#Archer Lucien

[staid-skipper]

Captain Archer Lucien [He/Him]

[acourtofthought]

Sarah and her team getting readers excited about the Fated Mates trope:

[rockieriel]

ive gotta get netflix before my next wisdom teeth removal cause i'm running out of adult animation shows to watch while i suffer

[dragonbored]

i’m currently playing an imperial mage dragonborn, first save was an orc archer with mage lucien flavius + erik the slayer as followers, not Opposed to playing with lucien again but i’m considering what other follower mods would be good? i know of the most popular ones but i generally stick to a mage/warrior/archer trio w myself n followers OR have followers similar to my own character (ie mage/mage duo) and idk what fight styles other modded followers use

[isamajor]

[ofcelestiials]

4, 13, 19, 31, 56 ( any characters ! )

4. what’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?

growing up and all throughout high school, aveira took to painting mostly as a form of emotional release but it was something she really enjoyed doing. she never thought she would be able to make something of herself if all she did was paint, though, so she stopped and decided to focus on school.

13. when do they fake a smile? how often?

archer fakes a smile literally any time he's around wes and can't afford to be mean to him around other people <3

19. what would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?

salem would probably try her best to make small talk while still tip-toeing around the reason why she's been avoiding them in the first place. the girl does not like confrontation.

31. when do they feel the most guilt? how do they respond to it?

lucien definitely feels the most guilt after not being able to protect his brother from getting hurt. sure, 9 times out of 10, the situation is entirely out of his control, but that doesn't stop the guilt from eating him alive. because he doesn't like feeling guilty, he'll usually try to mask these feelings by being even more of an ass than he already is

56. if they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

if ryan is scared, he's probably turning to his sister for comfort. being twins, the pair have always been very close -- even if he does get on her nerves a lot. he knows he can always depend on her, no matter what's eating at him.

[elrielffs]

“Why would I want to read a romance that started from someone else pov?”

Nessian had scenes before ACOSF. Next.

“SJM’s Pinterest board doesn’t have—“

It didn’t have Nessian either. Next.

“Lucien is SJM’s favorite character and she wouldn’t do that to him!”

False. It’s Aelin and Rhysand. Not to mention they are all her characters and SJM hasn’t mentioned Lucien in interviews or written about him in years.

Next.

“Lucien and Vassa can’t be together because of their different lifespans!”

Elide and Lorcan. Feyre was originally human. Next.

“Feysand and Nessian didn’t like each other at first!”

But they still sought each other out and didn’t shrink in each others company. Next.

“SJM is a mates author!”

Dorian and Manon. Lysandra and Aedion. Elide and Lorcan. Chaol and Yrene. Nesryn and Sartaq. Next.

“Spark and ‘most beautiful ever seen’ mean mates!”

Lorcan sparked for Aelin. Feyre sparked for Tamlin. Cassian sparked at the idea of Nyx having Illyrian wings.

Aelin called Archer Finn the most beautiful man she had seen.

Not to mention all the mated couples where these sentences don’t happen.

Next.

“The shadows hate Elain!”

The shadows that wanted to strike Nesta after arguing with Elain? The shadows that wingman-ed Azriel? The shadows that lit up across the room from Elains smile/laughter? Those shadows? Next.

“The shadows danced for Gwyn!”

The shadows danced for Bryce’s iPod. Next.

Next. Next. Next.

[paintlesscanvas]

SPACE SNPTS . .

system names: the solar system, the abyssal dwellers, those that rove around on mars, the satellite system, the wormhole weirdos, the milky way, the universe, the supernova collective, the space invaders, the astronauts, team rocket, extraterrestrials, the space crew, the system that was taken by aliens, the collapsing galaxy, the nebula, the alien system, the binary stars, the collapsing stars, the chaotic cosmos, the globular cluster, the rocky orbit, the blustering asteroid, the astronomer collective, the royals of the universe, the dwarf planets, the runaway ship, the intergalactic committee, comet children, solar satellites, the [ number ] planets, the fallen rocket, stargazers, nasa, the remnants of a nebula, the stuck-in-space system, the crashed rocket ship, the shadow of a blackhole, those blinded by the stars, the nasa engineers, the infinite system, those that are lost in the void, the cosmic crusaders, the astral adventurers, the meteor shower, the [ planet ] collective, those on the moon, the rocket scientist system, blasting off, the astro-nots, those in awe of the stars, the aurora borealis, the earthlings, the constellations, the children of the moon, the telescope lurkers, the organisms in space, specs of stardust, drifting through the void, the silence of space

usernames: cryingcosmos, driftingdust, crateronthemoon, nogrxvity, lunarlove, astronomyyy, iamastar, cxsmiccrater, galaxygal, junipiter, kissedbystars, m00ndust, grrnantennae, beepbooop, totalatomizer, thebinarystar, inaufobeam, takenbyaliens, spaceismyplace, astrological, striinights, lostinthevoid, starsrfriends, cxsmicdxath, whereaminow, stuckinspace, lostintheship, 321blastoff, leftbehindinspace, cometchiild, nomorenova, leftoverspacedust, madeofstardust, eyesofstars, princeofthemoon, queenofmars, shootingstxrs, cloudofdust, moonpriints, solareclxpse, milkywaykid, galaxygaze, lostastronaut, astron0t, sweetstarrr, hesmadeofstars, earthtome, downtoearth, www.nasa.com, nasa_nyx, nasadevotee, httpsmooncords, tuneonthemoon, jarofstarrrs, farawaygalaxy, starringmytea, planetsinmytea, starryb0ba, spacekween13, qonstellat1ons, galactea, splinteredstarlight, lunarcloud, plutoprincess, marsr0cks, satellitesweeper, gleepgloorp, theinfinitevoid, worrrmhole, st4rg4zer, blackholebxtch, poppopplanet, fieryblazingsun, br1ghtsunrays, lasergunnn, keypadcodee, solarfl4re, stardustinmyveins, collapsinggalaxy, chaoticcosmos, andromedaaa, orbitingyyou, biiigdipper, liiittledipper, uursamajor, uursaminor, scalyscorpiio, gemeniiiii, totesatauras, capricornnn, slayggitarius, crabbycancer, aaacutius, actuallyaries, litrlyleo, vivaciousvirgooo, mystarchartsays, lusciousleo, princesspisces, mmaybemercury, vvixievenus, eeeeitsearth, eccentricearthling, imanearthling, themoonchild, memoriesofmars, jupiterstupider, joypiter, jupiiiit3r, putaringonit, ssoooossaturn, sillysaturn, ringsringsrings, uuuuranus, neptuning, neptwo, cuteopluto, ubersupernova, atomsplitter, microscopic, studyingstars, actuallyintheabyss, throughthetelescope, astroaroundus, lunarlunatic, solarspotsss, starsinmyheart, swirlsinspace

names: abyss, aloea, altair, andromeda, atlas, archer, arian, aster, asterion, asterix, astra, astraea, astrophel, atom, aurora, aquila, bael, bellatrix, blaze, burst, caelum, carina, celeste, celestia, comet, comette, constellation, cosmos, crater, dai, dawn, dipper, dorian, draco, dusk, dust, elio, eris, eclipse, estelle, estrella, etherea, flare, galaxy, galaxae, gamma, gem, grim, haumea, indus, ixion, janus, kepler, knox, lepus, leo, lucien, luna, lunar, lyra, lynx, merak, meteor, mira, moon, nebula, nebulae, nix, nocturne, noire, nova, orbit, orcus, pandora, pavo, phobos, phoenix, procyon, pulsar, pyxis, quark, quasar, ray, reid, rho, rigel, rinn, sawyer, sedna, sirius, skye, solar, solaria, star, stardust, starla, stella, steren, supernoca, tucana, uni, universe, ursa, void, vela, volans, zade, zaire, zenith, zeta

pronouns: space/spaces, planet/planets, universe/universes, nebula/nebulas, star/stars, shine/shines, shimmer/shimmers, sun/suns, gas/gas', heat/heats, burn/burns, void/voids, cosmo/cosmos, explode/explodes, float/floats, drift/drifts, dust/dusts, comet/comets, asteroid/asteroids, moon/moons, eclipse/eclipses, orbit/orbits, galaxy/galaxys, andromeda/andromedas, solar/solars, lunar/lunars, shootingstar/shootingstars, constellation/constellations, planet/planets, mercury/mercurys, venus/venus’, earth/earths, mars/mars', jupiter/jupiters, saturn/saturns, uranus/uranus', neptune/neptunes, pluto/plutos, supernova/supernovas, quasar/quasars, ufo/ufos, alien/aliens, rocket/rockets, fuse/fuses, spacedust/spacedusts, abyss/abyss’, nova/novas, lune/lunes, astro/astros, scope/scopes, void/voids, ray/rays, pulse/pulses, neutron/neutrons, atom/atoms, glow/glows, vortex/vortexs, wormhole/wormholes, celestial/celestials, telescope/telescopes, see/sees, vision/visions, swirl/swirls, beam/beams, infinite/infinites, eternal/eternals, silent/silents, forever/forevers, vast/vasts, gravity/gravitys, interstellar/interstellars, sunspot/sunspots

titles: the infinite, prn who shines in the night, prn of stars, whats left of a supernova, the big dipper, the little dipper, prn who walks on stardust, the comet, drowning in stardust, prn who made the prints on the moon, the astronomer, prns stardust, the lunar eclipse, the cosmos, bathed in the glow, dancing through saturn’s rings, the ursa major, the ursa minor, mesmerized by mars, the ship’s brightest laser, the shooting star, prn who is made of stars, the alien on the ship, drifting through space, the creator of constellations, the astronaut, prn who floats through space, a blazing sun, prn who explores the galaxy, the thing in the galaxy, prn that created stars, the one who made the milky way, the aurora borealis, the one in space, the endless, prn who floats, the big bang, prn who waits in the wormhole, prn who walks amongst stars, the dimmest star, the curious, the beautiful stars, prn who fixes the ship, a new star, prn who encounters an alien, the atomsplitter, the one who found a new planet, the stargazer, the one who landed on the moon, lack of gravity, a meteor shower, prn who searches in the stars, prn who looks through the telescope, the admirer of stars, a new constellation, the glow of a star, the exploration of space, the explosion of nebulae, the spark of stars, prn made of matter, the burning sun, a fiery meteor, the moons reflection, a planet orbiting, the cosmic collision, the light in the sky, the flash of a ufo, prn who gets captured by the beam, prn who meets the aliens, the brightest star in the sky, the center of the universe, the interstellar traveler, prn that studies the stars

[setarmare]

Randumb headcanons

1. Nebarra teaches Secunda how to fight when camping. He says it's because her melee style is so pathetic it makes an old elf cry, but it's really because he cares, and the last time Secunda ran out of magicka mid-battle...

2. Lucien likes to read every book they pick up on their adventures. Eris doesn't read due to her lack of vision, but she stands by Lucien's tent to overhear him read the books out loud (as he does by habit). Lucien, realizing this, begins to leave his tent open and 'not notice' Eris standing right outside.

3. When Lucien moved into Dumzbthar for a bit, Remiel insisted on coming along. The only reason why she wasn't able to is because everyone else can imagine what horrors would come from leaving Remiel and Lucien in a dwemer ruin unsupervised.

4. Remiel and the Knight of the Void are both insomniacs, and chances are, they're sharing nightwatch duty. The Knight finds the clicking and clacking of Remiel's machines to be relaxing, while Remiel walks her through her invention of the evening. Turns out, the Knight is a good sounding board for upgrade ideas.

5. Auri often listens to the trees, a rare silent moment when she closes her eyes and feels the breeze pass through the leaves. Caryalind once asked Auri about this, and now, they listen to the trees together, hanging at the back of the group and feeling the sunlight on their skin

6. Taliesin sees Remiel as a little sister. A troublesome, constantly distracted, little sister. While he won't let her try her hand at enchanting Berwhale, he is more than happy to show her how to do powerful enchantments for Scrap.

7. Inigo is a very honest person, in an innocent kind of way. He is often the therapist of the gang, and his earnest and patient nature has made him Gore's best buddy, especially when Gore feels heavy from his past.

8. Kaidan regularly drills the gang for the next fight, flanked by Inigo and Auri. He's surprisingly protective of everyone and makes absolutely share they're all at their best and brightest, even if it means sore muscles and liquid bones by morning.

9. Xelzaz cooks, but there's a rotation on who gathers ingredients and hunts. Everyone fights for the spot because the assigned gatherer gets to have extra helpings.

10. All the archers have shooting contests. It always escalates. They never settle on a winner.

[acotarspritz]

okay so i made a new account purely to write this : acotar x olympics au. i keep seeing olympics content and i cannot get it out of my head.

feyre as an archer. the batboys as rugby sevens players maybe. or cass as wrestling or judo, az as a speed needing sport (like running bc i just picture him as always moving so fast). nesta and the valkyries as some combat sport, or fencing, or even nesta as artistic gymnastics (from her love of dancing). amren i don’t actually know. mor maybe gymnastics ? elain only going in support of her family. summer court being the best swimmers or divers. eris and lucien competing together in a sport. helion as a commentator.

the olympic village. night court and spring court rivalry. velaris and illyria competing as independent federations and being extremely competitive and aggressive when the face each other.

azriel x reader as an olympic couple, or based on the swedish athlete breaking his pole vaulting world record and running straight into his girlfriend’s arms.

eris x doctor!reader when he gets injured during a game, and his dad is getting mad because he didn’t do as well as he was supposed to. (he’s also his coach).

elain going to support her sisters, but seeing lucien “fire in his veins” almost glowing when he wins, throwing her a truly happy smile, makes her reconsider going out with him.

even amren and varian. varian winning, amren being in the stands, him running and lifting her up, and her pretending she hates it but breaks into a small smile and every camera is turned towards them because amren “the ancient one”, the coldest athlete in ages, has never been seen smiling.

nesta “lady death” because she never loses a match.

rhys being the son of some well known athlete and everyone expecting him to try and live up and compete with him, but he purposefully chose a different sport because the last thing he wants is to end up like his father.

the batboys working so well as a team and the team is their true family.

rhys proposing to feyre like the chinese badminton athletes.

the archeron sisters celebrating together.

helion and lucien content.

please tell me someone has written something or i will. it’s not a want it’s a need.

[pupsmailbox]

HORROR ID PACK

NAMES ⌇ abyss. adelaide. alex. allure. alluria. amnesia. amnesty. annabelle. archer. ash. asher. ashton. athena. axe. axette. bates. beal. belial. belladonna. bellatrix. bellow. billy. blade. blair. bleedesse. bloodiesse. bones. bow. briar. brute. bubba. buffy. butcher. cain. caliburn. calyspo. carcass. carna. carrie. carrion. casey. casper. chainette. chains. charley. charlie. chase. chi. chris. chucky. claire. claymore. clear. colt. connor. corpse. craven. cross. crypt. cybre. cynthia. damien. danger. derry. desdemona. dove. dracula. drow. elisabeta. elm. elmira. elvria. em. enigma. erin. eros. ethan. evelien. eventide. falchion. finale. finalis. finn. fleur. freddy. galatine. ghost. ghostesse. gladius. graves. grim. guts. harker. haunt. hound. howl. hunter. hush. ikino. jace. jane. jason. javelin. jekyll. jesse. john. julie. kateline. kille. killer. killesse. killette. killire. killyr. knifesse. knifette. krueger. lamb. laurie. lavender. lenz. lillith. loomis. lorraine. lucien. lucy. machete. mal. malice. massacresse. massacrette. max. maxine. megan. mia. michael. mike. mikey. molar. mors. morticia. mortis. myer. myers. necro. nephi. night. noir. norman. nyx. nægling. obsidian. onyx. ophelia. pandora. pearce. pike. pin. pointe. pointette. pridwen. pyper. quentin. raven. reaper. renfield. retro. revenant. river. roadkill. rosemary. rot. ryker. sabel. sabre. sacrifesse. salem. samara. sawyer. scum. scythe. seraph. serene. sharpette. sharppe. shaun. shelley. sidney. slash. slasher. slashesse. slashette. slashine. slashire. slashyr. specter. spite. survivesse. survivette. sybil. syd. talia. thomas. vein. verity. vesper. visage. viscera. vivo. warden. weaponesse. weaponette. weaponne. wendy. whisp. william. wraith.

PRONOUNS ⌇　aby/abyss. alien/alien. amnesia/amnesia. axe/axe. bat/bat. bite/bite. bla/blade. blade/blade. blood/blood. bone/bone. brain/brain. brutal/brutal. bull/bullet. bullet/bullet. camp/camp. carna/carnage. chain/chain. chain/chainsaw. chainsaw/chainsaw. chase/chase. choke/choke. claw/claw. co/corpse. content/content. copy/copy. cor/corpse. corpse/corpse. cry/cry. cryp/cryptid. crypt/crypt. cut/cut. dae/daem. dae/daer. dark/dark. de/demo. dea/death. death/death. dec/decay. decay/decay. die/die. eldritch/eldritch. elm/elm. evil/evil. fear/fear. fie/fire. fien/fiend. final/final. flesh/flesh. fog/fog. freak/freak. fury/furious. gau/gauze. gauze/gauze. gho/ghost. ghost/ghost. gloom/gloom. gnaw/gnaw. go/gore. gor/gore. gore/gore. gra/grave. grave/grave. gun/gun. gut/gut. hallow/hallow. haun/haunt. haunt/haunt. horr/horror. horror/horror. house/house. hunt/hunt. hush/hush. k9/k9. ki/kill. kill/kill. kni/knife. knife/knife. lash/lash. lethal/lethal. live/live. machete/machete. maim/maim. mallet/mallet. mask/mask. massacre/massacre. med/medical. medi/medical. monster/monster. murder/murder. night/night. no/none. pin/pin. point/point. point/pointy. pois/poison. prey/prey. pyr/pyramid. red/red. reveil/reveil. revive/revive. rib/rib. rip/rip. rodent/rodent. rot/rot. run/run. sacrifice/sacrifice. saw/saw. scream/scream. scythe/scythe. shadow/shadow. sharp/sharp. sharp/sharpen. sharpen/sharpen. sin/sin. slash/slash. slash/slashe. slash/slashed. slash/slasher. slasher/slasher. slice/slice. sly/sly. sni/snipe. sound/sound. stab/stab. stalk/stalk. steel/steel. step/step. survive/survive. survivor/survivor. tear/tear. thon/thon. tomb/tomb. trope/trope. vamp/vamp. victim/victim. voi/void. weapon/weapon. weep/weep. whisp/whisper. wound/wound. wra/wrath. ☠️. ⚰. ⚰️. ⚱. ⛧. ⛨. 🏥. 🏹. 🐀. 💀. 💉. 💣. 📿. 🔪. 🔫. 🕳️. 🛡️. 🥀. 🦴. 🧛‍♂️. 🧟‍♂️. 🧨. 🩸. 🩹.

[goddessofwisdom18]

I made Stickers for Underrated SJM Characters!

Link

Retconned love interests! Basic mean girls! Soft girls who only get love when they're paired up with hot guys! I have them all! (Well, not yet, but I'm getting there hehe). Check them out if you'd like <3

So far I have:

TOG

Sorscha

Chaol

Elide

Kaltain

Chaolaena

ACOTAR

Mor

Lucien

Tamlin

Tarquin

Amren

I'm planning on adding Nesryn, Sartaq, Nox (my beloved), Archer Finn (my forbidden fave), Chaorian, Malide; Cresseida, Viviane, Thesan, Emerie, Emorie; and Fury, Juniper, Lehabah, Sathia, Branika (platonic), and maybe some others from CC! Stay tuned :)

[acourtofthought]

i had this thought last night after my deep dive in your elucien tag 😅 a part of me thinks that the reason lucien also isn��t forcing anything on elain or pursuing her (apart from him actually respecting women and such) is that he feels guilty about the mating bond because he believed jesminda was it for him. we know that after she passed he turned to a more rakish lifestyle, unable to give himself wholly to another… but what if there’s a small piece of him that feels like he’s betraying jesminda by fully accepting the mating bond??

also, i think another reason he keeps his distance (again, besides the fact that he’s respecting elain’s boundaries) is that he’s terrified of beron hurting elain ?? so he stays at a distance from her so he can make sure she’s not in danger. we know beron will do anything to hurt lucien and break him, so maybe keeping away from elain is his way of protecting her?? like lucien and elain both have trauma to work through, and i think that this is some of the trauma lucien needs to work through.

I 100% agree with this and he thinks as much in his POV. The second he realizes his mate is the most beautiful female he'd ever seen it's instantly followed up by guilt. I'm sure that guilt didn't magically go away between then and SF and I'm guessing when we his shared book, we'll find that there is still a bit of his guilt holding him back. Because if he was meant to love Elain, if she was meant to be everything to him, then he probably realized that Jesminda died in vain. He LOVED Jesminda as much as anyone could love another character (from what I gather) but these fae males really hold the mating bond as a sacred thing. He loved Jesminda and figured she was his mate therefore he thought it was ok for them to love one another, thought their bond would snap into place. But but she lost her life because of loving Lucien and I think he's starting to realize that if his bond with Elain had snapped while he was with Jesminda, there's a chance he could have still wanted to try to make it work with Elain and that means Jesminda needlessly lost her life by being with him. And I have NO doubt that Lucien is nervous as to what Beron would do to Elain, Feyre even mentions it as a concern: If they knew Elain was Lucien's mate....It was now another avenue, I realized with no small amount of horror. Another way to strike at the youngest brother they hated so fiercely, so unreasonably. And Beron has never really stopped hating Lucien: "Father," the one now holding a knife to my throat said to Lucien, "is rather put out that you didn't stop by to say hello". And with Beron wanting to ally with Koschei who wants the trove and the son he hates being mated to a female who has a connection to the Trove because she was made, knowing that his mate now resides in the NC with those who have the Trove, Elain could easily be a target of Beron's in order for him to get what he wants so that Koschei in turn gets what he wants. I'm not saying he'll actually get to Elain but I don't doubt Lucien is aware of the ways Beron uses knowledge like that to his advantage. Not to mention once Helion is revealed as Lucien's real father, Beron will have even more reason to hate him. He hates him now and that's just based off speculation. So Lucien has a reason to fear what Beron could do.

[xxvalkyriesxx]

Okay but hear me out - an elucien fic where Elain's bunny gets sick so she calls the local vet for a house visit, but the when the vet shows up, it's not the usual one. In fact, it's his brother.

"Miss Elain Archeron?" The man with asked, his voice causing a stir in Elain's stomach. It was a deep southern drawl, even more so than her's.

Flushing from the autumn sun, because of course it was only that. "Howdy. Can I help you?"

Elain brushed the dirt off her gloves onto her overalls before taking them off and putting them in her back pocket. Her sun hat created unique shadows among her outfit and ground.

"Well, you're the one who called for a vet visit." He responded.

With a western hat and matching boots the man looked more like a ranch hand than a vet.

Elain blinked once, then twice, then three times. "I did, but you're not Eris."

This man was nothing like Eris. Except for the red hair and maybe the nose. The eyes too, well eye.

'There is a strange man on my farm wearing an eyepatch. Is this how I end up on the next true crime documentary? Owner of The Archer Farmette, Slaughtered Like Chicken Dinner.'

The man laughed. "Thank the gods for that. I'm his youngest brother, Lucien Vanserra. I'm staying in town until the holiday season is over."

Elain chose to ignore how his laugh made butterflies flutter inside herself. It definitely had to be the November sun.

"Anyway, Eris had a slight emergency with one of the dogs so he asked me to take his place."

"Are you even a vet?" Elain raised her eyebrow.

Lucien flashed her a sharp grin. "Sure am, Miss Archeron. Own my own practice for awhile."

"What happened to it?" She asked, tilting her head, her curls that framed her face blew softly from the wind.

"Maybe you and I can grab a drink sometime and I'll tell you that and more." Lucien winked.

Her cheeks were burning pink as Elain watched Lucien walk over to the pens. 'What a sly motherfuc-'

"Well aren't you going to show me to my patient?" He called out.

With a roll of her eyes and blushed cheeks slightly puffed, Elain caught up to him to show him to Hopper.

[bloomingdarkgarden]

Could Vassa Be Immortal After All?

A Firebird Theory

(WARNING: HOFAS SPOILERS BELOW)

While reading CC3 I couldn’t help but notice a plot element regarding curses that brought me back to Vassa in ACOTAR.

In HOFAS we learn Jesiba's mysterious backstory and all this talk of curses- I couldn’t help but to meditate on our favorite firebird. Jesiba unveils that she has been cursed in Chapter 38:

And also elaborates that there were unintentional consequences of the curse:

Jesiba obviously holds a strong grudge against her cursor but is able to use the curse to her advantage.

So Jesiba, similarly to Vassa, was a mortal, cursed unwillingly by an immortal male figure. The curse made her immortal in turn. This has me thinking- what if the same has happened to Vassa? More from Ch.38:

I also find the passage in ACOWAR really interesting, in which Feyre is describing her perception of Vassa the first time they meet:

‘Only a few years older than me, but ... young-feeling. Coltish. Fierce and untamed, despite her curse.’ (ACOWAR chapter 79)

Could this be because although Vassa is, let’s say, age 28- she actually stopped physically aging when she was cursed at age 20? Perhaps it's just Feyre noting that she's a spicy pepper. Who knows.

I recently went down a rabbit hole of Slavic lore and I’m so intrigued by Vaasa’s storyline in the upcoming books. Most folks are aware that SJM has taken her story directly from Slavic mythology- and there are loads of potential breadcrumbs in the fables of:

Ivan Tsarevitch in which Ivan, the youngest of several malaligned brothers, sets out on a quest to free a firebird from a dark sorcerer who also entraps other princesses (often Koschei the deathless).

Princess Vasilisa in which an archer finds a firebird’s flaming feather and gets roped into a quest to deliver a lost princess. Hello Elain’s vision regarding this exact imagery: “I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.” (ACOWAR)

Swan Lake in which Princess Odette (Vassa) is cursed into a swan form by an evil lord and can only take human form between midnight and daybreak. Only a faithful vow of true love can break the spell. If her true love makes a vow to the wrong woman (Elain perhaps) the princess dies instead. Could something as powerful as a male (Lucien) breaking his mating bond to forge a destiny with Vassa be the key to breaking her curse??

Who knows.

Will Vassa be immortalized by Koschei's power touching her and chaining her to the lake? Will Lucien be the key to deliver her from her curse as Ivan was in the fables?

I don't know. But regardless of Lucien's heart, I myself am a Vassa acolyte. I'm so enraptured by the beautiful myths surrounding this lore, and am so intrigued to learn what becomes of Vassa as a heroine in her own right. Her character and story have so much magical potential!

In the words of Yakov Polonsky’s poem:

And in my dreams I see myself on a wolf's back

Riding along a forest path

To do battle with a sorcerer-tsar

In that land where a princess sits under lock and key,

Pining behind massive walls.

There gardens surround a palace all of glass;

There Firebirds sing by night

[helion-ism]

so, after two years I have finally written something again. it's actually one of my new year's resolutions to start writing again, just a little at least, to get into it again. I will probably also edit some of the things I wrote in the past and re-post them again because I had a phase where I deleted almost all of them (just girly things 🤪)

anyways, this is what I came up with. hope you enjoy!

thanks, @lucienarcheron for reading and offering advice 🫶

rating: mature

word count: 3,207

or: read it on ao3

archer and prey

She could feel his wicked grin on her skin as she whimpered in response, leaning back against his hard body, leaning back against his hard body, his kisses lazy – without haste. Her head fell on his shoulder as his clever hands moved to her waist. He held her firmly and with care. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

All she felt and needed to feel was this pure heat he was offering her, this fire he was responsible for that was burning low in her body and threatening to consume her. And Elain could not stop herself from shivering, repeating with a hushed voice, “Please, please.” He chuckled at her impatience.

But he rewarded her the next moment when his tongue was on her neck, drawing circles. And his lips – his perfect lips – moved against her sensitive skin, though never increasing the pace. She liked this torture more than she would ever admit. Liked how he seemed to relish in taking his time with her, too. 

His hands were on her thighs, his fingers burrowed in her skirts, hoisting them up little by little. He wasn’t close enough to where she wanted him, and Elain propped herself against him with a force that surprised and delighted him. He laughed and her stomach clenched at the sound. 

More, more, more. 

She might have said the words aloud. 

Lucien’s hand moved to her neck. It might be his favourite part of hers, she thought, with the way he always kept returning to it. He caressed her collarbone, lay his fingers around her neck, and squeezed lightly. Elain gasped as she felt his hard length at her back, his fingertips gently turning her head to face him. She looked at him and the rugged scar that graced his face. 

Wicked, wanton, wild. 

“Please,” she whispered again and lifted her head to meet his lips. She wanted to make him lose his composure, make him forget his purpose for a second. She kissed him like she had never kissed him before, pressing against him, her hands up in his long hair, tugging and pulling. He groaned and Elain felt the sound in her core – but it wasn’t enough. She needed to feel him everywhere forever. 

Lucien’s hand went to the back of her head, tilting it to have better access to her, his tongue now occupied with her own. He was in charge and taking over, deliberately slowing his movements yet again. She snarled, and he laughed again, this time louder. Her head was spinning. 

Lucien’s other hand moved to her hips, turning and hoisting her up onto him. Elain’s head fell back at the pressure of him against her core and started to move slowly, leisurely against him. She felt so good, breathing his name in painful need. He was wearing too many clothes – she needed them off. 

“You’re mine,” he purred, his lips on her collarbone, sucking until she felt a pain so good, so sharp –

Elain gasped as she bolted up from her bed. Breathing hard and fast, she placed a hand on her chest, willing herself to calm down. She let it happen again. This dream, this fantasy she could never shake off, no matter how much she told herself she hated him in the daylight. It was only in dreams she said his name these days, allowing it to roll off her tongue only then when no one else could hear. 

She felt like a traitor. To Feyre, to Nesta, to herself. 

To him. 

She tried so hard to not think of him, even when he was in town. Even more so when he was out somewhere on the Continent with that human queen. Did not allow her thoughts to ever wander and wonder. Yet, at night, when the stars sparkled in the sky and the winds moved the sheer fabric of her curtains into her bedroom, her traitorous thoughts returned to him. 

She knew it wasn’t fair to anyone. Not to either of them but especially herself. She had promised herself a thousand times to not let it bother her, this feeling that seemed to grow day by day. She thought perhaps that was why this body, this altered mind, now urged her to go to him, to touch him, even if only in her dreams. But she understood that loneliness was a burden she could not get rid of at night even if she could pretend it disappeared under the bright sun of Velaris. She blamed him for it.

Elain shivered as she pushed aside the covers of her bed and walked to the open window. Her feet were cold on the wooden floor, but she didn’t mind. It cleared her head. Velaris looked beautiful at night and she wished it could give her the strength Feyre drew from it. She wished it could be enough that she wanted to fit in. Wished she could feel like Nesta did after suffering for so long. But wishes were not enough and with each day passing, the feeling of isolation and desperation grew inside her and made her restless. Made her feel more alone. 

Elain sighed and leaned her head against the opened window frame. She closed her eyes. 

It could be so quiet here, at night. And only because the city was asleep and she couldn't be caught did Elain let herself think about her dream once more. She had stopped counting how often she awoke in the darkness, wishing to be close to him. Most of the time, the dreams were like this: slow and passionate, feeling too real. Like he was right here, behind her, worshipping her. She could almost smell him, taste him on her lips. She opened her eyes to stop the pain threatening to squeeze her heart until only tears could help her get rid of it. 

Sometimes Elain woke because he touched her pointed ears and that was not something she could even accustom herself to in her dreams. Sometimes it was because she peaked, twisting in her sheets and waking up satisfied and yet yearning for more. She wondered how that was possible when she could not remember how his touch felt on her skin. Other times, it did not get that far. It was words that drew her from her subconscious. 

Lucien wasn’t in Velaris. But she knew he was on his way back to the Night Court, to report on whatever it was exactly that he was doing out there for Feyre and Rhysand. She prohibited herself from caring every time someone uttered his name in her presence and hated her body for not complying. Elain wondered if on the mornings that followed nights like these, when she couldn’t go back to sleep and waited for the sunrise – she wondered if Feyre noticed. If that was why her sister studied Elain with a wariness that followed her through the rest of the day. But her sister never said a word.

Feyre likely suspected Elain would shut down the conversation, never admitting to anything. And how could her sister, with her perfect baby, and perfect mate, who she had accept with love in her heart, ever understand? How could anyone? Nesta once could, but Nesta loved Cassian. Nesta had friends and a purpose. She had a home. 

Elain had that once, too. With Graysen. She almost did, anyway. 

She sighed, sliding to the floor and letting her chin rest on her knees. It would be a long night as she longed for the day.

---------------------------------------------------------

He was here, she realized. 

In the townhouse.

It was barely dawn. 

His heart beat loudly in his chest and his scent – like a summer morning brightening the day – filled up the air. Elain couldn’t breathe as all of her senses focused on him – an instinct she wasn’t sure how to work against. She hadn’t actively decided to leave her room, yet here she was. He noticed her a few seconds later, looking up the staircase with wide eyes and a slightly opened mouth. 

He was so beautiful, she thought. It was unfair. 

“My lady,” he said. 

Those were his first words after months of utter silence. She wondered if his being here meant he had freed the firebird and was back in Prythian for good. “I didn’t realize you were here.” 

Elain furrowed her brow. “I live here now,” she replied and hated how quiet and unsure she sounded.

“I assumed you would be with Feyre and Rhys –”

“I thought it would be best to give them privacy. As a young family.” 

Her heartbeat matched his. Could he still not hear it? 

He was silent. She thought it was the most they had spoken in ages. His eyes scanned her from top to bottom as she gripped the ornate railing. As she squeezed it like she might bend it underneath her frail hands. 

“You look well,” he said then, a hint of a polite smile on his lips. She swallowed and Elain did not think it could be more awkward. “I’m sorry for disturbing you in your home. I figured I would recommend the townhouse to meet with Feyre not to … barge in on you, and she didn’t mention anything about you being here. I am here for business.”

“Business,” she said slowly, frowning. Of course, Feyre hadn’t said anything to him.

But before she could say anything else, the door opened and Feyre rushed in. Elain stiffened while Lucien seemed to relax. 

She suspected he hated being here. She didn’t let herself think of what else he might have hated.

Feyre lit up as she hugged him. “Lucien, I didn’t realize you were here this early!” She glanced up at Elain and cringed slightly. Elain said nothing. Feyre likely had planned on warning her. 

“I couldn’t sleep,” he replied softly.

And Elain didn’t hear what Feyre said next as everything grew louder in her head. Like water rushing right above her and into those sensitive ears. The duo moved to the parlour and Elain found herself following them slowly. 

The door wasn’t closed, so she supposed she was welcome, especially when Lucien didn’t tear his eyes away from her as she entered the room and found herself by the window. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds. 

The weather seemed to match the mood of her mate. 

He seemed to have anticipated the arrival of Rhys and his brother and still, his mood worsened. He may have moved slightly closer to her. 

“Am I interrupting?” Eris said, grinning widely at Elain, who, in turn, frowned at him. She didn’t know what to think of the redhead. Something about him unsettled her. He looked so different from Lucien. His nose was sharper, his skin paler, and his eyes seemed to take in everyone in the room at the same time – as if he was used to paying attention to every single person in his vicinity. Like he didn’t trust anyone here. Elain could hardly fault him for that. 

“Be quick about it, Eris,” Lucien hissed and Elain watched Rhys step behind Feyre, kissing her on her cheek. Her stomach tightened painfully. 

“Oh, brother, how have I missed you, too,” Eris snickered. He took a seat in the armchair closest to the fireplace. “Does your firebird miss you already?”

Elain froze at his question, well aware that everyone’s eyes were on her. The room was shrinking and every little noise, the fly on the windowsill, the birds chirping outside, Eris’s breathing, was getting louder and louder and louder. She wanted to cry and she didn’t know why. 

She still remembered how difficult moments like this had been in those first few months. After she had surfaced, scared and shaking, and Lucien had made his way to her. When she had arrived at the Night Court, Feyre gone, Nesta blazing, and everything had been too much, too loud, pungent. It had been Lucien, surprisingly, who understood and offered the advice she desperately needed. She had clung to the windows of the house, praying for peace and quiet, praying for her old life to come back to her. 

“Close your eyes when it gets too overwhelming in this new body,” he had said. She had blinked in response and looked at him. His brutally beautiful face had looked like he understood. She hadn’t seen how. “Make sure to breathe in deeply, and I mean, deeply. Down to your navel. Then hold it, and breathe out slowly. Close your eyes and block out the noise by focusing on one thing. Be it a bird chirping or footsteps outside.”

She hadn’t replied, and Lucien had stood, bowing, to leave again. This, Elain, had to admit, had helped more than the healer’s poking and touching. She didn’t have to tell him that it was the sound of his heartbeat, or the memory thereof, that she often used to calm herself down. Even now, with so much time having passed. She didn’t know why these Fae senses were taking so long for her to get used to. 

Now, her ears focused on the steady, yet agitated beat of his heart. Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Ba-boom. 

The noises disappeared as she continued to breathe deeply. She looked at Eris, surprised to see his eyes observing her, not his brother.

“The firebird,” Lucien spat, “is still a firebird and unless you have helpful information for breaking her curse, I suggest you tell us what you came here for, brother.” 

Rhys chuckled and sat with Feyre on the couch, obviously trying to calm the flared tempers. He looked suspiciously at ease, but maybe that belonged to the artful skillset of a High Lord. 

Her sister rolled her eyes. “We’re not here to discuss Vassa, Eris.”

Lucien ran his fingers through his hair, clenching his jaw and Elain couldn’t help but look back at Lucien, but he was staring at Eris.

“I am here to discuss my father’s death.” 

Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Ba-boom. Then – 

“You mean you are here to discuss treason,” Feyre said quietly as Lucien remained silent. 

But Elain could hear him clear and loud. He did not want to be in this room. She saw flashes of blood on a dark floor, she saw a red forest and a head on the ground. A thin, red-haired woman crying in a beautifully decorated parlor. 

“Treason,” Eris grunted. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

“We told you, we cannot get involved,” Rhys said slowly. But he leaned forward like he had had the thought, too. Lucien noticed and clenched his fists. 

Elain’s heart ached, and she hated herself for following him into this room. Hated herself for getting herself into this mess and to witness him like this – agitated and internally pacing. Did he want to return to his home? Did he miss the sight of those colourful trees? 

“Mother would like to see you again,” Eris simply said. 

“He will kill me on sight,” Lucien’s voice was quiet and emotionless. Somehow Elain knew what her mate’s brother would say next. Feyre did, too, as she straightened her back and looked at Eris with narrow eyes. 

“Not if you bring your mate – both of you protected by the Night Court and her being Feyre Cursebreaker’s sister, he would not dare.” 

Silence.

“You have lost your mind,” Feyre said at the same time as Lucien snarled, “Over my dead body.” 

Eris wanted her to be a distraction. To be a piece in his chess game as he played his way to the position of a High Lord. Rhys was silent, but Elain’s irritation with Eris grew. He knew, she realized, when to press which buttons. Her brother-in-law understood too, what Elain had learned in this moment. 

Feyre was watching her with worried eyes and Elain felt a darkness brush against her mind, but she recoiled from it. She barely could form any coherent thought and did not want to have Feyre invade the chaos inside of her.

“Elain.” Lucien’s voice was gentle and she looked at him, his golden eye whirring frantically. He looked ill while Eris seemed to be enjoying his moment. Elain clenched her fist and faced Eris.

“You cannot decide to use me and expect me to oblige. You cannot drag Lucien into this simply because it is convenient for you. This is your mess.” She was oddly proud of herself for saying those words without shaking. The anger, a burning flame ignited in her heart, made sure of that. Rhys smiled. As did Eris.

“Maybe it is. But surely you and Lucien have a desire to see him gone. After all, you are a princess of the Autumn Court now.” 

Lucien’s eyes turned cold, perhaps for the first time in his life. “Elain is a free female. The Autumn Court is nothing to her. As it is to me. We are not going to help you commit treason. I will not risk her life like that.” His words were clipped. Elain didn’t understand why Rhys and Feyre stayed silent. 

“What of mother?”

Lucien narrowed his eyes. “What of mother?”

“You know I will do it either way. With or without the Night Court’s help. I understand their … reluctance to assist me. Despite my continued assistance over these last months.” Feyre rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, Eris continued, “I will do it and should I fail, what do you think becomes of our mother?” He looked at Lucien and Elain swore she saw a flicker of vulnerability show on his face. Perhaps another form of manipulation. Her heart ached nonetheless.

“He will punish her,” Eris added and looked at Elain. “If they won’t help me save my mother, you certainly could, Elain. I will forever be in your debt.” 

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. Lucien turned livid and tried very hard to restrain himself and not tackle Eris off the armchair. His brother was holding on to the armrest as if he was aware of that. Elain didn’t hear what Feyre and Rhys were saying, but their anger was palpable. 

Elain knew, she knew, that Eris was a mastermind, but she believed him. She believed that he wanted nothing more than to see his mother in safety. Elain didn’t know their father, but given Lucien’s hatred for the Autumn Court, she could only guess what evil he was responsible for. She again saw puddles of blood on the floor. Did blood stain marble? 

It irritated her that Eris used her to force Lucien to play by his rules. He clearly did not want to step a foot inside his home again, but everyone in this townhouse knew that if Elain went, Lucien would follow. Perhaps that was why she said, faintly but clearly enough for everyone to hear, “Fine.” 

“I will go but not for you,” she said looking at Eris with a frown, then back at Lucien. His face had paled. Elain didn’t really know where it came from, she had certainly not expected the day to go like this. Seeing Lucien, seeing his brother, and saying things she never would have expected herself to even think. “I will go for your mother. No one should be left at risk.”