The way Elain rushed to make herself pretty when Azriel grabbed the potatoes.

The way Elain’s hand shakes when she hands Az his present.

The way he thinks that she glows like the sun at dawn

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 48

One part left and an epilogue to go!! 🎉 What is lifeeeee? The fact that this story is literally almost over is just insane to me. Thank you to everyone who kept up with this one. I know it's been a long, long ride. Your patience and kind words have meant the world to me. 💜

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW (minor descriptions)

Word Count: 8,481

The end is getting way too close!

Attention Throne of Glass Fandom!!!

I have compiled a masterlist of every rowaelin fic on tumblr!!!

Link Here

This may not be a completely exhaustive list, as I'm only a human, so if you notice any of yours are in the wrong spot, or are missing, or if you know of one that's not on there, please let me know!!!

The categories are a bit arbitrary, and I did my best to divide it up and categorize them based on my own knowledge of the fics, so I will completely take recommendations on adjusting things or moving things around!

And note: this is a rowaelin list only, so anything that features another couple as the main couple or doesn't have rowaelin as the only main couple, I didn't include it, simply so that I could keep the lines clear and make this just a rowaelin list.

I'm going to be tinkering with it over the next few days, as it's really late here and I know already that I've messed some things up, but I'm tired lol, this took me a really damn long time.

I just know tumblr can be difficult to navigate sometimes and I wanted to create a resource that was easy for people to find new fics and new writers, and just try to expand the fandom a little more!!!

Let me know if you have any questions!

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 47

Hello my lovelies. 😍 The next part is here. Only 2 more and an epilogue to go!! 🎉

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW (minor descriptions)

Word Count: 6,988

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 46

Sorry all, the last week got a way from me. But here is the next part of IDBTWY as we count down to the finish. Can't believe we're almost there. 🥺🌸💙

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW (minor descriptions)

Word Count: 5,177

I Burn for You {Masterlist//Elriel}

A sequel to The Viscount Who Loved Me (although, this fic will still make sense if you haven't read it!).

Summary: After Azriel gets back from six months of travelling Prythian with Gwyn, he can't decide if he wants to continue to be a member of the ton. Although he's remained in high society because of his late mother, getting a taste of what it's like to live freely has given him a newfound sense of joy. The only issue is that he's still in love with the Lady Elain, and she deserves a true gentleman. Two different lives, two different women, and far too many choices must be made as the social season begins again.

Teaser Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10

Template by @/shinkxart

"I want what's best for Elain"

No y'all don't 😭 Quit saying that when in the same breath you say she's a fictional character and you don't have to respect what she wants.

Yes, she is a fictional character. We're all arguing about fictional characters here, we know that.

How can you say she's "just a fictional character" yet you claim to know what's best for her then? How do you know that? And yes, you can say it's your opinion. But if you're saying it's your opinion, then SAY THAT. Don't say "this is what's best for her according to what Cassian said, according to what Feyre said, according to what SJM 'forshadowed' about sunlight"

The only way we can gain insight into what a fictional character thinks/feels/wants is through their actions and words - if we don't have a POV from them.

According to Elain's own actions and words, she feels like she belongs in the NC. She has made friends here. She has shown desire for Azriel (And no, you can't argue this unless y'all are just walking around getting aroused for random people 🤨🤨) like not trying to be crass, but it was clear ELAIN wanted that almost kiss with Azriel on Solstice.

And yes, she is a fictional character. So why would I sit here thinking "Oh I know what's best for her" when her desires and feelings have been made clear already?

She avoids her mate. She doesn't avoid Azriel.

She is mending the relationship with her sisters. She is making friends in the NC. She is ready to train her powers.

And yet all that development, everything she has been doing and saying - all that is absolutely irrelevant when Cassian says she looks bad in black? When Feyre says she would like spring court because the flowers? The fandom is doing exactly what the characters are doing to Elain - ignoring her own actions and words and desires in favor of what suits their perception of her and narrative more.

Once again, antis are claiming to "want what's best for Elain" when they are ignoring that Elain has shown exactly she wants already.

She was literally raised by Mama Archeron to be a pretty little doll trophy. And that's exactly the plot/future Eluciens have planned for her when they say they want her to mingle in balls with Lucien and "be a diplomat". She's tired of being the meek pretty one! Is that so hard to understand? She is more than just a trophy!

You can't pick and choose what to respect out of SJMs writing. What to regard as reliable narration and unreliable commentary. What moments to keep and what moments to stubbornly ignore.

Read the books as they are. There's no need to read between the lines when the text tells you exactly what you need to know.

“The fandom is doing exactly what the characters are doing to Elain - ignoring her own actions and words and desires in favor of what suits their perception of her and narrative more.” <- this part right here 🗣️🗣️🗣️

I Do Bad Things with You - Part 44

This part fought me at every corner, but I said screw it. Let's post and move on. 😅 It's crazy to think there are only 5 more parts left and an epilogue. The end of an era is arriving soon. I'm excited though, to have this one finished because I've got a lot of other goodies in the works right now. Stay tuned!

My fanfic account: @tswaney17fics​​​

My ao3 account: tswaney17

Please let me know what you think about this update. I love getting your feedback. Constructive criticism is always welcome. 💕

Catch up here.

Credit to @featherymalignancy for Cassian’s nickname, Cash. 😘

Trigger warnings: violence, sexual assault , language, NSFW

Word Count: 5,852

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A Match Baked In Heaven

fun fact about this chapter: I had no plans to write this fanfic at all. It wasn't something that I had thought about or nurtured. All I wanted was to write a scene where Azriel baked Elain an ugly birthday cake that collapsed in the middle. That's it. That was the scene that I really needed to get out. Somehow, and I am still unsure how, this whole fic was born kind of around this one simple scene. Well, here it is. The scene that started it all. Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter XIII

I’ll Be Your Man

Elain’s birthday was on a cold, blustery day, as it happened to be most years. At least Feyre’s birthday was on the Winter Solstice, so there was something special about the day. The longest night of the year. It was mystical and mysterious. There were Druids and Stonehenge rituals.

Elain’s birthday was uninteresting. No one cared about December 23rd.

No one, not one person, especially when everyone was reeling from Feyre and Rhysand surprise wedding, cared about Elain’s 28th birthday. Piglet might have cared, if he knew about it. But he didn’t, so that left the one and only person who gave a shit–Azriel. 

Azriel was secretive, but adamant. He told her that they would be celebrating and that she was to come to his flat. Finally! Took long enough. He virtually moved in with her, and yet here she was, going to his place for the very first time. She was curious about how and where he lived. Canary Wharf wasn’t a place that she went to frequently–it was beautiful, spotless and soulless. Like the most perfect version of NYC. There were shiny skyscrapers, brilliantly green lawns, vividly blue water, a glittery mall, and none of it was Elain’s cuppa, because while there, you wouldn’t even know you were still in London. But it seemed like the perfect spot for a wealthy bachelor who spent a lot of time on the road and had more money than he had sense.

Elain dressed warmly and without fanfare because Azriel didn’t tell her to bring anything special and besides, she was feeling…out of sorts. She was restless, which was another word for ‘envious’. But she wasn’t envious! Of course not. She wasn’t envious of Feyre, who was MARRIED!!!! To Rhysand. It was something that Elain still couldn’t wrap her mind around. Feyre. Married. After 16 hours of knowing her now husband. Elain wasn’t envious. She wasn’t like Feyre, and she wouldn’t be able to take such a drastic step anyway. Not after 16 hours. Probably not even now. Though, she had to admit, when Azriel dropped to his knee before her, she felt…joy. Terror. But also joy. Mostly disbelief and happiness. But it was just a little game. Nothing more. That’s what people did with her–they played games. 

She put a puffer coat and a bear hat on Piglet and off they went to the Tube station. He didn’t like the cold and attempted to turn back, but she tugged on his lead, making him walk.

“Don’t even start with me today!” she warned and he pouted, but ended up walking.

She was kind of in a bad mood, she supposed.

Ahhh this was so great as always!

I live for the little Piglet POV snippets.

And I love that As is a secret Christmas addict.

I adored how perfect he made everything for her birthday. And I’m very much looking forward to the second present in the next chapter 🥵

thank you! Piglet's POVs are fun. You never know what's going on in that head of his.

Azriel feels like Xma addict. Exuberant decorations, blaring Xmas music, crying (in secret) over Xmas movies.

Wonder why everyone is so interested in the 2nd present........hmmmmm

this artwork was commissioned by @fairyloot character is Danika from the Crescent City book series by @sjmaas hope you all will like it xoxo

Detours to You - 20

Hello all,

Here I am with another chapter. This is a bit angsty but I swear it's the only one. There is a big disaster that I hope it make sense. Since I finished ALB I am not used anymore to write these epic scenes with big disasters. So yeah, I hope it makes sense.

Enjoy.

MASTERLIST

Rowan jumped in the car and started driving to the destination, sirens and blue lights blazing.

He heard the address over the radio and his heart sank. It was a factory fire. A place that he had been inspecting on a regular basis recently because on his first visit he had spotted so many health and safety infractions that it was a miracle the place was still open. He had pushed for changes and improvements but there had been so many red tapes from the big bosses that it was frustrating. All his connections had not been enough to help prevent what he had labelled in his reports as a disaster waiting to happen. And now, while rushing to that site he had a feeling that the worst case scenario had happened and that once again money and politics had placed the lives of his firefighters in danger.

Instead of spending time with his girls, Rowan was driving towards a five alarm fire.

Elain is not leaving the night court. The answer is in HOFAS.

Big spoilers

the color…leeched the brightness from her face.

It sucked the life from her.

Interesting that this sounds exactly like what the Asteri did to the natural, pure magic of the land.

They leeched the brightness from it.

They sucked the life from it.

Until it was barren.

Yes yes yes!!

And the magic (or beings or forces) keeping that land barren is what is sucking the life out of Elain here. She is vulnerable to that magic.

But she will be the one to bring the life back to that land.

Reblogging to add a question:

What is it about Elain and/or her magic that makes her particularly vulnerable to whatever is draining the life from the CoN and presumably the other barren/dead pockets of Prythian?

And how will this affect her ability to heal the land? Will it allow her to pinpoint these spots and discover the source of death? Will she need an opposing force, some kind of anchor, to help her and prevent her from falling prey to these forces? Like, maybe, Az and whatever darkness is the source of his powers?

Ok ok SORRY but reblogging to add a link to @offtorivendell’s post about this theory from AUGUST 3, 2021 (that’s right—2.5 years ago!!) because she’s a freaking prophet and saw then what we all know now about the black dress quote!

Close reading for the win.

So I haven't finished HOFAS yet (I know, I know 🐢) but I'm up to chapter 63, so I can take a stab at what you're discussing thanks to @silverlinedeyes' latest reblog lol. And all I'll say is this. Elain may have looked drained in the Hewn City, but at least she wasn't whining about it like Flynn was. Not saying that Flynn is weak, of course, but Elain is STRONG.

Crack Theory: Elain is a Singer

Ok, bear with me on this one. It’s a bit of a stretch. But I have a crack theory that Elain is going to be a capital-S singer. And by that, I don’t mean like a glee club singer, but like a shadowsinger or lightsinger, but more—almost like an omni-singer lol. I think Elain can sing to or call to a lot of different things—shadows, people, spirits, animals, even life and death maybe?

In ACOMAF, Feyre describes Elain like this:

This line seems innocuous, but what if Sarah is hinting about more to Elain here? What if Elain can actually convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles? What if she can exert some control over people if she puts her mind to it?

Then we have the prophecy from the book of breathings:

What if the “sing me” is hinting at Elain’s powers here? And what if the “rot and bloom and bones” is referring to Elain’s ability to call to life and death and the spirits (since bones are used for scrying)?

And finally, in ACOWAR, Elain steps out of a shadow to kill Hybern:

This is exactly how Azriel is described only 11 chapters earlier when the Cauldron comes to steal Elain:

How was Elain able to step out of a shadow? Did Elain sing to or control the shadows like Azriel does?

If Elain does have some sort of ability to call to or control certain elements or things like Azriel, then I think it could make her an integral part of not only the search for the Fourth Trove obviously, but also in the quest to defeat Koschei, since she could help search for his mortality.

This theory also supports the spy elain theory obviously, since Elain could use her powers to get information out of people, to infiltrate enemy territories, to use the shadows to disguise herself, etc.

If correct, Azriel will obviously need to train Elain to learn to use the singing power, and to learn how to speak to and control the elements (and in turn how not to).

And finally, calling to the spirits could be very interesting. Could Elain learn information from the Fae warrior who trapped Koschei? And could Elain communicate with the spirits trapped in the stone in the prison?

All this aside, I think Sarah has clearly hinted that there is more to Elain’s powers than we know, and that Elain is going to be quite quite powerful.

For example, Elain is able to find the Suriel without scrying.

And there are hints about what the scope of Elain’s powers might be in ACOSF, and that they’re unknown:

...

I’m really excited to learn more about Elain’s powers in the next book.

Firstly, I'm not sure how I never reblogged this amazing post, so I'm sorry! The implications of what you've discussed would be interesting to read/see played out over the rest of the series.

I agree that Elain could be some sort of "capital S" Singer, and assuming Elriel is endgame, it makes sense, and sort of fits with my headcanon/crack theory that the three brothers and three sisters, with powers to match, are all carranam, of a sort, in addition to them potentially ending up with complementary jobs.

I plan to write a whole theory on this, but in case I never do (too many ideas, not enough time lol), here is some of it:

Feysand

Nessian

Elriel

So, all of this was a really long-winded way of saying that I think the idea of Elain being some sort of Lifesinger, or Omni-singer as you suggested, is definitely plausible and would fit with both the imagery and plot of the series so far. I would absolutely love to see it become canon.

Can’t wait for Elain to be a lifesinger and use those powers to bring the various barren spots of Prythian back to life 🌸

The song of the land beneath her.

hello!

just a gwynriel trying to get a better understanding of how elriels view their ship. i am not for the tearing down of each other (as actual real live human beings) or for the tearing down of the females involved in this ship war (a good amount of us ARE women, let's not tear down these women). when i first started reading acotar, like any other, i really shipped elriel. even when, acosf came out, i still shipped elriel. it wasn't until that bonus chapter that i began to interpret the text a little differently. i started to see that Azriel was completely obsessed with Mor all throughout ACOMAF. That's non-negotiable I would say. And then ACOWAR happened. And yes, Azriel did say he was going to save Elain from the Hybern camp. But that was only after Mor once again let him know that she wasn't interested in him and slept with Helion after he defended her against Eris' rude comment. He only mentioned after Cassian mentioned it first. He only gave Truth Teller to Elain after Elain said no to Cassian's offer first. Now, we go to ACOFAS. Yes, Azriel offered to take her steamed potatoes from her AND THEN, proceeded to look at her with pity and sorrow in that same dinner. Only for two days later to look at Mor with lust and longing after at the same home. Then ACOSF came, and Gwynriel theories with it.

Now, my thing is, Elain may have been infatuated with Azriel. Elain herself may have reacted genuinely to everything Azriel did. That doesn't mean Azriel felt organic and genuine feelings back. The way I see it, Az is trying to move on from Mor by using Elain as a buffer, and Elain her very self may be looking at Az as a buffer for Greyson and Lucien both. Mind you, at the very same dinner where Azriel took the pot from her hand, Elain was questioning Amren about her body and subtly/subconciously asking Amren about the possibility of changing her body back to human. Until Amren called her out. In that same day, Elain boldly told Feyre, she didn't want a male she wanted a man. IE, my interpretation, she wanted Greyson.

That's how I began to see the Elriel ship after the BC. My question is, as an old Elriel (i still really love that ship would read their book if it came out 100%) how does the rest of the community read the bonus chapter and doesn't even begin to question? not even a little?

NGL, reading Gwynriel fanfic has also made me a little biased bc the way they write is so beautiful and a lot of the themes they decide to write on feel so right for both the healing of Azriel and Gwyn.

IDK, I am genuinely curious and asking. This is no disrespect to either ship, I am just genuinely curious as to what your reasoning behind the ship is. Is it more of an author level? The way she writes and leaves comparisons of certain things up for debate? Or is it more of a cannon text thing where what the character says and experiences is the truth.

Thank you to anyone who responds or is willing to share their thoughts in a respectful manner. I love both ships and to all the other artist who share their love for each ship through their medium - thank you for creating such beautiful masterpieces for everyday people to indulge on.

This seems genuine, so I’ll give it a go!

A lot of your reasonings for shipping gwynriel over Elriel dismiss a good amount of canon and are looked at through the lens of Az not actually being interested in her. Let’s look at what the text is showing us

-Az spends time in the garden with her, volunteering multiple times to take her out there. He’s not really one to seek out quality time with someone, so this is significant

-Majda says only a mate will know what’s wrong with Elain, and he figures out she’s a seer. Even before that, when everyone else was tiptoeing around her visions, he kept asking her what she saw, what she heard. Taking her seriously and not dismissing it as her having gone mad. He sees her.

-Cassian and Az both going still at the sight of the sisters. We know why Cassian had that reaction, so what was the reason for Az?

-Then we have a pretty big moment where Feyre questions why the cauldron didn’t make Elriel mates and in the same convo we learn that mating bonds are something’s wrong and the couples separate.

-The rescue. Cassian wasn’t offering to go get Elain, he was reassuring Nesta that she would be rescued. And even if he was the one offering to get it, that doesn’t matter. Bc azriel was the one that went, the one that risked his life. He put himself and his HL at risk right before a battle that could have catastrophic consequences if they lost. Yet, he was willing to make that risk for Elain. He was even the one who realized she was gone. And if you read the scene, we get next to nothing from it in terms of plot. It didn’t NEED to happen, but SJM wanted us to read it. Why?

-Truth Teller. That is probably one of the most important scenes from that book. Why? Bc of everything it signifies. Elriel having a bridge of connection, Az trusting her with someone he hasn’t even let Rhys, Cassian, or Mor touch, further weakening himself to protect her, trusting her. And those are just the romantic bits, there’s still everything it signifies about Elain, her powers, and her arc.

-We find out that Az isn’t spying on Lucien bc he doesn’t want to see if him and Elain spend time together. Why?

-We also see Az get flustered and ask Rhys about getting solstice gifts for Elain and Nesta. Is that bc he wants to get Elain something but isn’t sure how that will be received?

-We see him staring out the windows towards the garden for an entire convo with Rhys and Cass where it’s noted multiple times he’s looking down at the garden. Why would that be brought to our attention so many times?

-We have him taking the potatoes from Elain and making the table wait for her return before eating, showing once again that he sees her, and that he respects her and wants others to show her the respect she deserves.

-Him looking at her with pity and sorrow when she’s bringing up her trauma isn’t a bad thing. It shows that he has an emotional reaction to her pain.

-Az beats Feyre to the window to wish Elain a happy Solstice. Again, why? What is SJM wanting us to see?

-Elain’s gift to Azriel provides us with one of the purest, most genuinely happy reactions we have ever seen from Az. And shows that she sees him, just as he sees her.

-We see that Az and Elain are sitting up together at 3am talking about Elain’s gardening plans, again, why are we seeing that?

-Az getting very upset at the thought of something happening to Elain when Cassian brings up something happened with her and Nesta. So much so that even Cassian is wondering what’s going on with him

-We see that he is over Mor. So him looking at her with lust and longing doesn’t bother me bc as him and Elain got closer, his feelings for Mor went away.

-We see Elain blush at his smile towards her

-We see Az protective of her on multiple occasion: worried about the effect the troves may have on her, having his eyes on the ready to keep Elain protected, his shadows go to protect Elain when Nesta is being cruel.

-It’s brought up on 3 different occasions that Az risked his life to rescue Elain, so obviously that’s important and something SJM wants in our minds

-They share a charged look after be follows the sound of her laughter

-Nesta sees how much pain Az is in over Elain having a mating bond with Lucien.

Then the bonus shows us he’s been actively staying away from the river house, keeping himself away from family dinners bc he’s at the point where he wants to be with Elain so badly, he’s worried he won’t be able to be in her presence without messing something up. He is well aware that Lucien is still her mate.

The bonus shows that they can both read each other without words, that they have shared the brushing of fingers and stollen glances, he gets her the most beautiful, most elain coded necklace showing that he put so much thought into her gift. He questions fate for her, acknowledges that her and her mate aren’t right together.

What part of any of this just seems like a rebound or just lust?

Then the Gwyn portion of the bonus is so suspicious and has to many parallels to odd things happening around her in the book. If you’re unfamiliar with the Lightsinger theory, I’d be happy to link you to some posts!

SJM has been showing us for multiple books that there’s something between Az and Elain that we should be paying attention to. That it’s progressed to a point where we are ready for their love story. And why wouldn’t we be? Romances aren’t supposed to be random. A gwynriel book would be random. And Elriel book is what Sarah has been setting up.

Canon shows us, quite clearly, that Elriel is the next couple. Both from a romance and plot set up.

I think that @cassianfanclub made enough great point so there is no need to repeat them, but I also think that some of the initial statements are highly assumptive.

this for example:

i started to see that Azriel was completely obsessed with Mor all throughout ACOMAF. That's non-negotiable I would say.

In what way was it ever shown that he was completely obsessed with Mor? We heard it from Rhys. Who passed it on to Feyre. Feyre then assumed that was she was seeing was love/obsession on Azriel's part (perfect example of confirmation bias). But, how was it ever expressed? However, later on, in the very same Bonus that everyone likes to discuss, Rhys clearly makes a very incorrect assumption. That Az is still into Mor. Az ignores the question about Mor. So who is right? Do we trust Rhys's opinion, considering he's been out of the loop for half a century and made a conscious decision not to dig too deeply into the Moriel + Cassian relationship to begin with?

Furthermore, we can argue that Cassian was in fact a lot more obsessed with Mor than Azriel ever was. Even in ACOSF, Cassian is still admiring Mor's beauty. Back in ACOWAR, it was Cassain who basically took Mor's side against Nesta. Even in the episode when Nesta was bandaging his hand after the battle and Mor came and snapped at her, he said nothing. Yet, in ACOSF, when Nesta insulted Elain, Azriel's shadows reacted like snakes, ready to strike.

Azriel clearly doesn't like when women are insulted. All women. When he attacked Eris, it wasn't because he was madly in love with Mor, but because Mor was called a slut. He threatened Tamlin, a High Lord, when Tamlin insulted Feyre. Then later in ACOSF, Nesta herself stated that Azriel was the only one who never judged her, insulted her or treated her with any kind of disdain, no matter what.

The other assumption

Now, my thing is, Elain may have been infatuated with Azriel. Elain herself may have reacted genuinely to everything Azriel did. That doesn't mean Azriel felt organic and genuine feelings back. The way I see it, Az is trying to move on from Mor by using Elain as a buffer, and Elain her very self may be looking at Az as a buffer for Greyson and Lucien both.

I guess what indication do we have that it's just an infatuation on Elain's part? She is not throwing herself at Azriel, but has been displaying gentle signs of affection since, at least the last Solstice. Why does Elain need a buffer? Graysen rejected her. But Lucien is here, good and ready to go! Why does she need Azriel in this situation at all?

To say that Azriel is also infatuated with her and is using her as a buffer, is also incorrect. Azriel is not 'faithful' to Mor. Hasn't been for hundreds of years. What's most damning about the who 'Az loved Mor for 500 years' is that Az was having sex with others 2 years after the situation with Mor. He didn't sit and wait for her to change her mind. He didn't deny himself lovers. He's had numerous throughout the years. So why does he need Elain to use as a buffer? What is he buffering exactly? It's not like he is thinking, oh wow, this is the year Mor will say 'yes'! to me.

Wonderful points by @nikethestatue and @cassianfanclub. Adding a bit on.

There are certainly a multitude of very overt points that @cassianfanclub made mention of, but there are also a lot of very subtle nods as well.

The very first dinner when the 3 brothers and 3 sisters had a meal together, we saw subtle chemistry and comfort between Elain and Az. Elain looks to Az for comfort when she is frightened. This winged, cold man of terrors offering her a soft smile that puts her visibly at ease. Elain asks him about flying and Azriel launches into a poetic explanation of it. Azriel: the guy who is easily annoyed and gets headaches dealing with others. Azriel who answers “yes” and “no” and very direct, succinct responses gave Elain one of the longest answers I’ve seen him provide to anybody. I’m not sure he’s ever spoken so much at one time in the books tbh lol.

Then you have Feyre mentioning what a handsome pair azriel and elain would be. How they would cling to each other for peace and quiet (and then we see that— as discussed above).

You have pointed comments about how Az makes time for essentially nothing beyond training and work. Then what do we see…Az staying up into early morning hours listening to garden plans. Garden plans? Feyre muses she has no idea if he even cares about it, which strongly hints that he likely doesn’t but he’s staying up…for her. Thats not just lust. Thats genuine care.

Elain flies with Azriel and winnows with him. She calls his hands/siphon beautiful. Pointedly doesn’t balk at him. He escorts her out into the garden- graceful as any courtier.

Azriel rarely smiles. Rarely touches anybody. I think the only time we see him touch anybody except Elain (who he offers his hand and arm to multiple times) is Feyre when he asks to touch her wings during training. Otherwise we see that cold face smile almost exclusively and softly for…Elain

And then there’s Rosehall. ROSEhall. ROSEhall where his mother presumably lives. Roses are so strongly connected to Elain. To represent her.

There’s both Az and Elain defending tradition and holidays to Feyre and Nesta, respectively. Both thoughtful and matched gift-givers. Books and a reading light. Paints and paintbrushes.

We leave Elain and Az in ACOSF both holding Nyx. The future.

We see a shadowsinger who can hear and feel things others cannot and a seer who can see things others cannot.

We see a woman who has a hard time asserting herself, who has been stifled by others and a man who has been cast aside and has not been chosen.

We have 3 brothers and 3 sisters. 3 mountains. 3 stars. 3 female friend groups for the sisters. 3 sister peaks. 3 trove items. 3 death Gods, etc etc. 3 sisters blessed by fate with powers to match Rhys, the most powerful HL in history and his 2 brothers who are the most powerful Illyrians in history. A rare shadowsinger. A rare seer.

You have blooming spring and death facing one another with the bridge of connection being a knife. Poetry.

Elain stepping out of a shadow, snarling and stabbing the king through the throat with the shadowsinger’s knife.

Elain being paralleled with Azriel multiple times: shadows, secret-keeping, stealth.

I appreciate OP’s curiosity, which seems genuine. Glad we can have peaceful conversations.

To most Elriels, it feels very obvious that Elriel is happening given all of the canon pairings and scenes. They like each other. They know each other. They enjoy each other’s company. And they want each other sexually. Seems very obvious to me.

@cassianfanclub, @nikethestatue and @psychologynerd have covered basically everything I could think to mention in support of Elriel off the top of my head, so this is just a little bonus thought as to why I love the idea of them, beyond how I think their powers align and will set up for their (hypothetical) future plot: the garden scene, where Azriel was sunning his wings in front of Elain.

We know from Rhys and Cassian that they value their wings highly, that they are a sign of power and pride, but also a potential weakness - I assume Azriel is no different. So not only does the garden scene highlight to me that Azriel cares for Elain's wellbeing (most likely as a friend at that point), it tells me that he is comfortable enough with her to open up, both literally and figuratively. He not only made himself very vulnerable in front of her, but also was low-key peacocking, whether intentionally or not. This is the same Azriel who can be so tightly wound amongst others, even his chosen family; who wouldn't touch Feyre's wings without permission (as opposed to Cassian, who casually bumped her with his). And Elain - who Feyre said would cling to Azriel for some peace and quiet - appears to be a source of calm for him. That is huge, imo.

And after Azriel hurt her on Winter Solstice - She opened her eyes, hurt and confusion warring there - I can't see them reconciling and regaining their friendship if Azriel moved on to anyone else first. He didn't treat her as cruelly as Graysen did, but he called her a mistake (and needs to apologise, don't get me wrong). And if Elain found out it was because of Rhys, and she lost her chance with the guy she wanted? There would always be a massive what if hanging over their heads, and I'd struggle to believe that Elain truly chose her endgame.

lives were changed