#matingbond

What if, Azriel and Elain commit to one another—sleep together, go the whole sexual hog.

And then shortly after something happens with Gwyn and the mating bond snaps into place between Azriel and Gwyn.

Just imagine the plot that would unfold and the potential court politics.

*leaves this thought with others and scurries off*

Also, no hateful messages please. I just thought this was a possibility that could happen in the book. I’m not saying that I necessarily want to see it.

Colours

There are two colour related instances in ACOSF that come to mind. The first is to show the incompatibility between and Elain and Azriel and the second is to show the likeness between Gwyn and Az. 

The first is when Elain enters Hewn City wearing a black dress. There is a large chunk of the page dedicated to how unsuited Elain is to the colour black. It says things like “She looked ridiculous in it” “It wore her” “Leeched the brightness from her face”. Anyone who has ever met Azriel knows that black is his colour/ the only thing he wears, it’s what he’s comfortable and most himself in. And he’s a shadow singer for crying out loud.... And a very dedicated member of the night court. If Elain can’t even wear a black dress without looking obscene how can she be beside and share a life with a shadow singer. She doesn’t appreciate his darkness and they wouldn’t bring out the best in each other.

The second instance is when the Valkyries make the friendship bracelets. Nesta chooses the colours, Blue, white and teal for Gwyn, saying they reflect her spirit. The teal is a reflection of the priestesses eyes. The blue is also obvious as a reflection of Azriel because those are the colours of his Siphons. (This is also a nice link between the two of them because her invoking stone is a similar colour and I can imagine some beautiful imagery/ symbolism or whatever of Azriel not feeling like he deserves his Siphons and Gwyn feeling like she doesn’t deserve her invoking stone.) The white however (this might be a bit of a stretch) I think could show a connection to the white ribbon and after all “Az is the new ribbon.”

Gold glowy thing

This is one that loads of people have picked up on but it’s so important and it’s the right level of subtle/ obvious and totally something that Sarah loves to do in her stories. 

So it’s well known that mates are described as having this golden thread/ glowing threads tethering them together. It’s described that way with Rhys and Feyre and Nesta and Cassian. The first time Nesta and Cassian make love (like the emotional one of solstice) There’s a chunky paragraph detailing this golden thread forming between them. And then at the end of Azriel’s chapter we see that this golden glowing feeling has started, just at the thought of Gwyn smiling. Like that’s a fairly big reaction to have to someone smiling. Of course there’s more to it. 

I also feel like there’s this thing that Sarah likes to do with Mates where she has one of them save the other in a physical sense and then the other repays it by saving them in a more emotional sense (or the other way round). So Rhys and Feyre - Feyre saves Rhys from under the mountain and in turn Rhys saves her from her trauma. Rowan and Aelin - Rowan helps Aelin to emotionally come to terms with her past and in turn Aelin saves him from Maeve. Nesta and Cassian - Nesta saves Cassian from the king of Hybern and in turn Cassian saves Nesta through emotional healing. 

Now with Gwyn and Az we’ve seen Azriel saving her from the temple and I envisage Gwyn in turn to save Azriel in an emotional way and help him accept himself. 

Also... Azriel’s shadows are very much in love with her. 

Shared History 

They have certainly led very different lives but they have a lot of shared History and trauma which I think could be really reassuring and helpful to the other while they’re healing. I feel like these two would be great at giving advice to each other but never take it on themselves and perhaps being in this situation would make it easier for self reflection.

I think a big one is this idea of being trapped. Azriel was trapped for years forcibly and even though Gwyn was in the library by choice they both experienced darkness with no way of getting out/ moving on. I think that they both appreciate the comfort of the darkness as well as the pleasure of the sun light and I just think this is rather adorable. The idea of seeing them beside one another the whole time they’re healing.

Another branch of this “Shared History” is the fact that they’ve known of each other for years.

When Azriel went to Sangravah he acted differently to how he'd ever acted before - he was rash and killed everyone on sight - I think this is a glimmer of the mating bond. But regardless they’ve probably been in and out of each other’s minds for a few years and when they finally do spend time with each other it feels so familiar and easy. There isn’t past tension, only this new electric feeling which is just so magical. 

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I was actually glad for Cassian saying this. Not because it’s nice—because it isn’t—but because it highlights how both Nesta and Cassian use words as weapons when they are angry. They say things they don’t mean because they are both hot-headed and Cassian is partial to speaking before he weighs up the consequences (whereas Nesta knows the consequences and does them deliberately to push others away).

What I found most important in that scene is that Nesta knows that Cassian doesn’t mean it—because she understands and sees him when nobody else does.

And also, we know from the entirety of ACOSF that Cassian adores and loves Nesta. For him, the mating bond is a blessing and he has never doubted that Nesta is perfect for him—his soul mate.

I have this theory about lucien and Elaine and Azreil

. Now we all know that Elaine and lucien are mates but I ship Elaine and Azreil but I was thinking that maybe u didn’t have to be like in love with your mate in the same what Rhys and Feyre are. Maybe lucien and Elaine will just become like best friends and have a great friendship like they are both protective of each other and shit so like more of a brother sister relationship. Now this leaves room for Azreil and Elaine to get together in peace withought having confusing mating bonds in the way.

Like I can just image lucien trying to be all intimidating and telling Azreil to be good to her and trying to threaten him but actually being really scared and Azreil just being all serious like saying he will protect her and stuff.

I’m not entirely sure this could be a thing like I don’t know if mates have to be in love but I know u can like reject the bond do why can’t u accept it in other ways.