SJM GIRLIE

Okay but, Graysen is irrelevant.

As in, it's obvious what SJM is doing with him,

-> Exactly what happened to Isaac and what was his name? Thomas?

They are just here to be the first experience the sisters had with a man. That is it. Literally.

Feyre had her fuckbuddy.

Nesta had her fiancé who then turned out to be the biggest piece of shit when she broke off the engagement.

And then Elain had Graysen - who she thought - loved her but actually, rejects her at the first bump on the road.

Also while writing I'm realizing it's interesting when you look at how the story developped afterwards.

Feyre with Isaac -> after the initial ihateRhyswhyishesohot interactions, they first became friends. And the first time they have some kind of intimacy, it's a distraction, which is exactly what Isaac was for Feyre.

Nesta with Thomas -> the way she pushed Cassian away, maybe she was scared whatever happened with Thomas would happen again. (On top of her thinking she didn't deserve love, im sure whatever happened with Thomas didnt help in that matter) Also interesting that what happened to her with Thomas was one of the things that made her relate to Gwyn and Emerie.

A stark difference between the three sisters and their relationships to their mates (that I don’t think it talked about enough) is how their traumas highlighted in the story are eased/caused by their mates. Both Rhys and Cassian are not tied to a core memory of a traumatic event in Feyre and Nesta’s lives.

Feyre’s traumas that she battles in the series come from her mother and Nesta’s emotion abuse, being the sole provider at a young age (14 years old), stolen from her family, events that followed UTM, and being a domestic violence survivor. Rhys is not the cause, whether directly or indirectly, of any of these traumas. In fact, he’s the exact opposite. Sending her images of the night sky, sending music into her dungeon for her when he could sense she was breaking, taught her how to read/write/control and use her powers. They brought each other back from the darkness they both suffered, every day for months.

Nesta’s traumas are rooted in her mother’s emotional abuse and grooming, her grandmother’s physical abuse, surviving sexual assault, eldest daughter syndrome, surviving poverty, internalize self hatred, and being turned fae against her will. Cassian was not a direct or indirect cause of her traumas. She admits to loving him and wanting him from the moment they met. She later deprives herself of him post acowar because she was still suffering from her internalize hatred. She knew she loved him but didn’t believe she was worthy of his love. But he never once added to that burden; only ever tried to guide her out of the darkness. Whether that was through loving her from afar, not backing down from her verbal lashings (not ok but a type of coping mechanism), training, believing in her when she brought up wanting to help the priestesses learn how to defend themselves, and other ways ;) (I get there are ppl who have issues with their sex scenes but I’m not one of them, and that’s not what I’m discussing rn)

This formula cannot be used for Elain and her supposed mate.

Elain’s traumas (that we know of at this point and time in the series) are growing up impoverished, being emotionally neglected by her mother (eluded to in acosf which I’m sure will be a bigger discovery in her book), and being turned fae against her will. While L/ucien didn’t plot the events of the day she and Nesta were turned fae, he was working with the male who co-signed all of Ianthe’s sick bullshit that inevitably lead Elain and Nesta to being captured and thrown into the cauldron. To make matters worse, he proclaims that they are mates, even further ripping her away from herself, autonomously, the second she’s removed from the cauldron. How else is she suppose to react to that? I get that the l/ucien stans attempt to trivialize Elain’s pain and experiences because she should just want to be with their fave…..but the fact of the matter is that she associates that day with him. It’s why she becomes a shell of person and retreats within herself when he’s around. Those are clear trauma responses….

There is, however, one male who has not added to Elain’s pain and trauma. One who brought her back from weeks of fog and confusion by being the only person who could sense what was amiss. One who didn’t need to think twice before venturing on a suicide mission to save her. One who stayed up late with her to listen to her speak about her passions and plans to expand her garden. One who knows and cares for her.

Uncomfortable .

Chemistry/romantic.

nope, sjm sank it in acowar, buried it even deeper in acofas, and literally scattered its ashes in acosf.

Dead.

Killed.

Buried.

Forever.

Yeah they are definitely dead. Like rotting in the grave dead.

“’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. Cassian blew out a breath. ‘I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.’ ‘It’s about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.’ ‘It’s bad, then.’ Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. ‘You all right?’ His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready, and Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.”

And I couldn’t stop thinking about how this reminded me of Azriel’s POV and the Solstice scene in Chapter 58, so I broke the scene down (for my sake lol, I am sure y’all already saw this parallel)

“’Because of the shit with Elain?’ Azriel stilled. ‘What happened to Elain?’”

Notice how Azriel says “to Elain” rather than “with Elain” like Cassian? Using the word “with” shows that something happened that involved Elain. Using the word “to” shows that Azriel is automatically on Elain’s side.

“Cassian waved a hand. ‘A fight with Nesta. Don’t bring it up,’ he warned when Azriel’s eyes darkened.”

Azriel’s eyes darkened, even after he knew it was a fight between Nesta and Elain. This shows him ready to defend and take Elain’s side. Not because he thinks she can’t handle herself, but because, and I am sure most will agree, it is almost like instinct to defend the people we love. It shows his feelings for her. 

“Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. ‘You all right?’”

Even after they moved on from the mention of the fight, shadows still swarmed Azriel. The shadows doing this makes Cassian ask if his brother is okay, which shows that there is something going on with Azriel. We would think it’s because of what Azriel discovered but the rest of the scene says otherwise.

“His brother nodded. ‘Fine.’ But shadows still swarmed him.  Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready, and Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.”

The lines “Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready” reminded me of the Solstice scene between Nesta and Azriel in Chapter 58

“Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn’t stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn’t go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.”

Nesta understood why Azriel stayed away from the fire. She knew who sat there, she knew why he needed an exit, and she knew how it felt to want to be with the people you love but just can’t. Nesta pushed others away as a way to not only protect herself, but also because she thought she was protecting them. Just like how Nesta stayed away, so did Azriel. Nesta lived in an apartment away from others, Azriel went to live at the House of Wind. They both distanced themselves from the people they love because they couldn’t handle it. The pain was unbearable. Their feelings were too much. 

Now the lines “Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up” from Chapter 19 is what reminded me of Azriel’s POV

“What if the Cauldron was wrong?“

“Azriel ignored the question. ’The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it’s possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another.’ He had never before dared speak the words aloud.”

“Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.” 

“His secret to tell, never hers.”

“He had never before dared speak the words aloud.”

“What if the Cauldron was wrong?”

Azriel doesn’t speak his mind much when it comes to personal thoughts and feelings. But his feelings for Elain were so strong that he not only questioned the Cauldron, but he actually said his thoughts about something personal to Rhysand. Not just thought about it, but actually said it. His feelings for Elain were strong enough to say something, to open up.  

A Court Of Mist And Fury

A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel's mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silent, focusing instead, as Cassian was subtly trying to do, on adjusting his wings around a human chair.

page 229

But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face.

page 231

(...) and Elain, noticing Azriel’s ease as proof that things weren’t indeed about to go badly, offered one of her own as well.

page 233

A court of Wings and Ruin

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?”

page 229

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.” Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.

Page 230

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reports—likely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once he’d sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.

Page 232

“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.”

Page 257

“What did you see,” Azriel said, and I tried not to flinch as I found him at my other side, not having seen him move. Again. Elain paused halfway up the stairs. Slowly, she turned to look back at him. “I saw young hands wither with age. I saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.”

Page 258

Azriel’s hazel eyes churned as he studied my sister, her too-thin body. And without a word, he winnowed away.

Page 259

The two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still. But Azriel sketched a bow—while Cassian stalked for the dining table, reached right over Nesta’s shoulder, and grabbed a muffin from its little basket.

Page 282

“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.

Page 283

Nesta took a steadying breath, opening her mouth to either whisk Elain upstairs or move on. But Azriel asked softly, taking a single step over the threshold and into the sitting room, “What other?”

Page 300

“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.”

Page 300

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed. He asked Elain, “There is another queen?

Page 301

But Azriel nodded. “You knew,” he said to Elain. “About the young queen turning into a crone.”

Page 302

Rhys cleared his throat, and nodded to Mor. Then she was gone, Cassian and Nesta with her. Then Azriel, gently taking Elain’s hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt her.

Page 427

But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”

Page 495

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.”

Page 497

Azriel’s shadow-hand grasped my own, tugging me closer. His rage rippled off his invisible form.

Page 503 (at the thought that the screaming they heard was Elain's).

I shifted my face back into my own, raising a hand to my lips as Azriel knelt before her. I kept up my litany of praying, beseeching the Cauldron to make my womb fruitful, on and on— Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Page 506

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

Page 506

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.

Page 513

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.

Page 514

Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option. “This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.”

Page 537

“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.”

Page 538

Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade— Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

Page 538

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade.

Page 538

“What now?” Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room. “I would like to build a garden,” she declared. “After all of this … I think the world needs more gardens.”

Page 609

A Court Of Frost And Starlight

She scowled. “After centuries of gifts, it’s a pain in my ass to find something new for all of them. I’m fairly certain Azriel has a drawer full of all the daggers I’ve bought him throughout the centuries that he’s too polite to throw away, but won’t ever use.”

“You honestly think he’d ever give up Truth-Teller?”

“He gave it to Elain,” Mor said, admiring a moonstone necklace in the counter’s glass case.

Page 35

“Send Lucien, then. As our human emissary.” I studied the tenseness in Azriel’s shoulders, the shadows veiling half of him from the sunlight. “Lucien is away right now.”

Page 55

I winked at him. “You’re my spymaster. Shouldn’t you know?” Az crossed his arms, face as elegant and cold as the legendary dagger at his side. “I don’t make a point of looking after his movements.” “Why?” Not a flicker of emotion. “He is Elain’s mate.” I waited. “It would be an invasion of her privacy to track him.”

Page 55

Az ran a hand through his dark hair. “Are we …” Unusual for him to stumble with words. “Are we supposed to get the sisters presents?” “No,” I said, and meant it. Az seemed to loose a sigh of relief. Seemed to, since all but a breath of air passed from his lips. “I don’t think Nesta gives a shit, and I don’t think Elain expects to receive anything from us. I’d leave the sisters to exchange presents amongst themselves.” Az nodded distantly.

Page 56

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.”

Page 81

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. Mor gaped wide enough that I was certain the half-chewed green beans in her mouth were going to tumble onto her plate. Amren just smirked over the rim of her wineglass.

Page 81

Elain’s face reddened further, her back straightening. But she didn’t bolt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I’d never heard Elain’s voice so cold. I glanced at the others. Rhys was frowning, Cassian and Mor were both grimacing, and Azriel … It was pity on his beautiful face. Pity and sorrow as he watched my sister.

Page 83

Azriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. “I’ve never stayed in this room.” His midnight voice filled the space.

Page 107

“Poor Lucien,” Cassian said, smiling. “If Lucien shows up,” I corrected. No word about whether he would be joining us. Or remaining in that mausoleum Tamlin called a home. “My money’s on yes,” Cassian said. “Want to make a wager?” “No,” Azriel said, not turning from the window.

Page 108

The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysand’s—the fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, “Happy Solstice.”

Page 128

There was a tiny box left on the table by the window—a box that Mor lifted, squinted at the name tag, and said, “Az, this one’s for you.” The shadowsinger’s brows lifted, but his scarred hand extended to take the present. Elain turned from where she’d been speaking to Nesta. “Oh, that’s from me.”

Page 136

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. Cassian and Rhys joined him, the former grabbing the glass bottle from Azriel’s hand and examining it. “Brilliant,” Cassian said.

Page 136

Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

Page 136

Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she’d sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight.

Page 143

A Court Of Silver Flames

“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. Cassian blew out a breath. “I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.“

Page 189

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

Page 199

Amren said, “We do not have the time to wait for Nesta to decide. I say we approach Elain tomorrow. Better to have both of them working on it.” Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.”

Page 263

“Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said. “Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation. He’d gone with Feyre into the heart of Hybern’s camp to save Elain—he knew the risk. “We won’t make the same mistake twice.”

Page 286

Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement. Lucien was certainly not here to snarl at any male who looked at her for too long.

Page 390

Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered had caused it. “I was just checking on dessert,” Elain explained as they approached the doorway and Azriel. Nesta met the shadowsinger’s stare and he gave her a nod. Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them.

Page 493-494

So in hofas we learned about thin places...

“No,” Aidas agreed. “But Helena knew that Midgard possessed its own magic. A raw, weaker sort of magic than that in her home world, but one that could be potent in high concentrations. She learned that it flowed across the world in great highways, natural conduits for magic.” “Ley lines,” Bryce breathed. Aidas nodded. “These lines are capable of moving magic, but also carrying communications across great distances.” Like those between the Gates of Crescent City, the way she’d spoken to Danika the day she’d made the Drop. “There are ley lines across the whole of the universe. And the planets—like Midgard, like Hel, like the home world of the Fae—atop those lines are joined by time and space and the Void itself. It thins the veils separating us. The Asteri have long chosen worlds that are on the ley lines for that exact purpose. It made it easier to move between them, to colonize those planets. There are certain places on each of these worlds where the most ley lines overlap, and thus the barrier between worlds is at its weakest.” Everything slotted together. “Thin places,” Bryce said with sudden certainty. “Precisely,” Apollion answered for Aidas with an approving nod. “The Northern Rift, the Southern Rift—both lie atop a tremendous knot of ley lines. And while those under Avallen are not as strong, the island is unique as a thin place thanks to the presence of black salt—which ties it to Hel.” “And the mists?” Hunt asked. “What’s the deal with them?” “The mists are a result of the ley lines’ power,” Aidas said. “They’re an indication of a thin place. Hoping to find a ley line strong enough to help her transfer and hide Theia’s power, Helena sent a fleet of Fae with earth magic to scour every misty place they could find on Midgard. When they told her of a place wreathed in mists so thick they could not pierce them, Helena went to investigate. The mists parted for her—as if they had been waiting. She found the small network of caves on Avallen … and the black salt beneath the surface.” (hofas)

It is long but what we get from this is that

Ley lines are used for moving magic and...communication between worlds

Ley lines are joined by time and space and void

The mist is a big give away for thin places

So how all of this connect to Elain and Cauldron?

When Elain got out of the cauldron...the water was "smokey"

And as if it had been tipped by invisible hands, the Cauldron turned on its side. More water than seemed possible dumped out in a cascade. Black, smoke-coated water. And Elain, as if she’d been thrown by a wave, washed onto the stones facedown. (Acomaf)

Maybe it is not smoke but mist...as in Cauldron is a thin place?

When Feyre threw the book of breathings into the Cauldron...it went to Crescent City. How? We dont know. is it bc Cauldron being a thin place between worlds?

Also Cauldron has "void in it"

I managed to stand. To take one step before I felt it. The … thing in the Cauldron. Or lack of it. It was lack and substance, absence and presence. And … it was leaking into the world.I dared a step toward it. And what I beheld in those ruins of the Cauldron… It was a void. But also not a void—a growth.It did not belong here. Belong anywhere. (Acowar)

And who cauldron is obsessed with? Elain...a seer.

In my mystics&seers post I talked about the connection between void and elain more. But in the same post I talked about Mystics and seer connection and they seem to be the same.

In hosab mystics are described like this

The old male cut in, as if he hadn’t heard a word of their hissed argument. “Most astronomers and mystics have been put out of business these days, you know. Thanks to fancy tech. And self-righteous busybodies like you,” he spat toward Bryce. She snarled at him, the sound more primal Fae than she liked, but he waved that hateful, ring-encrusted hand toward the mystics in their pools. “They were the original interweb. Any answer you wish to know, they can find it, without having to wade through the slog of nonsense out there.”

And we know how one of the mystics "went" to hel and talked one of the hel princes.

what do we know about ley lines? 👇🏻

“These lines are capable of moving magic, but also carrying communications across great distances.” Like those between the Gates of Crescent City, the way she’d spoken to Danika the day she’d made the Drop.

So what if ley lines and being mystic/seer is connected? Did that mystic use the ley lines? As in they are the communication between worlds?

And we have world walkers...

“The black salt only repels the Asteri; the mists repel everyone else. But certain people, with certain gifts, can access the power of thin places—on any world. World-walkers.” Aidas gestured gracefully to Bryce. “You are one of them. So were Helena and Theia. Their natural abilities lent themselves to moving through the mists.”

Theia was one of them.

In myths theia is:

Theia (/ˈθiːə/; Ancient Greek: Θεία, romanized: Theía, lit. 'divine', also rendered Thea or Thia), also called Euryphaessa (Ancient Greek: Εὐρυφάεσσα) "wide-shining", is one of the twelve Titans, the children of the earth goddess Gaia and the sky god Uranus in Greek mythology. She is the Greek goddess of sight and vision, and by extension the goddess who endowed gold, silver, and gems with their brilliance and intrinsic value.

Maybe sight and thin places/ley lines are more connected than we think?

Also I have been fascinated by this all this time but we have "pocket" realms or any pocket related thing...theia can do it, rhys can do it, apollion and maybe...azriel?

With theia we see this:

By the grace of the Mother, she was paranoid enough about any new allies or companions that she hid the Horn and Harp. She created a pocket of nothingness, she told me, and stashed them there. Only she could access that pocket of nothingness—only she could retrieve the Horn and Harp from its depths. (Hofas)

with apollion we have this:

The seventh and most lethal of the demon princes of Hel was in his mind- “I am not in your mind, though your thoughts ripple toward me like your world's radio waves. You and I are in a place between our worlds. A pocket-realm, as it were.”

Acomaf rhys:

Rhys reached into a bag I hadn’t realized he’d been carrying—no, one he’d summoned from whatever pocket between realms he used for storage.

And with azriel we have this:

Azriel didn’t give them a chance to exchange another word before murmuring shadows swept around them. Nesta couldn’t help clinging to Azriel, gleaning on some innate level that if she let go, she would tumble through this space between places and be lost forever.

We always known azriel's type of winnowing is different...BUT HOW DIFFERENT?

Also side note...Fionn probably has Shadow powers bc Helena and Silene both have shadow and starborn power so them taking the shadow from fionn is possible. I went into more detail about elriel connection to fionn in this post you can read it there.

So...pocket realms maybe they can somehow access space between the worlds? Thin places maybe connected to it?

Also side note this is maybe kinda crack but elriel scene also has "space between"

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.

Maybe Im reading into it but the fact that the only connection "the space between" them is TT...THE KNIFE THAT CAN UNDO THINGS...the knife with gwydion can create Void. The void that is connected with the ley lines/thin places.

ignoring the irony of a gw/nriel saying “they think flooding SJMs comment section will get her to change her mind,” i find it interesting how this person says “trust your gut, there’s a reason az and elain feel so wrong to so many, SJM wrote them that way.”

so, let’s see how SJM wrote them!

(incoming ABSURDLY long and sarcastic post)

ACOMAF ch 24

Elain rasped, “Nice to meet you,” before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor.

A faint smile bloomed upon Azriel’s mouth as he noticed Elain’s fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silent

Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, “Can you truly fly?”

He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, “Yes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. We’re born hearing the song of the wind.”

how nice of him, to be so polite and eloquent for her, to help make her comfortable! what a gentleman.

ACOMAF ch 49

And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.

I smiled at the thought—at how handsome they would be together.

it’s interesting, how even in the first book that they are introduced to each other, feyre thinks they would be good for each other. but no! i must be missing something, if so many people think they are wrong for each other!

ACOWAR ch 24

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

Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful.”

Color bloomed high on Azriel’s golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.

Elain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading; Already dressed for the Hewn City—the brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.

“Why not make them mates?” I mused. “Why Lucien?”

“You said your mother and father were wrong for each other; Tamlin said his own parents were wrong for each other.” “So it can’t be a perfect system of matching. What if”—I jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the garden—“that is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesn’t?”

“A mating bond can be rejected,” Rhys said mildly,“ There is choice. And sometimes, yes—the bond picks poorly. Sometimes, the bond is nothing more than some … preordained guesswork at who will provide the strongest offspring. At its basest level, it’s perhaps only that. Some natural function, not an indication of true, paired souls.”

here we see the talk of rejecting the mating bond, directly in relation to elain. but no, surely this isn’t foreshadowing for elain and lucien rejecting their bond. they are fated mates, and SJM only writes fated mates, after all!

ACOWAR ch 30

“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.

aww, his shadows fade around elain! that must mean he’s comfortable with her, since they protect him. he must feel so safe with her! but no, i can’t forget, they are wrong for each other. maybe his shadows actually hate her and are scared of her? sure, it doesn’t make sense that they would leave azriel if they think he is in danger, but if they aren’t good for each other that must be it!

ACOWAR ch 32

“No.” Elain studied me, then her. “Not that one. The other.”

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.”

ACOWAR ch 33

Elain turned to Mor, who was now gaping at my sister from her spot beside her on the couch. “Is that what this is?”

And the words, the tone … they were so normal-sounding that my chest tightened.

It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not … Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.

“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.

interesting. i thought your mate is supposed to be the one that can figure out what is wrong with you? must have been a fluke.

ACOWAR ch 64

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.”

azriel is willing to die to save elain, how romantic! but no, that can’t be right. it just must be his sense of duty then. he would do it for anyone!

ACOWAR ch 65

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

She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

“Grab onto him!” Elain ordered the wide-eyed human girl as Azriel thundered toward her.”

Elain screamed at her, “If you want to live, do it now!”

The girl dropped her cloak, opened her arms wide.

Her black hair streamed behind Azriel, catching amongst his wings as he practically tackled her into the sky. But I saw, even as I ran, Elain’s pale hands lurch—gripping the girl by her neck, holding her as tightly as she could.

The girl screamed, but Elain moved. As Azriel battled to keep them airborne, keep his grip on them, my sister sent a fierce kick into the beast’s face. Its eye. Another. Another.

It bellowed, and Elain slammed her bare, muddy foot into its face again. The blow struck home.

aww, look at them working together to save this girl! but no, everybody says elain is fragile, bland, and can’t handle az’s darkness, why would she be anything other than a damsel in distress?

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.

azriel cared more about getting elain out of her chains than his own life-threatening wounds. i know this is a romance, but that’s just so unhealthy! he should care more about own well-being than some girl!

ACOWAR ch 69

Azriel, still limping, merely nudged aside Cassian and extended another option.

“This is Truth-Teller,” he told her softly. “I won’t be using it today—so I want you to.”

“It has never failed me once,” the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. “Some people say it is magic and will always strike true.” He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. “It will serve you well.”

azriel gave her his most prized possession to protect herself with? well, i’m sure this isn’t unique, he’d probably give it to anyone-

Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade—

Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.

Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade.

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.

what beautiful imagery! but let’s be honest, nobody’s interested in an opposites-attract romance. and it’s probably not important that he’s never let anyone touch truth teller before her.

ACOFAS ch 12

Azriel emerged from the sitting room, a glass of wine in hand and wings tucked back to reveal his fine, yet simple black jacket and pants.

I felt, more than saw, my sister go still as he approached. Her throat bobbed.

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.”

awww, what a gentleman! but he probably just cares about manners.

Elain’s hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them. With a blink, she lowered them, and noticed her apron. “I- I’ll be right back,” she murmured, and hurried down the hall before I could explain that no one cared if she showed up to dinner covered in flour and that she should just sit.

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.

Cassian gawked at him. “Wait for what? Gravy?”

Azriel didn’t let go. “Wait until everyone is seated before eating.”

Cassian gave a pointed look to the plate of green beans, chicken, bread, and ham already half eaten on Mor’s plate. But he relaxed his hand, leaning back in his chair. “I never knew you were a stickler for manners, Az.”

Azriel only released Cassian’s hand, and stared at his wineglass.

Elain swept in, apron gone and hair rebraided. “Please don’t wait on my account,” she said, taking the seat at the head of the table.

Cassian glared at Azriel. Az pointedly ignored him.

see, she didn’t even want them to wait on her! he shouldn’t have told everyone to wait, it wasn’t that important!

ACOFAS ch 20

“Az, this one’s for you.”

Elain turned from where she’d been speaking to Nesta. “Oh, that’s from me.”

“I had Madja make it for me,” Elain explained. “It’s a powder to mix in with any drink.”

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.

Elain smiled again, ducking her head.

Azriel mastered himself enough to say, “Thank you.” I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. “This will be invaluable.”

what a funny yet thoughtful gift she got him! that’s nice of her. and she even made him laugh, in a way feyre had never seen before! but no, they’re not right for each other. i have been hearing that feyre is an unreliable narrator.. good thing we have some other points of view coming up!

ACOSF ch 19

“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. Cassian blew out a breath. “I take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.”

“It’s about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.”

“It’s bad, then.” Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. “You all right?”

His brother nodded. “Fine.” But shadows still swarmed him.

Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn’t push it. Az would speak when he was ready,

is he feeling protective of elain? well, surely cassian would know what’s going on with his best friend! it’s probably just a coincidence.

ACOSF ch 21

“Look who decided to grow claws after all,” she crooned. “Maybe you’ll become interesting at last, Elain.”

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

i guess he is protective of elain..

ACOSF ch 29

Amren said, “We do not have the time to wait for Nesta to decide. I say we approach Elain tomorrow. Better to have both of them working on it.”

Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.”

agh, no! that’s toxic, he’s too protective over her! sure, cassian immediately proceeds to do the same thing with nesta, but they’re mates so it’s fine!

ACOSF ch 44

“She made ballrooms into battlefields and plotted like any general. Like you two,” she said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel.

Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement. Lucien was certainly not here to snarl at any male who looked at her for too long.

see? cassian doesn’t see anything between them and he’s azriel’s best friend! surely if there was something there he would have caught it. i’m sure nesta’s POV will help us figure it out!

ACOSF ch 58

Elain just linked her arm through Nesta’s and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he’d heard Elain’s sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.

Nesta met the shadowsinger’s stare and he gave her a nod. Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elain’s breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.

ACOSF ch 58

“Why don’t you sit?” She leaned against the doorway beside the shadowsinger.

“My shadows don’t like the flames so much.” A pretty lie. She’d seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer.

“Why did you come if it torments you so much?”

“Because Rhys wants me here. It’d hurt him if I didn’t come.”

Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn’t stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn’t go near the fire.

His secret to tell, never hers.

well, just because nesta sees something between the two of them doesn’t mean she isn’t an unreliable narrator, just like feyre! right?

hmm, odd. none of what SJM wrote between azriel and elain really gives me any indication that they’re wrong for each other. in fact, it seems to be that we are being outright told (practically shouted at), repeatedly, that they would be good together. we’re also shown the pain it brings them pain to be apart, to hide their feelings just to keep others comfortable.

but maybe i’m missing something! i just must not be understanding the way SJM wrote things! don’t forget, SJM only writes fated mates stories. elain and lucien are mates, which means they must be good together! surely seeing their interactions will bring into perspective how wrong azriel is for elain!

ACOWAR ch 12

“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.”

oh. well. that’s not very romantic. but have no fear! SJM is the queen of setting up romantic and sexual tension between reluctant mates! i’m sure we’ll see it soon!

ACOWAR ch 24

The thoughts flowed through his head, one after another. His heart was a raging, thunderous beat, and he didn’t dare move from his position a mere five feet away. She hadn’t yet turned toward him, but the ravages of her fasting were evident enough.

Touch her, smell her, taste her—

The instincts were a running river. He fisted his hands at his sides.

look! he wants her! yes, it might be his instincts, but still, he wants her!

His mate.

She was nothing like Jesminda.

Jesminda had been all laughter and mischief, too wild and free to be contained by the country life that she’d been born into. She had teased him, taunted him—seduced him so thoroughly that he hadn’t wanted anything but her. 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.

okay, so she’s maybe she’s nothing like the love of his life. and maybe she was thrown at him. those don’t have to be bad things!

ACOWAR ch 29

It was the most uncomfortable thirty minutes I could recall.

Pretending, while Lucien and Elain sat in stilted silence by the dim fireplace, an untouched tea service between them.

Elain had picked up the teacup, and now sipped from it without so much as looking toward him.

“We can try again—another day,” I offered.

Lucien nodded, but looked unconvinced.

okay, sure, i’ve never seen her endgame couples this uncomfortable around each other, but maybe she is just taking us down a different path for them!

ACOWAR ch 32

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.

well, he’s trying at least!

ACOFAS ch 1

He hadn’t mentioned Elain, or his proximity to her. Elain had not asked him to stay, or to go. And whether she cared about the bruises on his face, she certainly hadn’t let on.

just because they’re avoiding each other doesn’t mean anything! she probably just cares so strongly for him that it’s overwhelming.

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.

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

just a… just a really slow burn, i’m sure of it!

ACOFAS ch 18

“You look well,” I said to Lucien when we’d settled in the armchairs before the fire, Elain perched silently on the couch nearby.

“You as well.” A sidelong glance toward Elain, swift and fleeting. “Both of you.”

Elain said nothing, but at least she bowed her head in thanks.

“You’re welcome to stay for the night,” I said, since Elain certainly wasn’t going to.

Lucien lowered his hands into his lap and leaned back in the armchair. “Thank you, but I have other plans.”

I prayed he didn’t catch the slightly relieved glimmer on Elain’s face.

…i’m sure all that tension and passion will show up any minute now!

I found my sister in the kitchen, watching the kettle scream.

“He’s not staying for tea,” I said.

Elain simply removed the kettle from the heat.

I knew I wasn’t truly angry with her, not angry with anyone but myself, but I said, “You couldn’t say a single word to him? A pleasant greeting?”

Elain only stared at the steaming kettle as she set it on the stone counter.

“He brought you a present.”

Those doe-brown eyes turned toward me. Sharper than I’d ever seen them. “And that entitles him to my time, my affections?”

see? there’s some passion! maybe not the type i would imagine for my endgame couple, but..

“No.” I blinked. “But he is a good male.” Despite our harsh words. Despite this Band of Exiles bullshit. “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.”

look, she doesn’t just not want a mate, but ANY male! maybe she should just be alone? i know is a romantasy series, but who doesn’t want to read a romance novel where the girl ends up alone?

“I know you don’t.” I loosed a long breath. “But …”

But I had no idea how to finish that sentence. Just because Lucien was her mate didn’t mean he had a claim on her time. Her affection. She was her own person, capable of making her own choices. Assessing her own needs.”

i mean, how can we be sure elain knows what she wants? feyre’s right, she should give him a chance! he’s her mate, after all. she should want to make him happy, he’s been through so much!

ACOFAS ch 20

There were only a few presents left—Lucien’s.

I handed Elain the small box with her name on it. Her smile faded as she opened it.

“Enchanted gloves,” she read from the card. “That won’t tear or become too sweaty while gardening.” She set aside the box without looking at it for longer than a moment. And I wondered if she preferred to have torn and sweaty hands, if the dirt and cuts were proof of her labor. Her joy.”

okay, so maybe lucien doesn’t really seem to understand elain. but that’s her fault! she needs to give him a chance! surely we’ll see lucien fighting for her? then she’ll know he’s worth it!

ACOSF ch 40

“Why are you here?” Cassian asked, unable to help the sharpness. “Where’s Elain?”

“I am not always in this city to see my mate.” The last two words dripped with discomfort.

…welp

ACOSF ch 58

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

“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. Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.”

okay, just because he makes her shrink into herself and lose her boldness doesn’t mean they aren’t good for each other! all she’s doing is hurting them both by keeping them apart, if she would just give him a shot they would surely love each other!

okay, yeah, this might not seem like the build up to a beautiful love story, but obviously we are just missing what is obvious to so many!

after all,

SJM wrote it that way for a reason!

This is the plot twist that I never knew I wanted until someone brought it up, and now I can’t unsee it. I know that there are many posts about this out there, so my post only adds more evidence to the Elriel = true mates theory. Please keep in mind that this is a pro-Elriel theory/post so if that’s not your cup of tea, this is where you should stop reading.

I will begin with the scene that inspired this post because it made me connect it to something that Feyre says in both, ACOMAF and ACOWAR:

We know that Feyre was influenced by the mating bond—the silence, the emptiness in her chest—was due to Rhys’s powers being contained, him being hurt, or (ACOWAR Spoiler) him being dead.

But how could Azriel know what that feeling in your chest—the one caused by your mate being restrained, hurt, or dead—means?

He couldn’t… unless he’s experienced it before.

Okay but, Graysen is irrelevant.

As in, it's obvious what SJM is doing with him,

-> Exactly what happened to Isaac and what was his name? Thomas?

They are just here to be the first experience the sisters had with a man. That is it. Literally.

Feyre had her fuckbuddy.

Nesta had her fiancé who then turned out to be the biggest piece of shit when she broke off the engagement.

And then Elain had Graysen - who she thought - loved her but actually, rejects her at the first bump on the road.

Also while writing I'm realizing it's interesting when you look at how the story developped afterwards.

Feyre with Isaac -> after the initial ihateRhyswhyishesohot interactions, they first became friends. And the first time they have some kind of intimacy, it's a distraction, which is exactly what Isaac was for Feyre.

Nesta with Thomas -> the way she pushed Cassian away, maybe she was scared whatever happened with Thomas would happen again. (On top of her thinking she didn't deserve love, im sure whatever happened with Thomas didnt help in that matter) Also interesting that what happened to her with Thomas was one of the things that made her relate to Gwyn and Emerie.

Archeron Sisters and Bat Boys - A Court of Thorns and Roses