#clotho acotar

[dawneternal]

What I think the acotar characters smell like

Emerie - woodsmoke, herbal tea

Gwyn - honeysuckle, warm rain

Clotho - sweet mint, parchment

Tarquin - sea salt, lime, coconut

Eris - brown sugar, whiskey, smoke

Helion - vetiver, saffron, magnolia

Thesan - apricot, sage

Kallias - vanilla, cedar, snowdrop

Vivianne - violets, sugar plum, fresh snow

Tamlin - moss, lily of the valley, blackberry

Lucien - Leather, bergamot

Lady of Autumn - clementine, clove, amber

Beron - tobacco, cider, oak

Nuala and Cerridwen - moonflower, peach, sandalwood

Rhysand's mom - cardamom, moonflower

[emilystheories]

A (crack?) theory from my ACOSF reread:

What if Clotho was one of the first Valkyries…?

[ACOTAR spoilers ahead!]

In ACOWAR, we first meet Clotho, the High Priestess of the House of Wind library. “A long time ago,” Clotho was maimed by a group of men.

Notably, it was discovered that the men cut Clotho’s tongue and “smashed’ her hands so that she couldn’t tell anyone (orally or verbally) what the males had done to her.

This is almost certainly a reference to Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. In this play, a character named Lavinia is attacked by two men; they cut off her hands and cut out her tongue so that Lavinia was unable to name her attackers.

— — —

In ACOSF, we are then informed that Merrill — another priestess in the library — is currently compiling a complete history of the Valkyries.

In doing so, Merrill demands that Gwyn brings her Volume 7 of The Great War. Putting two and two together, one can assume that The Great War ties in with Merrill’s current Valkyrie research.

We later learn that the Valkyries died during the War, 500 years ago. As such, could it be possible that The Great War is the Valkyrie account of what happened during that long-ago war?

But, here’s the key point: The Great War was authored by someone named Lavinia.

Given what is outlined above, could Clotho be Lavinia? Is this her account of the war, from a Valkyrie’s perspective, that she wrote in her early days at the library?

— — —

We are never given Clotho’s age, but it’s presumed she has lived for a “long time.” If this theory is true, the timeline would be as follows:

Clotho is a Valkyrie, a fights in the war 500 years ago. Perhaps her original name was Lavinia?

Most Valkyries are killed, but Clotho is one of the survivors.

Some time later, post-war (likely after being displaced, and losing her community), Clotho runs into the men who assault her.

Mor rescues her, and Rhysand (a new High Lord) transforms the library to accommodate her and future traumatised women.

Clotho later compiles The Great War, but uses her original name (Lavinia) — perhaps to both honour her Valkyrie origins and to preserve her anonymity.

Some may rebut that as Mor (and Cassian) knew the Valkyries well, they would recognise Clotho when she first arrived. However, in ACOSF, SJM goes out of her way to state that Clotho’s face was so “battered and bloody” it “hadn’t looked like a face at all.”

Clotho (or Lavinia…?) was unrecognisable.

— — —

With this theory in mind: what if Clotho helped to “nudge” Nesta and Gwyn towards rebuilding the Valkyries?

As many in this fandom have noted, “Clotho” in Greek mythology is one of the Fates — a personification of destiny.

Although I don’t believe Clotho is a literal Fate in canon, what if it’s foreshadowing of her role in ACOSF?

For example:

Clotho directs Nesta to work on Level 5, the same level Gwyn is working on that day. This is where they first meet. Conversations about The Great War and the Valkyries spiral from there.

Clotho calls Cassian into the library to “scold” Nesta for practicing the Valkyrie training techniques, but Cassian and Nesta end up showing the other priestesses what’s involved — to show them it’s okay. Nesta believes this is her plan, though when the other priestesses (initially) don’t sign up for the training after this demonstration, Clotho is said to look sorrowful — as if she had a hand in the plan, too…

Clotho makes exemptions for Gwyn to not attend the priestesses “special” ceremony so that she can practice with Nesta and Emerie.

And, who can forget Clotho’s reaction to Gwyn first signing up for the training?

— — —

Most of all, this would lead to a beautiful twist and an emotional narrative in future books:

Clotho revealing she is Lavinia. Taking off her hood, if she so desires. Training with Nesta, Emerie, Gwyn and the other priestesses — with accessibility in mind for her hands. She would be shaky at first (having not trained for centuries!) but would slowly show the others what she was once capable of: fighting, shielding, attacking. A warrior reborn.

And then joining the Valkyries once more.

[nestastits]

I made one for the males, Helion won☺️

[seungrishair]

“As we entered the library proper, golden lights flickered to life. As if Clotho had been in utter darkness until we'd entered. "They are special. Unique."

She angled her head in what might have been amusement. Her face remained in shadow, her slim body concealed in those pale, heavy robes.

Silence-and yet life danced around her.”

[alexusonfire]

♡•Clotho Masterlist•♡

♡•Clotho•♡

♡•Clotho/Reader•♡

[sizzlingstarlightsky]

Clotho Core

[silverflameataraxia]

Feyre says that very few people like Nesta. Mor says that she's a wicked monster who would thrive in the CoN, and doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt. Cassian says that everyone hates her.

Meanwhile, Nesta is out here making friends like nobody's business: Gwyn, Emerie, the Valkyries, Clotho (really it feels like Nesta's befriended all the priestesses except Merrill), Bryce, Ember, Randall.

And then, of course, there's Eris, who wants to marry her after only three dances.

The IC are really the only ones who can't see how amazing Nesta is.

[famouscyclenerd]

It's nearing four years since acosf released, and we're still talking about that damned necklace

[shadowedpetals]

Just discovered that someone ships Azriel with Clotho.

That man can't interact with any woman atp 😭

🌸🦇

[azrielsbreedingkink]

I don’t think Clotho gave the necklace to anyone and there’s no evidence to say otherwise

[stargirlfeyre]

“Rhys and Feyre were so disrespectful to those priestesses for flirting in the library. They didn’t take the feelings of SA victims into consideration”

Clotho’s honest reaction:

[violetasteracademic]

Thinkin bout the Fates and the Furies

The Fates

Clotho:

Clotho is described as special and unique, and often appears to make people feel as though she can see the things that have happened in their lives. Clotho the youngest Fate, pulls the thread of life and sets one's destiny. They are neutral and do not weigh good versus evil.

The Furies

Fury Axtar:

Chthonic goddesses of Vengeance and daughters of Nyx (!) They are described as a personification of night, winged and dressed in black.

The Erinyes (Furies) also acted as tools of the Moirai (Fates)

In Crescent City, Cthona is the goddess of Earth (the Furies were nicknamed hell on Earth) and is connected to the Mother. CC trivia also addresses the connections to Nyx and the Underworld:

These are two characters I could see having deeper reveals of their powers and origins in Twilight of the Gods/new multiverse series. What do you think? Is SJM threading The Fates and the Furies in, or is it just a coincidence? Personally, I think there is more to learn here!

[shadowsxgwynriel]

Day 3: Priestess

@gwynweekofficial

This is a short drabble about one of the children from Sangravah coming to visit Gwyn.

Word Count: 568

Gwyn walked over to Clotho’s desk. “You wanted to see me?”

Clotho nodded her hooded head, and her enchanted pen moved in the air, There’s someone that wants to see you.

“Who?” Gwyn asked. It couldn’t have been Nesta or Emerie, because they would have just looked around until they found her.

One of the children.

She froze, knowing exactly what Clotho meant. One of the children from Sangravah was here to see her. Gwyn quickly blocked out the horrors of that night.

“I don’t . . . I have work to do for Merrill,” Gwyn stated.

The pen moved again. It wrote, You’re afraid. Why?

“I’m not. I really do have to help Merrill with something.”

Clotho was observant and rarely ever missed a thing. Should I send the child away, then?

Guilt and shame filled her. One of the children had gathered the courage to come here, and Gwyn was too busy letting her own fears hold her back.

“No,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “Where are they?”

Clotho angled her head to the left. Over there. And Gwyneth?

“Yes?”

Don’t let whatever you’re worried about keep you from hearing what the child wants to say. You deserve to be happy, Gwyneth. Remember that.

Her chest tightened, but she only nodded and hurried away.

She found the young girl—one of the older children from that night—standing by a stack of books that needed to be shelved.

And to her surprise, the Shadowsinger was also there.

He stood off to the side. She figured that he had been the one to bring the girl here.

His shadows were wreathed on his shoulders. Gwyn could sense them peering at her, and she couldn’t help but smile at their curiosity.

Azriel scanned her face with keen eyes. What he was looking for, Gwyn had no clue, but obviously he found it, because his body relaxed and he disappeared further into his shadows, giving them privacy.

Gwyn faced the girl, who was probably around fifteen now. And even though she was a few years older than the last time they had seen each other, Gwyn still recognized her. “Hello, Alina. How are you?”

Alina smiled shyly. “You remember me?”

“Of course I do.” Gwyn tried not to fidget under Alina’s watchful gaze. “What, uh, brings you down here?”

Alina shifted closer, eyes shining bright with emotion. “I never got the chance to thank you for saving me, for saving all of us, that night.”

The Invoking Stone seemed to burn inside of her pocket. “You don’t have to—“ Clotho’s written words flashed through her mind. Don’t let whatever you’re worried about keep you from hearing what the child wants to say. She was just right. Even if Gwyn still felt unworthy of any gratitude, Alina deserved the chance to at least be heard.

A slender body suddenly wrapped around her, and Gwyn returned the hug in stunned silence. “Thank you. We survived because of you. I hope that when I’m older, I can be as brave and kind and selfless as you are.” Alina’s body shook. “Thank you,” she repeated once more, her voice thick with emotion.

Gwyn searched for words, but couldn’t find any. Her eyes burned and a single tear slid down her cheek. She ignored it and continued to embrace Alina.

In that moment, Gwyn could have sworn that a part of her soul was starting to heal.

[romanticatheartt]

No, Rhysand did NOT use his power to make Azriel call Elain a mistake, it was all Azriel's doing.

No, Gwyn is NOT a lightsinger that used her power to make Azriel re-gift that necklace to her, Azriel made that choice all by himself.

No, Mor did NOT lead Azriel for 500 years, she was clear about what she wanted and it was Az who crossed that line over and over. He wanted to be led and wait for a mating bond instead of forming any sort of friendship.

Please hold this man, that you put on such high regards, responsible for his actions. He always made his own choices all by himself without anyone's interference. This is how sjm wrote him, he's fucked up and messy.

And No, it's not out of character when you have no idea who Azriel is. So stop self-insert you fantasies into him and make this perfect character (for you) because he most definitely is NOT.

[ckirkby2004]

‘If you kick out all the traumatised smut loving females with addictive behaviour as coping mechanisms out of Velaris, who’s going to be the new valkyries Rhysand?’

‘Oh no that’s not…’

‘In the sense that…’

[alexusonfire]

I'm literally going insane over Clotho and I've only met her once. I haven't even finished the series. The book. I've met her once in the library, and now I've created an entire pinterest board, a face claim, and I'm scrounging for every little bit of information I can possibly find on her even if it's all the same. I'm going insane. And I've only met her once.