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🦋 GWYN APPRECIATION WEEK DAY ONE: ACOLYTE | PRIESTESS 🦋

For this day i decided to make a simple piece while playing around with different painting techniques! My inspiration for this piece were tarot cards too!

TIK TOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@vmiae

INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/vmiae/

A Symphony of Shadows

Gwynriel 🤍

Can’t believe I have to say this but please be respectful, folks!

He’s the new ribbon

You don’t understand how obsessed I am with 🎨✨avia.sebag✨🎨 art style.

Here is Gwyn’s version in case you missed it!

Love u guys 🖤✨

Beautiful art of Azriel by @rosalynnarts (on Instagram)

Look how beautiful he is I can’t😭

The link below is to the artists Instagram. Go show some love😌

Let me begin by saying that your ship is valid. You love both Elain and Lucien and I doubt you'd wish for Elain's unhappiness if you are simply wanting her to be with Lucien. It is canon that there are many complications between them but that does not wipe out their potential as a couple.

I believe that Elain does not necessarily tie Lucien to her trauma as much as it is the mating bond that she finds intimidating and alien to her.

Lucien and Elain met for the first time when Elain was Hybern's captive and they put her in the Cauldron. By instinct, Lucien wanted to save her before she even turned Fae. Even after she turned and was laid on the ground, he broke Hybern's restraints and rushed to her.

But Elain was staring over Nesta’s shoulder. At Lucien—whose face she had finally taken in. Dark brown eyes met one eye of russet and one of metal. Nesta was still weeping, still raging, still inspecting Elain— Lucien’s hands slackened at his sides. His voice broke as he whispered to Elain, “You’re my mate.” (ACOMAF - pg. 608).

And here is SJM explaining why she chose Elain to be Lucien's mate (at this point she already published ACOMAF and was working on ACOWAR)

So, if this is what SJM herself established then all hope is not yet lost. You are not shipping them together out of imagination, and Sarah did state that there is a GREAT deal of tension, growth and healing to be found for both of them (TOGETHER). This is something we have not witnessed yet in the books. She is building up the angst, she IS building up the tension.

In ACOWAR, Elain falls into depression and becomes inconsolable. It was pretty traumatic to be forcibly dragged into the Cauldron and be turned from a human to a Fae. There is an identity clash here along with the heartbreak and loss of her first love and former fiancé, Greysen.

"She’d seen him not as a High Lord’s seventh son, but as a male. Had loved him without question, without hesitation. She had chosen him. Elain had been … thrown at him." (ACOWAR - pg. 249)

It was not Lucien's choice to shackle Elain to him. It broke his heart a little because he lived with the half-truth of Jesminda being his mate and apparently she wasn't but this stranger is.

“My mate is engaged to a human male.” He spoke more to himself than to me. “I’m sorry if—” “I want to see her. Just once. Just—to know.” “To know what?” He hitched my damp cloak higher around us. “If she is worth fighting for.” (ACOWAR - pg. 114)

It's been two years since he states this, yet he still tries. If anything, Elain to Lucien is worth fighting for.

“I was in love with Feyre,” Rhys said quietly, “long before she ever returned the feeling.” Lucien crossed his arms. “How fortunate that you got what you wanted in the end.” (ACOWAR - pg. 133)

“If Elain is not up for it, then she won’t see him. I won’t force the meeting on her. But he does wish to see her, Nesta. I’ll ask on his behalf, but the decision will be hers.” (ACOWAR - pg. 153)

Elain's choice is obviously considered when meeting Lucien. I doubt she is ever forced if it's not her own decision to see him whenever he visits.

Here is an interesting comparison between Cassian in ACOWAR and Lucien in ACOSF and their reactions to their mates:

"But Lucien was standing in the doorway. And from the devastation on his face, I knew he’d heard every word. Seen and heard and felt the hollowness and despair radiating from her." (ACOWAR - pg. 156)

"But even as shame washed through him, the words, the sense chanted, Mine. You are mine, and I am yours. Mate." (ACOWAR - pg. 250)

“Take her to the sea. Take her to some garden. But get her out of this house for an hour or two.” (ACOWAR - pg. 252)

Elain in ACOWAR said she needs sunlight. When Feyre went to visit Elain she found her sitting by the sunniest of all windows.

“I’ll go.” Lucien was staring at Elain as he spoke." (ACOWAR - pg. 338)

"Elain now watched Lucien warily. Blinking every now and then. She revealed no hint of whatever she might be seeing—sensing. None." ------ "He only glanced at Elain, whose face was again a calm void while she traced a finger over the embroidery on the couch cushions. “Yes. Let me help in whatever way I can.”" (ACOWAR - pg. 339)

Lucien literally raised an army for Elain.

"And for once, my sister rose to her feet and came toward us, the three of us not so subtly heading upstairs. Leaving Lucien and Elain alone. It was an effort not to linger atop the landing, to listen to what was said. If anything was said at all." - (ACOWAR - pg. 340)

"Before that dark wind swept in, Lucien looked back. Not to me, I realized—to someone behind me. Pale and thin, Elain stood atop the stairs. Their gazes locked and held. But Elain said nothing. Did not so much as take one step downward. Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye—the longing and sadness. And when Lucien turned to signal to Rhys to go … He did not glance back at Elain. Did not see the half step she took toward the stairs—as if she’d speak to him. Stop him. Then Rhys was gone, and Lucien with him. When I turned to offer Elain breakfast, she’d already walked away." - (ACOWAR - pg. 345)

This scene is one of the first scenes where I noticed Elain's reaction towards Lucien considering that the day before was the first time they were given some time alone but it wasn't revealed whether or not something was said between them, but the next day Elain had shown a reaction towards him for the first time.

This honestly does not mean indicate that Elain finds Lucien repulsive or is extremely uncomfortable around him. If anything, it's the mating bond that intimidates her and not him.

"Elain offered a faint smile in return and nodded. She was hungry. She was … doing something. Learning something." (ACOWAR - pg. 386)

It seems like right after Lucien left, Elain found some motivation to do something. I'm not interpreting this as if she felt better once he left, because she was no better even before he came. But it seems like after Lucien left something stirred in her, perhaps their last talk or moments between them clicked something in her. Yes, Azriel provided companionship but this shift happened after her moment with Lucien and not after spending time with Azriel (Azriel was on spying missions around this time in Adriata + the battle).

“No, I have it on good authority that it was Elain Archeron who was turned Fae first. And who now has a High Lord’s son as a mate.” (ACOWAR - pg. 492)

“I don’t care what his name is.” The first sharp words from Graysen. “You are his mate. Do you even know what that means?” “It means nothing,” Elain said, her voice breaking. “It means nothing. I don’t care who decided it or why they did—” “You belong to him.”“I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.” Graysen’s face hardened. “I don’t want it.” (ACOWAR - pg. 497)

"That Graysen would still love her, still marry her—and that love would trump even a mating bond. A final tether had been snapped—to her life in the human lands." (ACOWAR - pg. 503)

Hit the nail on the head Greyson. This is what I believe the main reason behind Elain's resentment of the mating bond = Lucien. She associates it with her heartbreak. Greyson made it seem to Elain that the reason he won't have her is that she is Lucien's property which is the total opposite of how Lucien treated her.

"Lucien, haggard and bloody, panting for breath. As if he’d run from the shore. His gaze settled on Elain, and he sagged a little. But Elain only wrapped her arms around herself and remained at my side. “Are you hurt?” he asked, coming toward us. Spying the blood speckling Elain’s hands. He halted short as he noticed the King of Hybern’s decapitated head on the other side of the clearing. Nesta was still showered with his blood. “I’m fine,” Elain said quietly. And then asked, noticing the gore on him, the torn clothes and still-bloody weapons, “Are you—” “Well, I never want to fight in another battle as long as I live, but … yes, I’m in one piece.” A faint smile bloomed on Elain’s lips." - (ACOWAR - pg. 674)

"I spared Lucien the torment of debating whether to touch her, and linked my arm through his as I began to walk away, letting my sisters decide to follow or remain—if they wanted a moment alone with that burnt grass. Elain came. Nesta stayed. Elain fell into step beside me, peering at Lucien. He noticed it. “I heard you made the killing blow,” he said. Elain studied the trees ahead. “Nesta did. I just stabbed him.” - (ACOWAR pg. 676)

“Lucien shrugged. “First—here. To help. Then …” Another glance at Elain. “Who knows?” I nudged Elain, who blinked at me, then blurted, “You could come to Velaris.” He saw all of it, but nodded graciously. “It would be my pleasure.” (ACOWAR - 676)

Here are Lucien and Elain's interactions towards the end of ACOWAR. It didn't seem to me like she was resentful of him. Even at his own comments she smiled a bit. She did invite him to Velaris even though Feyre nudged her, but if she did not really want him around she would've ignored it or said something along the lines of "wish you a safe travel" or something.

“Elain, at least, would be too polite to send Lucien away when he wanted to help. She was too polite to send him away on a normal day. She just ignored him or barely spoke to him until he got the hint and left. As far as I knew, he hadn’t come within touching distance since the aftermath of that final battle. No, she tended to her gardens here, silently mourning her lost human life. Mourning Graysen.” - (ACOFAS - oh. 49)

“A muscle flickered in his jaw. “Does she still mourn him?” The words were little more than a growl. I chewed on my lip, weighing how much of the truth to reveal. In the end, I opted for all of it. “She was deeply in love with him, Lucien.” His russet eye flashed with simmering rage. An uncontrollable instinct—for a mate to eliminate any threat. But he remained sitting. Even as his fingers dug into the arms of his chair. I continued, “It has only been a few months. Graysen made it clear that the engagement is ended, but it might take her a while longer to move past it.” - (ACOFAS - pg. 161)

“He cares for you.” “He doesn’t know me.” “You don’t give him the chance to even try to do so.” Her mouth tightened, the only sign of anger in her graceful countenance. “I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male.” She wanted a human man.” (ACOFAS - pg. 166)

“He and Lucien did not exchange gifts, though the male had brought a gift for Feyre and one for his mate, who barely thanked him after opening the pearl earrings. -- Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.” (ACOSF - pg. 601)

It's very peculiar that Elain went from treating Lucien decently to being indifferent to almost as if she is repulsed that she can't even return him a thankful word, not that he is entitled to it but that's just being polite. Is it possible that Elain being a seer saw a vision of Lucien and avoids getting attached to him? Possibly. We know she can still use and sense her Seer Powers, we don't even know what shady business she is doing with all that gardening she has been occupied with. Not necessarily evil stuff, but she could be planning something because the IC keep coddling her.

I think Azriel is a rebound for Elain as much as she is a rebound for Mor. Sarah is already building up so much tension and angst between Elain and Lucien I doubt she'd throw it all away. This is what she had wanted to see for both of them to see them both heal together, these are her own words. Neither Lucien nor Elain are happy, Lucien is most definitely not in love with Vassa, the mating bond is too powerful for him to turn his feelings and attention elsewhere.

There is canon evidence that Lucien clicked a button in Elain that made her push herself to become better.

They would've started out as friends atleast has Greyson not used Lucien being her mate as a cruel excuse to break her heart. I think that is what Elain associates Lucien with far more than the Cauldron.

You are not taking Elain's agency away by shipping her with Lucien because Lucien is not pushing that bond on her in the first place. You support Elain choosing who she wants to be with, but your choice for her is Lucien not because of the mating bond but because of their dynamic as a couple.

I doubt SJM would push the "breaking the bond" drama in her book simply because it will take Lucien a very long time to get over the mating bond. Remember that the bond will remain tethered to them even if one of them rejected it. There will be no time, or let's say it's unrealistic, if in book 5 Elain rejects the bond and in book 6 Lucien gets his HEA.

That's what makes me confident about Elain ans Lucien happening and their book being book 6 since even both of them are connected to the same plotline of Koschei and the Firebird (Vassa).

Lucien had little choice in this as Elain so it's also not fair to him to endure this pain when he did not ask for it.

GWYNRIEL as Eric and Ariel ❤️

Elucien, definitely Elucien! They babies!

A Court of Thorns and Roses Ships ♦ azriel & gwyneth berdara