there's a river running wild

Typically, when it comes to bat boy + Archeron sister friendships, SJM pairs the two that have something in common.

In Feyre + Cassian’s case, both had experienced growing up without basic necessities + having to fight to stay alive:

“I’d never met anyone else in Prythian who had ever been hungry, desperate—not like I’d been. Cassian blinked, and the way he looked at me shifted—more assessing, more … sincere. I could have sworn I saw the words in his eyes: You know what it is like. You know the mark it leaves.” (ACOMAF - Chapter 16)

In an Instagram live from last January, Sarah said the following about Nesta + Azriel’s companionship:

Some statements to note:

“Over the course of the book they [Nesta & Azriel] recognize a lot of similar things...”

“She [Nesta] and Az have” ... “there’s just like a mutual respect and understanding”

I discussed what these “similar things” could potentially be in another post of mine !!

Elain + Rhys are seemingly going to follow suit with the pairs listed above.

The two could potentially bond over the different masks that they’ve been forced to don throughout their life:

“But standing in that hallway, all of them in their fighting leathers and me bundled in a heavy, fur-lined cloak, I took one look at Rhys and felt those hands on my thighs again. Felt how it’d been to look inside his mind, felt his cold rage, felt him … defend himself, his people, his friends, using the power and masks in his arsenal. He’d seen and endured such … such unspeakable things, and yet … his hands on my thighs had been gentle, the touch like—” (ACOMAF - Chapter 22)

“He surveyed the study as he thought. “But I wonder if everyone has spent so long assuming Elain is sweet and innocent that she felt she had to be that way or else she’d disappoint you all.” (ACOSF - Feysand Bonus POV)

“When I sleep,” she murmured, “I can hear your heart beating through the stone.” She angled her head, as if the city view held some answer. “Can you hear mine?” He wasn’t sure if she truly meant to address him, but he said, “No, lady. I cannot.” Her too-thin shoulders seemed to curve inward. “No one ever does. No one ever looked—not really.” A bramble of words.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 24)

There’s already passages in the text that suggest that the two could become close companions in the future:

“Well, you’ll forgive me if I can’t.” Icy rage darkened the stars in those violet eyes. “You still can barely talk to Nesta,” I said. “Yet Elain you can talk to nicely.” “Elain is Elain.” “If you blame one, you have to blame the other.” “No, I don’t. Elain is Elain,” he repeated.” (ACOFAS - Chapter 5)

“Cassian cast the memory aside as Rhys surveyed Elain, his violet-blue eyes missing nothing. “What happened.” When Rhys spoke like that, it was more of a command than a question. Elain waved a hand in dismissal before flinging open the veranda doors and striding into the open air. “Elain,” Rhys said as he and Cassian trailed her into the dying light.” (ACOSF - Chapter 17)

“Then Rhys shook his head and said to Elain, “I’ll fly you home.” Elain didn’t object when Rhys scooped her up and launched into the red-and-pink-stained sky. When they were a speck of black and purple over the rooftops, Rhys sweeping along the gilded river as if giving Elain a scenic tour, then and only then did Cassian enter the House.” (ACOSF - Chapter 17)

Now that I’ve stated my general thoughts on Elain + Rhys and my belief that their relationship will progress into one of friendship in upcoming novels, let’s move on to the theory portion of this post.

Elain + Rhysand - Coconspirators Who Saved the Day ?

While having a conversation with @offtorivendell this morning, we noticed some interesting things in chapters 70-74 of ACOWAR:

“Amren ushered my sisters forward, even as Elain let out a low sob at the sight of the Graysen coat of arms. “Now. Quick and quiet as shadows.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 70)

“Amren snorted, and we fell into flanking positions around my sisters. A glamour of invisibility would hopefully allow us to skirt the southern edge of the battlefield—along with Azriel’s shadows as he monitored from behind. But once we got behind enemy lines …” (ACOWAR - Chapter 70)

“But as a black blade broke through the king’s throat, spraying blood, I realized someone else had. Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 74)

I believe that some other users might’ve already theorized that Elain used Azriel’s shadows to help transport her across the field to kill Hybern, but what if Elain was never actually that far away after all ?

It’s stated in chapter 72 of ACOWAR that Feyre instructed Rhys to move Elain away to the farthest edges of their camp:

“I had Rhys move Elain to the farthest reaches of our camp. And when he returned, my mate only pressed a kiss to my mouth before he took to the skies, spearing for the heart of the battle—the heaviest fighting.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 72)

Before the above request takes place, we’re privy to the following conversation between Nesta + Cassian + Elain + Rhys + Feyre:

“Nesta looked down to Elain—our sister monitoring the bloodbath ahead. Then to me. She said quietly, “Tell Father—thank you.” She wrapped her arms tightly around Cassian, those gray-blue eyes bright, then they were gone. Rhys’s body strained with the effort of not going after them as they soared for a copse of trees far behind the battlefield. “He might survive,” I said softly. “No,” Rhys said, flying us down to Amren and Elain. “He won’t.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 72)

We see that Rhysand had already resigned himself to the belief that Cassian would perish during the battle against Hybern.

Who else was aware of Cassian’s fate ?

Elain:

“Nesta’s nostrils flared, but Elain peered up at Cassian, blinking twice. “He snapped your wings, broke your bones.” … “It’ll take more than that to kill me,” Cassian said with a smirk that didn’t meet his eyes. Elain only said to Cassian, “No, it will not.” (ACOWAR - Chapter 30)

What if Elain confided what she had seen in her visions to Rhysand while he was supposed to be carrying her to the farthest reaches of their camp, and the two agreed to place Elain somewhere where she would be able to intervene / stop Hybern from murdering Nesta + Cassian ?

Note: I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that this is a theory post - if you don’t agree with it then that’s totally fine !! These are just my thoughts - you don’t have to agree with them. :)

I believe that Azriel’s shadows still played a role - even in the above scenario.

Something had to keep Elain hidden while she waited for the perfect moment to make her move, and as Feyre stated a few chapters earlier:

“A glamour of invisibility would hopefully allow us to skirt the southern edge of the battlefield—along with Azriel’s shadows as he monitored from behind. But once we got behind enemy lines …” (ACOWAR - Chapter 70)

Perhaps Truth-Teller being in Elain’s possession allowed her to remain concealed within Azriel’s shadows beyond enemy lines ?

Regarding the theory about Elain + Rhys’ conspiring to save Nessian, this would also serve as another - although less likely - explanation for the following moment in ACOSF:

“Rhys asked, “Have you ever seen Elain act like that before?” “No.” I chewed on my bottom lip. Rhys’ gaze tracked the movement. I mean, she’s been brave when she had to be, but she’s never been confrontational.” “Maybe she was never given the chance to be that way.” I whipped my head toward him. “You think I stifle her?” Rhys held up his hands. “Not you alone.” He surveyed the study as he thought. “But I wonder if everyone has spent so long assuming Elain is sweet and innocent that she felt she had to be that way or else she’d disappoint you all.” He sighed toward the ceiling. “With time and safety, perhaps we’ll see a different side of her emerge.” “That sounds dangerously close to what Nesta said about Elain finally becoming interesting.” “Sometimes, Nesta isn’t wrong.” I glowered at Rhys. “You think Elain's boring?” “I think she’s kind, and I’ll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven’t yet seen all she has to offer.” A corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way.” (ACOSF - Feysand Bonus POV)

Instead of Rhys making the above comment based off of his observational skills alone, perhaps he was able to come to the conclusion that Elain has more to offer because he saw that side of her during the war ?