BelindaDraws

Since we haven't received any news or updates about the ACOTAR 6 book yet, I have decided to share my thoughts on potential Elriel seeds planted in the HOFAS BC because I do not see anyone talking about it (or I have not seen any posts about it at least?)

Disclaimer: I know Elain's name is nowhere in the BC, but her absence is glaringly obvious. Also these are just my interpretations and nothing is written in stone. I respect anyone who does not agree with me but please be nice an respectful.

The HOFAS BC obviously happens well after ACOSF, therefore after Azriel’s BC where he almost kissed Elain. SO, we know that he is crushing hard on Elain. *Screaming and kicking feet internally*

Anyway, we get to the HOFAS BC and here I have some snippets from the BC that imo implies Elriel:

(For anyone who have not yet read the HOFAS BC between Bryce, Nesta and Azriel; they are basically helping Bryce while also mistrusting her, so to ease the tension Bryce asks them questions and vice versa, as they travel through tunnels to pass time.)

“What is it you want to know?” Nesta asked carefully.

Bryce glanced between them. “How’d you two meet?” (We as the readers are reminded of the dinner scene. Elain clutching her fork. Nesta being Nesta. Yada yada.)

She could have sworn Azriel tensed, like he was weighing how dangerous any answer may be, assessing why Bryce might want to know. (He did not want to let Bryce know about Elain.)

“There was a war,” Nesta said shortly.

“Between who?” Bryce asked.

Again, that assessing silence. Azriel answered this time. “Between an evil Fae King and us.”

…

“We defeated Hybern,” Azriel confirmed. A glance toward Truth Teller at his side. “Nesta beheaded the King of Hybern herself.” (He is purposefully omitting Elain. He conveniently left out the part where he gave TT to Elain.)

…

Bryce asked Nesta, “You have a mate, right” She nodded to Azriel. “Do you?”

“No,” Azriel said quickly, flatly. (This screams “Do not ask me about my love life.” Again, omitting Elain. I repeat, it was confirmed he has a crush on her.)

“A partner or spouse?”

“No.”

Bryce sighed. “Okay, then.”

…

“Do you like it?” Bryce asked Nesta suddenly. “Being Fae?”

“I didn’t at first,” Nesta said plainly. “But now I do.”

Azriel seemed to be listening closely. (Maybe he wanted to gain insight on another person who was also changed into a Fae against her will?)

Why would he be interested in whether Nesta likes being Fae (her emotional wellbeing) when his shadows geared up for a fight when she was insulting Elain? He was obviously interested in Elain’s emotional wellbeing and wanted to know maybe if Nesta like being Fae, maybe Elain does too.

Pay attention to what SJM is putting down: So far in this one BC we have been reminded of the dinner scene where Elain served an equal role to Nesta dialog-wise; we were reminded of the Truth-teller scene where Elain stabbed the KoH, a pivotal moment since Nesta was ready to die with Cassian; we were reminded of Azriel's non-existent love life, knowing this takes place after Azriel's BC and he almost kissed Elain and lastly we know he cares for Elain ("snakes ready to strike") so obviously he would want to know whether Elain likes being Fae or not by listening to Nesta "closely" since they share the experience. All of the above were moments shared between Elain and Nesta but Elain was omitted.

This could have been a chance for Bryce to ask Nesta about the Valkyries and we could have seen some reaction from Azriel if Gwyn was mentioned, but no, SJM did not take it there, she brought us back to the Elriel moments by purposefully omitting MAJOR details.

All in all, these are just my interpretations and nothing is written in stone. Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

My top elriel song atm is 'KINGKILLER' by Not A Toy specifically for ACOWAR just because of the lyrics (not in order):

"There's blood in the water" the Cauldron

"Fire on the altar" Fake bond with Lucien

"Words of a father" Papa Archeron

"Death of a foe" King of Hybern

"Fate is a whisper" Again bonds

"Got a life back home, never see it again" ; "King killer" and "So I volunteer as tribute just to get my revenge" Elain / Elain when she stabbed KoH

"Cursed from the cradle I'm a curse to the end" and "Aint a stranger to the pain of the sin" Azriel with his trauma, low self worth and his job as torturer.

"Then he* walks from the altar, calm and composed" Elain / Elriel rejecting the bond. The he* is relative to me here.

"Sleep now forever buried in rose" Just because. 😊

Link to spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/6mrHGguXTGNXOQrvLM2Wgn?si=OvRkxacZQaCfawhhcDE7GQ

But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm.

“Why not make them mates?” I mused. “Why Lucien?”

But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. [...]Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly,

She made ballrooms into battlefields and plotted like any general. Like you two,” she said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel. Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement. Lucien was certainly not here to snarl at any male who looked at her for too long >>>> Cassian glanced over at Az, but his attention was fixed on the young priestess, admiration and quiet encouragement shining from his face. 

Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it >>>>> Gwyn let out a high-pitched noise that was nothing but pure excitement. Azriel, on the other side of the ring with the rest of the priestesses, half-turned at the sound, brows high. Cassian flashed a grin. “I fought beside the Valkyries for five battles.(…) Azriel returned to his charges, but Nesta had a feeling the shadowsinger monitored every word, every gesture from his brother.

“I was just checking on dessert,” Elain explained as they approached the doorway and Azriel. Nesta met the shadowsinger’s stare and he gave her a nod. 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. >>>>>>> Gwyn threw Azriel a withering stare as she strode past him. “See you tomorrow, Shadowsinger,” she tossed over a shoulder. Az stared after her, brows high with amusement. When he turned back, Nesta grinned. “You have no idea what you just started,” she said. Az angled his head, hazel eyes narrowing as Gwyn reached the archway. 

His secret to tell, never hers >>>> you’re the new ribbon

Feyre said, “We won’t allow any harm to come to Elain. Rhys warded her this morning, and we have eyes on her at all times.” “Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said.“Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation. He’d gone with Feyre into the heart of Hybern’s camp to save Elain—he knew the risk. “We won’t make the same mistake twice.” She believed him. 

Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain. Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike

“Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?” Cassian waved a hand. “A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened. Cassian blew out a breath. “I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.” “It’s about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.” “It’s bad, then.” Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. “You all right?” His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. 

Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to. >>>>>> “There are plenty of other unspeakable things (SA) that could be happening to her,” Cassian said, voice thickening. “To Emerie and Gwyn.” The shadows deepened around Azriel, his Siphons gleaming like cobalt fire. “You—we—trained them well, Cassian. Trust in that. It’s all we can do”. 

Feyre smiled. “Elain was the only one who guessed. She caught me vomiting two mornings in a row.” She nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s got you beat for secret-keeping. 

Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.  >>>>>> She smiled crookedly at Nesta. “I kept to the trees the first two nights, watching the beasts, and I spotted that horrible male and his companions this morning. Saw they’d found my nightgown and displayed it, and I knew they were hunting for you. I thought I’d take them out before they could find you.” “You led the beast right to them.” “I learned where the beasts sleep during the day” (but apparently Gwyn is going to be a spy because she has to do something to survive, whereas Elain is literally being hinted at becoming a spy. Be serious.)

The Cauldron looked at her. And then took Elain.” He’d seen every horrific memory flash before Nesta’s eyes today. And though he understood that Elain had spoken true, claiming the trauma of that memory, Cassian knew firsthand the lingering horror and pain of a loved one stolen and hurt. Azriel stiffened. “I know. I helped rescue Elain, after all.” Az hadn’t so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybern’s war-camp >>>>>> Gwyn had been distracted today—one eye on the other side of the ring. Cassian could only assume she was watching his brother, who had given Gwyn a small smile of greeting upon arrival. Gwyn hadn’t returned it. Cassian cursed himself for a fool. He should have asked her if she’d be comfortable with Azriel here. Perhaps he should have asked all the priestesses about including another male, but especially Gwyn—whom Azriel had found that day in Sangravah. She’d said nothing about it during the lesson. Only glanced every now and then toward Az, who remained dutifully focused on his charges. Cassian couldn’t read the expression on her face. »

Mind you, Azriel can’t stop thinking about what happened to Elain when she was kidnapped, but he’s indifferent about Gwyn—especially considering it’s the first time he’s seen her in two years (and with the bonus chapter, we got confirmation that he’s indeed indifferent. He was thinking about Elain after that). Especially when we know that Cassian felt rage in his bonus chapter when it was implied that Nesta had been hurt by men (man).

And Gwyn looks at him because it reminds her of her trauma and what happened that night (Sangravah, her being SA’d, and losing her sister). From the very beginning, it’s stated that this relationship has nothing romantic about it. Gwyn remembers her trauma when she looks at Azriel. Proving him wrong and showing what she is capable of doing means overcoming her trauma.

I only used ACOSF to be fair, because with the three other books…well. And even with just acosf, there are plenty of hints.

and now the author (who has never used this emoji combo before) has also used them together.