𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒓

In Welsh mythology Cerridwen is an important goddess and the keeper of the cauldron.

In one story a boy called Gwion was tasked with stirring a potion she was brewing in it when he ended up swallowing some, granting him the gift of wisdom. He ran away but Cerridwen pursued him. Gwion used his new gift to transform himself into various animals to try to escape her but Cerridwen always transformed herself into a corresponding predator and continued to chase him. When he became a hare she became a greyhound. When he became a fish she became an otter. When he became a bird she became a hawk. Finally when he became a grain of wheat she became a hen and swallowed him. This led to him being reborn from her and becoming the legendary bard Taliesin.

This story demonstrates Cerridwen's role as a goddess that guides people through necessary if unpleasant transformations and helps lead them to a better version of themselves.

So far in the books we have seen Cerridwen be instrumental in helping Elain adjust to her transformation and I look forward to seeing how she will continue to help guide her into embracing her new abilities in the next books.

“Yes my wife is an amazing gardener. Half of the flowers in Velaris are there because of her, my lovely mate”

Bethgilbert_art new Elain redraw

The initial art remains my personal favorite

I love Feysand and Nessian. They represent the kind of love that is loud and demonstrates passion through bickering, teasing, and raucous lovemaking.

But Elain and Azriel? Soft, gentle, quiet. Yearning, pining, brushing of fingers. Small smiles, head ducking, charged glances, the kind of eye contact that feels so intense and so pointed that Elain looks away shyly. Sharing the same sense of humor, staring at a gift from over a year ago, knowing that Elain went to the trouble, not only by noticing Azriel, but to get him something custom made. All because she was thinking of him.

And we know he thinks of her. He's thinking of her so much it physically hurts him to not be with her. Questioning his religion over her. Willing to risk it all, thinking that she's worth the turmoil, worth upending peace, worth pissing off his boss and brother. Azriel is so deeply in love with Elain that he's willing to throw it all away just to be with her.

Elain knows what's expected of her. She's aware of the power structures, of Fae society, of what mating bonds mean to them. But she's going to choose love. And for once, the male that she loves will know what it feels like to be chosen first.

Their love story will be one with epic sexual tension and yearning. They won't spar with each other, they won't have petty fights. They will unite with each other because it's them against the expectations of fae society. THAT'S a love story I want to read. It's going to be so beautiful.

She would harass elriels under tiktoks.

She went as far as to comment under elriel arts found on Pinterests.

She would constantly provoke elriels.

She made a horrible elriel one shot.

Apparently tried turning artists against elriels.

Antis were fine with her behavior. No one called her out. They even joined in. I can gurantee you, most of them have conspired together against elriels.

And now they’ve realied how horrible she was?

Elriels were right about her frm the beginning.

The life of a Gardener 🌱🌸🌿💙🩷📜

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.

⟢ Art by @sunshinecovey

⟢ Commissioned by me

I didn’t have my tumblr back when I posted this comm. Inspired by the TS New Heights podcast episode. I hear there is a wedding this weekend. I think July is going to be a special month 🥰

Instagram | Twitter | @elriel-month

I like to think that he takes notice to how calm she is when he plays with her hair. How easily she fell asleep cheek pressed against his chest as he braided her hair and tickled her back. And the way her breathing levels as he traces shapes into her back.

I imagine Azriel helps her brush her teeth and change into clean clothes. And I imagine he hums tunes when he is around her, bringing beautiful sound to a once silent space.

And I imagine Elain cleaning Azriels wings when he is bone tired. I imagine her laying him on his stomach and rubbing the knots from his back. I imagine she scratches his back mindlessly, and allows him to lay his head in her lap as they bask together in the warmth of the Velaris Sun. I imagine she holds his hand with the widest smile in public, and kisses his palms when he doubts himself.

I imagine Elain also names her favorite plant after Azriel. I imagine she takes extra care of it, and when it is not doing well, she gets worried for Azriel. I imagine she tries to sing with him, not very in tune, just so she can hear his boisturous laugh. And I imagine she flicks food at him when he says something naughty or silly.

I imagine them sneaking up on each other, making it a competition of who can catch who. Shit, maybe they like playing hide and seek just to feel like kids again where they both had that snatched from them as children.

And I imagine that they have a really fun time exploring old and abandoned places together. Maybe they go off on picnics together at sunset, or maybe Azriel takes them to a secret place to watch the sunrise.

I imagine Azriel giving Elain bouquets of flowers, and Elain giving Azriel freshly baked goods specifically for him.

I don't know, I just like to imagine Elriel.

Nuala 🌺

Headcanons:

Loves to cook and bake, especially when she can experiment in the kitchen

Taught herself the language of flowers and spends her downtime creating lavish floral arrangements

Hates spending time in the forest, due to her distaste for bugs

She is the more chaotic twin and always has some kind of scheme brewing

Enjoys going to Rita’s and has a healthy string of lovers