my randoms thoughts

𝓔𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮 𝓦𝓮𝓮𝓴 𝓓𝓪𝔂 3: 𝓕𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓮

“I came to training because I knew he’d have forbidden it. I came to training to get his voice out of my head. And to know how to stop a male if one ever puts another hand on me again. But none of it will ever bring my mother back, or the fact that I hid while my father took out his rage upon her. Nothing will ever make that right. But this mountain …” Emerie pointed to the small dirt path at the base of the peak. “I’ll climb it for my mother. For her, I’ll face the Breaking and go as far as I can.” -A Court of Silver Flames Chapter 68

Emerie’s future is full of possibilities as she accomplished so much for herself in such a short time. She’s a successful business woman with her shop, winning the Blood Rite, and becoming one of the first Valkyries in more than centuries ago. We have a lot to look forward to as her story is not finish yet.

@norabraveseeker and I would like to thank @mysleepyblue for this beautiful artwork of Emerie. She brought our ideas to life and created such a magnificent piece. Look at that wingspan!!! 😍

Art by @mysleepyblue

Commissioned by @norabraveseeker and me for @emerieweekofficial

The breach of trust was the main factor, of course, but I believe Cardan wanted to be the only one for her. In his novel, it is said that Cardan is a little afraid of Balekin wanting to get close to Nicasia, but she reassures him that she has no interest in another man - Locke not included, apparently. He's never been special to anyone, so having someone's heart all to himself was all he wanted.

In The Wicked King (after the kissing scene), Cardan goes to Jude to talk about that night. They didn't even get to "finally", but he was already completely in love and I'm sure that if Jude hadn't dismissed him, he would have talked about feelings and tried to formalize their relationship. Also, despite the fact that, using Jude's words, he was always "practically draped in courtiers", Cardan didn't try to pressure her. Although he desired Jude, it was never just about sex for him.

Now in The Queen of Nothing, even though they're married, Cardan never tries anything with Jude and when he does, he waits patiently for a signal and even when he gets one, he's totally cautious, pulling away at the slightest sign of Jude's discomfort. He still thinks she might change her mind. We only see Jude's pov, but it's evident from Cardan's nervousness that even though he's so experienced in the "art of love", he wanted their first time to be special, because Jude was special. The detail that they only have sex after the wedding is also so cute, not in a puritanical, annoying way, but as if they were both waiting for an important moment. When they finally trusted each other enough to give themselves completely.