A commission for a Court of Whispered Melodies made by @lucielart
I am so excited to finally share this commission made by the super talented @lucielart. Be sure to check her out on Instagram!
For day 7 @gwynrielweeksofficial - healing
The vision for the piece was inner calm, rest, peace.
I believe they will be each other’s safe spaces through their mutual understanding of hurt and trauma. Azriel will be finally able to breathe and lay down his head to rest as Gwyn watches over him. Azriel will help her realize her own strength and resilience.
I can’t wait to explore this theme and their journey in the fic. Read the first three chapters on AO3.
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"A thing of secret, lovely beauty"
Artist: Kloartz over on IG!
~Gwyn nimbly rolled to her feet, grinning so broadly that Nesta was momentarily taken aback by it. The priestess had been pretty in the library, but with that joy, that confidence as she aimed for the three priestesses, she had emerged into a beauty to rival Merrill or Mor.
~Gwyn’s fingers slid into hers, squeezing tight. Nesta looked up to find her holding Emerie’s free hand as well. Gwyn smiled again, her eyes bright. “Our stories are worth telling.”
~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.
~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.
From the bonus chapter: Which happens inbetween Ch. 58/59 of ACOSF
~His shadows peered over his wings at her. The young priestess smiled--and Azriel thought it might have been directed at his curious shadows.
~“Aren't you cold?" His breath clouded in front of him. Gwyn shrugged. "Once you get moving, you stop noticing it." He nodded, silence falling. For a heartbeat, their gazes met. He blocked out the bloody memory that fashed, so at odds with the Gwyn he saw before him now. Her head ducked, as if remembering it too. That he'd been the one who'd found her that day at Sangravah. "Happy Solstice," she said, as much a dismissal as it was a holiday blessing. He snorted. "Are you kicking me out?" (He's showing concern about her being cold and we have proof from Azriel he was there at Sangravah and Gwyn isn't making things up like the other side tries to say)
~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. He refrained from mentioning that he did indeed sleep with a dagger. Many daggers. Including one under his pillow. (Azriel shows more positive emotions with his interaction with Gwyn than seemingly around anyone else)
~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.
~She shrugged again, irreverently. Az narrowed his eyes, studying her. "Do you, though?" she pressed. "Sing?" Azriel couldn't help his soft chuckle. "Yes."
~Gwyn tried the movement as slowly as he had, and he watched her self-correct, fighting against the urge to open up her wrist and rotate the blade. She did it three times before she stopped falling into the bad habit. "I blame Cassian for this. He's too busy making eyes at Nesta to notice such mistakes these days." 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. (Again, Azriel is showing care/concern over Gwyn possibly being cold/out too long and just look at the wording used here)
How the bonus chapter ends:
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.
These scenes take place after the bonus chapter:
~Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face."
~The world seemed to pause at the words. As if it had been following one path and now branched off in another direction. In a hundred years, a thousand, this moment would still be etched in his mind. That he would tell his children, his grandchildren, Right then and there. That was when it all changed.
~Azriel went wholly still, as if he, too, had felt the shift. As if he, too, were aware that far larger forces peered into that training ring as Gwyn moved.
~Azriel clapped his hands, and all the females straightened. “You’ll work in groups of three.” Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows danced around him. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.” Boos sounded. Gwyn lifted her chin in challenge. “We look forward to proving you wrong.”
~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.”
~“The first had just unbuckled his belt when Azriel arrived.” Silent, unending tears streamed down Gwyn’s face. “Azriel slaughtered all of them within moments. He didn’t hesitate. But I could barely move, and when I tried to get up … He gave me his cloak and wrapped me in it." (Without hesitation, Azriel slaughtered all the soldiers and gave Gwyn his cloak.... similar to Lucien breaking free of his restraints without hesitation to get to Elain and give her his cloak)
After reading all this.... how can you NOT think Gwyn and Azriel are endgame? And this is what you missed on Glee......
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"Gwyn isn't important enough to get a book"
"Gwyn isn't Azriel's mate"
"Gwyn went back to the library her story is over"
"Gwyn was just a side character to Nesta's story"
Oh you mean Gwyneth Berdara, who is only one of 8 people who ever completed the Blood Rite?
Gwyneth Berdara, who is now set up as a Carynthian? The same warrior status as Azriel?
Gwyneth "See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger" Berdara.
Gwyneth Berdara, who was the first to become a reborn again Valkyrie.
Gwyneth Berdara, who wanted to wipe the smirk off their faces, specifically Azriel's.
Gwyneth Berdara, whose story retconned ACOMAF, where Sarah rewrote the story so that it was AZRIEL who saved her from Hybern's soldiers.
Gwyneth Berdara, whose voice made Azriel's shadows dance not once, but twice.
Gwyneth Berdara, who went back to the library and Nesta thought to herself that it would be a shame for her to stay there forever.
Gwyneth Berdara, who shows actual traits of being a spy.
Gwyneth Berdara, who said our stories are worth telling.
Gwyneth Berdara, who made Azriel's chest spark at the thought of her smiling.
Gwyneth Berdara, who after the Blood Rite was taken to the River House where Gwyn says, "I think it took us where we were needed most."
Gwyneth Berdara, whose paternal lineage is a mystery.
Gwyneth Berdara, who made the world shift as she cut the ribbon?
Gwyneth Berdara, who had Azriel watching HER with admiration and quiet encouragement
Gwyneth Berdara, who made Azriel's shadows sing in answer to her own?
Gwyneth Berdara, who is taking private dagger lessons with Azriel?
Gwyneth Berdara, whose interactions with Azriel could've either never happened or happened with someone else.
Gwyneth Berdara, who made Azriel the new ribbon.
Gwyneth Berdara, who reached out her hand to Azriel.
And that's what you missed on GLEE
Oh and Yrene Towers is on the phone asking to speak with whoever says side characters can't get their happy ending.
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