” Eris picked at a stray thread on his jacket. “Not all of us were so lucky in our friends and family as you, Rhysand.”

Screaming sobbing throwing up How did Feyre's heart not crack open Why am I doing this to myself

[dottielovegood]

Canon question: do you think that Lucien (and literally all of the IC) knows she wants nothing to do with him? Or do you think that he’s legitimately holding onto hope?

Short answer: 

I do think that Lucien is aware of Elain’s feelings regarding the mating bond. She hasn’t exactly hidden her discomfort and I’m pretty sure that her discomfort makes him uncomfortable too. 

Does that mean that Lucien has lost hope? I don’t think so. 

Long answer: 

We have to remember that the fae have grown up with stories about finding your mate, whereas humans have not. It is said that mates are very rare (even though SJM seems to hand out mating bonds like candy on Halloween), and if you find your mate, you should treat the mating bond as a gift. Sure, we know that not all mating bonds are equal, but I do think that faeries hope to find not only their mate, but their soulmate (like Feysand and Nessian). I mean, who wouldn’t wish for fate/the mother/the cauldron to find them their perfect partner? Also, since you have a physical bond with your mate, and do think that it’s only logical to hope that there will be an emotional bond too. I think males especially hope for this since they can go crazy if the bond is rejected. Somehow, it seems to affect males more than females, which might be important to take into consideration when discussing the bond between Elain and Lucien. 

Also, just think of all the fucking trauma Lucien has endured.  He’s born a bastard (even though he doesn’t know it) and has been treated badly his whole life. His own brothers tried to kill him. His family killed the only female he has ever loved. He tried to help Tamlin when Feyre was “taken” by Rhysand, and he didn’t realize his mistake until it was too late. Then, when Feyre returned to the Spring Court, he knew that she was up to something but he still helped her escape in order to get to his mate. He chose his mate over Tamlin, only to find a broken girl who was still mourning her humanity and her fiancé and wanted nothing to do with him.

AND THEN when he tries to show her kindness, she clearly isn’t interested. Yet he continues to show up for her. I think it pains him greatly that Elain is so uncomfortable around him and I think that’s why he’s made sure to put distance between them. It’s probably easier to not think about the mating bond if he doesn’t have to see his mate all the time.

I mean, I would probably also go and live somewhere else if this was my mate’s reaction to my christmas gift. Not because she’s ungrateful, but because I wouldn’t want to be the reason why she’s uncomfortable:

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

We also have this quote that shows that he has stopped trying to “bridge the gap between them”:

Elain, at least, would be too polite to send Lucien away when he wanted to help. She was too polite to send him away on a normal day. She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left. As far as I knew, he hadn’t come within touching distance since the aftermath of the final battle. No, she tended to her gardens here, silently mourning her lost human life. Mourning Graysen.  How Lucien withstood it, I didn’t know. Not that he’d shown any interest in bridging that gap between them. 

I think that he’s trying to build a life he can be happy with even if Elain decides to reject their mating bond. I think that there is a chance that he might be interested in Vassa, but I also think that he might be holding onto hope that Elain will change her mind. But he’s also a gentleman, and he’s clearly staying away because he knows that he’s making Elain uncomfortable. A lesser man would have forced her to spend time with him, but Lucien is clearly better than that.

I think that if a person has gone through as much trauma as Lucien, you need hope just to survive. I think he understands that she might reject the bond, but there’s probably still a small kernel of hope somewhere in his heart. 

My mother always says that “hope is the last thing that leaves a person”, and I think that’s true. If I put myself in Lucien’s shoes, I would hope that my mate would give me a chance. Even if we didn’t work out together, I still would hope that she would want to get to know me, because I would want the kind of mating bond that Feysand and Nessian have. Lucien has been treated with cruelty for so long, I think it’s understandable that he might be longing for love and someone to belong to. Also, we don’t know if Lucien knows that Elain is interested in Azriel. For all we know, he might think that she’s against the mating bond because she’s still mourning her humanity. In ACOSF, we saw her come out of her shell, but since Lucien wasn’t there, he hasn’t seen how she’s grown more comfortable in her own skin. 

I also think it’s proof of his hope that he visits her on holidays and brings her gifts (like the enchanted gloves), even though he gets nothing in return. 

I do feel for Lucien. I am clearly an Elriel girlie, but I actually really like Lucien and I hope that SJM has a happy ending planned for him. I think he’s a very interesting character and I can’t wait to learn more about him. And who knows, maybe I’m wrong and he’s in a committed throuple with Vassa and Jurian and they are just living their best lives in the human lands? 😏

(I could write so much more, but I need to stop somewhere 😅)

[princesserene]

The same Cassian who's "heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing (for Elain)"?

Ain't no way...

It's also always the insane amount of likes on such bs takes. People like to be dumb apparently.

I am not even sorry for my words because sometimes TikTok is a trashbin honestly.