#ataraxia

artist: @werehorsebite

pictured: the exact moment when enemies become lovers as Nesta confronts Mor after absolutely clocking her watching her training

He buys her a present, knowing full well she didn't get him one (not out of any ill intent, but just because she wasn't planning on going to the party). He gifts it to her in front of everyone. And it's not just any present that could be gifted to anyone, but it's specific to Nesta. A present that he knew she would love and treasure because he pays attention to her and cares about her. Her reaction is priceless. Nesta - who's not keen on physical affection - leaps up and throws her arms around Azriel, and Az - who's also not big on physical affection - pulls her in for an embrace and gives her a gentle squeeze 🥰

In HOFAS, Az tries so hard to coax the Mask off Nesta, not even moving away when she could kill him with one swipe of Ataraxia. When Nesta finally takes the Mask off, he catches her before she falls, bringing her tightly to his chest, and gently strokes her hair 😍

Lady Death, wielding Ataraxia and Wolf

I wanted to do a series of drawings to practice some new brushes that got updated in adobe fresco and i am so glad i did! I wanted to draw the acotar girls with the swords I think they’d have, so here’s Nesta’s dual wield.

Ataraxia

'𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.'

 @nestaarcheronweek | Day 07: Free Day

“You said you had an eight-pointed star tattooed on you,” Bryce explained. “And you found the chamber with the eight-pointed star in the Prison, too.”

Nesta lifted her head. “So?”

“So I want you to take the Starsword.” Bryce held the blade between them. “Gwydion—whatever you call it here. The age of the Starborn is over on Midgard. It ends with me.”

“I don’t understand.”

But Bryce began backing toward the portal, taking Hunt’s hand, and smiled again at the female, at her mate, at their world, as the Northern Rift began to close. “I think that eight-pointed star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why.”

- HOFAS, Chapter 100.

In one of her past interviews, Sarah J. Maas commented Nesta's journey was just beginning after Silver Flames, and after reading House of Flame & Shadow I believe part of her journey will be linked to the Dusk Court, as not only did Nesta bargaining mark has an eight-pointed star form (which is associated with the Starborns and thus the Dusk Court), as now she is the Gwydion owner. And as much as Nesta power is usually linked to death, its also showed capable of bringing life (as we have seen with the House of the Wind and Feyre & Nyx). I also found it particularly curious that Pegasus started appearing in Avallen once the land was healed, since Pegasus seem to have an association with the Valkyries.

Thank you @/paolapieretti.art for creating this stunning art! 

Art by: @/paolapieretti.art

Commissioned by: @melphss