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v-anserra · 2 years

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I’ve seen so many people say that one of the reasons they ship Elain & Azriel together is because they like the idea of a chosen love.

Which is fine, I can totally see why that would be appealing, especially for people who think the mate idea is overdone or who think SJM will use this relationship as a way to show a mating bond being broken and choosing to be with a person they love.

But.. hear me out…

Every single love (and I mean romantic stylez), mating bond or not, is a chosen love. Not all mating bonds are romantic, we’ve heard this in canon, but every couple has a choice as to whether or not they want to acknowledge the bond. Most of the time (atleast from what we’ve seen) that choice lies with the females. They are usually the ones who can break the bond, or choose to be with their mates. Now, have all the women in the history of this world chosen the bond bc they are in love with their mate? Doubtful. But they chose nonetheless, regardless of their reason.

Feyre was already falling for Rhys before she knew he was her mate. He kept the mating bond from her because he wanted her to fall in love with him on her own, and it felt wrong to guide that choice for her with a mating bond. Same with Nessian! Nesta, despite being in love with Cassian more than she wanted to admit, was not yet fully aware they were mates. She was only hesistant to acknowledge it once she was aware bc she was afraid of losing the final tie to her humanity and that Cassian was *too good for her*, not bc she wouldn’t have chosen Cassian otherwise. If anything, her choosing Cassian made her realize that she knew it long before she was aware of the bond. But this is the first time we’ve seen a mating bond that snapped into place before the two involved had any opportunity to know or fall for each other. This doesn’t mean the two can’t eventually do so and happily be together. Shit, we know even when we are in relationships with people we love in real life, it takes a lot of HARD WORK to maintain that healthy relationship.

All I’m saying is, regardless of whether or not she ends up with Azriel or whether or not she ends up with Lucien, Elain has a choice in her own fate. She can choose to break the bond with Lucien, but she hasn’t yet. As readers, we don’t yet know why. She’s clearly not in love with the man yet, but I believe that if she ends up acknowledging the mating bond, it will be because she has fallen for Lucien on her own, and chooses to be with him. Lucien is not the type to force Elain into a bond she is unhappy with, and Elain doesn’t seem like the type to be with someone she doesn’t love. I honestly think Elain is dealing with the bond similarly to how Nesta dealt with being fae; it’s one less piece of her humanity she can cling to. It’s the reason she lost the initial love in her life (that douche Grayson), but sometimes things have to fall apart so that other things can come together.

As Rhys once said to Feyre, “you will ALWAYS have a choice.” So I see every single mating bond we’ve personally experienced as the result of a choice, because why else would there be a chance to break it otherwise?

This is not to upset anyone, this is just my own personal opinion 🤷🏻‍♀️

#^^#tp

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v-anserra · 2 years

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oh look!! her team finally remembered she has a book coming out next month

ABOUT FREAKING TIME

#anyway 😀#it’s cc season which means I’m coming back from the dead

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v-anserra · 3 years

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Gwyn and Azriel parallel other couples

There are quite a few parallels I found and thought why not put them together in a post since Sarah has patterns with her couples.

Also, what is usually felt in the chest?

• Feyre: “I still felt it, that hollowness in my chest where the bond had been, where he had been.”

• Aelin: “Aelin screamed. Screamed, clutching at her chest, at the shredding mating bond—”

• Rowan: “Rowan scanned the field, heart thundering. But the bond in his chest glowed strong, fire-bright.”

Feyre and Rhysand:

There, in that hole in my chest—I saw the image there. At first interpretation, he’d look terrifying, vengeance and wrath incarnate. But if you came closer … the painting would show the beauty on his face, the wings flared not to hurt, but to carry me from danger, to shield me.

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

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

. . . . .

Bryce and Hunt:

“You could use some joy,” Hunt said quietly. Something bright sparked in her chest. “So could you,” she said, attempting to press the opal back into his palm.

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

>>> Azriel about Gwyn: Gwyn smiled broadly. "Thank you." Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow, something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch.

. . . . .

Nesta and Cassian:

“Busybody. But she blew Cassian a soft kiss, too. Her mate. Her love. Her friend. The light within her chest brightened to a radiant sun.”

“For it was music between their souls. Always had been. And his voice was her favorite melody.”

“The golden threads shimmered and sang, and she couldn’t take it, the music between their souls”

. . . . .

Aelin and Rowan:

As if it had found a mirror of itself in the world, as if it had found the countermelody to its own song. Not once in those illusions or dreams had it done that. Had her own flame leaped in joy at his nearness, his power. He was here. It was him, and he’d come for her.

“I’d say,” Aelin panted, speaking above the glorious roar of magic through her, the unbreakable song of her and Rowan, “that you haven’t wronged us the most at all.”

Rowan made her magic sing. And maybe that was the carranam bond between them, but … her magic wanted to dance with his. And from the frost sparkling in his eyes, she knew his own demanded the same.

He still needed it. When they’d finished after that first time, he’d been left reeling, to pull his sanity back together after the joining that had … unleashed him. Broken and remade him. His magic had been a song, and she had been…

Mate. His mate. He should have known about that, too. Even if rage and grief had turned him into a miserable bastard, he should have known who she was, what she was, from the moment he’d bitten her at Mistward, unable to stop the urge to claim her. The moment her blood had landed on his tongue and it had sung to him, and then refused to leave him alone, its taste lingering for months.

Manon's parents:

“A young witch was chosen for him especially. But he did not love her—not with your mother as his true mate, the song of his soul.”

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

>>> Azriel with Gwyn pt. 2: Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer.

. . . . .

I think this may likely apply to ACOTAR due to the fact that they have similar mating bonds:

“Sometimes, mates can be together intimately before the actual bond snaps into place.”

Song, glowing, image, music, spark, shine are all common language among endgame/mated couples.

I think this gives a clearer idea of what type of pattern Sarah usually follows with her couples despite their different journeys.

#gwynriel

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v-anserra · 3 years

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We’ll never die

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v-anserra · 3 years

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Why do you (gwynriels) dismiss the theory of Elain as a spy like Azriel? Elain fits the spy description, Gwyn doesn't.

Nesta told Gwyn that she will keep the secret of the search for the magical weapons and literally two days later Gwyn told Merill. What kind of spy doesn't know how to keep a secret?

Elain, on the other hand, can keep secrets and is stealthy. Gwyn does not know how to keep secrets and is more of a warrior than a spy, we could see it in acosf. What did Gwyn do in the blood rite that demonstrated her potential as a spy?

She does not fit the description

What did Gwyn do in the blood rite that demonstrated her potential as a spy?

She literally spied on a bunch of Illyrians for days and led a killing beast to them to save Emerie and Nesta. This is canonically what Azriel does as a Spymaster - observe, wait and attack when the time is right. Did we read the same book?

Gwyn mentioned the troves to Merrill to gather information, just like Rhysand told Helion. Gwyn didn’t tell Merrill why they were important, only if she knew something about them. That’s a valid method to gather information and it’s not like she kept it from Nesta. Gwyn specifically told her that she had asked Merrill and Nesta didn’t make a fuss or thought it was weird. How do you think information is gathered? Telepathy?

You want E/ain to be Azriel’s equal so badly, and I get it, but it’s just not real. I wish that wouldn’t prevent you from recognising actual canon info, though.

#elain archeron #gwyneth berdara #tp

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v-anserra · 3 years

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Gwyneth Berdara - Friend or Foe?

Since the emergence of a new ship, it’s been disheartening to see people paint Gwyn in a bad light. From my perspective, Gwyn has never done anything to give off vibes she’s sus or scheming something behind the scene. Take into account the fact that she was introduced to be part of Nesta’s new found family, it would be depressing to read that she was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Or that she’s being manipulated without her knowledge.

For argument sake, let’s entertain the idea that Gwyn has an agenda. What would be her motive? From what we’ve gathered about her in ACOSF, the only thing she’s ever truly wanted was to have the courage to leave the library and go out into the world. So how does that tie into her working with Koschei or Merrill if one of them (or someone else) is pulling the strings? Will they grant her courage? Will they reunite her with her twin sister? Is that enough incentive for Gwyn to turn her back on the NC? On her new found sisters? The priestesses who take sanctuary in the library, a place that has also given her solace? The answer is no. Koschei/Merrill or whoever it is cannot offer Gwyn any more than what the NC can or what she can offer herself.

If courage was what Gwyn seeked, she would not have hesitated when Nesta asked her to join training. She would not have been willing to sacrifice herself for her sisters during the Blood Rite, esp if she was part of some grander plan. Keep in mind the ‘sus activities’ people keep theorizing about happened prior to the BR. It would make her a horrible accomplice to throw away months’ worth of scheming when the end goal has yet been reached.

So then is Gwyn working with the enemy to find some way to bring back her sister? Highly unlikely given the following quote below.

“I wish I could just have one more moment with her. Just one, to tell her that I love her and say good-bye.”

Why consort with the enemy for a momentary goodbye? She could accomplish that by visiting her sister’s grave, which she has yet to do because of her guilt over her sister’s death.

So if Gwyn’s not evil, she’s being manipulated.

Okay, for what purpose?

To help locate the dread troves? That’s odd considering Nesta found the Harp. Why would the enemy use Gwyn to help Nesta find the trove instead of Briallyn? Why give the NC more ammunition to hold esp concerning a powerful Made object such as the trove? Let’s bear in mind what Armen said about Made objects.

“Made objects tend to not wish to be found by just anyone. […] That they have faded from memory, that even I didn’t think of them immediately in the fight against Hybern, suggests that perhaps they willed it that way. Wanted to say hidden. True things of power have such gifts.

“You say that as if the objects have a sentience,” Cassian said.

“They do. […] They were Made in a time when wild magic still roamed the earth, and the Fae were not masters of all. Made objects back then tended to gain their own self-awareness and desires. […] When Briallyn was Made, it likely removed from her the Dread Trove’s glamour, for lack of a better term. Recognized her as a kin. Where she might have glanced over a mention of the items before and never thought twice, now it stuck. Or perhaps called to her, presented itself in a dream.”

From what we can gather by this alone, Gwyn had no influence over Nesta finding the Harp. Nesta found the Harp because the Harp willed it that way, in that moment’s time (coincidentally).

If Briallyn’s initial plan was to lure Nesta into bringing her the Troves during the BR, why use Emerie instead of Gwyn to get Nesta to yield if Briallyn already had some sort of hold on Gwyn? Why go to the extreme lengths to have Bellius and his cronies capture Emerie if Briallyn knew Nesta and the ‘half-nymph’ were also friends? Let’s remember that Gwyn was only captured as a bonus because she happened to be at Emerie’s the night of the BR.

So if Gwyn is not being used to help locate the trove, is it possible she’s being used to lure the NC’s #1 spymaster? If the goal was to capture Azriel and force Rhys’s hand, then that could have easily been accomplished when Gwyn asked Azriel to go over dagger lessons with her privately. Nowhere in the book was there any evidence to suggest that Azriel was put in any danger because of Gwyn nor has Gwyn ever posed a question to Azriel that seemed sus. Keep in mind Gwyn is not privy to the IC’s business or personal affairs and she’s limited to where she can go (due to reservations leaving the library & training grounds), so it would be hard for the enemy to try and use her to their advantage.

If Gwyn was under the influence, her odd behavior would have been detected like it had been for the AC soldiers and Bellius but nowhere in ACOSF or Azriel’s POV was Gwyn’s appearance and behavior described as vacant/glassy eyes, loss of sanity, no intelligence etc.

Which leads me to Azriel’s POV since majority of the discourse and theories about Gwyn being evil/manipulated stems from Azriel and his shadows reaction towards her.

The popular theory circulating the fandom is that Gwyn is a lightsinger because she’s been mentioned a few time to glow and enthrall people (such as Nesta and Azriel/Azriel’s shadows) with her singing or mysterious powers.

Here’s the issue I have with this. Everyone, at one point or another, has been described to glow. Why is it that when it pertains to Gwyn, it’s automatically lightsinger? Surely it not because SJM wanted to highlight Gwyn’s beautiful voice.

My point, in short, is that if we are going to constrict certain words (glow, beckon etc.) down to a specific meaning, then it needs to be applied across the board otherwise there’s a flaw in the logic. To say Gwyn is a lightsinger because she glows, we would then need to re-examine everyone else who’s been described to glow (which would be everyone).

See the flaw here?

But Gwyn’s singing beckoned Nesta and Azriel? Did we forget that Nesta LOVES music and that’s why she frequented the taverns at night so she could listen to the music. Azriel’s a Shadowsinger. It’s not so farfetched to believe he/his shadows would appreciate a good voice when they hear one (or anyone else for that matter).

Let’s take a step back here and revisit what lightsingers are. Per Cassian, lightsingers are lovely, ethereal beings who lure people and kill for sports. Now how exactly does that sound like Gwyn, the person who unwaveringly refused to leave Nesta’s side during the BR? The one who made Nesta promise they’ll face the onslaught of the Illyrian males together, even if it meant death?

”Only when you’re in their arms will you see their true faces, and they aren’t fair at all. The horror of it is the last thing you see before they drown you in the bog.“

Nesta, Emerie, Cassian, Azriel and Rhys have all been in close proximity to Gwyn, so if Gwyn was truly a lightsinger, wouldn’t one of them have recognized Gwyn for who she truly was? How much closer would they need to get to see Gwyn’s true face?

The other issue I have with this lightsinger theory is the idea that Gwyn is somehow unintentionally luring Azriel. Again, I have to ask, for what purpose?

A second handed necklace? A necklace Gwyn had no knowledge of.

Let’s remember Gwyn is not privy to Az’s personal affairs so she has no knowledge of Azriel’s infatuation for Elain, nor does she care. To imply that she ‘lured’ Azriel on Solstice night because he felt ‘lost’ implies she had motive—which sounds rather intentional doesn’t it? If we recall Azriel’s POV, Gwyn was just as surprised to see Azriel Solstice night too.

But Azriel had every intention of returning Elain’s necklace to the jewelry shop the following day and didn’t. He found himself at the library at 7pm, the exact same time as the evening service when Gwyn sings???

Is it so hard to believe that Azriel, being the grown man that he is, couldn’t have changed his mind? And that the reason he went to the library at 7pm was because he knew Gwyn would not be there and he wanted to maintain his anonymity, hence why he told Clothos to tell Gwyn the gift came from Rhys?

Why do all these speculations around Azriel’s reaction towards Gwyn (his chest glowing, his shadows, the regifting of the necklace etc.) consist of turning Gwyn into a person that is out of her character?

Is it so hard to believe that the reason Azriel could be drawn to Gwyn is simply due to the fact that he finds her charming? And that maybe, just maybe, the reason his shadows react positively towards her is because they sense the mating bond?

No? Why?

Because mates are rare. But a 2nd mating bond for Elain isn’t? 🤨

Why would it matter if Azriel + Gwyn are mates? Isn’t the foundation of Elriel based on choice? So again, why would it matter? If Azriel + Elain are truly in love, then no bond (whether it be their own) should come between their love for one another so why couldn’t Azriel + Gwyn be mates? It shouldn’t change anything, right? Unless people believe it will.

To suggest that Azriel’s reaction towards Gwyn is all due to her being a lightsinger invalidates the concept that Gwyn is unintentionally using her powers on him. Because if she was unintentionally using her powers, why would Azriel be the only recipient and not the others? There would have to be some level of awareness on Gwyn’s part if she could chose who to enthrall. Unless people believe her friendship with Nesta and Emerie isn’t genuine which is highly unlikely.

Again, see the flaw here?

Gwyn either is or isn’t evil. And since we know she’s not evil because we’ve seen her love and devotion towards those she cares about, let’s maybe push this silly notion out the window?

Nesta, Emerie, Cassian and Azriel are all drawn to Gwyn because they find charming and admirable, not because she’s put a spell on them with her mysterious powers. It’s as simple as that.

Anyways, if you’ve made it this far, I salute you. I apologize about any grammatical errors. Did not go back to re-edit this. 😅🤍

#gwyneth berdara

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