"There you are. I've been looking for you."

Head canon: ACOTAR 5’s equivalent of Chapter 54

Azriel reveals that, somewhat like the stars on Feyre’s dresser, he deep down always had a connection to Elain, his true mate, even before he knew her. So he named the house Rosehall in anticipation of her essentially because, deep down, he already recognized her. He named Rosehall after his mate who he had yet to meet or who had yet to exist, but whose symbol is roses 🥺

Nesta trying to seduce all the men of power on the dance floor :

nyx in little purple onesies

his tiny wings getting stronger each day, flapping while being held but not yet flying

how tiny he is in cassian’s arms

playing with azriel’s shadows, giggling when they twirl around his head

playing with cas and az’s siphons

his little baby fists gripping rhy’s talons in his hands as if to say ‘i have those too!’

being obsessed with the planets in rhys’ study, so much so rhys makes one for his nursery

coming into his powers, sneezing out clouds of starlight

his magic changing based on his mood. when he’s happy it’s all constellations but when he’s fussy it’s rhys’ brand of darkness

rhys holding him in his study with feyre’s portrait looking over them when she’s away on court business

Thanks to @nialeirza​ for helping me connect the dots with one of her posts.

Back in ACOMAF, when the golden queen left the second half of the Book of Breathings at the Archeron estate, the words that were spoken by it struck me as odd, and I haven’t been able to get them out of my head since:

I remember everyone discussing who the Book was addressing (sweet thing, lady of night, princess of decay), but after reading ACOSF, I cannot help but wonder if there is, in reality, a prophecy surrounding the three sisters. Amren hinted at it during ACOSF, and even Azriel, who is often the one with all the answers, wonders at the probability of two sisters ending up mated with two of his brothers—almost as if it is no mere coincidence.

Three sisters. Three sisters “blessed by fate and gifted with powers.” The number three appears (and anyone studying literature knows that the number three is considered a magical number—particularly in fairytales) again and again. Three brothers. Three sisters. Three women Made by the Cauldron, all symbolizing different sides of the Triple (or Three-Faced) Goddess—Maiden (Elain), Mother (Nesta, who was guided by the Mother herself throughout ACOSF), and Crone (the Queen). Thus, it is interesting to note that, when the second half of the Book started singing, it did so in threes (three lines, with three words each).

If we were to look at the words listed, does anything stand out?

Each line could be looked at separately, or one word could be picked out from each line, and what would we have?

A description of each sister/each sister’s journey.

Death, moon, rot—Nesta (due to her powers; her being compared to the moon; the Mother, who is symbolized by the full moon, watching over her throughout ACOSF, etc.)

Rebirth, dark, bones—Feyre (she was reborn twice; she is the High Lady of the Night Court; and bones have always been present throughout her story - the Bone Carver, UTM, etc.)

Life, sun, bloom—Elain (she is the gentle grower of things, the gardener, instilling life all around her—and, it can also be argued that if Nesta’s power is death, hers is life; she craves sunshine/is compared to the sun; her symbol is a rose; as the Maiden, she embodies Spring—Persephone was also known as the Maiden, etc.)

or

Life and death and rebirth—Nesta (follows her journey)

Sun and moon and dark—Feyre (follows her journey—from the bride of Spring to the High Lady of the Nightcourt)

Rot and bloom and bones—Elain (potentially foreshadows her journey)

For the longest time, I’ve tried to understand how “bones” might fit into all of this. Then, someone noticed Nesta mentioning a fourth object.

What if there truly is a prophecy about the sisters? What if they truly were destined to become fae, to become powerful, each in her own right? The Book of Breathings hinted at this—at their journeys—since ACOMAF, before Nesta and Elain were Made. What if them being Made was not just bad luck, but an attempt to make a prophecy come true?

Three sisters. Three brothers. Is everything truly a coincidence in SJM’s world?

What other powers does Elain have, and why did the Book of Breathings mention bones? Why did Nesta see a fourth object veiled in shadows, one that looked like a bone, and why is Elain, whose journey has yet to begin, the only other person who could wield such an object?

Rhys, seeing all this in his mind::

Lucien

Unless Sarah throws a huge curve ball in the next book, there are two options for Elain: Lucien or Azriel. And everything Sarah has written so far about Elain and Lucien suggests Elain does not want to be with him. She lies about her plans to avoid him; she doesn’t get him solstice gifts; she shrinks into herself when he is around; hell, she’d rather get cut by thorns than use his gift. Moreover, he doesn’t really SEE Elain. He tries to, don’t get me wrong. He buys her seemingly thoughtful gifts, but it turns out she doesn’t want those. He attempts to help her in ACOWAR, but he can’t figure out what’s “wrong” with her or see that she’s a seer. Based on everything we’ve seen so far, I just do not see Elucien happening. Something DRASTIC would have to change (or Sarah has chosen not to show us a hell of a lot). So if it’s not Elucien, then it’s Elriel.

Elriel foreshadowing

People have done a much better and more thorough job than I of laying out all the foreshadowing, but suffice it to say we have gotten scenes from ACOMAF through ACOSF showing the connection between Elain and Az, how they both see each other, and how they both care about each other. Sarah said on the US tour stop that she has been planting seeds for Elain’s book since ACOWAR. This all points to Elriel.

The upcoming love stories

We have two books left and two couples. Presumably, Elriel are getting a book and the sixth book is unknown (Lucien and Vassa?), or itll be Elucien and Gwynriel in some order. In the latter scenario, the bonus chapter seems to be setting us up for a really unfortunate situation where Az and Elain both currently have feelings for each other. So whichever book is next, it would start off with them having a thing for each other and then move to them falling for (Lucien or Gwyn). And does that mean that the other couple is just as a result of that castoff? That certainly is how it seems to me. So if Gwynriel is next (which is likely in this scenario given Az’s chapter), then Elain ends up with Lucien because her first choice, Az, rejected her for Gwyn, or because Rhys forbid them from being together? This just seems so shitty. And maybe Elain and Az would mutually decide they’re not right for each other, but what a weird way to start of the plot of the next book (especially since we would only be getting it from one of their POVs). It just seems really unlikely. Moreover, as others have said, there doesn’t appear to be enough to Gwyn and Az to fill a whole book (especially given their lack of ties to the overarching plot). Sure, they both have trauma and need to heal, especially Az who hasn’t started to heal at all. And maybe Elain would be a roadblock. But other than that, what is there to carry a 700 page book?

The overall plot arc

We know that Koschei is the big overarching bad for this trilogy, just like Hybern was for the last. Elain and Vassa both have the most connection to Koschei, so it makes sense that they would feature as a POV of one of each of the remaining books. Neither Az nor Gwyn are connected to Koschei, nor do they have any powers (that we know of at least) that particularly make them able to fight him. So what role do Gwyn and Az as a couple serve for the overall plot? It would seem like a strange choice unless there’s information we don’t have yet.

The purpose of the bonus chapter(s)

After books of build up between Elain and Az, Sarah finally gave us a scene showing that they both are into each other, and that Az seems to have really strong feelings for her (sexual and emotional). Why show that to us if it’s not going anywhere? It would have been relatively easy to explain away the rest of the foreshadowing as just a friendship, but this is an affirmative step towards them being together. Why do that just to tear it down or take it back at the beginning of the next book (because that’s all we would have—the beginning of the next book, since it’ll be about a different couple). Also, Feysand’s chapter seems to show us yet again that Elain doesn’t want to be with Lucien, which taken together with the other bonus chapter seems to suggest Elriel.

Elain’s Choice

Finally, this whole time, Sarah has been setting us up for Elain to make her own choices. She brought up rejecting the mating bond specifically about Elain. She also has shown Elain have all her choices ripped away—being human, Greyson, the mating bond. And in ACOSF, we see Elain starting to make her own choices. She chooses the night court. She chooses to play whatever role she can to help. She’s starting to come into her own. I don’t see Sarah backpedaling on that, and suddenly have Elain give in to the mating bond.

Suriel: .....

Rhysand:

ACOMAF: Never mind, I think I’m going with Feysand. And add a bit of Nessian. And hello Elriel... I see some glimpse there.

ACOWAR: Definitely Feysand...DEFINITELY NESSIAN.. and oh my.. that Elriel is fully blasting now but add some Elucien to spice it up. I can see it. Amren... I really like your vibe with Varian, he’s hot and I dig it.

ACOFAS: Jeez I’m so done with Feysand, cute.. but done. And oh gods how much Nessian hurt. Elucien... what are we even doing in here? Elriel... are you going for it or not!?

ACOSF: Alright.. Nessian I love you... you’re my forever otp. Jeez Elriel... we are doing this then. Wait... I see some glimpse of Moerie going on. Lucien, just say you like Vassa.. I see you. Elucien where are you? Gwynriel trying to come out.

The fandom ending up confused asf after Acosf.

Dear Sarah, if you thought we would be at peace now that half of the ships are done... then let me tell you something:

I’m going to respond in gifs because I thought it would be fun lol. (But yes I think Feyre won’t be too happy.)

Feyre

Nesta

Cassian

Amren

Mor

BONUS

Azriel

Elain

Rhys

Reuniting of Aelin and Rowan in Queen of Shadows

Reuniting of Feyre and Rhysand in A Court of Wings and Ruin

This, this is Terrasen’s ass