Azriel never actually agreed to comply with Rhys’ orders to stay away from Elain
Elriel Month, Week 5: Anything Your Heart Desires
Just a friendly reminder that, while Azriel may have been knocked from his rage by Rhys threatening punishment and pulling rank during their talk on Solstice Night, he never actually agreed to stop pursuing Elain Archeron.
Have a look:
Rhys growled, “Allow me to make one thing very clear. You are to stay away from her.”
“You can’t order me to do that.”
“Oh, I can, and I will. If Lucien finds out you’re pursuing her, he has every right to defend their bond as he sees fit. Including invoking the Blood Duel.”
“That’s an Autumn Court tradition.” The battle to the death was so brutal that it was only enacted in rare cases. Despite being an outsider, Azriel had wanted to invoke it when he’d found Mor all those years ago. Had been ready to challenge both Beron and Eris to Blood Duels and kill them both. Only Mor’s right to claim their heads in vengeance had kept him from doing so.
“Lucien, as Beron’s son, has the right to demand it of you.“
"I’ll defeat him with little effort.” Pure arrogance laced every word, but it was true.
“I know.“ Rhys’s eyes flickered. "And your doing so will rip apart any fragile peace and alliances we have, not only with the Autumn Court but also with the Spring Court and Jurian and Vassa.” Rhys bared his teeth. “So you will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her.”
Azriel snarled softly.
“Snarl all you want.” Rhys leaned back in his chair. “But if I see you panting after her again, I’ll make you regret it.”
Rhys had rarely threatened punishment or pulled rank. It stunned Azriel enough that it knocked him from his rage.
Rhys jerked his chin toward the door. “Get out”
Azriel tucked in his wings and left without another word, stalking through the house and onto the front lawn to sit in the frigid starlight. To let the frost in his veins match the air around him.
Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all.
Let’s disregard the fact that, assuming Rhys and Feyre’s assumptions about Lucien’s true paternity are accurate, it’s questionable whether he would even have the right to invoke the Blood Duel against Azriel; if Helion ever acknowledges Lucien, does the Day Court still allow it? And would Rhys’ lies about Lucien’s right to challenge Azriel for Elain’s love somehow invalidate a fundamental part of any hypothetical agreement that was made between himself and Az? I’m not sure whether the magic of bargain bonds - whatever it is - considers the spirit of the original agreement; at least, I wouldn’t count on it, just in case. It’s a big “if.”
So, in a world where your word can be a magically enforced and bonded bargain - clever Spymaster.
If Azriel spends half, or even a quarter, of his book pining after Elain while Gwyn just quietly supports him….I will hurl myself into the sun and never read another SJM book again.
Gwyn deserves to experience proper romance and love without being the second choice.
Azriel deserves to grow and understand love without his lust for someone else overshadowing it.
Elain deserves to be more than just the object of someone’s lust or a catalyst for other people’s romance.
It does not matter that Azriel is sweet with Elain.
It does not matter that he is attracted to her.
What matters is that he does not BELIEVE in her.
Which reminds me a lot of:
Instead of having:
“encouragement”. A little louder, shall we? “ENCOURAGEMENT!”
While:
Sounds a lot like:
I’ve seen the above section used to prove that Az cares more for Elain than Gwyn. Because he was willing to die to get Elain back while he wasn’t as worried for Gwyn. And that actually might be right at this moment in time, he probably does care for her more. But caring for someone, wanting to protect them, does not mean you will be right for one another in a relationship.
I think the more important take away in all this is that Tamlin was also willing to die to keep Feyre safe. He was willing to go out on dangerous patrols without her because he believed he was capable of being her protector. Was willing to risk himself because he felt Feyre was not able to defend herself.
I don’t think Rhys would have ever left Feyre to fend for herself had she failed at any of the tasks he requested of her but the difference is he encouraged her to try. He was her backup but he let her take the reigns. He had such a strong faith in what she was capable of that he asked her to step outside her comfort zone so she could learn who she was and what she could do.
Azriel wants to protect Elain in the same way Tamlin wanted to protect Feyre. Yet in a very short time, he believes in Gwyn’s ability to handle herself. He’s already cheering on her progress. Maybe that is because he hasn’t yet developed feelings for her. But maybe for someone like Az, that’s exactly what he needs. He needs to first witness that someone is capable of defending themselves before falling for them so he doesn’t immediately default into protector mode.
Unfortunately he’s already in that frame of mind with Elain and I don’t see that changing.
Lucien might feel jealous. He might feel the urge to claim Elain as his mate and he felt the urge to get her out of the Night Court when he believed she was in danger before he knew her. But after knowing her for maybe a month, after looking at her as if finally seeing her for the first time, he left because he realized that was what she needed. He was not so overcome by the need to protect her that he was unwilling to give her space. When he found out she had stabbed the King, he said it in a way that suggested respect. Not fear or anger for having done something dangerous. Some might say that’s because he doesn’t care for her. But I say that even if the feelings aren’t strong yet, the foundation is one of healthy love rather than possessive love.
Elain deserves someone who encourages and believes in her. Who stands to the side, ready to offer assistance if necessary but is secretly hoping it’s not so Elain has the chance to prove how valuable she truly is.
This post is filled with a lot of assumptions IMO.
Tamlin refused to let Feyre train, he refused to let her leave the grounds, he refused to include her in any discussions. He PROHIBITED her from doing things she asked to do.
Azriel does not do that here. He is voicing an opinion—that there’s a darkness to the trove Elain shouldn’t be exposed to—not forbidding Elain from doing it. And in that same scene, Cassian reacts the same exact way about Nesta:
And Rhys freaks out similarly about the idea of Feyre going into Hybern without him in ACOMAF, though he obviously lets her in the end:
We don’t know that Azriel would have forbidden Elain from scrying had it come to that, but all evidence points to the contrary. Indeed, Azriel gave Elain truth-teller to use in the battle at the end of ACOWAR rather than encouraging her to leave and hide. He was encouraging her to protect herself and use a weapon. If he was really protective and controlling, he would have winnowed her out of the battle (which honestly I could see Lucien doing with Elain since he refuses to talk strategy or politics around her, but that’s beside the point).
Regardless, all the males in SJM’s series are protective of the women they have feelings for. Rhys is like that with Feyre; Cassian is like that with Nesta; Azriel is like that with Elain.
That does not make any of them like tamlin, who was legitimately controlling and abusive. And until Azriel forbids Elain from doing anything, I think we should refrain from making definitive statements like “he does not believe in her” when those statements aren’t supported by the text. And we should certainly refrain from saying that Azriel wants to protect Elain in the same way that Tamlin wanted to protect Feyre.
Welcome to the second ever ELRIEL MONTH, where we hope to foster a positive space for Elain and Azriel shippers. Each week will feature one broad prompt that centers on different aspects of their current and possible future relationship.
wondering whether elain is rejecting the bond so hard because she feels like she’s had a glimpse of true love with her engagement, with a man picking her over nesta or feyre, feeling what she sees as genuine desire from az, and being distressed by the notion that lucien is only expressing something that has been thrust upon them, or that he is trying manufacture a relationship out of something he may not want, that he may feel stuck to her.
idk man help they just seem to grimace at each other and i hope sjm doesn’t just have her flat out reject it even tho i think that’s what will happen
BothElainandAzriel being thoughtful and helpful in a very similar way.
“Elain,tomysurprise,hadahorse,asatcheloffood,andsuppliesready when I hurried down the stairs.” (acotar 272)
“Cassian soared over the House of Wind to find Azriel there, hovering in place, aheavypackinhishand.Weather that had been from a separate warning from Rhys, or Az’s own shadows whispering, he didn’t know.” (acosf 486)
Feyre: We have everything we need. Buying presents feels excessive. “It’s their tradition though.” “One that they fought and died to protect in the war. Perhaps that’s a better way to think of it, rather than feeling guilty. To remember that this day means something to them. All of them, regardless of who has more, who has less, and in celebrating the traditions, even through the presents, we honor those who fought for its very existence, for the peace this city now has.” (acofas 129-130)
Azriel’s opinion on Solstice/Holidays
Nesta: I think holidays are stupid. “I don’t.” “They pull people together. And bring them joy. They are a time to pause and reflect and gather, and those are never bad things.” (acosf 600)
Azriel stayed with Elain during the library attack in ACOWAR
That morning, Az showed up with Cassian at the townhouse which was at the time occupied by Feyre, Nesta, and Elain having breakfast. Az went with Elain to the garden, Nesta and Feyre went to the library, Cassian having dropped Nesta off and shot into the sky. Boom, right there we can assume Az and Elain are alone at the townhouse garden.
Now, after the attack, we get this information,
Based on these locations, it is plausible that Az and Elain were indeed alone at the townhouse together for an extended period of time. Although we can’t account for Cassian once he dropped Nesta off. (He could have flown back to the townhouse)
What is also interesting to note is this,
The spelled bell alerts ALL of them. We can safely infer that Rhys is referring to the entire I.C. Here.
Meaning Azriel would have received the warning that there was an issue in the library, where his high lady just went, and he did not leave to go help. He stayed with Elain, at the townhouse, where it was just the two of them.
Could he have had the forethought not to leave Elain completely alone or had Rhys told him mind to mind to stay there and gaurd Elain? Sure.
But given the panic of the ordeal, and the fact that Cassian, who was first on the scene, didn’t know what exactly he was going there to fight. (Only Feyre and Nesta know its Hyburn until the group/Rhys gets there) we can theorize that Azriel got the warning and chose to stay at Elain’s side rather that rush to aid the priestesses and his high lady.
Their first meeting went well, because Elain relaxed and Azriel opened up to her.
The flight down from H.O.W. must not have been awkward because Elain called Azriel’s hands beautiful and he voluntarily joined her in the garden where he sprawled out and read reports as she drank her tea.
That must have been enjoyable for the both of them since they jumped at the chance to do it again.
All that must have meant something because Azriel was prepared to die to get Elain back from Hyburn. He had his wings shredded and still carried her all the way to the camp. She kissed his cheek in thanks.
That must have really solidified trust between the two since he loaned her his most prized possession, and she accepted.
The friendship between them obviously was growing into something more when he made sure the group waited for her to join the table before eating. What prompted him? She went back down the hall, to spruce up her appearance. He made a joke at Amren’s expense to cheer her up.
That must have been exactly what the two of them wanted to see and hear because Elain followed through with giving Azriel his gift. He let his mask drop and laughed not only in her presence, but his family’s. The two even stayed up past 3am talking alone, voluntarily.
Azriel’s feelings are more than obvious when he and his shadows show signs of distress at the mere mentioning of Elain being hurt verbally or physically, more that once.
Elain’s feelings are more than obvious when she gives Az shy smiles and reciprocates a charged glance.
Elain and Azriel obviously display both physical and emotional attraction to one another. They buy each other thoughtful gifts, acknowledge a non verbal way of understanding/communication, and become aroused by eachother. They both display emotional pain when the encounter doesn’t progress.
