#then she changed her plans to include an az book too but who knows!

[gwyns]

“Gwynriel’s know Gwyn cannot carry a book on her own. She needs to piggyback on Nesta’s relevance to even have half a decent storyline and the overarching plot.”

I don’t think any Gwynriel has ever said that Gwyn will be getting her own book. I think most of us have said that Gwyn will have the other pov in Azriel’s book, similar to Cassian in Nesta’s book. Gwyn does have a decent enough storyline and potential plot if you would actually read the scenes that she is in (I’ve actually seen some e/riel’s say that when Gwyn appears they skip the page). Gwyn became the first one to cut the ribbon and become a Valkyrie; she won the Blood Rite and became the first non-Illyrian to do so; there have been many theories on her possibly being connected to Gwydion or possibly finding Narben since acosf came out; she hasn’t left the library but we know that she wants to; she feels unworthy of using her invoking stone; accepting that her sisters death wasn’t her fault; overcoming her trauma and healing; Autumn Court heritage (possibly a Vanserra); whatever is going on with Merrill and the research to other worlds; things we found out from hofas, like the Prison being connected to Nesta, and Gwyn (Emerie also) are her friends and Pegasus used to roam there and we know the Pegasi loved Gwyn the most; Ramiel with the Asteri/daglan, the black monolith at the top, Enalius.

Gwyn definitely has main character energy, it’s just some people don’t want to see the potential. And after hofas, I do believe that it’s Azriel’s that is next (of course it could end up being Elain’s or the novella). Say the next book is Azriel’s and obviously he is the main character with the first pov; Nesta played a big role in hofas, but I don’t think Sarah will give her another book or let her have the other pov, I think it will go to Gwyn since she’s a Valkyrie and connected to Nesta, so this way we can get more information. I really don’t think that the Valkyrie plot line is over.

And wasn’t Sarah originally going to have Nessian’s book be about an Illyrian rebellion or disarray happening in Illyria but scrapped it? Perhaps she’s saving it for Azriel since we know how he feels about that place/his people (similar to how Bryce feels about the fae) and given what we got from hofas (truth teller/Ramiel/Enalius), and it will also tie in the Valkyries, because honestly, I don’t think the males in Illyria are too happy with three women, two of which aren’t Illyrian, participating in the Blood Rite and winning.

and nesta had to "piggyback" off of feyre's relevance, what's their point? that's how spinoffs work

gwyn has heaps of potential as a main character, they're just SO insecure about it, it's plain as day in every word they write. that's why they have to get online to write think pieces about their hatred and downplay gwyn's significance since no one ever taught them how to properly deal with their emotions. basically, they're making it everyone else's problem

i've been here since the dawn of time and have never once seen a gwynriel say gwyn would be the actual mc of a book, we've always theorized about how she, her storyline and her abilities could compliment an az centric story. e/riels know this but they don't have anything proper to cry over so they ignore it and lie, much like they do with the actual books lol

agreed. i feel like hofas only reinforced that the valkyrie plot is far from over, all the connections nesta had with bryce and the dusk court. i definitely think that'll be the valkyries base or something. as much as i love nesta, i feel the same. i don't think she'll get another book or have a centric pov again (obviously this can change), so who is the next character most connected to the valkyries? who helped reform them? who did research on them and was the first to cut the ribbon? who, alongside emerie ANOTHER founding valkyrie, was one of the first females to win the blood rite? the same blood rite that's a sacred illyrian tradition that is connected to azriel, the other acotar character that took center stage in hofas, personally? hmmm... seems like miss janet has quite the coincidence on her hands here!

yup! sjm set up an illyrian rebellion in acofas, showed us that acosf snippet where nessian were going to the illyrian mountains and everyone (rightfully) assumed they were going to deal with that. but years passed and acosf finally came out and the rebellion is just... on the back burner for now? the leader of it was killed quietly off page and now the story centers on the dread trove and valkyrie training but we are still told that another rebellion is brewing. it's clear to me, and many others, that sjm changed her plans a tiiiiny bit and decided to have azriel deal with this plotline. i, for one, am excited to see how sjm handles it!

[acourtofthought]

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you on your last ask.

"SJM did say she's excited to write Az's journey. But she's tricky with her words and just because she said "when you get to the end of SF I think you'll know who the next book is about and Az's journey is one I'm very excited to write about."

Because SJM is tricky with words, she could be telling us that Elain's book is next, she'll end up with Lucien and during their book she will continue laying crumbs for Az's journey as she's excited to begin the groundwork for his eventual book."

please... she is not THAT tricky. She also said multiple times Hunt and Bryce are mates, and that she wanted to change up her usual formula by making the first LI in CC to be the endgame, still many doubted her words and guess what? Hunt and Bryce are endgame, just as she said. Was she also tricky when she talked about Elucien being mates? Or is she not tricky with her words when it supports your narrative?...

And to be exact, this was the question from the interview you quoted:

"Will Azriel get his own book in the future?" to which Sarah answered: "I can't say anything officially right now... but when you get to the end of ACOSF I think you'll know who the next book is about... Azriel's journey is one I'm very excited to write about..." - mind you, the question wasn't about who's book is next, just if Azriel will get a book, ever. And her answer was this. She brought up the next book. How do you even interpret an answer like this as, "Elain's book is next"? Sorry, but it's not tricky at all, it's basic comprehension to assume Azriel's book is next based on her answer to the question. Also, even though the bonus takes place during solstice, bonus chapters are placed physically at the end of the book, no?? So...

Let's face it, Lucien and Elain had no major impact on the plot of acosf (they were barely present in the book actually), but Az was included heavily in the valkyrie training (along with a certain other redhead), and then now he's in CC3 too (in which Elucien were absent yet again). He's featured in two bonus chapters, one is from his own POV. Clearly, there is a lot of focus put on him right now, intentionally. From a marketing point of view, after all of this, another couple's book being next who are simply absent from the last two books makes no sense at all.

You really started to twisting everything to fit your own narrative, just as E/riels. :/

You're really quite aggressive over my thinking Elain is getting the next book.

Regardless of what your interpretation of that particular interview is, I've also got plenty of others that strongly suggest Elain was getting the book after Nesta.

"I've always wanted to write books about her sisters".

"I know who the first two spin-offs are about but I'm leaving the third open".

At one point the third was even possibly going to be a book set in the past and in a special edition of ACOFAS, she wrote about the research she had done for Elain's book. Not Az's.

"My initial plan for the spin-offs didn't change but the world expanded".

And you're silly to think that "from a marketing perspective Elain's absence in the crossover means she can't get the next book."

Was Chaol not absent in the book before TOD?

You're clearly only on the side of your narrative when you say Elain was absent in SF.

Did she and Nesta not have two big arguments?

Did Elain not volunteer to search for the Trove?

Did Feyre and Rhys not have a conversation about her getting her hands dirty in Feyre's bonus? How maybe she's only acted a certain way for fear of disappointing them?

Did Feyre not mention how she's got Az beat for secret keeping?

Did Amren not tell them not to underestimate her?

Did Nesta not take her wooden carving back to the HOW with her, staring at it after placing it near a figure of a Goddess, then end the series by placing it on her father's grave?

Nesta's arc could not have happened if Elain was by her side because Nesta needed to learn who she was outside of being Elain's protector but that doesn't mean Elain did not regularly come into her thoughts, with SJM using those moments to build her story (like Spring being made for her). That does not mean SJM didn't find ways of telling us exactly where her character is going and the fact that she's now ready for more or that she doesn't belong in the NC.

You are free to feel Az is next, I even admit I could be wrong about Elucien though I still feel strongly that they're a contender for the next book. But you claiming he's next as fact makes you no different than e/riels who claim their ship as fact.

And bonus chapters are placed at the end of the book because they don't want to interrupt the flow of the main characters pov..??

What is your point? It doesn't change where it falls on the timeline and the events that came after.

I'd be curious to know what major impact on the plot you feel Az had in SF outside of training the Valkyries because Cassian said Nesta wouldn't be ready for battle training for years. An ACOTAR book. Not a book from a different series that not every ACOTAR reader will read. Lucien was set up for more than Az what with him being stationed in Spring, commanding Cassian with a single word, the fact that his father now wants to ally with Koschei, that he was "setting his sights" across the continent.

Az...... sulked about not getting a bond? Played sidekick to Cassian? Yes he's training the Valkyries and will continue to do so but the main issues in the ACOTAR world at the end of SF were Koschei - Vassa's captor (Vassa, Lucien's roommate and the one Elain had visions of) , Beron - Lucien's "father", Spring - a Lucien plot and the treaty (I don't see Az treating for peace, do you?) and Elucien is more strongly connected to those things than Az. And yes, SJM admitted that Bryce and Hunt were mates because she wasn't keeping it a secret? And she openly spoke of Elucien as mates back before she signed on for the spin-offs and therefore was allowed to talk about the future of the characters? Those are not the same things as the announcment of the next book as the next book is supposed to be a surprise, otherwise it would have already been announced. She wouldn't have said, "and that's all I'm saying about that."

[nikethestatue]

Firstly I love yr blog♥️♥️. Sorry this is just a bit of a rant. In regards to the “dolls kissing” and realising characters don’t have/do have chemistry comment in sjms recent interview. Sjm did a YouTube live in mar 2020 and in a question about hunt @ about the 19min mark she literally talks about this exact scenario happening, as we all know Bryce was originally going to have a diff L/I but the wording/explaination in the live about what happened with him and then hunt was so similar, almost identical in places, to her recent interview. To me, it’s clear this was what she had in mind when making those comments. I honestly think anyone who took that comment and applied it the the az/el/gw bonus chapter is being deliberately obtuse. Sjm didn’t write the az/el (who are both central characters) part all steamy and stuff and go you know what, actually that didn’t wk/they dnt work, i could/should just not include it, but nah imma leave it as is and just immediately have him go to another character and have her be his next love interest, that’s super hot right?? people will dig that right?😂😂😂. Come on now. Plus she then decided not to go back and start making it clear, dropping hints in the ACTUAL book that perhaps something is happening/brewing between az/gw after the bonus scene was set🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ and start alluding to what their story arc would be and how gw would have connections to the next books plot, for all 190+ countries in the world that didn’t even get the bonus chapter🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️.

Thank you!

Oh, of course. She wasn't even probably talking about ACOTR or Elriel. She was discussing CC in general, and as you mentioned, in that interview, she said that she was gonna be matching Bryce with someone else but then during the interrogation scene with Hunt, it was just too good a chemistry and she changed her mind. i suspect that she was meant to be with Tharion. Not sure why, but the fact that he became so aimless as a character tells me that there was something else initially planned for him. Once he was no longer with Bryce, SJM sort of semi-gave up on him.

But with Elriel--it's not the case at all. There's been consistent, steady build up and then it culminated with an almost-kiss.

IF there was any kind of serious LI change and Azriel and Elain were moving apart, then obviously, SJM would've introduced more scenes between Elain and Lucien, and between Az and Gwyn. Especially with Az/Gwyn, it would've been hilariously easy, since they are hanging out together, she is Nesta's friend, they are training, and basically all live under the same roof. It would've been IN the actual book, since Nesta would've been able to observe it all. Instead, Nesta watched the other priestesses go all mooney eyed over Azriel, and Gwyn is like 'I wanna cut the ribbon!' Zero interest. From both of them. Nothing happens, other than he is tormented more and more over Elain. And almost every scene with him is strangely tied to Elain --what happened with Elain? Watching Elain. Worrying about Elain. Elain should not be exposed to the Cauldron (btw, he was so right). Elain smiles at him. Has he EVER asked after Gwyn? Nope. He legit forgot she was in the Blood Rite. Elain got into a fight with Nesta and he was about to fight Nesta.

SJM had said this a couple of times, how she changed her mind about a few of her couples, but Elriel is certainly not one of them. Slow and steady is what they've been.

[archangelween]

And if the bible is a lie, then lies in the bible are slips of god's tongue--truth. That's why Aziraphale likes the misprint bibles: he's looking for the truth among the lies. He knows the great plan is garbage, and he's trying to find how things actually work.

And if errors are truth....misspelling isn't an error but seeing the truth among the lies. It's not wrong, it's just not quite right yet.

And if errors are truth, inconsistencies are too. I think the first version, like with the first Anathema drawing in s1 vs the one we see when Aziraphale opens the book, are the "lie". In order to have an error, you must first have the original, against which the error is measured and discovered. So the first is the lie, the following errors are closer and closer to the truth.

That's why there's those infinity symbols, and that's why it looks like there's timeloops: we HAVE been around the block multiple times, because in order to correct an error, you must first make it. Just like humanity has done through all of time, scientifically: the sun doesn't go round the earth, but you have to try something to understand the world around you, how things work, even if you're wrong. You can always....fix it later. Except your next attempt isn't guaranteed to be any better, any more true. Knowing what's wrong doesn't tell you what's right.

And if the world is based on lies, if sin is therefore the default state not because sin is evil but because being wrong is how everyone starts out? Sin isn't actually bad. You're supposed to sin, it's expected.

The demons aren't evil, they had been or are closer to the truth than anyone else. Evidenced by their inability to spell. This is why we haven't learned anything about the War and the Fall, it would give the game away, and we the audience would not have gone through "sin". Would not have learned that being wrong isn't bad, it's expected.

Literally expected, in the sense that that's god's game. You are supposed to defy her, sin--because sin is an attempt to be better than god.

What's the point of the game? To learn what's right. Because when god put the apple in the garden, that was the apple of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Knowledge of what's right. Meaning...god lacks that knowledge, she's wholly amoral and not at all omniscient. God lacks even the most basic sense of fairness, which even babies and animals have. Hence her game to "figure it out". God's writing herself fiction in the same way we use it: to explore what things mean, what's right and wrong. To get other people to figure it out for her.

Catch is, her fiction is our real lives. Just like Crowley and Az were treating Soho like dolls on a game board. It's not harmless fiction when you apply it to real people.

An iteration of god's game is our actual history. I think Crowley remembers echoes of the past iterations, if not complete full memory of them. Those echoes are what we see as inconsistencies in the show.

And if the first version of a thing is a lie, then the "future" inconsistencies are actually better. This is the opposite of the church's claim that changing things is evil, because god....doesn't play dice with the universe.

Except we know she does. What can be destroyed by the truth, should be. Including god herself, who is, canonically and thus biblically, a literal body of lies.

An author making a statement that's not in canon is called word of god.

The Bible is the word of god.

Ergo, in GO, the Bible, which is the word, is not canon.

It's balderdash. Piffle.

In GO, there's also the quite literal Word of God as stuff she says. We know she's been absent for almost all of eternity; there is no word of god. She left quite soon after laying down the Great Plan.

The Great Plan, which is the word of god....which is poppycock.

Death of the author means you ignore what god thinks, you make your own decisions. God doesn't control you, and should not control you. God is irrelevant. You must kill the author to achieve this, and make yourself God in her stead. That's called heresy. It's what Satan tried to do in his rebellion, the war in heaven.

Hail Satan, hail yourself, depose god and change the story.

Like Adam did. Like the demons who fell tried.

[yazthebookish]

One of the most important plotline for Azriel's book has been set up in ACOSF

It's to do with the Illyrians.

• His mother is still alive.

• His two half-brothers are still alive.

The following reasons is why I'm pretty sure Elain will have no role to play here and because I will highlight on the Valkyries and Gwyn's role later on:

She has no affiliation with the Illyrians, she will likely find them too brutal and barbaric, she has no reason to help Azriel change his perspective of his people when she knows nothing or has no connection to them, she won't suddenly have a new perspective in one book and push him to view his people differently when she doesn't even know how he feels about them or why he feels that way about them especially if it came from a person that has no knowledge about them. Even if they were on a mission to retrieve the 4th item or were in a mission to go under Ramiel I doubt it will happen: 1) it's hard to believe Az would bring Elain to the Illyrians he despises willingly. 2) even if they went there, still, what role Elain would play that would help resolve the Illyrian issue? Nothing.

Who will play a role in helping Azriel view his people in a different light will be mentioned down below but we need to highlight a few things first.

Azriel hates the Illyrians. He despises them. He wouldn't mind if Ramiel collapsed on their camps. I think his hatred of them roots back to his family especially with how his mother was treated.

“The Illyrians are pieces of shit,” he said too quietly. -- “They train and train as warriors, and yet when they don’t come home, their families make us into villains for sending them to war?” (ACOFAS)

“They’re hypocrites.” “And what would you have me do, then? Disband the largest army in Prythian?” -- “I am not going to disband the Illyrians. There is nowhere for them to go, anyway. And if we try to drag them out of those mountains, they might launch the very assault we’re trying to defuse.” (ACOFAS)

“What, we’re doing some role reversal? Az gets to lead the Illyrians now?” “Don’t play stupid,” Rhys said coolly. Cassian rolled his eyes. But they both knew Azriel would sooner disband and destroy Illyria than help it. Convincing their brother that the Illyrians were a people worth saving was still a battle amongst the three of them. (ACOSF)

We expected that in Cassian's book, the Illyrians will be one of the important plotlines but it actually wasn't the Illyrians, it was the Valkyries. Sarah apparently changed the plan from having Nesta train in Illyria to adding the Valkyries into the mix. If the Illyrian plotline was not present in Cassian's book, whose book will likely feature it and which ACOSF set up for it? It has to be another Illyrian. It's definitely Azriel.

In one of my previous posts about Gwyn as an MC, I mentioned that she would contribute to this plotline because of her quotes and the fact that she is a Valkyrie. I think I would like to clarify that in this post because I do think Gwyn and the Valkyries will play a role and this will include Nesta and Cassian because Sarah said Nesta will stay have a role to play on the future books. Since that was a purely Gwyn post, I did not elaborate on the Valkyries. So, let me share some quotes from ACOSF here:

“Are there truly no female fighting units amongst the Illyrians?” She hadn’t seen any during the war. His smile faded. “We tried once and it failed spectacularly. So, no. There aren’t.” “Because Illyrians are backward and horrible.” He winced. “Have you been talking to Az?” “Just my observations.” He untied his hair, the thick, straight locks falling around his face. “The Illyrians … I told you. Progress is slow. It’s an ongoing goal of ours—me and Rhys, I mean.” “It’s that hard for the females to become warriors?” (ACOSF) < so what is the issue here? There are no female fighting units among the Illyrians. The Valkyries established themselves as a female fighting unit thus them having a role in breaking this rule and helping and encouraging the Illyrian females. This is still an unresolved issue.

“But we wanted Devlon—and whoever he tells—to understand that you’re as talented as any Illyrian unit. This was the only way they’d get it. Being a Valkyrie means nothing to them, and you certainly don’t need their approval, but …” He glanced to Emerie again. “I wanted them to know. What you’ve accomplished. That even though Valkyries don’t have something akin to the Blood Rite, you’re as trained as any warrior in Illyria.”

Fear bloomed, so vast and broad he could barely breathe. It was a message—to the females for thinking themselves warriors, and to him for teaching them, for defying the Illyrians’ archaic hierarchies and rules.

“I want to take the road that no one dares travel, and I want to travel it with you two. No matter what may befall us. Not as Illyrians, not for their titles, but as something new. To prove to them, to everyone, that something new and different might triumph over their rules and restrictions.”

“So we climb Ramiel. We take the Breaking. We win to prove to everyone that something new can be as powerful and unbreakable as the old rules. That something no one has ever seen before, not entirely Valkyrie nor entirely Illyrian, can win the Blood Rite.”

Gwyn laughed hoarsely. “The Illyrians are going to be furious about our winning, you know. Especially because I have no intention of being called Carynthian. I’m content with being a Valkyrie.” “Oh, they’ll be in hysterics for decades,” Emerie agreed, grinning.

I think these quotes establish that:

1. Azriel's hatred towards his own people is an issue that needs resolution in his book and that means redeeming the Illyrians in his eyes.

2. The Valkyries will be targeted by the Illyrians being the new all-female fighting units in the Night Court. That means more Illyrian females will be encouraged to join and that will piss off many Illyrian males. Not only that, but they also broke the rules of the Blood Rite by using weapons. I will explain how each of the three Valkyries might play a role in this though I know they will collectively contribute to this change with the support of Cassian and Azriel (I am still talking about this being a plotline for Azriel's book)

• Nesta: Nesta will be the support to both Emerie and Gwyn and will encourage the females to join and become Valkyries. She is the one that suggested to Cassian to train the priestesses so her role is important because she started this movement. This change is also one of Cassian's goals and they both share it.

• Emerie: being an Illyrian herself, the first Illyrian female Carynthian, I think it's possible to witness her become the leader of the fighting unit or even in the future become the general of the Illyrian army if the change they pursue for Illyria comes to fruition. She as a Carynthian and a true warrior will have great influence on the Illyrian females, she will persuade the females to join and to push against their rules knowing how chained they are to the same rules, the same traditions she had suffered from. I think she will likely bring an end to female wing clipping and the restriction on females training and joining the army. Because if the males failed, then a female will do the job since she knows hands-on what it is to be a female living among a hateful tribe. I'm sure we will see more of the impact of this change if Emerie gets a book which I think she will share with Mor if they become a thing.

• Gwyn: Gwyn's role, if she is confirmed to be Azriel's love interest, will be crucial to Azriel himself. She is the love interest of an Illyrian blinded by his hatred towards his people after all. Neither Rhys or Cassian succeeded in changing Azriel's perspective on the Illyrians however, I do believe that pushing for that change will help Azriel in realizing that his people are worth saving and Gwyn will help open his eyes and realize that there is hope for his people, there is a bright future for the Illyrians especially since he is involved with the Valkyries and they will play a role and bringing the change and starting a movement within Illyria despite their rules and traditions. If Gwyn is indeed Azriel's love interest, she will play a significant role in this being the first non-Illyrian female Carynthian in history. She will contribute to the change and may persuade Az to embrace this change and help the Valkyries push for it to help the Illyrian females. Before someone says I am reducing Gwyn's role as his love interest only and her actions are tied to him, if it's a Gwynriel book then we will have Gwyn's POV and usually the love interest is the supporting MC to the main MC (Feyre/Rhys + Nesta/Cassian) but she will have her own goal and healing journey to achieve, this is the part I speak about how she will help Az see his people in a different light because if Rhys and Cassian failed to convince him, who will except for someone who will understand him on a deeper level and understand the root of this hatred without judgement?

3. Azriel's actions are often impacted by some moments that trigger his memories of the past and how his father treated his mother. Azriel's past is also tied to the Illyrians and his family. His mother is still alive and his brothers are still alive which I think we are likely to meet them in his book. We will revisit Azriel's childhood home and this is where we will be exposed to the root cause of his hatred towards his people and that should be acknowledged. It's not a coincidence his mother was mentioned in ACOSF.

4. Balthazar could be the Valkyries' new friend and also befriend Azriel. You can't tell me SJM introduced him and threw him there just like that. Yes, I do believe Azriel needs another Illyrian male to befriend out of the IC so to get a fresh perspective on his people and to realize that not all of them are bad. I support Azriel getting to know to new friends

5. No, I do not think his book will focus on solely Valkyrie training again like it did in ACOSF. The conflict will be between Illyrians vs Valkyries and this whole issue. The Valkyries did win the Blood Rite, but the Illyrian issue is not resolved, I think Valkyries winning the Blood Rite will ignite it.

• I wanted to add another point that Mor will be joining the Valkyries training and may likely play a secondary part in this issue. This also might set up the closure scene between Azriel and Mor because will be within his periphery. Mor's presence also ties her to her potential romantic plotline with Emerie who may end up as a couple.

This is one of the possible plotlines that I think will be included in his book and it's based on what was foreshadowed and mentioned in ACOSF.

It ties many things together (Azriel's hatred towards his people, pushing for change in Illyria, facing his past that is tied to his healing journey, Valkyries expanding means another army unit for the upcoming war, witnessing the Valkyries growth).

I do think Koschei and the human Queens and the whole dread trove will still play a role in his book, I am not dismissing it. But, it's only logical for Koschei to be defeated in the final book and not in Book 5. Azriel and co may find something that will help in their search for the fourth trove and defeating Koschei.

It seems to me all of that will be dealt with in Azriel's book and it will include Cassian and the Valkyries.

[gwynrielendgame]

Gwynriel one shot

I wrote another fanfic before this one. Each can be stand alones, but I wrote this one awhile ago with the intent that this specific scene happens before the mate bond snaps into place for them. I like the idea of the necklace causing major drama, but I also think Gwyn is a levelheaded person which is where the inspiration for this scene came from. Enjoy!

Nesta had insisted on a dinner party for Gwyn's birthday. Gwyn hadn't wanted a celebration. This day had been one shared with her sister. The sister she had failed. She no longer found this day worth celebrating. She was not worthy of this day. Not without her sister by her side. She found she couldn't deny Nesta though. Not when her and Emerie bounced off chattering excitedly about the night they would plan for her. Even the house flickered with excitement.

Gwyn stared at her reflection. It was so different than what she was used to. She borrowed one of Nesta's more modest dresses for the occasion. It was still much tighter than her priestess robes and showed much more of her collar bone than her fighting leathers had. She left her hair down, mostly to cover the parts of her shoulders that the dress didn't. The final adornment to her ensemble for the night was the dainty necklace given by an anonymous friend.

Gwyn smiled at the memory of Clotho handing her the necklace. Gwyn hadn't realized why the piece of jewelry was important to her. Just that it was. The evening would be fine she reassured herself. She would not allow her thoughts to stray to Catrin. Catrin was gone and she had to accept that. Gwyn stifled a laugh at the memory of previous birthdays. Catrin was a notoriously bad gift giver and even though she knew Gwyn better than anyone, her gifts were never sentimental. One year she got Gwyn a book of songs which would have been wonderful if Gwyn did not already have that exact same book. A book that she had shown Catrin out of sheer excitement when she originally got it.

Gwyn found herself walking up the stairs to the house of wind. She stopped right outside the dining room. She just needed one moment to compose herself. A shadow whipped out as if to alert her of Azriel's presence. She smiled at the shadow before turning to the Shadowsinger. His face was unreadable per usual, but he was staring at her with a new sort of intensity.

"I just needed a moment before the chaos ensues." Gwyn felt the need to explain why she was staring at the door to the dining room. Azriel nodded his head in understanding. He knew better than anyone how overwhelming his family could be.

"Happy birthday Gywneth." He gave his normal smile as he said the words. It was the only smile he gave out. Could barely call it a smile considering it was the smallest upturn of the corner of his mouth. It was enough to ease the anxiety blooming in Gwyn's chest.

"Thank you." She planted a large smile on her face and opened the door to the dining room. She was immediately bombarded by her two best friends.

"I knew that dress would look amazing on you." Nesta smirked. Gwyn had outwardly refused the dress at first. Claiming it would not look half as good on Gwyn as it did on the more petite Archeron sister.

"You look beautiful Gwyn!" Emerie gushed. She looked as though she was going to cry and Gwyn couldn't help but poke fun at her.

"Are you going to cry, mother?" Gwyn's light jesting was returned with an elbow to the ribs.

"We are going to warn you now though, you can't open your gift until tonight. We are all sleeping in the library. I already have it set up for the three of us." Nesta was giving Gwyn the warm smile that always made her feel accepted. She had found a sister in Nesta. Their relationship was different than that of the one with her twin yet it made Gwyn's chest squeeze happily. Her relationship with Emerie was much the same. She knew tonight would be draining and wanted nothing else but to go to her room alone after this dinner. She never could deny Nesta and Emerie especially when they teamed up like this.

"Sounds fun!" She emphasized the words, trying to make herself sound excited.

"Happy birthday Gwyn!" Cassian shouted from where he stood across the room. He lifted his drink to her. Suddenly a wine glass appeared in her hand. She whispered her thanks to the house.

"Gwyn you look lovely!" Feyre walked over to give Gwyn a hug which was ultimately awkward since Nyx was resting on her hip and he just wanted to pull Gwyn's hair. Rhysand appeared next to Feyre. He also lifted his glass to Gwyn.

"Nesta demanded extravagance for you and I couldn't exactly say no. Only the good alcohol for tonight." He sent the priestess a wink. Once again the thought of her sister crowded her mind. Those thoughts were always ready to remind her of what she deserved. Good wine was not one of them.

"Thank you everyone. It means a lot." Gwyn made sure to make eye contact with everyone. She truly was grateful for the effort and she wanted them to know that.

"Well, let's eat." Amren drawled.

Rhysand wasn't joking when he said Nesta demanded extravagance. Her and Emerie had created such a feast that Gwyn couldn't control the shock etched on her face. The item that caught her eye was the fish. Parmesan crusted flounder. It was a rarity growing up the way that they did. Gwyn couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her.

"This was my sister's favorite! When we were younger they served this on special occasions and Catrin would pick it up whole and would pretend the fish could talk." The table had gone quiet. Probably recognizing that any discussion of her sister was taboo. That didn't seem to stop Elain from inquiring. Though Gwyn questioned how much anyone told her. From their few interactions, Gwyn gathered that there wasn't much information the girl was included on.

"Where is she? Your sister?" Elain was genuine. She wasn't trying to be malicious. No one had clued her in and Gwyn couldn't fault her for that. Nesta seemed to think otherwise though. The death glare she sent Elain would have had Amren feeling nervous. The room was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"She, uh, died." Gwyn didn't like saying the words aloud. They made her feel her lack of control too completely. Elain bit her lip. She was about to respond when Gwyn's necklace seemed to grab her attention. The tension was so thick Gwyn thought she might be suffocated if she didn't try to relieve it.

"What was she like?" It was Feyre who finally spoke up. Gwyn didn't want to talk about Catrin. Not to people who openly judged Nesta for her perceived failings. She looked over to her two friends. Nesta was concerned, but Emerie was giving her such a soft, supportive look that Gwyn responded. She figured at the very least Nesta would never allow anyone to openly judge her.

"She was adventurous and ridiculously beautiful. We were opposites in almost all aspects. We couldn't go a day without fighting. But she was my person. We never really belonged any where, being part nymph, part high fae, we were shunned everywhere. But we always fit in with each other. We always belonged with each other." Gwyn closed her eyes. She was imagining Catrin's face, her smile. Catrin had always been the fun sister. Life was never dull with her. Gwyn was extremely aware that everyone was staring at her. She wished it would stop.

"The mini Pegasus would have loved her." Emerie said. Only the three best friends understood, but it made Gwyn laugh all the same.

"You still would have been the favorite though." Nesta sighed. She had tried to win the Pegasus over, but there was no swaying it from Gwyn's side. Luckily the conversation changed after that. Gwyn, Emerie, and Nesta were in a heated debate about which romance author was the best when Mor set a present in front of Gwyn.

"You didn't need to get me anything." A blush of embarrassment rose to Gwyn's cheek. The beautiful female was notoriously bad at gift giving which only made Gwyn more excited to open the gift. If only to pretend it was Catrin giving her the present.

"I promise you, you'll wish that to be the case once you see what's inside." Cassian smirked as Mor rolled her eyes. Indeed, the gift was unnecessary. Gwyn stared for awhile with pursed lips, perplexed, before responding.

"What is it?" Cassian, Rhysand, and Azriel howled in laughter while the rest of the table looked amused.

"It's enchanted shampoo. The smell never fades!" Mor looked so excited despite the amusement from the rest of the table. It reminded Gwyn so much of Catrin that it wasn't hard to find a genuine response.

"Thank you Mor. I love it." She sent her a small smile in hopes of appropriately expressing her gratitude for the present. Azriel placed something in front of Gwyn next. She looked at the Shadowsinger with surprise. She hadn't expected a gift from anyone, let alone the most closed off of the Illyrian males. She began to unwrap it when Elain spoke again.

"I hope it isn't another regift, Az. That would just be unoriginal." The words were spoken as a joke, but the intense stare the two shared had Gwyn pausing her opening. Most of the table sent the pair a questioning look. It wasn't until Elain glanced at Gwyn's necklace again did she understand what Elain had said.

The necklace around Gwyn's neck was meant for Elain, but for one reason or another Azriel had given it to Gwyn. Perhaps he actually intended the necklace to be given to Clotho who regifted it yet again to Gwyn. She didn't really mind one way or the other. She decided it didn't make much difference. Until this moment she hadn't even realized the necklace was from Azriel. She allowed herself to wish for only a moment that the Shadowsinger gave the necklace to her himself without it being meant for Elain originally. Now she would admit that the silent conversation between the two of them unnerved her in the slightest. Gwyn allowed a smile to curve on her lips.

"I hope it isn't a ribbon either. I would find that unoriginal as well." The joke did as Gwyn anticipated. Azriel chuckled along with Nesta, Cassian, and Emerie. Azriel hadn't thought of the potential backlash when he regifted the necklace to Gwyn. He had been holding his shadows back all evening. He didn't want his family to know the lack of control he had on them in Gwyn's presence. The second the joke left Gwyn's lips, his shadows danced toward her. He couldn't help but feel relieved that she wasn't upset. He quickly gained control of his shadows again and nudged Gwyn to continue opening the present.

It was a dagger. Gwyn smiled softly at it. To the rest of the group, it would appear to be a simple gift. It meant much more to Gwyn though than any necklace ever could. Azriel had spent many lessons going over daggers with her. They spent hours talking about different metals and styles and weight distribution. The dagger in her hand was perfect, exactly what Gwyn had discussed would be her preference in a dagger. She analyzed every inch of the dagger before coming across the engraving. She laughed a heartfelt laugh upon reading it.

"I know it's not a sword, but I couldn't think of any other name that best represent you." Azriel was giving Gwyn a true smile. She realized that was the true gift of the night. Seeing how beautiful his face looked when a full blown smile graced it.

Nesta threw her head back in a cackle while Emerie and Cassian groaned at the carving.

"What is its name?" Rhysand quirked one eyebrow while looking at Azriel. What could he have possibly named the dagger to elicit this type of response.

"Silver majesty." Gwyn stood from her chair and swung her arms around Azriel in a hug. It was an awkward hug considering he was still sitting down, but it had her heart beating faster and not all together unpleasantly. Azriel too found that the hug shot a thrill into his shadows. It had them curving around her in a hug as well.

"That is the most ridiculous name I've ever heard." Amren muttered as she gulped down her wine. Gwyn didn't care. She thought it was perfect. She realized in that moment, the dull ache left behind by the death of her sister lulled while the shadows danced around her.

[courtofwingsandruin]

Does anyone else ever think how we know that originally, Lucien and Nesta were supposed to end up together, not Cassian and Nesta? And how that means that this bond between Lucien and Elain probably was a very sudden idea SJM had when writing ACOMAF out?

She decided to change it because this relationship wouldn’t work. I’m not gonna lie that this is slightly perplexing to me. Lucien, especially ACOTAR-era Lucien, probably could’ve gotten along with Nesta quite well. I know SJM knows her characters better than us, but I just can’t see why they wouldn’t work, y’know?

And now, with the whole 3 brothers/3 sisters thing...I’m wondering if that’s part of the reason why. If SJM realized she wanted Lucien to have some connection to one of the three (a mating bond, rather than a romantic relationship), but doesn’t get with them. Because in the end, she had these two Bat Bois sitting right here who would work with them just as well, if not better, than Lucien could with either of them—and it would give her a future story to tell with the three brothers/three sisters and Koschei storyline.

I feel this can be reinforced by the fact that SJM has been planning Elain’s specifically but also Nesta’s story since ACOMAF. She made a lot of decisions while writing ACOMAF and began preparing things for the future books she wanted to write. Choosing not to have Nesta and Lucien get together, instead the tension between Cassian and Nesta the moment they meet. The way Elain and Azriel seem to click and focus on each other the moment they meet, too (if you reread that first meeting I promise you’ll see it. Elain specifically looks to Azriel, not her newly-fae sister, not the High Lord, not the much louder Illyrian right next to Az—not even Nesta. She looks to Azriel every single time when she was unsure, and he’s constantly reassuring her that she’s good to speak up and try). I don’t think that was a coincidence.

Not to mention that if she was planning for Elain and Lucien to be together, she would’ve most definitely given them at least one romantic coded moment together. The closest thing I’ve seen is when Lucien is leaving once and Elain nearly steps down the stairs to say something to him but he’s already gone. And honestly, I blame that completely on the bond. We know they can feel each other’s emotions, Rhys and Feyre can feel each other’s even with their mental shields up (or are supposed to be able to at least)—and we see that Lucien had “longing and sadness” in his eyes just before he disappeared there, which was when Elain almost stepped down. Then Lucien had winnowed away, and she walked away without any other care (likely because the farther away he was the less strong the pull of the mating bond, so she couldn’t feel him as strongly then). This is chapter 34 of ACOWAR. This is the only scene we see that seems like it has slight potential of Elucien in canon.

However, we have many, many scenes to support Elain and Azriel. Their friendship started in ACOMAF, was seen throughout ACOWAR, throughout ACOFAS, and even though we don’t see them even in the same room together but three or so times in ACOSF, there is some kind of tension between them every time (Azriel’s clear protectiveness of Elain when his shadows gathered in the corners to strike, the clear liking of each other when Elain looked away from Azriel’s smile, Nesta noticing a charged look going between them). As well as the many scenes where Azriel and usually Cassian discuss Elain and Azriel’s protectiveness comes back up. As a disclaimer, I don’t like that Azriel is also supporting not allowing Elain to go on these missions and try to prove herself. But every single other couple in the books is protective of each other. Cassian didn’t want Nesta to even let go of his hand to get the harp. Rhys had multiple occasions where he was angry and protective over Feyre doing something dangerous—when instead of going to the townhouse she fought in the streets of Velaris, when she went to find the Suriel during the war. Saying “oh but they’re mates” ignores the fact that it’s said most all males are possessive and protective like this in their world, regardless if it’s a mating bond or family or love. And it also ignores the very plausible theory of Azriel being Elain’s second and/or true mate. I won’t get into that right now though.

And then, of course, the bonus chapter proved that Elain and Azriel’s feeling definitely are not just platonic, and they both have a lot going on behind the scenes. I won’t get into the chapter much because I have plenty of other posts on my blog where I or someone else dissected and discussed it. But they definitely have both romantic and sexual interest in each other.

I truly, truly don’t see why SJM would set that up over the course of three novels and one novella to suddenly not put them together. Especially knowing that she’s said she doesn’t like couples that were built up over long periods of time (4 books is a very long time) and then don’t end up together. I don’t think she introduced Gwyn to be a romantic interest—I do think she included Gwyn in his extra chapter to confuse us and cause panic and chaos, sure, SJM is like that, remember when we first met Emerie? And then Emerie turned out to have no connection to Cassian other than him being her mentor/trainer and she being Nesta’s friend? I don’t think Gwyn will have any actual potential as a romantic partner. This also parallels Cassian and Nesta’s story—with them both mentioning another girl pre-getting together and (likely) nothing actually comes of it. She does parallel things a lot, and I don’t think she did this on accident.

To round this out, I’d like to bring us back to Lucien and Nesta. If she originally had them together, I think there can definitely be an implication there that she had considered them working some. And Cassian and ACOTAR-era Lucien are similar, as well as...well, Nesta and Vassa. The firebird and the silver flames. A human Queen and the Queen of Queens. Vassa has shown a great backbone, will openly bicker with people (we hear about her and Jurian fighting a lot), she’s just this woman who seems like she could be similar enough to Nesta to warrant the idea that Nesta/Lucien could’ve possibly worked if Nesta was a little more like Vassa or Lucien was a little more like Cassian.

I also want to clarify that I’m not against the Elain and Lucien ship, nor am I against Gwyn and Azriel. I actually ship Elain and Lucien—just not as much as I ship Elain and Azriel, because I’m 99.9% certain that Elriel will be endgame (always leave room for error). And once the next book is out and this whole mess has cleared up, I could definitely get behind Gwyn and Azriel as a non-canon sorta-crack ship. I read about pairings that completely disregard canon all the time (Feycien is hardcore slept on). But I can’t find myself supporting Gwyn and Azriel right now, not while this ship war is happening, because I feel right now is the time to actually look at canon and focus on what’s obviously there—not what, to me, is more of just a fun little ship that could work in theory and fanfics and that’s about it.

And that’s all. End rant. I’m so sorry if you actually read all this. This stuff has been on loop in my head for days and I had to word vomit again.

[kimsnnn]

Part 1

Disclaimer: This post is in favor of my ship, Elriel. No hate, just an opinion. This is what makes sense to me. If this isn't your cup of tea, and it came up on your feed, no worries just skip please. 

If you look at it this way:

If the series were to officially end at ACOWAR then that would mean that there would be no need to add any more books due to the majority of the plot being resolved. If there were slight questions or plot holes that were left open, we as readers can basically create our own conclusion based of where these characters and their stories were left off at. That’s the beauty of being a reader, being able to use our imagination to extend the stories based on canon information to infer or even speculate what happened to those beloved characters of ours.

If its easy to answer these questions, fill these plot holes and resolve any issues within that story, then there would be no need for any additional books, and lets say there were questions that were pressing but not complicated to answer, a simple extra book could be added to resolve that like ACOFAS. ACOFAS could’ve concluded everything. She could’ve also showed Feyre or whoever freeing Vassa and then created a whole spin off on Vassa and her adventures including the plot of her defeating her captor Koschei while also dealing with the queens and humans basically introducing us to a whole new world and continent with new fae/fae territories (like chaol introduced in his book from ToG). Her LI would most likely be Jurian because Lucien would have ended up with Elain which we know because she resolved that in ACOFAS.

BUT

That’s not at all what happened. Things were not answered/resolved during ACOFAS.

The author which in this case is SJM knew that whatever obvious inferences/speculation we the fandom would have is not the accurate ending she had for these characters. So she decided to introduce far more books into the series as standalones but, still part of the overarching plot to truly get the full scope of what she has in store for these characters. Why make additional books based on the obvious ?  She’s a writer, she knows the importance of creating mystery or writing plot twists that we either didn’t or decided not to realize or even accept. So ACOFAS and even ACOWAR wasn’t there to answer last minute questions, to show us that our favorite ships did end up together, no it was there to be used to set up future stories like SJM said and be as close as can be as opposite of obvious.

At the End of ACOWAR we have :

Nesta

-THAT Nessian moment 🥰  (& Nessian moments in general in ACOWAR)

We can infer based on where those characters were left off that :

-They would end up together eventually.  I mean come on, Cass’s line *chef’s kiss*.

BUT what people forget is that was also her breaking point (trauma) 

-We didn’t know how her trauma would affect her, her life and loved ones, & how she’d heal Or what were even her powers. These questions were built up throughout all of ACOWAR

So what did SJM do?

-She wrote the answers to those questions in ACOSF while also resolving questions about Nessian’s status especially since Nesta first had to start healing to let herself be loved.

The evidence ? The set up to gain support to find these answers ? Its in ACOFAS

-Nesta’s drinking, isolation, rage, fear, loneliness and self hate

-Nesta’s avoidance of her sisters, the IC and Cassian

-Cassian’s persistence, confusion. Feeling helpless.

Same thing can be seen for Elain

At the end of ACOWAR

Elain

-Civilness between E and L.  She seems more at peach and want to plan gardens/rebuild

We can infer

-Elain talked to Lucien so she forgave him or is on track to forgive him. From this we can assume the possibility of Elucien being endgame.

Elain also must be healed because she smiled and wants to help rebuild. So that all equals acceptance of her powers (on occasionally seeing things and that it, that’s her power), her new life and bond

BUT what we forget is the iconic Elriel moments (Hybern camp & truth teller connection), Elain’s world/future going up in flames, the consequences/trauma of having been gifted these powers

-We don’t know the full scope of her powers, why the cauldron adores her, how she feels, why were we given blooming moments between Elriel 

So again what will SJM probably do?

-Set Elriel to be endgame. Cause civility/friendship/forgiveness/CLOSURE between Elain and Lucien. Get In depth about her powers, her trauma and how it has affected the life she thought she would have. Have her come into her role in the NC and have self growth. 

The evidence? Its in ACOFAS & ACOSF

-Elain’s anger and desperation to have a choice, to have her own agency

-Elain’s avoidance, tolerance, discomfort of Lucien ( she wilts and regresses)

-Elain’s push to contribute more and firmly declare she’s a member of the NC

-Elriel’s tension & build up ( glances, smiles, blushing, gifts, humor, awareness, longing, protectiveness, attraction, actively trying to distract themselves, etc I could go on and on)

-Confirmation of Elain’s power still existing. Her whereabouts: where is Elain when the IC are facing obstacles?

-Her visions still to happen. The fourth dead trove needs to be found: it makes sense that it would be found by Elain (& Az) ( the crown: Braiylln, the harp & mask: Nesta, the fourth trove: Elain)

*If there are 3 cauldron made and Braiylln found one (& is now dead), Nesta found 2 but couldn't get a good read of the fourth, that means it'll be up to Elain & Azriel because they are basically the only two in the IC who closely work with shadows and even mist. Maybe Nuala and Cerridwen would also join in searching which id love.

Now let’s ignore the evidence.

From that moment at the end of ACOWAR again: 1) we see Elain who seems better and 2)we have Elain and Lucien who seem to be in a civil place 

So we assume she’s healed or on track, and her relationship with Lucien is looking up. So why would SJM write a whole standalone on the obvious?

If she’s healed and okay, if she and Lucien will be a sailing ship why be so secretive and unclear on Elain’s story, on who she ends up with?

Nessian was so clear, there was no REAL doubt that they would not end up together despite the obstacles between them, two of them being her rage and trauma. But Nessian would be and are endgame period. All the other “prospects” were just for angst, development and humor. Not real threats.

She wrote Nesta’s story because the worry and question wasn’t on Nessian’s validity, she established their validity and their romance when Nesta prepared to die with Cassian, when Cassian promised to find more time with her, when Nesta called for Cassian, when Nesta Wass worried for Cassian, when Nesta would constantly pay attention to him without realizing it (his wings) when Cassian ran after her during solstice, when Cassian bought her a gift etc. The worry and questions were ALWAYS on and about Nesta’s role, powers, and trauma because they were the influencing factor that affected everyone’s future, Nesta’s life/health and Nessian’s ability to finally able to come together.

If Elucien were endgame we as a fandom would know without a doubt that they are. There would be many more moments of ooh’s and hmmm’s and less mystery and confusion on their validity. There would be far more angst and these characters would have be seen more often together (seeking each other out, but Elain never does) or at least have them have more than one scene of mutual civilness where they dont talk awkwardly, and have a real conversation not one that seems forced, especially by Feyre. Even with the obstacles between them and their distance (because of the obvious elephant in the room) we should have scenes that showcases clear interest between them but we don’t. There is only one true scene where we have that and its at the end of ACOWAR, Im not blind i could see where people might interpret it as Elucien confirmation and who knows maybe I'm wrong and it is but, I read that differently. That to me was confirmation that a friendship between them is possible. Something completely platonic but just as sweet in a different way. That scene to me wasn’t charged it was not even a slow burn or even a spark it was healing and the foreshadowing of a possible friendship.

ALSO:

*Possible ToG spoiler below*

I don’t think it’s too far fetched to assume that Vassien is a thing. And in all honestly I also don’t think its too far fetched to have Lucien (& Vassa) have their own book like Chaol (& Yrene) did. Chaol was an important/original main character from the very beginning of the series who ended up doing grave mistakes. He found himself lost in life to later finding himself gaining a new purpose outlook & perspective when he left the continent to only meet his new LI Yrene freaking Towers who SERIOUSLY changed the whole game ( I freaking love her) and was extremely valuable to winning that war. This is so similar to Lucien’s story so far and Vassa (the firebird) who I expect to resemble Yrene in value and vitalness  BUT it is important to state that Lucien is nothing like Chaol and is far more SUPERIOR. So No this is not me saying Lucien is like Chaol. This is just me seeing the resemblance in their journeys so far, which might be due to SJM possibly reusing the same template on purpose.

Part 2

[lucien-vanserra-protection-squad]

I believe these people don't really care about Elain and just want to see the hot scene because they skip important parts of it.

If people really looked at what they read, they would see that Sarah gave signs that Elain was struggling to fit into the night court. She makes it clear in a few moments through Cassian's thoughts and even Rhys realizes she's just following what appeared to her. We see through some thoughts that she is always on the side of whoever she thinks is stronger, that maybe she is not so loyal, that she would love another courtship. And that makes us see that she's trying to fit in, like, is it to play happy family? so let's do that, let's move on.

Apart from that, if we put the extra chapter in the right place and look from Elain's perspective, you'll see situations that she didn't feel right about. Like the Court of Nightmares, or the fact that Azriel spent the night dancing with his sister and didn't ask her to dance. We see that they didn't speak after that and when Azriel asked about her she didn't want to speak.

After that we have the near kiss scene where Azriel describes the pain he saw in her eyes. She felt rejected, so rejected to the point of returning the gift he gave her. We don't know if she overheard the conversation or had a vision, but if she did or heard she didn't like it and wanted to close what she had started.

After that we have Feyre having a child and probably not just her and Azriel must have thought about it. They saw Feyre die from the baby's wings. It would be very insignificant for Sarah to put this scene + Nestha getting her and Feyre to have Ilyrian babies and still add a character she can have that has scenes with Azriel. Including making him give the necklace Elain gave him back, and him giving it to her and hoping it's nothing.

To me people just like to look at Elain's side when she's with Lucien. with others it seems that they close their eyes.

I kinda agree but I also wouldn't make so many assumptions about Elain since we never got her pov. We have only seen her through Feyre and Nesta's eyes but she could be totally different.

So far Elain clearly doesn't fit in the Night Court like the others do. She wants to be a part of it but so far her innate personality has been exactly the opposite of what's required of her in order to be a part of the NC. I wouldn't blame Azriel for not asking Elain to dance with him because maybe, like Cassian, he noticed that the cruelty of the Court of Nightmares bothered her. This again harkens back to how she doesn't really belong there. When Feyre had offered for her to stay back, she'd insisted she'd come. I believe she just wanted to fulfill her duties to the court. Granted that the CoN is a miserable place and all of IC hate being there but it's still a part of the NC. And the IC are required to visit there and play their roles from time to time. There's Feyre, Rhys, Amren, Nesta who enjoy playing the game then there's Mor, Azriel and Cassian who are just simply menacing and come to the CoN to remind the citizens to stay in their limits. Then there's Elain who's neither - she doesn't play the game nor can she threaten and scare people into submission. If she develops such skills later in the series... well that remains to be seen.

Can't comment on the part where Elain returns the gift to Azriel because we didn't get her pov. And the part about the changed anatomy... I know no one likes to talk about it since it's kinda problematic. A couple need not have a child in order to be complete. But this isn't about what's right or wrong. It's about what Sarah likes. She takes this very predictable route with all her ships. Two people who are fated to be together meet each other in less than favourable circumstances. They experience a lot of internal conflicts and they go on a healing journey together. At the end of it, they accept each other and choose to be together not because of the bond or fate or whatever, but because they've truly fallen in love with each other. And then there's a baby or at least some sort of talk about it. So far in all her important ships, the female/woman has never been incapable of bearing a child. Elain is also not incapable of having a baby. She just can't bear an Illyrian one. But she can bear a High Fae one if Elucien happens. Also this baby talk wouldn't have started if Nesta had only altered her own body. But she altered Feyre's body too, after she gave birth to Nyx while her other sister was right there in the same room with her. Why leave her out? It's because while Sarah plans on giving Nesta and Feyre Illyrian babies, she has no such plans for Elain. But because she's an important character and will be the MC of her own book, she definitely will have a baby or there'll be some hints. That's how Sarah operates.

But all these are somewhat superficial arguments. Why am I so sure that Elucien will happen because it doesn't make sense for Sarah to give Lucien a complex and painful past, then make him suffer every book only for him to end up with who? Vassa? Because he will most definitely end up with someone since he's an important character and Sarah likes him too. She said he is dealing with a lot, so going by what she usually does, Lucien will be a paired with a character who's equally important and will be going on a healing journey themselves. And that's Elain. And look - conveniently, he's bonded with her, by magic so ancient and powerful that no one can go against it. There's no one else for him. And it's too late to introduce a new character, especially when he's already bonded with Elain.

And your last point - I agree with it completely. People who are anti Lucien always side with her and villanize him while turning a blind eye to how the others are coddling and stifling her. How can he be entitled when he removed himself from the town house and willingly lives with the BoE? Also E/riels wanting Azriel and Elain to have a forbidden romance just because they find the idea hot are so weird like excuse me, what's so sexy about Az defying his High Lord? What's so sexy about him throwing away the sacrifices made by his family for the sake of NC and peace in Prythian away just for one person? Granted this situation is tragic, but if they both choose to go through it then it'd be extremely selfish of them, not to forget, OOC of Azriel too. He'd never do that. And it's why he backed out after the Winter Solstice.

[talkfantasytome]

During the monthly court meeting E/lain had this kind of behavior, at this meeting Nesta or Lucien were not present to justify this kind of behavior (which are behaviors that are pointed out that she has with both, Nesta in ACOSF and Lucien every time they meet).

“I’d have E/lain try her hand before we approach him, though.” E/lain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie’s garden. Cassian didn’t exactly know why he suspected this wasn’t true. There had been some tightness in E/lain’s face as she’d said it. Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around, but the male remained in the human lands with Jurian and Vassa.”

Do you have any thoughts or theories about this?

Because many people point out she behaves like this around Lucien but she has also behaved like this with other people.

From the pov of the other characters we also see them pointing out things about her personality or how much she tries to belong to NC and has her ignoring Rhys as well.

Any thoughts? I like to read about your point of view

Hi! And thank you so much! I appreciate your interest in my point of view. <3

This ended up longer than I thought it would - as these always do. Not super crazy, but still. The last paragraph is also a bit of a TL;DR.

E\ain's Lie

This is a super interesting paragraph, not going to lie.

I believe some people have interpreted the tightness and escaping to be because Azriel was at the meeting. However, I don't really believe that. If she has a crush on Azriel, why would she escape with some excuse? Why wouldn't she stay around? He's apparently incredibly pretty, so just staying would mean getting to look at that masterpiece a bit more. 👀

However, the more important tell to let us know this isn't the case is this:

Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around...

Azriel is around a lot more than Lucien. If E\ain was doing this because of Azriel, I feel like they'd see this happen more when Lucien isn't around.

It's also important to note that Cassian observes a tightness in E\ain's face "as she'd said [she had to be up early to garden]". He didn't observe it throughout the dinner, no, solely as she made her excuses. It's why Cassian thinks she was lying, making an excuse to leave.

However, if she was struggling because someone else was around, it would have been a noticeable change in her personality throughout all of dinner. Az is around more than Lucien, but we also know he's not around that much, because he's trying to stay away from E\ain. So it wouldn't be an "well, Az is around a lot, so it's just not noticeable that she's stressed around him too". Just as, when Lucien is around, we do see that E\ain is a bit more withdrawn.

So, I don't believe it was Az that caused E\ain to make an excuse to leave. It could have been, but personally I find that less likely, or she'd have been doing it more often. Regardless of whether it's because she likes Azriel or because she views him as a threat on her own plans, I don't think that's the reason.

It could be just that she's less comfortable around the group without Feyre.

I find this one an unlikely possibility, but it is possible. Despite what E\ain says, she really is not part of the court, and she's definitely not part of the Inner Circle - no more than Nesta. In fact, by the end of ACOSF, you could argue Nesta is more part of it. But Feyre is the only true IC member of the Archerons.

But, either way, I don't see E\ain as being friends with any of the IC members. Not even Az. They may have some sexual chemistry there, but they're not friends. They never talk and they don't really know each other at all. So it could just be that simple.

But, unlikely if this is meant to be foreshadowing.

She also could just be tired and making some excuse to sound less lame - we've all done it, don't lie. XD

Again, though, I find this unlikely. I don't think her face would be super tight in doing this, because we know E\ain can lie. Or, at least, use words and smiles to her own advantage.

Rhys's brows lifted. "You'd think they'd been told plague had befallen the house."

I pulled the door open wide enough to let them in, then quickly shut it against the bitter cold. "My sister E\ain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles."

It's not exactly the same, but this is one of the first things we really learn about E\ain beyond "pretty and likes flowers", her ability to convince others to do anything. To use her wits and wiles to get her way, and it's pretty obvious that's something she's used to in her life. It may not specifically state that she can lie, but she was convincing the staff to leave the house so that Fae could come into it. And we know she definitely wasn't telling them that was the reason why.

She can lie, she can stretch the truth, to do and get what she wants. With ease.

So, the fact that her face is tight tells me this isn't an easy lie for her. This isn't a bland excuse.

More so than that, why not just say she's tired? Why not use that as the reason? That's an easier lie. But no, it was something that would include an explanation for her being out early in the morning.

My conclusion: she did have something happening the next morning, but it wasn't gardening for an elder faerie.

Now, I could be wrong. Cassian's assumption was that E\ain was just lying to leave the dinner. She was making an excuse to go up to bed. You can see that because he drew a parallel to when E\ain makes excuses around Lucien, which we can assume actually is to just get out of the room where he is.

And maybe he's right. Perhaps that observation was meant to be foreshadowing about some other form of discomfort E\ain has around someone in the IC. But, based on my reasons above, and how that would happen more often, I find it unlikely.

Thus, the lie must be about something other than her just making an excuse to get away. And she uses it to also explain away why she won't be in the house the next morning.

Think about it - she made the excuse in front of Rhys and Feyre too...maybe. Maybe not. I read it as E\ain and Feyre went up together at the same time. Either way, at least one of the people she currently lives in this house with heard the excuse, so they'd expect her to not be home early the next morning. Why do that if all she was doing was making an excuse to get away from someone? The next morning she may have to answer questions about that, which I don't think she would want to do.

Now, I honestly have no idea what she was doing instead. After the bonus Az POV chapter, we know she wasn't having a secret rendezvous with him. Based on that chapter, it sounds like the two have had minimal interactions other than at dinners and things at the River House. But that's just what isn't happening.

Some wonder/hope that she's having secret meetings with Lucien. As amazing as that would be, that her "discomfort" around him is, maybe, more just lying to everyone else and pretending they aren't spending time together. I don't think that's the case. We're told Lucien is remaining in the human lands, that he looks at E\ain with longing, and that E\ain didn't even thank Lucien for his Solstice gift to her.

For someone who has a defining trait of being "sweet", that's kind of a big thing to not do when getting a gift. Like, even if she's pretending to not really care about him or know him, not thanking him is...kinda awful.

So, it would mean she's meeting with someone else. With whom? I honestly don't know.

I am intrigued by the concepts and theories about E\ain seeking out a way to try and become human again. I find it plausible, and that there was some information in ACOFAS to make it sound like she was trying to do this only makes it more so. Also, E\ain is definitely more stubborn than I think we've seen, but she's stubborn in a selfish way. Remember that she was doted on by Nesta, but also at times by Feyre, and her father. I, personally, believe that she is likely the most spoiled in nature. In fact, I wrote a post about how I'm wondering if E\ain is somewhat narcissistic.

With that, I don't think E\ain would have been deterred by Amren's comments. All I think that would have done would have made E\ain try to be more secretive and subtle in this pursuit.

I am also intrigued by the thoughts that, in doing this, she ends up siding with/helping Koschei, essentially turning into a villain. Of course, if this does happen, I think it would be revealed very end of book 5 or very beginning of book 6, and in that reveal she would plummet to rock bottom and then her book would be about her journey out of that.

And I do love the idea of a possible semi-villain E\ain because, in the end, her current development has been "she's pretty, and good, and sweet, and kind"...so, she can't be further developed and be made more "good". If her development is just her continuing to be good, that doesn't actually give us more of her character. As we learn about E\ain more, I am convinced we will learn about sides of her that aren't so "good".

E\ain & the Night Court

Okay, I'll be much faster on this, because I've talked about it before as well.

My perspective is that those vignettes, comments, narrations, etc. from other characters' POVs are all very important. I do believe this is some foreshadowing happening that tells us E\ain will not end up in the Night Court. And, I believe, her initial leaving of the Night Court may not be a particularly pleasant separation. I'm not saying it'll be absolutely awful, but maybe it's E\ain leaving on her own, or following someone she shouldn't follow due to promises of a better life, or something similar.

The other possibility is that it will be part of E\ain's emotional journey, to understand that she's not living in a place that's right for her, and that it's OKAY. It's okay if the Night Court isn't the right place for her, even if it is for her sisters. It's okay if she needs something else, if she'll find value somewhere else. It's okay to be different. I think that will be a huge thing for E\ain to learn and accept.

But, yes, I do agree with the perspectives that say those passages are telling us that E\ain doesn't belong in the Night Court. Not because she's not good enough, just because it's not where she shines. And you can find a deeper analysis on that in this post, in the "Home is Where You Shine" section.

I will say, though, that I don't think she'll end up doing anything crazy in an attempt to prove she's part of the Night Court. She's defensive about it, for sure. But if there's a big goal we're going to see her try to work toward, and maybe do so in a not so great way, I'd say it's more likely something about trying to be human again. When with the NC people she wants to be included, because she's selfish and self-centered and narcissistic - and I don't mean that as an insult, those are just some of her personality traits, and they're not necessarily a bad thing. However, I would say that's more likely why she wants to feel like she's a part of the NC. Because her sisters have both started to truly become a part of it, and she's never been the outsider. She's never been the third wheel. It was always her and Nesta. Now it's her and Feyre. But if Nesta is so much a part of the Night Court, if her two sisters will be working together on things - well, that leaves E\ain on the outside, and she can't handle it. Not because she wants to work with them. Not because she actually wants to be part of the Night Court. But because that's just not how it goes in her mind.

And I truly hope that in her journey she'll come to understand herself better, and understand that it's okay to be different. E\ain will find her place, with people who love her, care for her, adore her FOR HER. They don't simply dote on her and protect her because they think she's weak or fragile. No, she will find those who will see the wonder in her. Who will appreciate her stubbornness and ability to convince anyone to do anything. And who will only ever want the best for her because they love her. I look forward to meeting them.

And, hey, if it happens to be Jurian and Vassa and Lucien, I can see it. E\ain could use some snarky Vassa and Jurian in her life. XD

Summary

So, there you have it. That's my perspective on this. I do think E\ain was likely lying. I think the lie went beyond her just trying to get out of the room, and more so was a lie about the why or what she had going on the next day. And I do think she may have had some meeting she didn't want anyone knowing about. I know it wasn't with Az, I don't think it was with Lucien, but I don't know who else it could have been. I like the idea that it has to do with her trying to become human again, which fits in with my thoughts on what her emotional journey will be like in her book, and I'm intrigued at the thought that it could lead to her working with Koschei. But I'm not yet convinced that's definitely the case. I'll have to try to read it again, but so far I'm not sure there's been enough foreshadowing to prove that. The best thing would be her interest in helping find the Dread Trove, except I don't believe she actually was interested in that. I think in that discussion she was just more interested in proving Nesta wrong, because she never actually did anything to try and find the Trove. So, it would be cool, but we need more info before I can say I definitely think that will happen.

And yes, I do agree E\ain likely doesn't belong in the Night Court, based on all those internal thoughts we've seen. It's very telling when you have three characters observe how black does literally nothing for E\ain, how it drains her.

[nessiansimp]

Analysis of Eris’s Character

In light of the new teaser and everyone freaking out if nesta and eris are mates, let’s analyze Eris’s character. 

This is mostly just angry, aggressive ranting, most of which is probably incomprehensible. 

ACOTAR

Remember when Lucien gets whipped in ACOTAR because Amarantha wanted to guilt Feyre into giving her name? None of Lucien’s brothers, including Eris, seemed particularly upset:

“Toned and muscled, some of them looking like warriors about to set foot on a battlefield, some like pretty courtiers, they all stared at Lucien- and grinned. The four remaining sons of the High Lord of the Autumn Court.”

“Lucien’s brothers lurked on the edges of the crowd- no remorse, no fear on their handsome faces.” 

“A ripple of laughter spread across those assembled behind us, the loudest from Lucien’s brothers.”

Eris does absolutely nothing while his brother is tortured, if anything he seems delighted by it.

“Lucien sagged on the ground, trembling. His brothers frowned- the eldest going so far as to bare his teeth at me in a silent snarl.” 

ACOMAF

“And it’s another long story, but the short of it is that Eris refused to marry her. Said she’d been sullied by a bastard-born lesser faerie, and he’d now sooner fuck a sow. Her family … they …”

“When they were done, they dumped her on the Autumn Court border, with a note nailed to her body that said she was Eris’s problem.”

“Eris left her for dead in the middle of their woods. Azriel found her a day later.”

THIS is the person y’all are shipping Nesta with? The fact that you think Eris is a better match for Nesta than Cassian?? That you even COMPARE Eris to Cassian???

I’ve also heard this other theory that Eris knew that Azriel was coming and he thought Mor would be safer with him or something like that which is why he left her. But um no??? Az came a whole day later. What if Mor had died by then? I doubt Eris planned that. 

This is completely unrelated but there’s this little line that I hadn’t noticed on my initial reading of the books:

“Azriel found her a day later. It was all I could do to keep him from going to either court and slaughtering them all.” I thought of that merry face, the flippant laughter, the female that did not care who approved. Perhaps because she had seen the ugliest her kind had to offer. And had survived. And I understood—why Rhys could not endure Nesta for more than a few moments, why he could not let go of that anger where her failings were concerned, even if I had.”

WTF. YOU’RE COMPARING ERIS TO NESTA????? THEY ARE NOWHERE NEAR THE SAME LEVEL. GIRL BYE. 

ACOWAR

When Eris tries to capture Lucien and Feyre :

“Eris would bring us to Beron, and the High Lord would either kill us for sport, sell us to the highest bidder, or hold us indefinitely. And after what they had done to Lucien’s lover, what they’d done to Mor …“

And let’s not forget that he held Feyre at knife point 🥰

“Eris lifted a hand wreathed in flame. Flame—to melt the ice on which we stood.”

Lol.... not to mention hunting his brother and Feyre down like a savage animal... 

“I’d no sooner hit the ice than Eris grabbed me by the hair, right at the roots, the grip so brutal tears stung my eyes. But he dragged me back toward that shore, back across the ice“

“I opened my mouth, but a gag of fire shoved its way between my lips. It didn’t burn, but was hot enough to tell me it would if Eris willed it. Equal bands of flame wrapped around my wrists, my ankles. My throat.”

Need I say more?

I was talking to someone today who suggested that maybe Eris puts on a “mask” the way Rhysand does, and that he’s actually a good person. I really hope that’s not true, I don’t think either of those men should have their actions justified because they pretend to be cruel, when they are, in fact, ruthless tyrants.

Also, can we talk about how similar Eris and Rhys are? Their mannerisms, their snarky attitude, even the way they walk is described similarly. And, obviously, they’re both abusers. How about let’s not let Eris become the next Rhysand everyone’s going to fangirl over? We can’t forgive them just for being attractive. 

“Something flickered in Eris’s eyes. “I don’t know who fed you those lies to begin with, Morrigan,” he said with vicious calm. “Likely the bastards you surround yourself with.” A sneer at Azriel. Mor snarled, rattling the glasses. “You never gave any evidence to the contrary. Certainly not when you left me in those woods.” “There were forces at work that you have never considered,” Eris said coldly. “And I am not going to waste my breath explaining them to you. Believe what you want about me.”

Again, isn’t this so strikingly familiar? Rhys s*xually assaulting Feyre to protect her. Eris leaving Mor to die because there are “other forces at work”. Not bothering to explain to either woman why they’re doing it and justifying it instead???

“You hunted me down like an animal,” I cut in. “I think we’ll choose to believe the worst.” Eris’s pale face flushed. “I was given an order. And sent to do it with two of my … brothers.” 

“And what of the brother you hunted down alongside me? The one whose lover you helped to execute before his eyes?” 

Eris laid a hand flat on the table. “You know nothing about what happened that day. Nothing.” 

Silence. 

“Indulge me,” was all I said. Eris stared me down. I stared right back. “How do you think he made it to the Spring border,” he said quietly. “I wasn’t there— when they did it. Ask him. I refused. It was the first and only time I have denied my father anything. He punished me. And by the time I got free … They were going to kill him, too. I made sure they didn’t. Made sure Tamlin got word—anonymously—to get the hell over to his own border.”

What do you want, Eris, a medal? Doesn’t change the fact you left Mor to bleed to death. But good on you for.... not letting your brother die, I guess. 

Eris is shown to be a cruel, hateful person, but above all I think he’s a coward. He does what he’s told without any question, and he’s too afraid to stand up to his own father. He resorts to plotting behind his back and (eventually, I assume) killing him instead. 

I certainly think there’s more to Eris’s story, and I’m excited to read about it. He’s a very complex, multi faceted character that is clearly more than he lets on, but I’m not sure what there is that could possibly make him redeemable. 

And I’m still gonna read the book... but Miss Maas u got some explaining to do. 

[vidalinav]

Dance Like Your Falling In Love

Summary: One shot; Cassian doesn’t know how to dance, everyone tries to teach him but he’s hopeless.

I implore you to listen to The Dance from Martin Phipps, one of the best scores I’ve ever heard from BBC’s War and Peace. Please Please listen as you read. Youtube, Spotify. Whatever, This whole fic is based off of that score.

Masterlist

~

“You have faced beings larger than you, more powerful, more dangerous, and yet you’re telling me that you’re afraid to dance,” Rhys offered skeptically.

“I am not afraid…” Cassian grumbled. “I just don’t see why I have to do it.”

It, being the dreaded waltz that they were now discussing as being “necessary” for future political endeavors. Bull. Shit.

Feyre leaned her head back against the settee where Rhys was shuffling through papers. “The next meeting we have with the high lords will be at a ball.”

“And not just the high lords will be there,” Azriel chimed in, “the leaders from the continent as well.”

Cassian rolled his eyes. “So what? We have to show off our table manners to get them to sign a treaty?”

“Whatever it takes Cassian,” Mor sang from where she lounged on the couch.

“I’ve hired Anna Pavlova to come tomorrow to…” Rhys gave him a pointed glance, “brush up on our skills so to speak.”

Cassian’s look of disgust must have said enough, because Amren snickered at her position at the coffee table where she was completing a puzzle in the middle of their strategy meeting.

“That old hag,” Cassian complained.

Amren huffed a laugh, “Our skills,” she said mockingly, looking to Cassian. He tried not to take offense to that.

Cassian crossed his arms, sitting back as if he were a child who’d just learned he was getting extra lessons as opposed to dinner time and an hour of play. This was unfair.

“Remember to dress nice,” Azriel grinned.

Rhys looked to him with a teasing glint in his eyes, “You know how Madam Pavlova can get.”

~

Cassian did know how the Madam could get, so he chose to wear pressed slacks, in which he only owned one pair and a nice dress shirt that Cassian hoped was clean. He had found it in the back of his closet, and after asking Nuala for an iron he’d almost burned off the sleeve.

He wished he’d burned off the sleeve. Maybe then he could get out of this ridiculous lesson like he was twelve again. But no, knowing Rhys, he’d probably have a whole suit for him. Cauldron forbid, it would have probably been sky blue with frills.

That bastard.

He twisted the tie around his neck, and after several minutes of twisting and knotting and twisting some more, Cassian yanked it off and threw it on the ground, stomping on it as he let out his frustrations.

When he was younger, Madam Pavlova would pick and prod at his tie, saying, in that thick accent of hers, that it needed to be tied tighter so the neck will have no room but to remain straight and tall. He’d nearly tore it to pieces every night after their classes had finished.

It was their mother’s idea to put them in lessons and Rhys hadn’t minded so much, the bastard he was, and the Madam had praised Azriel as almost every tutor and trainer did. Cassian though, she’d complain about. He wasn’t doing enough, he was goofing off, he glued her bag to the stage… the last one still made him laugh on occasion. Point being, Madam Pavlova hated him, but mostly because try as he might, Cassian could not dance.

So, Cassian walked with a certain amount of apprehension through the gardens where this “brush up” would take place. An impressive array of flowers were around the square, most noticeably the incredible rose bushes that were tall and in full bloom surrounding the paved open space.

True to his High Lord’s excessiveness, there was practically an orchestra by the square, tuning their instruments and strumming lightly. Practicing for the event of the season, Cassian thought sardonically.  

As soon as he noticed the female, her gait tall and thin, Cassian shirked back, wanting to turn away. Madam Pavlova had not changed… and Cassian didn’t know what to do with that information. She was no closer to death and something about that made him snap at his luck.

She raised a brow at him as he entered, calling him forward in attention.

“Let me look at you.”

The others were already gathered, including Varian who’d stayed with Amren in the past week, and Nesta and Elain. The former he tried not to glance at, not even a little.

“Yeah Cassian, spin for us,” Rhys teased.  

Cassian flipped him off. At the displeased look from the Madam, Cassian lowered his hand slowly, grumbling to himself.

“You have grown since last I’ve seen you. Though I see, your clothes are still wrinkled and you can’t keep a tie.”

“You haven’t changed either, Madam. I see your still a bi—”

“Best we get started soon, I think,” Azriel interrupted.

The Madam smiled sweetly at Azriel. “Yes. Yes, my dear. The sooner we start, the better the dancers you become.”

She looked at them all, pursing her lips, her fingers pointing at each one of them. At last, she snapped.

“There is not enough partners!” the Madam raised, her voice going deep with displeasure.

The others looked at each other, perhaps deciding silently who would sit this one out, but it was Nesta who claimed the decision. She didn’t even acknowledge the Madam as she left the line of them, going to sit on a bench. He watched as she opened a book that she pulled out of her skirt and began reading as if that what she was planning to do all along.

Nesta promptly ignored them and she looked every bit the part of a painting. Picturesque boredom, Cassian would call it. Madam Pavlova looked to her and sniffed at the lack of manners, but Cassian snickered. It was perhaps the only entertainment he’d get today.

Leave it to Nesta to get under the old bat’s nerves. He almost felt proud.

The Madam knocked her cane next to his feet in attention, and when he looked away from Nesta, the Madam was standing in front of him a look of disdain on her face. Cassian tried not to feel twelve again, shrinking where he stood.

But she dismissed him, raising her nose and walking back through the line of them.

“To waltz is to dance as one. You and the other must constantly move with each other, anticipating the other’s move,” She stood taller, gesturing with her hands in length. Cassian wanted to laugh at the innuendo of size, but he was not a child. Besides, he doubted she’d appreciate the joke. “This is the space that should be between you and your partner, like magnets attract, you must remain within this space. Pushing, pulling, but always close.”

He could hear the wicked tap of her heels on the concrete. “Now when we begin, gentlemales, I want you to bow, and ladies, I want you to curtsy before and after the dance as properly instructed.”

Cassian watched as Rhys grabbed Feyre’s waist, pulling her forward as she rolled her eyes.

“You do know I don’t know how to waltz, don’t you?” She drawled.

“If I’m leading, Feyre darling, you know how to waltz.”

Feyre scoffed, laughing as she said, “You know, your ego might make us both fall over.”

When Cassian looked in front of him, Mor was grinning at him, taking his hand with confidence. Oh right, he thought to himself, she hadn’t arrived yet when they were first taught this. Well, she was in for a surprise.

He gripped her hand tightly, his back rigid as the music began to play. A cacophony of noise in the background. A melody of strings and woodwinds.

Cassian stepped forward as Mor stepped forward, and in a fit of perfect chaos that only he could cause, they smacked their foreheads together.

“Ouch,” Mor gasped, holding her head in her palms.

“Sorry,” Cassian mumbled, pretending his own head didn’t hurt.

Asking if she needed ice or a bandage, Mor simply rolled her eyes and grabbed his hand once more. Cassian looked to Madam Pavlova and he could see the glare in her eyes. She lifted her chin and Cassian knew it was her way of telling him to get to it.

And he tried…

“By the Mother, Cassian. It’s forward then right.”

Cassian threw up his hands, “It’s not my fault you’re leading. The male is supposed to lead!”

“I wouldn’t have to lead if you were good at dancing!”

“Enough,” the Madam called out, stomping her cane as she eyed them all. “Switch partners.”

Elain went to Rhys, Mor to Azriel, and Feyre, at last, to him. Amren refused to let go of Varian, and he thought she might have latched on to him like a spider monkey if they tried to pull her away.

Feyre smiled up at him, and laughingly curtsied as he remembered to bow. Grabbing his outstretched hand, she titled her head with concern, probably feeling how clammy his hands had gotten.

“Relax Cassian,” Feyre spoke, her brows furrowing. “It’s just like being on the battlefield.”

“How do you mean?” He asked a little too eagerly.

“Well, I’d think you’d agree that there’s a certain level of movement in battle that resembles dancing. A step here, a step there, parry, cross…”

Cassian nodded slowly, his voice sounding out of breath. “Okay. Parry. Cross.”

But when Cassian tried this technique, he only ended up stepping on her toes. He could hear Rhys and Az snickering in the background as he profusely apologized to Feyre.

“Ten silvermarks says he trips her next.”

“Twenty says they both land on the floor.”

Cassian chose to ignore his friends, making a mental reminder to beat them when they trained later in the evening.  

“Okay,” Feyre exhaled, “One step, two step—Ow!”

“Sorry! Sorry!”

He heard the hard tick of the cane abruptly hit the concrete and the deep sigh of disappointment as Madam Pavlova stopped the music. He watched as she covered her eyes with her hands, as if she couldn’t stand to see the shame.

“We will start again,” She announced with that thick accent of hers, “Switch again.”

They began to shift, but Cassian caught Nesta’s gaze. Her book abandoned, sitting at her side and he mentally grumbled that his pain must have been entertaining to her.

Technically Amren was next, but she pushed Elain towards him.

“No chance I’m dancing with him.”

Cassian made a face.

Elain giggled. Flowers were tucked in her hair, and as she curtsied the petals glided in the soft wind. Cassian bowed sheepishly, already regretting being paired with someone as sweet as her. He knew she wouldn’t tell him when he hurt her, and he already felt guilty as the music started.  

“I apologize in advance for stepping on your feet.”

He was right of course, because when the monotonous tune once again stopped abruptly, Elain smiled through the pained expression.

And it was that look that made deep frustration fill his chest. After all this time, after all this practice, he could still not waltz. He had not learned at twelve, he’d not learned at five like Rhys or Mor. No tutors or governesses had taught him how to be adequate. All Cassian had learned as a child was to hit where it hurt and to take anything he could get his hands on.

His mother would’ve been ashamed.

Rhys’s mother—the only mother he knew—would have sat back and sighed. As disappointed as Madam Pavlova. He could almost see it, the look as the Madam had told her that he wasn’t progressing like Rhys and Azriel were. That he wasn’t fit for the life of a socialite or high-class citizen. He was rubbish, bastard trash.  

It will bring you skill in battle and luck in love, she’d said as he did behind the desk, waiting for the classes to be over.

Cassian didn’t feel skilled or lucky, and he clenched his fists, his impatience sounding as loud as that orchestra that played the same tune over and over. He wanted to go over there and shove that flute up the musician’s—

Cassian felt a hand on his shoulder and his gaze landed on hers as he settled his hand on her waist.

Her hair was in that ever-present coronet, but today, it had been tied with a white bow on the back. Cassian could see the ends of the ribbon touch her neck, flapping lightly. His eyes drifted the whole of her. She was wearing a sleeveless dress, the short straps bordered by delicate lace at the shoulders and neckline and all of her looked like the picture of elegance. A beautiful, proper lady.

He was not fit to hold her, not really. Not even if he wanted to, even if he imagined it sometimes—when he allowed himself to dream. Cassian was certain of it as she grasped his hand. It was so much smaller than his, her skin so much softer than the callouses that lined his palms.

Nesta blinked up at him, her long lashes casting shadows along her face. The teal color of her gown brought out the blue in her eyes.

A perfect female indeed.

As the music started, he felt the strongest urge to pull away so she could not see how inadequate he was. Never mind that she’d never see him that way. Cassian did not want her to see him in any way that pointed out his flaws. He’d already shown her too many.

But she took in a breath, her chest rising and falling, and he unconsciously did the same. A calm setting over them like the soft notes of a piano playing.  

“It’s just you…” She said softly, lower than the whisper of notes. He focused on her mouth as she spoke, eager for the words to reach his ears. She moved a step. Cassian lured by her movement, followed. “And me…” She mouthed as she moved another, her grip warm in his palm.

“And the music.”

Cassian didn’t realize they’d been moving as he stared, staying closer to her. As she moved, he moved, as she dipped he followed. If she spun he was there, holding her hand to bring her back to him as if they were in orbit. The earth and the moon in constant rotation, holding each other together as they traveled around the sun.

The music slowed around them, and it was not the same sound as when they began. Perhaps, Cassian had tuned it out altogether in favor of staring into Nesta’s eyes as if she could see all the way to his soul.

She had come to him, come to his rescue when he was panicked and alone, and Cassian once again felt it in his chest—that deep feeling that… Nesta had known him for all his life. Had understood his darkest places, his bitterest fears.

They slowed to a stop, but Cassian didn’t let go until the clapping started. Nesta cringed as she pulled away, clapping slowly as she chose to look anywhere but at him.

He didn’t look at the others, but he thought perhaps they’d been watching them for their applause was… teasing and careful.

“Oh!” Cassian gasped. Nesta’s gaze flew to his, but he merely bowed lowly, his hair hanging from his face.

Nesta smiled lightly, a soft, cautious tilt of her lips. Her neck and back were straight as she curtsied, grace in every moment.

She backed away from him, and Cassian tried not to reach for her, tried not to be noticeably discomforted from that lack of closeness. He watched as she picked up her book, and settled back on the bench, her teal gown bright against the red rose bushes.

He refused to look at the others as he turned away, but Cassian looked to Madam Pavlova.

She was nodding slowly in approval.  

~

@allilal @ekaterinakostrova @soitsgorgeous (I forget who to tag. So I just tagged people I know??)

I honestly don’t know where this came from because I wrote it in a hour, which clearly says I’m a liar when I say I cannot write in a timely fashion. 

Umm, I hoped you liked it. It was technically I guess suppose to go in my longer fic, but since ACOSF is coming out soon, I feel like I won’t finish that, so I’m thinking of just posting one shots of things that happen. But Idk. This might have just been a shot in the dark. 

Anyways Happy New Year!!! Nessian makes everything better!

Comment, Reblog, Like for more and happy reading!

[acourtofthought]

When Sarah was asked if Azriel would get his own book in the future, Sarah responded by talking about the next book. "Once you get to the end of acosf you should know what the next book is about" then she talks about Azriel's journey and bedroom habits. how could anyone not think he will get a pov next book? 2+2=?

"Azriel's journey".

SJM has multiple interviews talking about how the moment the sisters came back on page in ACOMAF, she realized they would have journey's beyond what Feyre was seeing and she told us she left all sorts of crumbs in the books because she knew where they were headed.

Journey does not equal getting the next book. Journey equals all the groundwork SJM decides to lay for a character eventually getting a book.

Az's journey could easily include watching Elucien get together in the next book after he declared she has no interest in him and Lucien is not good enough for her.

Azriel's journey could include Elain proving him wrong on what she can in fact handle.

Azriel's journey could include Lucien proving Az can not in fact defeat him with little effort.

She talked about Az's bedroom habits in a 2021 interview.....but didn't she actually write about Lucien's bedroom habits in ACOWAR? As an Autumn Court male and how they have fire in their blood and they fuck like it too? A book that was released in 2017?

She also spoke in many interviews about how she knew who the first two spin-offs would be about but not the third. That the third was possibly going to be a book set in the past. When she knew Nesta was getting the first book and is on record talking about Elain definitely getting a book, it's pretty safe to assume that 2+2 = 4 meaning the first two books she was sure of were Nesta and Elain's. She even said her plans for the spin-offs hadn't changed from the initial pitch when she knew who the first two books would be about.

When you get to the end of ACOSF, there is really nothing that sets Az up for the next book.

Eris tells Cassian that he shouldn't be worried about his ancient history with Mor. That the concerns they should be focused on are Beron and Koschei and the treaty.

Right now, no character who is set to receive a book is more connected to Beron than Lucien considering Beron is his father and is currently torturing Lucien's brother and abusing his mother. Right now, no characters are more connected to Koschei than Lucien (having been to the lake with Papa Archeron when he made the deal with Koschei and as Vassa's roommate who Koschei cursed) and Elain (having had visions of Koschei's lake, the girls he keeps there, and the box he keeps hidden). And Az is definitely unlikely to succeed in securing the treaty if Mor failed.

Even the Illyrians were not made out to be a big deal at the end of SF, "Oh, they'll be in hysterics for decades," Emerie agreed, grinning.

What seems to be a more pressing concern to their entire world at the end of SF? The Illyrians or Beron / Koschei? And we know they were so worried about Tamlin and the state of Spring in SF that they permanently stationed Lucien there.

As far as the actual end of SF, it ended with Nesta placing Elain's rose carving on their fathers gravestone as a marker of the beauty and good he'd brought into the world. It's sort of worth noting that SJM ended Nesta's book with a symbol of Elain, no?

With that all said, could she have gone a different direction? Absolutely! But please don't come into my anons (a blog that's clearly Pro Elucien / Pro Elain / Pro Lucien and less a fan of Az right now because of how he treats my two favorites) acting naive as if Elain is not a strong candidate for getting the next book. Feyre got a book, Nesta got a book, it's really pretty logical to assume Elain would get the book after especially when the sisters will never truly be settled until they've all found their own places in the ACOTAR world. SJM, from early early EARLY on has spoken about wanting to write their books someday, even before she was contracted for anything beyond the trilogy. She might have spoken about Az's bedroom habits but she's often spoken about Elain being able to express love in soft terms, that she has a different sort of strength than her sisters, that if she had to pick a best friend it would be Elain because they share a matching energy. She talked about being obsessed with Jamie Fraser from Outlander and how she based Lucien off him. How she wanted Lucien to have a mate that would not cause him more harm which is why he did not end up with Nesta.

And for anyone that says she hasn't spoken about Elain or Lucien in recent interviews, I'm going to say it again, she also hid the ending of CC2 from even her husband. She was very quiet about Rhys before the release of ACOMAF. She did an interview mentioning how she had to sit there and listen to people claim she hated Chaol though she had always known early on the direction his character was headed and she just had to wait until it was time for his story.

Az could definitely be next. But so could Elain. Mating her to Lucien in 2016 and still having her decision on their bond be in limbo 2.5 books later is a question I think most readers are left wondering about, over a possible mating bond that was only hinted at in a bonus chapter that not everyone has read (no offense to Gwynriel, I definitely think they're endgame but it's not a major plot point in the series just yet the way Elucien's bond has been).

Needing a resolution to Spring? To Vassa's curse? To Koschei? These are plots that have been around since ACOWAR and beyond. Plots that effect more than just the Night Court and therefore are in need of resolution because they effect the humans, the fae on other continents, Prythian.

[thespianbooks]

A Court of Nightmares and Starlight //Chapter 9//

(Chapter one) (Chapter two) (Chapter three) (Chapter four) (Chapter five) (Chapter six) (Chapter seven) (Chapter eight) (Chapter nine) (Chapter ten)

(tags: @thron3ofbooks, @df3ndyr, @courtofjurdan, @art-e-mis, @herondamnn, @the-third-me, @im-still-trying-here, @emikadreams, @paytin77, @mis-lil-red, @sleeping-and-books, @lucieisabooknerd. Let me know if you would like to be added!)

A week was all Azriel needed to gather the information we hoped wasn’t true. However, after the first few days, the spymaster realized he would have to gather intel on those closest to Keir without arousing suspicion. When low-level sentries turned up without any knowledge, Azriel moved onto interrogating the stewards' personal army of Darkbringers. Together, he, Cassian and Rhys were able to interrogate the captain of Keir’s army—Rhys wiping his memory clean after every session. He hated to do it, but after gathering details of Keir’s plan and his alliance with Kallon, he knew it was necessary.

There was indeed a coup rising against the Court of Dreams.

We filled Mor and Amren in immediately after Azriel broke the news to us, but decided it was best to leave my sisters unaware—for now. Nesta was finally in a good, albeit still cold, place after the war that took place a decade ago and Elain was also finally returning to her normal self; who she used to be before being forcefully made. My sisters were healing, and the last thing I wanted was to reopen their old wounds by revealing that their lives were once again at risk. Nesta, as observant as ever, knew something was amiss but thankfully didn’t press for any information. For now, and until we had a set plan, we could leave them in the dark.

I did my best to hide my worries in front of them, instead allowing Elain to fuss over me and the baby while Rhys and his brothers gathered intel. With all the anxiety of the coup keeping me on edge, I hardly noticed that my previous symptoms weren’t affecting me as they had before. Granted, I was still so fatigued that I slept in until noon and my nausea still plagued me from time to time; at least I was finally starting to feel some relief, which reassured everyone—especially Elain. Now that I was feeling better, she began begging to help plan the nursery. Years ago, before the completion of the construction on the estate, she asked what we should do for the room attached to mine and Rhys’s suite. I originally wanted that room to be our nursery, but at the time I decided to make it into a sitting room. Knowing that an empty nursery sat just beyond the double-doors in my suite was too painful at the time. So, in the meantime, I wanted to make some kind of use for it; despite Rhys and I hardly ever even using it anyway.

After telling Elain where I wanted the nursery, she focused all of her energy into creating the perfect space for the baby. While the Illyrians focused on gathering the information from the Court of Nightmares, I did my best to shift my attention back onto my pregnancy. At first, I went with Rhys to Hewn City to be present for the interrogations with the captain of the Darkbringers, but we hadn’t taken into account the effect winnowing would have on me during my condition. With my powers being so drained, I couldn’t do it myself, so Rhys had winnowed us in. Upon arrival, I had nearly fainted in my mates’ arms. Alarmed, he winnowed us back to Velaris, causing me to actually faint. Once I regained consciousness, a guilt-ridden Madja was there and informed us of that unfortunate side-effect she forgot to mention at our previous appointments. In her defense, said side-effect didn’t usually develop until later in pregnancy, but thanks to my tendency towards extreme fatigue, it developed sooner. There was no explanation as to why winnowing was so taxing on a pregnant female, but Madja theorized that whatever magic it originated from was the culprit.

We decided then that he would go with Cassian to Azriel’s interrogations of the Captain, and once they had the information we needed, we would schedule our official visit to Hewn City. Fortunately, Madja explained that as long as I gave myself at least an hour rest between winnowing—including some recovery time after the initial trip, that it would be safe. A part of me was grateful that I didn’t have to be there for the interrogations, because after every session Rhys returned physically and mentally drained. Even as he recounted every detail to me, I couldn’t imagine the burden and the guilt weighing on his shoulders. The Night Court was his home for centuries; he made many painful sacrifices for the sake of his people. While he did his best to separate himself from the Hewn City, they were still his people; still his court and his ancestors' court. As High Lady for over a decade, it hurt deeply to imagine the threat of a civil war, especially for the innocents here in Velaris. As High Lord for as long as Rhysand was, I knew the pain was worse for him.

“You don’t have to do this every night you know,” Rhys drawled quietly from his place in the tub, summoning me back from my thoughts.

He was leaning on the edge with his chin resting over his crossed arms while I gently scrubbed at his delicately powerful wings. I smiled at his comment, continuing to clean the dirt and debris off his wings. After the first few days of seeing how drained my mate was, I took it upon myself to spoil him with a hot bath—together, to unwind while I cleaned him.

“You won’t let me do anything else since I got pregnant, the least I can do is take care of you,” I replied, dabbing at the other wing with a soft washcloth.

“That’s precisely why. You’re pregnant, and it should be me cleaning you,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me.

I rolled my eyes, “I’m not the one doing all the heavy lifting.”

“I beg to differ,” he said as he glanced at my belly, still a small swollen mound.

I tried not to smile. “Your son isn’t that heavy, yet. I’m growing a baby, but you’re,” I paused, not wanting to bring up the ugly business of the day during the time I dedicated just for us. “Doing everything else…”

He was quiet until I finished cleaning his wing and turned to face me before cupping my face in his. “You’re working just as hard as I am Feyre, on top of being pregnant,” he said.

I gripped his wrist lightly, “I know that, but just like you’re taking care of me, I want to take care of you too. This time is for me just as much as it is for you.”

His smile was crooked as he responded, “Fair enough.”

I returned his smile and leaned in to give him a quick kiss. We stayed silent for the duration for our bath, not wanting to disturb our peace, but as soon as we were back in our bedroom, I couldn’t resist bringing up our upcoming plans for our visit to the Court of Nightmares.

“What time are we leaving tomorrow?” I asked as I pulled out a light nightgown from my dresser.

Rhys sighed, “After lunch. Cassian and Az want to go over the reports and statements from Keir’s general. We’re trying to piece together a timeline, and Azriel will go alone to finalize details with him while we’re at court.”

I nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed after slipping on my nightgown. Now that we had most of the information we needed, tomorrow we would travel to the Hewn City and announce my pregnancy. This would be our way of reminding Keir who he served and would continue to serve. We’d solidify our reign by furthering Rhys’s lineage.

I watched as he dried himself off and changed into his own night clothes, a simple pair of black shorts, and smiled as I imagined what our son might look like at his father’s age. Would the image the Bone Carver gave me continue to evolve to resemble Rhys? Would he have some semblance of me as well? Regardless, I dreamed of him growing to look and act like his father. But the thought of my son one day being High Lord, of having to put on the same cruel façade as the rest of us, made my heart clench and Rhys noticed it in my face. He perched on the space in front of me and gingerly placed both hands on my ever-swelling stomach.

“We’ll teach him well. After all, you had a pretty good teacher, if I do say so myself,” he said with a smug grin.

I rolled my eyes, “Maybe he’ll inherit my humility, because you’re hopeless.”

Rhys threw his head back with a bark of laughter before taking hold of my face to capture my lips in a deep kiss. He held me there for a few seconds, resting his forehead against mine.

“We won’t expose him to the Court of Nightmares until he’s ready and comfortable with it. I won’t put any pressure on him, I promise,” Rhys reassured.

“I know you won’t,” I sighed. “I just...can’t picture that yet. I think.”

“Well we haven’t officially met him,” Rhys said with a smirk. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”

I nodded and looked down at my stomach. “For now, I guess you have no choice but to be part of the act, but daddy will make it up to you,” I said with a smile and looked back up at Rhys, who had visibly stiffened at the new word I referred to him as.

He mouthed the word silently as I grinned and brought his hands back to my stomach, “That’s what he’s going to call you, you know.”

He nodded, matching my grin with a wicked one and wiggled his eyebrow, “I wouldn’t be opposed to you calling me that once in a while either.”

I laughed as I shoved him away, his laughter matching my own as he tackled me onto the bed.

X

Rhys and I stood alone at the gates outside the throne room in the Hewn City; Mor, Cassian, and Azriel already inside waiting for us at the base of the dais. They had gathered all the citizens of the city inside, on the order that their Lord and Lady were making a notable appearance today. I stared at the dark, cruel, scaled beasts carved on either pillar and ran my hands over the gentle swell of my belly. While getting ready this morning, Rhys pulled out a delicately midnight blue, floor-length, long sleeved gown fashioned of tiny sparkling crystals made to resemble lace. I nearly sobbed when my mate revealed that it was a maternity gown his mother made for me.

The impossibly soft fabric hugged my every curve, the patterned lace forming a deep ‘V’ shape over my breasts and opened in the back, allowing my tattoos to be on display. The sleeves capped at my wrists, the lace blending perfectly with the tattoos on both arms. More importantly, the gown hung over the prominence of my stomach; accentuating it enough to send our message without words. The High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court were expecting.

A dangerous announcement to make so early in my pregnancy, but a necessary one thanks to the current looming threat. While we initially feared it would enable Keir to push his and Kallon’s plans into motion sooner than we hoped, now we had our timeline and knew what to expect.

“Ready to be wicked?” Rhys purred as he rested a hand on the small of my back, jolting me from my thoughts.

Glancing again at the beautifully dark and brutal carved beasts on the gates, I nodded with a smirk and turned to him. “Let’s go.”

Both straightening to our full height, Rhys moved his hand to hold mine up as he escorted me into the throne room as the gates groaned open to reveal us to our court. The gathering crowd grew eerily quiet as Rhys and I ascended across the dark marble floor. Then the gasps came as they slowly, one by one, took notice of my stomach.

Though my shoulders were already squared, I tilted my chin up a little higher as the new weight of their observations fell over me. Over the decade I had gotten used to their stares, their murmurings, every time Rhys and I visited. This time was different. A pregnant female was rare and seeing as it had been centuries since a child was born into the ruling family of the Night Court, their gaze almost felt...scandalous. My façade remained as solid as ever as Rhys escorted me to our twin thrones, the crowd ceasing any whispers of my condition as we turned to face them. I sat first, but Rhys remained standing as his eyes met with Keir’s. The male stiffened the second he saw my belly and by the murderous look on Mor’s face, standing at the foot of the dais with the two Illyrians flanking her sides, he must have revealed his immediate disgust.

I could feel Rhys’s front cracking a bit, his dark powers slowly filling the room with shadows as he stared down the steward—who, thankfully, wasn’t sneering this time as he stared back.

“Bow,” was all Rhys said, struggling with the effort to reign in his overprotective instincts from misting Keir on the spot.

While the crowd moved immediately at his order, Keir did so reluctantly, Mor’s mother at his side and following his lead. I sent a gentle wave of my power down the bond in an effort to calm my mate. Don’t let him get to you. 

He didn’t respond, instead tightening up his veneer, shadows dissipating, and sat in his throne before waving an idle hand to the court. “Rise,” he commanded.

The crowd moved together as one, and he waved a hand nonchalantly in dismissal; allowing them to return to their business. Keir dismissed his wife and remained across from us before clearing his throat. “I see congratulations are in order,” he commented, his sneer returning as his eyes shifted from our faces to my stomach.

I couldn’t help the protective hand I placed over it, wanting desperately to shield my child, but I instead moved my hand to the top—just below my bust line, emphasizing it more.

“Indeed, though you don’t actually mean it, do you?” Mor drawled, her voice and face fiercely calm.

Keir ignored his daughter and returned his gaze to Rhys, apparently choosing to outright ignore my presence as well, “I take it this means your lineage will pass onto the child?”

“Did you not expect my mate and I to produce any offspring? That I would simply pass my crown onto someone who wasn’t of my blood?” Rhys replied, keeping his stare dark.

Keir shifted on his feet, “I was always under the impression that a powerful High Lord such as yourself would choose not to procreate, why create any direct competition to your rule? Just take a look at the Autumn Court; so many sons all vying for the same throne by any means necessary, including murder.”

His words dripped with disdain, his insinuations mocking. “And yet you chose to try and secure an alliance with the court you warn us of now. From the look of it, you rather idolize the idea of a son overthrowing his father, or vice versa.” I replied, my tone as icy as my mask.

Keir’s shoulders stiffened at my words, his formidable gaze meeting mine. Through the bond, I could feel Rhys’s dark shadows creeping in the corners of the room. Mor and Cassian watched us, their stares deadly and ready to intervene. Azriel was already gone to attend to his mission while we remained.

The steward tilted his head forward in a slight bow, finally acknowledging me. “I would never presume such a thing, milady. As always, I am at your service,” he said, his voice tight.

It took all of my strength not to scoff at his words or snap his neck. Instead, I slowly stood from my throne, leaving my hand on the curved apex of my belly. “My son will inherit this very throne. And if neither I nor my mate grow weary of your existence by then, you will serve him as well.”

“I’m sure your son will rule just as sufficiently, my lady.” He bit back.

The aura in the room shifted as Rhys’s dark shadows were overpowered by my own. I blasted out dark talons of my power and sank them into Keir’s mind, painfully seizing him in place as I took a slow step onto the foot of the dais just a few feet away from Mor and Cassian, who now held their breaths as they watched me. Rhys remained in his throne, his own dark power emanating with mine as I felt a silent nod of approval down the bond.

My heart pounded in my chest from the effort of my display of power, and I felt my knees shake a bit as I continued staring at Keir with an icy smile. “My son will be more than sufficient; I promise you that. As you said, he's the son of a very powerful High Lord. I should also remind you of the power of your High Lady. With the combined powers of all the High Lords in Prythian, including your High Lord, just imagine what his powers would be like? Won’t that be a magnificent sight to behold?”

I tightened my grip on him, and he did his best not to cringe in pain as he managed to hiss, “Yes, milady.”

My power slipped from him immediately as I was unable to hold on, my forehead gleaming with sweat, and it took me a few silent deep breaths before I smiled cruelly. “That’s good to hear.”

Rhys was at my side in a second as my knees trembled again. The exertion it took to intimidate Keir was draining, much more than I had anticipated. I was grateful for my floor length gown hiding my trembling legs as Rhys perched his hand on the small of my back.

Are you okay?

Yes, I just need to sit down. I reassured.

We’re leaving now, don’t worry

Keir was catching his own breath as he stared us down. As much as I didn’t want to reveal any weakness, neither did he. After a minute, he straightened again and tilted his head towards Rhys in a bow. “Is that all you needed milord? Your visit was last minute, and I was in the midst of gathering your reports.”

Azriel had showed up only seconds prior to Keir speaking, giving a silent nod to me and Rhys, indicating he gathered the last of the intel we needed. Rhys waved an idle hand at Keir, “The High Lady and I wanted to share our news and be on our way. Go. Continue to serve me as you have,” he said as he began escorting me back towards the gated doors, Mor, Cassian, and Azriel trailing behind us.

We stopped before stepping into the frame, looking back over his shoulder at Keir--who remained at his same spot before our thrones. “Unless, of course, we grow tired of your existence,” he drawled before we continued out the doors.

The minute we were out of view of him, and the rest of the court patrons, he scooped me up into his arms and flew us into the palace above the mountains, the others right behind us. Amren was waiting in the open hall, seated on a settee, but popped up immediately when she took in my pale features.

“What happened?” She asked, but Rhys ignored her, sitting me gingerly on the settee and kneeling before me to check over my condition.

“I’m fine,” I reassured him and the others as they gathered around me, the jasmine scented breeze already doing wonders to soothe my tired body as I breathed deeply. “That took a lot more effort than it used to, that’s all.”

Mor sighed in relief before grinning smugly, “You did a damn fine job though, the look on his face was priceless.” she boasted.

Cassian crossed his arms over his chest, “I have to admit, you even intimidated me a little bit.”

I smiled tiredly as Rhys stood, facing them. “It intimidated him for now. Maybe that’ll be enough to stumble his plans with Kallon for a while. That alliance explains why he’s been more and more arrogant these past years, but our news of the baby today threw a wrench in their plans. A temporary one at least.”

“Did you get everything you needed?” I asked Azriel.

Everyone turned to the shadowsinger, who nodded. “I went over our timeline with the general, he confirmed the details, but revealed one more possible player.”

We all paused, and Rhys frowned, “Another alliance?”

Azriel nodded, causing Cassian and Mor to curse. Amren crossed her arms, “Let me guess. Beron?”

He nodded again, and Rhys cursed as I sighed. “He really wants that damn alliance with Beron, doesn’t he?” I asked.

“Did the general know what Beron’s role in all this is?” Rhys asked.

Azriel shook his head, “He only knew that they’ve been exchanging letters. No one seems to know what the letters say, or any other context, but it's rumored that it has to do with the coup.”

“We need to keep interrogating the general,” Cassian said. “He’ll find out eventually, and we need him to keep relaying information.”

Rhys nodded in agreement. “I’ll keep my grip on his mind, making sure he forgets but also start leading him to inquire about the letters.”

“I can get one of my spies to keep tabs on Keir,” Azriel insisted, but Rhys shook his head.

“This is a better way in. We can’t let Keir know we’re onto him. We already have your spies trailing Kallon and monitoring the camps in the mountains. Kallon thinks it’s part of our normal rotation. If Keir notices the same presence, he’ll connect the dots.” He explained.

Azriel and Cassian nodded in agreement. “So, what do we do now?” I asked, and one by one everyone took notice of my hand idly caressing my stomach.

Now that the Court of Nightmares knew of my pregnancy, word would spread quickly over the entire Night Court, including the Illyrians. Those behind this rising coup would find a way to regroup and create some new plan of action, that was guaranteed. The news of a potential new alliance with another court meant that their numbers were even greater now. My eyes met with Rhys’s as we both realized at the same time what our next move was.

“We need to call on our friends for an early summit meeting.”

[elriel-oblivion]

I just found out that Nestha (who we know is Elain's sister) fantasized about Cassian and Azriel, I just thought it was DISGUSTING. How can Sarah put her sister wanting Elain's possible match / love? It's just disgusting, and a big disappointment, and the worst part is that we know this scene would be in the books, but Sarah took it off. Sometimes Sarah brings women together and consientizes them (showing that wanting a guy that her sister likes is wrong) she keeps writing that this is cool. It is a total disservice. Endless disgust. Sorry if i took offense, but that was awful for me.

Finally getting to this 😅😅

Yeahhhh, I can completely get what you're saying. No need to worry about offense!! Personally, I'm not into smut as it is with just two people, so adding a third just makes me wanna shrivel up and die 😅 I wish sjm hadn't mentioned at all that Nesta's thoughts became a legit scene, but since it's not canon, I'm not too worried about the physical presence of it in the writing in that regard

As for Nesta thinking it, I was a bit creeped out that she was viewing both of them like that - like with Cassian, we know they were having a lot of sex just for physical purposes in the first half of the book. But it was a bit weird to me that she was looking at Az like that, too, all of a sudden. But eh, I guess it was the heat of the moment and seeing both of them all sweaty and strong after their fight? 😅😅

With regards to Az being a potential LI for Elain, I think it could be problematic that Nesta was thinking that way, but I think it happened before she started to take note of Az's feelings towards Elain, so I guess it's not too bad? 😅 She doesn't seem to look at anyone but Cass in a sexual manner from that point in the book so I suppose it's fine. Although if elriel truly are endgame and she suddenly remembers that she imagined herself with Az ... 😳

But I can def see what you mean by Nesta having these thoughts if/while sjm was planning to make elriel endgame. I think she's just so obsessed with sex at this point, that she wants to put in as much as she can with as much variety, in whatever forms possible 👀 I try not to think about some of the potentially problematic elements like that bc now I know sjm's disposition and that she just won't change. I don't think she thinks too deeply about some of the sex in her books and what it might consequate to 🤷

Overall I just wish that scene including Nesta's vision of it, whether it was cut out or not, hadn't been a thing at all 😩 I hate the idea of threesomes 😖😖😖 So I just have to try block that scene in my mind 😅😅

[wapwetasspirates]

SO SFW AZ (Cutlass)

A: Affection (How affectionate are they with a s/o?)

Very tactile but also very stiff. It is fairly obvious Cutlass cares and she shows it more and more the farther into the relationship an s/o goes but it takes some guidance on what is appropriate and what you need. She tends to expect her partners to voice what you need and if you don’t she assumes those needs are met. 

B: Breath (What can their s/o do to take their breath away?)

Listening. Cutlass tends to be very action driven and when she does speak she hates repeating herself. Listening and actually doing what she’s asked (coughorderedcough) without making it a hassle actually shows her you care and respect her. It's the fastest way to leave her speechless and no those aren’t hearts in her eyes, keep working!

C: Cuddling (Do they cuddle? If they do, how and when do they cuddle?)

So long as she can be the big spoon she doesn’t mind cuddling but much like hugging she is a bit stiff. Being a little spoon is out of the question for the current Cutlass, it's too long to be wrapped up in someone but she will allow you to lay in her lap. Stay long enough and you might hear her purr or convince her to sing you to sleep.

D: Dream (What do they dream of doing with their s/o?)  

One of the few who enjoys what she does she actually would enjoy continuing to work on a ship. She fantasies, though she won’t say as much, her and her partner running all the seas. 

E: Effort (How much effort do they put into a relationship?)

All of it. She doesn’t take these things lightly and if she is going to make this work she’lll put in as much effort as she does with everything and demand perfection from it.

F: Fear (What do they do if their s/o is scared? How do they handle it?)

She tends to let her s/o fend for themselves unless asked. It’s not that she doesn’t care but she isn’t used to needing to look after someone but once she knows what you need she is quick to catch on and will do whatever you need. 

G: Gifts (What type of gifts do they give their s/o? Do they want a gift in return?)

She is fond of jewelry as a gift and enjoys seeing her s/o wear it.  She doesn’t care for many things in return but do something nice for her and she won’t forget it.

H: Hugs (Do they hug their s/o? How often?)

Hugs are difficult for Cutlass. She wants to trust people but the idea of them having a literal hold on her doesn’t sit well. As such she has developed rules, much to everyone's amusement. You have to show her your hands and she times each hug, no more than 15 seconds per hug. When giving hugs she tends to brisk and it is similar to hugging a tree. Give her some time and she’ll get the hang of it but don’t laugh at her counting or your ears won’t survive the shouting match that follows. 

I: Intimacy (How romantic are they? Do they have problems with intimacy?)

Much like her Tale counterpart she is fond of large gestures but hers tend to be aimed at describing her exact feelings. Romance? Have a ship full of red roses. Suggestive? Well now you have a box of clothes she would like to see you in. She isn’t shy in what she wants romantically or otherwise but it is new and she is prone to asking a thousand questions before going forth with any plans.

J: Jealous (Do they get jealous? How do they act when jealous?)

Not even slightly. Your hers and she’s yours and everyone knows it and if they don't’ she’ll just have to show them and you exactly what she means. 

K: Kiss (Are they a good kisser? Do they like to kiss? How often do they try to kiss you?) 

If she isn’t she is a quick study. Cutlass takes pride in doing her best at everything and that includes kissing her s/o. Her favorite place to kiss is actually your eyelids right as you close your eyes going in for a kiss but her favorite place to receive them is on the lips. Forget to give her one and she is likely to follow you and remind you why you shouldn’t forget by kissing you senseless, “AND NEXT TIME YOU WON’T FORGET, WILL YOU?”

L: Love (When do they say they love you? How often do they say it? Do they prefer to say it or show it?) 

You’ll rarely hear Cutlass say it unless you ask specifically or on “special” occasions. Its not that she doesn’t, she tends to rely on you interpreting all her actions and prefers gestures to words as words hold little weight for her. It can be a point of contention for some but she’ll try if you ask.

M: Marriage (Do they want to get married? If so what kind of ceremony?)

Of course. That’s the next step in dating she just...has to propose. She can stop laughing Buckle! And obviously the ceremony would be the grandest there ever could be so long as thats what her s/o wants. She isn’t sure what she wants because she’d never thought that you’d actually say yes.

N: Night Out (What type of dates do they like to go on? How often do they like to go on them?) 

A bit on the formal side and by the book Cutlass enjoys wining and dining her s/o on dates. All very classy and elegant, a show of her wealth and power but also a way for her to provide for you in the best way she knows how. She likes to have set times at least once a week but she’ll do more if asked. 

O: Out of the Ordinary (What’s something they don’t normally do for/with their s/o?) 

She isn’t one to give declarations but when given the opportunity she can sweep you off your feet with songs she may or may not have written for you. 

P: Playful (Are they playful in a relationship? If so, how do they play around/mess with their s/o?)

Much like her sister she is rather serious but she does enjoy good word play and innuendos, surprisingly her humor can be a bit crass. She isn’t a fan of physical pranks though and loses her temper with them fairly quickly. 

Q: Questions (Do they ask their s/o their opinion on things? Do they share theirs?)

Yes actually. Cutlass likes being in charge but she needs to know the rules first and she hates being ignored herself; she tries not to ignore her partner's wishes either. That said, she is hesitant and cautious about giving her own and when she does voice her thoughts it is only after she has stewed in them. 

R: Random (How spontaneous is their relationship? Do they do things on the spot or plan ahead?)

Not very. Cutlass has your relationship planned from the start till death do you part and she can be a bit fussy and jittery about kinks and sudden plans being thrown in the mix. She isn’t the biggest fan of change. 

S: Sleep (How do they sleep with their s/o?)

Unlike the waking hours sleeping Cutlass curls around her s/o like she can shield them from the world. She is a bit like an octopus in her sleep, good luck getting away or any space because she sleeps like the dead. 

T: Trust (How much do they trust their s/o?)

Completely. If she’s pursued a relationship with you that means she has waited until she already trusts you, she wouldn’t be in a relationship otherwise. 

U: Unique (What makes them unique as a s/o?)  

Skeleton. Hot. Pirate. 

V: Vulnerable (How long until they can be vulnerable around their s/o? What are they like in this state?)

Immediately but only in private. She becomes softer spoken, less temperamental and more willing to discuss rather than order. Her patience seems to lengthen as well and she trusts in you keeping her secrets as she’ll keep yours. 

W: Wild Card (Random domestic headcanon)

While she enjoys being waited on hand and foot, Cutlass does the same in return. Need a footrub? She’s on it. Shoulder hurt? Backrub time. Long day? She already has the bath going. She is an attentive partner and she shows it at every chance she gets, she’ll spoil you if you let her. 

X: X-Ray (What would they do if their s/o got injured?)

Very likely to freeze at first then work to get her s/o to safety. She won’t have a chance to do much else because Buckle will have already taken care of it. 

Y: Yuck (Do they have any pet peeves about their s/o? Are there any habits that might bother their s/o?)

Same as her sister she isn’t a fan of roughhousing and makes it known very, very clearly. 

Z: Zeal (Are they passionate as a s/o? Do they want or like passion?)

She is and she practically demands the same from her s/o. It may be awkward going at first as her version of passion isn’t to the definition but give her a bit of time and direction and she’ll get there.