#queen theia

[shallyne]

SJM Crackshipmonth: Star-crossed Lovers

Would've Been, Could've been, Should've Been You

Here it is, Theia x Aidas for day two of @sjmcrackshipmonth. Enjoy!

Words: 571

TW: death

Aidas mourns his dead lover

It was right here that Aidas had met Theia for the very first time. She alone found a way into this realm, demanding help for the incoming war against the Asteri. She was a force of nature, from the very first moment that he had seen her. Theia was never one for giving up, never retreated, always fought for what's right. It was her greatest trait, and her doom. It was right here, that Theia had mouthed off against a prince of Hel. Aidas had admired her back then. Still did but when he thought about how it could have gone down very differently if she had met him on a bad day or ended up on a whole different level, it made Aidas shudder. Sometimes Aidas believed it was fate that he met her, that they were supposed to be. Maybe he was right, maybe Theia was his true love, maybe they could have lived their happily ever after if it wasn't for that bastard Pelias. Aidas cleared his throat when he felt it tightening. Brooding and mourning was useless. Thinking about what could've been was useless. Everything was useless. This didn't stop his mind from wandering though, what if? What if he was there? What if he had killed Pelias instantly, when he felt that something was wrong about him? What if Aidas could've convinced Theia to not fight that day? Would Pelias still have found her? Or would Aidas have been able to protect her? Be there faster? Could he have understood that feeling of dread in time to get to Theia? He had ignored that feeling, waved it away because it was probably caused by the war around them. By the Asteri who were taking down their armies, one by one. He should've known that it wasn't the war, he fought in so many battles in his life that he should have known. Aidas should've been there, it should've been him who died. Aidas took a shaky breath, looking down at the box that he held for hours now, staring at it. Stared at the ring that sat inside, for the question he wanted to ask when the war was over. A queen. His queen. His Theia. Dead. She was dead but her memory was still so alive. Aidas remembered her exactly, her raven black hair and the golden-brown skin that she shared with her daughters. Her starry eyes, that lit up when she laughed. The way she grunted when she was genuinely laughing. And how he found her. Broken and bloody. Her face still twisted in pane, her lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. Aidas shook that memory off, taking the ring out of its box. The ring, twisted strands of gold and silver, flecked with pearl and a stone atop. A sapphire, so blue that he only could be from Hel, with a six pointed star engraved in the stone. He took a deep breath but he couldn't do it. He wanted to throw the ring in the fiery pits of Hel but it was impossible. So he put the ring back in its box.

Two weeks later, when he entered his brothers study, he pressed the box into Apollions hands and told him to do with that ring whatever he wanted. Sell it, melt it, throw it away, Aidas didn't want to know. He turned his back and never asked about it again.

Taglist: @timesconvert

[chainera]

Theia Interpretation :O

This is how I personally view Theia’s potential character and the lore behind her life/death. I feel like this story also ties up a lot of loose ends like Venus’ loss of potential and his broken relationship with Mercury.

I see this version of Theia as unintentionally manipulative and definitely chaotic neutral, but in the end everything she’s doing is just for entertainment. She doesn’t realize that people might be scared of her for her tactics and her way of persuading them. (The only one she doesn’t “prank” is Gaia, bc they’re too close and she feels wrong for doing it). Gaia is really sweet and caring, generally the angel of the inner solar system. Theia is like his chaotic lil sister.

And yeah, Luna, TDSOTM, and the earth all inherited some part of their “parents”. Luna is kind and responsible, but does lose control sometimes. TDSOTM fully inherited Theia’s penchant for chaos, but like her he still has empathy, and the Earth is caring but can be very manipulate cough Venus vs mars cough

(Alvaro make Theia’s personality like this at least pslpsl I want a chaotic gremlin)

[aurorac0re]

Beach

[comicwaren]

From Marauders Vol. 2 #012, “Pre-Genesis, Part 2”

Art by Eleonora Carlini and Matt Milla

Written by Steve Orlando

[tournament-of-x]

The Tournament of X

Fun Fact!

There are nineteen (19) contestants in the Tournament of X who have fewer than ten (10) non-minor appearances in comics on Earth-616! These include:

Nameless, the Shape-Shifter Queen (2 appearances)

Idyll the Future Seer (2 appearances)

Wagnerine (4 appearances)

Burke (4 appearances)

Spike (4 appearances)

Syzya of the Smoke (4 appearances)

Rasputin IV (5 appearances)

Redroot the Forest (5 appearances)

Sevyr Blackmore (6 appearances)

Morgan Red (6 appearances)

Rhapsody (7 appearances)

Theia (7 appearances)

Tarn the Uncaring (7 appearances)

Cam Long (8 appearances)

Snot (8 appearances)

Weaponless Zsen (8 appearances)

Amass (9 appearances)

Nicodemus (9 appearances)

Ora Serrata (9 appearances)

Contestants Index

[genericpuff]

There was this book I read once that I believe was written by Gordon Korman where a character made a joke about how books with dogs on the covers and those silver/gold-medal labels for being bestsellers automatically mean the dog is gonna die (literally using Old Yeller and others as an example). It was the funniest shit to me in 5th grade, he's a Canadian author so maybe no one knows what I'm talking about but I pissed myself laughing over it and this is where my brain went to while reading this 😭😂

Modern Hades and Persephone watching a sad movie where obviously a dog dies. If you ever wondered what could make Hades cry, now you know.

[shallyne]

What if Maeve is Theia's unnamed daughter

[thefreakpanda]

I know that SJM said that Rhys is probably the most powerful character she’s ever written. BUT, you cannot convince me that he is more powerful than Nesta. 

Let’s look at the facts : 

Nesta, who as a starving human woman, resisted a HIGH LORD’s glamour. 

Nesta, whom the Bone Carver had heard of the moment she came out of the Cauldron because the whole world had felt it. Nesta, whose name is moaned by the wind. Nesta, who made the inmates of the Prison, literal monsters that people don’t know how to kill, shiver in fear and step away from their doors. 

Nesta who twisted the King of Hybern’s neck like it was a party popper, with no training. Nesta who can wear and remove the mask at will (still after giving up most of her power), when no one had ever worn it and lived. Nesta who controls the entire Dread Trove, which has never been seen before. Nesta who has made an entire Trove herself, who can bring houses, bracelets and even still-born babies to LIFE.  Nesta who killed Lanthys, a presumably unkillable being. Nesta who killed a Daglan, a presumably unkillable being. 

Nesta who is Mother-Blessed, who has a literal goddess watching over her when the gods had presumably left this world to its own devices. 

Rhys almost passed out after winnowing too many people in ACOWAR. Rhys had to be carried to the top of Ramiel. Rhys died helping Feyre rebuild the Cauldron. 

Whereas Nesta after not having eaten or drank for a week, after having climbed and fought to the top of Ramiel, being exhausted beyond words and still fighting Bellius, when confronted to Cassian stabbing himself, released her power which reduced the cottage she used to live in, on the other side of Prythian, to ashes. 

And we are supposed to believe that Rhys is more powerful than this QUEEN!

Yes, Rhys is the most powerful High Lord in history.  But he is not the most powerful person in the world. 

Which brings me to my next point : he knows that! 

Or at least, he feels it. After reading HOFAS, it’s very likely that Nesta is starborn meaning that her and Rhys both come from Theia’s power. It’s pretty clear that Nesta is meant to be queen. After all, she has been called a queen in Every.Single.Book, including HOFAS. It’s pretty clear that she will be queen of Dusk. 

Rhys is already High Lord (most likely going to become High King at some point, even if no one wants that). He has rarely met someone more powerful than he was. And since the land chooses its ruler, and since Nesta comes from the same line as him, she is a threat. Even if he fails to notice that she doesn't care about power in general and doesn’t even realize the extent of her own. 

Rhys has a primal side to him even more potent than Cassian, the “Illyrian brute”. I’m going to give a very strange comparison because it involves dogs and something that happened with mine. 

We were at my cousins’ and they both have dogs : an American staff and a pitbull. My dog is half staff himself. All males, very sweet but very dominant by nature. 

Initially, it was just my dog and the staff who were fine but, funnily enough, tried to overpower each other by peeing everywhere, marking their territory where the other initially had. 

Then my other cousin brought her pitbull. The pitbull and the staff knew each other well and played, far away from my dog. My dog had to be held because he was shaking and growling despite the other dogs not paying attention to him at all. Because he knew that they were more powerful and he was outnumbered. To the point where he didn’t see me anymore, being overconsumed by fear and even tried to bite my hand when I tried to calm him (he’s never done that before and had always been, and still is, the most loving dog ever). 

This is what Rhys reminds me of, because there’s something animalistic about him despite the cool, controlled demeanor. Even Cassian said it. 

He has threatened Nesta who avoids him and barely talks to him. The worst thing she ever said about him was that he was an arrogant, preening asshole. While he threatens her any chance he gets and thinks the worst of her. 

Just like my dog in the story, Rhys doesn’t realize that Nesta doesn’t care. He is just threatened by her presence. 

It’s not about letting Feyre hunt or rejecting Cassian. These are just excuses. It’s about someone more powerful than he is, in his own court, not kissing his feet. 

[genericpuff]

no wait hold up no-

this is literally meme worthy i'm dying (/pos)

Queen of the Dead part 2, 35

Persephone forgot the number one rule: Never say no to anything that Nyx is offering.

[silverflameataraxia]

Nesta Reawakening Dusk Court

(This is an incredibly long post, but these are my reasons for why it will be Nesta who awakens the Dusk Court.)

Starborn

Nesta had the Starborn logo (the eight-pointed star) tattooed on her back. Her magic chose the design, just like Bryce's magic marked her with the Starborn scar after she drew the star out of her chest. Starborn hail from the Dusk Court.

Starborn, like Bryce, have starlight, and I think the end of ACOSF might have foreshadowed that for Nesta.

A home. The House of Wind, Velaris, this court...they were her home. The thought kindled a kernel of light in her chest that had not extinguished, even in the days after the Rite.

Her mate. Her love. Her friend. The light within her chest brightened to a radiant sun.

The light was coming from her chest - had been pulled from inside it. Like it had dwelled inside her all along. Bryce's eyes were closed, her face serene.

The ground slid out from under Hunt as the light between her hands, the star she'd drawn from her shattered heart, flared as bright as the sun.

Right into the eyes of the asp shifter. He screamed, clawing at his face. Blazing bright as the sun, Bryce moved.

Dusk Court

Nesta found the chamber in The Prison with the Harp and the eight-pointed star when no one else knew it existed. Bryce's star found the tunnel in the Hewn City that no one knew existed and also led her to the chamber in the Prison.

Nesta awakened the Harp while scrying, and since the Harp is on Dusk Court land, she could awaken that too.

Nesta reawakening the Dusk Court was forshadowed in ACOSF.

The very land seemed abandoned. Like something great had once existed here and then vanished. Like the land still waited for it to return.

Nesta and Bryce were both able to get through to the chamber where the eight-pointed star was, but not Cassian or Az. Az could only enter when Nesta opened the wards for him.

Nesta noted feeling drawn to the chamber with the eight-pointed star.

She had the creeping feeling she'd been brought here.

Not by the Cauldron or the Mother or the Harp. By something vaster. Something that stretched into the stars carved all around them.

It's cool, light hands guided her wrists as she picked up the Harp.

When Nesta left the chamber with the eight-pointed star, she felt beckoned to return.

The words tumbled out as Nesta waded back through the ward-heavy cavern, feeling that center spot, the star at its heart, like a physical presence at her back. Those vast, light hands seemed to pull at her, trying to make her return, but she ignored them, explaining to Cassian what she'd heard from the Harp, and what she'd seen in the vision with Briallyn.

Obviously, Nesta wouldn't have turned back in ACOSF because Bryce needed that information in HOFAS, but if Nesta had turned back around and returned to the chamber, everything that happened with Bryce would have probably happened with Nesta: finding out the truth about Queen Theia, finding out there's a fourth item of the Dread Trove, gaining Silene's power, being able to reawaken the Dusk Court, and finding the Asteri buried beneath.

Bryce mentioned that Silene left everything in the chamber for a Starborn to find.

Bryce gazed at the eight-pointed star, the very heart of this chamber, of this map of the cosmos. "Someone put your Harp there for a reason."

"It was left for someone like me."

"Helena left this here...Just as Silene left everything in the caves of her home world. For someone to find. Someone who could bear the Starsword, and whose starlight would lead them down here. Someone who might also have learned the truth...and known where to look."

The Harp was buried beneath the Prison for a future Starborn (Nesta) to find. Someone who could wield Gwydion, which now, thanks to Bryce, was gifted to Nesta. Someone whose starlight would lead them there: we don't know if Nesta has or will have starlight, but she still said she felt beckoned to the chamber by forces that stretched into the stars all around them, so there's a good chance Nesta was led there because she's Starborn. Because she's meant to reawaken the Dusk Court.

The Bone Carver and Lanthys have both heard about Nesta (and it's implied that the other Prison inmates have as well). I don't think this is because her power is Death, but because they are the only beings who live in the former Dusk Court. And I think they heard about her because the land recognized her as soon as she came out of the Cauldron, as the one who would reawaken the land. Rather than her power being rare amongst the High Fae, is it possible that it could be very old magic that is tied to the Dusk Court?

"Whose fire burns silver in your gaze?"

"You know whose fire," she stalled.

But it struck true, somehow. Lanthys's skin drained of color. "It is not possible." He looked to the Harp beside a stirring Cassian, and his eyes widened again. "We heard about you down here. You are the one the sea and the wind and the earth whispered of." He shuddered. "Nesta." He grinned, showing teeth slightly too long. "You took from the Cauldron itself."

Nesta has been referred to as the Queen of Queens. Bryce was also a queen in Migard (until she ended the monarchy). Could both be descended from Queen Theia? It's no coincidence that both have or had the sign of the Starborn; control items of the Dread Trove, which Theia stole from the Asteri; and both wielded/currently wield Gwydion, the sword of the Starborn, and they are the only two females besides Theia to ever wield it. There's a reason both were brought to the chamber with the eight-pointed star in the Prison, which is on Dusk Court land, which is the land of the Starborn people. And both wield the Horn or the Harp, which were last used by Helena and Silene. Queen Theia said that she and her heirs were the only ones worthy of tending the Dusk Court.

Nesta has already started cleaning up the Prison. One swipe from Ataraxia binded Lanthys into physical form. Beheading him with it killed him, an unkillable being, contemporary to the Asteri. Truth-Teller was used by Silene to throw monsters into the Prison, but it can't kill them. Az even said that Truth-Teller can't kill the unkillable. And considering Az has had that dagger for centuries, and he has put monsters in the Prison, I would think he would know if it could kill them. And it can't. Only Ataraxia (and maybe Gwydion) can. Nesta also beheaded Vesperus, the last remaining Asteri in Prythian, while Bryce defeated the other Asteri on Midgard, and Theia and Fionn defeated the Asteri back in the day. Once again, could it be that both Nesta and Bryce are from Theia and Fionn's bloodline?

All she needs to do now is use Ataraxia, and maybe even the Harp, to finish clearing out the rest of the Prison. There's no point in giving this plot to another character when she's already started doing it, and the Prison inmates already fear her and Ataraxia.

Screaming began throughout the mountain. Petrified, pleading screaming, fists pounding. Not on the rock or the doors that held them, but on the opposite walls of their cells. As if they were begging the Prison to spare them from her and that sword.

Lanthys had fallen. And the occupants of the Prison had felt it.

Prison/Ramiel

Like Bryce, who felt the land of the Dusk Court, Nesta has also felt the Pass of Enalius like it was alive.

No - not someone, though she could have sworn she felt warmth and breath. She'd hit the archway of stone. They'd fallen all the way back down to the Pass of Enalius, dangerously close to the males who pursued them.

If both the Prison and Ramiel are barren, sister peaks, then could Nesta maybe reawaken both?

The Mother

Nesta has a connection with the Mother, and Az said this about her in HOFAS:

"All life came and comes from it," Azriel said with something like reverence. "The Mother poured it into this world, and from it, life blossomed."

Since Nesta has a connection with the Mother, there's a good chance that Nesta will be the one to bring life back into the earth, mainly the Dusk Court, but maybe even Ramiel and some other barren lands.

Queen Theia's Scion

Everything seems to point toward Nesta being a descendant of Queen Theia, thus making her Starborn, thus making her the heir to the Dusk Court.

To leave this account for one whose blood will summon it, child of my child, heir of my heir. To you - I leave my story, your story. To you, in this very stone, I leave the inheritance and the burden that my own mother passed to me.

This place, this Prison and the court it had once been, was Bryce's inheritance. Hers to command, as Silene had commanded it.

And in that moment, the mountain - the island - spoke to her.

Alone. It was so alone - it had been waiting all this time. Cold and adrift in this thrashing gray sea. If she could reach out, if she could open her heart to it...it might sing again. Awaken. There was a beating, vibrant heart locked away, far beneath them. If she freed it, the land would rise from its slumber, and such wonders would spring again from its earth -

Like called to like. As if her star knew this magic existed and drawn her toward it, as if they were sister powers -

And, once again, Nesta felt beckoned to return to this chamber in the Prison, so if she had, or next book if she returns with Gwydion then everything seems to point toward her reawakening the Dusk Court.

Dusk Court was an Asteri palace before Theia had claimed it. Considering Nesta killed the last Asteri on Prythian, who was imprisoned on the Dusk Court land, it would make sense for to reawaken and claim the land after she further rids it of evil.

Truth-Teller

Bryce needed both Gwydion and Truth-Teller to reawaken Avallen, which she did by fitting them into an eight-pointed star. Nesta now has Gwydion, but if Truth-Teller is needed to reawaken the Dusk Court, then Nesta can wield it, as Bryce can, because it will answer to her.

Theia extended her hands toward the water, the offered blades. And on phantom wings, sword and dagger soared for her. Summoned to her hands.

My mother returned that day with only Pelias and my father's blades. As she had helped Make them, they answered to the call in her blood. To her very power.

Bryce summoned both Gwydion and Truth-Teller, and both flew to her hand. They chose her over Az because she's Starborn. Good chance Nesta could summon Truth-Teller too, not permanently but just to reawaken the Dusk Court, if it is needed.

Rebirth

Nesta's entire story arc revolves around the concept of rebirth. Something old becoming something new. Nesta, Gwyn, and Emerie are Valkyries reborn, not entirely Valkyrie, nor entirely Illyrian, but rather something new. Nesta Made the first magic weapons in 15,000 years. She named her magic sword Ataraxia, a name in the Old Language, which hasn't been spoken in 15,000 years. Nesta found the Dread Trove, which has been missing for 15,000 years. She helped to defeat the Asteri, who had enslaved Midgard for 15,000 years. Nesta now wields Gwydion, the last Made sword, which hasn't been in Prythian for 15,000 years. All signs seem to point toward Nesta being Starborn, which Bryce describes as a gift of the ancient Fae - reborn again. Following this story arc, it would make sense for Nesta to reawaken the Dusk Court, which hasn't been a court and has instead been this barren, desolate island for 15,000 years.

Even when Bryce and Nesta talked about the relief of the Dusk Court, it parallelled Nesta's healing in ACOSF, about her learning to live with the darkness, and to focus only on the good.

Bryce examined the relief. Took in the dancing, the stars, the idyllic islands in the background. And she said softly, "It means that there was once joy in this world."

Bryce kept her eyes on the dancers, the stars, the lush lands. Ignored the darkness beneath. Focused on the good - always the good. "Isn't that all that matters?"

[aurorac0re]

What would Theia’s relationship with other Lunam kids, Darkness (Doriana) and Portal (Port) - belong to Miss.Darkness_Butterfly (IG) be like?

Idk....... They would probably hang out as sisters.. she's a little scared of Dorianna lol. But she'll get used to her..

[comicwaren]

From Marauders Vol. 2 #010, “Here Comes Yesterday, Part 4”

Art by Eleonora Carlini and Matt Milla

Written by Steve Orlando

[gwynrieldreams]

How Gwynriel and Elucien mirror Quinlar and Satharion

SJM creates characters that mirror each other in each world. They have similar appearance/vibe, similar powers, similar backstory/family origins or similar role.

Rhysand, Ruhn and Dorian. Lidia and Aelin. Amren and Fury. Jessiba and Merrill. Connor and Sam. Einar and Beron. Danika and Fenrys or Danika and Nehemia, depending on how you see it. Yrene and Hypaxia. Vassa and Ariadne.

Even the villains, Vesperus and Maeve, the Valg, the Death Gods and the Princes of Hel. Their gods: Deanna and Luna, Hel and Hellas, Urd and Wyrd. Their kings and queens: Theia and Mala-firebringer. Fionn and Brannon. Elena and Helena. Gavin and Pelias.

Acosf and CC were written pretty much next to each other. So, what if Gwyn is Bryce's mirror?

They're both redheads with freckles.

Mixed: high fae + sth else that is considered lesser.

They work in a library/artifact gallery under a strict librarian.

They wear an amulet that librarians wear, with protective powers.

They both have Autumn Court heritage.

They both grew up or spent some of their childhood years in a temple.

Jelly jubilee was used to foreshadow that Bryce was Starborn and the heir of Dusk Court, while the miniature pegasus was connected to Gwyn in the scene where she cuts the ribbon and Emerie mentions that the pegasus liked Gwyn the best.

Bryce has light powers and it's possible that Gwyn also has similar powers. I believe since Bryce isn't interested in ruling or moving in Prythian, then the land will choose someone else. I just think that all those similarities and the miniature pegasus foreshadowing are something that cannot be ignored, in addition to Gwydion and the possibility that she'll be the one to wield it.

And what if Azriel and Hunt are also mirrors?

Hunt is called umbra mortis, which means shadow of death, while Azriel's name comes from Azrael the angel of death and he has shadow powers.

Dark and broody with wings.

Hunt worked as an assassin for the Archangels and hated himself, while Azriel is the torturer of the NC and hates himself. Also, this:

Just like Azriel, who was tortured and wasn't allowed to fly or see the sunlight for years.

Considering, also, the mating language parallels between the two couples, I believe all this just seals the deal for gwynriel endgame and opens the possibility that Gwyn could also be the one to wield Gwydion and/or rule Dusk Court.

Let's not forget their bonus chapters ended the same way.

Same goes for Sathia and Elain:

light brown hair and pretty

associated with flowers

in love with sb who broke up with her but still they went after him (Elain with Graysen, Sathia with Colin)

mated/married with a redhead who has done nothing but respect them and still wants to be with them after everything

Elain is soft and kind, loves to hold court. Her mother saw her as a "doll to dress up" and that she'd only marry for "love and beauty." Sathia is similar.

Lucien and Tharion also share similarities:

redhead, charming and sarcastic

no place to call home. Lucien is from the Autumn Court but his biological father is Helion, HL of the Day Court, he was emissary for Spring and now he's working as an emissary for Night, while staying in the human lands and in Spring Court/Tharion is mer but loves all things Above, he was hunted by the River Queen, he was staying with Ruhn, Flynn and Declan, until he was forced to make a deal with the Viper Queen

emissary work, Tharion is Captain of Intelligence but as we see he was sent as a representative to the Summit

Lucien wants to get to know Elain but her love for Graysen and her trauma makes it difficult, Lucien respects her decisions/Tharion married Sathia to get her out of a difficult situation but Sathia still went after Collin, Tharion respected her decision but still went after her in order to save her from the Viper Queen.

I think it's possible that Tharion and Sathia are also mates like Elucien, especially when we consider how protective she was of him against the Viper Queen -even though Colin was the one actually in danger.

[emilystheories]

How HOFAS set up

Nesta Archeron to be High Queen of Prythian.

A theory.

ACOTAR and CC3 spoilers ahead.

[art by Gabrielle Ragusi]

A connection to Theia.

In HOFAS, we finally learn about Theia; the original High Queen of Prythian.

Interestingly, Queen Theia was depicted as holding and wearing the Dread Trove items — this was a symbol of her rule.

Evidently, this is just like Nesta.

[art by mistilteinnart]

We also witness Theia’s backstory: that she stood next to the Daglan’s throne, serving at their side “for a century.”

This is near identical to the vision Lanthys (a confirmed Daglan member) showed Nesta in ACOSF. That just like Theia, Nesta could serve at the side of the Daglan, and ensure their rule.

Interestingly, Lanthys even refers to Nesta as “Queen of Queens.”

And, just as Queen Theia used the Dread Trove to overthrow the Daglan, so too did Nesta, when she used Ataraxia (part of the “new” Dread Trove) to slay Lanthys.

The parallels between the two are stark.

[art by luverihu]

Gwydion.

In the past, I had theorised that Bryce Quinlan would be High Queen of Prythian; that she was the most eligible to rule, given her Starborn lineage, and her possession of Gwydion — the sword of the High King and Queen.

This was actually canon (or at least heavily implied). Bryce could indeed claim the High Queen title.

But, she didn’t.

Instead, Bryce handed Gwydion to Nesta, citing the importance of Nesta’s tattoo: the eight-pointed star, and the symbol of the Starborn Fae.

Nesta is now the owner of Gwydion; the sword of the High King and High Queen of Prythian.

The royal sword.

Passed on from one queen to the next.

[art by nearixx]

But, that’s not Nesta’s only claim to the throne.

As mentioned previously, in ACOSF, Nesta forged her own blades — a new Dread Trove.

Amren looked at Nesta’s ‘Made’ weapons and declared that if Rhys used them, he could “set himself up as High King.”

That each of these blades, including Ataraxia, is a “kingmaker.”

But the blades don’t belong to Rhys.

They belong to Nesta.

[art by gessueter]

In fact, the 'Made' weapons actively resisted Rhys’s presence.

Which brings us to another hint…

Rhys vs Nesta.

Some argue that Rhys has the greatest claim to High King of Prythian. Given his lineage (and what was revealed in HOFAS), they may be right.

It’s almost as if SJM is setting up both Nesta and Rhys as potential rulers.

A High Queen vs High King.

This is in line with what is said in HOFAS; that a Fae Queen vs a Fae King rivalry is “history repeating itself.”

Perhaps this is why SJM is continuing the rivalry and tension between Nesta and Rhys, despite them making amends towards the end of ACOSF.

[art by book_s150]

This is further exemplified in the HOFAS (Ember and Randall) bonus chapter.

We see Nesta making decisions on her own (to give the Mask to Bryce) without consulting Rhys or anyone else.

We see Nesta declare that she doesn’t answer to Rhys or Feyre.

And Ember watches on as Rhys assesses the “challenge” in Nesta’s expression — that to Rhys, Nesta is a “worthy opponent.”

But, as SJM typically likes to write about women coming into power, I believe Nesta will win the High Queen title at the end of the day.

After all, Nesta has been repeatedly foreshadowed as a queen throughout the entire series. Feyre even refers to Nesta as a “queen without a throne.”

[art by natserpiece]

However, I don’t think Nesta will come into the High Queen position randomly. Instead, two things have to occur:

Something bad needs to happen to the entirety of Prythian (perhaps whatever Koschei has planned…), causing a last-resort need for a queen to unite under.

Or, tensions with the Inner Circle will continue to grow, and Nesta will leave the Night Court.

But, where would Nesta go?

The Dusk Court.

Or, what is otherwise known as the Prison Island.

Which in HOFAS, was explicitly said to be a “royal territory.”

And was regarded as the “sanctuary” of the High Queen.

That is to say, Nesta being both High Lady of Dusk and High Queen isn’t just a pipe dream.

Canonically, it’s suggested to be the same thing.

(Fun possibility #1: perhaps the Dusk Court will be ‘removed’ from Prythian and will gain independence— that way, Nesta will be High Lady and Queen of Dusk, and Rhysand, or someone else, will be King of Prythian).

Thematically, it makes sense.

As we know, the courts of Prythian are thematically organised, and work in tandem with their opposing courts.

Summer and Winter.

Autumn and Spring.

Night and Day.

Which leaves, Dawn and Dusk.

The Dawn Court is associated with healing powers. To further corroborate this, firstlight (in the Crescent City world) has the capacity to heal.

‘First light’ means dawn.

In the Crescent City world, the opposite of ‘firstlight’ is ‘secondlight’ — the power made upon someone’s death.

If the opposite of dawn (firstlight, healing) is dusk (secondlight…?), does this mean that the Dusk Court is associated with death?

It would make sense: dawn signals the start of the day and new beginnings, whereas dusk signals the end.

And whose powers most closely align with death?

Nesta Archeron’s.

The court of the Valkyries, too.

If this theory is true, I have no doubt that the Valkyries will follow Nesta to the Dusk Court as well, setting up their own domain, completely separate to the Illyrians.

This likely explains the pegasus foreshadowing in ACOSF, as the pegasus’s originated from the Dusk Court.

[art by kelly.vieir.a]

I also believe that the Valkyries will expand their ranks, not only recruiting more priestesses, but also:

Merrill: with her “twilight” coloured eyes (twilight is another word for dusk).

Mor: whose family once owned the Dusk Court, long ago (also lending itself to a Mor x Emerie book).

And another important connection: Bryce Quinlan.

With the introduction of “thin places,” HOFAS made clear that Avallen Island and the Prison Island (Dusk Court) are innately connected, despite being worlds apart.

If Bryce is in Avallen, then it makes sense that Nesta is residing on the Prison Island — side by side.

And, as Bryce still has the Horn on her back (coupled with Nesta having the Harp), perhaps their friendship will continue.

(Fun possibility #2: No one is more connected to the pegasus’s than Bryce, and I can’t see her passing up the opportunity to join an all-female, pegasus-led warrior group. Perhaps a cameo is in store…).

[art by paint faery]

In conclusion:

All hail Queen Nesta Archeron.

[art by artinelysian]

[genericpuff]

PRECIOUS 🥹💖

I just had to draw a modern Persephone too. ^^

[shallyne]

I kind of think Theia's and Fionn's story will have similarities with Elain's story.

I know it's not explicitly stated that Theia was Fionn's wife but it's very heavily implied