#Mor and eris debate

[straightasaaro]

my year on Tumblr: a summary

*hears about ACOTAR on tiktok*

Me: wow! Something to quench my thirst! Cool!

*four books and a novella later*

Me: damn that was something. I liked it. All of the characters are complex and layered (except for iathne amarantha and king of hybern hate them) with their own reactions to trauma. I wonder what the fanart and memes look like!

*looks on tumblr*

Me: *proceeds to get all of my opinions of the characters and ships destroyed*

Me: what. is. reality.

[rizzoreads88]

Azriel slaughtered the males who hurt Gwyn.

A MATE INSTINCT THAT RHYS ALSO HAD WHEN HE FIRST MET FEYRE.

"I debated slaughtering them then and there, but then they shoved you, and I just ... moved." _ACOMAF, CH. 54_

Gwynriel is endgame.

#GwynrielMay2025

it’s intersting you guys claim Azriel had mate behavior HERE even though he doesn’t know gwyn is his mate but then say well he didn’t have a mate reaction when she was kidnapped to the blood rite bc he doesn’t know there mates yet… but we will get to that later in the post…

Ok first let’s look at this logically.

You think Azriel killed the men who SA Gwyn,just passed her on to Mor and continued On his mission. Never even checking up on Gwyn in the almost two years they lived in the NC together Like just to see if she’s ok…and THATS how azriel would act as a mate to you?

In Acotar when Amarantha killed Feyre Rhysand was freaking out and even after she was taken care of and all was said and done Rhysand still stuck around and made sure Feyre was ok days later. He talked w her before he went back to the NC…. & he didn’t even know for sure she was his mate until that convo…He didn’t just help save her, bounce and not talk to her for years.

Azriel was on a mission tracking down pieces of the cauldron when he walked in on a woman being actively SAd. He would have killed those men regardless of who the woman was. “No no he always leaves two alive and he didn’t here so ha! Mate behavior” there were men who got away lol so he didn’t kill everyone bc some were able to escape with a piece of the cauldron…

it became clear some of the soldiers had gotten away with the piece of the Cauldron, so Azriel headed after them.

We are also with Azriel on page in acomaf when he’s telling the Inner circle about this attack on Sangravah and he has no emotional reaction at all.

“I know it’s tied to this. I didn’t want to tell you until I knew for certain. But Azriel confirmed that they’d raided the memorial in Sangravah three days ago. They’re looking for something—or found it.” Azriel nodded in confirmation, even as Mor cast a surprised look in his direction. Azriel gave her an apologetic shrug back.

If he’s recounting what happened in sangravah and remembered what happened to his supposed mate he would feel some rage or anger thinking about it even if he didn’t know why, even if he didn’t know she was his mate yet.

But let’s get back to the blood rite. So multiple men drug and kidnap Gwyn to the blood rite and azriel cares more about saving Eris… where is his mate instincts? If he had mate instincts two years ago he would be having them now too… “well he knew he couldn’t go to the blood rite, there was nothing he could do” ok sure but he was still amoung friends who has shown emotions too. He should have had some sort of big emotional reaction to his supposed mate being in danger scene if he didn’t know it. “Well azriel doesn’t show emotion so there” ok so you’re saying Azriel will show rage and anger over Elain who is not his mate being kidnapped but then just won’t show it over his mate? Yeah we know that doesn’t make sense… “well he had faith in his mate! He knew she could handle herself!” Ok cassian knew nesta could handle herself and had ridiculous death powers and he was still freaking out…

& then even after Gwyn completes the blood rite Emerie and Gwyn are taken to the River house where all the IC is literally the same house Azriel is in… and azriel doesn’t even check up on her to see if she is ok… like the man didn’t even walk a few rooms over to check if his supposed mate is ok? Friends if you truly think this is all mate behavior from Azriel you think he’s a terrible mate and why would you even want any of this for Gwyn?

When Cassian met Emerie he talks about wishing her father was alive so he could kill him himself..

But the scars on Emerie’s wings, proof that she’d never taste the wind again … Half of him wished that Proteus were still alive. If only so he could kill the male himself.

Fae are violent creatures and they often kill to protect people because it’s the right thing to do (in this magical world). I’ll leave with a few other examples of ppl killing others to protect and help people who were not their mates….

Tamlin shredded the Naga who attacked Feyre

Tamlin tried to physically attack Hybern to stop him from throwing the sisters in the cauldron and had to be magically restrained…

Cassian killed a whole village in revenge for his mom

Aelin killed most of Chaols kidnappers

Bryce killed Micah over what he did to Danika and her pack

Rhysand. Cassian and azriel have killed many ppl over the years for things they have done to other people…

Lucien was willing to die fighting the weird Hybern incest twins so feyre could escape back to the NC….

If what he did in Sangravah was because Gwyn was his mate then he would have had mate behavior throughout all of Acosf. And he didn’t. You can’t pick and choose when the mate instincts kick in even if he doesn’t know they are mates and when it doesn’t. If it’s mate instincts regardless of if he knows they are mates or nor they will be there.

Look at Kallias with Vivianne. They didn’t even know they were mates until there wedding night but Kallias still had mate behavior their whole life…

Viviane had not been Under the Mountain. As her childhood friend, Kallias had been protective of her to a fault over the years—had placed the sharp-minded female on border duty for decades to avoid the scheming of his court. He didn’t let her near Amarantha, either. Didn’t let anyone get a whiff of what he felt for his white-haired friend, who had no clue—not one—that he had loved her his entire life……….

[surielstea]

Burning Love

1k celebration request

Pairing: Eris x Fem!Reader (Mor’s sister)

Summary: When Eris isn’t around to keep her protected, the reader is surrounded by predators.

Warnings: Canon-typical violence (not inflicted by Eris) | Cursing | slight angst | fluff at the end :)

2.7k words.

Eris had left begrudgingly this morning for a patrol mission on the edge of the Autumn Court's border. He hadn't wanted to leave my grasp, and he most definitely hated every step closer he took towards the door after looking back to see me peacefully asleep in his bed, nude and desirable beneath his sheets that were screaming his name to come back, while I happily returned to the depths of sleep.

So it had been my surprise when he still hadn't returned home by supper. The fact put me on edge. The continent was still plagued with monsters and beasts from the high queen's reign, her imprint on Prythian was like roots that rot the second they meet the air. I was terrified something had happened to Eris during his travels, it was only supposed to be a simple mission, so why wasn't he back?

Dinner was eaten in silence. I hated the way the Vanserra brothers looked at me when Eris wasn't around. Blatant staring the way a scientist might observe a mutant creature, all of it is utterly dehumanizing.

I fist my skirts beneath the table, staring down at my unfinished plate. It was hard to have an appetite while being watched by foxes, waiting to pounce at any vulnerability I showed. It wasn't until a few of the others left that I felt comfortable with excusing myself. Their chairs creaked under their weight and scraped at the beautiful wooden floors as they stood, lazily bowing to their father before leaving the dining hall.

"Apologies, my lord," I stand as well. "Would it be alright if I retreated to my bedroom, I didn't sleep well last night and I'm quite tired," I explain. The high lord of autumn just looks up at me, his wine glass halfway to his mouth, as if debating on taking a drink or not. He doesn't reply for a long stretch of silence, seems like my question too, needed debating. I mistakenly look to Kyden, one of Eris' crueler brothers and he only smirks up at me. I avert my gaze immediately and look back to Beron.

"I suppose, see to it that you don't grow weary tomorrow night," He drawls and I curtsy in a low, respectful dip, silently gritting my teeth at the action. "Of course my lord, good evening," I give a nod to the Lady of Autumn and she diminutively returns it.

I gather my skirts in my hands and leave the dining hall with a small frown, hoping Eris would return before sleep found me first. I was halfway to my room when I heard my name called in a playful, bloodcurdling voice that I wished I hadn't recognized.

"Lord Kyden," I turn to the second eldest Vanserra, giving him a small bow, not nearly as polite as the one I gave his father.

"Going to bed already?" He paces closer, his hands in his pockets casually as he stares at me with acidic yellow eyes. I simply nod. "Why don't you go help my mother with the dishes instead?" He suggests and my brows crease in confusion.

"Excuse me?" I babble out, the suggestion so outlandish it took me by surprise.

"I think you could learn a thing or two about how a woman should act since you feel so inclined to hide in your bedroom," He surmises and I nearly scoff, who the hel possessed him to say such a thing?

"I'd be welcome to wash my own dishes but— with all due respect, it's not my job to clean up after you—" I start to explain but he puts his hand up, making me clamp my mouth shut.

"Oh gods, don't tell me you're just like your whore of a sister," He rubbed his eyes like the thought was making his head ache. My brows form a straight line, my anger evident in my features.

"Morrigan has nothing to do with this," I say and he reaches forward, grabbing my wrist in his hold before I can swerve. "Get your hands off of me," I attempted to pull from his hold but his grip was iron.

"Oh c'mon doll-face, you know I was just joking don't you?" He smiled down at me, his holding my wrist left our proximity to be much closer, so much so that I could still smell the dinner on his breath. I grimaced at the smell.

"Let me go." I keep my ground, glaring up at him with hardened eyes, the most threatening prey could look to a predator.

"Are your feelings hurt? Is that it?" He hums and I pull at my wrist but his grip doesn't loosen. "Why don't we go to my room and you can let me apologize appropriately, hm?" He smirks at the idea and I scowl up at him, attempting to twist my wrist from his fist.

"I'm betrothed to your brother," I grit out.

"And?" He tilts his head as if he wasn't just degrading Morrigan for sleeping with a male when she was already promised to someone else. "Don't be a prude doll," He said, his voice dropping lower. Was that the scale in his head? If I don't sleep with him I'm a prude, but if I do I'm a whore? What kind of power system was he raised on if Eris turned out the exact opposite? "Let me show you how a real man treats his women." His hand comes up to my cheek and I jerk away from the all too comfortable touch.

"You'll never be half the man Eris is," I retort and the sadistic fuck smiles, like he needed a reason to hate me and he finally got one. His hold on my wrist didn't tighten, but it did begin to, burn.

I hissed at the pain, pulling at my wrist but the pain only doubled over, my skin now being scorched beneath his touch. "Stop it," I seethe, staring at him in pure warning. "Beg me," He demands and I swallow thickly, staring at him for a moment but the searing at my raw skin spikes, and my breath hitched. "Let me go," I spit, writhing my arm from his grip but it was no use. "You heard me, beg." The word made me physically sick.

But the pain was immense and I feared he'd char me down to the bone until I gave in. An abandoning feeling gutted me open as I whispered a soft, "Please?" My request barely reached my own ears.

"Can't quite hear you?" He leans closer, putting his ear towards me, and while he wasn't looking I swung my leg up and thrust the heel of my shoe straight into his groin. He exclaims in pain, releasing my wrist. I didn't have time to watch him buckle to the floor, instead, I spun on my shoe and sprinted as fast as I could back to my room. "Fuckin' bitch," Is all I manage to hear from the male before I hastily turn the corner of the large house. I got a few odd looks from maids walking the halls with concerned expressions on their faces. I cradled my wrist as I sped to a stop in front of Eris' bedroom doors, two of his guards on either side of the archway.

I knew these guards, Eris trusted them, even liked them a little more than the others. They both looked at me with their brows bunched, noticing my wrist was growing increasingly red.

"Can you two—" I pant out, tired from both my lack of sleep and sprinting in heels. "Can you two keep everyone out of this room?" I say through breaths with pleading eyes. They look at each other with unreadable expressions, then back to me. "Of course my lady," The one on the right says while the left one opens the door for me.

"Thank you, gods, thank you," I sigh gratefully but they only nod as I enter the room, and shut the door behind me.

I release a breath of relief. The last of the sunset seeped through the sheer curtains and I debated for a moment on sliding onto the floor and giving into sleep right then and there but my wrist was throbbing like a heartbeat, already blistering with an angry red. I wince when I look down at it, blinking away tears. I didn't want to shed any for Kyden, he wasn't worth it even if the pain was consuming my entire body, feeding up my arm and swelling in my chest.

I groan, pushing off the door and willing my legs to march towards the bathing chamber, shucking my heels off in the process. I leaned against the bathroom counter as I ran the water. I knew how to treat a burn. I've lived in a house full of temperamental fire-wielding males since I was eighteen, this wasn't foreign to me. But the damned pain never got any easier.

I ran the water and forced myself to place my wrist beneath the water. The searing doubled over and a scream beckoned at the back of my teeth but I didn't let it slip. I waited through the agony, waited, and waited for what felt like an eternity until the pain eventually seceded. Tears were forming in the wells of my eyes as I began patting the wound dry after cleaning it.

I opened the cabinets to the right of me in search of gauze or some kind of wrap to loosely protect the blisters from any infections.

The door to the bedroom opened and I froze, stopping my rummaging and silently pressing myself against the bathroom door, barricading it just in case the guards hadn't stayed true to their word and let Kyden enter anyway, he was a lord after all.

A soft knock makes me tear from the door. "Love?" A familiar voice calls. "You in there?" Eris says through the wood of the door and I buckle as the weight of dread slips from my shoulders and suddenly I can't hold in my tears anymore. Unsolicited sobs pass through my throat and I lean onto the counter for support, praying my body doesn't betray me more than it already has, which would result me on the floor.

"I'm coming in, alright?" He says and I can't bring myself to reply as the door slowly creaks open.

I look up at him, cradling my injured wrist. He looks at the wound, then looks to me with an obscene amount of grief bunched between his brows. "Oh, my love," His hands come up to my jaw, his thumbs rubbing at my cheeks and wiping at my tears. The contrast between his touch compared to his brothers made me shiver, I hadn't realized how soft he was with me until now and it only made my tears come faster.

"What happened?" He stepped closer, guiding my head up to look at him but I could only continue crying, unable to voice how grateful I was for his love. "I— I can't," I weep, unable to get my emotions under control as my sobs slowly morph into hyperventilation.

"Hey, hey, you're okay," He guides me back, reaching down ever so slowly and hoisting me up onto the counter. "I'm here, you're safe alright?" He brushes my hair from my face and I sniffle, nodding. I let his words sink in and he stared at me with only devotion in his eyes, patiently waiting as I got my breathing under control.

"You alright?" He whispers and I nod, wiping my tears with the back of my hand in a slightly defeated movement. "Do you think you can tell me what happened? The guards said you were, distressed," He muttered, his voice just above a whisper.

I tell him what happened from the beginning, attempting to add every detail to the best of my capabilities since my heart rate hadn't fully calmed quite yet.

"Can I see?" His hands were slow and gentle as he cupped them over my clutched ones.

"Mhm." I remove my hand from around my wrist and place it in his outstretched hands, my brows furrowing as he examined it with hardened eyes, blood lust oozing off of him.

"Kyden did this?" He asked as if his brother wasn't powerful enough to even come close to emitting a spark. I nod. "I'm going to kill him," He promised lowly and I couldn't help but smile at the declaration, a soft giggle bubbling in my chest and slipping past my lips.

He looks up from my wound to my soft smile. "There's my girl," He whispered like his words were for only him to hear. "Let's get this wrapped up, yeah?" He tilts his head and I nod with another sniffle.

He goes to the cabinet I had been searching in and immediately finds a roll of gauze, then grabs a tub of ointment that would hydrate the affected skin.

We stay silent as he gently tends to my burn, loosely swathing the wrap before clasping it with a metal pin.

As soon as he was done, his touch remained light as he opened my hand and placed a loving kiss on my palm, looking at me with sheer devotion and I swore I fell for him all over again. "Why don't we get ready for bed?" He says casually, acting like my world didn't revolve entirely around him. I unconsciously nod but my feet aren't quite ready to meet the ground and I nearly go down. He chuckled. "I thought your wrist was hurt, not your legs?" He teases and I look up at him with a stubborn pout. "Alright, lean on me, I'll carry you." He opens his arms, welcoming me into them as he lifts me, my legs wrapping around his torso on instinct and my arms rounding the nape of his neck.

He carries me out of the bathing chamber and places me down onto the silk bedsheets, leaving my side for only a moment to change into something more comfortable for himself and grab a nightgown for me.

He returned to my side, undoing the corset of my dress and allowing me to impatiently thrash off my layered skirts until I was left mostly nude, save for my underwear. He slipped my softest nightgown over my head, I fed my arms through it, feeling like a child under his nurturing hand.

"Thank you, Eris," I murmur, looking up at him with only kindness and he matches the expression. "Yeah, whatever, just get in bed," He says with a blush creeping over his cheeks while gesturing me back into the pillows. I smile as I follow his embarrassed request.

He places himself beside me, leaning back against the headboard as I stare up at him. "I'm sorry I wasn't there my sweet," He runs a hand through my hair. "It's okay," I utter and he shakes his head. "It's not, I won't leave you again— you can come with me on my mission next time okay?" He says, a slightly stern tone to his voice.

"Okay." I nod.

"C'mere, come sit in my lap," He runs a hand through my hair once more before I sit up and place myself between his legs, leaning against his chest as he props his head up atop mine. The tears had stopped by now, and the throbbing in my wrist was replaced with the tune of Eris' heartbeat, my ear pressed to his chest, the steady sound comforting me.

"Tell me about your mission," I rasp, hoping he'd drone on about everything he did today, his voice has always guided me into sleep.

And he did just that, his fingers toying with the ends of my hair, his touch remaining delicate until sleep enveloped me with welcome arms, his voice slowly coming to a stop once he realized I had dozed off. He leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "Goodnight, love."

"Goodnight, 'Ris," I murmur, unable to even form my words around his entire name before sleep stole me.

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[bright-side20]

I was watching a debate on tik tok regarding the necklace issue saying that azriel had an evolution by giving the necklace to gwyn because elain returned it to him and they say that it is a way for azriel to move forward and not wait for the love of another person because he already waited for mor's love for 500 years and now that elain gave him the necklace and he gave it to gwyn it is a way of giving his love to another person (gwyn) and not waiting for the one who rejected him (that is, elain when returning the necklace) what do you think of the comment?

Text interpretation isn’t some random thing you make up from imagination. It’s exactly like math ,regardless of whether the interpretation is right or wrong, it should have some logical backup that you built it on, just like how 1+1=2. That’s not the case here.

What evolution and what moving on in a bonus chapter? He literally said he wouldn’t call her a friend, he hit Rhys with rocks, and he was determined to return the necklace to the shop but somehow found himself in the library, which is very strange. He didn’t give the necklace to Gwyn ,he gave it to Clotho and asked her to give it to Gwyn or any other priestess. The next day, Nesta mentioned that he was aloof during training and refused to even smile at her, which clearly means no, he didn’t move on. In the rest of the book there was no development in his relationship with Gwyn, he went to save Eris when she was facing death in the blood rite.

And Elain didn’t reject him. She returned the necklace because she was hurt and thought he rejected her, which is actually good, it’s character development for her . But she had no idea that Rhys was the one who stopped him and used his authority to prohibit him from interacting with her. So, there’s a big misunderstanding here and an unsolved problem, which means you can’t just say Elain rejected him and Azriel moved on, simply because it’s not logical and doesn’t align with what actually happened.

I’ve already said it, there’s no such thing as sjm ending Elriel in a bonus chapter. She’s not going to build Gwynriel or Elucien on a misunderstanding. People are building sandcastles in their minds and setting themselves up for disappointment.

[vanseerra]

Some quick thoughts on Elucien and the concept of agency in fated mates following the SJM interview:

Elain is currently grappling for a sense of agency she has lost from being made fae and losing her fiancé as a consequence

To her, the bond is manufactured, irrelevant and manipulative

Lucien, on the other hand, recognises the significance, rarity and power of the bond, having grown up around fae custom and culture

The bond to him is sacred, predestined and a blessing

This point of conflict with be highly relevant to Eluciens story where they grapple and debate with each other about the extent to which they are agents of their own fate and just how far the bond messes with peoples emotions

What if what you feel is fake? How do I know what is created and what is authentic? What if the only reason you are pursuing me is because of the bond? Do you even know?

Lucien is showing Elain currently that she does have agency in their relationship. He is respectful and distant, never pursuing her or forcing her to accept the bond, despite his personal feelings about it’s importance

Elain is tired of being abandoned. Through the series she is left by her fiancé and then treated as a mistake by Azriel. She wants to be chosen. But for the right reasons.

Azriel wants to be Elains mate because it ‘makes sense’. There’s lessons here to be learnt about why fate is unpredictable and how it pushes characters to grow and develop.

Eris and Mor as well as Helion and Lady Autumn will be crucial for Elucien in exploring agency, rejected mates and the limitations of the bond.

There are so many ideas that come up when discussing the concept of fate and destiny in relation to the bond which is what SJM is referring to. I don’t think the mention of rejected mates is a doom sentence for Elucien and instead offers a wide range of questions that are already relevant to their story and is due to be explored in time.

What will be made clear is that Elain does have agency over her decisions. But just as far as she’s able to reject the bond, she could also choose to pursue it. SJM would never put Elain in a situation where she has to accept a relationship without personal agency. And that is the key point.

[acourtofthought]

So, apparently, Elriel has "peak mate behavior" because Azriel displayed rage and wrath in regards to Elain. Such as when he said, " I'm getting her back."

If peak mate behavior was bringing out aggressive emotions in a person, wouldn't Azriel actually be Mor's mate? I mean, he wanted to demand a Blood Duel of Eris after Mor was left on the Autumn border and just look at what he did during the high lord's meeting.

Tamlin should also be mates with Feyre too then, right? I would consider low-key starting an entire war over one woman a pretty rage/wrath fueled decision.

I feel like some Elriels miss the point of a mating bond. It's not just about wanting to avenge the other person. It's also about wanting the very best for them in every situation and putting their own desires above yours no matter the cost to you. Hence, why Rhys was going to let Feyre marry Tamlin, or why Lucien is keeping his distance from Elain.

Azriel has shown aggressive behavior in regards to Elain, yes, but he hasn't necessarily shown concern, at least not as we've seen from mates already, and it's the fact that he's missing that key component that I don't currently think Elriel will be endgame.

"Wanting the best for them in every situation and putting their desires before yours" is so spot on. Az does not care what is best for Elain over what is best for him.

Also, it's not mate behavior when wrath is kind of Az's default setting, when Rhys tells us Az's icy rage has always scared the shit out of him. When that rage comes out for Mor, for Feyre, when it's directed at Jurian, the King, Amarantha, his brothers, etc. I've included the excerpts below, that show Az is typically a full of rage, wrathful kind of character.

How is Az going after Elain any different than Az being ready to disobey Rhys to head into the battle shortly after his return while severely wounded "you'll have to chain me to a tree"? Shouldn't he want to be by Elain's side after her kidnapping? He was willing to sit out for Mor but didn't think to sit out for Elain?

It's not mate behavior when Elain was being violated during the Cauldron scene and Azriel only cared for Mor.

It's not mate behavior when Az had an "unspoken debate" with himself then decided to go after her.

It's not mate behavior when Az drew straws to avoid guarding Elain during the worst of her depression.

It's not mate behavior when Az showed zero interest in visiting Elain during the worst of her depression.

It's not mate behavior to look at another female with heat and yearning while the girl you're supposedly "true mates" with is in the room with you.

It's not mate behavior to regift the necklace you gave your "true mate" to another female.

It's not mate behavior to feel a spark in your chest over another females happiness.

It's not mate behavior to not show admiration for the girl you supposedly want.

It's not mate behavior to give her zero credit for her bravery.

It's not mate behavior to believe she shouldn't be exposed to the darkness of the Trove while thinking her sister can.

It's not mate behavior when Feyre ordered Az to get Elain to safety and he ignored the orders of his High Lady to stay behind to also save Feyre.

It's not mate behavior when Cassian was the first to want Elain armed during the war.

It's not mate behavior when Az didn't even check on Elain after the battle.

It's not mate behavior when he used the exact same voice on Elain that he uses on enemies and to charm allies into getting his information:

"The sixth queen is alive?" Azriel asked, calm and steady, the voice of the High Lord's spymaster, who had broken enemies and charmed allies."

Az treated Elain exactly as he treats others when he collects intel versus Lucien who Feyre notes she'd never heard her friends voice so soft or tentative when talking to Elain.

Mate behavior brings out a side to a character that we don't typically witness from them. Like Lucien's struggle with controlling his anger whenever Graysen is mentioned or when Nesta said "we'll decide what she needs" when he was telling them Elain needed to get outside, Lucien tapping into a brand new power to get to Elain's side, Lucien being at a loss for the right words whenever he's near Elain because she leaves him a bit tongue tied and awkward in his own skin (something that is noteworthy considering he's very good at talking to people).

Mate behavior is instinctual, like Lucien losing his shit when the bond first snapped and he couldn't stop himself from snarling and roaring. Does Lucien typically snarl and roar? Or was he struggling to control his actions because of the mating bond?

Mate behavior is not Az saying to Nesta, "what about Elain?" and NESTA being the one to run in terror to Elain's tent. Mate behavior would have been Az himself running to Elain's tent for fear of what he'd find. Mate behavior is not sitting there watching Nesta and Cassian discuss trying to get Elain back then him only declaring he'd get her back once Nesta said it was impossible. Mate behavior is not staying away from Elain for a year because he couldn't stand her bond even though she could have used the emotional support from someone she considered a maybe friend during that time (mate behavior is Rhys and Lucien staying away from Feyre and Elain because they believed they were happiest without them, Az stayed away due to his own selfish reasons).

All in all, nothing in Az's actions is mate behavior when it comes to Elain. It is canon that Az is often the first to throw himself into danger, that he is competitive to an extreme, that he is typically full of wrath and aggression, and the scars from his mother's past make him act a certain way towards females at times. These are not things special to Elain.

Lucien showing devastation at Elain's depression, sitting in his room thinking of ways to help her, offering condolences for the loss of her father, supporting her vision by heading off on a mission alone that Az claimed was too dangerous for even Rhys at a certain point, a vision Az didn't even think was all that important to follow since Mor was the one arguing for it, leaving his mates side to risk his life when it's clear he was longing for her but knew she wanted Graysen? That's mate behavior.

Az hiding in Feyre's shadows during Elain's rescue while Feyre did the most dangerous part, Az not caring about Elain's trauma or mental health at any point in the series? That is not.

[bookbitchx]

Blog Introduction.

Marhaba, Salut, Hello.

My blog is mostly centered around the Maasverse.

I don't claim to know what it's like or what it takes to write a successful series, let alone multiple, and I never will.

These are my opinions, mostly based on the ACOTAR series, soon enough TOG (a much needed reread before I can give my solid opinion) and CC (whenever I get to actually reading it.)

Heavily centered tags: Anti Rhysand, Anti Feyre, Anti Feysand, Anti IC, Anti Nessian, Anti Cassian, Anti Amren, Anti Mor.

Pro Lucien, Pro Eris, Pro Tamlin, Pro Nesta, Pro Gwyn, Pro Emerie, Pro Tarquin, Pro Helion, Pro Thesan.

Neutral: Azriel, Elain, Vassa, Jurian, Kallias, Viviane, literally anyone else left.

▪︎Anti Rhysand: I can't stand the guy. Plain and simple.

▪︎Anti Feyre: I liked her in the first book, even a few chapters into AF, where that Feyre went, I'll never know.

▪︎Anti Feysand: The most obnoxious rulers in all of Prythian. It would've been fine if they had anything to back it up with, but they don't.

▪︎Anti IC: This one is obvious. They're more like an inbred cult than a found family.

▪︎Anti Nessian: I deluded myself that the bond is Made, and I stand by that.

▪︎Anti Cassian: He's the worst mate ever written by SJM, and that's saying something since she wrote Rhysand.

▪︎Anti Amren: I could tolerate her in AF, but she's completely unnecessary after WAR.

▪︎Anti Mor: Could've been a great character, failed her miserably in whatever it is she is now.

▪︎Pro Lucien: Why wouldn't I be? Easily the best written character in the series.

▪︎Pro Eris: Everything is not as it seems. Maybe I'll eat my words later on, maybe I won't. We'll see.

▪︎Pro Tamlin: This is a tricky one. I don't condone/encourage/find what he did okay pre-petty Feyre revenge. However, he's more than made up and paid for it.

▪︎Pro Nesta: I also don't condone her actions in the first few chapters of TAR, some of SF, but again, she's more than made up for it.

▪︎Pro Gwyn, Emerie, Tarquin, Helion, Thesan: Obvious reasons.

▪︎Azriel: He's there, I guess. I'm disappointed with the way he was written, but yk. Waiting for his book to make up my mind.

▪︎Elain: She's also there. Idk. From what I did see of her in the books, she's alright. Hated her for not standing up for Nesta, but I'm over it.

▪︎Kallias and Viviane: I loved their story, at least the bits that we saw. However, I'll forever judge them for not hounding Rhysand about the 'other' Daemati's name. I'll keep believing he did it until anon Daemati's head is brought and shown.

▪︎Vassa, Jurian: Gave Lucien a place in the band of Exiles. Nothing more needs to be said.

I'm team Elucien all the way.

Iffy about if Gwynriel will happen, but I would love to see them together.

If these are not your things, it's totally your choice. Feel free to leave, or if you want to debate, I'm all for it as long as neither if us try to convince the other of something and try to shove it down the other's throat.

I do post other things, or I'm going to, mostly book reviews based on these genres: Romantasy, Fantasy, Mystery, YA, Dark Romance.

Also, English isn't my first or second language. If I make grammar/vocabulary mistakes, this is my sorry in advance.

Okay, I think that's it.

Byeeee.

[mostlypetty30]

Acotar Academy Jobs

I have a lot going on in my head and I'm not sure where to focus at the moment so I'm going to do something fun. Here's my thoughts on what jobs certain characters might have in an Academy setting. Art Professor/ Archery Coach & Art Review Club - Feyre Sociology Professor / Dance Team Coach & Book Club - Nesta Horticulture Professor / Academy Event Coordinator & Garden Club- Elain World Religion Professor / Key Club Coordinator - Gwyn Plant Science Professor / Women in Business Club & Illyrian Student Alliance Coordinator - Emerie General History Professor / Human Rights Club - Jurian Government Professor / Debate Coach - Eris War History Professor / Wrestling Coach - Cassian Ancient Civilization Professor / Gemology Club - Amren Psychology Professor / Astronomy Club - Rhysand Intelligence Studies Professor / Choir Coach - Azriel Geography Professor / Fashion Design Club - Mor Band Professor / Poetry Club - Tamlin Political Science Professor / United Nation Coordinator - Lucien Academy Head Librarian / Pride Club Coordinator - Helion Philosophy Professor / Young Leaders of Prythian Coordinator - Tarquin Academy Parent Donator / Head of PTA - Beron Academy Administrative Secretary / - Kallias Academy Head Nurse / Robotics Coach & Chemistry Club Co-Coordinator - Thesan Principal / Headmistress - Vivianne Vice Principal - Lady of Autumn (sometimes I kinda want to call her Eloa (Elegant Lady of Autumn. She deserves a name)

[nikethestatue]

I would like to kindly ask where it’s canon, not theories, that Elain had to be uglyfied in order not to attract attention. I’m only wondering because until I see it published by Sara herself I can’t help but take it as offending towards Nesta since that night was about her level of skill and prowess not about Elain

The black, drab dress at the Hewn City Solstice Ball.

Rhys needed Nesta to dance with Eris. Hence the rehearsals, the perp, the learning of the dances with Mor, however, in the end, because Eris would've had the choice of dancing with either sister, they dressed Elain down, so she wouldn't attract his attention, and he in fact comments himself 'you sister is a beauty, but tonight you outshine her'. That means that everyone's natural inclination is towards Elain and her beauty. Elain had to look plain and as basic as possible, so to allow Nesta to take centre stage.

Now, do I personally think that Nesta is a beauty? Yeah. But absolutely everyone noticed Elain. It's SJM's choice.

Logically, the IC could've said 'oh, well, Elain is Lucien's mate. No way Eris is gonna pay attention to her because he'd know that she is off limits." Yet, they went out of their way to make sure that she isn't her usual self.

The black dress has been debated literally TO DEATH. Why is she even wearing a black dress that leeches colour from her and makes her look less attractive than she usually is? That's the reason. She is wearing it to LOOK ugly, not because she can't wear black. If she'd be in some stunning black dress she'd be just as beautiful as her sisters and then some.

[rainbowdolphinrealm]

Last But Not Least Part 4

A/N:  Thank you for all the likes and kudos on the first three parts of this story.  I promise you can leave comments. I don’t bite, and it gives me an idea of what you all like reading and what you’re more meh about.  I know, I know, I’m supposed to write for me, but still.

Final question: Do you all want a spicy final chapter where Lucien and Elain consummate the bond or is that unnecessary?

************************************************************************

Lucien winnowed to the front steps of the River House and practically winnowed on top of Elain.

“Oh!” she exclaimed, clearly startled.

Lucien laughed as he dodged to miss her.  “I wasn’t expecting anyone to be waiting out front.”

Elain blushed a little.  “I’ve been a little anxious for your return,” she confessed.

“Please tell me you let yourself sleep,” he replied as he took her hand, pulled her closer and kissed her cheek.

“A little.”  She was wearing a flowing, Marigold dress with short, flowing sleeves to match the skirt’s movement.  She looked like a perfect transition from summer to fall.  Or maybe she was going for the golden sunshine of the Day Court.  Either way, she looked beautiful and her hair swept gently up on one side, pinned with a lapis lazuli comb, matched by her earrings and necklace made the whole look complete.  She turned and led him back into the house by the hand. “Are you hungry?”

Lucien smiled at how eager and comfortable she seemed with him now. “I saved my appetite to have breakfast with you.”

Elain looked back over her shoulder and smiled at him.  “Feyre, Rhys, Nyx, and Mor are eating too.  It won’t be a private breakfast.”

“That’s alright,” Lucien agreed with a shrug.  “Does Mor usually come for breakfast?”  He wasn’t entirely sure if she lived in the River House or maintained the old townhouse as her residence.

“Usually,” Elain replied.  “And sometimes Azriel comes for breakfast, but he usually eats with Cassian and Nesta at the House of Winds.”

“Hmm. . .” Lucien mused on that bit of information.

Elain quirked an eyebrow at him.  “What?”

Lucien shrugged again.  “Just wondering if Azriel will be breakfasting with Eris in Autumn now that Beron’s gone.”

Elain stopped short as they entered the dining room.  “Oh.  I suppose that might change things.”

“I’m still not sure if I’m going to need a new Spymaster,” Rhys said from the table, bouncing Nyx on one knee.

“I’m sure Az will find a way to serve both courts,” Feyre said confidently as she ate a piece of crispy bacon.

Lucien wasn’t so sure of that.  He knew from personal experience that it was hard to serve two masters.  Tamlin had made it easy to choose, though.  For the longest time Lucien thought Tamlin was like a true brother.  Time away, however, opened Lucien’s eyes and he was able to see how Tamlin was just as bad as his more contentious brothers had been, his abuse was just more subtle. He conditioned Lucien to think it was normal and acceptable to be treated with that level of disrespect. Lucien wondered if Tamiln would have treated him similarly if he’d known Lucien was Helion’s sole offspring instead of a mere seventh son.

“So you two are off to Day this morning?” Rhys asked as Lucien and Elain took their seats.

Lucien nodded.  “Mother would want me to deliver the news of her passing in person,” he said, the ache of her loss weighing on him.

“Are you going to tell him what he is to you?” Rhys continued.  “Or save that for another visit.”

Lucien sighed as he selected a pastry from the tray Elain passed him.  “I keep going back and forth on that,” he admitted.  “On one hand, I think I’d want to know if I had a son-”

“Agreed,” Rhys interjected, shifting Nyx a little bit on his lap..

“-but is that too much information all at once?” Lucien finished. He’d been having this debate with himself all night.  To be honest, he was a little afraid of telling Helion he was the male’s son.  What if Helion was disappointed that Lucien wasn’t a more impressive male - like Tamlin or Rhys or Tarquin.  Lucien didn’t think he exactly screamed heir of a High Lord.

“He’d want to know everything,” Mor said confidently before taking a swig from her juice glass.  “Trust me.”

Lucien knew that Helion and Mor were reasonably close - close enough that Mor probably knew what she was talking about.

“I think Mor’s right,” Elain said slowly, an unusual lilt to her voice.

Feyre raised an eyebrow.  “Have you seen something about it?” she asked.

Elain shook her head.  “No . . .but it’s a feeling.  A strong feeling.”

“Seeing isn’t always a vision,” Mor put in.  “Sometimes it’s just special knowledge or unexplainable intuition.”

Lucien looked at his mate and gave her a hopeful expression.  “You’re still willing to go with me?”

Elain smiled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.  “Yes,” she said simply.  “You’re mine and I’m yours.  We share our trials from here on out.  I’m happy to go to the Day Court with you.”

“Does this mean you ate the roast chicken last night?” Rhys asked Lucien slowly, an eyebrow raised in query.

Lucien grinned at Elain before turning back to Rhys and nodded.  “It was fantastic.”

Feyre’s grin was luminous.  “Oh I’m so happy for you!” she exclaimed.  “For both of you!”  Nyx squealed happily, echoing his mother’s enthusiasm.

“Are you excited to get an Uncle Lucien?” Rhys asked him, bouncing the baby a little more emphatically.

Lucien was caught off guard by that for a moment.  It was true.  Feyre was Elain’s sister.  Elain was already an aunt.  That meant he would be Nyx’s uncle when they got married.  He wondered if they could take the little guy out on occasion, let Lucien practice a bit before diving into parenthood himself.  He was so nervous about the prospect that it made his stomach twist into anxious knots.

“I don’t know if Uncle Lucien is ready,” Mor observed, gently chiding him with a grin.

Lucien chuckled at himself.  “Hey, uncles get to be playmates, right?  I think I can handle that.”

Elain beamed at him.  Apparently that had been an acceptable answer.

Rhys used the rest of breakfast to get an update on the Hewn City from Mor.  Lucien was grateful he didn’t need to go to that city as part of the Night Court.  Even though he knew now that the inner court’s nightmarish reputation was a facad, he still didn’t particularly like witnessing it.  It was too reminiscent of Amarantha’s court.  

He managed to supress his nerves about the Day Court enough to eat a couple of pastries, some fruit, and a hard-boiled egg.  

As they all began to adjourn for their days, Feyre hurried around the table and gave Lucien a tight hug. “I really am excited for you,” she said and then pulled Elain in for a tight embrace as well.  She turned back to Lucien.  “Do you want to keep your apartment in the city?  There’s plenty of space in the residential wing for you to have a room here.”

Lucien wasn’t entirely sure.  On one hand he was accustomed to living in the High Lord’s residence.  Living with his High Lord and High Lady seemed natural.  It would also let him be close to Elain.  On the other hand, maybe Elain wasn’t ready for that level of closeness yet.  She was excited about this level of courtship, but sleeping a few yards away from each other might be a little much.  “Let me consider it?” he asked his friend.

“Of course,” she promised with an affectionate smile.  “Take your time.”

“Feyre, I have a meeting with the palace governors,” Rhys said, bringing Nyx over to her.  “Do you have him?”

Feyre took Nyx slowly from Rhys, lookingstartled as if she just realized something. “I’m teaching a class this morning,” she said slowly as she turned to Elain.

“Oh dear,” Elain replied.  “I’m sorry, Feyre, I didn’t think.”

Feyre shook her head confidently.  “It’s fine,” she assured them all.  “I’ll put him in a sling and take him with me.  He likes to splash in the finger paints anyway.”

“Are you sure?” Elain asked, looking a little nervous, shifting her gaze from Feyre to Lucien.  “Maybe we could go this afternoon?” she suggested hopefully.

Lucien nodded.  “If that would make things easier,” he agreed.

“What would be easier is if my darling mate would let us get a caregiver for Nyx for occasions like this,” Rhys said as he made to leave the dining room.

“We’ve had this argument,” Feyre countered with a scowl.  “I’m not handing my baby off to a nanny.”

Rhys sauntered through the doorway with a parting shot.  “And we’ll keep having this debate until you give in or Nyx is old enough to look after himself.”

Elain grimaced a bit as Feyre stared daggers at the back of Rhys’s retreating head.  He laughed, clearly amused by whatever she’d said down their bond.  Lucien felt as awkward as Elain looked.

Mor strode forward and took Nyx out of Feyre’s arms.  “Don’t worry, Elain.  I’m free this morning.  I’ll watch him while Feyre goes to teach.”  She gently tossed him in the air, just above her head and he shrieked with laughter, his little wings flapping wildly, clearly trying to keep himself aloft.

“Is he ready to fly already?” Lucien asked in surprise.

“No,” Feyre replied with a grin at her son.  “Thank The Cauldron.  But Rhys says it’s instinctual for him to try if he’s free-falling like that.”

Lucien silently thanked The Mother than he and Elain might have to worry about their children winnowing all over Prythian, but they would never be toddlers learning to fly as well as learning to walk.  Elain gave him an expression that suggested she might be having a similar sentiment.

“Are you ready to go, then?” Lucien asked, holding out a hand to Elain.

Elain smiled and nodded, placing her hand in his.  “I’ve never been to the Day Court.  This will be exciting!”

Lucien chuckled.  “It’s certainly a beautiful court,” he assured her.

“Good luck you two,” Feyre said as they all made their way to the foyer.  “Should we expect you for dinner?”

Lucien had no idea how long the visit with Helion would take.  It could feasibly run overnight depending on how Helion took the news.  He exchanged a glance with Elain and then shook his head.  “Probably not,” he said.  “If we get back in time for dinner, I’ll take her out somewhere in the city.”

Feyre nodded as she pulled on a sweater at the front door.  “At the very least we’ll see you in Autumn for the celebration of your mother.”

“Yes,” Lucien agreed tightly.  The joy he felt at having Elain accept their bond was generally serving to override the crushing sorrow of losing his mother.  Every time it came up, though, it was like the wound was fresh and new again.

Elain squeezed his hand, and he also felt her extend herself down the mating bond to him.  It was like being hugged from the inside.

Feyre nodded and smiled sympathetically at him before turning her attention to Nyx, squirming in Mor’s arms.  “Be good for Auntie Mor,” she crooned to him with a smile and a wave.

Mor made Nyx wave back before Lucien, Elain, and Feyre headed out onto the front steps.

“Thanks for breakfast, Feyre,” Lucien said, thinking it was only polite since he’d sort of crashed their usual routine.

She laughed.  “Don’t think twice about it.  You’re family, Lucien.  Always have been.  You’re welcome to breakfast anytime.”

With that she gave them a wave and then winnowed away, presumably to her shop where she taught art classes a couple of times a week.

Elain smiled up at him.  “You ready?”

He nodded.  “Here we go.”  He took a deep breath and winnowed them both through the world to the outside of Helion’s palace in the Day Court.

As soon as they stepped onto the grounds, one of the Day Court guards came hustling towards them.  “Lord Lucien,” he said.  “We were not expecting you.”

Lucien nodded.  “I apologize for the surprise visit, but something’s happened Helion should know about as soon as possible.”

“Of course,” the guard agreed with a nod.  “I’ll send word ahead that you and . . .”

“Elain Archeron,” Lucien supplied.

The name was, of course, familiar to the guard, but he clearly didn’t have a face to put to the name.  His eyes widened a bit in awe and surprise.  “That you are both here,” he finished.

“Thank you,” Lucien said with a nod of thanks to the guard.  With that, he offered Elain his arm and he began to lead her up the front stairs into Helion’s palace.

“This is much more a palace, than I’ve seen in Prythian,” Elain whispered as they climbed the 100 or so steps to the main entrance of the palace.

Lucien smiled.  “Just like the Moonstone Palace gives amazing views of the night sky in the Night Court, the Day Court palace is built high above the surrounding area to provide unhinedered views all day long.

Elain smiled.  “How far can you see from one of those balconies?” she asked, nodding towards one of the balconies that overcooked the approach to the palace.

“Several miles,” Lucien explained.  “Especially on a clear day.”

Elain frowned.  “If this is the Day Court then are all days clear and perfect?”

Lucien smiled.  “You would think so,” he admitted, “but no.  They still need rain on occasion for their crops to grow.  Otherwise it would be a desert.  But on days when it does rain, it’s brief, and the day shines almost brighter after it’s through.”

“I’d like to see that,” Elain said wistfully.

“Lucien!  Elain! What brings you here so early?” Helion’s voice boomed down to them from the top of the steps.  Lucien knew Helion well enough to hear the tinge of worry in the High Lord’s voice.  Afterall, it wasn’t normal for Lucien to pay a diplomatic visit so early or without sending word ahead of his visit.  Helion was clad in his usual Day Court attire, trimmed with gold fabric, but he seemed to have forgone the High Lord’s crown.

“Good morning, Helion,” Lucien said as they reached the top.  “I come with sad news.”

Helion’s expression turned dark.  “Sad?  What has happened?”

Lucien took a nervous breath in.  “Maybe we should discuss this in private,” and his eyes flicked to the guards on either side of the palace entrance.

Helion clearly understood Lucien’s meaning and nodded.  “Come,” he encouraged, and motioned for them to follow.  “We’ll go to my living quarters.”

“Are you doing anything special for the Equinox?” Lucien asked casually as they made their way to the back of the palace where Helion’s private residence was located.  Lucien had dined in the informal dining room with Helion on occasion while serving as an Emissary for Tamlin and knew the more intimate setting was a better place to break the news about his mother to Helion.

“We’ll have a feast,” Helion replied and then turned to Elain.  “It may be Autumn’s special holiday, but we have the better gourds to serve.”

Lucien chuckled.  “It’s true,” he admitted to Elain behind him.  “You need a good summer to grow the best gourds and Autumn just doesn’t have that.”

Elain smiled.  “We had gourds south of the wall sometimes,” she recalled.  “But I’m sure they are so much better here.”

Helion smiled appreciatviely at her as he opened a set of double doors and led them into a large sitting room.  Lucien strode to the center of the seating area, gripping Elain firmly.  He realized it might have been too tight and released her just a little.  She squeezed his hand, though, reassuring him that she was there for him.  He had no idea how he would have done things without her.

“What’s the trouble, Lucien,” Helion asked in his more natural, less theatric tone. He strode to a small wetbar near the room’s big picture window and held up a container of what was probably bourbon.

Lucien considered the offer.  “Not . . .not at the moment,” he stuttered a little.

Helion put the glass container back down and frowned at Lucien.  “I’ve never seen you so . . .unhinged.  Tell me what’s happened.”

Lucien looked down at Elain for reassurance again.  She gave him a soft smile and nodded.  He took a deep breath and turned back to his father.  “My mother,” he said slowly.  “Beron killed her yesterday.”

Rage filled Helion’s eyes.  “He what?”  His voice was deathly calm, but Lucien had no doubt his blood was boiling and his power straining to be let loose.

“He finally beat her so bad it couldn’t be healed,” Lucien explained, trying in vain to will his voice to be steady.  “My brothers and I avenged her yesterday afternoon.  Eris is now the High Lord.”

Elain clasped her other hand around Lucien’s as well.

Helion was silent for a long moment.  “Why did you feel the need to come and tell me?” he finally asked.

“Because . . .” Lucien started and then shut his eyes in a frustrated grimmace.  “Because of what my mother told me before she died.”

Helion raised a single eyebrow in query.

Lucien sighed and continued.  “She said that you and her were in love, that’d you’d been able to see each other occasionally while she was married to Beron.”

“That’s true,” Helion replied slowly with an equally slow nod.

“She wanted me to know because she wanted me to tell you that she loved you and that . . .”  He stole another glance at Elain.  Her steadfast strength was keeping him going.  “That she bore you a son.  She couldn’t tell you out of fear, but she couldn’t take the secret with her to the next life.”

Helion blinked once then stared intensely at Lucien.  Then he blinked several times rapidly as if realization was dawning on him.  “You . . .”

Lucien nodded.  “I am your offspring,” he confirmed and for the first time, Lucien took a good look at Helion compared to himself.  It was true that Lucien had always been darker than his brothers in skintone and now that he had something to compare it to, he realized he was of Helion’s coloring.  There were definitely similarities in their faces as well.

“I . . .” Helion started, but he seemed to be just as lost for words as Lucien had been the previous day.  He stepped to one of the couches and collapsed.  “I beg your patience, Lucien,” he said.  “But in the last 30 seconds you’ve told me that the woman I’ve loved for five centuries was killed by a male I’ve been tempted to have assissinated more times than I can count and that I am a father.  That I am your father.”

“Take all the time you need,” Lucien assured him, taking a seat on the sofa opposite him.

“Would you like me to pour you a drink?” Elain offered.

Helion looked up at her and smiled gratefully.  “You are the kindest . . yes, please.”

“Lucien?” she asked as she made her way over to the wet bar.

Lucien took a deep breath and nodded.  “Maybe I’d better.”  He realized that aside from their wine at dinner the night before, he’d gone through all these revelations without a single drink to dull the shock.

She nodded and started pouring them both a measure into high-ball glasses.  She brought them over and handed one to each of them.

“Thank you, my love,” Lucien said automatically as he took it from her.  He didn’t even think if she was okay with the affectionate reference.  He didn’t stop to think how that might have broken Helion’s heart even further.

Elain smiled at him and nodded before resuming her seat next to him.

Helion seemed to be staring off into space, looking between the two of them instead of at either of them.  After a long while he finally spoke.  “I take it you two have accepted the mating bond?” he asked.

Lucien took Elain’s hand, squeezed it, and nodded to Helion.  “She made me a roast chicken last night.”

“Roast chicken?” Helion asked with surprise in his voice.  “Deceptively simple.”

“Well Feyre gave Rhys soup,” Elain said, blushing a little.  “I didn’t want to do something similar like stew, and Feyre did tell me that Lucien always ate hearty when roast chicken was on the menu.”

Helion smiled at that and let silence fall again.

Lucien took a slow swig of his drink, nervous about what Helion might say next.  Should they leave and let him grieve in peace?

“Will there be a Celebration of her life?” Helion finally asked.

“Yes,” Lucien replied.  “I’m sure that as a High Lord you would be justified in attending.  Eris certainly won’t mind.”

“The two of you are getting along better these days?”

Lucien chuckled.  “Yes.  He actually helped me get to Spring all those years ago.  Without putting himself or our mother in additional danger, he did right by me.  I support him as High Lord of Autumn.”

Helion nodded slowly.  “So will you be returning to the Autumn Court as one of your brother’s advisors?”

Lucien resisted the urge to frown in disappointment.  Until that moment, he hadn’t realized he was hoping for an invitation to call the Day Court home.  He wasn’t sure what Helion was thinking, though, and he didn’t want to give away too much of his own feelings, so he put on his emissary mask before answering. “No,” he said.  “That honestly hadn’t occurred to me. Eris has Azriel and Gerod and other loyal advisors.  He doesn’t need me in his court.”

“Prefer to stay in the Night Court?” Helion guessed.  “Especially with your mate the sister of the High Lady . . .”

“As the High Lady, and a new mother, my sister’s time is generally spoken for,” Elain said before Lucien could answer.  “She, Nesta, and I are all off onto the next chapters of our individual lives, wherever that might take us.  My life will be wherever Lucien’s is.”

Helion smirked at her.  “You’ve got yourself a savvy mate, Lucien.  Of course you make a great match.”

Lucien used every ounce of training and control not to look surprised or confused.  “She is something,” he agreed vaguely and amicably.

Helion laughed.  “Stop worrying,” he said.  “You, of course, are welcome to make the Day Court your home.  In fact, I would be honored to acknowledge you as my son and heir as soon as you’re ready.”

“You would?” Lucien asked, unable to hide his surprise any longer.

Helion put his drink down as he got up from his couch and strode over to them.  He offered a hand out to Lucien.  Lucien handed his drink to Elain and then took Helion’s hand.  The male pulled him up and enveloped Lucien in a tight embrace.  “Of course I would,” he asserted.  “You’re smart, battle-tested, a courtier’s courtier, kind and compassionate  . . .” Helion looked around Lucien to Elain.  “Have I missed anything?”

Lucien turned to see Elain smiling as she got to her feet.  “I think you hit the high points,” she agreed.

“My only regret, Lucien, is that I’ve found out you’re my son now, when you’re a grown adult, without much need for a father.  I take that back, I have another regret, that you were so mistreated by Beron as a boy and a young male.  You deserved better than that.”  Helion’s frown was deep and sincere.

Lucien had never been wanted by Beron, but Helion, who’d only known Lucien was his son for a handful of minutes not only wanted him, was upset that he missed Lucien’s youth, and was ready to make him his heir.  This sudden change of circumstance threw Lucien for a loop.  “I . . .I don’t know what to say,” he finally stammered, dropping the mask since it was clearly not needed.

Helion shook his head.  “Don’t say anything right this second.  Stay here for a few days.  See the Day Court through different eyes, not as an emissary, but as one who stands to inherit what you see.  Show Elain around,” and he turned to her directly.  “I hear you are a connoisseur of gardens?  You will love the garden in the back of the palace, I guarantee it.”

Elain grinned and gave Lucien an encouraging nod.

“We didn’t bring any change . . .” Lucien started.

“Not to worry,” Helion assured him.  “The nice thing about Day Court fashion is that is almost once size fits all for the men.  I’m sure we can get you some lovely things very quickly,” he added to Elain.

Lucien looked from his mate to his father and back again.  “If it’s really alright, I think I would like to stay for a little while,” he admitted.

Helion pulled him into another hug.  “Son, you’re home as far as I’m concerned.  Tomorrow we’ll go to the Autumn Court and we’ll grieve your mother together, but tonight we should celebrate this new family we’ve become! Your mother would haved wanted that.”

Lucien, despite himself, felt himself breaking into relieved laughter.  “I agree.”

So Helion began calling in servants, a valet for Lucien and a maid for Elain.  He ordered that rooms be prepared for them and that their every wish satisfied.  In the meantime, Helion would call his advisors together to tell them the good news.  They could stop trying to push him into a marriage just to produce an heir because he already had one.

As Lucien watched Elain’s maid herd her into her bedroom to be measured for clothes, he could see that she was smiling just as widely as he was.  Maybe this was going to be perfect for both of them.  After all, here she wasn’t Feyre’s sister.  She could be a woman of influence in her own right.  Yes, he had to agree with his father, he was tempted to say that he was finally home.

[acourtofthought]

4 Books of Buildup is not something E/riels and E/riels alone get to claim.

Yes, there have been moments in ACOMAF through SF that put the idea of E/riel into your head. Feyre thinking on how "handsome" they'd be together (literally the most shallow reason in existence for someone pairing two people but I digress), Az helping Feyre rescue Elain in ACOWAR, him offering Elain TT, Az sitting with Elain and listening to her talk about her seeds in ACOFAS, their "charged" look in SF and depending on the day and argument about whether the BC counts, their near kiss.

Yet between every single one of those moments, there is another love for Elain or Az or both. Elain was in love with Graysen in ACOMAF through ACOFAS. Az was still hung up on Mor, even in SF. He was happy not to stay and guard Elain, later helped rescue Elain then went on to look at Mor with heat and yearning on Solstice. He gave Elain TT but only because Mor begged him to sit out of battle. He was relieved that he was not expected to get Elain a gift that first year.

In all of those 4 books though, Elain and Lucien are confirmed mates. Confirmed by the King, by Feyre, by Rhys, by Az, by Mor, by Elain, by Graysen, by Lucien, by Eris.

It is CANON that they are mates. The "4 books of E/riel moments" are canon too however it being love is heavily debated because neither Elain or Az have confirmed it to be that. There is NOTHING in canon that unequivocally states she wants a relationship with him, that she wishes he were her mate, that he is completely over Mor, that he would take Elain without a mating bond.

In comparison, there is CANON showing Elain and Lucien are mates. Lucien calls her his mate, Az confirms their bond can be scented, she makes sure Graysen knows Lucien's name when Graysen is referring to her mate, Lucien acknowledges the real thread between them and Elain confirms she felt it too.

Could SJM decide to pull a fast one over on us in the next book and reveal the mating bond as fake? Sure, because she can do whatever she wants as the author however at this point in time, Elucien being mates is more canon than E/riel actually being in love. And to those who claim Elucien's bond will turn out to be fake, that the 4 books of proof of an Elucien mating bond can easily be undone in the next ACOTAR, then can't we say the exact same of E/riel? That the 4 books of "open to interpretation" interactions of E/riel could also easily be undone (I think they kind of already were in the BC but that's another discussion).

If a storyline which was confirmed (once again) by Feyre, Rhys, Az, Cassian, Mor, the KoH, Eris, and the author herself in interviews can be magicked away after 4 books of Elain and Lucien's arcs being built around that narrative, that it could suddenly be proven as fake, then how is anyone arguing against how the unconfirmed love between E/riel (of which no characters are even aware of considering Nesta called Az Gwyn's new ribbon and Rhys told him to find a hooker instead) can be even more easily deconstructed?

If it's that easy to undo a confirmed mating bond then anything hinting at Elain and Az is a house of cards in comparison.

[a-court-of-messy-break-ups]

what do you think eris' reaction would be to having an illyrian mate who's close to the ic in some way, and having to hide it from beron?

The second he realizes it he's definitely gonna have an internal scream thats so loud both Rhys and Feyre can hear, but he'll brush it off after a few minutes of pondering, he doesn't show he's freaking out but he is it's not a "What am I gonna do?!?!" type of panic but more like a "What the fuck is wrong with the mother"

But he is gonna start visiting the IC a lot more, Beron will start to suspect something but Eris is too smart to get caught so he'll come up with a good excuse as to why he's been going to the night court so much

[litnerdwrites]

The dude wiped out an entire village's population of men, presumably at some point after Rhys became HL, since there didn't appear to be consequences for it, leaving many women widowed and children without a parent. Some might argue that given what we know about Illyria, that might be a good thing for those women, as they'd escape abusive husbands and fathers, etc. To that, I argue, then what?

Given what we know of Illyria, the situation for unmarried women, and the feuds between camps are rough (since they use their children to target one another in the blood right), moreover those women (who likely can't fly) would have to travel who knows how far, with children, maybe even newborns, to find another village.

Back to those feuds, depending on the village, the women and children might not be granted sanctuary, due to relations between their former camp and the one they try to migrate too. Even then, could one camp take in that many women and children without taking into account the availability of food and shelter? Emerie's treatment, women owned businesses are uncommon, if not existent, at the current point in time of the story, much less 4-500 years prior, all under the assumption that they even have the education necessary to do said work. Even if they did have the ability to work, how long before they made enough money to afford food and shelter? What would they use before that? Would they be payed for the so-called chores they do?

And if they aren't accepted into another camp, due to strenuous, prior relations, camps being at capacity or even just misogyny, then what? The Illyrian woods are supposedly dangerous, with even warriors being careful about entering. How long before they reach the next village? Would they survive the trip? Would a child survive? How would they gather food for the journey?

The narrative uses the fact that he didn't kill the women or children as a way to show his empathy and love for his people, but it seems more like he sentenced them to a slower, more painful death, if they weren't lucky.

HOW MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN DIED AFTER CASSIAN'S REVENGE?

I'm not saying that those men who abused his mother in that regard didn't deserve consequences, but some forethought, planning and empathy would be nice, since he's supposed to be a smart General and all, if he planned on letting the women live anyway. Perhaps he should've taken them to the library? Or ordered other villages to take them in? Brought them to Velaris? Anything that would imply that his decision was something more than a whim.

Cassian's cruelty clearly isn't limited to Nesta, it's limited to women in general, who don't pay attention to him and his tiny ego and insecurities the way that Mor does. For as much as she's using him, I think a part of Cassian might be using her too, especially more when it comes to Nesta, because he realised that our girl wouldn't feed his ego the way that others do.

I think he gets it from Rhys and Azriel as well, since they're both the children of nobility, despite being a half breed and a bastard, but to a lesser degree. Their status as a half breed and a bastard puts them in similar camps as him. Mor, however, doesn't have that status. She's a high ranking noble, from a line of HLs that ruled before Rhys' family line did, who has, apparently, a significant degree of influence and pedigree, since she was almost married to Eris, a future HL, (whether or not she uses her influence, and if she uses it for anything useful is up for debate), and he can respect her as a fellow warrior.

cassian is good male but not a good mate, i will die on that hill

[propshophannah]

(I'm valamerys) "There was a moment when I questioned how much of a liar Mor actually is." Hey, full offense, saying a deeply traumatized woman is LYING about one of the people involved hurting her, or faking how fucking terrified of him she is when he shows up in ACOWAR, is a really, really bad look.

Hello friend. (Sorry, I’m out at a new volunteering gig waiting for my littles parents to come grab them so I gotta copy and paste a response I wrote earlier.)

I am in no way saying Mor is unreliable in her account of her abuse. It’s totally cool if that’s what you inferred from what I wrote. I’m not mad. It’s just not what I meant.

I think where we differ, is in our interpretation of the text. I didn’t read anything to indicate that Eris saw her brutalized body and then left her in the forest. What I read was that he broke the engagement because he knew she was gay and wanted to help her. Then she was brutalized by her family and left in the Autumn Court where he was then unable to come help her. I didn’t get the impression (or remember reading) that he went to see her in the forest and then chose to leave her.

So I see Mor’s behavior as association Eris’s breaking of the engagement with the abuse she received at the hand of her family. And I associate some of what she says to Eris as her knowing he knows she’s gay and further protecting herself by helping to perpetuate who everyone thinks he is. And I’m not blaming her for that. I’d do it in a heartbeat. I also got the impression that they knew one another beyond the engagement and that’s partly why she was so effected when she thought he’d left her. It was a betrayal of friendship, not of an abusive ex-fiancé. If he’d proven himself to be abusive or cruel to her before the canceled engagement then she’d have no reason to care that he’d left her in the forest. That action would be more of a relief to her, than something to feel hurt about. So that’s where I’m at.

Not saying Eris deserves a redemption arc or not. That’s a different argument.

Hope this helps!

[nikethestatue]

Anti Elriels be grasping at straws with their arguments, did you see the one where they claimed that since Elain didn't look good in black she doesn't belong in the night court? At this point they straight up hate her pink flowery feminine traits. Like the misandry is coming from inside the house babe.

Yeah, it's been an ongoing debate about the black dress.

Somehow, no one is asking for Mor to be moved out of the NC because she is bubbly and wears red.

The arguments have always been nonsensical, but if the antis think that Rhys is letting the last Cauldron Made, fully powered up Seer with immense powers out of his Court or his sight willingly, they sure don't know Rhysie.

The guy uses everyone the moment they step inside his orbit.

If anyone thinks that he'll let Elain go off galivanting to Autumn and potentially give Beron an incredible advantage or even Day, or the Human Lands, they've been reading the books wrong.

Rhys is only romantic when it comes to Feyre--otherwise, he is a schemer, a brutal politician, who'll do anything for his Court and pretty much will never relinquish powers that are available to him. And that definitely includes the 2 Archeron sisters. He was willing to ally with Eris, and even hovers around Tamlin like a deranged mother hen, feeding him and keeping him sane-ish.

Sorry to disappoint Cassian the Fashionista General, but Elain will be running job for Rhys just like everyone else.