Why I think Gwenriel is endgame
These are purely my own thoughts and opinions. Please don’t take offence if you disagree with them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect everyone’s theories and ships. At the end of the day is up to Queen Maas to decide. In the meantime I enjoy reading eveones thoughts while we wait for the real thing! Hopefully not to long. 💜😊💜
There were a lot of clues and breadcrumbs in ACOSF in regard to Elain and Azriel in my opinion.
Lots have already been mentioned like her not fitting in with the night court (wearing black doesn’t suit her according to Cassian) and how much Elain would love the Spring court.
I have a theory that Lucien will become high lord of the Spring Court. I don’t know if SJM will kill off Tamlin or he’ll remain in his beast form in the wild, but I believe somehow he will no longer be a high lord and Lucien will take up the role. This fits in for Elain being high lady of the spring court, which she’d love. She could garden all day! Remember the rose garden in the spring court? She’d love it!
Azriel is ashamed of what he’s done with his hands, the scars on them and hides them from Elain but those same hands killed Gwyn’s abusers right in front of her. She understands the necessity of what Asriel has done and what he’ll continue doing. They’re both warriors and there’s no shame between them only a mutual understanding to fight for the greater good.
His shadows love Gwyn! They didn’t tell him she was training that night so he couldn’t avoid seeing her. They reach out for her and she smiles at them. They hide from Elain and Mor and I don’t think that’s a good thing. Like Azriel said to Gwyn “ I am a Shadow Singer, it’s not just a title.”
I believe it was his shadows who guided Az to give the necklace to Gwen. His conscious self gave it to Elain but his unconscious self gave it to Gwyn.
Azriel saved Gwyn from her abusers and the Males who murdered her twin. I think the trauma of that caused the mating bond between them to get affected. He refuses to see her as a potential mate because of the her assault and not wanting to add to it and Gwyn is still healing so she doesn’t realise. We know that trauma affects the mating bond, his shadows know she’s his mate even if he refuses to see it yet.
I learnt more about Az in his small bonus chapter meeting with Gwyn than I have in the whole time he’s been in ACOTAR, he sings!
Apart from the fact Rhys and Cassian are mates with the other two sisters I don’t see any other connection between Az and Elain. SJM covered that in Azriels bonus chapter, just because the other two are mates with the Archeron sisters doesn’t make him entitled to the third sister.
They’re both rebounding, Az with Mor and Elain with Greysen. They’ve both been rejected and are trying to regain some control over there lives.
We don’t know what Gwyn’s thinking when she looks at Azriel. Cassian said she kept looking at him during training but couldn’t read what she was thinking.
Gwyn isn’t apposed to romance in her life. She reads romances with Nesta and Emerie.
Azriel is very patient, he waited 500 years waiting for Mor and never pressured her. He is the perfect personality for Gwyn in my opinion he’ll wait forever for her once he realises how special she is.
Gwyn will grow past what’s happened to her. It doesn’t define her and her future. She will heal and find happiness as she deserves.
I’ve been a Elucien shipper ever since Elain came out the cauldron and Lucien declared she was his mate. He has been so patient with Elain and has never pressured her. My heart broke for him when he gave her her solstice present (pearl earrings) and she barely said a thank you.
He has had an abusive past not dissimilar to Gwyn. He has been mentally and physically abused and his wife was murdered by his family in front of him.
He also has a physical disability because Amarantha blinded him in one eye.
“In a rare moment of losing his temper, Lucien told Amarantha to, "go back to the shit-hole she'd crawled out of." As punishment for his words, Amaranatha attacked Lucien and carved out his left eye.”
A million points to Lucien for standing up to Amarantha btw!
He has also been treated badly by Tamlin and continues to stick by him and try to be his friend.
He was also assaulted by Ianthe.
After everything he’s been through I can’t see Maas rejecting the mating bond. It would be cruel to do that to someone who’s overcome so much pain and hardship. It would be the poster child for good guys finish last. If he’d pressured Elain or reacted badly because of her wariness of the bond I might see it, but he’s been the perfect gentleman.
Shipping Azriel with Elain hurts two people who have already had a lifetime of pain. I just don’t see it happening because of a few lustful looks across the dinner table. I think Elain and Azriel’s relationship is about control and the fact they both feel like they’ve lost to much in there lives.
I trust Azriel’s shadows more than I trust Azriel’s insight at the moment. His conversation which Rhys proves he’s not in a very good place and he’s not seeing thing clearly. They’re both pushing themselves towards what they think they want and ignoring what they need.
I really hope Gwyn makes a friendship bracelet for Az! Hers has teal blue for her eyes, white for the light inside her and blue the same colour as Azriel’s siphons perhaps? And what wish would she make for him?
