Between The Lines

First of all, I fell in love with the idea of them together from the very first moment they met. Like, to me it was clear as day that one way or the other, these two are gonna find their way towards each other. Then, suddenly, there was the ending for the ACOMAF and she was LUCIEN’S MATE???? Don’t get me wrong, Lucien was my favorite character in the first book and he’s still got one of the highest rankings, but this was just so... sudden? Unexpected.

Anyway, I binged the first three books, and through the entirety of ACOWAR I couldn’t shake the feeling that it’ll be shown that The Cauldron f-d up, that bcs she was the first ever to be made this way (at least that’s how I understood it), bcs smth like this wasn’t supposed to be done, that there was some sort of a glitch, a mistake woven into the spell. We even had a sort of confirmation/hinting on it to be true through Feyre questioning this bond.

But then, it hit me.

It doesn’t matter whether or not the bond is real/true. Bcs Elain’s story is going to be about MAKING A CHOICE. Screw the fate and some old kitchen appliance. Screw everyone always making decisions but her. Screw all that. When it comes to her book, it will be about choosing freely, with her heart and soul. Not doing what everyone is expecting, not following through with a path she was put on. Actively making a decision and CHOOSING her future. And it’s going to be Azriel, I just know that.

They were not foreshadowed since the very begging for nothing.

Just as I knew, that Rhys and Feyre will be together from the first second of his appearance in ACOTAR, I know this. In my very bones.

After all, we already had a confirmation in canon that mating bond can be rejected and by Prythian laws nobody can be forced into it. And Rhys said it himself, that even true and real bonds aren’t always good ones, and that no one knows why exactly mating bond happens. So, there is no canonical reason for Elain not to reject it.

Disclaimer: if you are not a fan of the couple or unwilling to open up to the possibility of them being together then please refrain yourself from reading this. This is just my opinion, if your opinion is different then that’s okay, it’s natural, people think in opposition anyway. And I’m not Native English speaker, so shall you find incorrect use of terms or grammar please forgive me, I know how frustrating it is when we encounter them.

For me, what makes me believe that Elain’s book is next is solely based on what she did on ACOSF, when she owned up to Nesta that she is capable of doing things herself, when she declares she is a part of the Night Court. Sure, some people would say that Elain shows little development but so does Nesta in ACOFAS. Her development would be shown in her own book. I’m a fan of Elain and she definitely takes me by surprise with her talking back to Nesta, and for me that scene is showing her biggest development yet as Elain is often thought of as this meek, feminine, and pushover female. Other than that, ACOTAR 5 is most likely dealing with finding the fourth trove which we know Nesta couldn’t find and it only leaves the possibility of Elain finding it.

All of that is then solidified further by Feysand’s POV and countless evidences of Sarah implying the second book is Elain’s. In my opinion, Azriel’s POV is intended to confirm him as Elain’s love interest and to set up the conflict for their relationship. The thing with Gwyn is very much similar with Cassian and Emerie in ACOFAS, if Sarah has done it before why would you think that she will not do it again? And to be frank, I don’t interpret their scenes as romantic at all, it is up most very ambiguous. Sure, they could be mates but then Azriel’s reaction to Gwyn when she is kidnapped does not show mate behavior at all, quite the opposite when Elain is in danger or threatened to be honest. And it is definitely a possibility that Gwyn has the ability of a lightsinger seeing as both Nesta and Azriel’s shadow are drawn to Gwyn, particularly her voice.

Hence, there is literally no point of Elain being the common denominator in the two bonus content if her book is not going to be the next. Here’s how I view it:

Feysand: Why of all equally important scenes in ACOSF does Sarah highlight the very scene where Elain takes anyone by surprise? And why does it go further by Rhysand mentioning that Elain is not who we think she is, that she is hiding her true identity in favor of pleasing everyone which stems from how she was raised by her mother.

Azriel: If Sarah’s intention in writing Azriel’s POV is to showcase only his lust and entitlement over Elain then it definitely backfires. Why? It completely ruins Azriel and his characterization, at least for me. The text implies that Azriel pleasures himself to the thought of Elain nightly, which for me, makes him a creep and ruins his future interactions with Elain if in the end they are not endgame. Thus, I firmly believe, if that’s what Sarah’s intending then she would’ve gone low and detailing his lust to a minimum instead of going on full detail that only left the readers uncomfortable in the future reread (similar as to many readers feel when they reread ACOTAR with the sex scene between Feyre and Tamlin, and we know now that Tamlin is hated in the fandom for his toxicity toward Feyre).

Thus, if you are going to use Azriel’s POV as the indication that his book is next, then why don’t you extend the same courtesy to Feysand’s? Both are exclusive content, both are only available to US readers only, both are not being restocked, and most importantly both can be not read by the readers.

And if you are going to use Sarah’s word of ‘by the end of ACOSF we would’ve known who’s the next book going to be’ then only apply it to Azriel’s POV, how about the people who have Feysand’s POV? Is Feysand going to be the second book? We all know that in the end of ACOSF Sarah foreshadows Elain through Nesta placing a carved rose on top of her father’s grave which he made for Elain. And not to mention both exclusive content take place in the early and middle of ACOSF.

Let’s play hypothetical game and say that ACOTAR 5 is:

Azriel and Gwyn:

Then, the international reader wouldn’t know that there is something going on between them as the possible evidence that they are mates is included in his POV only, which is only available to the US readers, as most of international readers interpret their scenes in ACOSF as a friendly banter and definitely incomparable with Elriel’s interactions alone in it. Adding to that, Gwyn and Azriel doesn’t have enough evidence to tie them with the overarching plot (i.e. Koschei) thus, the plotline would be static, contributing nothing to the main plot of the series.

Elain and Lucien:

Then, the international reader would be confused as hell since in ACOSF there hadn’t been any progress between them, and quite contrary, instead we got Elriel’s confirmation from ACOSF alone (i.e. the charged glance between them) and Elriel is completely left open-ended which begets possible endgame.

What about ACOTAR 6 then? In my opinion, we shouldn’t speculate who’s going to be the stars of ACOTAR 6 since what’s going to happen in the third book is a direct result from the second book. But, let’s play another hypothetical game again shall we:

Let’s just say that Gwynriel’s book is the last, to see Gwyn’s role in defeating Koschei and a possible build up to their relationship, but then why does Azriel get a POV in the end? The same goes for Elain, if her book is ACOTAR 6 then why Feysand’s POV showcasing Elain’s future development and blankly pointing that after they are done with Nesta they will deal with Elain? It still doesn’t add up since both POV is supposed to be a teaser for what is to come as well as extra content (Rhys and Feyre choosing Nyx’s name).

Thus, in conclusion, Elriel’s endgame is the logical road for me. Not only their relationship has the most realistic build-up in the span of four books, but also some significant moments between them to just be dismissed as ‘nothing’. I also believe if Sarah doesn’t intend Elriel being endgame then she wouldn’t have developed them as romantic in the first place. Why? It only complicates the matter further for Elucien when their conflict can be from Elain’s feelings toward Graysen, instead Sarah makes Elain move on from Graysen in favor of Azriel. The same goes for Gwynriel, Sarah could use Azriel’s feelings toward Morrigan instead of making him get over Morrigan in favor of Elain.

Vex'ahlia watched you and Trinket cuddling from afar. She watched you cooing, caressing and giggling with the bear. She watched you hugging the bear who nuzzled against you with affection. Of course, she was happy that her baby and her darling got along so well, but now, she felt a bit left out.

"Aren't you an adorable predator !" you cooed while caressing Trinket's belly. "So cute yet so dangerous, like your mommy !"

You looked behind you and winked at the archer before focusing on the bear again.

"Look, Trinket," you loudly murmured. "Mommy looks grumpy, today. Do you think cuddles would bring back her lovely smile ?"

Vex'ahlia rolled her eyes at your antics but couldn't stop her smile from blooming.

"Do you feel it, Trinket ?" you dramatically gasped. "That sudden warmth wrapping my soul in a gentle embrace ! It is your mommy's superpower, no doubt !"

The bear nodded and looked at the archer, as if beckoning her to get closer. Vex'ahlia rolled her eyes again. How could she resist you ? Such a smooth talker and an animal lover, how could she not fall ? She felt herself fall even more for you when you smiled at her as she sat beside you and Trinket.

"Look !" you said with enthusiasm. "I got you a new feather !"

Once again, she wondered how could she not fall.

What dreams may come. 💔

nfjkdsnfjksdbfflk Sorry this is late and hopefully Pikeahlia is cool, ‘casue that’s what came out. >.<

Set sometime between episodes 48 and 54, idkk

From this meme

Pike cranes her head back, awe-struck at the vision of Vex flying overhead with her new broom.  Pike isn’t exactly sure on the exact details of how Vex had come upon the broom, but a necromancer, a candle-maker, a dragonborn, and thievery were involved.  All par for the course when it came to Vox Machina hi-jinks.

Vex’s thick braid is coming undone in the wind, curls of brown hair coming loose to stream behind her as she flew.  She is a sight to behold, as Pike stares wonderingly at Vex’s still-dark hair.  Pike unconsciously touches her own death-bleached hair, braided tightly to her scalp so Pike didn’t have to see the color she had lost.

Rouge lips breaking out into a smile, Vex turns and waves at Pike when Vex notices Pike watching.

“Hey Pike, watch this!”  And then Vex is pulling out her bow and arrow even as Pike lets her teeth bite into her bottom lip in apprehension.  One of her sharper fangs catches and she winces as she tastes blood.

“Just don’t aim anywhere in my vicinity!” Pike yells back, licking the corner of her lip but she feels the blood well up again.

Vex snorts and flips her the bird but obligingly aims her arrow in the opposite direction of Pike.  It takes Vex longer than usual to pull her bow out, broom wedged between her thighs and wobbling with her every adjustment of her posture without both hands to keep the broom steady.  Even longer still for Vex to aim, but then she lets the arrow loose and it strikes the tree trunk she’d been aiming for.

Pike whoops and cheers for her and so Vex does a few more shoots with various degrees of success.  And then, Vex pitches off her broom.  Pike isn’t sure why, though she thinks it might have something to do with Vex kicking her legs in celebration of a good shoot with no hands on her broom.

“VEX!”  Pike screams as Vex hits the ground hard, her broom not too long after.  She has no spells prepared to break Vex’s fall with and all she can do is sprint to Vex’s side, crumpled on the ground.

Pike feels horror as she runs, unsure if she should prepare her magic to cast Cure Wounds or Revivify.

Pike doesn’t know the details Vex got her new flying broom, because she wasn’t there, but that isn’t the only thing she only half-knows.  She doesn’t know the circumstances upon Vex’s death because Pike hadn’t been there.  She only vaguely knows what happened.  She only knows that Vax is avoiding her and Pike can’t even blame him if he blames Pike for not being there because Pike blames herself.

And now Vex might be dead again, entirely her fault still.

But before Pike can drop to her knees beside Vex opens her eyes.

“Oh shit,” says Vex.

“Vex!” Pike says, scrubbing at tears still running down her face.  “Vex, you’re -,”

Vex groans, shifts a bit and then whimpers. Pike thinks she might have broken something.  “I’m alive… I can tell because of the pain.“

Pike casts Heal and then every powerful healing spell she knows.

“Hey, Pike, stop,” Vex says as she sits up, catching Pike’s hands in her own.  “I’m all better now, thanks to you.  Save your spells, dear.”  Pike frowns, prepared to dump more spells into Vex.  And then Vex’s hand cups Pike’s chin, swiping at the blood on Pike’s lip.  “You’ve hurt yourself.”  And then Vex smiles softly.  “Now let me make you better.”  And she lays a sweet kiss upon Pike’s mouth that Pike returns, eyes fluttering shut.  Vex’s tongue against Pike’s cut lip, Pike isn’t sure if Vex’s Cure Wounds spell comes from her mouth or hands cupping Pike’s face, but Pike feels her cut close.