#more sapphic nesta

[hrizantemy]

It’s the way I biblically need Nesta with a woman maybe from the Hewn City, maybe she’s a lady and maybe Nesta gets sent down there and they meet and they can spend the rest of their days being nasty and mean like people think they are. Mean lesbians? I think yes.

[rosesncarnations]

The High Ladies of Autumn

[goddessofwisdom18]

I ship Amren and Merrill 🤭 Just two bitches who love history. They definitely already know each other and had a fling a couple centuries ago. Or they hate each other (and there’s sexual tension underneath that). I’m betting on it.

[lullabesstie]

Found this comment on Reddit. Couldn’t explain it better than this.

“It’s clear from Mist and Fury that the original ships were: Feysand, Nessian, Elucien, and Mor/Azriel. Like it’s so obvious the way she wrote Mor and Azriel; Mor even seems vaguely interested/torn about Az. Looking at interviews, SJM even talks about Elucien as a couple (eg where would they like to travel together, etc).

Flash forward to ACOWAR. For whatever reason (lack of chemistry with Az, wanting more diversity) SJM has Mor say that she prefers women. This time the Az-pining-for-Mor is more desperate/feels like a zero chance of being requited. SJM also introduces Az as a potential love interest for Elain because she loves throwing a wrench. Just because Elucien are mates doesn’t mean they’ll have it easy; SJM’s whole thing is angst. She had to throw in a love triangle to make it uncertain. This is the first couple where mate status is confirmed upon meeting.

But there’s a problem now. If Az and Mor are no longer endgame, who will they end up with? is it not suspicious that the two new characters introduced in SF (Gwyn and Emerie) just HAPPEN to be potentially be good partners for Az and Mor? Like it’s not a coincidence that Emerie looks at Mor and blushes, remarking how pretty she is. It’s not a coincidence that Az and Gwyn have so many interactions in the text. It’s not a coincidence that a “random side character” shows up in a bonus chapter.

When SJM created Gwyn and Emerie, it wasn’t just to give Nesta friends. These characters clearly didn’t exist when she wrote MAF. SJM wanted new characters that would solve her retcon of ending Az/Mor. She wanted to solve the Mor/Az retcon so bad that she created a NEW RETCON of Az going to Sangravah. Like why bother to add that detail if it’s not important.

Also: poor Lucien. His endgame heroine was supposed to be Nesta until SJM realized they would be terrible together and that Nessian had better chemistry. So she gives Elucien the mating bond. Like is she really going to fuck Lucien over TWICE? She loves him as a character and has put him through the wringer. Yes, I agree that SJM can change her mind and maybe is open to mate rejection, but Lucien has already switched love interests from Nesta to Elain! Who else is he going to switch to, considering that Jurian and Vassa are “at each other’s throats?”

Finally, please think about the number of books left. Ignoring novellas (which are probably gonna be fluffy ones like ACOFAS where nothing happens), there are two main books left. Two couples.

Option A:

• ⁠Gwynriel (Valkyrie growth, Illyrian rebellion, exploring Ramiel, Gwyn’s autumn heritage and maybe lightsinger?? powers)

• ⁠Elucien (Helion secret baby, defeating Koschei, freeing Vassa, fixing spring court)

Option B

• ⁠Elriel (mate rejection storyline, potentially some stuff above)

• ⁠?????

Literally WHO is the second book in this equation? Lucien and Vassa?? We barely know Vassa and there’s barely any connection to Night Court. And Lucien’s book is going to be depressing as fuck dealing with mate rejection; does anyone want to read two heavy books of rejection? Jurian and Vassa: again, we barely know them! At least with Tower of Dawn, Chaol had been a main character for a long time with POV. SJM will not do a full-length Emerie/Mor book as much as I would love for one. She’s very cognizant of criticism re: Mor bi rep in the past; she doesn’t want to open a can of worms and be accused of writing bad sapphic rep. If anything, I can see a fluffy Emerie/Mor novella with little angst (or them getting together in the background of other books).

So from a meta structural level, I don’t understand who the second couple will be if Elriel is endgame. Lucien/Vassa is the most plausible answer, but 1) we barely know Vassa, 2) she’s human and Lucien is immortal. So are we going to toss her into the Cauldron to make her immortal? Serious question, and 3) I don’t want TWO books about mate rejection, it’s depressing as hell. I can see one but not two.

But with Gwynriel and Elucien, you have enormous fan and audience interest in ALL FOUR CHARACTERS. They’re directly tied to Night Court and SJM so far has no intention of staying away from the core group.”

[nikachansstuff]

The full transition from Moriel to Elriel

Okay, hold my poddle, I’m going in!

I finally finish my rereading of ACOWAR and I wanted to do a breakdown of how Elain’s rescue took place and how, in my opinion, that was SJM’s attempt to switch the narrative from Moriel to Elriel, setting up the couple for the next books.

I’ll be pointing all the loose threads between Azriel and Elain to create a romantic plot-line and the solutions presented to us.

Full time line

-> First loose thread: Elain’s love for Graysen.

-> Solution: Elain is rejected by Graysen and this rejection is the cause of her abduction. Emphasis in the wording choice for this moment:

So Elain silently cried, the tears so unending that I wondered if it was some sign of her heart bleeding out. Some sliver of hope that had shattered today. That Graysen would still love her, still marry her-and that love would trump even a mating bond.

Chapter 55

-> Second loose thread: Clarification of Platonic or Romantic interest between Azriel and Elain.

-> Solution (1/3) : Make Azriel the one to notice Elain’s absence from camp when she is taken by Hybern.

But Azriel asked softly, "What about Elain?" Something cold went through me. Nesta was just staring at Azriel. Staring and staring-Then she broke into a run. Her bare feet slid through the mud, splattering me as we charged for our sister's tent. "Elain—" Nesta shoved open the tent. She stopped short so fast I slammed into her. The tent-the tent was empty. Nesta flung herself inside, tossing away blankets, as if Elain had somehow sunk into the ground. "Elain!"

Chapter 63

-> Solution (2/3): Make Azriel the one to rescue Elain from enemies lines, in a suicide mission.

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, "I'm getting her back." Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel's hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, "Then you will die." Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, "I'm getting her back."

Chapter 64

Azriel slid back the curtain—Elain was in her nightgown. Gagged, wrists wrapped in steel that glowed violet. Her eyes went wide as she saw us—Azriel and me—I shifted my face back into my own, raising a hand to my lips as Azriel knelt before her. I kept up my litany of praying, beseeching the Cauldron to make my womb fruitful, on and on — Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. "Are you hurt?" She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. "You came for me." The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Chapter 65

-> Solution (3/3): Give romantic tones to the rescue, with Azriel cradling Elain in his chest and Elain giving his a kiss.

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—a trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out. Contained only by the patches of power he'd slapped on it. […] Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, "We need Helion to get these chains off her." Yet Elain didn't seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger's cheek.

Chapter 65

-> Final loose thread: What about Mor?

-> Solution: Clarify Moriel relationship, stating Mor doesn’t love him romantically, creating a whole sapphic plot line for Mor. The most interesting in this solution, is that this clarification happens immediately after the rescue take place, in chapter 66.

Her [Mor] voice broke as she said, "I don't love Azriel." I remained perfectly still. Listening. "No, that's not true, either. I-I do love him. As my family. And sometimes I wonder if it can be ... more, but ... I do not love him. Not the way he—he feels for me." The last words were a trembling whisper. "Have you ever loved him? That way?" "No." She wrapped her arms around herself. "No. I don't ... You see..." I'd never seen her at such a loss for words. She closed her eyes, fingers digging into her skin. "I can't love him like that." "Why?" "Because I prefer females."

Chapter 66

The way each event takes place chronologically shows how each one was very intentional to create a new narrative.

But what about Lucien? Elain and Lucien bond is an essential part of rejecting a mating bond plot. It’s not a loose thread, it’s a major factor in the Elriel romance.

If I had your attention, thank you for reading my thoughts again!

[velarisnightsky444]

ACOTAR POLY/SHIP FICS

if it says “x reader” its a poly fic, if it doesnt, its just the two characters. (feyre x rhys, nesta x cassian, ect)

main masterlist

kink/fluff/angstober masterlist

❤️‍🔥smut 🖤angst 🩵fluff 🩶series 🤍this song reminds me of them 🤎playlist

🩶Cherry Blossom (ao3 II wattpad)(Feysand x OC) 🩶A Court Of Thorns and Roses: Sapphic Edition(rewrite of the series with female Rhys) (ao3 || wattpad) ❤️‍🔥Punishment(Feysand x Reader) ❤️‍🔥Caught in Between(Feysand x Reader) ❤️‍🔥Mine 🤎Feysand Playlist

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

❤️‍🔥Shut Her Up(Gwynriel x Reader)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

❤️‍🔥Pathetic(Neris x Reader) 🖤Tired(Neris x Reader)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

❤️‍🔥Teatime ❤️‍🔥Watch 🤍Honeymoon

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

❤️‍🔥Somewhere More Private(Emorie x Reader) ❤️‍🔥Desperate(Emorie x Reader) 🤍Seven

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

❤️‍🔥Training(Batboys x Reader) ❤️‍🔥Pure Pleasure(Batboys x Reader)

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

[ennawrite]

wrote a *small* snippet for my future Elain x Emerie fic :)

(includes a sapphic relationship, obviously)

tags: @illbdamned 🤎

Premise for A Court of Cinnamon and Violets:

Elain and Emerie quickly find themselves to be good friends when they both have a difficult time falling asleep at the House of Wind. They confide in the other about what keeps them awake at night, and Emerie introduces Elain to the beautiful world of romance novels.

A few days later, Elain pays a visit to Emerie in Illyria to return her book, and finds the lack of color (and flowers) in the camp to be appalling. Emerie and Elain strike up a deal, and Elain finds herself in charge of decorating Emerie’s store.

As the weeks go by, Elain realizes that flowers aren’t the only thing blossoming in the shop and that maybe, there’s a bit more to her friendship with the Valkyrie. Elain finds herself grappling with her (still unaccepted) mating bond, her feelings for Emerie and the heaviness that comes with choosing in a world designed to pick for you.

🪶Continue reading to read the snippet!🪶

“Do you…” Elain’s voice trailed off, and she diverted her gaze from the female’s eyes, shaking her head quickly. “It’s stupid, never mind.” 

“Do I what, Elain?” She asked earnestly, placing a warm hand on Elain’s bare forearm. Goosebumps trailed across Elain’s entire body at the simple, friendly touch. 

Elain shakily brought the cup of tea to her lips and took a small sip of the warm, spiced tea before placing it back on the table. She cleared her throat, staring at the swirls of cinnamon and milk in the dark brown liquid. The color so similar to the eyes she could not bear looking into as she continued, “Do you think these romance stories only work with me—males,” She quickly corrected herself. Men no longer existed in this world, only males. Always a damn male. “As the love interest? Or could there be…something else?” 

“Elain…,” Emerie said softly. Elain could practically hear the pity in her voice and she sunk deeper into her chair when Emerie removed her hand. Emerie stood and walked away. Elain silently cursed herself for being so openly stupid with her thoughts. 

She listened as Emerie rummaged around with something. Elain did not have the courage to look up and see what she was doing. Instead, she stared at her tightly gripped hands in her lap. Perhaps a better female would have bolted out of the door by now, or laugh her question off as some joke. But Elain stayed frozen, as she often did when it felt like the world was crashing down on her. Her heart was beating rapidly, her vision turning blurry. Oh, gods, she could not cry now. That would be—

“The beautiful thing about romance,” Emerie spoke into the heavy silence, interrupting Elain’s thoughts. Elain sucked in a breath as the female set a stack of books on the table. “Is that anyone can be the love interest. Male or no.” 

Elain drew her eyes up to the Valkyrie’s face, mouth agape. She knew she probably looked stupid, with the confusion so plainly written across her face. But Emerie just grinned widely at her, her dark brown eyes twinkling in the dying sunlight. Elain’s heart skipped a beat at the sight. 

“I do not often share these books with other people, not even Gwyn and Nesta. There are…things that not everyone will understand. Especially not in Illyria,” Emerie said, smiling sadly. “But I trust you, Elain. And I think you will find what you’re searching for in these books.” 

[lady-embers]

Some E/riels love to try to say we downplay Emerie importance/story and that we don't think Emerie will get her own POV.

Let's clear something up with this misconception.

We do think she will get a POV. With Mor. But it won't be a full length book because honestly I doubt Sarah would write a full length Sapphic novel AND do it the justice it deserves.

At most their story will take place in a novella. At the very least possibly in the background of one of the two full length novels left as Emerie is friends with Gwyn (who could become a main character) and Nesta and their stories are far from over. In fact, the Valkyrie plotline seems to be tied into the remaining books given the bigger war on the horizon.

And we certainly don't leave Emerie out of the equation at all. We don't minimize her importance to Nesta healing arc. She was just as important as Gwyn.

But Sarah did have Gwyn in a more focal point throughout ACOSF than Emerie. And while Emerie was introduced to us before Gwyn in ACOFAS, she was introduced very briefly, and we don't get a lot from her in ACOSF compared to Gwyn. That's just a fact.

If that bothers you, look to the author who wrote the books and take it up with her. 🤷‍♀️

[moodymelanist]

Surprise self-rec time! Pick 3 of your favorite things you’ve written and share them here, then put this in the inbox (anonymously or not) of your fellow writers to spread the positivity and help celebrate already written fics

aw this is so sweet 🥹 okay here are my fave three things I’ve written in no particular order:

Can’t Help It — I think this is probably some of the best smut I’ve written and I had soooo much fun thinking of ways for Nessian to just be increasingly toxic hehehe

there are two ways we can do this (i know which would be more fun) — I honestly love this fic so much like I honestly come back to reread it and giggle at myself all the time. I want to try writing more Azris at some point cause they just have such a delicious “do you want to hit me or fuck me” kind of vibe and it’s amazing

My Fire Was Fate With You — sapphic!Nessian truly will always have such a special place in my heart and this fic especially because I know so many of my fellow queers had similar experiences to Nesta in this fic that it makes me so happy to know people felt seen in this fic 🩷

honorary mention to paint it red though because I really had fun doing you know what (mind those tags y’all lmao). and of course to I Guess It’s Half Timing my beloved soft and sweet Nessian as parents to be.

[yennas-stuff]

An E/riel said that “Emerie and Rhys have a better chance at being friends than Gwyn and Rhys - he already flies her to and from Illyria” and while it is possible that Rhys and Emerie will become friends, I still believe that Rhys and Gwyn are going to become very good friends for many reasons, but that’s a whole different post.

And while we’re on the topic of Emerie, E/riel’s only bring her up when they want to put down/make Gwynriel’s, Gwyn stans, and Nesta stans look bad (I stated this in another ask). That we don’t care about her and we forget about her. Emerie week was announced not too long ago and the majority of them were dead quiet. “Emerie deserves better” they say and then it’s radio silent from them. It honestly feels performative. I have a lot to say about this actually.

The majority of Gwynriel’s/Valkyries fans have made so much fanart of Emerie (and Emorie), short fics, headcanons, little blurbs of how she inspired young girls in Illyria, theories of her getting green siphons or even getting Truth-Teller, and praise her for being brave and hardworking. I’ve even seen some say how it would be cool if Emerie got a little camp of her own for the woman who want to be a Valkyrie and it would be like a safe haven. And if E/riel’s have the Gwynriel, or Gwyn, or Nesta, or Valkyries tag blocked then that’s probably why they don’t see some of it. Even without those tags there is still lots of love for Emerie, so when I see them talk about how we don’t appreciate her or only care about Gwyn because we ship her with Azriel it makes no sense to me.

And also, a lot of E/riel’s bring down the Valkyries by calling the sleepover and them making friendship bracelets childish, how the three of them aren’t really friends because all they’ve done is hang out a few times and read books and had a sleepover (?), saying the Blood Rite was lackluster/stupid, “the power of friendship”, etc. So how exactly is bringing down those girls and their friendship being supportive of Emerie? (I think they only do this because they don’t like Nesta or Gwyn).

This topic really makes me heated and annoyed. Like I said it just feels performative from E/riel’s. @yazthebookish actually made a very good post talking about this a little bit ago, but I think it’s deleted now. (Apologies to Yaz if I made you uncomfortable with tagging you❣️)

🍒 anon

Helloo 🍒 anon,

sorry for responding late. There's a heatwave, and I'm just barely surviving it.

Every *feminist*, girls girl take from E/riels feels performative and fake. They always end up saying something indirectly misogynistic.

It is funny when they ridicule Valkyries but pretend to love Emerie. Do they know she's also a Valkyrie? And she loves Gwyn and Nesta. And she's a cool character with lots of potential. Especially considering the Illyrians plot.

Unfortunately, as it's a romance series, we are interested in speculating about romance. Hence, the ship wars. I don't particularly enjoy Mor, and that's why it's hard for me to think about the possibility of Emorie. I think Emerie deserves better, but at the same time, I need at least one wlw ship. (Pls sjm, give us something sapphic.) So when there is not much to fight or speculate about... there are just fewer discussion points. We still show appreciation for the character, tho.

I think we would all as a fandom have more energy to discuss Emerie more if we didn't have to debunk more and more unhinged E/riel theories and block trolls every day.

[tadpolesonalgae]

Coming here to tell you that there isn’t nearly enough sapphic acotar content and I’d be so so happy to read what you have cooking for elain!

I enjoy reading the batboys and Vanserra’s as much as anyone else. But truly nothing gets me as hot and bothered as Nesta, Elain and Mor can. I would truly do anything for them.

I’m always struggling to find sapphic fics in this fandom and finding people who not only write them but write them well is so so hard.

I def encourage you to write what makes YOU feel good…..but I will champion your sapphic works 100%

Ahhh thank you so much!! 🩷🧡💛

I think I understand what you mean about writing sapphic fics well? For me I think the kind of attraction I experience with women is much more specific and particular than it is with men, so I’m much more picky with the lesbian fics I consume?

I know in Anna Karenina, one of the lines that stuck with me was where Anna made the point that if there are as many minds as there are men/heads, there must be as many kinds of love as there are hearts, which I think is just such a lovely quote 🫠 (I think that’s about right, but I’m paraphrasing so I might have misremembered the full thing 😳🫣)

Anyway, I’m kind of happy with it so I want to be a little excited and show the pictures I settled on!!

Honestly doing these little mood boards is such a giveaway to which fics I’m partial to 😭

[rosesncarnations]

Sapphic neris has me in a chokehold

[goddessofwisdom18]

your favorite character being largely disliked by both the stans and the antis is actually so devastating. where am i supposed to go

there are three main opinions about mor in this fandom:

1. she’s fine bc she’s feyre’s bestie but you don’t really care about her personally (probably bc she’s queer because the stan girlies used to LOVE mor when moriel was semi-canon. i remember. i was there)

2. she’s fine but annoying bc she ~lead azriel on~ (main opinion on the acotar subreddit). never mind that if this was true, it would be as a result of a retcon, because again, pre acowar, moriel was going to be canon. sarah made mor sapphic because we were asking for more lgbt characters. (again. i was there.) and besides, i frankly don't think it is true, because azriel is the fucking spymaster with a million chances of knowledge at his fingertips and mor spent 80% of her time at a gay bar so idk how he couldn't have fucking known?

3. or she’s the fucking worst because she was. idk. mean to nesta. you know who else was mean??? and people love that about her because it's a result of trauma, it makes her flawed and relatable? literally nesta T_T this is not anti nesta i just don’t get it.

4. she's the fucking worst because she… supposedly lied about eris? ?? i'm not even going to begin to unpack this. why y'all IMMEDIATELY take the man's side and think what he's saying is bible… i don't fucking know. learn to decenter men in your life my friend. sometimes women ARE telling the truth even if they're basic or pick mes or whatever.

mor’s traumatized as hell and definitely has as much to back up her occasional cattiness as nesta had to back up her literal life long bullying. but few people will give her a feminist reading. few people will analyze how sarah wrote her story or what that means. few people will even give her credit as a real villain. she’s just an annoying pick-me bitch and that’s the end of it.

think about the lack of grace rhysand gives nesta. think about what that might mean for mor, to whom rhys (and his friends) was a sort of savior, because her life in the hewn city was that bad that somehow dealing with rhysand is better. that was who she grew up with; that was what she was taught to see as good because at least it wasn’t keir.

not to mention that her life is shaped around her survival via her desirability to males. ESPECIALLY as a sapphic woman can you imagine what that would do to her psyche?

but no. no fan posts about her. no headcanons. nothing nada. just me and the mor week posts and the occasional obligatory stan reference bc she's part of the main cast.

i understand being annoyed bc of the double standard in canon between her and nesta's heavy drinking, but even then i see posts all the time about "i would love rhys if it weren't for the narrative's worship of him!" and none for mor because she's just a ghost. she's nothing to anybody. despite being A MAIN CHARACTER!

not to mention but like. generally positioning yourself perpetually in opposition to the paradigm rather than just having values whether they're popular or not is not a great way to go about things. i completely understand liking eris regardless of what he's done - i am a tamlin stan despite the fact that he was very well abusive in acomaf - but the fact that there are antis out there who are so convinced mor is lying, or who want sarah to write that storyline, is so digusting to me. women in groups you don't like, political sides you don't like, women you think are annoying - they still deserved to be believed. don't give into respectability politics. come on now.

[wiltingcrowns]

okay. so... been re-reading acotar series. and been cooking. got another for us. a hewn city oc. hehe. who wants to know more...? perhaps sapphic, or fluid/unlabeled, figuring it out. but she likey nesta. also comment for a tag on the info drop about her <3

[queercontrarian]

I actually love your female high lords series because it opens the doors to so many implications... one of my favourites being that it automatically makes amarantha gay. helion & mor's hook up being a SAPPHIC affair??? tamlin and rhysand both being down bad for feyre despite whatever the fuck went on between those two back in their day before their dads went homicidal and how that perfectly conveys messy lesbian social circles a.k.a ur ex is also my ex. beron & lady of autumn & helion's love triangle thing ALSO being a sapphic affair?????????? which makes lucien born from a high lord lesbian scandal.... all of this makes that scene of tamlin slut shaming feyre at the high lord meeting infinitely funnier. kallias and vivian's love story being THE wlw otp.. and if we're also extending this to heirs of high lords too.... then that means the eris & nesta dancing side plot is just two girls with insane mommy issues and eldest daughter syndrome clocking each other and vibing. elain & fem!lucien's mating bond situation actually being a perfect gay allegory for being in denial.....

listen, i believe that all acotar ships would be more interesting if they were queer. like in my mind they already are - ask all my acotar mutuals it's all i yell about all day every day lol

sapphic elucien, sappic feysand and sapphic nessian are actually my roman empire. i love it so much.

also kallias and viviane as lesbians are made to be in some artsy vaguely sad lesbian movie about grief or sth like that.

i'm glad you're enjoying it, anon, because so am i! it's my favourite series and probably one i am the most proud of :)

[velarisbynight]

Hello. Santa here 🎅

Let's start with a few questions...

1. What are your thoughts on Elain and Gwyn as individual characters?

2. Why do you ship them?

3. Finally... we haven't gotten their povs in canon yet and we have a lot more to learn about them both. So I'm curious, as a writer yourself, how would you describe your version of Elain and Gwyn. Their personalities, motivations, goals, whatever you want to talk about

Wishing you a good day/night ��️

Okay, okay, I'm so excited to be getting to chatter about them so I'll try to keep my trembling happiness from interfering with my answers here :)

Elain and Gwyn as individual characters

Healthy or not, I think in a way I do view Elain as an interpretation of traditional femininity? At least in the first four books. I loved her prior to Silver Flames but the section where Nesta snaps at her and instead of being hurt Elain seems happy that Nesta is being herself and treating her as a person rather than the little sister Nesta previously felt she needed to protect shifted my perception of Elain more than the scene where she killed Hybern? I also think in the beginning of the series she was set up to appear one way (traditional wifey material) but throughout the books she goes through various developments like losing Graysen, having her mortality taken away from her, grappling with being a seer and having magical powers.

For Gwyn, I think her mental strength is incredibly understated. I think at first she might appear cautious or at times a little stoic, but she still has plenty of spark to her (that we see when she and Nesta have their interactions in the library), and works hard and earnestly without half-assing her work? She seems like she has the potential to be sincere when needed but also playful which I think is incredibly endearing. Also to still be capable of not just going through life but living it and actively applying herself, to me, is very admirable.

2. Why do you ship them?

Completely honestly, I think I'm wanting to live vicariously through them? I'm very much a femme who likes other femmes, and I don't think I see much representation of that in the few sapphic books/series I read/watch? I think Killing Eve (the tv series) is the closest I've got to finding the kind of story I'm interested in :')

Usually there's a clear masc character and a clear femme character (which is obviously fine, but it's not what I'm currently desperately searching for) so to come across these two who I think have clear elements of femininity within them while also not being constricted to that role and existing outside of it as people is definitely appealing to my personal loves in reading/romance.

3. How would you describe your version of Elain and Gwyn?

This is such a difficult question to answer because I love reading different interpretations of their characters? I'm not a fan of the evil Elain theory in canon, however, I would definitely read a gwynlain fic or even just a short piece about Elain on her own where she turned evil for the sake of getting to explore alternate pathways? All this to say that I hope my answer won't make you feel like you're bound to writing them a certain way!

Also I can't remember how much of this is based of stuff that's explicitly stated in the books and what's me adding stuff in

So, physically I imagine Elain having golden/brown hair that's fairly long and hangs in ringlets, and also imagine her as being of fairly average height? I think she has short nails from gardening and used to have fair/pale skin but has realised she gets small freckles if she's beneath the sun for too long which is something she finds she doesn't mind about herself? I think she's also begun tying her hair up more often from spending so much time gardening and baking. Personality-wise/internally, I think post-cauldron she spends a little more time on her own than she used to, but still very much gets her energy and happiness from being around other people? She needs her moments of quiet but on the whole she enjoys company and feeling a connection through speaking and shared interests.

For Gwyn, I think she's supposed to be part nymph part fae? (Sorry if that's wrong) Physically, I imagine her as actually being quite tall? Not so tall she stands out in a crowd, but definitely taller than most high fae females are? I think that like Elain, Gwyn's hair is fairly long (maybe down to her waist?) however it's mostly straight. I imagine that after she came to Velaris she mostly wore her priestess' robes, so having to change into Illyrian leathers was a challenge for her, and that for the most part she leans more towards looser clothing that keeps her 'hidden', but is beginning to slowly try and push herself to find different ways to dress herself. In terms of domestic habits(?), I think Gwyn can sometimes feel frustrated with herself for not pushing herself harder? Not in training, but in terms of her comfort zones? I imagine being around other priestesses is both comforting and agonising, and she can at times feel restless or angry with herself for not yet being able to freely walk about and be 'normal'? Though I like to imagine that while Gwyn has self-critical moments, she acknowledges and is proud of the research she does, even if Meryll(?) scares her at times. Similarly with training, I think she's proud of what she's achieved so far and acknowledges how impressive it is.

In terms of my interpretation of them being together

I adore the idea of Elain first realising that the feelings she has for Gwyn aren't platonic, but aren't the emotions she's experienced for men? I think Elain's idea of romance before coming across Gwyn would be completely centred around men, so her first time falling in love with a woman, and experiencing affection without any preconceived notions about how it's supposed to be or what it will be like would be like seeing the shadows on the cave wall to emerging from the cave and seeing the flowers and sun for herself. (Imagining she has a preference for women over men, that is)

And for Gwyn, I love the idea of her and Elain going on dates to little gardens at first as a way to slowly begin letting Gwyn re-experience the world without terror. Reintroducing her to how good life can be, while Elain is keeping to her side and each of them feeling safe enough to rely on one another and trust the other with their new experiences? Makes my heart melt :')

Anyway I'm so sorry that I seem to have rambled on for so long!! I think that excitement may have ended up bleeding into my answer a little after all, but I hope you don't mind :)