#vassian

Vassian (1/5)

I’m actually really proud of this one given I had to improvise Vassa’s design on the fly. I really like their hair and eyes a lot. And I don’t draw animals very often so glad that came out decent.

I love Elain and Lucien and cannot wait for their pov but I have to say, getting the point of views for Vassa and Jurian at the same time would make Eluciens story so much more well-rounded. Their arcs are intertwined, what with their friendship and things they're trying to achieve, and I think that having all four povs would make their book feel that much more epic.

“They sold her—to … to some darkness, to some … sorcerer-lord …” She shook her head. “I can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything … save for them. The girls. He keeps other girls—others so like her—but she … By day, she is one form, by night, human again.” (who are these other girls?)

“Do you know why the other queens cursed her—sold her to him?” Elain studied the table. “No. No—that is all mist and shadow.” (we still don't know the answer to this)

Elain’s throat bobbed. “He keeps them all at the lake.” “Other women like her?” “Yes—and no. Their feathers are white as snow. They glide across the water—while she rages through the skies above it."

Mor said to Rhys, “What information do we have on this sixth queen?” “Little,” Azriel answered for him. “We know little. Young—somewhere in her mid-twenties. Scythia lies along the wall, to the east. It’s smallest amongst the human queens’ realms, but rich in trade and arms. She goes by Vassa, but I never got a report with her full name.” Rhys considered. “She must have posed a considerable threat to the queens if they turned on her. And considering their agenda …”

“Scythia,” Mor said, shaking her head. “I remember them. They’re horse people. A mounted cavalry could travel far faster—”

Jurian was saying to Mor, “They didn’t kill the sixth queen. Vassa. She saw through me—or thought she did—from the start. Warned them against this. Told them that if I was reborn, it was a bad sign, and to rally their armies to face the threat before it grew too large. But Vassa is too brash, too young. She didn’t play the game the way the golden one, Demetra, did. Didn’t see the lust in their eyes when I told them of the Cauldron’s powers. Didn’t know that from the moment I began to spin Hybern’s lies … they became her enemies. They couldn’t kill Vassa—the next in line to her throne is far more willful.

“Yes. But your father, ever the negotiator …” A sad, small smile toward that burnt grass. “He managed to cut a deal with Vassa’s keeper to come here. Temporarily, but … better than nothing. But yes—queen by night, firebird by day.” He blew out a breath. “Nasty curse.”

“The human queens are still out there,” I said. Maybe I’d hunt them down. “Not for long—not if Vassa has anything to do with it.”

As we strode back to the camp, Lucien told us of his time away—how he’d hunted for Vassa, how he’d found her already with my father, an army marching westward. How Miryam and Drakon had found them on their own journey to help us. (it might mean nothing but I do think it's interesting how the now keepers of the Cauldron know both Vassa and Lucien).

Vassa’s full mouth tightened. “I am sorry—about your father. He was a great man.” Nesta, striding out of the sitting room, halted at the words. Looked Vassa up and down. Vassa returned the favor. “You are Nesta,” Vassa declared, and I wondered how my father had described her so that Vassa would know. “I am sorry for your loss, too.”

Like his father—his true one. Helion. She went on before I could answer. “I do not have much time left—before I must return to the lake. To him.” To the death-lord who held her leash. “Who is he?” I breathed. Vassa only shook her head, waving a hand as her eyes darkened, and repeated, “Can you break my curse?”

“We shall discuss this later,” she declared. “Along with the threat my fellow queens pose.” My heart stumbled a beat. A cruel smile curved Vassa’s mouth. “They will try to intervene,” she said. “With any sort of peace talks. Hybern sent them back before this battle, but I have no doubt they were smart enough to encourage that. Not to waste their armies here.” “But they will elsewhere?” Nesta demanded. Vassa tossed her smooth sheet of hair over a shoulder. “We shall see. And you will think of ways to help me.” (I never paid much attention to this line but this could be possible foreshadowing for Mor being unable to get the peace treaty signed in Silver Flames).

Jurian leaned against the opposite door frame. “Queen Vassa offered me a place within her court.”

“We continue to watch. You continue to watch.” “Vassa and Jurian are still with Graysen. Do we loop them in?” A strange gathering, down in the human lands. With no queen ever having been appointed to the slice of territory at the base of Prythian, only a council of wealthy lords and merchants, Jurian had somehow stepped in to lead. Using Graysen’s family estate as his seat of command. And Vassa … She had stayed. Her keeper had granted her a reprieve from her curse—the enchantment that turned her into a firebird by day, woman again by night. And bound her to his lake deep in the continent. I’d never seen such spell work. I’d sent my power over her, Helion too, hunting for any possible threads to unbind it. I found none. It was as if the curse was woven into her very blood. But Vassa’s freedom would end. Lucien had said as much months ago, and still visited her often enough that I knew nothing in that regard had improved. She would have to return to the lake, to the sorcerer-lord who kept her prisoner, sold to him by the very queens who had again gathered in their joint castle. Formerly Vassa’s castle, too.

“Vassa knows that the Queens of the Realm will be a threat until they are dealt with,” I said at last. Another tidbit that Lucien had told us.

If we sweep in, even to stop them from triggering another war, we’ll be seen as conquerors, not heroes. We need the humans in other territories to trust us, if we can ever hope to achieve lasting peace.” “Then perhaps Jurian and Vassa should deal with them. While Vassa is free to do so.”

“The humans must be given a chance to rule themselves. Decide for themselves. Even our allies.”

“I’ll discuss Vassa and Jurian with Lucien when he returns. See if he’s up for another visit.” I angled my head. “Do you think he can handle being around Graysen?”

But if I’m not here in Velaris, I’ve mostly been staying with Jurian. And Vassa.” I straightened. “Really? Where?” “There’s an old manor house in the southeast, in the humans’ territory. Jurian and Vassa were … gifted it.”

“Rhys mentioned that they were still in Prythian. I didn’t realize it was such a permanent base.” A short nod. “For now. While things are sorted out.” Like the world without a wall. Like the four human queens who still squatted across the continent. But now wasn’t the time to talk of it. “How are they—Jurian and Vassa?” I’d learned enough from Rhys about how Tamlin was faring. I didn’t care to hear any more of it. “Jurian …” Lucien blew out a breath, scanning the carved wood ceiling above. “Thank the Cauldron for him. I never thought I’d say that, but it’s true.” He ran a hand through his silken red hair. “He’s keeping everything running. I think he’d have been crowned king by now if it wasn’t for Vassa.” A twitch of the lips, a spark in that russet eye. “She’s doing well enough. Savoring every second of her temporary freedom.” I had not forgotten her plea to me that night after the last battle with Hybern. To break the curse that kept her human by night, firebird by day. A once-proud queen—still proud, yes, but desperate to reclaim her freedom. Her human body. Her kingdom. “She and Jurian are getting along?” I hadn’t seen them interact, could only imagine what the two of them would be like in the same room together. Both trying to lead the humans who occupied the sliver of land at the southernmost end of Prythian. Left ungoverned for so long. Too long. No king or queen remained in these lands. No memory of their name, their lineage.

Lucien considered my question. “Vassa and Jurian are two sides of the same coin. Mercifully, their vision for the future of the human territories is mostly aligned. But the methods on how to attain that …” A frown to Elain, then a wince at me. “This isn’t very Solstice-like talk.”

“I’d hoped,” I ventured to say, “that when you rented the apartment, it meant you would come work here. With us. Be our human emissary.” “Am I not doing that now?” He arched a brow. “Am I not sending twice-weekly reports to your spymaster?”

“It seems like you’ve decided to fall in with two people without homes of their own as well.” Lucien stared at me, long and hard. When he spoke, his voice was rough. “Happy Solstice to you, Feyre.”

Lucien studied the sitting room, the foyer beyond and dining room on its other side. “The Band of Exiles.” “The what?” “That’s what we call ourselves. The Band of Exiles.” “You have a name for yourselves.” I fought my incredulous tone. He nodded. “Jurian isn’t an exile,” I said. Vassa, yes. Lucien, two times over now. “Jurian’s kingdom is nothing but dust and half-forgotten memory, his people long scattered and absorbed into other territories. He can call himself whatever he likes.” Yes, after the battle with Hybern, after Jurian’s aid, I supposed he could. But I asked, “And what, exactly, does this Band of Exiles plan to do? Host events? Organize party-planning committees?” Lucien’s metal eye clicked faintly and narrowed. “You can be as much of an asshole as that mate of yours, you know that?”

“Even with Elain here, he’s become close with Jurian and Vassa. He’s voluntarily living with them these days, and not just as an emissary. As their friend.” Cassian went over all he’d heard and observed from his encounters with Lucien since the war, trying to contemplate it like Rhys and Mor would. “He’s spent months helping them sort out the politics of who rules Prythian’s slice of the human lands,” Cassian said slowly. “

“Why haven’t we already contacted Vassa about this?” Mor waved a hand, though her shadowed eyes belied her casual gesture. “Because we’re just now piecing it all together. But you should definitely speak with her, when you can. As soon as you can, actually.”

Cassian nodded. He didn’t dislike Vassa, though meeting her would also entail talking with Lucien and Jurian. The former he’d learned to live with, but the latter … It didn’t matter that it turned out that Jurian had been fighting on their side. That the human general who’d been Amarantha’s tortured prisoner for five centuries had played Hybern after being rebirthed by the Cauldron, and had helped Cassian and his family win the war.

Even more than a year later, the ravages of war lay evident around the estate: trees felled, barren patches of earth where greenery had not yet returned, and a general bleak openness that made the gray-stoned house seem like an accidental survivor. In the moonlight, that starkness was even emptier, the remnants of trees silvered, the shadows in the pockmarked earth deeper. Cassian didn’t know to whom the home had once belonged, and apparently neither did its new occupants. Feyre had told him that they called themselves the Band of Exiles. Cassian snorted to himself at the thought.

From his spot on a ridiculous pink sofa by the far wall, Jurian said, “It only goes to her head when you call her that.” Vassa straightened, her cobalt jacket a sharp contrast to the red-gold of her hair. Of the three redheaded people in this room, Cassian liked her coloring the best: the golden hue of her skin, the large, uptilted blue eyes framed by dark lashes and brows, and the silken red hair, which she’d cut to her shoulders since he’d last seen her. Vassa said to Jurian, “I am a queen, you know.” A queen by night, and firebird by day, sold by her fellow human queens to a sorcerer-lord who had enchanted her. Damned her into transforming each dawn into a bird of fire and ash. Cassian had waited until sundown to visit, so as to find her in her human form. He needed her to be able to speak. Jurian crossed an ankle over a knee, his muddy boots dull in the firelight. “Last I heard, your kingdom was no longer yours. Are you still a queen?”

Vassa’s cerulean eyes darkened. “We were just getting to that, actually.” She gestured to Cassian. “You’ve heard the same rumors we have: they’re stirring again across the sea, and are poised to start trouble.”

But Vassa said, “The queens require no teaching. They were well versed in treachery before they ever contacted Hybern. And have dealt with greater monsters than him.”

“You wonder who is capable of making a unit of Fae soldiers across the sea vanish? Who could give Briallyn the power to winnow—or do it for her? Who could aid Briallyn so she’d be bold enough to do such a thing? Look to Koschei."

Lucien and Jurian looked at her in surprise. But Vassa’s gaze lay upon him. Fear and hatred filled it, as if speaking the male’s name were abhorrent. Her voice hoarsened. “Koschei is no mere sorcerer. He’s confined to the lake only due to an ancient spell. Because he was outsmarted once. Everything he does is to free himself.”

“Why was he imprisoned?” Cassian asked. “The story is too long to tell,” she hedged. “But know that Briallyn and the others sold me to him not through their devices, but his. By words he planted in their courts, whispered on the winds.” “He’s still at the lake,” Lucien said carefully. Lucien had been there, Cassian recalled. Had gone with Nesta’s father to the lake where Vassa was held captive. “Yes,” Vassa said, relief in her eyes. “But Koschei is as old as the sea—older.” “Some say he is Death itself,” Eris murmured. “I do not know if that is true,” Vassa said, “but they call him Koschei the Deathless, for he has no death awaiting him. He is truly immortal. And would know of anything that might give Briallyn an edge against us.” “And you think Koschei would do all of this,” Cassian pressed, “not out of sympathy for the human queens, but with the goal of freeing himself?” “Certainly.” Vassa peered at her hands, fingers flexing. “I fear what may happen if he ever gets free of the lake. If he sees this world on the cusp of disaster and knows he could strike, and strike hard, and make himself its master. As he once tried to do, long ago.” “Those are legends that predate our courts,” Eris said. Vassa nodded. “It is all I have gleaned from my time enslaved to him.” Lucien stared out the window—as if he could see the lake across a sea and a continent. As if he were setting his target.

Eris’s face filled with cool amusement. “I wanted to feel out Vassa and Jurian.” He didn’t mention his brother, oddly enough. “But they clearly know little about this.”

Curiosity bit deep, but Nesta said nothing. Vassa—she hadn’t seen the enchanted human queen since the war had ended. Since the young woman had tried to speak to her about how wonderful Nesta’s father had been, how he had been a true father to her, helped her and won her this temporary freedom, and on and on until Nesta’s bones were screaming to get away, her blood boiling to think that her father had found his courage for someone other than her and her sisters. That he’d been the father she had needed—but for someone else. He had let their mother die in his refusal to send his merchant fleet hunting for a cure for her, had fallen into poverty and let them starve, but had decided to fight for this stranger? This nobody queen peddling a sad tale of betrayal and loss?

From Lucien’s grim face, she knew he hadn’t reacted well. Nesta said, “And Jurian and Vassa?” “At each other’s throats, as they like to be,” he said, a tad sharply.

Koschei said, “Tell my Vassa I’m waiting.” His shadows swirled.

Hi anon! 🫶

So. Many. Thoughts.

Before I step onto my soap box, this is my headcannon: the often foreshadowed, ominous Blood Duel (that most certainly will be happening) will be Helion dueling Beron for the Lady of the Autumn Court. I sincerely hope they have a happy ending.

But! Onto my musings. Buckle up... I fear I wrote a research paper.

Helion and the Lady of the Autumn Court's relationship symbolizes a decision many characters in ACOTAR face: to choose love or duty. While their love story is star-crossed, they also are a foil to many characters and couples.

After the High Lord's meeting, Feyre learns of their affair, which took place for a few years after he rescued her during Hybern's war. He recounts to Feyre how he saved her, and doing so in a rather barbaric, animalistic way.

"I tore the beasts apart with my bare hands." A chill slid down {Feyre's} spine, 'Why?" He could have ended it a thousand other ways. Easier ways. Cleaner ways. Rhys's bloody hands after the Ravens' attack flashed through my mind. (pg. 453, ACOWAR)

This reaction, which Feyre deems excessive, is followed by the mention of Rhysand's reaction to the Ravens'. Why think of Rhys in this moment? This is intentional, because who is Rhys to Feyre? Mates.

Very clearly, SJM tells us Helion's reaction is not normal, rather aligning with how mates behave. We are meant to infer Lady of the Autumn Court and Helion are mates.

While LofA's abuse and dissociative behavior is evident to everyone around her, Feyre berates Helion for not rescuing his lover.

A furious Helion responds:

"Beron is a High Lord, and she is his wife, mother of his brood. She chose to stay. Chose. And with the protocols and rules, Lady, you will find that most situations like the one you were in do not end well for those who interfere." (pg. 455, ACOWAR)

Feyre continues to push, furious with Helion, but he silences her on the matter. Why would Feyre be so furious with Helion for not rescuing LofA?

Because she was in the exact same situation with Tamlin a book ago. Without her mate's intervention, Feyre would not have had the courage to make the choice to leave.

In this moment, Helion and Lady of Autumn's relationship shows us what could have happened if Feyre chose to stay with Tamlin.

Because, as Helion reminds us, it was the Lady of Autumn's choice to stay with Beron.

Helion gave Lady Autumn a choice, just like Rhys gave Feyre a choice. It might hard for Feyre to understand given what she endured in MAF, but there are many reasons as to why the Lady of Autumn would stay. Her sons, societal limitations, and responsibility.

But, as Mor reminds us:

"I heard a rumor once, Helion, that she waited before agreeing to that marriage. For a certain someone who had met her by chance at an equinox ball the year before." (page 454, WAR)

Woah. Sound familiar? (Calanmai I whisper)

But Helion responds:

"Interesting. I heard her family wanted international ties to power, and that they didn't give her a choice before they sold her to Beron." (page 454, WAR).

So, why have Mor bring this up? Because she too was sold into marriage, and not just to anyone, but to the Lady of the Autumn Court's first son, the icon, the baddie, Eris (love youuu).

What did Eris do? Born from an unhappy, arranged union, he did what could not have been done for his mother, and freed Mor (questionably so, but still freed her), from their union.

In this moment, we are shown Eris and Mor's relationship could have been like the Lady of the Autumn Court and Beron's.

But Eris decided not to be like his father. He let Mor choose.

And let's not forget who rescued Mor from Autumn Court- Azriel. This is significant- but bear with me before I return to this point in a moment.

So, within two pages, another son from the Autumn Court takes center stage: the beloved, sassy Lucien. Feyre realizes he was born from Helion and Lady of Autumn's affiar.

This insane plot twist, and Prythian's greatest paternity scandal, lets us know Lucien's father is a spell-cleaver. Then, while thinking on the extent of Lucien's powers, Feyre delivers this iconic line:

"A bird of flame... and a lord of fire. I wondered if they'd found each other yet." (page 457, ACOWAR).

For nearly five pages, we've heard about love and loveless unions, and when Lucien is mentioned, someone else is notably not.

His mate, Elain.

Rather, Vassa, who at this moment is referred to as the enchanted queen, is not just mentioned, but is done so in a way that compliments the newfound powers Lucien possesses as Helion's son.

Bells, darlings, bells!

Then, after this moment, Nesta barges in. She's upset, sensing a terrible omen. Cassian (her mate), heeds her concern, and validates her worries. In this moment, SJM illustrates classic mate behavior.

Then, Mor is shown flirting with Helion (uh oh, hook up time!). This prompts a very long conversation about the Cassian, Mor, and Azriel love triangle. Rhys speaks on Azriel's unrequited love for Mor, saying Az's explosion at the High Lord's meeting stems from his guilt about what transpired all those years ago with Eris.

But, interestingly enough, Rhys tells Feyre:

“There will come a day when Azriel has to decide if he is going to fight for her or let her go. And it won’t be because some other male insults her or beds her.” “And what about Cassian? He’s entangled—and enabling this nonsense.” A wry smile. “Cassian is going to have to decide some things, too. In the near future, I think.” “Are he and Nesta …?” “I don’t know. Until the bond snaps into place, it can be hard to detect.” (page 460, ACOWAR)

Here, Cassian is immediately removed from their love triangle, and is attached to Nesta as his possible mate, which is confirmed in Silver Flames. This leaves Mor and Azriel.

So why have Mor sleep with Helion in this chapter? Later on in WAR, Mor comes out to Feyre, confirming she cannot be with Azriel because she prefers females. But why, after a conversation on Helion's love for the Lady of the Autumn Court and Lucien's paternity, would he and Mor sleep together?

To foreshadow (no pun, but I'm very proud) her relationship with Azriel is not going to happen. There is a theme here- choice. Whether one chooses their heart or their duty, Helion and Lady of Autumn's love story shines a light on each character's choices in love, whether good, bad, or indifferent.

Ironically, not all choices were made because of a mating bond. Rather, we are given an array of circumstances where choice prevails, but it is the rejection of love that causes unhappiness.

Which leads me to the final thing Helion and Lady of Autumn's relationship demonstrates:

If Eris, a foil to Beron, let Mor go, then Lucien, a foil to Helion, will also have to let Elain make a decision regarding their mating bond.

In this moment, Helion and the Lady of Autumn's relationship reiterates the importance of a female's right to choose.

Elain wilts in Lucien's presence. And as Rhys reminds Feyre, Mor is frightened by Azriel's outburst of anger (she gets "spooked" when he shows the scope of his grief-fueled powers). Mor has the right to reject Azriel. The same sentiment stands for Elain and Lucien.

Could Azriel and Mor be mates? There is evidence this could be true. But, there's also evidence Azriel has a connection to Elain. This is established much earlier in WAR, when his recognition of her mysterious powers cures Elain from her vision, the contents of which, send Lucien on his voyage to none other than, Vassa.

Which, given Feyre's observation in this chapter, Lucien's powers and journey as a character are tied to Vassa, rather than Elain. This is confirmed through Lucien's choice to stay with the Band of Exiles, and remain in the Human Lands, even during Silver Flames.

So, with the old love triangles echoing the new ones, who remains?

Elain and Azriel. There's so many scenes alone in WAR connecting them romantically and through their abilities as a Seer and Shadowsinger.

In a fic I wrote, I used the Lady of the Autumn Court as a foil to Elain's choice regarding her mating bond with Lucien. The Lady of the Autumn Court and Helion were in love. While there are strong indicators they are mates, they more importantly love each other.

Lucien, often referred as his mother's favorite son, would never force a female to be with him because of an arrangement, whether Cauldron or Court ordained.

This sentiment is echoed through Feyre and Rhys's discussion on Tamlin and his lingering love for Feyre. The High Lady ends this chapter driven by choice with these words:

“It feels strange, to share a room, a bed, with you under the same roof as him.” “I can imagine.” For somewhere in this palace, Tamlin was lying in bed—well aware that I was about to enter this one with Rhysand. The past tangled and snarled, and I whispered, “I don’t think—I don’t think I can have sex here. With him so close.” Rhys remained quiet. “I’m sorry if—” “You don’t need to apologize. Ever.” I looked up, finding his gaze on me—not angry or frustrated, but … sad. Knowing. “I want to share this bed with you, though,” I breathed. “I want you to hold me.” Stars flickered to life in his eyes. “Always,” he promised, kissing my brow, his wings now enveloping me completely. “Always.” (page 462, ACOWAR).

Even within an established mating bond, Rhys, a foil to Helion, allows Feyre, a foil to the Lady of Autumn, a choice while her former lover dwells within those very walls. I like to imagine, just like Rhys and Feyre, Helion and Lady of Autumn stood on a balcony, speaking in hushed whispers, looking up at the stars.

But, unlike the Lady of Autumn, Feyre chooses love, not duty.

It's not Feyre's mate bond that makes her happy, its her love for Rhys. As SJM so often does, Feyre and Rhys show what a truly happy mating bond looks like, and its no coincidence, the female's choice is at the forefront of their relationship.

So I end this crazy long post with this: love does conquer all, even a mating bond.

This beautiful, stunning artwork was done by the amazing @pinkishmalina!

I am going to be honest... I struggled with picking out which day I wanted to post this for Elucien week. Ultimately, it came down to the simple fact that these two are fated to be together. Forever. And a wedding to signify that bond is so perfectly them. 💛

In attendance:

The lovely Vassa, her man Jurian, & Lucien's brother Eris aka Elain & Lucien's found family 🥰

Characters belong to Sarah J. Maas

The Firebird Queen/The People’s Protector

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Portraits of Vassa and Jurian for @jassaweek Day 2 - Duty and Honor!