I just realized that I made you love Gwynriel in some way even before the book’s official release and I can’t help but patting on my back ‘CAUSE I DID GOD’S WORK. THEY DESERVE THE HYPE.
And I’m happy you loved them.
(Also, THANK YOU FOR STILL LOVING THAT PLAYLIST. IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY)
a/n: Based on a fanart by Lucielart, commissioned by @booknerd87 on tumblr. Part of her “A Picture and the Story Behind” collection. Happy Birthday, lovely!
The cool of the blade spread across his skin. It was pressed hard enough to be felt, but not so hard it would leave a mark.
Az almost wished it would.
“Do you yield, Shadowsinger?”
He couldn’t help but flash a half-smile to the redhead. “I never yield, Berdara.” She pressed the flat side of the blade harder against his neck, bringing her body nearer to his.
This close, he was overtaken by water lilies and a river rushing through the forest. The scent so strong, he felt as if they’d been transported to a clearing by a small brook.
“Cassian says otherwise,” Gwyn challenged, not easing up on her hold of Az.
“Cassian says a lot of things."
Her lips twitched upward, as if she wanted to laugh in agreement but wouldn’t let herself. "He also says there’s no dishonor in yielding to the better fighter.”
“Yeah,” Az chuckled. “I’ll believe him when I see him yield.”
Adding more pressure to the blade, Gwyn watched Az carefully, her eyes scanning his face, looking for something. Likely insight into what he’d do next.
He lifted his hands and rested them on hers, wrapping them around her fingers and the dagger’s hilt. His callouses wouldn’t let him appreciate the smooth backside of her hand, but they didn’t stop the tingling sensation that buzzed up his arms from the point of contact. “A knife to the neck is a good power play, but if you’ve left both of your opponent’s arms free, they’ve got far more room to fight back, even if you do have their legs pinned.” His shadows danced up his wrists until they were swirling around their joined hands.
Swimming in deep pools of teal, Az couldn’t look away from her eyes as he pushed the dagger away from him. Gwyn attempted to hold it where it was, but he was stronger. And once it was far enough from his skin, he managed to wrangle it out of her hand. The metal clanged against the floor of the training ring, the sound drawing Gwyn’s gaze away for a minute.
His shadows retreated slightly, back to their perch on his shoulders, watching Gwyn. Marking every tiny move in case Azriel missed one.
He never did.
“I guess I still need more lessons,” Gwyn breathed, slowly looking back toward Az. His hands were still holding hers. She didn’t pull away.
“Whenever you want, Priestess.” Az could feel his chest expanding and contracting with each breath he took. Gwyn was so close to him, her eyes bright and contemplative. A faint blush spread across her cheeks. He wanted nothing more than to lift a hand and brush the color softly. But he dare not.
Gwyn had recently become more comfortable with his touch. Letting him direct and guide her, to take her hand when necessary. All for teaching purposes. Their touches were no more than a mentor helping a student learn a proper stance or move. That’s all they could be. It didn’t matter how much more they might mean to Az, how much more he wanted. Gwyn’s comfort came first.
Still, this close, it would be so easy to lean in. To just ghost his lips across hers, to chance a quick taste, knowing it would likely be his only one.
Azriel would never disrespect Gwyn like that. It was just a dream, another fantasy. That’s all he was ever granted: fantasies. He tried to shut them off, to keep his mind occupied with other thoughts. Consciously, he refused to think about Gwyn in that way. But in his dreams, on the nights he actually managed to sleep, there was no stopping them.
Picture after picture of a possible life flooded his mind. Picnics by the Sidra. Getting a small house together. Private game nights at the House. Spying together on various missions. Stolen kisses in the garden. Secret moments in hidden alcoves that only the House would witness.
He would wake smiling every time they came. And it would quickly fade when he remembered it was a dream he’d never have.
Gwyn’s eyes flicked down to the hands that were still holding hers.
Idiot. This touch was far beyond that of a teacher helping a student.
He moved to slide his hands away, but she turned her palm and linked her fingers with one of them as the other fell away.
It was as if his entire body had expanded, only so that he could feel even more hollow. And yet, it was warm and welcome, and entirely daunting.
He swallowed as she locked her stare with his again.
Everything was pounding. Everything was silent as a grave.
Gwyn leaned in slightly, her movement slow, cautious. Az was frozen in place. And even if he could move, he wouldn’t. He didn’t know what was going through Gwyn’s mind. What she was thinking or doing. But whatever it was, he would give her the control. He would always give her the control in such a close proximity. Whenever she wanted it.
She stilled, her face a few inches from his, her breathing as heavy and ragged as his had become.
“Az,” she whispered, her eyes flicking between his and his mouth. In five hundred years, his self-control had never been so tested as it was in that moment. He was practically shaking with restraint, only he couldn’t do that either. Not as Gwyn sat on top of him, able to feel his every heartbeat.
Drums started to sound in his distant corners, announcing an army that would march through his entire body. He could feel the vibrations of the footsteps in the depths of his chest.
Gwyn’s eyes never left his. They held his stare and wouldn’t let it go. Not that Az wanted them, too. No, he would gladly stare into that sea of teal all day if Gwyn would let him.
He felt a nudge at the back of his head, something cool and not entirely corporeal. One of his shadows, pushing him closer.
Az let it, bringing his face closer to Gwyn’s. From this distance he could easily find shapes and images in the freckles across her nose and cheeks, like constellations in the stars. His hand lifted slowly, his fingers brushing through her hair and pushing it out of her face.
Images from his dreams flashed across his mind, more determined than ever before. He attempted to shut them down, to quell the hope that was building.
“Gwyn?” he breathed, barely making a sound. Something was on her mind. He could see it in her stare, in the tension in her lips.
The corners of her mouth ticked upward and then she was leaning in again.
His shadows began to swirl around them, shrouding them, as if trying to offer some privacy. As if that were possible at the House in any sense. Especially out in the open in the training ring.
Az couldn’t breath as Gwyn inched closer. He’d dreamed of her getting this close for months. Of her smile and lips, her laugh, her bright eyes. And now it was happening. She leaned her face into his hand, even as she moved toward him, tilting her head.
It was her choice. He stayed still to ensure it remained that way, but Cauldron did he want this, for her lips to reach his, to brush them, press against them.
“Don’t even think about it!"
The cry sounded through the air, making Az’s shadows retreat as Gwyn jolted away.
"Don’t think about what?” a deeper voice chuckled.
Az groaned as he recognized the voices. As he heard the footsteps on the stairs coming from the House to the ring.
Gwyn stood, straightening herself. Az followed her lead, moving slower than her as he mentally cursed his brother. Cassian would find a way to chase Nesta up to the ring at the worst possible moment.
Az held out the dagger to Gwyn. She accepted it and muttered, “Thanks, again. For the lesson and…yeah."
He nodded and watched as Gwyn put the dagger back in its place and then rushed through the door just as Nesta and Cassian got there. His eyes remained on the emptying stairwell behind the two idiots who were now staring at him with shit eating grins.
"Did we walk in on something, brother?” Cassian wondered, his words full of amusement.
Az rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. “Dagger lessons.” He shot a quick glare at Cassian and then spread his wings, taking off for a much needed flight to expel some pent-up energy.
The small things. The cute things. The mutual respect and trust. The utter vulnerability that will have to be shown on both sides. They would not take things fast bc of Gwyns r*pe. And Azriel has years of trauma he’s kept inside of himself, tearing him down.
I’d LOVE to see them actually spill their guts to one another and end up cuddling as they wipe each other tears. Gwyn would trace the scars on his hands and remind him how strong he is and how happy she is that they found one another. That his physical scars make him a survivor and a warrior, like her emotional ones drove her to be. That they are -beautiful- to her. They would continue to cry together, but this time happier tears.
They would continue working on their past issues as a couple, going slow with gentle touches and kisses, words of encouragement and daily affirmations. They would build that trust and love until it’s so potent Gwyn is seriously -ready- for the next step, and Azriel finally realizes he is deserving of love; of -her- love.
He would be completely tender and almost scared of touching her bare skin, afraid of causing her PTSD. But Gwyn would then pull him close and remind him that he’s the one who saved her. She would tell him that with him is where she feels safest. She would kiss his forehead and cheeks and then lips before gazing into his eyes and reminding him that she trusts him with every piece of her.
And then they would make slow, tender love, Azriel making sure she was totally comfortable with everywhere he touches and doting on her completely. Gwyn would return the favor and sing softly to him in the afterglow, her body glowing (both figuratively and literally) as she sings, and his shadows fluttering about in the notes escaping her lips. The perfect scene of true love between mates.
Then they would move to the washroom for a bath and Gwyn would take off the enchanted (ring, necklace, jewel) that keeps her from changing into her nymph form in water. She would reveal that nymph (mermaid) form to him, her teal scaled tail glimmering and her tiny, pale glimmering scales on the rest of her skin sparkling like glitter. Azriel would stare, his eyes full of love for this female, amazed by the beauty she carries in both forms.
He would stroke her tail (earning a shiver, kinda like his wings) and scales lovingly and kiss her, telling her how beautiful she is in either form. Gwyn would then re-enchant herself and turn back to her womanly form, and Azriel would get in the tub with her, laying back as he holds her close. Unable to express the pure love they both feel, they’d both begin singing, the perfect duet of soprano and alto, light and shadow; a song of lovers that had waited so long to feel whole again, and now are whole as one.
Rhys: I won the Blood Rite. But Cassian had to carry me the last bit.
Gwyn: Me too.
Rhys: My sister was decapitated and I had to see the traumatic remains.
Gwyn: Me too.
Rhys: I underwent devastating sexual assault.
Gwyn: Me too.
Rhys: I’m a halfbreed.
Gwyn: Me too.
Rhys: We have a lot in common.
Gwyn: We do.
Rhys: So why do Elriels insist on protecting you from sexual intimacy, call out how you aren’t a real Carynthian and ridicule your roots but not me?
Gwyn: That would be because I’m a rival love interest for Azriel and they have to tear apart my character to invalidate my relevance and keep their sinking ship afloat.
This art has been done for a while and was originally meant for a personal project one of my friends is doing from April to June where you pair an art with a story (hence why it is clearly depicting a scene that should be in the middle of a writing piece), however we decided against it when we realized it could look like we’re infringing on another fandom even currently taking place.
Either way, I am blow away by how amazing this art looks! When I first imagined Gwyn saving Azriel in the middle of battle I was reluctant to commission the idea because it was rather specific, but everything from the pegasus, the expressions, to the background are so gorgeous and I’m beyond happy with how the final product came out!
A huge thanks to @mostwantedpotato404 for taking on this commission and bringing it to life!
Gwynriel PDA includes Gwyn running into Azriel’s office after training and rubbing her sweaty face all over his. While he goes “Mmmrf, you’re an animal” and blushes furiously.
The onyx-haired executive lifted the elastic band in his fingers as his girlfriend popped into the kitchen, stopping her mid-ask.
“Where did you find it?” Gwyn squealed, grabbing for the hair tie. But Azriel swiftly snatched it out of her reach with a teasing grin.
“Where did I find it? Gwyn, love, you leave them everywhere.”
The freckles on her nose crinkled. “I do no such thing,” she pouted. He chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to the tip of that adorable little nose. He loved that this was his life now, the beautiful redhead he’d pined after for the better part of a year now losing her hair elastics and scrunchies all over his apartment. Theirapartment.
“You do so, but it’s alright. This is your home, too, and there are much worse things you could be scattering all over the apartment. However,” he explained, voice deepening with feigned seriousness, “I think I deserve a kiss for finding it for you.”
With an exaggerated huff and an eyeroll she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Fine,” she grumbled, but her teal eyes glittered. Then she tilted her face up and pulled Azriel down to meet her waiting lips. He had expected a quick peck, but she moved her luscious mouth against his and then smiled there before pulling back. “You drive a hard bargain.” He squeezed his fingers around her hips, where his hands had fallen as she made her payment.
“It seems like you didn’t find it too steep a price,” he answered, placing a kiss to her brow. She sighed, leaning into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek atop her head.
“Quite the opposite: it’s one I’ll gladly pay,” she snickered, voice muffled in his shirt. Azriel just squeezed, inhaling deeply and tightening his grip further.
—So since everyone has been posted such amazing pieces of gwyn and azriel for the gwynriel week, I decided to whip something out as well! I love these two so much ahhhhh.
So I saw that @court_of_sketches made this beautiful drawing of Rhys from the Fallen Angel painting challenge that’s been going round, and I had to ALSO do it
But the original painting was giving me massive Azriel vibes so I drew him instead
BAHAHAHAHAHAA I CANT, I can totally see the shadows being jealous of Azriel getting all of Gwyn’s attention : Like this is how they would feel in the ‘court of shadows’
This is also for sjm romance week but it’s a crack ship :
High Lord Shadow : *grumbles* I can’t believe that motherfucker stole her away from us this easily. WE WERE THE ONE WHO GOT THEM TOGETHER!
High Lady Shadow : I KNOW RIGHT?!! WE WERE THE ONE WHO GAVE HIM THE IDEA TO TAKE HER OUT ON A DATE! WE WERE THE ONE WHO PESTERED THEM!
Clown Shadow : and he stole her away simply by preparing a candle lit dinner, y’all are stupid af *snickers*.
Everyone : *murmuring* Shut up.
Logical shadow : No but srsly, we did all the work, we made the bond snap for Azriel, we made him realize his true love was Gwyn. I think he took advantage of us.
High Lord Shadow : *Gapes: NO*
Clown Shadow : *breaks out into laughter* It’s ironic isn’t it, he made her forget about us by not even taking us on his first date, a date WHICH WE ORGANIZED.
High Lady Shadow : Enough. We’re having a war. get the ignorant shadows ready. We aren’t helping him until he promises never to leave us alone and leash us into place when he’s with her. Get the innocent and lovey dovey shadows ready too, we’re gonna get mama Gwyn on our side.
Ignorant shadows: *groan* We have to work? Again? Gods why can’t this guy do anything right.
High lady shadow : Oh shut up, all you have to do is ignore him.
Ignorant shadows : *role eyes* fine
High Lord Shadow : Great. Let’s commence this war. ALL HAIL GWYNETH BERDARA!
I have seen many theories here and do not know what I think.. let me hear all your crack theories and trash posts..
One I am feeling out is from TikTok user @slimjimjo who thinks
Elain can block Az’s shadows and that’s why they are prone to disappear around her and no one else.
She is plotting and working with Greysen
It was kinda sus when she said she needed to be up early to help someone with their garden…but Cassian got a weird feeling about it.. (This scene also stuck out in my mind)
Honestly I do not know how to feel, but the more I think about it Elain becoming our next villain would be so interesting to read.
