#feysand scenario

[animezinglife]

Nobody:

Teenage Nyx: [in a rebellious phase and hunting for some of his dad's liquor; finds Feyre's sketchbook instead]

Nyx:

[rhysiedarling]

BABE WAKE UP, A NEW FEYSAND FAVOURITE FANART JUST DROPPED 📣📣📣💥💥💥💥

🎨 by ignartcio on instagram !!!!! go check them out !!!!!!

[bangtanjjks]

Ah.... I think a part of the reason why the ACOTAR fandom have felt more hostile lately is because people can never just peacefully making up scenario of two character or more kissing around here without getting someone else write a whole ass essay with "proof" on why that pair will never work™ ..... You can't ship anyone in peace in this fandom without having One (1) person trying to debunk your ship😭 once or twice is fine. But with every single ships that's not canon? That's just tiring.

Example:

*some post about rhysta and how their dynamic will work if they're in a relationship*

Some person: making a 5 paragraphs essay on why rhysta will not work in a romantic relationship backed with proof of excerpt from the book like they're quoting the bible

I get IT!!!! WE'RE FANTASIZING ABOUT TWO FICTIONAL CHARACTERS KISSING. this is NOT the academic/scientific community, I do not need to have you peer review the text of two pair of characters fucking just because of canon

[praetorqueenreyna]

i don't want to argue about ships, because i think that's up to personal preference. i would like to ask a question re: your tamsand content though.

are you aware of the lowkey misogynistic vibes of the way you present feyre in connection to them? the oblivious/stupid wife who's blind to her husband obviously not loving her and having an affair?

idk where you're getting that from, in my head Feyre is a lesbian travelling the human realm with her wife, the mercenary lady she sold Andras's pelt to.

[itsthedoodle]

The way this has me in a chokehold, I- 😭😭😭

we said hello and your eyes look like coming home (6/?)

Summary: A canon-divergent AU where the bond snaps for Rhys on Calanmai, Feyre unwittingly accepts it, and Fire Night magic proves to be more transformative than anyone bargained for. Feyre drags a mate she hardly knows out from Under the Mountain, then puts him back together as war with Hybern approaches. Warnings: dubious consent, canon-typical sexual violence, canon-typical violence Rating: Explicit Chapter Word Count: ~3.4k

Feyre and Rhys finally get their reunion Under the Mountain

Read on AO3 or you can find the sixth chapter below the readmore.

ch. 1 - the altar is my hips | ch 2. - an arrowhead leading us home | ch. 3 - by the way, i just may like some explanations | ch. 4 - can't not think of all the cost | ch. 5 - honey i rose up from the dead | ch. 6 - this mad, mad love makes you come running

"What the hell are you doing here, Feyre?" Rhys hissed, lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl.

I'd expected this. It wasn't as if I'd thought he'd fall to his knees in gratitude, not after weeks of shutting me out. That didn't make it any less aggravating. If I could have growled like a faerie, I would have.

At least, though, he'd said it aloud instead of in my head. He must have put a shield up so we could speak freely. "I wasn't going to leave you down here to rot," I said. My voice had a congested quality that definitely confirmed my nose was broken. I winced, and even just that slight motion in my face hurt, too.

"You were supposed to be safe. If nothing else, that was the one thing—"

I cut him off. After spending six weeks with the family he'd bound to Velaris for their own safety, I didn't need to hear this. "Who did you kill, Rhys?"

His eyes flashed, and for a moment, I thought he might ignore the question and keep ranting at me, but he said, "A human woman about your size. I mangled her corpse so it was unrecognizable, glamoured it to smell like you, and left it for Tamlin to find. Amarantha was delighted I'd sent him a clear message to think twice about breaking the curse, and I didn't want anyone to come looking for you."

I'd thought he'd done something on her orders, not planned it all himself. That cold, calculating nature should have scared me, made me question exactly what sort of person I'd come Under the Mountain for. There was truth to the stories about the brutal, wicked Night Court. And I didn't really know Rhys, either.

But what I did know was that if it were me, I would have done the same thing. I wouldn't have come here if I weren't prepared to kill for him, too.

"What you're telling me," I said slowly, half-thinking aloud as I tried to understand, "is that you felt strongly enough about me to kill on my behalf after one night, but you didn't think I'd come back for you?"

The darkness rippled around him, and it nearly blocked out the last of the light. Something about it made his ragged breathing seem louder. "You have no idea how relieved I was when you got to Ve— When you got home. All of this was worth it if you were safe. But now you're not." His voice broke on the last word.

I didn't regret coming here, but I understood. Taking a life wasn't easy, even if it was necessary, and the guilt of learning it turned out to be in vain was a heavy thing. I knew that firsthand because of Andras. Rhys was carrying around fifty years' worth of that sort of baggage, on top of being violated in every conceivable way and terrified for me and his family.

That fury was fine by me, as long he didn't let it drag him down into inaction.

"You clearly think you're worthless, so If it makes you feel better, tell yourself I'm doing this for all of Prythian instead." He went quiet and utterly still, the way only a faerie could. Perhaps it had been too harsh, throwing his sense of self-worth out there like that, but I needed him to get it together enough to do something. When he didn't respond, I continued, "I can't go back now, so help instead of lecturing me."

If he didn't, I realized, it would break me. After years of shouldering too much responsibility in that cabin because no one else could get over their feelings enough to help, I wouldn't survive coming Under the Mountain just to discover it was more of the same.

But it would be just my luck to end up with a mate who'd do that to me.

"Did you think I haven't been helping this whole time?" he said, and if I wasn't mistaken, there was hurt there. "Tamlin gave her your name, not me. While those faeries were beating you, I broke into their minds and ensured they didn't leave any permanent damage. It was the best I could do without them realizing I was in their heads. There were too many of them for me to also get into yours and take away your pain. I'm…sorry it wasn't enough."

I let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall, careful not to press on any bruises. Rhys was staring at a spot on the floor, not looking at me, and seeing the defeated slump in his shoulders hurt worse than all my injuries.

"Thank you," I said softly, "for all of it. I didn't— It's not that— I just…needed to know that you're in my corner. That's enough. You're enough."

I could have sworn his throat bobbed, but in the dim light I couldn't be sure. He reached a hand towards my face and paused. "May I?"

I nodded, and Rhys ran his thumb along my cheek, brushing the sliver of skin between my black eye and swollen upper lip. In the half-second his fingertips skimmed my skin, something electric crossed the bond. Our eyes locked—we'd both felt it.

His gaze turned predatory again, and some knot of tension deep within me unraveled, just a little. I liked it better when he was looking at me like that.

Even if my body was currently a swollen, bruised mess.

"I can't heal everything without arousing suspicion, but I won't let a crooked nose mar the most beautiful face in Prythian," he said.

I blinked, sure that a blow to my head must have addled my brain, too. No, he couldn't possibly… "Are you flirting with me? Now?"

"If not now, when?" he said with another graceful shrug. I couldn't argue with that. As unafraid as I was, especially with him so close again, there was still the very distinct possibility we'd both die here, sooner rather than later. He must have thought the same because his expression went grave. "I have to set it in place first. It will hurt."

I didn't hesitate. "Just do it. I won't scream."

"So stoic," he drawled, lips curling into a half-smile. I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or not. "Are you sure I'm not the only Illyrian here?"

Until that mention of Illyria, I hadn't thought much about his wings. I hadn't known they existed until Azriel mentioned it offhand, but now I wondered if there was a reason I hadn't seen them. Amarantha certainly seemed fond of ripping wings off.

But now wasn't the time. I just looked at him expectantly until he brought his fingers to the bridge of my nose and pushed.

I dug my nails into my palms through the crunch of bone on bone and sharp stab of pain. I just looked into his violet eyes and let them keep me steady. It was over in a heartbeat.

I inhaled sharply, and pain lanced through my ribs where they were still bruised. But at least the throbbing in my face had stopped. "Thanks," I said.

He kissed the tip of my newly-healed nose, then carefully leaned his forehead against the patch of mine that was uninjured. I heard him breathe in deeply and realized he must have been scenting me. Or at least, scenting Mor's glamour that made me smell like I did before I'd accepted the mating bond.

With my dull human senses, I couldn't smell much on him, as much as I wished I could, just so I'd know for myself what the fae were all talking about. He'd probably glamoured himself, too.

Though I couldn't smell anything, I still closed my eyes and let it wash over me that he was here, touching me, and in one piece. The bond was less taut than it had been in weeks.

All too soon, he straightened up and said, "We need to plan while I have time with you."

"How did you manage to get down here for so long anyway?" I said, then regretted it as soon as the words were out of my mouth. I was probably better off not knowing the answer.

"I tired her out," Rhys said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. I nearly retched, but he just waved his hand to indicate it was no big deal, an elegant gesture completely at odds with the dank cell around us.

He was putting up a front, but there was no use pushing for the truth when I felt what it cost him.

Instead, I stepped around him and started to pace. It felt better to be up and moving, even if it was just a loop of the cell. He leaned against the wall, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

"There's nothing stopping them from attacking me again, is there?" I said.

If that beating had been a greeting worthy of Amarantha's hall, it could only mean there was more to come. And if Rhys could winnow down here and put up a shield, anyone else could follow suit and do whatever they wanted with me. I doubted the guards would intervene.

"Whatever I'd have to subject you to in order to get you out of this cell might be worse," Rhys said. "I may be able to spare you pain, but not humiliation."

I considered that for a moment, unsure if I'd take a loss of dignity over broken bones. It sounded as if he was already considering something, though. "What are you thinking?"

"I can keep you with me if I treat you as a toy to taunt Tamlin with. Dress you up, degrade you in front of your so-called beloved, and make it clear to everyone else that I don't share."

It hardly sounded pleasant, but I'd endure it if it meant getting out of this cell. And beyond that, the mating bond kept pulling me to him, no matter the consequences. Perhaps the sensible choice would be to stay out of sight—and potentially out of mind—but I just wanted to be as close to Rhys as I possibly could.

There was also a small, vindictive part of me that hoped it might actually make Tamlin feel some guilt.

"There are worse fates," I said.

Rhys sighed, running a hand through his blue-black hair. The motion drew my attention to the way his hair shone in the torchlight, and I tried not to let thoughts about running my hand through it distract me. "The trouble is, it may cause complications when we all get out of here."

He said "when" and not "if"—his hope wasn't gone. But that wasn't the point, and I wasn't sure what he was getting at. "Complications?"

"A human will have enough trouble being respected as Lady of the Night Court, if…you want that," he said, and I didn't miss the note of uncertainty in his voice, that slight hesitation. Before I could say something about it, he added, "Parading you like that in front of everyone here will make it worse, even after revealing it's a ruse."

Rhys was right, as impossible as it seemed that we'd have a future where I'd be attending state dinners on his arm. That sort of thing was too ridiculous to even consider whether or not I wanted it, and I'd almost forgotten I'd inadvertently ended up with a title.

I made a frustrated noise and paced faster. It was still tempting to take him up on it and say we'd handle the long-term consequences when it came to that. But there had to be more options.

An idea came to me. I stopped in my tracks and turned on my heel to face him. "What about my maidenhead?"

Perhaps it was just a trick of the light in the dark cell, but Rhys's face seemed to go paler. "Your maidenhead?" he said, the first time I'd heard him sound anything close to horrified. "Cauldron Feyre, on Calanmai, did I—"

The logical part of me doubted he'd care I wasn't a virgin, not after what Mor had told me about how he'd reacted when she'd lost hers. But still, as unfair as it was, plenty of males and men did care, and my gut twisted with something unpleasant at the prospect of Rhys finding me lacking in some way.

"You didn't. And before you ask, Tamlin didn't, either." He visibly relaxed at that and started to say something, but I cut him off because I had no desire to swap our sexual histories here Under the Mountain. "But no one else needs to know that if you can ensure Tamlin and Lucien won't expose the lie. Tell everyone you intend to make an event of taking my virginity. It would give you a reason to make sure no one touches me and still leave me down here."

His eyes glittered again, his expression melting into something I'd seen on his face at least once before. It wasn't quite interest or fascination or wonder, but it was close. Rhysand looked…bewitched.

It was probably just another strange effect of the mating bond.

"Now there's an idea," he said, pressing his long, elegant fingers together under his chin. "It would work, if only for a short while. They'll question why I haven't just done it if it drags on too long, but I'll take whatever time we can get. I'll ward the cell and have someone trusted bring a change of clothes and body paint for when Amarantha drags you out for housework."

I smiled, understanding exactly where he was going with this. "And of course you'll have to come down here frequently to ensure the paint is still intact."

"It would be far too important a task to delegate," he purred.

I still wasn't quite sure what Rhys was to me or what I wanted—and I doubted I'd figure it out Under the Mountain—but at the very least, he was a teammate and co-conspirator now. And he seemed like an excellent one.

I resumed my pacing and pretended not to notice how closely his violet eyes tracked my movement. "And the riddle? Has she given it any consideration?"

"Not yet, and before you ask, we've all been barred from helping you solve it or telling you the first task. I have her ear, and I'll keep pushing her to make plans that play to your strengths."

I'd figured that would be the case, but it was good to hear Rhys confirm it. Prythian was not a place you could run on assumptions alone.

He shared as much information as he could—the locations of every room he knew Under the Mountain, the names and faces of the trusted shadow wraiths here with him, the schedules of when the dungeon guards changed shifts. The talons brushing my mind were familiar now, even a bit comforting, but I'd never get used to the way he could just deposit information directly with his daemati abilities.

Rhys cocked his head, and his eyes went a bit distant for a moment, as if he were listening for something a long way off. I wasn't sure if it was someone's mind or just a sound too faint for human ears.

"I don't have to go right this moment, but soon," he said.

I nodded. It would hurt to see him disappear again, but getting this much time alone together was a gift. I wished I knew when it would happen again.

If it would happen again.

He seemed to be thinking the same thing because when he spoke again, he stumbled over his words, something that even after a short time together, I knew rarely happened. Actually, it might never have happened before. "Feyre, do you mind if I…Could— Could you please come here and take a seat?" he said.

I didn't understand the request, but I trusted him, so I sat down on the pallet of hay in the far corner of my cell. Looking back over my shoulder, I watched him sink to his knees behind me. "That bruise towards the top of your ribs is going to make it uncomfortable to lift your arm, at least for another day or two," he added, as if that explained it.

I still wasn't sure what that had to do with anything until I felt him slide the tie off the end of what was left of my braid. He untangled my hair with his fingers, smoothing it out without pulling too hard or yanking my scalp backwards.

With more deftness than I'd assumed he was capable of, Rhys began braiding at my hairline, securely weaving in the sections around my face so they wouldn't fall out. The braid would probably last a few days, long enough for the bruise to fade by the time I needed to fix my hair—he'd clearly done this before. I almost asked about it, but Mor had mentioned a sister when she'd explained the bad blood between Rhys and Tamlin. It seemed better not to risk bringing her up now, if that was who he'd last done this for.

I suspected it might have been easier to talk about this when I wasn't looking at him; after a moment, he said softly, "I won't be there if you wake up and vomit tonight, so consider this my way of holding your hair back for you."

I willed myself not to cry.

Instead, once he finished, I turned to face him and thought back to Calanmai—perhaps we were destined to always end up on our knees together somewhere underground. "Thank you," I said, resisting the urge to pull the braid over my shoulder and fiddle with the end. "And you have a lifeline, too, you know. Use it." For emphasis, I tugged on the bond.

Rhys gave me a single nod, and I took that to mean he had every intention of continuing to shut me out as much as he could. I wouldn't push.

"Don't think I'm not still upset with you, but while we can speak face-to-face, I should say that you were brilliant in that throne room. It was a clever bit of bargaining. And I know you were training before, but that much tenacity can't be taught. It's an innate gift."

A smile tugged at my lips. "That's the nicest way anyone's ever called me stubborn."

And impossibly, Rhys smiled back, perhaps his first genuine smile in fifty years Under the Mountain. I wanted to make it happen again.

I stood, taking note of which parts of my body groaned in protest as I rose to my feet. I held a hand out to help him up, and he took it, not that he needed it. Somehow, even just the simple act of getting up from the floor was imbued with feline grace when Rhys did it. If he'd never done a single clumsy thing in his life, I wouldn't be surprised.

He didn't drop my hand, and somehow I could tell this was goodbye. "Stay safe," I whispered.

"You, too."

He studied my face for a moment, and from the way his gaze dropped to my lips, I suspected he was debating whether the swelling in my face had subsided enough to kiss me. Unfortunately, it hadn't.

Instead, he bent at the waist and kissed my knuckles in a gesture that struck me as strangely aristocratic, as if he were courting me in a ballroom and not stealing a few moments in a dungeon. Before I could say anything else, he disappeared into shadow.

I sighed and decided to take in my surroundings to get my mind off the empty hole that formed in my chest the second he'd left. My weapons were gone, of course, and other than the pallet, the only other object in the room was a bucket, probably for me to relieve myself in. I picked it up, debating whether it was worth trying to tear off the handle to use as a makeshift weapon.

At some point, a miserable meal of stale bread and water appeared for me. I scarfed it down, thinking to myself I'd survived on less before. Given the choice, I'd take deer tripe over the bread, but this still wasn't nearly as bad as the days I'd resorted to chewing on tree bark. I suspected no one here but me had ever known poverty.

If Amarantha wanted to break me, she'd have to try harder.

[animezinglife]

Everyone understandably wants SJM to show not tell when it comes to the "fire" in Lucien's blood (myself included), but what I want to see every bit as much is Elain thoroughly enjoying her relationship with him so much she's borderline drunk on it.

Elain not having a single reservation about taking the reins and letting him know when she wants him.

Elain lightheaded and spent and giggly waking up next to him in the morning but also feeling entirely safe and serene.

Their "frenzy" stage being worse meaning better than anyone else's because of the amount of energy they have pent up. Elain being worse about it than him and completely wearing him out to the point he's almost laughing. Feyre realizing the time that phase has lasted between them and internally asking Rhys if that's normal. Rhys laughing and telling her no (before, naturally, suggesting they give that duration a try themselves).

The two of them trying to be subtle, slick, and polite about the time they've had together when they finally re-emerge into society and it still hitting everyone like a ton of bricks to the point the sisters are fighting back laughter (and pride).

Lucien's control being as impressive and sexy as usual when Cass and Rhys goad him about it. Elain feeling him tense beside her but her giving his arm a gentle squeeze being enough to deter him.

The entire room feeling like a giant third wheel around them and Nesta making a crack to Feyre about "understanding how she felt" now being around her and Rhys. Feyre jabbing right back with how it felt being in the room with Nesta and Cassian.

Elain still seeming a little shy around others about her relationship with Lucien, but slowly loosening up and leaning against him, hugging him, beaming when he kisses her hair, and even after a drink or two, curling up in his lap in an armchair near the fire.

Lucien doing the hottest things as usual like taking her coat/cloak when they come in from outside, getting it for her and helping her into it when they leave, etc.

Feyre and Nesta having a shared understanding and mutual happiness for Elain that she's found not just her mate, but her soulmate.

[acourtofthought]

It doesn't bother you that Lucien is friends with the man who joked about his mate getting raped? Interesting take....

I want you to do something for me since you decided to come to my page and ask for MY opinion.

I want you to set aside your own personal agenda and really think about what I'm saying.

I get it, we all have lived different lives and are triggered by different things. In real life, SA is not a joking matter, it's not appropriate, it's not something to giggle about between friends. I never returned to a job the day after a boss corned me and inappropriately touched me and I felt too uncomfortable to speak up since he owned the company. I was inappropriately touched by a neighbor when I was around 9 years old, someone who allowed me to stop by and play with his two dogs since I loved pets so much. I consider myself lucky because neither scenario escalated to what others have dealt with but those scenarios still give me enough empathy to realize the fear of being put in a position where you feel helpless against someone bigger, stronger and who holds power over you.

But the ACOTAR series is not what happened to me or anyone else no matter how many parallels or connections some find. It's fantasy fiction and in fantasy fiction (whether you agree with it or not), things that are serious in the real world are never given the same weight as in the book. Take murder, torture, and using others as pawns for example. These things are done by the main cast of character and nobody bats an eye. In fact, the fandom applauds them for it, turns them into sex symbols for it. Azriel literally tortures people yet many are more interested in the size of his wingspan than the things he's done to people who are unarmed in his torture room. Since Jurian's comments are so offensive and unforgivable, how are you comfortable thinking torture is something it's ok for the fandom to turn a blind eye to when it's a hotly debated issue in the real world as it relates to torture of POWs? Since you're sending me this anon I have to take a guess and say you're an e/riel and that means you're fine with torture in books but not fine with SA comments in books though both exist in real life.

Onto your specific question though, how am I fine with Lucien being friends with Jurian after he made those comments.

Simply put, because I'm reading the story the author is telling. Your reading experience seems vastly different from mine because I'm choosing to read the story as it's actually being told whereas you seem to be reading the story you wish was being told based on very specific things that are personal to you.

If I was basing my reading experience on real life morals and things that personally effect me then I could have never gotten behind the Feysand relationship because Rhys did some pretty horrible things to Feyre UTM. He forced her to drink wine she didn't ask for, he put her in clothes she was was uncomfortable wearing, he forced her (while she was drunk) to dance in his lap in a way she was embarrassed to hear about and he coerced her into a bargain she clearly didn't want, going so far as to twist the bone in her arm to force her to agree.

But I'm not basing my reading experience on real world morals, I'm allowing myself to let Sarah take the reins. I'm allowing an author to lead me so I understand what they're telling me (so long as I'm losing myself in this fantasy world) , to shape my mind, to rewrite the rules. The second I step away from my book I am once again a law abiding citizen of this world who understands right and wrong but in the ACOTAR world? I'm just a spectator along for the ride. I forgave Rhys because Sarah wanted me to forgive him, because her explanations were to serve the reasons for his actions.

"Just because Sarah forgave Rhys doesn't mean we have to listen!"

If you've already decided that she's wrong, that you don't have to agree, then you're no longer reading the book as it was intended to be read. And that's fine, feel free to hate on it as much as you want, but it doesn't change the story she's telling. Your personal opinion DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

It's the same with Jurian. He said / did bad things, we thought he was a villain (just as we did Rhys) until Sarah told us he wasn't. Until the author said, "this is my story and this is the reason for his actions and now he's a good guy strongly connected to the plot and the other good guys in the series". You can feel free to remain stuck in the past, unable to move forward with the series but that's not why I'm here. I want to know the story Sarah is telling, not what nameless faceless person decides I should have an issue with because they have an issue with it. If the author moved forward and the characters no longer have a problem with something that happened way back when then what good is it doing me to remain stuck in past plots? The plot moved forward therefore I move forward. It's honestly as simple as that.

I don't use the ACOTAR novel to teach me how to behave in real life. I use the ACOTAR novel to teach me what is happening with these characters. Therefore when said ACOTAR novel says "Jurian good" I'm going to accept that because that's the journey we're going on. I'm not sure why you take such issue with a reader simply following along with the story that's being told, isn't that the entire point of reading fictional books?

[songofthesibyl]

Coming out of hiding because I keep seeing people say how sexy it was when Lucien comforted Feyre after her “nightmare” and it’s just probably the most disturbing scene of the book for me. Just like I did not, in any way, shape, or form find Rhysand sexy when he was terrorizing and humiliating Feyre, Tamlin, and Lucien in the first book, and it’s probably why I’m turned off of sexualizing anything from these books in general. Particularly with the fandom the way it is, I can’t be lighthearted about anything—but also reading these scenes by myself before entering the fandom I still felt the same way. 

It’s also difficult not getting annoyed by the “toxic Tamlin narcissistic jealousy” thing, because I see little to no evidence of this in the books prior to this scene in ACOWAR. The first time it is mentioned is in that same section of the book, what Feyre is provoking. She mentions the “back off” conversation from the first book, saying Tamlin was afraid it would get in the way of all of his plans. Out of anger she is ignoring the context of that scene, sure—but there is still no way that makes sense. Lucien was “jealous” of Isaac too—because neither he nor Tamlin wanted Andras’ death to be in vain, when this was probably their last chance. It is too unbelievable that it would be out of some petty immature jealousy. Fear, yes. But not out of lust and desire.

But to that point—apart from Lucien, who simply hasn’t been given a chance to be toxic as a partner yet—which male lead hasn’t been jealous? Rhysand admits to jealousy UTM and when he terrorized her at the manor; he was jealous of Tarquin when she was purposely instructed to seduce him. Cassian roared across the Sidra about his jealousy. Azriel was jealous and resentful of everyone in his bonus chapter. The former yelled and/or were violent. Azriel intimated willingness to violence (however serious he was about it). For Rhysand and Cassian the excuse would be “because mates,” but since Tamlin is not given the excuse of magic, I’m not giving it to them either. Any of the other instances I mentioned would be considered irredeemable red flags for Tamlin, yet for Cassian and Rhysand they are harmless, benign miscommunication trope scenarios.

If people weren’t weird about Tamlin all of this would be chalked up to soapy melodrama, but if people are going to treat him a certain way as a character, then the rest get treated that way too. ACOMAF was supposed to model a healthy partnership in Feysand, not a Vampire Diaries/Buffy-esque dark romance. 

So then, who was Tamlin jealous of that we could see? Bron and Hart? It’s difficult to count Rhysand considering what Tamlin saw him do to her. So, who? This is all based on a half-remembered conversation? 

The bottom line is Tamlin was mentally unwell, and so the thing was to provoke any emotion, because anything could set him off. Confuse him, distract him, unnerve him, out of a desire for revenge. And to use his only friend, who had recently been sexually assaulted by Ianthe, to do it. And so yes, when Tamlin saw the woman he thought was touch-averse due to what she led him to believe happened to her constantly getting touched by Lucien, or seemed to be touched by him, he was confused.

I don’t find any of this sexy.

[stargirlfeyre]

Feysand, Nessian, and Elucien represent all sides of the mating bond. They explore different paths that can be taken between mates.

Feysand: The best case scenario. The mating bond between them isn’t the only thing holding two people together but the fact that they genuinely love one another. Both sides don’t feel pressured to accept the bond but rather come together naturally and at their own pace. Falls in love with each other and not the idea of a mating bond.

Nessian: Grey area. Accepted the mating bond simply because it existed. The bond is largely what’s keeping these two people together and the driving force between them. Relationship is mostly physical and while feelings are involved, unclear if those feelings would be enough to keep them together if the mating bond wasn’t there.

Elucien: Rejection. Two unwilling individuals tied together by a mating bond that they both seem to be uncomfortable with. Both have/had separate lives and separate loves. The mating bond seems like a burden they both have to live with and not something to be celebrated.

[throneofsapphics]

haunt me like the wind that blows 

Feysand x f!Reader 

(part two) (part three)

Summary: She yanked her hand from his grasp, taking a few steps backward. The fight was futile, there was no winning in this scenario, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try.

Word Count: ~1.8k

Warnings: dark feysand, abusive relationships, mentions of injuries, stalking, mention of suicidal ideation, yandere maybe?, not proofread, blood, death/murder

A/N: mind the warnings!

It had been one year, two months, and five days since she left. She counted every single one, because every single one was filled with memories of their love, their lies, and the fear they might find her. And what might happen when they do. If, she told herself, if they do. Something in her gut, maybe an instinct, told her it was inevitable they would find her someday. But she held onto the hope, the possibility that after a year they would give up. 

She ran as far as she reasonably could, to a small and barely known village in the mountains of Vallahan- one that welcomed her without question. She disguised her accent and her magic hid the presence of the mating bond. In the state she showed up in - shaking, pale, and underfed from weeks of rough travel, nobody questioned her. She used a vague backstory - escaping a bad relationship, being raised in a poor family, working as an herbalist. All of those facts are true, and she fed just enough information to escape suspicion. 

Still, she knew if any of them thought she was the mate of the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court, they’d turn her over to them without any question. People's goodness only ran so far. 

They told her they loved her, but kept her so tightly under key that she suffocated. Friends she’d had for years, suddenly felt the need to move away from Velaris. She managed to keep her own business for a few years.

First, they started telling her she didn’t need it, not with them there to provide for her. She told them she liked it, enjoyed working. That satisfied them for a while, until Feyre came in at the end of the day, finding a male flirting with her as she tried to deflect his attention. 

Rhys was there in seconds and she watched in horror as he died on the floor of the shop she built from the ground up. No matter how much she begged them, pleaded for them to stop, they wouldn’t and blood pooled across the floor, soaking into the wood. All traces of blood were removed, all evidence of the male's existence, but she knew it was there, and scented it each time she entered.

She shakily held on to it for a few months. They started mentioning things that happened during her day - things they weren’t present for, and she realized they either sorted through her mind or had somehow hidden themselves in her shop. They showed up from time to time and she never had any idea when they would. Anxiety filled her each day, and she started working on building her mental walls - in secret, hoping it would help her compartmentalize and shove some of that fear down. 

They commented how she looked worn down at the end of each day, how bags started forming under her eyes, how she grew more skittish. All things she knew, but hearing them stung. They convinced her working was too much, that it was her job affecting her health.

Eventually, they gave her an ultimatum. Quit and sell the shop, or we’ll make you. But, an ultimatum implied having a choice - that there would be two different endings, and in this case both scenarios ended the same way. The next day, fliers for sale went up and the shop sold quickly, being prime real estate in Velaris. 

She watched as the door was painted over - yellow instead of blue, and changed to a small clothing boutique. She wondered if the new owners felt that male presence. One who tried to flirt with the wrong female at the wrong place and time. Innocent flirting, flirting that meant nothing to her but cost him his life.

The first time she threw mental walls up around Rhys, finally recognizing the gentle caress of him slipping inside, he ripped them down brutally. She was left with a headache and hand shaped bruises littering her backside for a week. 

They mixed their love for her with lies. How they were protecting her, how they did it for her benefit, that all they wanted was for her to be happy. 

The happy memories haunted her the most, the ones of flights between mountains - both with Rhys and Feyre. Wind whipping through their hair, the smiles on their faces as they pointed out various things, the skyline of Velaris from above.

Now, each brush of the wind against her skin felt like a threat from them. Every audible beat of a bird’s wing made her shudder. It took a while for her to stop hiding when she heard them, or when the wind swept in a strange direction.  

She debated her decision every day. But, every time she took a walk through the mountains, interacted with someone new, created a different kind of tonic or poultice, she felt the freedom rush through her. The right decision, a decision she would make again if she had to. No matter how much her soul tore from being separated from her mates, she’d chosen herself. Maybe not happiness, but freedom. She'd never chosen them, the Cauldron put them together and she reminded herself often it doesn't mean they're a perfect match.

-

A knock sounded against the door and she cursed. The book was reaching its climax after five hundred pages of slowly building plot. It was late - almost sundown in the middle of summer, but she never knew if it was someone needing some kind of tonic or healing herbs and a sense of guilt motivated her to always answer the door. Another thump of fist on wood drew her from her thoughts, sending her rushing from the door, her page quickly marked with a random scrap of paper.

She undid the lock, swinging the door open. Her heart beat rose so quickly she thought she might pass out. After over a year, Rhys stood right outside her door, hands tucked into his pockets. He’d hidden his scent, and put the strongest damper on his power possible. Still, a dark storm raged in his eyes upon seeing her. 

Futily, she tried to slam the door, but a small wave of darkness shoved it back open. She didn’t try to scream, anyone she attracted would probably end up with their minds wiped - or dead. 

“Good girl.” He murmured when she stepped aside. She swallowed harshly as he entered, his eyes scanning the room. It was over. Her year of freedom was over. The High Lord of the Night Court found her, deep in the mountains of Vallahan, a village not even marked on maps. 

“You need to go.” Her voice was hoarse and shaking, betraying her fear. 

He let out a dark chuckle. “No,” his hand shot out quick as an asp, grasping her wrist to pull her close to him. His thumb traced over her bottom lip. “I won’t be going anywhere without you.” 

She yanked her hand from his grasp, taking a few steps backward. The fight was futile, there was no winning in this scenario, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try. “I want you to leave. Leave me alone.” 

His amusement faded. “You’ve always been a stubborn brat.” 

Her body shook with fear and rage. How dare he come in here, barge in on the life she created, and try to rip her away. “Go.” She pointed to the door. “I don’t want you, either of you." She knows Feyre is probably listening, watching in through his mind.  

The last sentence was a lie. Her body and soul wanted them, yearned to be with them, but she fought it at every step, and he knew it. “Liar,” he purred and she felt power begin to rumble from him. Anger was loosening his control. 

She tilted her chin up, clenching her fists at her side. “I don’t want you more than I want my freedom.” 

“Freedom?” He tilted his head. “Being with your mates is a privilege. So many don’t find theirs or don’t have one - let alone two.” 

A privilege. That was new. “I don’t care,” she spat, stepping around to open a path to the door, a path for him. She threw up every mental barrier she could, every bit of practice she’d put in every single day. If she left, it would be kicking and screaming and in her own mind. Sure enough, she felt him tapping against it - and saw the impressed expression that crossed his face, quickly overtaken by rage. Rage that she locked him out. 

He somehow mastered it, and strolled over towards the couch, picking up the book she left, twisting it over to read the description. Having him in here felt like a violation. But - his current distraction could help. She slowly backed towards the door, reaching her hand out to grab the door knob - only met with a shield that stung her fingertips. She hissed, sucking her fingers in her mouth to try and get rid of the burn. 

“I told you I won’t be leaving without you.” Rhys’s voice was mild. A mild she recognized - the same tone of his voice before he murdered that male for flirting with her, for touching her arm. A particular tone that haunted her nightmares. “I can give you five minutes to grab whatever you’d like, or we can go now.” 

Now, with nothing but the clothes on her back. Her own magic wasn’t strong enough to rip through his, and she already knew he’d cast a shield to keep her from winnowing away. Gods, she should have winnowed the moment he haunted her doorstep. 

“I thought you would stop looking,” she stalled, trying to buy herself time to figure something out. 

“You’re foolish.” Foolish. Like she was some child in need of scolding. He glanced at the clock hanging above her fireplace. “You have four minutes.” 

“Why do this? Why drag me back?” She questioned. 

“Because you’re ours. You’re part of us.” 

“I don’t want to be.” Y/n snapped, her temper finally flaring. 

Rhys’s eyes flashed. “Watch your tone.” 

“What good will that do me?” She laughed hysterically, “this all ends the same way.” 

“You could make it less painful for yourself.” 

There would be pain - there would be hell to pay, she knew that, and knew they had a plethora of ideas for how to make her pay for this. She could think of one way, only one way to escape. A permanent freedom from them, until they found her in the next life … her eyes glanced at the knife ten feet away, on her kitchen table. 

Her shields must’ve dropped for just a moment, because Rhys’s voice reverberated through her mind, "absolutely not". But, his voice tinged with fear. A sick sort of satisfaction came over her after she shoved him out, that she could put some kind of fear in him, no matter how sickening the circumstances or reasons. 

“Two minutes,” he hissed, “but I’m done waiting.” 

She didn’t move quick enough to escape his grasp. His grip was painful as he winnowed them, a series of jumps all the way back to the Night Court, back to her gilded cage, her shiny prison. 

[yazthebookish]

"If Azriel wants a mate then why is he pursuing a mated female."

He gave you the answer:

"The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another." He had never before dared speak the words aloud.  

Let's start by a scenario where you [the reader] is desperately and hopelessly in love with someone whether they're mated or not, would the mating bond make a difference for you?

If you answer yes, then you admit that a mated pairing are unlike any other because they're connected on a soul level and that's why it would make a difference to you.

If you answer no, then the mating bond wouldn't be an important condition for you because you can love the person with or without a bond. The mating bond wouldn't be at the forefront when someone asks you to explain why you would pursue or want someone.

Now back to Azriel, why does it matter if Elain wasn't his mate? Would that make his "feelings" for her less meaningful?

If he is very confident Elain has no interest in Lucien, then why is he upset about her being mated to someone else?

"But he could be her second mate or true mate"

As of canon, there was no mention of multiple mates and it's been proven more than once that Elain and Lucien's bond is legit (they're a unique case because all other mated pairings knew about the bond when they were already in love). You have to twist the context to make it seem suspicious or out of the norm—and the only thing that is out of the norm here is unlike the other mated couples, they're the first one we see that aren't in love "yet".

So excluding the theory that he is Elain's true mate or that he is her second mate, doesn't his confession to Rhys prove that he is desperate for a bond.

He used Feysand and Nessian as an example because the equation in his head is not making sense with him being excluded from also getting an Archeron sister as a mate. To him, 3 brothers + 3 sisters makes sense but was that even a condition for either Rhys or Cassian to fall in love with either sisters? No.

And you know what are the two biggest red flags here:

1. He immediately questions the Cauldron not giving him a mate, or more specifically, the Cauldron gifting his brothers two Archeron sisters but the third wasn't his.

2. Does Elain want a mating bond with him, or anything to do with a bond at all? Based on what we've seen... no.

So the first point shows you that it wasn't his attraction or feelings for Elain that Azriel expressed or could've said things that came off more romantic like "I want her" "I've grown fond of her" "I feel good with her"—because I promise you he didn't need to do a whole love confession to Rhys to convince him and Rhys would've had a very different reaction than what we have seen.

But what we got was Azriel questioning the Cauldron and be visibly upset about not getting an Archeron sister—that what probably ticked off Rhys.

OR we, as the readers, were in his head so he didn't need to vocalize his feelings to Rhys (since the argument is often about he doesn't open up), we could've just read his thoughts

He is putting what he wants at the forefront without considering whether Elain wants a mating bond or not.

And then you have the final nail in the coffin:

Azriel said nothing. He hadn't gotten that far with his planning, certainly not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to.  

Is this what it all boiled down to? Fantasies?

Where in his entire conversation with Rhys did the topic center on what Elain wanted or needed?

"Oh but Azriel did say she has no interest in Lucien and is making it clear to Rhys"

Sorry but that's Elain's piece to say and no where were we given any hint that Elain asked or opened up to Azriel about this. He is yet doing something that everyone else does for Elain: speak for her and assume what she needs.

Though I completely disagree with the idea that Azriel is a fuck boy. He isn't but this is a male that carries a lot of conflicted feelings and thoughts within him—his actions and words can be questionable but it doesn't mark him as someone who is a player. He is just hitting rock bottom.

[viridianevergarden]

One thing that I have thought of about Azriel is the fact that I could totally see him wanting the most casual, domestic type of life more than anyone.

When I say casual-domestic, I mean the man could live in a shack and still be beyond happy if he was with his love, which in this scenario would be Elain. He’d want the most ordinary life if it weren’t for his line of work. He just gives off that vibe.

“He needs a warrior”

“He needs a spy”

“He needs someone strong”

Those claims focus too much on what people want for Azriel rather than what he wants for himself. Pretty ironic right? Considering the theme of Elain’s arc is and will be Choice and Choosing even against Fate which will involve Az heavily.

Of course all of this is headcanon from me and we don’t really, truly know what he wants yet but…

Imagine their domestic life style in the Townhouse.

(Nessian > HoW, Feysand > Riverhouse, Elriel > Townhouse)

Him coming home to her baking fresh bread or desserts for him.

Her teaching him all about flowers, their meanings, and how to take care of them.

Him actively gardening with her in their free time.

Them baking together? Please. Imagine flour all over their faces.

Her accompanying him outside while he suns his wings and reads reports or books with tea.

Him singing for her when he grows comfortable enough to do so.

Something as intimate as him washing her hair for her in the bath.

Like wise with her helping with his wings.

And more.

I feel like Az would want nothing more than that. After all, he’s a workaholic and arguably works the hardest and most out of the Inner Circle.

Then again, we still won’t know until the book announcement 😮‍💨. “It doesn’t matter what I want” has me wanting to cry for him.

Just silly Elriel brainrot thoughts again.

[melting-houses-of-gold]

It’s my ✨birthday✨ today! Give me a gift by reading these incredible fics:

I did this last year and it was so fun--one of my very favorite parts of fandom is getting to be in community with people whose work I enjoy and to celebrate them. So, in honor of my [redacted] birthday this year, we're doing another round! Maybe these are some of your familiar favorites, or it's a chance to discover something new.

All of these are listed in no particular order :) and all explanations are a little unhinged. Blame the new mom brain!

Star Wars🌟

Muse by @jewelofmandalore (rexsoka, E, one-shot): What can I say about this fic except that every time I read it, I actually stop breathing for its entirety? Modern AU. College Rexsoka. Art students. They're obsessed with each other. I'm SO SO normal about it.

Labyrinth Hearts by @chocmarss (rexsoka, T, rebels-era, in-progress multi-chapter): We have such a need for time-travel in this ship and this fic, while just a few chapters in, is delivering! Post-Malachor Rebels-era fic holds such a special place in my heart and I love love love this one.

A Remedy for Memory by @ahsokathegray (rexsoka, T, in-progress multi-chapter): I love a good amnesia-induced romcom scenario and this one inspired by the other zoey is so stinking cute. I'm so excited to see where it leads!!

Those Who Can by K.R. Closson (alpha-17/fem!obi-wan, E, multi-chapter): I'm insane about this whole series, which is different paths that Obi-Wan could have taken, but this one is the good shit. I want to inject it directly into my veins. I started it at 11:30 and stayed up until 3 am reading it because I had to keep clicking to the next chapter.

ACOTAR🌹

Poltergeist Darling by @thesistersarcheron (feysand, E, in-progress multi-chapter): Is it even a Feysand fic if Rhys isn't batshit insane for Feyre? As a lover of spooky gothic romances, I clicked into this fic so intrigued by the premise (Rhys bringing Feyre back from the dead after she dies UTM) and the writing drew me in IMMEDIATELY. The vibes are so insane, the two of them are crazy for each other, and literally every word is a gift to read.

Good Luck Charm by @whatishowedyouinthedark (feysand, E, multi-chapter): god bless the daddy kink snail in SVDG's brain because this fic was fucking unreal. College AU Feysand with eager-to-get revenge Feyre and frat president Rhys was EVERYTHING. I had to ration myself to one chapter a day because I might have died otherwise.

Castles Ever After by @separatist-apologist (Feysand, Nessian, Elucien, E, series): Every time I open a MB fic, I know I'm going to have a GREAT time, and this series was seriously so fun. When a mysterious uncle leaves the Archeron sisters three castles across the UK, each one goes on their own journey and finds love along the way. We've got everything—Modern day bodice ripping, fake fiances becoming real, battles staged on castle lawns, Lucien Vanserra being his sassy hot self, chickens—EVERYTHING.

[astrababyy]

a major issue with acotar is that consistency and logic are sacrificed for dramatics in the story. having this occasionally isn’t a bad thing because who doesn’t love some good drama? but then you have moments like tarquin, the high lord of the SUMMER COURT, telling feyre not to give him orders while they’re in the summer court and having them respond with feyre being the high lady of the night court. like, it’s clear this scene is as written that way because of dramatics’ sake, but it just makes feysand look really entitled and illogical because they’re not even in the night court.

then you have nesta’s constant “redemption arc” where it spans every. single. book in the series because she has to redeem herself in every SINGLE book even though she did that in the last one. her arc is so inconsistent because the writing keeps her redemption open-ended in case the decision is made to use it again for more feyre and elain angst. like it’s so dumb. she’s already done more than so many others in the series, and she’s still not forgiven by much of the fandom when she has really not done many bad things.

also that scene in acosf where nesta scared tamlin, and the writing vilifies him for pointing out that they’re trespassing on his land and using it as meeting grounds without his permission. like there’s these whole dramatics to show how much nesta cares about feyre by having her “stand up to” tamlin, but she’s literally not in the right lmao. like there’s no world where she’s the justified one in this scenario.

and don’t even get me STARTED on the hl meeting. which is pretty much just this in a nutshell. i mean, the whole magic oath thing where they won’t harm each other lest they die, then having the ic be the ones to attack people both times? so dumb.

there’s countless instances of this throughout the book where decent, consistent writing is sacrificed in the name of dramatics that just make the main characters look like assholes. half the reasons people hate the ic wouldn’t exist if those scenes had been written logically and within reason.

[darklinaforever]

“Sarah J Mass continues the trend where abusive relationships are portrayed as completely acceptable.”

Um... Feysand is abusive ? Is Elriel abusive ? Nessian is abusive ? Rowaelin is abusive ? Manorian is abusive ? I... WTF ?!

Apparently, from what I know, people are saying that Feysand is abusive starting in book 4, when... no ? Yes, it sucks that Rhysand hid the pregnancy problem from Feyre, but you know what stress can do to an already stressed pregnant woman ? A miscarriage. And clearly, even if Rhysand wasn't perfect on this one, the risk and fear it provoked in him made sense. Making a mistake in a healthy relationship isn't the end of the world, especially with such a complicated situation, essentially dead end. The purpose of this plot specifically being Nesta's rescue for her relationship with Feyre. Maybe SJM didn't handle the scenario very well, but that's okay in itself. Especially since Rhysand planned to talk to Feyre about it at one point or another. He wasn't planning on hiding it from her until the birth or never telling her ! What would have really been toxic is... oh I don't know, absolutely wanting to risk having your son at the risk of Feyre's life and the baby no matter what by hiding it from her ?! (And let me have a doubt, but Rhysand's life was just as threatened as Feyre... If one dies, so does the other. No ?!) Also, it's a fantasy universe... I mean, a mistake in a couple of two immortal Fae essentially caused by the fear of the death of your partner and your baby... Uh, I think we can forgive, right ? This is nothing compared to the whole relationship Feyre had with Tamlin !

I've literally seen people say that if Feyre had died at the end of the book, it would have confirmed that Rhysand was toxic / abusif, but in what way ? I remind you that Feyre knew about it at that time and that no matter if she would have known from the start, there was no solution for Feyre's case ! It was literally a no-win situation ! Rhysand would have been abusive of what ? For getting her pregnant ? Knowing that Feyre wanted this baby and was the one who decided to have one ? Also, these people were even talking about the fact that Rhysand would probably have blamed himself for Feyre's death but believed that he had done the moral and right thing... Like WTF ? Did these people even forget that Rhysand would have died with Feyre if she was fucking dead ?! They don't even make the effort to pretend they know what they're talking about ! Seriously, the reasoning of the antis is slammed to the ground.

Rhysand essentially wanted to avoid any risk of unnecessary stress to Feyre (because once again it's fucking dangerous) in the sense that he hoped to find a solution to save her before telling her about the problem. And then, even if he didn't tell her right away after understanding that no, there was no solution, I would like to see you there telling the love of your life that she is inevitably going to die during delivery with the baby, when she was so happy and impatient to have this child and start this new chapter of your life together ?!

Oh, and apparently the protective shield was toxic... You know, that same shield, brought in with the new threat emanating from the mortal queens, Beron's schemes and fucking Koshei... (Knowing that Rhys literally said in book 2 that he would be terrified to see his soulmate pregnant while they were surrounded by enemies, and the idea of ​​what he would be capable of doing if Feyre was expecting a child and that she was threatened or harmed. Well I don't even see how this shield thing would shock the reader or be out of character for Rhysand...) This same protective shield that Feyre accepted despite gently making fun of it with Cassian, and that Rhysand then lowered so that she could be in contact with their family members whenever they wanted and / or whenever the moment presented itself once they were able to fully master it. So basically she could still touch her family / people she wanted... (Especially since Feyre may have a shield on her, but she is not kept locked up. She is free to go out and do what she wants. At one point, Feyre even says that she should accompany Nesta, Casian and Azriel into danger, after Rhysand says the same thing, then Rhysand corrects it by saying that they should accompany them both. Not that she shouldn't go. He's not fucking controlling her !) The real toxicity would have been keeping the shield on under all circumstances despite the conversation Feyre and Cassian had about it the first time he was addressed.

[acourtofthought]

Just to address a few things first -

I love Feysand together and I don't hold their (Rhys's) past mistakes against them.

The way Tamlin spoke to Feyre at the High Lords meeting was petty and childish.

But for those who claim Lucien's actions with Hybern are unforgiveable and therefore will forever make it impossible for Elain to forgive him in order to accept their bond, I think we should compare two scenarios:

Rhys admits that he forced Feyre into their bargain as a way to defy Amarantha, a way to get back at Tamlin, and yes, a way to keep Feyre alive. Feyre acknowledges that she was a pawn in his schemes yet still fell in love with him.

Versus:

Lucien had no idea the sisters would be brought into things, that was all Ianthe.

He tells both Feyre and Elain that what happened was a mistake, that the sisters being brought in and how things went down was not their plan. One of Lucien's main goals was to try and save Feyre.

Rhys, in comparison, admits that it was his plan to use Feyre as a pawn to serve his purpose. There were aspects that benefitted her but most of it was for himself and his people.

Tamlin and Lucien believed Feyre was being brain washed and tortured, something she let Lucien continue believing when he found her in the woods, when she felt it was more important to protect the secret of who Rhys was under his mask. So they worked with Hybern in exactly the same way Rhys worked with Amarantha, with the end goal of protecting Feyre and helping their people:

The differences in these scenarios are:

Lucien and Tamlin never used Feyre or her sisters as a pawn versus Rhys who actively used Feyre as one. For good reasons yes but it doesn't change the facts.

There was no "Ianthe" in Rhys's situation. Rhys, as High Lord, made the decisions on his own and did not risk betrayal by sharing his schemes with others. He clearly made the smarter play compared to Tamlin who trusted Ianthe but.....

Lucien never liked Ianthe. Never really trusted her, never wanted her around. Just as Cassian, Az, etc. followed their HLs orders to hide Feyre's pregnancy, just as Amren and Mor chose to keep the mating bond a secret from Feyre, just as the IC all hid the information about Nesta's made weapons from her, those under a HL are subject to following the orders of said HL. It didn't matter if Lucien agreed with Tamlin about Hybern, about Ianthe, he had no power to challenge him. In the end, the decision to do what they did was not his call.

I think everyone in this fandom knows that the events of Hybern would truly not stand in the way of an Elucien endgame.

When Rhys used Feyre as a pawn on multiple occasions.

When Cassian told Nesta that everyone hated her and initially hid the knowledge of the swords from her.

When Bryce initially thought Hunt betrayed her in CC1.

When Rowan punched Aelin in the face and told her the world would have been better had she died as a child.

When Feyre fell in love with Tamlin even after he kidnapped her.

When Ruhn fell in love with Lidia despite the sins she committed for the Asteri.

I think everyone knows Elain's current behavior towards Lucien is not preventing an Elucien endgame.

Not when Nesta told Cassian she wanted nothing to do with him and slept with other males.

Not when Feyre was initially afraid of Rhys, said the night she kissed Tamlin was the happiest of her life, admits she wanted Rhys even UTM yet still accepted Tamlin's proposal.

Not when Yrene thought Chaol was to blame (by association) for the death of her family.

Not when you consider what Elide believed about Lorcans loyalty to Maeve.

Not when Aedion found out about Lysandra and Aelin's plot to deceive him in marriage and children.

Given the history of SJMs writing, there is nothing preventing an Elucien endgame aside from Elain's reticence over the bond and when an author like Diana Gabaldon turned an unwanted arranged marriage (for Claire) into a love story that has one of SJMs favorite male love interests, I think Elucien is going to be just fine.