death and the lovely fawn

Sarah slipped up and said “it was easy for Nesta and Feyre because nature picked right”, implying that in her mind nature did not pick correct for Elain…..👀👀👀👀👀

They do all these “deep dives” for a toe nail that was mentioned on the copy right page in book 2 and give depth, reason, and a character arc to it while taking Elain at surface level.

She likes flowers, she likes to bake, she’s a gentle baby flower that is just so confused on what she wants and is scared of confrontation and she sometimes sees the future and is just a fragile harmless flower that needs to be babied and and escape the nasty Night Court instead of…staying and standing up for herself? Work through her problems in stead of running away? Abandon her family when they are finally starting to bond and work thru their trauma? That she shouldn’t grow or change the status quo of who she is?

And that’s it. That’s all she’ll ever be to them. Surface level Elain. By that marker, Nesta is just a bitch who reads and doesn’t bathe.

Which is exactly the arc that SJM has been setting up. Elain is more than she allows to peak through because Elain feels like she has to put on a show and be a certain way. Elain did not escape her childhood without trauma either, it’s just different from Nesta’s And Feyre’s and is not as loud or apparent, mostly cause we haven’t got her POV and also because that’s her character arc to not be outspoken or demanding or anything other perfectly polite and “feminine” by misogynistic society standards.

But even Elain says itself “All you can think about is what my trauma did to you”. Everyone just thinks of Elain as a chess piece to move in the narrative to get their desired result not realizing that she is THE next Queen on the board and all the other characters are chess pieces that will move around her. She will drive the narrative.

The next book isn’t a Lucien book or an Azriel book it is an ELAIN book. We don’t call ACOSF the Nessian book, it’s the Nesta book.

It’s so funny to me that they think Elain won’t get her own ACOSF level book that does give her depth and a pretty remarkable, already formulating character arc that Elain IS more than what she is on the surface and has so much more to her than people see and will surprise everyone.

You know when would've been a good time to insert romantic feelings?

In ACOSF.

When they were close together. When they were training and actually had time to talk privately.

Azriel could've flirted or done literally anything to let her know he's interested.

Lets check notes and see what happened instead:

Azriel treated her like a student. Like a trainer. Like she's the friend of his brother's girlfriend, which oh wait. She is.

Could've sought her out at library. Not as if he doesn't know where she is.

He didn't even worry to the same level of Cassian for Nesta when the valkyries got abducted.

Know who Azriel did have a breakdown over their abduction? Elain.

Said he would get Elain back no matter what. Wasn't even a question for him. Zero hesitation.

Its almost like.. checks notes again..

I do believe the whole point of Azriel and Elain is them choosing each other despite a bond already bestowed upon Elain. But I also wholeheartedly believe they are true mates, not only because of the clear evidence of their compatibility, but the actual signs SJM has planted. Every single Elriel interaction is under a spotlight. Everything they do or say means something.

Offering food

ACOMAF:

Rhys straightened. "You'd—make me food?"

"Heat," I said. "I can't cook."

It didn't seem to make a difference. But whatever it was, the act of offering him food... I dumped some cold soup into a pan and lit the burner. "I don't know the rules," I said, my back to him. "So you need to explain them to me."

He lingered in the center of the cabin, watching my every move. He said hoarsely, "It's an... important moment when a female offers her mate food. It goes back to whatever beasts we were a long, long time ago. But it still matters. The first time matters. Some mated pairs will make an occasion of it—throwing a party just so the female can formally offer her mate food... That's usually done amongst the wealthy. But it means that the female... accepts the bond."

ACOSF:

Nesta considered. Then pulled something out of her pocket. A small biscuit, swiped from a tray in the birthing room. "Then here. Food. From me to you, my mate. That's the official ritual, isn't it? The sharing of food from one mate to the other?"

ACOFAS:

But Azriel only took Elain's heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, "Sit. I'll take care of it."

Elain's hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them.

I need everyone to understand sjm chose to write this specific scene and that specific line, knowing full well what a female offering a male food means regarding a mating bond. The line was so intentional.

Amiss

The word amiss is used 6 times in acowar. 4 of those times is about Elain, (the 5th not related to her directly but she was mentioned in the very next sentence.)

ACOWAR:

"It's complex spell work— a loophole through the magic that binds the wall."

"And it implies," Mor said, frowning deeply, "that something might be amiss with the Cauldron."

—

"What I mean," Madja said at last, sizing up Nesta, then me, "is that I can find nothing wrong with her. Her body is fine—too thin and in need of more food and fresh air, but nothing amiss. And as for her mind... I cannot enter it."

—

The ancient healer jerked her chin toward Lucien. "See what he can do. If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it's a mate."

—

"He will try. And if he doesn't find anything amiss, we'll consider bringing another healer."

—

"We're the ones who need ….." Azriel trailed off. "A seer," he said, more to himself than us. "The Cauldron made you a seer."

Talk of loopholes in bond magic, the Cauldron being compromised, the mating bond being the thing that bridges souls together to sense what’s wrong. Only for Azriel to then discover Elain is a Seer, and for the Cauldron’s dark tampering be confirmed several times over

Bridge

ACOWAR:

But the bond, the bridge between us ... it was a howling void. A raging, dark tempest.

—

Madja said to my sister, as if she were a small child, "The mating bond. It is a bridge between souls."

—

I didn't dare ask if he was trying to get into her head, or if he was feeling a bond similar to that black adamant bridge between Rhys's mind and my own. If a normal mating bond felt wholly different.

—

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection... that knife.

—

Finally awake enough to be coherent, I lowered the shield of black adamant guarding my mind and cast a thought down the soul-bridge between me and Rhys.

The constant repetition of bridge/mate bond/soul bond is a VERY HUGE INDICATOR that Elain and Azriel have that soul-connection, have a bridge between them, have all the makings of a bond without actually having one. The elements that truly matter are there for Az and Elain. It’s only the bond to Lucien that is in the way of it. Madja gives several very clear statements regarding the bond and what it is, what it should do, how it should work. Only for A) Azriel to have naturally done those very things a mate would do without anyone having to tell him and figured out what was happening to her, and B) Azriel and Elain then directly described as having a bridge of connection between them mixed in with beautiful, detailed imagery of them together in a very important scene. Their scenes aren’t scarce, but they’re rare enough that every single minute detail/wording sjm puts into them holds a heavy purpose to their relationship and foreshadowing.

Between them

ACOWAR:

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection... that knife.

ACOFAS:

Elain's hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them.

—

How Lucien withstood it, I didn't know. Not that he'd shown any interest in bridging that gap between them.

ACOSF:

Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them.

Things are always described as being between Elain and Azriel—

A blend of light and dark

A bridge of connection (Truth-Teller)

Charged space

Ghost of a dish

The only thing specifically described in the same way for Lucien and Elain is calling the bridge between them a gap.

Elain and Az are a blend of themselves met in the middle, they share a bridge of connection, they share charged energy, and they share a symbolic metaphor of something that should have been between them but isn’t. The “ghost of a dish,” is to allude to the bond that should be there. But even despite it, the moment is still there. They are still there, still drawn to each other, still on the path to colliding. Az and Elain have things between them, while Elain and Lucien have nothing.

SJM’s “If anything can sense something amiss, it’s a mate” and “as if the ghost of dish remained between them” had glaring implications when considering how things played out and what we know about the mating bond. Those were the obvious indicators.

But for fun, here’s looking deeper into it:

They are always “bridging the gap”

Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms.

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm.

"I can help her," said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand.

Then Azriel, gently taking Elain's hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt her.

Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. "Hold tight," he ordered her, "and don't make a sound."

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. "Are you hurt?"

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—

Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.” Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.

He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. "It will serve you well."

But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

BC, though not needed:

Elain closed the distance, and her breathing quickened as she again paused, now a scant foot away. She extended the wrapped gift, her hand shaking. "Here."  Az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift.

Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, "Put it on me?"  His head went quiet. But he took the necklace, opening the clasp as she exposed her back, sweeping her hair up in one hand to bare her long, creamy neck.

Azriel's fingers lingered at her nape, atop the first knob of her spine. Slowly, Elain pivoted into his touch. Until his palm lay flat against her neck. It had never gone this far. They'd exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. 

Elain shuddered, drifting closer. So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest.

His stomach twisted as he pulled his hand from her hair  and stepped back. Forced himself to say, "This was a mistake.”

What’s forced is them forced apart

They are not bridging the gap

As Lucien took off his jacket, kneeling before Elain. She cringed away from the coat, from him—

I just strode to him and threw my arms around his neck, even if it wasn't the embrace he was hoping for.

I spared Lucien the torment of debating whether to touch her, and linked my arm through his as I began to walk away,

As far as I knew, he hadn't come within touching distance since the aftermath of that final battle.

He hadn't mentioned Elain, or his proximity to her. Elain had not asked him to stay, or to go.

Elain, the wretch, had taken the seat between Feyre and Varian, about as far from Lucien as she could get.

Elain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie’s garden. Cassian didn’t exactly know why he suspected this wasn’t true. There had been some tightness in Elain’s face as she’d said it. Normally when she made such excuses, Lucien was around

When I am in the middle of a huge series, on book 6, I really don't want to be learning new characters' baby daddies. With so many plotlines which are dangling out there since 2016, I don't need to be starting from scratch. I want a story that is fluid, a continuation of what's been set up over the course of TWO series, and I want to ease in and just...read?

I don't know if this makes sense, but at this juncture, I want resolutions. I want discoveries that lead somewhere. I want a plot that is dynamic and actually delivers results. I want Elain to have 2-3 consistent and logical plots--her mate bond, her Sight, and let's say Koschei--and I need those stories to be told and FINISHED.

I read a post recently about Gwyn, and the OP was saying how Gwyn is related to this and to that, how she is Beron's daughter or granddaughter, how she is Tamlin's daughter, how she'll be a spy and a general and an ambassador, and a High Lady and ...on and on and on it went.

And after reading that and considering it, it just filled me with horror mixed with genuine exhaustion. That's the problem with Gwyn--she is too late to the party to be a main character. Not only is she totally dependent on other characters to be interesting, and ironically, the only thing that might actually be truly unique about her and actually written by SJM, and that is her being a Lightsinger is consistently rejected by her own fans. But piling on more and more stuff that's now connected to her, to a bloated series that is already suffering from huge and unaddressed plots and a series that's been in process for over a decade with no end in sight, is just not realistic.

It literally does not.

Thinking a crackship born from a misinterpreted bonus chapter and already established misogyny towards Elain is the same as 4 books worth of foreshadowing and canon confirmation that the two people in the ship like each other…

Is really dumb at this point, actually.

Super dumb.

I feel like people who hate Elain and ship Gwynriel are the ones who binged the entire series between 2020-2025. As someone who read the books as they were released, we were experiencing Elain and Az in real time, falling in love with them as they started to fall for one another. The big question at the time was not will Az pick Gwyn or literally anyone other than Elain, the question was will Az and Mor get together, which nobody considers a ship anymore. So when ACOSF came out, Gwyn wasn’t even a consideration for me because I spent 6 YEARS with Elriel build up. I was SHOCKED when people were pairing Az with other people because the answer was obviously Elain. People are able to ignore their connection when binging them at such a quick pace. I also don’t understand Elucien shippers at all. Their entire argument revolves around Lucien’s backstory and his feelings but ELAIN DOESNT WANT HIM. Is consent no longer important? They also fixate on them having unlimited years to heal and reconcile and “two years isn’t long enough for immortals” but Elain was human. She still has the mindset of someone with a human lifespan. Two years is plenty long for her to know she doesn’t want him.

It also frustrates me how much focus people put on the bonus chapter. It was a Bonus. Chapter. Not included in every copy. Only certain editions have it. Meaning it wasn’t an important piece of plot. It was just extra fluff to get us excited for the Elriel drama to happen in Elain’s book.

This is 100% an Elriel post fyi.

The rage they feel when their female is in danger. They will face death to save them. Without hesitation.

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I'm getting her back.” Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

I stood. Met Azriel’s wrathful stare. “I’m going with you,” I said. Azriel only nodded.

&

“At least you’re honest.” Azriel smirked. “You and Nesta are wanted down there.” “Because of the shit with Elain?” Azriel stilled. “What happened to Elain?” Cassian waved a hand. “A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,” he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened.

They dote on their females.

Azriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elain’s golden-brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders. He set her down gently on the foyer carpet, having carried her in through the front door. Elain peered up at his patient, solemn face. Azriel smiled faintly. “Would you like me to show you the garden?” She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she nodded—just once.

&

Azriel’s power gave out on the outskirts of our camp.

The girl, despite the burns and lashings on her moon-white skin, was able to walk.

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—a trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out. Contained only by the patches of power he’d slapped on it. Help—he needed a healer immediately.

Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.” Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek. And then walked to me and Nesta, who pulled back long enough to survey Elain’s clean face, her clear eyes.

&

But I strode to my seat—nestled between Amren and Mor—in time to see Elain say to Azriel, “Hello.” Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

WHY are you tensing Mor?

Azriel set the potatoes in the center of the table, Cassian diving right in. Or he tried to. One moment, his hand was spearing toward the serving spoon. The next, it was stopped, Azriel’s scarred fingers wrapped around his wrist. “Wait,” Azriel said, nothing but command in his voice.

They know exactly what their mate needs.

"Is there something wrong with her?” Madja chewed over the words. “I do not like that word—wrong. Different, perhaps. Changed.”

“If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it’s a mate.” “How.” The word was barely more than a barked command. I braced myself to warn Nesta to be polite, but Madja said to my sister, as if she were a small child, “The mating bond. It is a bridge between souls.”

&

“Can I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.” “I can help her,” said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went."

&

“Do you need anything?” “No. I … I was sleeping, but I heard …” She shook her head. Blinked at our formal attire, the dark crown atop my head—and Rhysand’s. “I didn’t hear you.” Azriel stepped forward. “But you heard something else.” Elain seemed about to nod, but only backed away. “I think I was dreaming,” she murmured. “I think I’m always dreaming these days.” “Let me get you some hot milk,” I said, putting a hand on her elbow to guide her into the sitting room. But Elain shook me off, heading back to the stairs. She said as she climbed the first steps, “I can hear her—crying.” I gripped the bottom post of the banister. “Who?” “Everyone thinks she’s dead.”

I faced Azriel, exposing my palms to him. “What does that mean?” Azriel’s hazel eyes churned as he studied my sister, her too-thin body. And without a word, he winnowed away. Mor watched the space where he’d been standing long after he was gone. WHAT are you looking at Mor?

&

But Azriel asked softly, taking a single step over the threshold and into the sitting room, “What other?” Elain’s brows twitched toward each other. “The queen—with the feathers of flame.” The shadowsinger angled his head. Lucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, “Should we—does she need …?” “She doesn’t need anything,” Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster now—unblinkingly. “We’re the ones who need …” Azriel trailed off. “A seer,” he said, more to himself than us. “The Cauldron made you a seer.”

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her.

But Azriel nodded. “You knew,” he said to Elain. “About the young queen turning into a crone.” Elain blinked and blinked, eyes clearing again. As if the understanding, our understanding … it freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in. “The sixth queen is alive?” Azriel asked, calm and steady, the voice of the High Lord’s spymaster, who had broken enemies and charmed allies. Elain cocked her head, as if listening to some inner voice. “Yes.”

&

“Elain is fine,” Rhys said. “Azriel was at the town house.

&

Elain turned from where she’d been speaking to Nesta. “Oh, that’s from me.” Azriel’s face didn’t so much as shift at the words. Not even a smile as he opened the present and revealed— “I had Madja make it for me,” Elain explained. Azriel’s brows narrowed at the mention of the family’s preferred healer. “It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.” Silence. Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. “It’s for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.” Silence again. Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. I’d never heard such a sound, deep and joyous.

This isn't even half done. There's still so much more evidence I didn't add.

Tell me why these two are literally perfect for each other.

Tell me why Mor, whose gift is Truth, seems like she knows something everyone else doesn't.

Tell me why they are literally yin and yang.

Tell me why Azriel gets more of a response from Elain than anyone else.

Tell me why Azriel has more in depth mate behavior than Lucien.

Tell me why. I want to hear it. Actually don't worry I'll answer for you-

BECAUSE THEY ARE MATES. They are meant FOR EACH OTHER.

Blessed by the Mother or whatever being/thing that brings soul-mates together.

We’re going to play a fun game called: “Connecting Obvious Dots!”

Now let’s look at what the Azriel bonus chapter and the Feysand bonus chapter both had in common.

Was it… Gwyn? Nooope!

Was it… a necklace? Try again!

Oh wait… was it… Elain?Ding ding ding! That’s correct! 🎉

Great job, everyone! Now let’s take it one step further.

We already got a bonus chapter in Azriel’s POV. Hmmm… why would Sarah give us that? Could it be because… he’s the next main male character. OMG YES you're slowly understanding everything.

Now here's the part that gets some of you sweating. Who's been getting her own story foreshadowed, hinted at throughout most of the books?

ELAIN. That's right! The audacity of her narrative revelance.

Now stay with me here... I know some of you find this part extremely difficult.

Azriel bonus POV= next MMC

Elain constantly being hinted at= next FMC

Now if we put these peices together... it means its gonna be an Elriel book

Wow. Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?