Whenever I hear or read anything about ‘Elain can’t handle Azriel’s darkness’ I always wonder–do people realise that she’s handled the greatest DARKNESS of all Darkness? That’s of the Cauldron. She was dipped into the Void itself! She experienced the beginning and the end of all things. It burned out her humanity and remade her as a species. She was the first person to be thrown into the Cauldron, and the first one to survive. They used to dip objects into it, to imbue them with immense power. Power to raise dead armies. Power to manipulate and stop time. Power to smite armies.
And the Cauldron LOVES Elain. Her power is so immense that the thing of ultimate Darkness from which all life sprung…fell in love with her.
This is a chick who can see across worlds and communicate in some ways with Death Gods and wield Caldron-made dagger, while killing ancient immortal kings.
Azriel’s darkness?
LOL
To Elain, it’s like playing with a fluffy white kitten. She’ll eat Azriel’s darkness for breakfast like a sweet bun.
If you still don’t understand the significance of Elain’s contributions, on a massive, global scale and you think that winning a Blood Rite, which is exclusive to Illyrians and literally nobody else but them cares about it (you think Thesan cares about the Blood Rite? No. He doesn’t) is more important, or in any way equal to Elain murdering the King or finding Vassa, then you probably should read something else. Because something ain’t clicking.
It’s interesting how some people in this fandom equate ‘development’ with page presence. 'Development’ is not just taking space on page. Development implies that something is happening to the character–some type of internal or external change, where we glean some insights into the innerworkings of their mind or their behaviour. Just because someone is written about, doesn’t necessarily equate any kind of 'development’. For example, Tarquin was present on page quite a lot in ACOMAF–but he didn’t get any 'development’. He simply played a role in the book.
Emerie–played a role in the book. Her 'development’ was minimal at best.
Azriel–played a role in the book. His development was non-existent, because nothing fundamentally changed with him. We found out that he dreams of and wants Elain with acute intensity.
Nesta–we’ve gone through a journey of emotions with her, physical and psychological struggles. That’s development.
Elain, who has’t had a lot of page time, has had a considerable amount of development throughout the books–from a spoiled quiet sister in ACOTAR to someone who killed the King to someone who volunteered to dust off her powers and look for the Trove herself (note, how she did not ask for anyone to help her and did not try to pawn the job off to Rhys or Feyre. She said that she was going to do it herself).
If someone fails to understand that this is development, and a journey that she’s been undertaking which is setting up her own book, then maybe SJM books are a little too complex for them.
Azriel willingly weakened and disarmed himself for the sake of Elain, and her survival. He give up his magical dagger which comes with a lifetime guarantee of always ‘striking true’ and gave it to her. Knowing that his wings were messed up, he couldn’t really fly, he just came back from a serious fight, he was injured, and still potentially had to fight in a huge battle. And at that moment, he still decided to arm Elain–this girl who never held a dagger before. He could’ve given her any other knife, and she wouldn’t have known the difference. But the man is so concerned about her, her well-being, her safety, her survival that he willingly gave up something so precious to him, and something that could’ve definitely protected him during the battle.
He could’ve offered her ‘quiet encouragement’. He could’ve ran to Feyre and demanded that Elain be sitting in some wagon, surrounded by armed guards at all times.
He didn’t do any of it. He offered her practical means to defend herself, believing in her and her abilities. When push came to shove, Azriel knew that she’d come through and she did. He believed in her from the get-go, and she did not disappoint.
TW: violent thoughts, implied past sexual assault, depressive thoughts, canon-typical death, scars, blood, murder, drowning, poison
__________
A/N: For @cascadingmoon. Thanks for the request! I love writing these kinds of Elain fics. Thank you for being so patient with me despite the long wait! I’m so honored that you wanted me to be part of this project & that my fic gets to be paired with such stunning art!
Thank you to @thewayshedreamed for beta reading. I loved discussing & brainstorming it with you! @duskandstarlight also gets a shoutout for helping me with ideas!
What if Elain Archeron accidentally Made Ents; a crack theory
Please don’t screenshot or share this post without credit.
Disclaimer: this is a crack theory that makes no claims to accuracy; though, if it does come true, I believed it all along, of course. I just want to see Elain have some sort of plant-based powers, and Making them would bring a whole new meaning to gardening.
A while ago I posted a semi-crack theory/headcanon/what have you that discussed whether Elain Archeron may have unintentionally Made her necklace on solstice night in ACOSF, when she was working through her emotions after Rhys - unbeknownst to Elain - interrupted her near-kiss with Azriel, forcing him to leave her in the hall as he winnowed upstairs to Rhys (poor form on behalf of both of them, by the way).
I was speaking to @123moiaussi after that post, and she mentioned that Elain could have potentially Made her old engagement ring from Graysen, too. I know that the metal wasn’t hot, but pearls are porous, so who knows? She might have!
But that got me thinking about what else Elain could have Made while she was dealing with her trauma, as I suspect she has been slowly making progress with that behind the scenes… what about a home-grown defence system?!
What if Elain accidentally Made the ACOTAR equivalent of Ents?!
Hi, it’s me, and I’m back on my Elain can potentially Make plants nonsense. Sorry!
Disclaimer: this is all a theory, and makes no claims of accuracy etc.
Pay attention to the following passage:
Only our father had not bled. He hadn’t been given the chance to. And through whatever small mercy of the Mother, the crows hadn’t started on him. Elain quietly washed his face. Combed out his hair and beard. Straightened his clothes. She found flowers—somewhere. She laid them at his head, on his chest. We stared down at him in silence. “I love you,” Elain whispered, voice breaking. […] Elain breathed, “Should we—say a prayer?” We did not have such things in the human world, I remembered. My sisters had no prayers to offer him. But in Prythian … “Mother hold you,” I whispered, reciting words I had not heard since that day Under the Mountain. […] Tears slid down Elain’s pallid cheeks as she adjusted an errant flower on our father’s chest, white-petaled and delicate, and then backed away to my side with a nod. Nesta’s face did not shift as I sent that fire to ignite our father’s body. He was ash on the wind in a matter of moments. - ACOWAR, chapter 78
A couple of quotes stood out to me.
A“smallmercy of the Mother” allowed Papa Archeron’s body to remain undisturbed by the crows.
Elain“found flowers—somewhere.”
She then adjusted an “errant flower” on Papa Archeron’s chest.
Could these all be subtle hints from the first trilogy, that suggest Elain has some sort of plant-based power, and potentially a link to the Mother?
Think about it:
The scene above happened as Elain prepared their father’s body, just before she suggested a prayer - something with which she has since become associated - and began with Feyre saying “Mother hold you.” Could Elain have been behind the Mother’s small mercy of keeping the crows away from their father?
The flower being “errant” makes me wonder it has a mind of its own, as a Made being or object might do.
Feyre not knowing where Elain found the flowers could imply that she grew them herself, or they appeared, even unintentionally.
Moving on, @wingedblooms and I have discussed the following pretty extensively (and I do still plan to write my meta on Elain’s hypothetical link to the Mother - and possible inspiration by the three wives of Zephyros; Iris, Chloris and Podarge - at some point), but for the moment, let’s think back to this moment in Feyre’s ACOSF bonus chapter.
I glowered at Rhys. “You think Elain’s boring?” “I think she’s kind, and I’ll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven’t yet seen all she has to offer.” A corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way.” “And torn up by thorns,” I mused, recalling a morning this past summer when Elain had come into the house, her right palm bleeding from several gashes where a stubborn rosebush had pierced her gloves. The thorns had broken off into her skin, leaving sharp splinters that I’d had to pull free. - ACOSF, Feyre’s bonus chapter
Feyre specifically noted that she had to pull thorns from Elain’s palm. My initial thought was that a stubborn rosebush sounded a little sentient, and that Elain may have accidentally imbued it with her magic, but what if she can grow thorns, or talons of some sort, herself? Perhaps not unlike the nails and teeth of the Ironteeth witches from TOG?
Fanged beast and trembling fawn?
It would be an interesting parallel, and fits with what @wingedblooms and rhyssescups discussed in their post from last year, which theorised that Elain could be linked to witchcraft, rather than Nesta. Given the growing potential for Elain to have some sort of association with the priestesses in ACOTAR (links hereandhere), and the fact that TOG’s Blueblood witches were known as zealots who used pain as a gateway to the divine (seriously, please read the witch post from wingedblooms and rhyssescups), I think this could all be connected. Somehow.
“Elain had always been gentle and sweet—and I had considered it a different kind of strength. A better strength. To look at the hardness of the world and choose, over and over, to love, to be kind. She had always been so full of light.”
Azriel: Exactly the same in 4 books–quiet, brooding, helpful. Says 29 extra words in ACOSF than in the other books.
People: OMG. SO. MUCH. DEVELOPMENT.
Elain: Goes from a quiet presumably lazy girl, to being Made, to killing a king with dagger, to standing up for herself, to healing, to volunteering to search for the Trove objects herself.
The image of Elain, the “trembling fawn”, snarling in the king’s ear as she rams Truthteller through his neck is top tier. I cannot explain how much I love this scene.
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.”
“It wasn’t that Elain was cruel. She wasn’t like Nesta, who had been born with a sneer on her face. Elain sometimes just…didn’t grasp things. It wasn’t meanness that kept her from offering to help; it simply never occurred to her that she might be capable of getting her hands dirty.”
To:
“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 touch my sister"”
And somehow people claim she’s done nothing/had no development?? Please ✋
Not least because we shouldn’t mock any of their respective traumas, but there could also be a plot or magic-based reason that would account for Elain’s avoidance of crowds and war camps etc, rather than the typical cries of “she’s just weak and pathetic.”
Please don’t share or screenshot this post without credit.
Disclaimer:this post isn’t about any one instance, as belittling Elain’s trauma, and her response to it, is pretty much pervasive in the fandom by now. I just hope people see this post and realise that Elain being so affected after she was Made was both a completely reasonable response to what she had experienced, and that there may also be a narrative based reason that she reacted like that. Ship neutral.
TW: mentions of an event being an allegory of rape, as well as canon typical violence, childhood trauma and grooming.
We’re all entitled to our character preferences, and I’ll never be mad at people for just not jiving with Elain Archeron’s character - I have my preferences, too! - but this is just a gentle reminder to ACOTAR’s fandom at large that mocking trauma isn’t a good look. We shouldn’t have to tear down one character to build up another, when their achievements can speak for themselves.
Trauma isn’t a competition, though one can absolutely argue that Elain has experienced a lot of hardship over the course of her life, and…
There may be a reason that Elain struggled so much in the beginning, especially during the war, that furthers her character and the plot.
Elain handled her trauma differently, which doesn’t mean it was less than.
It shouldn’t need to be said, but here we are. People frequently reduce the entirety of Elain’s trauma to “a bad break-up.” This is unfair, not only because the breakdown of a relationship can and will cause many people to shut down - especially if their ex partner seemed to change over night, as Graysen must have done if Nesta’s ACOMAF report that he and Elain were smitten with each other was accurate - but also because she experienced so much more.
those who blame Elain for not growing vegetables to feed her family, do they know how ridiculous they sound? lmao are you experts in gardening all of the sudden and know how to do it or what? don’t forget that she was also a kid and had no one to teach her
as someone who can’t grow a flower for shit and someone who has a mothers who loves gardening and has an amazing garden but still struggles to grow vegetables every summer (to the point where said mother has given up on doing her vegetable patch this year), I can confirm that it is indeed hard as fuck.
Also weren’t other people in their town poor too? Cause if so, I think they’d want to keep vegetable seeds and stuff for themselves
This art is inspired by a scene that occurs in ACOWAR! It’s actually one of my favorite moments! I just really loved the idea of both Elain and Nesta killing the big villain!
Azriel said “What we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength. The most unlikely person can alter the course of history”.
I hate seeing Elain being reduced as insignificant, when she had a crucial part in ending the war, without her stabbing the King neither of our favorite characters would be alive.
This is my own interpretation of Elain moments before Nesta takes TT and decapitates the king! I also thought about including the shadows she stepped from as background. Those at the back forming a more concrete shadow, Azriel as one of the theories is that she used his shadows to winnow.
@jessamyart is once again the incredible artist that created this stunning scene and my partner in crime. I love working with Jess, she always manages to read my mind and create exactly what I envision. So thank you Jess, I will always treasure you for helping me bring this to life. It’s always a pleasure, and I cannot wait to see what comes next!
First, let’s look at the opener of the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty from 1959. What do they call Aurora? Sweet Aurora. What is she associated with? Sunshine, like Elain.
Now, what has SJM herself called Elain? SWEET ELAIN. (Credit to @ofduskcourts for posting the following interview question)
Next, we have the acofas interview. (Picture from pinterest - op unknown)
This confirms Elain has her own book.
Ivy everywhere. Dreams about it, and it doesn’t want to let go.
The ivy sjm described here can be summed up in one word. Stubborn.
Why doesn’t it want to let go? Is there some sort of spell?
Aurora was put under a sleeping spell by pricking her finger. Instantly reminded me of what happened with Elain in the Feysand bonus…
Speaking of Ivy literally everywhere even in Elain’s dreams, and sleeping beauty, take a look at this image that was found on sjm’s pinterest. (Major thanks to @elrielbliss for posting the following)
Disclaimer: As of now this is just a theory. I’ve compiled a few things that make me think Elain will have Sleeping Beauty elements in her book/story.
To add on to this: Elain is often wearing blues and pinks. In acowar we have several pink dresses as well as a light blue shawl and a blue surcoat. In acofas Elain receives a blue cloak from Feyre and wears pink for the dinner. This is also reminisent of the famous “make it pink, no, make it blue” scene from Sleeping Beauty.
First, let’s look at the opener of the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty from 1959. What do they call Aurora? Sweet Aurora. What is she associated with? Sunshine, like Elain.
Now, what has SJM herself called Elain? SWEET ELAIN. (Credit to @ofduskcourts for posting the following interview question)
Next, we have the acofas interview. (Picture from pinterest - op unknown)
This confirms Elain has her own book.
Ivy everywhere. Dreams about it, and it doesn’t want to let go.
The ivy sjm described here can be summed up in one word. Stubborn.
Why doesn’t it want to let go? Is there some sort of spell?
Aurora was put under a sleeping spell by pricking her finger. Instantly reminded me of what happened with Elain in the Feysand bonus…
Speaking of Ivy literally everywhere even in Elain’s dreams, and sleeping beauty, take a look at this image that was found on sjm’s pinterest. (Major thanks to @elrielbliss for posting the following)
Disclaimer: As of now this is just a theory. I’ve compiled a few things that make me think Elain will have Sleeping Beauty elements in her book/story.
Elain was actually instrumental in winning the war. She located the Suriel first try with zero training. She then stabbed the king in the neck, again with zero training. My girl is a legend.
Note: The color of these tulips probably isn’t significant. This was just a fun thing to look into.
In ACOTAR (page 256), we see that Elain has some tulips from the continent in her garden below a window, at the chateau. They happen to be purple and white.
Tulips in general: Perfect/Deep Love. Rebirth. Charity.
Purple Tulips: Symbolizes royalty. Used in bridal bouquets.
White Tulips: Forgiveness, respect, purity and honour. Dreaming about white tulips can symbolize a new journey or a fresh start in life.
And then we get this lovely image of Nessian and Elriel with this same garden.
“Cassian and Azriel on either side of the bay windows where Elain and Nesta stood in their finery, Elain’s garden in bloom behind them.”(acomaf 547-548)
The symbolism of these tulips fit pretty well with both couples. And also with Elain herself.
It’s also another tie in to the Elain/Azriel/window/garden parallel too.
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)
Disclaimer: This is a reach, but I had fun pondering it nonetheless.
Does Elain have a way with horses? This line from ACOTAR is what spurred my thoughts.
Firstly, Elain is waiting with the horse and supplies on her own. No stable hand is mentioned to be holding the reins or anything similar. Feyre even notes that their father is no where in sight immediately after expressing her surprise at the sight. The wording here implies that Elain is the one who readied the horse. Also, Feyre’s surprise at this could go either way. Is she surprised that Elain had done this for her, or at the fact that Elain seemed to have readied the horse and supplies on her own in the first place?
If Elain did indeed ready the horse on her own, this would be an indication that she has more advanced equine knowledge than the average lady in her circles. It was common “in those times” for women to rely on a stable hand to ready the horses for them. In fact, we see this in the prim spring court stables.
So, did Elain have a stable hand prepare the horse she seemingly presented to Feyre on her own or did she prepare the horse and hand it off to Feyre entirely on her own?
If Elain did properly saddle and lead this horse to the location Feyre took it from her it would mean Elain has far deeper equine skill and knowledge than other ladies “of the time”.
What could this mean for the plot/her story if this turns out to be true?
1. It would be yet another way Elain could be “not what people expect”. We know from a few separate pieces of info that she is indeed a complex character that is not well understood yet by even her peers at times.
Perhaps our Seer learned her riding and horse care skills in secret. Not wanting to disappoint anyone.
2. It would be a way to have her interact/bond/associate with Mor and Feyre. Whom we know both enjoy riding horses. Feyre even learned to ride bareback, and Mor owns a stable of horses.
3. Possible pegasus interactions. It is interesting to note she was absent from seeing Helion’s pegasus in ACOSF. So we don’t have her opinion or reaction to them.
As I said above, this is based on one line, from all the way back in ACOTAR. There is pretty much zero going on here. But It was fun to explore this anyway.
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.
