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readychilledwine · 3 months

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Bound by Fate pt 7

Summary - When Kaylee Archeron meets Azriel, her world turns upside down. Between balancing her trauma, new powers, a mating bond, and war looming over her new home, Kaylee learns everything is not as little as it once seemed.

Warnings - trauma response (shutting down and disassociation), Eris being an ass for the purpose of ✨️storyline✨️, desperation and angst on Azriel's end, possessiveness, some drived dialog/timeline changes, because ✨️fanfiction storyline/author got two events backwards ✨️, some angst

A/N - So, i realized as I was rereading this and the previous part, I got the meeting with Eris and Lucien going to find Vassa reversed on my timeline sheet. Excuse my mess up. I'll do a little Sarah style retcon to correct it. I thought about Eris sneaking her to the High Lord's meeting and rewriting this completely, but that would have been nearly impossible with Beron.

Alsp, Kaylee and Azriel will get a real reunion next time. And for those of you who like when men crawl and take accountability. It's for you 💙

Series Masterlist

Azriel Masterlist

The tension in the room was thick. Eris walked Kaylee to a waiting Azriel. “Safe and home, as promised, Shadowsinger.”

Azriel took her with shaking hands, moving her to stand in front of him with a tight grip on her hips.

Kaylee watched as the blonde male in the room began to smirk. “She looks lovely in my dear Morrigan's dress.”

Eris hummed in response. “She looks lovely in many things I presume.” Azriel's grip tightened and he took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.

Every fiber of his being, every primal instinct was begging him, no, yelling and screaming for him to slam Kaylee down on the table, fucking her in front of everyone in the damned room to mark her as his territory.

A soft purr came into Kaylee’s mind as her eyes found the floor. Did you fuck him?

No. He wanted to, but it didn't go that far.

Rhys, to his own surprise, maintained his composure as Eris and Keir spoke to each other. Did he tell you whose dress that was?

No, Kaylee answered again. He said it had been sitting in the Forest House.

Azriel is going to murder him. Calm your mate. Rhys left her mind before turning to Keir and Eris, beginning whatever meeting they had planned. Kaylee stroked the bond, gently and testing, trying to evade her mate's anger, while also not sending him hers.

Azriel's grip loosened, one arm wrapping her hips and the other coming to her shoulders. He was holding her tightly against him, the scent of cedar and chilled air filling her lungs, intoxicating her into a deep sense of weightlessness and peace, allowing her to zone out of whatever political mess Rhysand and Feyre were dealing with.

He tugged the bond tight, ensuring the scent of it hit the air before resting his chin on your head.

Eris's eyes flicked your way, pulling another growl from deep inside of Azriel. The heir smirked before agreeing to whatever conditions Keir and Rhys had laid before him.

Kaylee distracted herself with Azriel's hands, the slow realization that the dress she was wearing belonged to Mor had set in. Meaning this male, the male whose arms she had slept in, who she had allowed to touch her, was Mor's ex fiancé. The one who had left her dear friend for dead.

Then, slow realization Eris was not Azriel's friend - not her friend - set in.

The slow realization he had used her set in.

“You look well, Mor.” Kaylee didn't miss the look in his eyes, that cold taunting distance. Only she didn't know who he was taunting. Mor appeared repulsed by his being here, hurt maybe, but would not take his bait.

“You don’t speak to her,” Azriel said softly. Eris looked at Kaylee as if he had been right about something. “I see you’re still holding a grudge. I imagine seeing your little mate in that dress and smelling like my bed makes it worse, doesn't it?”

Kaylee whimpered as Azriel's grip on her tightened. He was holding her so close to his chest it was no wonder they weren't one or that she could breathe.

“This arrangement, Eris,” Rhys said, “relies solely upon you keeping your mouth shut and your hands to yourself.”

His sarcastic laugh had Kaylee recoiling impossibly further into Azriel. “And haven’t I done an excellent job? Not even my father suspected when I left tonight. Nor will he smell her on me. I ensured just the two of them could deal with that. It hurts, doesn't it Azriel, when your mate has been touched by another male? When another male comforts her loneliness and calms her anger."

Azriel growled behind her, "If this is about Lucien thinking he caught Elain and I, you could not be more wrong about what happened that night."

Eris smirked, leaning further onto the table. "Sounds familiar."

Kaylee felt eyes on her, causing her to begin sinking further into herself. For once, to Rhysand's surprise, she ignored his beast calling for her, trying to comfort her.

Kaylee had no interest in her magic right now. No interest in the fae. No interest in anything but getting back to Lucien.

Lucien was safe.

Lucien didn't promise safety and then allow her to be taken and held hostage by a tyrant.

Lucien didn't promise her forever then fuck her sister.

Lucien didn't promise to keep her safe then use her for whatever game he had in mind.

No, Lucien was kind. He was warm. He was safe. Lucien, if Kaylee was being honest, may have been the best thing to walk into her life if this was the fate she was in store for.

What was the point of a mating bond, this great promise of unconditional love and equality, when the person, the fae, she corrected herself mentally, could so easily betray you and lie about it.

What was the point in this found family encompassing her and her sisters when she wasn't wanted nor welcome.

What was the point in trying to keep this light in her going? When instead she could let it burn out slowly and just feel nothing.

Azriel's grip softened when he felt emptiness from Kaylee. She wiggled from his grip, leaving his side and going to the door, Mor going after her.

Kaylee didn't know where she was going, but she ignored Mor calling for her. Her feet led her blindly until she found herself in a room standing in front of Nesta.

Morrigan stilled, watching as Nesta tilted Kaylee's face up to look at her. Amren was sniffing her and growled with an unmasked look of disgust.

Nesta opened her mouth as Mor waited for the insults to fly. Her jaw dropping when instead a simple question was asked, “Who did this to you?” Kaylee shook her head rapidly, shoulders falling into sobs as she allowed Nesta to pull her into her chest. “I'm so sorry, Kaylee.”

Kaylee allowed Rhys to walk her to her room in the Riverhouse. The two of them didn't speak as he held her shoulders, taking her to the one safe place all of her friends would be able to reach her.

He sat her down in front of the vanity, unbraiding and unpinning her hair in silence. “I just need to know if you were willing when he touched you,” Rhys didn't stop his work. “No one is mad at you. We all do not believe this was your fault. You were used, Kaylee. That's not your fault." It sounded like he was reminding himself of that as well, and like he was trying to stay together for her.

Kaylee nodded, unable to form words and stared towards the window.

Rhys felt himself shattering.

All their progress with her was slipping away. Taken by a mistake, a misunderstanding, catalyzed by the oldest sister they found comforting her. “Kaylee, don't do this. Talk to me, please.”

Her eyes had gone hollow and empty. She shrugged at him. Shutting herself down completely. Rhysand turned her in the vanity chair, kneeling down to be face to face with her.

“I love you,” he whispered. “Feyre loves you. Cassian loves you. Azriel loves you. Mor loves you. Amren is Amren,” he paused at her ghost of a smile. “You did nothing wrong.” He kissed her forehead, holding her close and hoping contact with him, with anyone from the Inner Circle would bring her back to them.

When she gave him no reaction, he sighed, forehead falling against hers, “Call for me or Fey if you need anything. Tug the bond if you want Azriel. We will all be at the House of Wind. We don't want you around Mor when she's like this."

And all she heard was, "We don't want you."

Kaylee tossed and turned in bed that night.

She could feel something tugging for her, reaching out and calling for her like a siren spell. She got up opening the doors to her private balcony and shut her eyes, trying to feel for whatever wanted her.

When she finally found it, the presence was so familiar she could hardly ignore it now, “I'm ready,” her hushed tone carried in the dead silence of the night, she moved back into her room, putting on clothing and packing a bag.

Then find me, the voice was ancient and deep, rumbling in her soul.

She went down the steps, opening the bond to sense Azriel asleep and at peace for the first time since she had left with Lucien.

“I'm sorry,” she whispered to no one as she walked far enough outside of the house's shield. “Forgive me.”

Azriel was in a deep sleep. Cassian and Rhys had all but forced a tonic down his throat, holding him back from going to Kaylee.

His dream was paradise. The two of them were finally alone, sand from the beach covering their feet as golden sunlight reflected off stilled waters.

Eerily still waters Azriel realized. He blinked in confusion as the dream changed to him walking into a dark cave with nothing but a single torch lighting his way.

This all felt similar, like he had been here before, yet, he hadn't.

And even in its similarity, it felt different. Instead of this being a dream, he was watching it through someone.

It wasn't until the deep growl came, followed by Kaylee gently shushing that realized he was.

Azriel shot awake, tugging the bond, screaming through it, screaming for Rhys and Feyre. A shadow came to him, confirming his fear.

Kaylee was no longer in the Riverhouse. Nor the townhome. Nor did she climb 10,000 steps to the House of Wind.

He had never thrown his armor on quicker in his life, he had never strapped weapons to himself faster than he was now as the bond begged him to protect her this time. To fulfill his duty to her, to his mate.

Rhys and Feyre rushed into his room, Cassian and Mor in tow. “Azriel, it's 3am. Why are you getting dressed and why are you yelling so loudly for us?” Rhysand's voice was heavy with sleep, Feyre leaning against him.

“Kaylee isn't at the Riverhouse. She left and accidentally sent where she is down the bond. We need to go. Now.”

Cassian squeezed his eyes. “Az, Rhys left her there. She-”

“Is standing in a cave with a fucking fire drake, Cassian! My mate tracked down the fucking fire drake with her Dark Mother Cursed magic and is putting her life in danger.”

Rhysand's face dropped as Azriel showed him. “Cassian, go get dressed. Feyre, Mor, go collect Madja and other healers. Now.”

The three Illyrians winnowed to the cave set by the ruins near the Prison. “All this time it's been this close to us, to Velaris,” Cassian muttered. “The last of the fire drakes, this close by.”

Smoke was billowing from the mouth of the cave, cause Azriel's stomach to drop. His only hope came in still feeling her. In feeling that faint opening she had accidentally left in the bond. He didn't wait for a plan, entering the cave despite the shouts coming from behind him.

He would find her, and when he did, he would beg, crawl, grovel. He would let Kaylee rip his heart out with his own dagger for just one moment to explain what happened, to plead for forgiveness, to beg her to give him a chance.

One where Elain didn't interfere.

One where he courted her properly.

One where he knew it could be the end of their everything, but that he had at least tried.

He found her centered in the deepest part of the cave. The fire drake had its head next to her. Its scarred and scaled body was relaxed, taking deep breaths as she shushed it gently, stroking right above its nose.

Rhys and Cassian entered behind him, immediately noticing the same thing. “He's lonely,” Kaylee's voice wobbled, an evident sign she had been crying. “And he thought, maybe, just maybe, he and I could be lonely together.”

General taglist -

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanagers

Bound by Fate Taglist-

@impossibelle @luvmoo @wallacewillow0773638 @nightless

@cat-or-kitten @knmendiola @holb32

@mis-lil-red @minakay @whatsupb18 @deeshag @justdreamstars @pyrostatic @acourtofmarvels @no1massassin @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @acourtofbatboydreams @mich0731 @thelov3lybookworm @going-through-shit

@coralseacourt @snoopyspace @tothestarsandwhateverend

#acotar #azriel acotar #boundbyfate #azriel shadowsinger #azriel x oc #azriel x archeron!oc #az x oc #az x archeron!oc

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yazthebookish · 3 months

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I loved all of what Sarah highlighted in her interview today and I'll elaborate a bit especially on the romance part:

In Maas’ fantasy worlds, love interests often exist as fated “mates,” with invisible strings between them that are powerful and often poetic. Readers can see the literary metaphors, like complementary powers between two characters. But other times, there are no metaphors, with their connection initially seeming random.

She's too attached to the mate trope and I like that she gives us different cases and scenarios for it, otherwise it'll be boring.

“Sometimes, I will write a scene with two characters that I’ve planned for them to get together, and then they have no …” She shakes her head slightly at me. “It’s like holding two dolls and being like, now kiss! And they won’t. … And then sometimes a different character will walk in and they will just” — she snaps.

I yelled at this part because it's as if she plucked the scene from Azriel's bonus chapter and used it as an example. Those parallels between Elain and Gwyn are intentional. It doesn't mean Elain is bad it's just their dynamic doesn't work as a couple and it was obvious to the author. I know she didn't specify who this was about but like, come on, who tried to kiss and which character showed up in a bonus chapter after that depressing scene and gave a glimmer of hope?

“It feels like magic in a way where, as much as I tried to plot out things years in advance, I let my characters guide a story. And they usually wind up with the people that they need to be with and who offer them the most growth and joy.”

I love this so much and allow me to speak about my favorite ship and its because the snippets we saw of Az and Gwyn together especially in the bonus chapter brought out a lighter version of Az. His scenes with Gwyn were light-hearted and the bonus chapter ends on a hopeful note for them. It's hard to deny that connection between them whether you theorize she's luring him or they're mates, those theories wouldn't exist if she had no ties to him (she's in his own chapter like come on).

I go the philosophical route with my next question: We’re talking about fate here, but at what point is a character the agent of their own fate? What happens if someone rejects their mate? (Listen, if I were Fae and I didn’t like my mate, whatever God chose for me is not my business.)

People are jumping the gun and assume this example is set to be Elucien but... we have Helion and Lady of Autumn likely being an example of a tragic rejected mates story (if you read ACOWAR and their history it's obvious they're mates). Maybe it's Mor and Eris and that's the secret that ties them to each other. We have other characters from other series too.

For a convincing mate rejection story in my opinion, it needs more than one book or it's a case that we see with side characters where we can see their history and the long-term implications of a rejected bond.

It's too easy of a story to have one person's central conflict be the words "no I reject you" and they're done. Again, this is not exclusive to ACOTAR but also her other series.

“That’s something I find to be very interesting,” she replies. “What if the forces that be put you with the wrong person? Or what if you just decide, eh, I’m not interested. … There’s a lot to explore within the concept of mates and your agency about it.

The concept of agency is something many readers in the fandom discussed especially when it comes to mating bonds and there were arguments on (would Rhys fell for Feyre if she wasn't his mate or would have Cassian fell for Nesta if she wasn't his mate). We know that some mates don't work out but stay together because their dynamic is unhealthy (Rhys's and Tamlin's parents). We got examples of a loveless mating bond already.

We also saw that Nesta didn't immediately accept the term "mate" because it would mean cutting off her last tether with humanity. It's not a matter of "you're my mate" "yes I'll be with you", the dynamic between the mated couple is important to explore.

“I’m not going to say if I am exploring it in future books or not,” she continues, “but it definitely offers a wealth of things to explore with this concept of freewill and what is true love. Is it something that’s destined? Or is it something that you make? Is it both?”

This part aligns with what I think about Elucien. We never had a mated pairing who knew they were mates but are not in love with each other. Every mated couple found out they're mates when they were already in love.

Can a destined love turn into true love? Or do you settle for a destined love without love being in the equation. Love wasn't in the equation for Rhys's parents, but love was the equation for Feysand and Nessian. Elucien was left unexplored for a reason and both Elain and Lucien view each other by label "mate", they didn't have a chance to get to know each other. So it's going to be very interesting to see them navigate their feelings for each other despite the mating bond.

I didn't expect her to elaborate a lot on this but I love that she did and I hope in future interviews she gives us more good bits about her writing and examples of the decisions she took for some characters and couples.

Didn't expect this post to be long but happy reading! I'm still reeling from HOFAS 🥲

#acotar #gwynriel #elucien #nessian

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violetasteracademic · 2 days

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On Mate Behavior: Elriel

So, when it comes to Azriel's mate behavior, I would say the most commonly discussed point (which I definitely agree with) to *disprove* that Azriel displays any mate behavior towards Gwyn is his overall calm demeanor and focus on Eris when the Valkyrie are kidnapped in the middle of the night and dropped into the Blood Rite.

However, there is another example that additionally highlights the lack of "mate behavior" in the bonus chapter, and I truly don't see it come up that often, though I think it is even more telling!

When he meets Gwyn's gaze, and that bloody memory of when he first "met" her (if you would like to call that their meeting) flashes, he is otherwise completely unruffled. He simply reflects on Gwyn's growth, and two seconds later, is snorting and having an easy, playful conversation.

While this certainly points to their comfortability and fun banter that they share, it does not scream *mate behavior.*

ToG and CC spoilers ahead

I think about Rowan seeing Aelin's ruined back for the first time, and being so overcome with anger at discovering the violence that had been enacted on her that he took to the skies to get control of his violent instincts:

I think of Cassian in his bonus chapter with Nesta- going into a rage as he smelled Nesta's fear while she recalled Tomas's attempted assault. He would have gone to kill him right then, I have no doubt:

I think of Ruhn hating Lidia, being sick over discovering the female he had fallen for was The Hind. And yet, when Pollux lays a hand on her, he was ready to rip out his throat for hurting Lidia. He couldn't understand how he could hate her and need her and want to kill for her at the same time:

So I do think it's interesting that in comparison to the to the other mated males who get a POV and an inside look into their heads while they reflect on trauma their mates have been through (even before knowing they are mates, which is the case in all three of these examples) they are completely unhinged. And yet we get this pointed moment where Azriel actively reflects on Gwyn's trauma, the absolute horrors that had been done to her and... nothing. A snort, and a little bit of form correction and teasing.

Meanwhile in this same book, Elain gets called boring and Azriel's shadows are like hoe who do we need to mf-ing end right tf now:

Azriel has already established that he believes the Cauldron could be wrong. While I personally disagree that there is foreshadowing to Azriel and Gwyn being mates, even in trying to give it a fair and unbiased look and say okay- could they be mates? I still wind up drawing the conclusion that even if they are, it would mean as little to Azriel as Elain's mating bond currently means to her.

I am personally super open minded about whether or not Azriel and Elain are true mates. I think a reveal that they are could be lovely. I also think them choosing each other above all, even fate, would be lovely.

But there is simply no denying that these two already have a set up plotline of questioning the Cauldron, and the only two characters *acting* like mates in this scenario are Az and Elain.

As always, I am Lucien and Gwyn positive even though I ship Elriel, so be kind in the comments! But I just really don't see how this could possibly play out any other way. Azriel has had too many on page opportunities, even from his personal POV, to display mate behavior towards Gwyn and there is nary a lick. It's just... not how a lead up to a mate reveal typically goes. So the pure, undiluted facts are that even if you think Sarah is a "fated mate" author above all, she is not treating these characters as she usually does. And that is noteworthy.

Thank you for joining me on this dissertation!

#elriel #pro elriel #elain x azriel #elriel endgame #azriel x elain #elriel supremacy

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acourtofquietdreamers · 18 days

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“Why don’t you ship Elain with her mate? Don’t you know Sarah is a fated mates author?!”

Let’s take a look at Elain’s mate vs….

The person Feyre pictured with Elain and smiled.

“Autumn Court males have fire in their blood—and they fuck like it, too.”…Lucien caught me cringing at him when her words replayed for the tenth time an hour later…I shook my head, trying not to imagine Elain subject to that…fire.

“And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.” I smiled at the thought—at how handsome they would be together.

The person willing to save her himself.

Lucien was shaking his head, panting, and whirled to us. “Get her back,” he snarled at Tamlin over the ranting of the king.

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

The person who made her feel at ease during their first meeting.

As Lucien took off his jacket, kneeling before Elain. She cringed away from the coat, from him

But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.”

The person she can sit in comfortable silence with.

It was the most uncomfortable thirty minutes I could recall.

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports—likely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once he’d sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.

The person who knew she didn’t need anything.

Lucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, “Should we—does she need …?”

“She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

The person who understood her and saw her when no one else did.

“Did you sense anything?” “No—I didn’t have time. I felt her, but …” A blush stained his cheek. Whatever he’d felt, it wasn’t what we were looking for.

Lucien just stared and stared at my sister, as if he’d never seen her before.

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not…Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.

The person Elain enjoys spending time with.

Elain, at least, would be too polite to send Lucien away when he wanted to help. She was too polite to send him away on a normal day. She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left.

Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea.

The person she has palpable chemistry with.

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

The person who gives her a gift that she wants to wear right away.

He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings.

“It's beautiful," she whispered, lifting it from the box. The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red and pink and white. Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"

The person who looks at her and only thinks of her.

But there she was. His mate. She was nothing like Jesminda.

Soft steps padded from under the stair archway, and there she was. The faelights gilded Elain's unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

This supposed “fated mates author” has made it really difficult for me to ship Elain with her mate when a much more compatible option is right there. Four books with moments that solidify Azriel as the person for Elain, mate or not.

#pro elriel #elriel #anti e/ucien #Elriel rambles

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acotar-taylorsversion · 26 days

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In My Opinion

If Elain chooses Lucien, then it will not be for herself and nothing will ever convince me otherwise.

Elain choosing Lucien would ruin absolutely everything about her character arc. Elucien would ruin whatever is left of the acotar series. Because why make Elain's big thing all about choices if she chooses the one that is easiest?

Why talk about wanting to write about rejecting a mate and exploring the consequences if it's not about Elain and Lucien? Why write Elain and Lucien the way they are and how uncomfortable they are around each other when they would end up with each other anyways? Why write about the growing friendship and attraction between Elain and Az if it leads to nowhere?

I will never understand how people can read about how much Elain avoids Lucien, shrinks into herself, and becomes quiet and reserved around him and still think that she would ever be happy with him. It's not just the mating bond, it's him, too. He is a constant reminder of her trauma and what she has lost.

At least with Az, she was finding herself and becoming comfortable with her new life. She became comfortable enough to try and begin something with him. That bonus chapter confirmed that they both have mutual attraction towards each other and it had taken months to get them to that point. It wasn't just some random thing that happened.

Yeah, we don't know what Elain is thinking or what her thoughts are about what all has happened. But I go off by her actions, and they scream that she wants nothing to do with Lucien.

I'm gonna have to reread HOFAS again and try to better understand what was all said about the cauldron and Truth Teller. Because I bet that Elain and Lucien got one of those mating bonds that is solely based on having powerful children and not true love. And I bet the connection that Elain has with Truth Teller will mean something, too. And I've heard that Truth Teller can break bonds? Is that the connection? Will Elain be able to break her own bond and nullify it so it doesn't affect her and Lucien anymore? If they both reject it, does it nullify the bond? Like there are so many things about mating bonds that I think would be great to explore other than another couple accepting it. Talk about boring, repetitive, and predictable.

And don't give me that "Sarah is a fated mates author and that means Elucien is endgame" or "that bonus chapter ended with Gwyn so that means the series is all about her and Az" bullshit. That is complete bullshit.

#elain archeron #acotar #elriel #pro elriel #anti el*cien #anti e/lucien #anti g*ynriel #anti gw/nriel #i thought it was obvious #elriel supremacy #sarah j maas

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highladyjane · 7 days

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Love vs. Fate

ACOTAR foreshadowed the whole love triangle with this

Which I believe is the background for this part of this interview - where sure, Sarah may try to play things off:

But I find that interesting, because TOG's ending clearly said this (Kingdom of Ash, Ch.98)

And CC's ending said this (House of Flame and Shadow, Ch. 98)

So isn't it funny that all of SJM's books are all about defying Gods, Odds, and Fate through acts of True Love, aaaand people still think that Elain, Azriel, AND Lucien are just going to do what everyone and that corrupted Cauldron expects and tells them to do in the end because "Sarah's a fated mates author", and because that's what they've been doing their whole lives prior to encountering each other?

Can't people connect the dots and see the real pattern of her books? Because it's pretty frickin' obvious to me.

"What if the Cauldron was wrong?" is just the beginning of fighting for that HEA.

And I am sorry, not sorry, because as of ACOFAS, ACOSF, and the bonus chapters, there's not a single hint of Elain wanting to bridge the gap with her Cauldron-given mate... But rather a lot of her initiating the bridging of a gap between her and a certain Shadowsinger/Spymaster who confirms in his very own POV that he has feelings for her, but has been trying to stay away because he struggles with feelings of unworthiness - especially because a damned Cauldron gave her to another on top of that.

So if Elain's choosing anyone, it won't be because of any mating bond. No, Elain...

I may be primarily pro Elriel but I'm also pro-Lucien, so I want him to be happy too. I just think he deserves someone who readily wants and chooses him back, mating bond or not... So I am pretty sure he's asking the very same questions Az is asking. Sure, Elucien can still happen -there's just going to have to be a great deal of retconning, including ignoring all the build-up and crumbs Sarah has scattered throughout her books to make it feel unforced. But just like with Rhys' or Tamlin's etc. parents, not everyone accepting their mating bond is going to guarantee a HEA. And once Lucien finds out about his true parentage and the truth about the Cauldron, now that he's an exile with no High Lord to submit to... I'm pretty sure he's going to start finally fighting about what he truly thinks is right and his own freedom to choose and to love - something he didn't get to do for Jesminda. And no, it wouldn't be through a Blood Duel for a mate that was "thrown at him".

So there's no need for "I just want ______ to be happy" or "_____ doesn't deserve ______." Because none of these 3 are going to end up without a HEA in an SJM book where a character can barely stay dead for longer than 3 minutes.

#it's about LOVE not Fate #this has been hiding in my drafts for who knows how long and I dunno why I never published it #Choice vs Cauldron #choice > bonds #free will vs fate #pro elriel #elriel endgame #maasverse #pro elain archeron #foreshadowing #my messy thoughts #elain x azriel #elriel #elriel supremacy #elain archeron #sjm books #sjm universe

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bright-side20 · 7 months

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Elain's Choice🌸

The first thing we learn in text analysis is that when the author stresses on something, it is not arbitrary; it is to set up an upcoming event.

Sarah stressing on Elain's choice :

“It means nothing,” Elain said, her voice breaking. “It means nothing. I don’t care who decided it or why they did—”

“I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”

"And that love would trump even a mating bond."

=She wants to choose who she'll be with; she doesn't want to be forced into it, even if it's the work of fate.

Feyre

“Why not make them mates? I mused "Why Lucien?”..." What decides it? Who decided it? "....." You said your mother and father were wrong for each other;Tamlin said his own parents were wrong for each other. So it can’t be a perfect system of matching.What if—I jerked my chin toward the window,to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—that is what she needs?Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn't?

Rhys

“There is choice. And sometimes, yes—the bond picks poorly. (…) Some natural function, not an indication of true, paired souls.”

=They're discussing the possibility of Elain rejecting the bond and choosing the one she wants to be with.

“He brought you a present.”

Those doe-brown eyes turned toward me. Sharper than I’d ever seen them. “And that entitles him to my time, my affections?”

“I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male.”

=She's directly expressing that she doesn't want Lucien at all.

"Yes" elain breathed....Azriel's hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elain's mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut.

✨Offer and permission✨

=This wasn't a random expression, it was to show that it's her choice, she wanted him to kiss her and even she was the one who initiated the physical interaction by "put it on me"

"what if the cauldron was wrong"... Rhys's face drained of color "you believe you deserve to be her mate!?".... Azriel scowled "I think Lucien will never be good enough for her, and she has no interest in him anyway."

=Azriel highlighted that it's about Elain's choice, and she doesn't want Lucien.

Logically and analytically speaking, Sarah focused in three books on the fact that it's always Elain's choice to decide with whom she wants to be, and the fact that the mating bonds do not always work and could be rejected. Not to then make her accept the bond out of the blue and decide to obey fate and politics to make Lulu happy and avoid conflicts, or to make Azriel choose between her and Gwyn.

Those hints were a set up to serve a part of Elain's book plot where she'll reject the bond and choose to be with the one she fell in love with, Azriel, even if they have to stand against fate and laws.

✨Elain shall wed for love and beauty✨

✨I thought it was obvious✨

#elriel #pro elain #elain archeron #sarahjmaas #pro elriel #acotar thoughts #azriel acotar #elriel supremacy #elainarcheron #sjm #elain x azriel #elain acotar

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foxylady13 · 1 month

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The Sunshine Couple

Elain is tuckered out from spending the day gardening and Lucien is doing some light reading while she sleeps as he wants to surprise her with an anniversary dinner 😴 💤

Characters belong to @sarahjmaas

Artist: b_astora on IG and Commissioner: Bookish_Embers

#elucien #pro elucien #elucien fanart #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #elain and lucien #lucien and elain #lucien x elain #elain x lucien #elucien supremacy #acotar fanart #acotar fan art #acotar #acotar mates #sarah j maas #sarah is a fated mates author

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greenleaf777 · 4 days

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Its funny how eluciens go on and on about how sjm is a “fated mates” author and shes not allowed to deviate from that(didn’t know they can decide that for her)……

They fail to realize that SJM is the one to introduce the rejected mating bond, us fans didn’t come up with it.

That’s all sarah j maas.

Elriels are just picking up what SJM put down for us.

Buuuut if elain and azriel do end up being mates then i guess their theory that shes only a fated mates author hold LOL

#elriel #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #azriel x elain #elain x azriel #elain archeron #azriel #anti elucien #anti gwynriel #acowar #acosf #acomaf #sjm #sarah j maas

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acourtofthought · 3 months

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You guys always bring up the “Elucien” facebook post but never mention that Sarah herself hinted surprises about Lucien and Elains bond:

In an interview in 2017 she said:

You might get an answer to Elain's fate in the upcoming spin off books. I'm not gonna tell you when. Once you read ACOFAS, you may get a sense of the timeline and layout and things, but I've been planning and thinking... I know everyone's fate and romantic situation… I have so many secrets I'm keeping from you guys!

Doesn’t that sound like she has something up her sleeve? And what happened in ACOFAS? We get Elain ignoring the shit out of Lucien and making Azriel laugh. Sarah wasn’t lying when she said it was obvious who the next book is going to be about🥰

It sort of sounds like she's saying once you read ACOFAS you'll get a sense of the timeline and layout but.......beyond that she's got many secrets she's keeping.

But you're saying ACOFAS is meant to reveal Elain's endgame but wouldn't that mean SJM spoiled those secrets she's been keeping? Before Elain even got a book? That would be strange, don't you think? Isn't it more exciting for an author to reveal a characters secret when it's time for their own story?

Acting like E/riel is confirmation because of ACOMAF wouldn't be a secret considering Elain literally said, "I don't want a mate"?

Wouldn't the secret be that she does in fact want a mate and she's fighting that fact?

Didn't Mor tell Feyre that they just need time?

Elain DID ignore Lucien in ACOFAS but so did Nesta with Cassian, what's your point?

Listen, I acknowledge that at the end of the day she could still go the route of E/riel. I think it's unlikely but who knows what SJM has planned. The theories were wild for HOFAS and most of them ended up being wrong.

But it's really strange that E/riels never consider the possibility that Elucien could happen and I think that cockiness is going to be your downfall.

#anti elriel #anti e/riel #elucien

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gwyns · 2 months

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I’m the anon that asked about Gwyn & Az! It’s nice getting to talk about things like this! I don’t go on twitter as much, because the e/riel’s there are truly unhinged. I don’t know why e/riel’s think it’s stupid that gwynriel’s are fine with Azriel saying “I don’t have a mate”, but we are because we’ll get to actually see it on page. Why would they want their ship to develop off page where you can’t read about it? Makes no sense. One of the best things about romance is getting to see the two characters slowly become enamored with each other.

I don’t think they have crushes on each other either (Gwyn might think he’s attractive) or are best friends (yet), but I think they are very good acquaintances. We will get to see their friendship develop on page, as well as their romantic feelings which will be so nice to see. I definitely agree that there is a mutual respect and trust between them. Azriel sees the warrior in Gwyn. He doesn’t see her as a victim. And so far, he treats her with respect and his interactions with her feel healthy compared to his interactions with Mor & Elain.

Do you think Gwyn and Azriel will become lovers/a couple first and then will have sex/explore it, or start exploring sex and then become lovers? I have a lot of thoughts on the sexuality aspect. It grosses me out how some e/riel’s think survivors of assault can never have sex or have sex that might be more kinky. I honestly feel like there’s a lot Sarah can do with them not only as lovers/a couple, but their friendship build up and them as individual characters. I don’t think Gwyn is going to fix Azriel, but she will help with his self worth and help accept parts of himself.

hiii i'm so sorry it took me awhile to get to this!! i agree it's very nice to be able to talk about this <3 i understand your avoidance of twitter they're... horrid on there. i've gotten to the point where i just drag any of them i happen to see on my timeline and they usually block me so, it's been fun!

i grow more and more convinced every day that e/riels have never read books before. when a character says something like "i don't have a mate" in a fated mates series that's the author telling us "yes he does, he's just too stupid to see it right now". of course he has a mate, sjm loves her happy endings. it's a little something called dramatic irony and i believe the greeks coined the term. like it's obvious to us, the readers, where this is going but he's oblivious to it. it's not hard to figure out

yes, yes, yes! i definitely think that by the end of acosf they're both on each other's radars. gwyn is comfortable being alone with him and az admires and encourages her. they're not super close (yet) but they find themselves liking one another's company more and more. it'll be such a seamless transition from acquaintances to friends to best friends to lovers and i can't wait for it!

now that's where this gets tricky. it's hard to tell when sjm will introduce their physical relationship but i hope it's more towards the end. i want their friendship to be at the front of their relationship for awhile. i do think that they won't become "official" or anything until after they have sex. i think they'll realize they're attracted to each other, and gwyn will be curious enough to ask him about it and az would be willing and... well you can guess the rest lol

oh definitely. azriel needs to self reflect a lot and realize he's worthy of love as is. he doesn't have to constantly try and prove he belongs when he already does. i think gwynriel have the potential to be one of sjm's most beautiful couples. the comfort they'd find in each other, how they'd help one another to see that they're worthy of everything they have and want... ugh i love it. they really do share many similarities and parallels and that's not a coincidence on sjm's part

as for e/riels being gross, nothing about their behavior surprises me anymore, unfortunately. i have to believe they're younger, stupider people that don't fully realize how harmful their thinking is. gwyn can and will have a healthy sexual relationship in the future, if that's what she wants. she's more than her trauma and assault, she's even said so, stop reducing her to only that and reflect on how your words can harm real people who have experienced similar things

#antielriel #anti e/riel #acotar #azriel #gwyneth berdara #gwynriel #asks #anonymous

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captainjimothycarter · 4 months

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To Outlast Even Death (Following In Your Steps) Chapter One: The Difference In Mates

Happy Steggymas, @3pirouette I'm lucky enough to get one of my favorite authors! I went through so many ideas before landing on this one! I tried so, so hard to come up with an idea of lumberjack Steve because I still firmly believe he needs to exist. This is not the first chapter I wanted to be posting either but after the first editing, my muse was speaking a different story. Fun fact: Before this soulmate AU, I had another AU written for you that was not close to even being done and it is already up to 8k. Part of me wants to post that too.

Soulmates may be a dying magic but Steve and Peggy are determined to prove that their bond can outlast even death.

"Steve, darling, you should be asleep. Santa won't stop by if you're not asleep."

Sarah Rogers chuckled to herself as Steve pulled his face away from the window, sheepish about having been caught. He snuggled back under the covers, casting one last look at the foggy window before she pulled the curtains closed.

"But I'm not sleepy, Momma," Steve sighed in the over-dramatic reason kids always did, pouting. "Can you tell me about soulmates again? Pleaaase? It always puts me to sleep."

Sarah Rogers chuckles as she combs her son's sweat-soaked hair from his forehead, making sure he is as comfortable as a sick bed-ridden child could be. His cheeks were flushed from the fever, eyes struggling to fight the medicine in his system and stay awake so he could hear a tale he'd heard a hundred and one times before.

Tonight would make for a hundred and two, she guessed.

"Alright, colm beag [little dove]," she sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Humanity is strung together by that invisible red string, fated couples to be bound by their souls. They feel the connection, even if they're unable to see it. They're called-"

"Soulmates!" Steve squeaked, giggling as his mom tickled his neck.

"Very good, Colm Beag - soulmates. Bound together by their heart, fated to be together for reasons only the universe knows and she's not too keen on telling her secrets. She plays a cruel joke, Miss Universe, not making it simple for the bonds to meet and know one another. Some people go their entire lives without finding who's at the end of their string."

"What sorta..." Steve trailed off, yawning loudly and rubbing his face sleepily into his momma's side. "What sorta stuff do they have to do to be bonded?"

Sarah hummed for a minute, listening to Steve's sleepy breathing. She thought he had fallen asleep until she heard his questioning noise, drawing a chuckle from her. "Actions that prove that their souls are compatible, bound to one another. They say that bonding with their mate - an action so incredibly rare, that their bonds can outlast even death."

Thanks for the event, @steggyfanevents!

#Steggy #StevePeggy #Steve x Peggy #Steggymas #Steve Rogers #Peggy Carter #Soulmate AU

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popculturelib · 3 months

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The Vivian Stephens Collection

Vivian Stephens entered the world of romance fiction in 1978 as an editor at Dell. She was given charge of the Candlelight line of romances, despite having no experience with romance fiction previously. A Black editor in a predominantly white industry, Stephens sought to incorporate the voices of women of color into the burgeoning romance industry. In 1980, Dell published the first category romance by a Black author with Black protagonists- Entwined Destinies by Rosalind Welles (the pseudonym of journalist Elsie Washington). Stephens also made sure that Dell’s Candlelight lines included romances by Indigenous, Latina, and Asian authors, creating almost single-handedly the category that trade publications called “Ethnic Romance”.

Stephens also played a key part in making romance novels steamier. Her Candlelight Ecstasy series for Dell pushed the boundaries being set by the two biggest romance publishers, Harlequin and Silhouette, by “going behind the bedroom door,” a taboo at the time.

One of the most important roles played by Vivian Stephens during her career in publishing was as the founder of the Romance Writers of America. A Houston-based group of authors looking to get their romance novels published approached Stephens for advice after the Southwest Writers Conference in 1979. She advised them to band together as the Romance Writers of America, convinced Dell to provide some financial backing, and convinced a group of other editors to attend the group’s first conference in the summer of 1981. Today the group has members from around the globe, and annually presents an award in Vivian Stephens’ name to a person from the publishing industry who has contributed significantly to the genre.

In the summer of 2018, the Romance Writers of America donated to the Browne Popular Culture Library a collection of books formerly used by Vivian Stephens during her days at both Dell and Harlequin. The collection includes books on women’s sexuality, editing and writing romance fiction, the publishing industry, as well as academic works on romance writing. A list of the books can be found in our catalog as The Vivian Stephens Collection.

We are thrilled to preserve this collection of books from a person as important to the history of romance fiction as Vivian Stephens. The books will serve as an important resource for scholars of the genre. We are grateful to both the Romance Writers of America and Vivian Stephens for this donation.

The Vivian Stephens acquisition was discussed on Fated Mates, a romance novel podcast with Sarah Maclean and Jen Prokop, in 2020 if you would like to learn more about this collection: https://fatedmates.net/episodes/2020/7/6/s0245-vivian-stephens-acquisitions-with-librarian-steve-ammidown.

The Browne Popular Culture Library (BPCL), founded in 1969, is the most comprehensive archive of its kind in the United States. Our focus and mission is to acquire and preserve research materials on American Popular Culture (post 1876) for curricular and research use. Visit our website at https://www.bgsu.edu/library/pcl.html.

#bgsu #libraries on tumblr #romance writing #vivian stephens #collection showcase #fated mates #black history month #black writers

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