The beauty of Elriel is, they get the meaning of true love. Without a third party faculty like a mating bond (as far as we know for now). True love isnāt grand gestures or romantic confessions. Itās not the promises either.
Itās the big questions. The difficult questions.
Will you stay if I fall sick? If Iām terminally ill? Will you stay if Iām depressed? Will you hold my hand when I cannot remember you? Will you wait for me if Iām late? Would it matter if I donāt have any riches? If I donāt want any kids? Will you choose me on days Iām angry and flawed? Will you stay on all my harder days?
Will you stay even if it inconveniences you?
Real love is patient and mutual.
It says āI love you so much that I want to stay even at your worst. Iāll weather it out.ā And I understand itās not everyoneās cup of tea. Weāre not saints and no one is made out of such sagely patience. But the people who do get itā¦
Azriel and Elain just do.
Azriel stayed by her side. Through her depression, through her lucidity.
A practical stranger, this guy. He was THERE.
He sat there, daring her to do her worst, and handled it all with grace. Defended her when she could not. Listened to her for hours at end. Made sure she was comfortable. For what?
Elain. She was right there with him when she could. At his wavelength. Little things like the headache powder, or calling his burnt hands beautiful, or the earplugs. Present in her quiet ways. Basically saying āI see you in the crowd. I see you for what you are. You cannot scare me. Even on your worst days, Iāll stay.ā
Tell me that is not love in all its patience? Selflessness?
This is the couple who has the foundation to say āI will stay. I donāt care if youāre my mate, or if I have a mate. I will stay. Through sickness. Through crises. Through turmoil. Through death.ā
Now Iām not saying others who have a mating bond, their love is fake or forced. Not at all. Rhys stayed by Feyre when she was depressed before she knew anything about the mating bond. Cassian stayed by Nesta through all her bitterness without being mated. They couldāve bolted at any moment. But they stayed.
All Iām saying is, Elriel, with or without a mating bond, is just as special. Because they have no REASON to draw towards each other. But guess what?
