#they are calm and content when something restless settles in Azriel around Gwyn

[lady-embers]

"Why do you ship Gwyn and Azriel together?"

This is why: It's the potential they could have in the future and the moments that stood out in ACOSF as potential foreshadowing.

To me, it started with Azriel coming to training and offering Gwyn a slight smile that she didn't return. That moment stuck with me as well as when Gwyn let out a noise of excitement, and Azriel half turns at the sound. Then, I noticed that Gwyn would glance at Azriel during the scene of putting up the ribbon, and Azriel drifted closer....

The moments for them really picked up for me, though, when Gwyn cut the ribbon & we see Cassian noticing Azriel attention fixed on Gwyn with "admiration and quiet encouragement" shining from his face. How the world paused as if shifting in a new direction and how Azriel pauses, too, as if feeling larger forces peering into the ring at Gwyn. Which brought up the thought: Is this possible foreshadowing to get us to notice she might go the direction of Gwyn and Azriel given the little things before?

Also, I like how his shadows dance around him when he's conversing with Gwyn after she asks, "What do we get if we win?" Then, when she tosses over her shoulder,"See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger, " it gives off competitive flirty banter, especially looking back at this after reading the bonus scene for Azriel (I'll touch on that in a few).

I also noticed his shadows deepened, and his siphons gleamed like cobalt fire when Cassian mentions the girls being hurt in the Rite. How Azriel said to trust in their training of them. Potential endgame couples trust in their partners, even in dangerous settings.

It's how we find out Azriel is the one who slaughtered all the remaining soldiers when he came upon Gwyn at Sangravah when he's known to leave two for questioning and wrapped her in his cloak. Which is a parallel of Lucien wrapping Elain in his cloak to cover her, provide protection, to his mate, Elain, after a traumatic event happened to her.

All these little events add up in just ACOSF to make me start believing in their potential as a possible endgame couple.

That's not even counting what happens in his bonus chapter where Gwyn makes an appearance and....

His shadows dance with her very breath, they are calm and content content to sit on his shoulders after feeling something restless settle in Azriel during his interaction with Gwyn, they sing back in answer to some music (and that's after learning Nesta describe her bond with Cassian as "music between their souls"). How he ends up tucking an image away of Gwyns teal eyes lighting upon seeing the gift he left for Clotho to give to her and tucks it deep down where it glowed quietly.

Once I learned that that bonus scene took place between Ch. 58/59 within ACOSF, it solidified my feelings that I had for Gwyn and Azriel as I was reading ACOSF.

[bluiela]

Them: "Azriel doesn't have mate language with Gwyn"

Canon Az and his shadows:

"Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face."

"Clotho's pen moved once more. She deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her.

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it."

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

The shadows deepened around Azriel, his Siphons gleaming like cobalt fire. “You—we—trained them well, Cassian. Trust in that. It’s all we can do.”

"Gwyn let out a high-pitched noise that was nothing but pure excitement. Azriel, on the other side of the ring with the rest of the priestesses, half-turned at the sound, brows high."

"Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him."

"Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder. Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. “You have no idea what you just started,” she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway. “Remember how Gwyn was with the ribbon?” Nesta winked and clapped the shadowsinger on the shoulder. “You’re the new ribbon, Az."

"It's fine. I came to retrieve something I forgot." The lie was smooth and cool, as he knew his face was. His shadows peered over his wings at her."

"The young priestess smiled and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows. But she just hooked her coppery-brown hair behind an arched ear."

He snorted. "Are you kicking me out?"

"Gwyn's teal eyes flashed with alarm. "No! I mean, I don't mind sharing the ring. I just... I know you like to be alone." Her mouth quirked to the side, crinkling the freckles on her nose. "Is that why you came up here?"

Sort of. "I forgot something," he reminded her.

"At two in the morning?"

Pure amusement glittered in her stare. Better than the pain and grief he'd spied a moment before. So he offered her a crooked smile. "I can't sleep without my favorite dagger."

"Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music."

"She angled her head, hair shining like molten metal. "Do you sing?"

He blinked. It wasn't every day that people took him by surprise, but..."Why do you ask?"

"They call you shadowsinger. Is it because you sing?"

"I am a shadowsinger-it's not a title that someone just made up."

She shrugged again, irreverently. Az narrowed his eyes, studying her. "Do you, though?" she pressed. "Sing?"

Azriel couldn't help his soft chuckle. "Yes."

Azriel laughed. "I'll give you that."

Gwyn smiled broadly. "Thank you."

Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

"Happy Solstice," Azriel said before aiming for the archway into the House. "Don't stay out too much longer. You'll freeze."

Gwyn nodded her farewell, again facing the ribbon. A warrior sizing up an opponent, all traces of that charming irreverence gone.

Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer

Azriel had winnowed her and Cassian here after training, but hadn’t lingered. Apparently, Gwyn wanted him to go over dagger handling, so he’d left them with a promise to return in an hour.

Have complementing personalities and so on

[gwynethberdarasupremecy]

“Azriels shadows disappear around Elain because he’s at peace around her”

Are you kidding me? Did we read the same bonus scene? Did you not read how self conscious he is around elain? How he worries he’ll taint her? How she doesn’t know what he’s capable of? How insecure he was about his scarred hands? Does that seem at peace to you?

The only person he felt at peace with is Gwyn. Something restless settled in him. And guess what the next sentence is. What happens when he’s at peace. EVEN HIS SHADOWS HAD CALMED DOWN AND RESTED ON HIM AS IF CONTENT TO WATCH GWYN.

Canonically from his pov he’s only been at peace around one person and canonically his shadows don’t disappear when he is at peace.

[gwynethshadowsinger]

My Thoughts about the Bonus Chapter(s)

Feysand - Happens around Ch. 22 (I think)

I do think everyone has spent a long time assuming Elain is sweet and innocent and that we will end up seeing a different side emerge when it's time for her story to be told. I think she's a lot like Lucien. Willing to stand back, but won't be afraid to step in and show that other side when needed. She'll access her surroundings beforehand, though, and act accordingly. Almost like a sly fox just waiting for their moment 👀

Feyre is right. If Elain had been wearing the gloves Lucien had gifted her the previous Solstice, she wouldn't have gotten hurt by that stubborn rosebush. Is this particular phrasing some type of foreshadowing for Elucien? Will Lucien protect her from any and all harm if she's just let him in instead of running away?

I loved finding out where the baby's name came from 😍

Azriel - Happens around Ch. 58/59 (I believe)

Poor Azriel. He just wants a mate and what Rhysand and Cassian has 😭

I didn't much care for his interaction with Elain. It felt wrong and off. He's full of negative, only sexual emotions, and him being around her is not good for him.

Azriel shouldn't be trying to go after a female who has not rejected the bond, especially knowing how he holds the mating bond in regard.

I also didn't like how Elain was willing to let Azriel kiss her so close to her (supposed) sleeping mate. Both of them were in the wrong here.

That rose necklace..... Elain was hurt once again by something with roses. This is the second time Sarah has mentioned her being hurt by something with roses. That's gotta be intentional on her part. Maybe Elain will give Lucien a chance now? I doubt she'd end up hurt by him. He's done everything to respect her and is just waiting on her to come to him. I really hope she does.

Rhysand asked all the right questions 👏

The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another. Boy... you couldn't even say Elain's name?!?! The Cauldron also only turned two sisters. Not three.... so he's already way off base....

Azriel admitted he didn't get far with his planning, certainly never behond the fantasies he pleasures himself to after saying Lucien would never be good enough for her...well that absolutely killed any lingering thoughts I had about a potential pairing between him and Elain. Yuck. I'd want a man to think of more than just sex and for his own sexual purposes. Lucien so far is the ONLY male good enough for Elain.

He'd been so vigilant about keeping away from Elain as much as possible, and had stayed up here to avoid her, and tonight... tonight had proved he'd been right to do so.

His interaction with Gwyn was 😍😍😍😍

I LOVE the shadow's reaction around Gwyn. How they dance with her breath. How they were calm and content to sit on Azriel's shoulders after something restless settled in Azriel. How they SUNG BACK IN ANSWER!!! If that isn't major foreshadowing, idk what is.

I'm insanely proud of how far Gwyn has came to.

Again...the necklace.... while I HATE he regifted it... I love this ending to the bonus chapter. How he found himself in front of Clotho, unconsciously.. almost like he was drawn by something 👀

He might not consider Gwyn a friend, BUT.... I say that might change in a big way.

THAT ENDING!!! The SPARK ✨️ The PICTURING OF GWYN'S EYES LIGHTING UP. THE TUCKING THE THOUGHT AND PICTURE AWAY DEEP DOWN WHERE IT GLOWED QUIETLY. THE SLIGHT SMILE THAT ACTION CAUSED THAT HE HAD TO CONCSCIOUSLY ERASE... OMG ARE THEY GOING TO BEMATES?!?!?!

A THING OF SECRET, LOVELY BEAUTY!!!! AHHH!!!!

These bonus chapters totally made me 100% an Elucien & Gwynriel supporter.

[solorcandid]

Necklace/Acotar

I may get a lot of hate for this but the necklace has a lot of hints of what ships will sail it sink.

BE. NICE.

So, when I read the part where he gifted the necklace to Elain and described it as insignificant and kind of plain, “The golden necklace seemed ordinary -- its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm.” I thought of how a lot of people think of Elain the same way, ordinary, nothing special about it, just a pretty face, etc. This is sort of when I realized Elriel was officially over, especially after this, “It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible.” Immediately I thought that Lucien to me, this is saying Elain is beautiful now, but with Lucien, she will truly grow and he will help her shine.

He is LIGHT, she is the necklace and with him, every part of her that is remarkable will be brought to the surface for all to see. Also, the shadows while we don’t fully understand them, the way they disappear around Elain was a tell-all. Then when it got to Gwyn later on, I loved the way they danced with her like they heard music, MATING BOND!!!

This was adorable! Then we get to how his shadows are relaxed around her “Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.” Then he leaves and tells her to not stay out too late she’ll freeze ‘ he cares for her well-being, whether as a friend or not.

When he goes to give the necklace to Clotho for Gwyn this is where it was confirmed. “Clotho's pen moved once more. She deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her.

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it.

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”

When he described the necklace and Gwyn as secret lovely beauty, and how the image of her GLOWED And how the mere thought of Gwyn being happy made something in his chest spark is a big deal!!!! Gwyn is a thing of secret lovely beauty. When you first look at her all you see if a pretty Acolyte, but when she’s happy it's when she is radiant and she’s been said to rival the beauty of Mor and Merrill… that’s a HUGE deal. So when Gwyn is happy, her joy is the light to the necklace she needs to see how beautiful she is. Elain needs Lucien, he is her light. I hope that made sense!

Not to mention Gwyn glows… so you could argue singing is her other light to show the deeper depths of her beauty!

[starsreminisce]

Antis:

Shadows are out for Azriel because Gwyn is a threat!

The threat:

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him.

The young priestess smiled--and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows.

"How was the party?" Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.

Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

Antis:

ThAt’s BeCaUsE sHe LuReD hIm ThErE! tHaT’S a DiSpLaY oF hEr PoWeR! aZrIeL’S sHaDoWs DiSaPpEaR wHeN hE’S hApPy! UnLeSs YoU wAnT aZrIeL’S sHaDoWs To DaTe HeR? hE wOULdn’t EvEn cALL gwyn A frIEnd! whAt pArt Of hIm wAntIng ELAIn tO sIt On hIs fAcE yOU cOULdn’t rEAd?

For a group who keeps claiming they have canon on their side, y’all are sweating if y’all keep coming for Gwyn and Lucien now.

[famouscyclenerd]

Azriel's inner thoughts

With Elain

"Az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift."

"His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around."

"Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin."

"Wrong - it was so wrong."

"She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond his scars."

"Such terrible things that it was a sacrilege for his fingers to touch her skin, tainting her with his presence."

With Gwyn

"The young priestess smiled - and he thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows."

"He blocked out the bloody memory that flashed, so at odds with the Gwyn he saw before him now."

"Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music."

"He blinked. It wasn't every day that people took him by surprise, but..."

"Azriel couldn't help his soft chuckle."

"(...) rubbing his hands against the cold, grateful for its bracing bite and the distraction of this impromptu lesson."

"Azriel laughed."

"(...) something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch."

...

Of course there is more to each scene, but what I'm trying to point out is that there is not a single thought reflecting his self-loathing when he's with Gwyn.

I imagine his inner monologue with Elain being similar to when he is around Mor. Always hating himself, not being worthy. They, without the intention of it, truly bring out the worst in him. His shadows strays when he is around the both of them.

Unlike with Gwyn where they interact with her. She even acknowledged them, which is a first, I think?

His time with her is nothing but a positive experience for him, he feels calmer, his shadows content.

[doeeyedseer]

LIGHTSINGER or other type of luring powers? HINTS AND AZRIEL'S AND NESTA POWERS REACTION TO GWYN

“There are lightsingers: lovely, ethereal beings who will lure you, appearing as friendly faces when you are lost. Only when you’re in their arms will you see their true faces, and they aren’t fair at all. The horror of it is the last thing you see before they drown you in the bog. But they kill for sport, not food.”

[AZ BONUS CHAPTER- His shadows had not warned him.

High Fae, and yet … Nesta couldn’t explain the way she sensed that there was something else mixed into her. Some secret beneath the pretty face.

The priestess drew up to her full height, which was slightly taller than average for Fae females. A crackling sort of energy buzzed around her, and Nesta’s power grumbled in answer.

[AZ BONUS CHAPTER- Her breath curled in front of her mouth and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard silent music.

Quiet settled around her, as if Gwyn had been a summer storm that blew in and evaporated within a moment. Sighing, Nesta gathered the books Gwyn had left on the cart.

[AZ BONUS CHAPTER- Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. ]

Nesta didn’t know why she did it. Why she waited until no one was around before she said into the hushed air of the library, “Can you do me a favor?”

For whatever reason Nesta wanted to crow about her friend to anyone who would listen. (In Nesta's for whatever reason moment, G/wyn is guiding her through the Valkyrie breathing technique. Nesta continues to focus on G/wyn's breath, which leads her to feeling this rush of thinking about how amazing G/wyn is, how she is good at everything, and somehow nothing about it irks the easily irked Nesta. G/wyn's breath settles her and leaves her content to be there:)

[AZ BONUS CHAPTER- For whatever reason he could see it. (gwyn's eyes lighting up)

Across the hushed, cavernous space, it was easy to hear Gwyn’s soft singing as she flitted from table to table, looking at the piles of discarded books. Trying desperately to find the missing tome. The words of Gwyn’s merry song were in a language Nesta didn’t know, but for a heartbeat, Nesta allowed herself to listen—to savor the pure, sweet voice that rose and fell with sinuous ease. Gwyn’s hair seemed to glow brighter with her song, skin radiating a beckoning light. Drawing any listener in. But Merrill’s warning clanged through the beauty of Gwyn’s voice, and Nesta cleared her throat. Gwyn whirled toward her, glow fading even as her freckled face lit with surprise. “Hello again,” she said.

“What do you know of the Dread Trove?” “The what?” Gwyn turned from the desk where Nesta had found the priestess singing softly to herself, situated just outside Merrill’s shut office door. “The Dread Trove,” Nesta said, wincing at her sore body’s protestations as she took a seat on the edge of Gwyn’s desk. “Three ancient artifacts …”

She didn’t mention Queen Briallyn, or Koschei, or the Cauldron. Only that the Trove must be found quickly. And that Gwyn should not mention it to anyone. Nesta supposed that in doing so, she directly disobeyed Rhys’s order for silence, but … to hell with him. When she was done, Gwyn was wide-eyed, her face so pale that her freckles stood out in stark relief. “And you must find it?”

A bell rang seven times somewhere nearby, echoing through the stone, through Nesta's feet. Each peal was a summons, a call to focus.

[Azriel's Bonus Chapter]Instead he found himself at the library beneath the House of Wind standing before Clotho as the clock chimed seven in the evening. (when gwyn would be singing)

Nesta could only gape at the lovely melody, the voices from the front of the cavern leading it, lifting higher than the others. Gwyn sang, chin high, a faint glow seeming to radiate from her. The music was pure, ancient, by turns whispering and bold, one moment like a tendril of mist, the next like a gilded ray of light. It finished, and Merrill spoke about the Mother and the Cauldron and the land and sun and water. She spoke of blessings and dreams and hope. Of mercy and love and growth. Nesta half-heard it, waiting for the sound, the perfect, beautiful sound, to begin again. Gwyn seemed to be shimmering with pride and contentedness.

Gwyn’s voice soared like a bird through the cavern as she started the third song with a solo, and Nesta closed her eyes, leaning into the music, shutting out one sense in order to luxuriate in the sound of her friend. Something beckoned in Gwyn’s song, in a way the others’ hadn’t. Like Gwyn was calling only to her, her voice full of sunshine and joy and unshakable determination. Nesta had never heard a voice like Gwyn’s—by turns trained and wild, as if there was so much sound fighting to break free of Gwyn that she couldn’t quite contain it all. As if the sound needed to be loose in the world.

Gwyn’s voice rose again, holding such a high note it was like a ray of pure light, piercing and summoning. Two other voices rolled in to join, pulsing around that repeated high note, the harp still strumming, voices whispering and flowing, lulling Nesta down, down, down into a pure, ancient place where no outside world existed, no time, nothing but the music in her bones, the stones at her feet, her side, overhead. The music took form behind Nesta’s eyes as the priestesses sang lyrics in languages so old, no one voiced them anymore. She saw what the song spoke of: mossy earth and golden sun, clear rivers and the deep shadows of an ancient forest. The harp strummed, and mountains rolled ahead, as if a veil had been cleared with the stroke of those strings, and she was flying toward it—toward a massive, mist-veiled mountain, the land barren save for moss and stones and a gray, stormy sea around it. The mountain itself held two peaks at its very top, and the stones jutting from its sides were carved in strange, ancient symbols, as old as the song itself.

Nesta’s body melted away, her bones and the stones of the cavern a distant memory as she flowed into the mountain, beheld towering, carved gates, and passed through them into a darkness so complete it was primordial; darkness that was full of living things, terrible things. A path led into the dark, and she followed it, past doors with no handles, sealed forever. She felt horrors lurk behind those doors, one horror greater than the others—a being of mist and hatred—but the song led her past them all, invisible and unmarked. This place was utterly lethal. A place of suffering and rage and death. Her very soul quaked to wander its halls. And even though she had passed by the door keeping her safe from that one being more horrible than all the rest … she knew it watched her. She refused to look back, to acknowledge it. So Nesta drifted down and down, the harp and the voices pulsing and guiding, until she stopped before a rock.

There, in the center of the chamber, sat a small, golden harp. Cold leached through Nesta, clarifying her thoughts enough to realize where she stood. That the music of the priestesses had lulled her into a trance, that her own bones and the stone of the mountain surrounding her had been her scrying tools, and she had drifted to this place … The Harp gleamed in the darkness, as if it possessed its own sun within the metal and strings. Play me, it seemed to whisper. Let me sing again. Join your voice with mine. Her hand reached toward the strings. Yes. The Harp sighed, a low purr rolling off it as Nesta’s hand neared. We shall open doors and pathways; we shall move through space and eons together. Our music will free us of earthly rules and borders. Yes. She’d play the Harp, and there would be nothing but music until the stars died out. Play. I have so long wished to play, it said, and she could have sworn she heard a smile within the sound. What might my song unlock in here? A cold, humorless laugh skittered along Nesta’s bones. It sang again, Play, play— The song halted, and the vision shattered.

[AZ BONUS CHAPTER- Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

Gwyn: Says that Nesta would never want to continue to be friends with her if she knew the truth about her and her past.

We know from crescent city that Az's shadow dance with music from Bryce's phone.

Also Az in the bonus chapter with gwyn:

It was too late to bank without appearing like he was running.

"Fine." He said and realized a heartbeat later that it wasn't a socially acceptable answer. "It was nice." Not much better.

She opened her mouth to ask more, but he didn't feel like explaining.

"Again." He order, rubbing his hands against the cold, grateful for its bracing bite and the distraction of this impromptu lesson. (Because he is upset about being forbidden from seeing elain.)

He slept as well as expected (Which was poorly.)

"Look I..." Az searched for his words his voice becoming quiet. "If there's another priestess here who might appreciate it give it to them. But I'm not taking that necklace with me when I leave." (Like Cassian throwing Nesta's gift into the sidra, Az doesn't want the reminder of how he can't be with elain.)

He wouldn't go as far as calling Gwyn a friend.

The day after the bonus chapter "He’d been replaced in training by a stone-faced Azriel, who was more aloof than usual and wouldn’t even give her a smile." Compare that to the scene from acomaf after Cassian's bonus chapter with nesta "I assumed seeing nesta went about as poorly as could be imagined, because my lesson the following morning was longer and harder than it'd been in previous days. I'd asked what exactly nesta had said to him to get under his skin so easily. But Cassian had only snarled and told me to mind my own business and that my family was full of bossy know it all females.

After the bonus chapter, Gwyn is taken into the blood rite and Az does not care. In fact, he is more concerned with Eris who he despises.

There was literally nothing romantic about Gwyn and Azriel’s interactions in the main novel or in the Bonus chapter. Gwyn's part in the Bonus chapter was to show her powers.

Bonus crescent city 3:

Reacting to Bryce's powers- Light leaked from where their skin met. She could have sworn his shadows hovered watching like curious snakes.

[yazthebookish]

Important things that happened in one scene between Gwyn and Azriel:

1. His shadows not warning him that someone was in the ring. That someone is Gwyn. Azriel left the River House to go there by choice so claiming her was lured there is nonsense. The behavior of his shadows throughout this scene gives some clues and I think it's intentional on Sarah's part especially after mentioning how the shadows skitter back from Elain "the only thing we saw they skitter or recoil from is the Cauldron in ACOWAR". The fact that they didn't tell Gwyn was there is something new.

2. His shadows looking at her with curiosity and Azriel thought she was smiling back at them. Sarah went out of her way to highlight that fact she rarely addresses the reactions of his shadows and that Gwyn was acknowledging the presence of his shadows by smiling at them, the same shadows that intimidate others around them and others barely acknowledge their presence or just vaguely mention they're floating around Az.

3. Gwyn gave an opening for Az to leave by saying "Happy Solstice" in dismissal and he chose to continue the conversation by teasing her back.

4. Gwyn gets a bit flustered when Az teases her about kicking him out but tells him she knows he likes to be alone. Two important things here: she is aware enough of Azriel to know he likes being on his own and asks him if he came up to the House of Wind to be alone on Solstice night. She's indirectly getting to know him.

5. Azriel lies to her about coming up to the ring because he forgot his favorite dagger and Gwyn immediately catches his lie and indirectly calls him out on it. She's compeltely amused by him at this scene and he offers her a crooked smile back. Azriel, who was in the shittiest mood, bothered to offer a smile back.

6. She teases him about him not being able to sleep with his dagger and his lips twitch as if he's about to smile again. Icy raged Azriel? Smiling when not an hour passed since his conversation with Rhys? That's big coming from him. He even refrains from actually letting her know that he actually does sleep with daggers in every corner of his room.

7. She asks him about the party and her breath clouded in front of her since it's cold and it one of his shadows dart out to dance with it as if it's heard some silent music. Two things here: the reaction of Azriel's shadows and a hint about some silent music. That's a big clue for the reader here.

8. Azriel's awkward attempt at being social with Gwyn. His ice is starting to melt during this conversation and we have seen multiple times throughout the books that when Az is in a shitty mood he barely manages a polite hello or even a smile. The fact he is interacting with Gwyn, instead of leaving to brood somewhere else is not something insignificant. He even notes his answers are not socially acceptable and tries to give a more polite answer.

9. This is one of the highlights of the scene: Gwyn asks Azriel if he sings. That's a personal question and one Azriel even says caught him off guard and he mentions that it wasn't everyday that people took him by surprise. But Gwyn did didn't she? And it's an important question for Gwyn because she loves singing. She connects that to him being a Shadowsinger but that also means she wants to know who he is and being a Shadowsinger is part of his identity. Remember, we started out this scene with a pissed off Azriel but now we have Azriel answering Gwyn either a chuckle about him singing.

10. She almost asks him to demonstrate his singing but Az being good at deflection asks her to cut the ribbon instead. He thinks of it a good distraction but he still helped Gwyn.

11. Gwyn jokes about Cassian being too focused at Nesta to not realize the mistakes she's making while training and Az laughs at that. He. Laughed.

12. Gwyn thanks him with a smile and Azriel dips his head in a sketch of a bow and notes something restless in him settling and even his shadows have calmed down and were content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. This scene started out with Az being depressed and angry and ended with him laughing and feeling calmed down enough to remember to actually get some sleep. We rarely or even have never saw Azriel's mood change in a span of an hour let alone a day. Sarah doesn't only highlight Azriel is feeling settled down, she also mentions that his shadows have calmed down and were content to watch Gwyn.

13. Azriel wishes Gwyn a happy solstice and leaves. As he was walking down the stairs he swore he can hear a faint beautiful singing following him and his shadows sang back in answer. This is another big clue here, you know why? Because Sarah used almost the same line for Bryce and Hunt in HOSAB: “His lightning flowed into her like a river, and he could have sworn he heard a beautiful sort of music between their souls”. She wrote HOSAB after ACOSF so the fact she used music yet again for mates, it wasn't the kind of music anyone could hear but it's music only mates could hear. Azriel being a Shadowsinger gives him a better chance of detecting it but I wouldn't put it past him to not realize what it is.

All of this is packed in one scene. You can clearly tell or I personally think those are the crumbs SJM scattered all over his bonus chapter. There quite a few emotions and reactions Gwyn is bringing out of Az in one scene. It's significant because Azriel keeps his emotions locked in and barely shows emotions especially when he is pissed. He just keeps an icy exterior but it crumbled quickly around Gwyn. The scene started with him feeling shitty to him and his shadows feeling calmed down.

[lady-embers]

[sabrinasam]

Gwynriel Week - Song of Soulmates 🎶

The parallels between Gwynriel and SJM's other endgame couples.

Gwyn + Azriel

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason...he could see it. But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

Bryce + Hunt

“Hunt had done that for her. She’d never stop being grateful for it--for him. Bryce’s heart tightened and something brighter than starlight filled her veins. It remained, shimmering and secret, glowing inside her for the rest of day.

Feyre + Rhys

The painting flashed into my mind. Flashed--and stayed there, glimmering, before it faded. But it remained, shining faintly, in that hole inside my chest. The hole that was slowly starting to heal over.

Gwyn + Azriel

Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

Chaol + Yrene

“Good night,” he merely said. And as Chaol rode back to the illuminated palace across the city, he could have sworn that some weight in his chest, on his shoulders, had vanished. As if he’d lived with it his entire life, unaware, and now, even with all that gathered around him, around Adarlan and those he cared for...How strange it felt. That lightness.

Bryce + Hunt

Pain rippled through his body, but he managed to stretch out an arm. Managed to slide it over to her waist and tuck her into him. She made a soft sound and nuzzled her head into his neck. Something deep in him shifted and settled.

Nesta + Cassian

She knew she was warm and content, though it took her a moment to remember the reason. To realize she was still in Cassian’s arms. She reveled in it. Savored each breath that brushed against her temple, felt the press of his fingers along her lower back. A calm settled over her, strikingly similar to what she felt when she did her daily Mind-Stilling.

.

.

The evidence is overwhelming and I didn't even cover all of it nor did I include the musical references SJM uses for each one (that's a post for another day). Contrary to what some may think, these aren't just pretty words SJM likes to use over and over again.

It's a pattern. 🖤😏

[silverflameataraxia]

Here are examples of how SJM sinks ships:

Az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift.

Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.

Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin.

She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars.

Such terrible things that it was a sacrilege for his fingers to touch her skin, tainting her with his presence.

"What if the Cauldron was wrong?"

Rhysand blinked. "What of Mor, Az?"

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

Rhys's face drained of color. "You believe you deserve to be her mate?"

Azriel scowled. "I think Lucien will never be good enough for her, and she has no interest in him, anyway."

"So you'll what?" Rhys's voice was pure ice. "Seduce her away from him?"

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

And here are examples of how SJM foreshadows mates/endgame relationships:

He found it already occupied. His shadows had not warned him.

His shadows peered over his wings at her.

The young priestess smiled - and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows.

"Happy Solstice," she said, as much a dismissal as it was a holiday blessing.

He snorted. "Are you kicking me out?"

"Is that why you came up here?"

"I forgot something," he reminded her.

"At two in the morning?"

Pure amusement glittered in her stare. Better than the pain and grief he'd spied a moment before. So he offered her a crooked smile. "I can't sleep without my favorite dagger."

"A comfort to every growing child."

Azriel's lips twitched.

Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.

"You're turning the blade a fraction as it comes parallel to the ground," Azriel explained, drawing his Illyrian blade from down his back. "Watch." He slowly demonstrated, rotating his wrist where she did. "You see how you open up right here?" He corrected his position. "Keep your wrist like that. The blade is an extension of your arm."

Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason...he could see it.

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

[tato-acm]

ALL OF THIS 🛐

“If Gwyn was not a real, actual contender for Azriel's love and endgame then SJM would have picked someone like Morrigan to wrap that up out of novel or someone else Azriel needed development with. She chose Gwyn.”

I thought so much about this exact alternative after reading the bonus chapter. Why Gwyn and not Mor, who was already established as someone he was in love with for 500+ years, who he still thought as a potential love interest until acofas? “What of Mor, Az?” made me think she would show up at the end and they’d FINALLY talk it out.

So, why Gwyn? Why have his shadows be relaxed with her, curious about her and literally dance and sing with her? Why did SJM choose to make such contrasting halves of this chapter:

1) In the first half: Azriel is tense with “rage and frustration”, we see how he wants a mate, he thinks he deserves “the third” sister because the other two are with his brothers, how “He hadn't gotten that far with his planning, certainty not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to.” (this quote alone made every last hope I had for elriel crumble. I went into acosf an elriel and their part of the bonus chapter left me feeling so uncomfortable, guilty and sad for Elain and Lucien 😭💔 not how I thought I’d feel with an almost kiss from Elriel)

+ his shadows reaction: “Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.”

2) In the second half: he’s more relaxed and talkative, we learn new things about him. Gwyn takes him by surprise with her “charming irreverence”, asks him questions about himself, about singing- something she also does. He helps her with the ribbon (which serves as a parallel later on when she does cut the ribbon “Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face.”). They banter and laugh.

+ his shadows reactions around Gwyn:

“His shadows peered over his wings at her. The young priestess smiled-and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows.”

"How was the party? Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.”

“Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.”

“Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.”

And how SJM chose to end it, the mating bond references are just right there:

“Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.”

“Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it.

But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”

and THIS: “Az getting with Gwyn would force Elain, as a character, to confront her codependency issues and resolve this thing with Lucien whether she chooses to be his mate or not.” EXACTLY 🙌

This was all so well written + you analyzed really interesting narrative points! As someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language, I often second-guess myself regarding interpretation (even if I’ve been reading sjm books for 9 years now, consider myself familiar with her writing and could recognize similar references to a mating bond - it’s always exciting to see other people having similar interpretations, if not a relief 😅😂) I love the way you analysed this!

This Whole... Elain vs Gwyn Thing

So...

Note: I'm a screenwriting minor and general big narrative person. (as are a lot of people around here). Doesn't make me an expert of any kind, but I know my way around narrative analysis pretty stoutly.

I'm not really In the ACOTAR fandom, but I am also waiting to see who Az gets with.

Here's the thing:

There was no reason to setup for Gwyn if she was not going to be romantically relevant somehow.

That's scary for people who are diehard Elriel fans. But that's the truth. I am not saying that is slamdunk Gwyn is getting with Azriel. Not what I am saying at all.

But... narrative doesn't work like that where things are done on accident and we're just exploring Az and Gwyn's sweet friendship or they had a moonlight talk once for character exploration. That's not how this works.

SJM has literally done this before. See: Tamlin. Aelin. She's fond of characters thinking they want one person, but then another person actually is Their Person. PLUS, Cassian just got with his mate with no other partners really being rivals for either Nesta or Cassian (you cannot count Eris in the narrative weight. He never has a chance in hell). It would be extremely predictable and formulaic for Azriel to then pair with Elain like clockwork. Plus, whilst her thing with Lucien goes unsolved.

Narratively speaking, there is no reason for SJM to bring light to how relaxed and pleasant Az's shadows get around Gwyn. None at all. Understand that SJM did not have to mention his shadows at all like that. Shadows could have been chilling waiting to go home. And it could have been anybody else besides Gwyn. Literally, anyone else bc she's mostly related to Nesta's story right now. But it wasn't. She specifically chose Gwyn.

So, you have two real options:

Either, Gwyn is going to be a faux love triangle interest/plot device to distract Azriel give him character development and he's going to be an asshole and use her emotionally only to get with Elain. Mind you, there is no way for him not to come out of that being at least a little bit of an asshole despite having learned his lesson. Even if Gwyn is the one that breaks it off, it'll likely be because Azriel isn't being Great.

OR

Gwyn is the endgame setup. Mind you, Azriel saved her upon their first meeting. That was Not an accident.

Like... I'm not saying Gwynriel is for sure. I'm not. I don't know SJM. I don't know what she's going to write and discover or what her thinking is, but...

Gwyn has a shot. A real honest to god shot.

There was no other reason to write that chapter if Gwyn did not have a shot. If Gwyn was not a real, actual contender for Azriel's love and endgame then SJM would have picked someone like Morrigan to wrap that up out of novel or someone else Azriel needed development with. She chose Gwyn.

Bonus: Az getting with Gwyn would force Elain, as a character, to confront her codependency issues and resolve this thing with Lucien whether she chooses to be his mate or not. Particularly interesting of note is that Lucien is the son of the Lord of the Day Court. Not an accident. It would force her to break away and go on her own, growing her as a character.

Bonus Bonus: For better or for worse, SJM rarely paints Rhysand wholly in the wrong. He might be a dick at times, but in the eyes of the story, Rhys is always at least half right in the end and doing it for everyone's benefit so he's never really like... completely going against what needs to happen. Like even when he was a dick to Nesta, he was ultimately "right" in the eyes of the storyline because she needed to be nicer to Feyre and get her life together. Regardless of how us readers saw it, that was how the story was really like Painting it, lbr. Him forbidding Az is forcing Az to deal with not being with Elain.

[lady-embers]

I will never get over how Azriel's shadows are around Gwyn.

They dance with her very breathe to some silent music.

They are curious about her.

They peer over Azriel's wings at her.

They are calm and content to sit on Azriel's shoulders to watch Gwyn when something restless settles in him.

They dance around Azriel when he's conversing with Gwyn.

They sing back in answer to faint, beautiful singing that only Azriel hears.

And I'm supposed to think these instances mean nothing?

When they are a unique reaction as Azriel is near/around Gwyn.

When the mating bond is described as "music between the souls" and Azriel can hear things others cannot so his shadows more than likely can as well.

His shadows dancing with Gwyn's very breathe and singing back in answer to some perceived music isn't something to just toss away lightly. His shadows would be the ones to pick up on a mating bond yet to be revealed and keep it a secret for now because they didn't warn Azriel of Gwyn in the training ring so he'd run into her.....

In conclusion, Sarah wrote his shadows the way she did to mean something, not nothing!

[lady-embers]

I get giddy every time I remember how Azriel's shadows are around Gwyn.

They are curious and peer over his wings at her.

They dance with her breath.

They are calm and content to sit on his shoulders after something restless settles in Azriel.

They sing back in answer to some faint, beautiful music as Azriel leaves Gwyn's presence.

They dance around Azriel when he's conversing with Gwyn.

How can you not ship them after seeing how his shadows react? Especially knowing they are an intricate part of him & they are his companions, now and forevermore.

You should want Azriel to be with someone his shadows can play, dance, and sing around with. Not someone they vanish around and skitter back from their very breath.

[lady-embers]

You know what cements my opinion Gwynriel is endgame? The sequence of events in ACOSF.

We have the Hewn City scene where Cassian raves about Nesta and Feyre in Night Court Black, but for Elain he specifically mentions it sucking the LIFE from her and it leeching the brightness from her face.

We then move onto Solstice where Nesta herself makes a comment about the Black dress being I'll suited for Elain.

Also, that same night, we have Azriel Bonus Scene where he clearly tells Elain "This was a mistake" and clearly hurts her. It's another form of rejection for Elain after her ex fiancee. Also, he admits his shadows are always prone to vanish around Elain and skitter back at her breath. He also felt wrong when putting the necklace on Elain. He never thought past his sexual fantasies of her even though he can plan a year in advance for a snowball fight.

We then have his scene with Gwyn right after where she gets him to reveal he does sing and it's not because he's a Shadowsinger, and its something personal about him. We have his shadows dancing with her breathe and after something restless settles in him, his shadows calm and are content to sit on his shoulders. We have him gifting the necklace to Gwyn through Clotho (anonymously) and he leaves that interaction with picturing how Gwyns teal eyes would light up, him consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face, and him tucking the thought away deep down where it glowed quietly.

After Solstice, Gwyn and Azriel moments pick up.

We have him looking at Gwyn with admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face and stilling, along with the world, when Gwyn cuts the ribbon and becomes the first Valkyrie in Nesta book.

We have the banter between them and Nesta saying Azriel was the new ribbon.

We have Azriel shadows dancing around him as he's conversing with Gwyn.

We have his shadows deepening around Azriel and his siphons gleaming like cobalt fire when Cassian mentions Emerie and Gwyn being hurt in unspeakable ways, and Azriel saying 'You- we- trained them well, Cassian. Trust in that." And this coming from the same person who said Elain shouldn't be exposed to the Trove....

Sarah set up and worded certain scenes in ACOSF deliberately. You can't convince me otherwise that with all this she isn't going to have Gwyn and Azriel as endgame.