#SJM ate with Elucien I fear

[shadowhunter2003]

We don’t talk about the foreshadowing beauty that is Elucien enough.

Because tell me why when Elain is being put in the cauldron, we see Lucien struggle to get to her, break the magical binds that he is being chained in , to protect her, while sneering at the King and Hybern’s guards. Then it is later revealed that Lucien is Elain’s mate.

Or the fact that when Ferye enters Elain’s mind in ACOWAR she describes it as sealed blossoms — indirectly saying that her mind longs for sunshine to fully blossom. Then, when they ask Elain what she needs she says sunshine. Later it is revealed that Lucien is the son of Day Court’s High Lord, a court that is the literal embodiment of sunlight.

Or the fact that when Elain is described in hewn city as being drained of life in a black dress, the one bright detail in her outfit is a pearl hair clip. Then later it is revealed that, Lucien gifts her pearl earrings during Solstice.

Or the fact that Azriel gifts Elain a rose necklace during that same solstice, after it is said that Elain is hurt by rose thorns while gardening. A direct contrast to the enchanted gloves Lucien has gifted her, which later is revealed that, if worn, would’ve saved her from those thorns entirely.

Or the fact that Elain, who was once a social butterfly, becomes withdrawn in ACOWAR and struggles to find her spark. Yet, later it is revealed that her eyes spark, when she is talking to Lucien for the first time.

Its so subtle you won’t even notice it unless you take a read back.

[acourtofthought]

I love how SJM looked right at Lucien and said, get ready boy, you're going to be happy but I'm going to make you suffer for it first 😂

"But does he honestly expect me to spend the rest of my life in that manor, overseeing servants"

“Mrs. Laurent, draw up some tea and bring it to the drawing room.”

Her chin lifted slightly. “We’ll send the servants away tomorrow.”

and wearing pretty clothes?”

Eight years of poverty hadn’t stripped from her the desire to look lovely.

“and hurried down the hall before I could explain that no one cared if she showed up to dinner covered in flour and that she should just sit.

She does not dream beyond her garden and pretty clothes.

Lucien watched the ever-young forest. “Isn’t that what all human women wish for? A handsome faerie lord to wed and shower them with riches for the rest of their lives?”

He almost had it right..........until he got:

“I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male.” She wanted a human man.

I love Elain and Lucien as a pairing because both have / had these pre-conceived notions about the others race that created this drama in their setup (it's all so very Pride and Prejudice!). Not to mention they both started their journey accepting of their stations in life rather than pushing for more (he as Tamlin’s second and she as a lady of a household).

Lucien was under the impression that humans had no interests “Don’t you have any … interests?” “No.” Not entirely true, but I wasn’t about to explain the painting to him. So typically human" and that they matched the picture that Feyre painted in her head about life with Tamlin, their only concern, finding a Fae suitor who would provide for them. Maintaining that belief only to be given a human turned Fae mate and to find out that he was wrong about it all, that she wanted no part of a "handsome faerie lord to wed". 😂 Elain might have fit certain criteria of his stereotype but they weren't the things that mattered considering he ate his words on the rest of it.

Elain was fixed on the notion that the Fae were cruel and were out to hurt them, “We are raised this way. We hear stories of your kind crossing the wall to hurt us. Our own neighbor, Clare Beddor, was taken, her family murdered …”

And while Lucien never hurt her and is actually the least "fae-like" or violent of the fae we've met so far, her initial impression of him was this crazy bond snapping into place, creating this animalistic draw between them. And feeling that pull whenever they're together and hearing any snarls from him would probably be intimidating when she was taught to fear the Fae her whole life.

SJMs endgames couples mostly revolve around the females growth but what I love about Elucien are there are major things they've both already had to change in their thinking since being made mates. They're both having these individual journeys and working their way towards changes in their thought process which I think she'll go over once we get to their book and we'll see a continuation of that in their own POVs.

It seems she wasn't kidding when she mentioned the tension, growth, and healing (together) that they'd have.