#Nesta and Gwyn are just.....

[the-darkestminds]

Okay I know I've already posted about this but I can't get over the fact that if the next book is about Elriel, then as readers we will be entering their story having missed all of the early romantic development between them, because it has happened off page. We have not been privy to a single private conversation between the two of them aside from the very brief bonus chapter. Not to mention we have zero Elain POV thus far. It would be so unlike Sarah to plop us into a romance that she developed without the us along for the journey. This is why I felt so awkward reading their almost-kiss. It caught me off guard, because despite seeing evidence of a growing friendship between them, there is no indication of any lust in ACOWAR and onward. They interact, but briefly, and these interactions are only observed from other character's POVs. We see Azriel defend her and rescue her, and we see Elain gift him a gift. But we don't get to hear what they talk about, or what they do when they are alone. This is what bothers me most about Elriel. I love the growth Sarah gives us between the two characters she's focused on. We get to see the love blossom slowly and thoroughly, but that wouldn't be true in the case of Elain and Azriel. We will have missed a big chunk of the build.

#I rest my case #elriels are welcome to respond #dont be mean to me tho #I am not even denying the validity of the ship #I am just voicing my issues with it #I sent my friend the bonus chapter cuz she hadn't read it and she said omg wait Elain and Azriel are involved?? #cuz without the bonus chapter there isn't any on-page romance between them #only little bits and pieces of a friendship #sjm #acowar #acotar #sarah j maas #a court of wings and ruin #a court of thorns and roses #a court of mist and fury #elucien #lucien vanserra #elain x lucien #elain #elain archeron #azriel x gwyn #gwynriel #nesta x cassian #feyre x rhysand #feysand #nessian #a court of silver flames #acosf #ACOFAS #a court of frost and starlight

[witchothewest]

If you even care

(Portraits by @ madschofield on instagram)

#gwyn obviously wins #Rhys and nesta are making everybody uncomfortable #jassa were made for each other #Cassian eventually just starts backseat driving everyone else #badly #Rhys magically produces an extra dog piece to prevent bloodshed #elucien are throwing shade at everyone #I originally put Azriel in the popcorn category until I realized ONE of them would skulk uncomfortably to the kitchen if that was the case #lol #jassa #elucien #rhysand #feyre archeron #nesta archeron #elain archeron #acotar #cassian #azriel #eris vanserra #lucien vanserra #amren #jurian #vassa #gwyneth berdara #morrigan #emerie #memes #acotar memes #sjm #monopoly

[loonylooly]

Goddamit just have Nesta and Elain end up with the Vanserras. Both of them. Let them get something interesting in their life, get them away from the god forsaken Night Eternal Death Incarnate Lord of Bloodshed edgy boring ass inner circle

#While we're at it just have Feyre divorce Rhys and marry Gwyn instead #Make them all marry gingers #Elucien #Neris #Elain Archeron #Nesta Archeron #anti ic

[theladyofbloodshed]

Elain saying this downright nasty line to Nesta when she's at her lowest

“I went into the Cauldron, too, you know. And it captured me. And yet somehow all you think of is what my trauma did to you.”

Remember this scene from acomaf?

“It is your choice, ladies, whether you wish to remain here, or come with us. You have heard the situation at hand. You have done the math about an evacuation.” A nod of approval as he met Nesta’s gray-blue stare. “Should you choose to remain, a unit of my soldiers will be here within the hour to guard this place. Should you wish to come live with us in that city we just showed them, I’d suggest packing now.” Nesta looked to Elain, still silent and wide-eyed. The tea she’d prepared—the finest, most exotic tea money could buy—sat undisturbed on the table. Elain thumbed the iron ring on her finger. “It is your choice,” Nesta said with unusual gentleness. For her, Nesta would go to Prythian. Elain swallowed, a doe caught in a snare. “I—I can’t. I …”

Elain seems to forget that she stayed in the mortal lands for a guy and her sister stayed in the mortal lands for HER. Nesta gave up her chance of safety in Velaris to stay with Elain - but Elain feels absolutely no guilt. Elain spouts this completely tone deaf line that Nesta forget she went in the Cauldron when the only reason Nesta remained was FOR ELAIN. Nesta attacked the Cauldron and was saddled with powers that make her a target for Elain. She went in the Cauldron because she chose Elain over safety.

#and i won't even go into the fact that nesta was coerced into scrying which resulted in elain being taken #so yeah of course she's going to think about elain's trauma relative to herself #because she feels enormous guilt that she scried and elain was taken #and then later on she is forced again to do it with the caveat that if she doesn't they'll just get elain to do it #so fuck the ic and fuck elain #only gwyn and emerie have ever loved nesta and not wanted anything from her

[shadowsingerspriestess]

Nesta: Yeah, Gwyn is one of my best friends, but I’d fuck her if she asked me to

Gwyn: What?

Cassian: What?!

Azriel: What?

Emerie: She said she’d fuck Gwyn if she ever asked her to

#gwynesta #gwyn x nesta #emerie the valkyrie #gwyn acosf #nesta acosf #nesta archeron #gwyneth berdara #cassian #azriel #acotar #acosf #house of wind #acotar incorrect quotes #incorrect quotes #idc I just love gwynesta

[lorcandidlucienwill]

Do you guys ever have an idea that’s so obviously canon to you based on what has been written that you forget that it’s not technically explicitly canon?

#lucien has whipping scars #eris has back scars from beron #tamlin and rhysand are ex lovers #tamlin looks just like his father but has his mama's eyes #gwyn and azriel are mates #lucien will become high lord or high king #nesta is more powerful than rhys #tamlin has DID #tamsand #cassian is in love with mor #elain is a healer

[kayrakhan]

sad times at mount ramiel

#gwyneth berdara #acosf #acotar #sarah j maas #gwyn #nesta archeron #fanart #my art #you can message me for the context of this art or see my insta #it’s cringe but sad… just the way i like to torture my favourite characters❤️

[shadowsxgwynriel]

Me: *intellectually* It’s just a fictional character

Also me: I must protect my precious

#I have too many favs #but just to name a few #gwyn berdara #azriel #nesta archeron #lucien vanserra #eris vanserra #lidia cervos #ruhn danaan #lorcan salvaterre #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #sanemi shinazugawa #obanai iguro #saturo gojo

[hunnyy-bunnyyy]

The phrase "I am the rock against which the surf crashes" is such a foreboding sentence, especially when it's used in an inspirational context.

The rock the surf is crashing against is deteriorating. It's loosing itself to the persistent might of the waves. It's not like a sand dune that'll reform somewhere else, the rock just becomes bits of sediment scattered amongst other bits of sediment. The rock's sediment is getting broken down and tossed around by the ocean's current.

How is that inspirational? The rock doesn't reform when it's broken. The rock is eroded into millions of tiny bits of itself that will go millennia without meeting again. The rock is constantly getting worn down until it disappears under the water's surface. The rock isn't getting better, it's perpetually getting worse.

Being the surf crashing against the rock is infinitely more inspirational. The surf is persistent. The surf is fluid. The surf may be weak one day, but it will get stronger. Parts of the water will evaporate, but it'll never lose its strength.

You are the surf, not the rock. You are strong and you will overcome all obstacles.

#acotar #acosf #some of y'all arent gonna like this #anti sjm #anti acosf #criticizing sjm quotes #i'm writing an acosf fanfic and this line just wasn't sitting well with me #this book shouldn't bother me as much as it does #I love gwyn so much #I love nesta so much #I love emerie so much #they all deserve better

[azrielsbxtch]

So this artist made e/riel art with a pegasus,teal dress,the ribbon,in a library, and Elain having a dagger…..

Okay then….

#I haven’t been involved in fandom drama in a long time but this is just too funny like what do you mean😂 #gwyneth berdara #azriel x gwyn #gwynriel #pro gwynriel #gwynriel headcanon #gwyn berdara #gwynriel fic #pro gwyn #nesta archeron #house of wind gang

[the-darkestminds]

Let’s just revisit the bonus chapter and follow it through from start to finish, focusing on Azriel’s perspective/state of mind.

He encounters Elain. They finally have a moment alone together. They step closer. She says “yes” to him kissing her, he smells her arousal, he wants her so much it seems almost painful. He has negative thoughts about himself, like he doesn’t deserve her, his hands are bloody and have done awful things that Elain must not know about if she is letting him touch her. 

They are clearly into each other, and then suddenly, Rhysand interrupts. We are drawn out of the moment. Azriel leaves Elain on negative terms: he says it was a mistake, she apologizes, she is clearly hurt and embarrassed. He feels guilty, but disappears into the shadows. He has a tense conversation with Rhysand, in which he sinks into the icy depths of his rage. He feels angry that Lucien is Elain’s mate, he says Lucien will never be good enough for her (although based on Az’s own thoughts, it seems like he feels the same way about himself).

He leaves the conversation with Rhysand. He goes to sit outside in the frigid night air, he lets the “frost in his veins match the air around him.” And then: “Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all.” These are all very negative feelings. We see that he is in a bad place emotionally.

He decides to go to the training pit so that he won’t do something he regrets (such as seeking out Elain again). His reasoning: “giving in to the need to work off the temptation, the rage and frustration and writhing need.” 

He stumbles upon Gwyn, his shadows not warning him of her presence. At first he seems reluctant to interact. They talk, they lock eyes and he remembers their first encounter at Sangravah. He knows she was remembering it too. He notes how different she is now. She says “happy solstice” in dismissal. Instead of leaving he engages her further. He smiles at her, but there’s no indication of any real emotion behind it. 

She takes him by surprise, asks him if he sings. “He couldn’t help his soft chuckle.” His mood is turning around. He is grateful for the distraction of this impromptu lesson. At the end: “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.” We see here that he has been thoroughly distracted from the negative feelings he was having before. He is calm. His mind is no longer on the rage and frustration he feels at the situation with Elain. 

He leaves and finds that Elain has returned the necklace. Not necessarily a big deal, because who knows how much meaning it really has. But he decides to give it to Gwyn instead. He thinks to himself that he does not really consider Gwyn to be a friend. But when he hears that it might bring her joy, something sparks in his chest. He can picture her teal eyes lighting upon seeing the necklace. It brings a smile to his face. He stuffs the image deep down where it glowed quietly. “A thing of secret lovely beauty.”

Okay. There is no romance between Gwyn and Azriel in this chapter, that much is clear. What we see is a potential fork in the path of Elain and Azriel. The chapter begins with Azriel and Elain, an interaction that ends poorly, with both of them hurting. And by the end of the chapter Azriel is in a good mood, he is smiling, thinking about Gwyn. To suggest that “gwynriels” lack reading comprehension and are stupid/silly to even ship this is, for one thing, extremely rude. It is also somewhat naive. This chapter offers an out to Azriel’s feelings of frustration over Elain. Is it a guarantee? Of course not. Elain and Azriel could very well be endgame. But this chapter creates another path. It is has yet to be explored, and is clearly only a small inkling of something new, but it is there nonetheless. I would encourage everyone to not hurl personal insults just because you feel passionately about a certain ship. It’s annoying and rude and makes you seem immature.

#I keep seeing the same posts that say everyone who doesn't ship Elriel lacks reading comprehension #which is basically just another way of calling everyone dumb #dont be rude for no reason #acosf #ACOSF bonus chapter #acosf bonus content #gwynriel #elriel #gwyneth berdara #azriel x gwyn #elain x azriel #azriel chapter #azriel #acomaf #a court of silver flames #a court of mist and fury #a court of wings and ruin #a court of frost and starlight #a court of thorns and roses #acotar #acowar #sarah j maas #sjm #elucien #sjmaas #nesta #pro nesta archeron #pro gwynriel #pro gwyn #anti elriel

[mmiscbutterflies]

PDA thoughts:

rhysand = hand on feyre’s lower back

cassian = hand on nesta’s ass

azriel = holding gwyn’s hand

lucien = elain’s hand in the crook of his arm

#eris drags you around by the back of your neck but that’s none of my business #i just work here #acotar #rhysand #feyre #feysand #cassian #nesta #nessian #azriel #gwyn #gwynriel #lucien #elain #elucien #headcanon #thoughts and feelings

[velidewrites]

Gwyn: The stars are very beautiful tonight

Azriel: Yeah, they are

Gwyn: You know who’s even more beautiful?

Azriel: *blushes* Who?

Gwyn: Nesta

#i feel like this definitely happened at some point #just gwynriel things #incorrect acotar quotes #gwynriel supremacy #gwynriel #gwyn x azriel #azriel x gwyn #azriel acotar #azriel #gwyneth berdara #gwyn acotar #nesta #nesta archeron #the valkyries #acotar #acosf #acotar thoughts #acotar memes #valkyries #gwynesta

[tellmelater]

gallies

#I have a couple requests otw I just went on hols and have had work #a court of silver flames #sarah j maas #digital art #artists on tumblr #my art #acotar #nesta archeron #acosf #elain archeron #feyre archeron #sjm art #gwyneth berdara #gwyn #emerie #morrigan #emorie #amren

[orphicauroras]

Each one of their requests had gotten more and more absurd, and Nesta might have felt like they were exploiting the House had it not been so.. exuberant in answering their commands. Adding creative flourishes

I just love how the House spoils Nesta, Gwyn and Em.

I can definitely see them discussing smutty books and in the middle the house just dumps it's favorite and joins in the discussion. From then on Nesta starts recommending the book she reads to the House and the House in return.

I can also see the House helping Gwyn in writing the Valkyrie book. It would provide a safe space for Gwyn to write without anyone bothering her. Nesta and Em would find her munching on cakes besides books about Valkyries courtesy of the House.

The House would provide Emerie with books of farming and Illyrian history. And every time Em visits she would find a small bag of spices beside the table with some seeds.

@officialvalkyrieweek

#kinda rushed cuz I didn't have time to properly plan anything lol #no longer free since my masters just started #but it's my babies' week #gwyneth berdara #nesta archeron #emerie of illyria #acotar #acosf #gwyn #nesta #emerie #if there's any mistakes just ignore my brain is dead currently #also don't know for sure which day it is but I'm just swinging it lol #Valkyrie week