#gwynweek

This scene marks the rise of the Valkyries and the iconic moment of Gwyn becoming the first Valkyrie Reborn.

Artist - @dimaarly

Commissioned by krssyreads

Oh, I can't, stop you putting roots in my dreamland. My house of stone, your ivy grows, and now I'm covered in you...

For @gwynweekofficial, @freyjas-musings, @amandapearls, and I wanted to depict one of our favorite soft ships for unlikely pairings and star-crossed connections. Gwyn and Elain are survivors in their own respective rights. They're kind, they're fiercely loyal, and they don't let the circumstances they've found themselves in define them. If any two people could also find love and healing together, it would be them.

- Bonds that heal ❤️‍🩹 @gwynweekofficial

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- What was her name?

“Catrin”

“You two came looking for me.”

- Of course we did

- It’s what sisters do.

For Gwyn Week Free Day: Gwyn in dark academia style 🤎 @gwynweekofficial

I always thought this style would suit Gwyn so well, since she is a researcher and says it gives her focus even in the hardest days.

She was super excited about the research on the Valkyries and also Merril's theory of multiple universes (I hope to see more about this in the next book 👀).

I love her nerdy essence so much!

Gwyn's rebirth as a Valkyrie was so empowering. The moments leading up to cutting the ribbon must have felt like a mental war, like fire and ice. Abandoning the comfort of fear and the library to be something unknown, new, and terrifying (in all the best ways)

There's so much harsh light in this painting so I figured I'd add the line art alone ^^

@gwynweekofficial

This is a short drabble about one of the children from Sangravah coming to visit Gwyn.

Word Count: 568

Gwyn walked over to Clotho’s desk. “You wanted to see me?”

Clotho nodded her hooded head, and her enchanted pen moved in the air, There’s someone that wants to see you.

“Who?” Gwyn asked. It couldn’t have been Nesta or Emerie, because they would have just looked around until they found her.

One of the children.

She froze, knowing exactly what Clotho meant. One of the children from Sangravah was here to see her. Gwyn quickly blocked out the horrors of that night.

“I don’t . . . I have work to do for Merrill,” Gwyn stated.

The pen moved again. It wrote, You’re afraid. Why?

“I’m not. I really do have to help Merrill with something.”

Clotho was observant and rarely ever missed a thing. Should I send the child away, then?

Guilt and shame filled her. One of the children had gathered the courage to come here, and Gwyn was too busy letting her own fears hold her back.

“No,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “Where are they?”

Clotho angled her head to the left. Over there. And Gwyneth?

“Yes?”

Don’t let whatever you’re worried about keep you from hearing what the child wants to say. You deserve to be happy, Gwyneth. Remember that.

Her chest tightened, but she only nodded and hurried away.

She found the young girl—one of the older children from that night—standing by a stack of books that needed to be shelved.

And to her surprise, the Shadowsinger was also there.

He stood off to the side. She figured that he had been the one to bring the girl here.

His shadows were wreathed on his shoulders. Gwyn could sense them peering at her, and she couldn’t help but smile at their curiosity.

Azriel scanned her face with keen eyes. What he was looking for, Gwyn had no clue, but obviously he found it, because his body relaxed and he disappeared further into his shadows, giving them privacy.

Gwyn faced the girl, who was probably around fifteen now. And even though she was a few years older than the last time they had seen each other, Gwyn still recognized her. “Hello, Alina. How are you?”

Alina smiled shyly. “You remember me?”

“Of course I do.” Gwyn tried not to fidget under Alina’s watchful gaze. “What, uh, brings you down here?”

Alina shifted closer, eyes shining bright with emotion. “I never got the chance to thank you for saving me, for saving all of us, that night.”

The Invoking Stone seemed to burn inside of her pocket. “You don’t have to—“ Clotho’s written words flashed through her mind. Don’t let whatever you’re worried about keep you from hearing what the child wants to say. She was just right. Even if Gwyn still felt unworthy of any gratitude, Alina deserved the chance to at least be heard.

A slender body suddenly wrapped around her, and Gwyn returned the hug in stunned silence. “Thank you. We survived because of you. I hope that when I’m older, I can be as brave and kind and selfless as you are.” Alina’s body shook. “Thank you,” she repeated once more, her voice thick with emotion.

Gwyn searched for words, but couldn’t find any. Her eyes burned and a single tear slid down her cheek. She ignored it and continued to embrace Alina.

What about Gwyn's Character resonated with me?

I felt instantly connected to her character as soon as we met her. She has spunk, shows resiliency, and is a fierce and loyal friend.

I see a lot of myself in Gwyn with her bright personality, her excitableness, and her adorable interests (like who doesn't love cute things like Pegasi and friendship bracelets?!)

I love the motto that has become a mantra for the fandom, "I am the rock against which the surf crashes. Nothing can break me." This particular moment was powerful.

I was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, and my life was turned all the way around. I was constantly told how strong I was and that keeping positive was what was going to get me through, but no one prepares you for the aftermath. I was trying to live a normal life after treatment, but my self-image and fear of the cancer returning put me in a low place. I looked at myself like my body had betrayed me, and in turn, that affected my body image and even my sensuality. So now, whenever I'm feeling anxious or stressed or I have a blood test coming up or I'm worrying about my future, I think of Gwyn and repeat the mantra, "Nothing can break me."

I resonate with Gwyn's character because her journey of self-worth and growth and healing is something I connect to. I had found myself again by getting back into my sensuality doing burlesque (which was truly a transformative experience, I highly recommend taking at least one class to anyone and everyone.) I think Gwyn's journey will be similar, one where she connects with every part of herself that was lost during a tragic moment in her life.