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Only 3 more days until the start of Elain week!

Elain dreaming of spring 🌸

“…and she surveyed the swaying cherry blossoms overhead. Elain would love this place. So many flowers, all in bloom, so much green — the light, vibrant green of new grass — so many birds singing and such warm, buttery sunshine. Nesta felt like a storm cloud standing amid it all. But Elain … The Spring Court had been made for someone like her.”

Thank you so much to the lovely @giaseeds_! I knew your style would capture Elain’s softness beautifully! 

@elainarcheronweek 𝓓𝓪𝔂 4 | 𝓘𝓷 𝓕𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶

“Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

Thank you ENDLESSLY to @hatchatwork for bringing this art of our favorite Kingslayer to life! The contrast between the soft femininity of Elain and her dealing the death blow to the enemy has always been one of my favorite things about her, and what I’m most excited to see explored in the next book, and you captured it perfectly in this piece 💜

🎨 art by @hatchatwork

🌸 commissioned by me

🌸 @elainarcheronweek | Prompt: In Full Bloom🌸

Elain Archeron is a character whose potential has always felt limitless. Her arc is still unfolding, and there’s a sense of quiet anticipation around her, as though we are only beginning to see the surface of what she can truly become.

Her connection to the tale of Blodeuwedd has always fascinated me: a woman born of flowers, tied to the cycles of love, betrayal, and transformation. Like Blodeuwedd, Elain’s story carries undertones of beauty entwined with destiny, but also the possibility of breaking free from what others have decided for her.

💐 Thank you @ameropupu for capturing this breathtaking imagery of Elain, soft yet powerful, delicate yet full of resilience.

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⁣⁣⁣⤞ Art by @ameropupu

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Commissioned by me

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Please do not repost without permission

⁣⁣⁣⤞ Instagram

The way many of them talk about Elain is enough to put me off completely.

It’s rarely ever: “I love Gwyn and Az together.” It’s almost always: “I hate Elain so Azriel should be with Gwyn” or “Elriel is boring” and “Elain doesn’t deserve him.”

And one thing I’ve noticed? A lot of Gwynriels who used to hate Elain or couldn’t stand her suddenly act like huge Elucien supporters. Not because they genuinely like Elain now—most of them still don’t. They just see Elucien as the most convenient way to get Elain out of the way. Some Gwynriel shippers even get terrified at the thought of Elain getting her book first. Because when Elain gets her own book (which, let’s be honest, she will), the story is going to be about her. Her voice. Her choices. Her heart. And what Gwynriels want is not a book where Elain explores her feelings and options, and chooses for herself.

What they want is a Gwynriel book first, so the narrative can go: “Elain gets dumped by Azriel, who chooses his "mate".” And then, Elain just… shrugs and runs to her own mate, quietly and conveniently. We Elriels have all heard this shit story. The story they want is one where Elain is dumped. Where she's passive and silent.

But here’s what they don’t want cause if Elain gets the book first and Elucien ends up happening (which I don't even believe will happen but I'm just trying to paint a scenario) the story would go like this: They don’t want to see Elain be the one who rejects Azriel. They don’t want to see Elain not fall apart over him. They don’t want to see Azriel be the one left behind—and then go to his "mate" cause he got rejected. Why?

Because that ruins the fantasy. The fantasy that Gwyn won't be his second option even though the whole gwynriel story sounds like a backup plan more than anything. They want Elain to be the rejected one, the one who goes to Lucien after getting dumped and getting a backbone after being rejected by Azriel. (And they say they love Elain*sideye*)

I’ve seen Elucien shippers who have genuinely cared about Elain since Day 1 say they want her to get her book first—not because they want her to “move aside,” but because they want more of her. They want her developed. Given depth. Treated as more than a plot device. Meanwhile, it’s the Gwynriels who act like Elain getting her own book is a threat.

Chapter 1: The Maiden

preview

At the far end of the ballroom—a ripple of movement.

Subtle, but enough to draw notice. Enough to hush conversation.

Heads turned. Bodies leaned. And woven through it all came a scent—faint, familiar. Fresh earth, honey, and something warmer beneath.

He found her instantly.

She wore a gown that didn’t belong to the Elain Archeron he knew. Deep, shadowed silk, cinched at the waist, the neckline daring enough to make even Hewn’s courtiers pause. Her hair was tied back, exposing the curve of her neck, her collarbones, the freckled sweep of her shoulders.

The crowd hadn’t parted, but they moved like it had. Composed and deliberate.

Mor’s eyes found him first. She nudged Elain lightly, murmured something that made her blink, then lift her gaze.

The moment her eyes met Azriel’s, her breath caught. Just a flicker. Surprise, then something cooler. Not fear. Not quite.

Interest.

Dangerous little flower.

“Az,” Mor said lightly, coming to a stop before him. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Mor.”

A beat.

“Elain.”

She lifted her chin. “Azriel.”

His name on her lips curled down his spine. He took her in again—the gown, the candlelight brushing her cheekbones, the vulnerable line of her throat where her pulse fluttered. She didn’t belong here. Not in this court. Not in that dress. Not in his line of sight, standing too calm, too poised, like she couldn’t feel the danger licking at the edges of the room.

Whatever this was—whatever game Mor was playing—it ended now.

“Take her home.”

That earned him a look from Elain. Bright. Sharp. Proud.

Mor sighed. “You’re such a joy when you’re working.”

Azriel stepped forward as the crowd around them resumed their conversation. Mor arched a brow but didn’t protest when he caught her elbow and steered her toward a shadowed alcove off the ballroom floor. His grip wasn’t rough, but it was firm—unmistakably serious.

Once they were out of earshot, Azriel rounded on her.

“What the hell are you thinking?”

“You’ll have to be more specific.”

“Elain,” he said, voice flat. “Bringing her here.”

“She’s not helpless, Azriel.”

He shook his head, sharp and disbelieving. Mor’s eyes swept over him, pausing on whatever flicker of emotion he hadn’t managed to hide. Her shoulders eased, just slightly.

“She had a vision. A female being taken. Feyre thought it might be connected to what you’re already investigating. We both did.”

Of course they had. He would’ve, too—if it had been anyone else.

“So what’s your plan? Parade her through the pit and hope something useful rattles loose?”

Mor shrugged, casual as ever. “No parading required. I was going to leave her here with you.”

His expression turned to stone. “That’s not funny.”

“I wasn’t joking.”

“You are if you think that would be in her best interests.”

Something in her face shifted—less smug, more knowing. “I know exactly what kind of male you turn into down here, Az. And you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

There it was—the raw edge of it. The dark, unspoken fear that clung to him tighter than any shadow.

What terrified him wasn’t what Hewn might do to Elain.

It was what he might do.

What the dark might draw out of him. What she might see.

“She trusts you,” Mor continued. “And I’m still royalty down here. If I stayed, all eyes would be on me. I thought someone less…” her mouth curved slightly, “distracting might be better.”

He didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because she wasn’t wrong—and that made it worse.

“What did Rhys have to say?”

“He doesn’t know.”

His jaw flexed. “Convenient.”

happy pride month babes and gays 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ starting out strong with some Gwynlain ✨️

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“But Elain… The Spring Court had been made for someone like her. … Nesta would have told Elain to visit this place.”

“She would have marveled — likely wept — at the gardens I’d become so accustomed to, at the flowers in perpetual bloom at the Spring Court.”

“Her sister’s delicate scent of jasmine and honey lingered in the red-stoned hall, like a promise of spring.”

We love Elain’s many connections to spring! We’re excited to see if her journey will eventually take her to that court, where a certain emissary is stationed…

Thank you so much to the very talented yuksiiis for creating this beautiful art of Elain. She looks so radiant here, away from the shadows and into the light. We can’t wait to see her bloom 🌸

Elain, the Seer 🌿🌸🌼

Elain is a character that carries so much mystery around her; why did she get seer powers? How is she going to develop in the next book? She seems calm and nice, but I can’t help but think that she hides incredible power. To be honest, I’m so excited to read more of her.

Done with Clip Studio Paint✏️

Art by me (don’t repost)

acomaf: ch.44