#gwynriel have twins

[areyoudreaminof]

How many kids do you think Elucien end up having? (Yes, this is me shamelessly trying to see if Cricket and Froggy will have more siblings and the areyoudreamingof-verse of cute next gen kids will be expanding)

I always saw them having kids in pairs. The girls come first, then they have a second set later on. I have the little notion of one of their children being a boy they nickname Robin (for the bird) I think 4 kids.

Nyx is an only child for a while, but Feysand have a girl when he’s in his later teens.

Nessian have kids later on, and I think they have the most children, and all girls. I do have a scene where a teenage Nyx, Cricket, and preteen Froggy meet their new cousin.

I have a lot of next gen ideas and two fics as WIP’s.

But for real, I’m so happy people like my next gen kids. 😭

#I love my next gen babies #gwynriel have twins

[rosenecklaces]

Where's that one Logan Roy gif?.. Anyways, gwynriels and eluciens you are not serious people

#two sides of the same coint twins in lies and self gaslighting #call me mean but c'mon gwynriels has lied since before acosf came out you cannot have conversations with them bc theor wishfully dumb #eluciens think that the redhead is a good man and by that alone deserves the girl he didn't gaf about #and both of them had ignored to call out their sides nastiness meanwhile elriels would Always be villains #for the mere facts of defending themselves or bc of one elriel that had cakled them idiots once #the general fanbase it is at fault of one thing though: letting the crackship ne accepted as a possible canon thing. that's why their egos #are so damn big rn thinking they have voice or vote about anything when az doesn't like that ginger in the first place #the day elulus and gwynriels apologize to big elriel blogs or artists that liked elain for harassing them out of socials and call out blogs #that has been made to troll anyone that likes elain/elriel it's the day i would gaf about defending them from anyone #but that day hasn't come bc they are forever the victims even when something doesn't affect them at all so... #just seeing the gwynriels now claiming they had been hurted too and putting my two cents. i BEG elriels to not care and let them be #they just care about their own voice and no one elses

[daevastanner]

Halfbreeds

My contribution for Gwynriel weeks2024 is this Gwynsand/dark!Gwyn fanfic. Please enjoy this extra moody first chapter now available on Ao3. Chapter 2 to come tomorrow!

r h y s a n d

Rhysand waited patiently in his office in the House of Wind for the next witness to arrive.

He’d been hearing testimonies from the priestesses of Sangravah all day. 

Well, a few of them. Only the ones who had volunteered to relive the nightmares that had transpired, all in exchange for the chance they may get a morsel of justice.

The heavy oak door opened, and Clotho came striding into the warmly lit office, another unfamiliar acolyte behind her. With a gnarled hand, she gestured to the high-backed sitting chair in front of Rhysand’s mahogany desk. 

The acolyte gave Clotho a hollow smile, nodding in confirmation that she could leave her alone with the High Lord.

With a bow of her head, Clotho retreated, the door clicking shut behind her.

Rhys took a moment to perceive the female before him. She had pin straight coppery hair, tucked behind her pointed ears. Her face was smattered with caramel colored freckles that contrasted starkly against her sallow complexion. 

No doubt Sangravah had taken its toll on her. 

She gave Rhys that same empty smile she’d given Clotho. The expression did not meet her large, teal eyes, the skin beneath them bearing bruise-like smudges. He recognized the expression. He’d worn it plenty of times after he’d returned from Under the Mountain. It was the smile he donned when he could feel the phantom scratch of Amarantha’s nails, the echo of her gluttonous moans. 

Rhys returned the priestess’s polite smile, shoving his ghosts to the back of his mind. He leaned his elbows on his desk, trying to appear at ease. “Let’s get introductions out of the way. My name is Rhysand, I am High Lord of the Night Court.”

“Acolyte Gwyneth Berdara, formerly of the Temple of Sangravah,” she replied primly although her voice was slightly hoarse. 

Rhys arched a brow attempting to keep things conversational. “Gwyneth Berdara? You’re one of the priestesses who have accepted postage at The House of Wind.”

He’d given all the acolytes from Sangravah two options upon their relocating. A post: serving in the House of Wind with a private room in the library dormitories, including access to regular counseling sessions; or passage: an escort to their family or friends after assessment by healers.

The choice was theirs.

Most of this particular lot accepted passage, with only ten requesting a post.

One of those ten, being Gwyneth Berdara.

“I look forward to beginning my service,” Gwyneth said with a slight bow of her head. There was a faint glimmer in her eyes, one that hadn’t been there before. “If there has been one bit of hope in the past week, it’s that I may do some good in the High Lord’s name.”

The way she spoke wasn’t as though she wished to appease him, but not insincere. It was almost admiring, yet bashful. Like speaking to your greatest hero, or happening upon your most respected artist. He would gladly receive her praise if it alleviated the weight of the ghosts bearing down on her. 

As though sensing his assessment, Gwyn’s cheeks pinkened. “I’m just very familiar with your policies in Velaris and the work you’ve done for the females of Illyria. Not to mention the orphans of the Capital cities.” 

Rhys smiled, heat blooming in his own cheeks at the enthusiasm in her reply. “I wasn’t aware anyone was monitoring my policies.”

“I have been,” Gwyn said. A beat passed, then, “I specialized in the care of the orphans at Sangravah. And my twin and I are— were nymphs.”

He heard the unspoken words in the latter-half of the sentence. 

‘I’m a halfbreed too.’

He shrugged his shoulders. “Genetic status is irrelevant in the Velaris—“

“Thanks to you,” Gwyneth finished, then ducked her head, seemingly embarrassed. “My lord.”

Right, well, perhaps she’d be comfortable enough to discuss her thoughts on his policies with him in a few years. Once she’d acclimated. If she had positive opinions, she’d certainly have negative ones, and it had been a long time since someone who didn’t know Rhys intimately had critiqued him.

“Well, I appreciate you volunteering for both the library and this interview, Priestess,” Rhysand said. “May I explain how you will be giving your testimony?”

Gwyneth bobbed her head, that broken smile resurfacing on her lips.

Rhysand explained how he intended to utilize his daemati magic to view the events of her memories from the attack on Sangravah. He’d then use the information he found to look for any familiar faces or weak points in their enemy’s defenses.

“If the use of my gift gives you pause, I’ll happily take a verbal account,” Rhys finished.

Gwyneth’s mouth was pressed in a flat line, all color drained from her face. “Which is more helpful?”

Rhys felt his stomach sink. What she had lived through had to be too traumatic to recount verbally, especially with so little time to process whatever had occurred.  

At least using his daemati magic, Rhysand would be sifting through her mind alone, with her no wiser as to the contents he was making note of.

“Strictly speaking, mental accounts are more reliable and while most invasive, require you to remember less details. Those who choose verbal typically take issue with the intimate nature of my gifts. It’s a matter of comfortability.”

Gwyneth Berdara nodded, chewing her lower lip, then finally said, “I’d rather you get as much detail as possible to apprehend the responsible parties. I trust you to use your abilities honorably.” 

Rhys dipped his head. “While your trust is not misplaced, Priestess, I appreciate it all the same. If you could just–”

“On one condition, please, my lord.”

His brows rose at the distressed creases lining her forehead, indicating it had taken great courage for her to speak up. He nodded for her to continue. 

“I would ask,” Gwyneth began, “that whatever you see does not alter the way you have regarded me since I entered this office. I’ve… I’ve had enough pity.” 

Rhys felt a frown tug at the corners of his lips. He knew all about pity. To his knowledge, many priestesses and children had seen immeasurable horrors during the attacks. Morrigan and Azriel had plenty of accounts they’d relayed with somber eyes while nursing their respective glasses of alcohol. 

“On my word as High Lord of the Night Court, you will have no pity from me, Gwyneth Berdara.”

On my word as someone who has had his fill of pity as well…

Gwyneth’s answering smile was feeble and forced, but true. “Then we may proceed. Tell me what is needed of me.” 

Rhys instructed the priestess to relax as best she could and close her eyes. She may feel a slight probing within her skull, and if at any point she did not wish to continue, she need only say so. Verbally or mentally, he would pick up on her request and withdraw immediately. 

She had no questions, only took a steeling breath and leaned back in her seat, folding her hands neatly in her lap. Her eyes slid shut, lips pressed in a tight line once more. “I’m ready,” she said softly. 

Rhysand concentrated on her, carefully setting aside his sympathies. Only when her shoulders relaxed did he close his own eyes, and dive in. 

Read the rest on Ao3

#gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acotar #gwynriel supremacy #gwyn and azriel #acotar fanfiction #gwynriel fic #gwynriel fanfiction #ao3 #gwynsand friendship #gwynriel weeks 2024 #rhysand and gwyn #acosf

[sunshinebingo]

@gwynrielweeksofficial Day 11 - Alternate Universe

Synopsis: Feeling restless, Gwyn watches the rain from inside the library at Rosehall. When she is unexpectedly joined by Azriel, she realises that perhaps her dear friend could be the one to answer the question that has been plaguing her mind and keeping her from sleep.

A Gwynriel Regency AU inspired by the Bridgerton series.

Word Count: 4k

Read on Ao3 or below the cut

On the summer of 1813, sitting in the large library of Rosehall manor with her head pressed against the window while it rained cats and dogs outside, Gwyneth Berdara pondered. There was nothing unusual in the fact that she was partaking in the act itself. What was odd, however, was the subject that seemed to have taken her mind hostage to the point where she felt so restless that she had to leave the comfortable bed of the guest room that she had been assigned for the duration of her stay. She didn’t know why she was thinking about this so much but she knew that it was the novel she had been reading for the past day that had triggered the thoughts that had gotten her out of bed in the middle of the night, when the air inside the manor was so still that even the place seemed deep in sleep.

She opened the window just enough to let some air in. The flame of the candle that sat on the cherry wood table behind moved more wildly but did not snuff out. Gwyn closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as the cool breeze caressed her heated cheeks and blew her unbound hair away from her face. For a moment, the smell of rain and trees brought her 18 years back, to her childhood bedroom painted in soft blues and white – similar colours to her current room in London – where she had often sat by the window just like tonight to read or to simply stare at the beauty that was Ireland in Spring, or any season really. 18 years and she still missed the air of the country enough to revel in it every chance she got. Rosehall reminded her of how much she loved the greens and the outside; walking bare feet in the grass, swimming in a lake or a river somewhere no one could see, the freedom, the quiet and peace.

Gwyn had been 10 years old when her family had left Ireland to settle in England after her father’s death from an illness a few months prior. It had been at her brother’s request that the Lady Berdara, formerly Miss Vanserra, and her two daughters had moved to London where the rest of her family still resided. Gwyn had been in awe of London even before their carriage had stopped before the grand house that had already been prepared for them. The streets had been busy with the comings and goings of everyone who had already left their country estate to come to the city for the marriage season. Everything was so different.

While her twin, Catrin, had run straight to her new bedroom, Gwyn had sneaked out that day past the trunks and boxes filled with their belongings that were being moved into their new house to explore the outside. The green of the grass had reminded her of the hills that she saw every day from their manor back home. She knew that the garden, no matter how pretty it was, would not replace the view she had there. It was too confined with its tall hedges and limited space to run around. There were not enough big trees that she could climb and sit in to read quietly.

However, one thing had made the garden and life in London much better than Gwyn could have imagined. It had started with the – rather loud – whispered voices she had heard and who were wondering who she was. She had soon found out, after peering her head through the hole in the hedge through which they had been trying to see her, that the voices belonged to her neighbours, Nesta Archeron and Emerie Windhaven and that the latter’s house was right in the middle of hers and Nesta’s. Their friendship had started when Emerie had pointed out that she didn’t understand half of the words that Gwyn had said when she introduced herself and had wondered why they were being so nosy. Gwyn had laughed which had then sent the three girls into a fit of giggles. Although she had lost the thick Irish accent she had when she left her home country, it was still evident today to anyone with ears that she was not born in England – if the fact that she had coppery-reddish hair was not clue enough that is.

Till this day, there were still barely concealed holes in the hedges surrounding the girls’ houses that they had used to visit each other. Although Gwyn and Em didn’t use Nesta’s one since the day she had eloped to marry Cassian, the man she had hated and loved so fiercely. She had a feeling that the one between hers and Emerie’s house would not be in use for much longer either. Gwyn knew that Emerie was close to saying hang society and run away from her home too. That house wasn’t her friend’s home anyway. Emerie’s home was wherever Morrigan was, regardless of what their families had to say. And currently, it was at Rosehall Manor where it’s Lord, the Earl himself, had invited his brothers and closest friends to spend the summer with him.

“What are you doing?”

As though the mere thought of him was enough to summon him, Gwyn’s musings were interrupted by his warm and rich voice. He sounded like he had just come out of bed. By the look of it when she turned her head to the left, she assumed that he probably did. Azriel stood barefoot at the door, his hair looking as though he had fought with a harsh wind. He wore what seemed to be his sleeping pants and a white shirt that was unbuttoned halfway down his chest. She knew it wasn’t proper to stare, but she couldn’t bring her eyes to look away when the single candle in the room was illuminating his tanned skin in that subtle way and making his hazel eyes glow in such a beautiful way.

Azriel followed the direction of her gaze and looked down. Gwyn blushed, looking away and closing her mouth that she hadn’t known was open like a dead fish, when she realised that he had noticed where her eyes had been lingering. He huffed a small laugh before bringing his hands to his chest to button his shirt up.

Azriel cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your quiet time, Miss Berdara.”

Gwyn brought her feet down from the ledge of the window and adjusted her nightdress. There was nothing exceedingly scandalous about the long white dress she wore, but had she known that she would have stumbled upon other people at this time of the night, she would have bothered to put on a robe regardless.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Can it really be called intruding when it’s your own home? And please, you can drop the formalities. We are far away from eyes that can be scandalised simply from a tap on the shoulder.”

Everyone who was currently residing at the manor called each other by their first name, including Azriel’s mother who was used to the close bond that they all had with each other. It was not the case however when they were in company of other people where they were expected to use titles for the sake of decorum. It would be particularly scandalous for Gwyn and Azriel to use their first names with each other in public when they were neither married nor courting. Even the extent of their friendship could be deemed inappropriate.

Azriel laughed as he walked and sat next to her on the window ledge, adjusting himself until one of his legs was crossed on the other and his back rested against the wall. Gwyn turned to her side so she could face him. His mother would probably frown at him for sitting so close to an unmarried woman but they had sat much closer before. Close enough for him to rest his head on her shoulder as they read together, or close enough for her to whisper a joke to him at the expense of their friends.

Gwyn had met Azriel – Lord Azriel Allen or simply Lord Allen when among polite society – two years ago, at the time when his chosen brother, Rhysand Night, the famous Duke of Velaris, had started courting Nesta’s youngest sister, Feyre. Courting might not be the correct term but only their close circle knew of the circumstances that had led the pair to fake a courtship which had eventually turned into a true love match. It was at that time that Nesta had met her ‘nemesis turned love of her life’. One could say that Gwyn and Azriel’s first meeting was quite…surprising. Especially since it had left Gwyn in shock and Azriel with a bloodied hand after he had punched, repeatedly, a man who had tried to take liberties with her in a discreet corner of one of the endless parties that she had to attend during the season. Gwyn had left that evening with the hope of having made a new friend in Azriel and a new feeling that friends and her blood relations were the only thing that the future held for her.

Gwyn’s mother had been hopeful that living among the ton would be an opportunity for her twin daughters to make good matches when the time would come for them to marry. But Gwyn had been out in society since she was 18 years old and ten years had not brought anyone who could convince her to settle down. Gwyn’s twin had been lucky to find her happiness at the end of their very first season out. Catrin now lived several hours away from London with her husband and their son. Catrin had been trying to expand her family, especially since learning that their cousin, Lucien, and his wife Elain, the second Archeron daughter out of three, were expecting their second child. Gwyn smiled at the thought of the lovebirds who were even more in love with each other 5 years into their marriage as they had been on the very first day they had met.

It was not so much that Gwyn had been picky with her suitors. She might have been a little. But she mostly felt like she hadn’t been lucky. Ever since she could walk and talk, Gwyn had been taught what a lady should expect to be, which mostly summed up to being married and making babies. And ever since she could read, she had learned that there was so much more to it. There was more to marriage than acquiring wealth and making arrangements between families; there were feelings that some people were convinced weren’t needed for a marriage to work and other things said between pages of books that proper ladies weren’t allowed to read. It all seemed like a fantasy but deep down she wanted it to be real.

She had decided soon in life that she did not want to be someone’s doll. She did not want someone who would treat her like she was simply here to plan tea parties and make babies just for the sake of the ton’s eyes. Her mother had warned her many times that she would end up a spinster if she continued that way. “Better a content spinster than being not worth more than a horse in the eyes of an indifferent husband,” she always thought but did not always say. She knew her mother meant well. But she hoped for more. She knew it wasn’t impossible. She saw it in her sister’s marriage and that of her friends. It was not like she would go out of her ways to find what they had all found. She was very content the way she was. But knowing that love existed, she knew that she could not settle for less.

“You couldn’t sleep?”

Gwyn shook her head at his question.

“Is your room not comfortable enough?”

“No. I mean yes, its very comfortable,” she tried to explain before he proposed to give her another room. God knew that there were enough rooms in his manor to welcome the entire ton.

“I was just thinking about something.”

Azriel bumped his leg against her knee. “What something?”

Gwyn thought of the novel that she had left on the bed upstairs and the words she had read in it.

“I don’t want to tell you,” she replied with a shrug.

He raised an eyebrow at her. The candle on the table was the single source of light in the library but Gwyn didn’t need any light to discern the silent words spoken by his eyes.

“I am not certain that you are the best person to talk about such things with.”

Azriel placed a hand on his heart as though she had physically wound him. “Well, you didn’t have to hurt my feelings.”

She crossed her arms and stared at him. “It is not your feelings that are hurt but your ego.”

Azriel shook his head and laughed again. Gwyn stared and stared at him. The passages she had read in that book bounced around her head, putting forth images that her mother would faint to see and desires that some men would flock before her house to hear about. It was far from the first book that Gwyn had read that made her think such things. She suddenly felt like she wanted to tell him what was on her mind. Not the images. That would be going too far. But she wanted to talk about it. And he was the first person available.

“Can I ask you something?” Her voice was barely above the sound of the heavy rain pouring outside.

Azriel’s smile softened as he looked at her. “You know you can tell me anything.”

“How does one know, in the moment, if they are good at sex?”

By the way Azriel went still, Gwyn thought that perhaps she could tell him anything but this. She felt the intensity of his gaze on her until he finally seemed to remember that her question had remained unanswered.

“Have you...” he trailed off.

Gwyn furrowed her brows for a moment until his implication clicked in her head.

“Sorry...”

“No,” she exclaimed at the same time as him.

“I mean, it’s none of my business. Unless someone...Oh god, Gwyn.” He moved forward and took her hands in his. “Did someone manipulated you into doing something?”

“No. Azriel no.” Her confirmation seemed to loosen a tension in him. “I was just wondering,” she admitted.

“Why?”

Gwyn could have laughed at him and retorted that it was inappropriate of him to ask why but then she would have to laugh at herself for asking the question that had led him to wonder the why. So, she shrugged flippantly instead.

“I just want to know. Such information could help me someday.”

Azriel squeezed her hands. She knew that they were tempting scandal by ignoring propriety and even more with this conversation. But there wasn’t anyone here to witness any of this. Also, propriety had always been quite overlooked among their group of friends. Except when they were in public, when surrounded by their friends only, the couples never tried to hide their affection or conceal their...urges. Gwyn liked the way they openly showed their love. It was like their love was so grand that they couldn’t keep it all in. Though some things were best kept in. Gwyn’s ears and eyes had been assaulted more times that she could count in the week since she had been here.

“How much do you know about sex, Gwyneth?”

Gwyn sat straighter but didn’t let go of his hands. She held his gaze, emboldened by the fact that he did not treat her like an innocent little thing. They were close friends after all, she reminded herself. They had seen each other’s tears and had accidentally fallen asleep on the same couch.

“I might not have much experience but I do have extensive theoretical knowledge on the subject. Enough that I do not require the little talk that all ladies get prior to their wedding night.”

Azriel raised a brow. Gwyn was tempted to stare and stare at him again.

“Although, I have little enough knowledge in the practice of it that I had hoped to indulge in learning everything that my husband would be willing to teach me.”

The light from the candle flickered in his eyes, making the hazel shine as if from a fire within. Gwyn wondered what good she had done to have been blessed by the presence of such a magnificent man.

“I have read this book that has made me think about it. And I wonder whether it’s too much to ask of a partner to wish to learn from me.”

Gwyn thought back to the book again and how the protagonist, a woman with years of experience in the art of sex, had been praised by her partner for everything she had done to him and how, in several passages, she had gone on saying how grateful she was for her own experience before him.

“I was hoping that my partner would also find some things to learn from me. It sounds silly to say this with my lack of experience. But I was truly hoping to find someone who wants me, and is not just settling for the first random person just to have a wife. As such, I was hoping that they would find the experience with me to be...” She pursed her lips while searching for the right word, “...not akin to lying with every other woman.”

Gwyn had never tried to seek pleasure from anyone but herself. Her decision to wait for love extended beyond marriage. But now she wondered whether she should do what she usually did with every task she set her mind to and practice until she became perfect at it.

“But now I’m wondering,” she continued, “What if I have waited all this time and I’m just...not enough.”

The gentle caress of Azriel’s thumbs over the back of her hand send shivers down her spine that had nothing to do with the breeze coming in.

“If I may be bold enough to tell you something, I –”

“You may,” she interrupted, earning a smirk from Azriel that made her heart flip.

“I don’t think it’s possible for you to be bad at it.”

At the sceptical look on her face, Azriel continued, every single one of his words meant to reassure her.

“I can’t force you to believe me. But I can assure you that sex isn’t a game of who knows more of what. It’s about being together and enjoying each other.”

A strong wind blew, some of it made it through the slightly opened window. It sent a strand of Gwyn’s hair floating in front of her eyes. Azriel’s hand was faster in reaching it. He twirled it around his finger a few times before tucking it behind her ear. Gwyn held her breath for the whole time his fingers drifted from her ear, down her jaw, before he cupped her cheek.

“Trust me Gwyn. Whatever you do will be more than enough. Because it’s you. Because you’re perfect.”

She sighed. She knew she was blushing even before she noticed his eyes travelling across her nose and cheeks, his thumb soon doing the same. He had done this on the day he had told her that he enjoyed making her blush as much as he liked making her smile.

“In that book I read,” Gwyn leaned forward and brought her face closer to his. “It said that the act of sex is different from the act of love. The author added that only those who are lucky enough to make love at least once in their life will understand the vast difference between simply chasing release and giving yourself body and soul to your partner.”

She looked at him, at his lips then at that fire in his eyes that lit up her whole being.

“I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with only chasing release. But the way she describes the latter makes one want to pray harder to find the perfect partner.”

Gwyn had an idea why Azriel was still unmarried at the age of 32. He had confessed to her of the bitter feeling that his parents’ marriage had left in him. In this moment, sitting in the library of Rosehall while it rained, the only witnesses being the silent books and the single candle in the room, Azriel held onto Gwyn’s hand for dear life and looked at her like she had dreamt for some time that he would.

“How would you describe the perfect partner?” he asked.

A single word was on the tip of her tongue. But she swallowed it and forced others to come forth. Words that she had told herself like a list before, repeating them in her head every time she refused a suitor and every time her mother reminded her that she was close to becoming a spinster. But it was only now that she felt the depths of her own words. Suddenly they weren’t just a series of requirements that she was saying out loud. They were words spoken from the heart. A plea, almost a summon.

“Someone you care for. Not someone that you choose because it is required of you. But someone that you want so much that your heart needs them. Someone who, even if you see their flaws and don’t like them every minute of every day – God knows some people are not always tolerable,” she muttered the last sentence with a pointed look at him and waited for his inevitable chuckle before she continued, “- you still love them. To me, the perfect partner is a friend. One that you want to give yourself to body and soul.”

His thumb moved to her lips where he traced them from one corner to the other. “Can I tell you a secret, Gwyneth?”

Gwyn nodded when she found herself unable to form words. He smiled, eyes fixed on her lips as though they were pulling him in.

“I have a friend like the kind you speak of. That single friend who I love so dearly that I wish she would have me body and soul.”

She didn’t know her free hand had moved but when she felt a beating heart beneath her palm, she suddenly realised that her hand was now on his chest. The other one would be shaking if he wasn’t holding it so firmly.

“I have that one friend too,” she admitted, her face inching closer and closer to his.

Another strong wind whooshed, opening the window widely and snuffing out the candle at the same time lightning illuminated the whole room. A loud thunder followed right behind. But Gwyn neither saw nor heard any of it. The only thing left to her was Azriel’s hands holding her and his lips as he kissed her.

#this feels weird to me #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #azriel shadowsinger #fluff #gwynriel weeks 2024 #gwynrielweeks #gwynrielweeks2024 #gwynriel fic #gwyn x azriel #azriel x gwyn #gwynriel fanfiction

[lorcandidlucienwill]

You know what? Gwynriels have had their Gwyn is important talk. So I’m gonna have my LUCIEN is important talk.

Idk why everyone keeps acting like Lucien is NOT important. He has been around since book 1. Take him out and EVERYTHING changes. It was anger on Lucien’s behalf that caused Tamlin to reject Amarantha so harshly, prompting the curse. It’s Lucien’s tragic backstory that is explained in book 1. It was Lucien who told Feyre how to catch the Suriel. Lucien who gifted Feyre her first real weapon. Lucien who played spymaster to gain intel on Amarantha. Lucien who saved Feyre on Calanmai night. Lucien who protected Feyre under the mountain. RhYsAnD yeah well he didn’t do shit for her without forcing her into a bargain and SAing her, did he? Lucien healed her without obligation, then saved her life in the first task by calling out, TO YOUR LEFT! and took a whipping for it.

In ACOMAF? Less screentime. But still. It was Lucien who came for Feyre in the Night Court. He didn’t know Rhysand wasn’t hurting Feyre; he thought she was under his thrall. He risked his life and came for her. It was Lucien who vouched for Feyre against Tamlin and got punished for it. Lucien who fulfilled the Calanmai rite. Lucien who broke the spell of Hybern to get to Elain.

ACOWAR? It was Lucien who tracked down the Bogge with Feyre. Lucien who killed the Hybern twins with Feyre. Lucien with whom Feyre traveled with across court after court. Lucien who allowed Nuan to create the faebane antidote. Lucien who brought back Papa Archeron and the human army.

In ACOSF? It is STILL Lucien keeping things together. He is the liaison to Spring, emissary of Night, and friend of (essentially) the human king and queen. It is Lucien who dominated Cassian in one word. And it is LUCIEN’S brother Eris who is reigning in Beron for now. And ERIS wants to repair his relationship with Lucien. Both Vanserras are keeping Prythian together at this point.

And it will be Lucien who will need to broker peace between Spring, Autumn, the human lands, and Vallahan (where Mor FAILED). Lucien who will be destroying Koschei to save his friend Vassa. Lucien and Eris who will be killing Beron. THAT IS ENTIRELY LUCIEN’S PLOT. It just pisses me off that Elriels and even Gwynriels moon over Az and try to shove Lucien to the side. Because make no mistake, Lucien IS important, and not just because he’s a future High Lord. No, it’s because he is KEEPING PRYTHIAN FROM ESCALATING INTO ANOTHER WAR!! Lucien is arguably the most important character in this series.

#everything would’ve failed were it not for lucien #lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #elucien #pro elucien

[stargirlie25]

What type of kids ACOTAR couples would have

Feysand- They already have nyx but i imagine them having like another son and Nyx being an older brother

Nessian-They are so girl parent coded its insane. They would probably have like 5 girls and 2 boys haha

Gwynriel-There one of those couples who have one boy and one girl. Perfect. Since they give off boy parents more, the boy would be eldest.

Elucien- They specifically will have twin girls. Exactly that and i refuse anything else.

#pro gwynriel #anti elriel #gwynriel #elucien #pro gwyn #pro elain #acotar #pro elucien #anti e/riel #pro lucien

[vikingmagic33]

how many kids do you personally think gwynriel will have? any pets too?

Yay! I love anons, so thanks for this.

I’m a bit predictable in that I’ve accepted the common hc that they have twin girls. I don’t think they will follow Gwyn and Catrin’s personalities though and will be fully themselves. I also picture them both looking a lot like Az, especially as babies.

I imagine them having a tom cat, who Gwyn and the girls pamper and bribe… but is effortlessly and obviously Az’s cat.

#anon ask #headcanon #acotar #gwynriel #acosf #damn now I have to write it #gwyneth berdara #azriel #azriel shadowsinger

[thebelladonnamoon]

Share your headcanons about Gwynriel children, pretty please??

Yes! Headcanons I have for the Gwynriel babies:

Pregnancy

Despite being the last couple to get together, they are quick to have children.

The first pregnancy is a total surprise and Gwyn finds out one day when she can’t keep her favourite cake down. Azriel is away on a mission and Gwyn is apprehensive as she doesn’t know how he’ll react.

Of course, as soon as he winnows through the door and finds Gwyn cooking an unusual feast of roasted potatoes and stewed apple pie, Azriel just freezes.

He scents it immediately and Gwyn genuinely thinks he may be going into cardiac arrest for how still he becomes.

And then he just… bursts into tears. He runs to her so fast and then falls to his knees and fully sobs. Gwyn follows suit, coming down to the ground with him saying, “You’re not mad?” Az just blinks in shock before replying “Berdara, how could I ever be mad at you for giving me such a blessing?”

The shadows are naturally delighted and instantly turn into overprotective slithery hounds at any opportunity. They also like to wrap around her belly and report every. single. movement to Azriel.

For the first time in his entire life, he takes leave from work to be beside Gwyn through it all. He takes overprotective to a whole new level and whatever Gwyn wants, Gwyn gets. Chocolate cake at 2am? He’s on it. Daily massages and foot rubs? He’s the male for the job.

Gwyn insists on still training, which often leads to Azriel going unnecessarily easy on her, which then leads to her screaming at him.

True to his secretive nature, Az doesn’t tell anyone until she is well into her second trimester and even then, Rhys and Cassian find out by accident. They have a moment, Cassian obviously, is a blubbering mess.

Azriel reads every single book about pregnancy and fatherhood/parenting in an attempt to assuage his anxiety about becoming a father. He is an incredible father because of how seriously he takes the role.

Gwyn sings temple hymns to her tummy every night and whenever Azriel joins in, excited kicks ensue.

Because of his childhood, Azriel is obsessed with the nursery never being too small, dark or lonely. So he paints the nursery in a soft blue colour, builds a massive bookshelf for the whole wall and fills the room with toys, books and musical instruments.

Gwyn gives birth at Rosehall so Azriel’s mother can see her grandchildren being born. There is no shortage of decadent Illyrian food baked everyday for her.

The Children

They obviously name their girl after Gwyn's sister Catrin and the boys are named after their favourite authors because they are forever nerds at heart.

Their kids are genius level smart and can sing, play the piano, read at an adult literacy rate and fight like devils by the time they’re eight years old.

They have three children: twins (boy and girl) first and a baby boy later on.

The Twins: A girl (Catrin) with dark hair and hazel eyes who is cheeky and a total trouble maker and a boy with copper hair and turquoise eyes who is shy, gentle and quiet.

Catrin is a natural at espionage and is known for being able to pick even the toughest locks/break the strongest wards and sneak into forbidden places.

Catrin, Nyx and Nessian’s eldest daughter are best friends and end up giving the bat boys a run for their money with how much trouble they get in. (Whatever you do, don’t bring up the time the trio managed to steal one of Helion’s pegasi and fly to the Middle on a dare and especially don’t mention the time they caught Bryaxis and almost got eaten in the process).

The twin boy, who is very much the quiet/intelligent strategist type, has an academic rivals to lovers relationship with Feysands daughter.

Their joint competitive streaks, differing philosophical outlooks and general poor tempers make for perfect tension. Total Anthony and Kate from bridgerton vibes.

The baby boy is born a few years later and is the spitting image of Azriel - and he has wings! Being the youngest of the lot, he often feels left out and lonely.

He ends up running away to the training camps to have an Illyrian education because he idolises Nyx and wants to prove himself to his father despite Azriel never wanting them near Illyria.

He totally has a friends to lovers romance with a male Illyrian warrior he meets at the training camps and you can’t tell me otherwise. ((Their siphons match))

Azriel’s mother ADORES them and having grandchildren gives her the courage to leave Rosehall occasionally to travel to Velaris for Winter Solstice. Admittedly, she has a soft spot for the youngest, but she’d never say so.

#Gwynriel #headcanons #acotar #gwyneth berdara #azriel #azriel shadowsinger #azriel x gwyn

[carynthiangwyn]

A Ballad of flame and shadow - A Gwynriel Fanfic but Canon Adjacent

Gwyn though a Vanserra grew up as a Berdara away from her court in the temple of Sangravah, as an acolyte. Growing up Gwyn knew why she could never reveal the fact that she was a Vanserra , she knew the danger involved but that never bothered her she was happy being a priestess , happy being with her twin was more than happy spending her life serving the mother....... that was until her world turned upside down and in the most twisted game of fate she ends up having to not only move away from the temple but is now forced to pretend that she married the shadowsinger of the nightcourt , a total stranger, a male she has heard horror stories about and vehemently hates.

Coming to you all in November 2023. This will be a long fic with both Azriel and Gwyns PoV.

#gwynriel fanfiction #gwynriel supremacy #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #acotar #acosf #acosf fanfiction #azriel shadowsinger #shadowsinger #azriel acotar

[starsreminisce]

Elain paused halfway up the stairs. Slowly, she turned to look back at him. “I saw young hands wither with age. I saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.”

I've previously mentioned that the next two books would revolve around two distinct groups, setting up Elucien and Gwynriel as the central couples. This setup allows them to work interchangeably in the next two books.

One book follows Elucien's quest for Koschei's box, while the other traces Gwynriel's mission to free the maidens captured by Koschei.

However, I believe that Elucien's storyline will primarily explore the other courts in Prythian, while Gwynriel's journey will take them to the other continent. This flexibility in the order resembles a 'chicken-or-egg' scenario. Is the box vital as a key to defeating Koschei, or could the maidens potentially serve as crucial allies, akin to Vassa?

If their book were the first, Part One focusing on the Spring Court, Part Two involving the search for the box across other courts, and Part Three centering on the Autumn Court, where the box is ultimately hidden.

If it were the second book, Part One would revolve around searching for the box while being headquartered in Spring, Part Two would shift to the Autumn Court, and Part Three would be preparing for the continent and Part Four would be the final confrontation with Koschei.

In Part One, Elain reaches a breaking point, finally succumbing to the frustration of being restricted and not being allowed to contribute effectively. Two significant catalyst events unfold—one that marks the definitive end of any potential of E/riel, redirecting her attention to Lucien.

How Elain ends up in Spring Court can be resolved in two ways: either she is in a confrontation, either with Lucien or Azriel, that leaves her in a melancholy mood, prompting Feyre and Nesta to suggest a visit to Spring Court, ensuring Lucien will not be there at the moment. Alternatively, she has a confrontation with Lucien, and the emotional turmoil triggers a profound vision. Lucien realizes she has not been training her powers or her powers are connected to him.

This pivotal moment also provides an opportunity for SJM to address how both Lucien and Azriel approach Elain's powers, with the trove situation resurfacing. Their bond has played a crucial role in significant moments, such as when Elain was thrown into the cauldron, during her depressive state afterward, and again when she had the vision of the twin ravens arriving. The notion of the bond bringing them together once more emphasizes their intertwined fates.

Part Two centers around the duo's efforts to rebuild Spring. Drawing parallels to Feyre's exploration of Velaris while mastering her powers, Elain and Lucien begin to rejuvenate the court. The narrative could also take them to other courts in search of Koschei's box or seeking additional answers regarding Elain's seer abilities, similar to Feyre and Rhysand visiting the Weaver's Cottage and Summer Court.

This quest leads them to Autumn Court for Part Three.

I don't think SJM will reveal Lucien's true lineage until he comes to terms with the man who raised him. This might explain why Eris plays a significant role and why Beron is eager to establish a direct alliance with Koschei.

In a bold move to protect Elain from a genuine threat posed by Beron, Lucien challenges him to a Blood Duel or Beron does, prompting Lucien to defend his bond. This not only showcases Lucien's strength, as he fearlessly stands against powerful figures like Tamlin and Rhys, but also emphasizes his commitment to safeguarding his mate. The victory in the Blood Duel signifies Lucien as the rightful heir of another court, marking a significant moment in his journey toward accepting his true identity.

The aftermath of Lucien's true parentage, with Helion as his father, is a realization that may unfold later, possibly during the anticipated crossover.

Lucien must have suspected that Beron is not his father, but the revelation would have been a significant and complex realization for both Lucien and Helion. Imagining Helion suddenly realizing that he has a son with the female he loves would indeed be a lot to process, especially considering the emotions involved. Helion's anger over Beron's mistreatment of LoA did not necessarily provide insight into his awareness of Lucien's true parentage. The dynamics between Lucien and Helion, as well as their feelings toward each other, remain unclear until further exploration in the narrative.

If their book is next, the story concludes with Elain triggering another vision. This time, she confidently predicts the release of the maidens, marking Gwynriel as the next focus of the narrative. Unlike the first instance, Elain is in control and unafraid. Subsequently, she receives a second vision, one more distressing, which may signify the arrival of Bryce or the Asteri, ultimately connecting the two storylines.

This revelation leads them to call the Day Court their home, as Helion now has an heir to train, and Elain's visions play a crucial role in their preparations.

If their book is last, they join the final confrontation, mirroring Aelin and Rowan's pivotal arrival in the decisive battle. It's a bit challenging to envision how Elain's power would be used offensively, as SJM's descriptions of the oracle and mystics in CC and seers in ToG were limited.

However, for both books, the last chapter sees Lucien surprising Elain with a trip to the tulip fields, symbolizing a beautiful and meaningful start to their life together. As they stroll through the vibrant blooms, Elain playfully jokes that her father must have instructed Lucien to bring her here. Lucien looks at her quizzically and denies it. Instead, he shares a heartfelt memory—he had come across the tulip fields while searching for Vassa and vowed to bring Elain here one day. However, her father did ask him to give her the ring that once belonged to her mother.

#elucien #pro elucien #elain x lucien #elucien headcanon #elucien book theory #elucien plot theory #should I just have written a fanfic for this plot?

[gwyns]

I remember a post by an E/riel pushing the theory of Elain being tied to Dusk Court and how she’s connected to the Prison. “Elain will restore the Prison/Dusk Court (with the help of Azriel)” “Elain will become High Lady/High Queen of Dusk”. They even said “Rhys said the Pegasuses hailed from the island the Prison is located on, and haven't been able to breed successfully ever since. If Elain restores the 8th court, that means more pegususes. So in conclusion... Give Elain a Pegasus” 🤡 ??? You know who is actually connected with Pegasus? Gwyn and the Valkyries.

I’m not trying to sound petty, but it’s like they’re trying to turn Elain into a warrior/Gwyn, when Elain isn’t one. I’m glad Elain isn’t a warrior. I like that she would rather garden and bake. I like warrior women, but I also like women who don’t want to wield a sword. Stop trying to make Elain something she’s not.

The same ones saying Elain will be High Lady/High Queen of Dusk Court with Azriel by her side were also the same ones that were fiercely defending that Elain belongs in the Night Court, because her sisters and friends are there. But now it’s different?😂🤡

After HOFAS was released I’ve seen E/riel’s do a lot of backtracking with their theories and now they’re trying to make Elain connected to Gwydion (and still believe Prison/Dusk is hers). Please, let Nesta have something of her own. It makes the most sense for Nesta to have Gwydion. She’s a warrior, has the eight-pointed star tattoo, is connected to the prison, and more connected to the Dread Trove. I think the Valkyries will rule over the Prison after reading a theory about it.

this is sooo funny lol they really do try and take everything from other characters and give it to elain when she already has her own things!!! she likes to garden and bake and has rare seer powers and is outright connected to the new main baddie and vassa through her visions!!!! all of that is cool as hell and they're still trying to find ways to make her more compatible with that bat. if you have to change the fundamentals of your supposed favorite character to make them work better with another character, maybe just maybe... and stay with me here... they're not that good of a match!!

oh silly anon (i swear i'm not trying to be patronizing i'm just trying to joke), don't you know that e/riels are always bullshitting their way through the fandom? one second elain should stay with her sisters, who clearly don't understand her on a deep level and who she doesn't have the best relationships with from what we've seen the past couple of book releases, but then the next she has to be the high lady of dusk! or the princess of the court of nightmares!! or the high queen!!! and all alongside azriel!!!!

i love when they backtrack, i can always get a good laugh out of it, they must have the memory of a goldfish. i fully agree with your last statement. the island the prison is on is for the valkyries, i believe that'll become their stronghold, and isn't it funny how truth teller's twin is in nesta, a valkyrie's, hands and she is also heavily connected to the prison? all this tells me personally is that az is likely the next mc and nesta will be at least somewhat involved in the plot

and guess what? if one valkyrie is involved, all of them will be. meaning gwynriel is looking more and more endgame every single day. i can see why they're upset 🥰

#hofas spoilers #cc3 spoilers #house of flame and shadow spoilers #crescent city spoilers #antielriel #anti e/riel #asks #anonymous

[aldbooks]

Finally came home from work not wanting to immediately crash into bed so worked on the Gwynriel Starfall drabble I mentioned the other day.

So here, have your pain. Be prepared for tears.

TW: discussions of grief, allusions to self harm/thoughts

---

A hush fell over the gathered crowd as the lights dimmed and everyone's gaze turned skyward. It was then Azriel noticed that Gwyn was no longer among the crowd.

Truth be told, he'd been somewhat surprised she'd accepted the invitation to the annual Starfall party Rhys- and now Nesta- hosted at the House of Wind. The Blood Rite the prior year had clearly shaken the priestess, which he did not fault her for in the slightest, but the result was that- according to her friends- some of the progress she'd made towards leaving the Library and the priestess hood behind had regressed. This party was meant to be a reintroduction of sorts to life outside, reacquainting Gwyn with what it feels like to socialize with new people.

She would be safe here, he knew that. Even with all the visiting guests from other courts, between himself, Cassian, Nesta, Emerie and even Rhys and Mor, someone would always be looking out for her should she find herself overwhelmed. Yet, when he looked around a moment before, he had see Nesta, and Emerie chatting with Cresseida, Cassian had been having a lively discussion with Helion, Rhys and Feyre were showing off their son to group of adoring admirers, and Mor and Amren were drinking and laughing in a corner with Vivianne. Everyone was accounted for- except Gwyn.

But he hadn't seen her leave.

He could sense his shadows urging him back inside and he allowed them to lead him as they propelled up through the House and up the stairs to the training ring. There, laying on one of the training mats that had been left out from the morning, with her dress fanned around her legs, was Gwyn.

She didn't make a sound as he approached, just lay there, arms splayed out at her sides, staring up at the night sky where the stars had begun to fall. She didn't even acknowledge him as he crouched to sit beside her but, as he got closer, he noticed a lone tear glittering on her cheek.

Instantly concerned, he reached out to gently swipe it away, growing evermore concerned as she continued to ignore his presence as though she were not aware of him.

"Gwyn," he asked softly. She did not look at him but he saw the slight flicker of her eyes that said she'd heard him. "Are you alright?"

Her lips parted but all that escaped was a choked breath. His shadows immediately slithered towards her, wrapping consolingly around her arm. Some unnamed feeling sparked in his chest at her obvious distress by he tamped it down. "May I join you?"

Carefully, he stretched out beside her, the tips of his fingers a bare inch from hers and for a long moment, neither of them spoke while they watched the sky.

After what felt like hours while his mind swirled with concern, wondering what had upset her so badly, she said-"It's been four years."

He blinked, momentarily nonplussed.

"I haven't watched Starfall properly in four years, since before-" She didn't finish the sentence, but she didn't have to.

Since before the attack on Sangravah. Since those brutes had abused her. Since she'd come to the library.

Since she'd lost her sister.

Somehow, he knew it was the last point that bothered her the most.

He said nothing, allowing her to speak her thoughts in her own time. Slowly but surely, she did.

"At first, it was because it had only just happened. I'd barely been in the Library a month. Time- or rather, the passing of it, I suppose, still didn't seem real. Nothing felt real."

There was a painful constriction in his chest as he listened to her and familiar guilt rose in him. She was yet another person he'd failed to save. Sure, she was alive and well now, but he hadn't been able to spare her the pain and indignity of what those bastards had done to her. Had not been able to spare her the horror of watching her twin die in front of her. Hadn't been able to save any of the many of other priestesses who'd lost their lives that terrible night.

"After that I- I stayed in my rooms, didn't even look out the window. It was a punishment of sorts, I think. Because I was here and she wasn't." Her voice became choked, and he knew she'd begun crying again. "She would never see these things again, why should I?"

Azriel felt a stab of pain at her words. Had that not been the exact thought he and Cass and Mor had had that first year without Rhys? Knowing he was locked under that mountain, unable to see the stars they all loved so much, why should they be allowed to enjoy it? Of course, Rhys had eventually come home... Gwyn's sister never would.

"That first year was the hardest," she continued through her tears. "The holidays and celebrations were the worst I think. Catrin and I had always shared them together just like we shared everything. And then I was suddenly alone, and I felt- I felt so lost. Sometimes I hated her for it. For leaving me here with all these memories and all this pain- she left me alone-"

Her breath stuttered as she held back a sob and Azriel felt his throat grow tight.

"There were nights- dark nights- when I thought about- when I wanted to join her...."

Azriel's heart stilled, his body going cold all over as something roared inside of him, screaming in fury at the thought of never knowing this woman. Of not watching her grow and flourish into the warrior he now knew. But he couldn't say the feeling she described was foreign to him.

He may never have lost someone so precious to him that he felt compelled to join them in the beyond. Indeed, he often had to acknowledge how blessed he was that every single soul he cared about was still on this earth. But there had been times if he'd wondered if perhaps they might all be better if he were not there.

He said none of this out loud. He wasn't ready to acknowledge those thoughts, not now. But... one day... She understood, he realized, she would understand, she would not judge him. Perhaps one day, he'd tell her what he'd never told anyone else.

Her soft voice brought him back to the present.

"It wasn't until that first Solstice without her, when I was attending service and the priestess spoke about darkness giving birth to light, and the renewal of the Mother, that I realized I had found solace in those moments int he chapel. In song, in prayer, in reflection... And I realized, she would not have wanted this for me. For me to remain hidden away from the world. She would have wanted me to live..."

She sucked in a shaky breath and when she spoke again her voice was broken. "She would have been so disappointed in me-"

Azriel's heart ached unbearably. He inched his hand to the side, his fingers seeking hers, seeking permission to touch and she allowed it, wrapping her hand around his and squeezing tightly.

"I couldn't bear it- I was disappointed in myself as well. Disappointed that I wasn't ready, that I could barely stomach the thought of leaving this place that had become my haven- my safe port in a storm..."

"It wasn't until I met Nesta- and Emerie- and Cassian.... and you- that I started to feel like I didn't need that port anymore. I could be my own anchor. But I was- am, still scared..."

Azriel was incapable of speaking with the well of emotion in him, so he just squeezed her hand back, trying to convey without words that it was ok that she was still scared. That whenever she was ready, Nesta and Emerie, Cass and himself would all be there to catch her when she jumped.

He would always be there to catch her.

He'd thought his heart had broken as he listened to her describe her grief, but it was the stark regret in her next words that shattered him.

"What if I missed her?"

He didn't know what she meant at first, until he realized she wasn't just looking up at the stars that streaked by. She'd been scanning them, as though looking for something.

"When her soul passed through from this world, what if I missed her while I was hiding away in my room like a coward? I- I never got to say goodbye- what if I missed her?"

Azriel squeezed his eyes shut, unable to hold back his own tears any longer. After a moment, he managed to say. "So say it now. Say goodbye. I'm sure- wherever she is, she hears your heart. She knows." He turned his head to look at her and found her looking back at him with a fathomless expression that begged for absolution. "Goodbye isn't for her, Gwyn. It's for you. So say it now, if you're ready to."

Fresh tears filled her eyes, making them glisten in the starlight, almost like they were glowing. Her chin wobbling slightly, she turned back to the sky, squeezing her eyes shut as her lips moved in a silent prayer until sobs overtook her.

With a slight tug on her hand, she rolled into his side, pressing her face his shoulder as she sobbed and he held her quietly through tears of his own until the stars faded and they drifted into sleep together, still clinging tightly to one another.

#gwynriel #gwynriel angst #TW #no time to edit I was crying too much

[acourtofthought]

E/riels are so funny when they claim Azriel is madly in love with Elain when you consider how he looks at Mor vs how he looks at Elain (not including Gwyn in this as they are just friendly atm).

When he looks at Mor, there’s always something- hunger, longing, yearning, etc. He literally cannot or doesn’t want to control his expressions around her.

When he looks at Elain, it’s bland and neutral (actual words used in the books to describe his smiles and looks toward Elain). But I’m sure it’s because he’s so overcome with love that he can’t even bring himself to show it on his face lmao

I also don’t know how people are ignoring Azriel looking at Mor with yearning in ACOFAS when Elain was in the room. No way Elain hasn’t noticed. It’s one thing to believe E/riel is endgame, it’s another to try to force everyone to believe they’re in love when we know that’s not true.

And that is the issue with the E/riel ship in a nutshell. A male love interest having feelings for two females at the same time is the least romantic romance book setup around. I'm going to write this next part coming from the perspective that the target audience of these books are female readers who realize that they'll be getting a F/M endgame pairing in each story. That's not to say Sarah won't ever explore F/F or M/M main POVs in the future but I think it's clear who her typical pairings are. I've seen authors write a female struggling between two male love interests and that's less of an issue. A women feeling desired by two men and trying to decide who she wants is something females are comfortable reading because they are ok with themselves being in that kind of story. But a female reader reading a story where the guy is struggling with his feelings for two girls? I don't know many who are really going to enjoy that. Not many females (since again, that's usually the target audience for traditional F/M romance books), want to feel as if the main heroine is in competition for the guys affections. They want her to be the one the MMC is smitten over, where there is no one else that can compare. They don't want the guy to be thinking, "well, either of these ladies would do." E/riels claim there is canon evidence of Az's feelings for Elain in ACOWAR and ACOFAS, and while I still disagree with that, there is CLEARLY canon evidence of Az's feelings for Mor at the exact same time. And it's only after Mor's repeated rejection of Az (snatching her hand away from him, sleeping with other men, etc), that he finally starts to come around to the realization that he may never have her. But he STILL blushes at her in the novella, he STILL looks at her with yearning in the novella even though he had spent time around Elain by then. Taking her to her seeds, sitting on the patio, family dinners, etc. He had time to watch her interact with the twins, with her sisters, etc. He had time to study Elain, interact with her. Yet his love for Mor still lingered. That's not at all romantic to me, And even when he spent an entire year staring at her headache powder, he still expresses jealousy over Mor, he still can't admit to being over Mor. He has never had feelings for Elain (whatever they are) without also having feelings for Mor and to me that reads as if Elain has never been the clear winner for his love, she's always been in competition with Mor and it's more by default that he decided to focus on her rather than being who he actually wants. Honestly, the Gwynriel setup even sucks a little bit because I don't like that Gwyn has now entered the picture yet he's still lusting after both Mor and Elain and I don't find that romantic for Gwynriel either. But at least with Gwyn, we're not sitting here being told he has "feelings" for (of lust or love) while he also has feelings for someone else.

I'd rather him move beyond both Elain and Mor for good in the next book, have him accept being single for a few months and then start his romantic arc with Gwyn so that his feelings for her can stand alone.

#anti e/riel

[sunshinebingo]

idk if your request is still open but i’ll try my luck 😭

could you please do a gwynriel angst where they have to attend a friend’s wedding party and their friends didn’t know they have broken up and they were forced into a seven minutes in heaven game but instead of what their friends have expected, the seven minutes turned out to be tears and heartbreak

i’m feeling kinda sad rn and this idea suddenly popped into my head. If you couldn’t do it, totally fine

Hi anon!! My request is always open so please feel free to send me any suggestion you might have.

Thank you so so much for having sent this one. It made me cry a bit ngl 😂 I hope you like it 🤭

Gwynriel - 1.8k - No warning - Angst only

Read on Ao3 or below the cut

*****

Love is a losing game

Some said better to love and lose than to have never known love. Right now, Gwyn wished she had never known love at all. As she watched the two newlyweds dressed in lace and silks whiter than the roses that filled the small garden, their eyes sparkling with happiness and love, their laughs rising above that of the small party who had gathered to celebrate this new step in their life, Gwyn saw what she would never have. And she wished, more than anything, that she had never known what being in love felt like.

Her own bridesmaid outfit was a mockery of it. The ivory dress that Emerie had wanted her chosen sisters to wear when walking her down the aisle had seemed to laugh at Gwyn with every step she had made, blue bouquet in hand, towards the alter. It was all a cruel, sick joke and she hated it. Hated herself for having so stupidly walked into it.

“Hey,” Nesta’s gentle voice broke through her thoughts.

Gwyn turned to look at sister, blinking away the tears of anger that had started to fill her eyes. Nesta narrowed her eyes inquisitively. “Are you okay?”

No.

“I am,” she offered Nesta one the fakest smile she had ever forced onto her face. Gwyn shrugged at her sister’s silent insistence. “I’m just so happy for them.”

Nesta laughed and picked up her crystal glass. “You’ve always been the most romantic of the three of us,” she said, referring to Gwyn, Emerie and herself. Emerie and Nesta. The only true loves of her life besides her twin and her mother.

“And the funniest,” Gwyn added with none of the joy that usually accompanied her sass.

“And the sweetest and the smartest,” Emerie chimed in across from them, fingers entwined in her new wife’s.

Nesta hummed her approval. Gwyn wondered how long it would take for them to notice the walls she had built around herself to hide her misery. She hoped that the cracks forming in this wall as she watched everyone’s happy faces would not make the whole thing crumble before she could get far away from them.

An eruption of voices caused another crack to form. It got worse when Cassian’s boisterous voice called her name on the other side of Nesta, along with another.

“Gwyn and Azriel. It’s time to find out the truth.”

Gwyn tensed and blurted a, “What?”

She felt a wave of panic rising. Gwyn internally added more bricks to her wall. She slammed her hands against the cracks even as more tears threatened to bring it all down. She couldn’t be weak. Not now. Not in front of him. Not ever.

Not now. Please. Please.

“We need to find out if you two can spend seven minutes in heaven and keep things clean,” Rhysand explained across from Cassian, no doubt mistaking her dread for confusion. His words settled in Gwyn before she could sigh at the fact that no one had yet learned the real truth.

Only then, hours after having stepped foot here, did she look at him for more than a second. His hazel eyes were already on her. Gwyn refused to read any emotion in them. She could not bear anymore lies from him.

“Come on Gwynnie,” Cassian went on. “We already placed the bets. And I know I will win because Az hasn’t stopped looking at you.”

Feyre giggled next to Rhys. “That’s nothing new Cass.”

“I know but it’s different today. His stare has been...,” Cassian placed a finger on his chin as though he was looking for the perfect word. “...harder,” he finally added with a wink that earned him a laugh from everyone around the table.

“It’s probably the white dress,” Mor wiggled her perfect eyebrows at Gwyn.

A flush crept up Gwyn’s cheeks. Not because of the insinuation from the beautiful blond, but because there had been a time where she would have believed everything that they were saying. What a fool she had been. What a stupid, romantic, naive fool.

“Oh that pretty blush is promising,” Nesta teased next to her. “Come on.”

Before she could give any response, Nesta was out of her chair and pulling Gwyn up by the arm. Next to her, Cassian had already pulled a semi-reluctant Azriel out of his seat and was dragging him across the garden towards the small shed.

All words evaded Gwyn. All she could focus on was trying to keep herself together. She could do this. Seven minutes. She would be strong. For seven minutes.

“And no less,” Cassian exclaimed after pushing both her and Azriel in the shed. Gwyn stared at the closed door after the loud click of the lock sounded from outside.

The silence in the small dark place was louder than the faint voices on the other side. It stretched on for what felt like ten times more than seven minutes. Everything was so still around her that despite having her back to him, Gwyn felt Azriel lift his hand and reach towards her.

“Gwy-,”

“Don’t,” she took a step to the side before he could touch her shoulder.

“Gwyn plea-,”

“Don’t,” she said more firmly. Though her next words came out in a whisper. “Please, don’t.”

She turned around and faced him. She begged her heart to keep quiet and pleaded with reason to not abandon her. This situation seemed like a mirror of the last time that they had been in the same room. Suddenly, the last month faded into nothing. Gwyn felt like she was still in his living room, staring into his eyes and wondering why on earth she had ever trusted him. It was pity for herself that she had felt before she had stormed out of his apartment that night.

“Gwyn. Please,” he took a step forward and she took one back. “Let me explain.”

“What I saw was explanation enough,” she snapped.

“It’s not what you think.” His voice was laced with impatience. If she believed in his lies, she would have also discerned hurt in it. But it was probably a bit of wishful thinking from her part.

Gwyn let out a sardonic laugh. “And what would you have thought, Azriel,” she spat his name like it had become the hardest thing for her to say, “if you had seen me doing what you were doing with her.”

He ran a hand through his hair, pulling on the dark strands in frustration like he usually did.

“It was a mistake. A huge, fucking mistake. And I regret every fucking second of it.”

“A mistake...,” Gwyn tasted the word on her tongue. It was the same word he had used that day. That same word that she had turned around and around in her head for the past month while she had thought back on the years that they had spent together.

“This should have never happened, you have to believe me.”

“But it did.”

“It was a fucking mistake.” That godforsaken word again. As if saying it enough times would remove his involvement in the act he had committed. “I swear love, I never wanted to hurt you. She - ”

“She what?” her voice rose above his and made him freeze. “Did she force you to do anything?”

Azriel didn’t react. His silence was answer enough. And when he kept staring at her with those deep hazel eyes that she adored so much, with that same intensity that had made her lose her godsdamned mind so many times since she had first looked into them, her wall crumbled. Her strength to keep it up left her, running away to the darkest corner of the shed along with her resolve to keep her mouth shut.

“I thought that you would be the one to finally make me believe that I deserve this kind of love. But y-you...,” she wasn’t sure what to say except that she had to let out what had been plaguing her mind for a whole month.

“I trusted you. I...”

He took another step towards her but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. She ignored what touching him was doing to her. Ignored that she wasn’t the only one that had touched him and kept talking despite her voice coming out as sobs

“I never forced you to stay with me. You always had a choice. And you chose to hurt me.”

“I didn’t want –,”

“BUT YOU DID,” she shouted.

She didn’t notice the sudden quiet of the voices outside nor did she care. Azriel fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Please, my love. This will never happen again.”

Looking at him like this made something twist inside Gwyn. Her whole body was trembling with anger and pain. An endless flow of tears started streaming down her face. How dare he make such empty promises after having ripped her heart out like he did.

“I know you still love me, Gwyn.”

She huffed. “Of course I love you.” There was no point in denying it. “I hate myself for loving you so much.”

Azriel grabbed one of her hands and brought it to his lips. “Please let me fix this. I love you more than anything.”

Another sentence that she had heard back then. As if trust could be fixed by simply snapping one’s fingers. As if those images that had haunted her for an entire month would disappear by simply piling new ones on top.

“If this is your idea of love, then it’s wrong,” she said, slowly removing her hand from his. She closed her eyes as she did so, knowing well that this would be last time she would ever let him touch her. Perhaps the last time she would ever let any man touch her. It seemed impossible in this moment that she would ever trust a man again with her heart. Not when it would always remain with the one kneeling at her feet. The sight was another mockery of the future she had dreamed for them. Another sick and cruel joke of life.

A knock sounded at the door followed by Cassian’s deep voice. “You still decent in there? Time’s over.”

Time wasn’t the only thing that was over. Gwyn was almost at the door when Azriel abruptly stood up and grabbed her wrist. Without even thinking, she turned around and slapped him so hard that the incessant knocking on the door stopped.

Azriel released her wrist and brought his hand to his cheek. His hazel eyes found hers again. His eyes were red and filled with tears, his expression full of something that she refused to acknowledge.

Since she had nothing left to say and so much more tears left to shed, Gwyn turned around and walked out, to somewhere she could mourn the loss of her heart.

#ANGST #Warning - No happy ending #I broke my own heart writing this #thank you anon! #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #azriel shadowsinger

[the-darkestminds]

I’ve seen E/riel’s say > “that Elucien’s (book) theories all revolve around Lucien and not Elain (like how Gwynriel’s theories revolve around Azriel & not Gwyn), because she needs to leave the NC & her family to find herself and become her own person. She needs to leave her friends Nuala and Cerridwen who played a pivotal part in her healing. The rejected mating bond that's been hinted at has nothing to do with Elain. It has to do with Lucien's parents, Helion and Lady Autumn. A rejected mate bond would be a huge storyline for any book but it's going to be a side plot with the side characters involved in Lucien's storyline. Who cares about Elain being a seer or a spy when she can play the socialite trophy wife to Lucien the grand Emissary and High Lord. She can mingle and plan parties and be pretty and charming at balls because apparently she's a giant extrovert (which we have not seen). For all this discourse around an E/riel book being bad for Elain because Azriel would be the focus and not Elain, I have yet to see a plot for an elucien book that centers on Elain and not Lucien. So I find it hard to believe they actually care about Elain, when she seems like nothing more than a means to an end to give the poor ginger cinammon roll Lucien the story and ending they think he deserves. That Elain is expected to live with Jurian, who was directly responsible for her being Made, and be neighbors with Graysen. Because her mate decided that it was totally appropriate for him to be friends with both of those specimens.”

E/riel’s are acting as if we’re saying Elain needs to forget her family and she’ll never get to visit them. Feyre literally called Elain a pleasant companion and the wraith twins are being paid by Feysand to spend time with Elain. It’s literally canon. I’ve seen many Elucien’s discuss theories on Elain and her seer abilities. Her taking down Koschei, involved with Vassa, fixing/healing Spring Court. Elain being a spy doesn’t make sense given the characterization of her character. Elain does give off high society vibes. She danced and personally greeted each guest at balls. Nesta said that Elain used to enjoy balls and parties. Elain who could convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles. I do believe that Elain is an extrovert, but she’s traumatized (understandably) after being thrown into the Cauldron and everything else. I’ve never seen an Elucien call Elain a trophy wife. It’s like E/riel’s are putting words in our mouths.

I’ve seen E/riel’s talk about how Elain is so similar to Mor: bright, extroverted. But then they change it to Elain being in introvert then back to her being an extrovert, or how she’s an ambivert. They constantly change her personality and the theories about her character/their “forbidden romance” ship. If Lucien chose to live in Velaris, I could see E/riel’s throwing a fit. “He’s stalking/harassing her!” But then they criticize him for not putting in “enough effort”.

And Gwynriel’s have come up with so many theories/story arcs about Gwyn outside of Azriel. Her wielding Gwydion, her possibly finding Narben, her research on other worlds, working through her trauma, using her invoking stone, leaving the library, her sisters death.

I see this all this time anon!! Such a popular argument among Elriels that all of the stuff with Koschei and Beron and Spring all focus on Lucien and not Elain. But I don’t see it that way. I think Elriels think this because they believe Elain is happy and thriving in the Night Court. They have a difficult time imagining a scenario in which Elain leaves the NC to discover her true purpose and what she wants out of her immortal life. And I guess yeah, if Elain were truly content it would seem silly for her to leave. But is Elain’s destiny really to live in the background of Feyre’s life? No, of course not. Just like it wasn’t Nesta’s to fill whatever role Feyre could come up with once the wall came down in ACOWAR. Each sister has her own unique journey. I think it’s crazy to suggest that the mating bond between Elain and Lucien is some minor issue. This is a huge deal in sjm books, as she has made clear many times. It’s part of Elain accepting herself as Fae, coming to terms with the loss of her human fiancé and the life she imagined for herself, that she can still have an epic love despite having lost her first love. Lucien can help her do that because he’s suffered something similar. I think right now we are not seeing Elain at her best, based on what we know about how she was as a human. She could charm anyone with a single smile, beloved by everyone she meets, a ray of sunshine, etc. Is this what we see from Elain right now? No. So just because we don’t know exactly what the plot will entail doesn’t mean it’s Lucien-centered. (Although I love Lucien so much I am dying for him to at least get 50% of the POV of the next book!) I have never seen any Elucien theory reduce Elain to being a “trophy wife” so that definitely sounds made up!

Minor HOFAS Spoilers ahead!

As far as Gwyn goes, I think it’s very obvious how much more she and Azriel have in common. They both have intense trauma, they both suffer from feelings of not being worthy of love, they are both tied to the Illyrian plotline via the blood rite, they both have a connection to the multiverse (Azriel due to his interactions with the Asteri and Gwyn with her research into multiple worlds with Merrill). Add in the bonus chapter and I think it’s pretty obvious where things are headed 🤷‍♀️

Also side note, what did they expect Jurian to do to stop the king of Hybern? Jurian is a hero who has likely seen more horrors than probably any other character considering he lived as an eyeball for 500(?) years and had to watch every horrific thing Amarantha did. I think implying he’s some evil asshole is so silly. Jurian is awesome. 😤

#anon you bring up the best points #thank u #my anons are so smart #pro elucien #hofas spoilers #elucien #gwynriel #pro gwynriel #anti e/riel #anti elriel

[mythicalcookie]

Hello guys I have a question concerning Gwynriel fanfiction.

I believe it was on ao3, where at the beginning Gwyn made Az 2 cupcakes, accepting the bond. Cupcakes were blue and pink since Gwyn was pregnant with twins. And I remember that while Az was fearful of mating frenzy, Gwyn and Rhys said it's not that strong with a pregnant female. And there were few parts: them coming back to Velaris, examination with Madja, Cassian with glued fruits to his belly, and the birth.

And I forgot the name and the author 😭 That's why I'm asking: if anyone knows it and would send me the link? or a title? I'd be grateful 💓

#gwynriel #azriel shadowsinger #acotar #azriel x gwyn #gwyneth berdara #pro gwynriel