#dusk court theory

[offtorivendell]

The Dusk Court - Part II, Powerful Heirlooms and the Four Treasures of the Tuatha de Danann

Please don't screenshot and share this post without credit.

Disclaimer - this theory is simply that, a theory, which may or may not come to pass. When I’m specifying which Prythian object of power was “inspired by” each of the Tuatha de Danann’s four treasures, I’m only listing my thoughts. When I refer to "the Dusk Court," I am speaking of either the Court precursor that once existed, or its lost people. Thank you as always to @ladynightcourt3 and @wingedblooms for all of your theory chats and help, you are both so appreciated. 💜

Spoilers - all ACOTAR, CC and TOG books to date (November 2022). 

This post is a long time coming, as it began as a follow up to my The Dusk Court, the Hewn City and Hybern theory in June (I think) of 2021. The Hybern part of that theory appears to have been debunked in CC HOSAB, though I do still think that Hybern could play into everything, but the Hewn City is, in my opinion, still quite relevant (especially because there is a Lord Thanatos there, who shares a name with the Prince of the Ravine - one of the circles of Hel we learnt about in CC). Are the people of the Court of Nightmares aware of Hel's Thanatos, or is the name cultural in some way? But I digress...

Suggested reading:

The Dusk Court - Part I

Is ACOTAR's Koschei the Death God actually Fionn, the once - and, he likely hopes, future - High King of Prythian?

Theia's Secret Legacy

Powerful parallels between Bryce, Theia and the Archeron sisters

Are the Archeron sisters distantly descended from the Starborn fae of the Dusk Court? OP from @wingedblooms, with my reblog

From what Nesta Archeron saw in the unhallowed catacombs - unholy, wicked, unconsecrated; underground cemetery - of the Hewn City, we can assume that the Court of Nightmares has amassed a decent hoard of magical objects, presumably many of which made the journey with them from what would have been the Dusk Court (if that theory pans out in any way), though that may not be the case for all of them. The "half-imprisoned" objects gave me Sword in the Stone vibes - and, as I've said before, I wouldn't be surprised if Azriel himself had an Arthur freeing Excalibur moment with Truth-Teller when he found it - but I doubt that they all contain the same level of power as the Veritas, the Ouroboros, Gwydion, Narben and Truth Teller. Some seem very powerful, and possibly imbued with raw power like Made items, but not all.

Feyre frowned at her mate. “They’re different from the objects of power in the Hewn City? What can they do?” Nesta had tried her best to forget that night she and Amren had gone to test her so-called gift against the hoard within those unhallowed catacombs. The objects had been half-imprisoned in the stone itself: knives and necklaces and orbs and books, all shimmering with power. None of it pleasant. For the Dread Trove to be worse than what she’d witnessed … - Nesta, ACOSF, chapter 20 

Rhys’s eyes flicked to Ataraxia, then to Cassian. “Some strains of the mythology claim that one of the Fae heroes who rose up to overthrow them was Fionn, who was given the great sword Gwydion by the High Priestess Oleanna, who had dipped it into the Cauldron itself. Fionn and Gwydion overthrew the Daglan. A millennium of peace followed, and the lands were divided into rough territories that were the precursors to the courts—but at the end of those thousand years, they were at each other’s throats, on the brink of war.” His face tightened. “Fionn unified them and set himself above them as High King. The first and only High King this land has ever had.” Nesta could have sworn the last words were spoken with a sharp look toward Cassian. But Cassian only winked at Rhys. “What happened to the High King?” Feyre asked. Rhys ran a hand over a page of the book. “Fionn was betrayed by his queen, who had been leader of her own territory, and by his dearest friend, who was his general. They killed him, taking some of his bloodline’s most powerful and precious weapons, and then out of the chaos that followed, the seven High Lords rose, and the courts have been in place ever since.” - ACOSF, chapter 55 

It is curious, though, and potentially relevant, that besides the Dread Trove objects - the Crown, Harp and Mask, and one a mystery - we have learnt of four other historically significant magical items, two of which are canonically linked to Mor’s family, who I suspect are a cadet branch of the Dusk Court's old High Family, and two weapons (three if we count Truth-Teller). Four magical objects - the Veritas, the Ouroboros, Gwydion and Narben - potentially tied to a Court who theoretically fled underground, or into hiding, millennia ago… sounds familiar, no? 

“She brought me to a room full of treasure. Strange objects. And it …” She tugged at the tight sleeve of her gown. “Some of it wanted to hurt us. As if it were alive—aware. Like … like in all those stories and lies we were fed over the wall.” - ACOWAR, chapter 27 

The Tuatha De Danann, who I mentioned briefly in Part I, The Theory as a possible inspiration for the history of the now defunct Dusk Court of Prythian, are said to have had amongst their magical objects Four Treasures, or Jewels (1, 2), when they arrived in Ireland in a great cloud of smoke (or mist) from four island cities (other stories say that they arrived in ships, and that the cloud was the result of those ships being burnt): 

The Undry - the Cauldron of Abundance, brought from Murias, the fortress of pinnacles, and was given to Dagda Mor, by the druid Seimhias. It is said that everyone leaves it satisfied, or that it contains an endless food supply, and that its waters could heal any wound - even going so far as to raise the dead, that it was a bottomless passage to the Otherworld. Dagda was a father figure/king amongst the Tuatha De, and was known for both his wisdom and magic. 

Lia Fail - the Stone of Kings, brought from Falias, the city of the sciences. It was supposedly placed in Tara, and still exists there today. Whenever a true king of Ireland sat on it, it would cry out loud beneath him. It is also known as the Coronation Stone of Tara. 

Spear of Destiny - the Spear of Lugh of the Silver Arm, brough from Goirias, the city of the faith, where “every word was a prayer.” The druid Easras is said to have warped the fates into Lugh’s spear, such that any who held it would never lose a battle, but would die if it was lost. 

Claiomh Solais - the Sword of Light, forged by Uiscias in the day-foundries of the city of Fionnias/Finias the bright, and used in battle by Nuada, the first king of the Tuatha De; it is also known as the sword of Nuada. It was described as glowing like a torch, and will slay whomever it was drawn against. It is said to have fallen into the underworld after it was used to slay the Taker of Souls, but rumours exist that a fairy queen reclaimed it, and will lend it to heroes who complete three tasks for her. 

The four objects that I suspect are linked to the Dusk Court are probably not exact replicas of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, but they could have been inspired by them and, as I will attempt to explain, contain similar properties/have been paralleled in the text. Azriel’s dagger, Truth-Teller, is likely also important, so I will discuss it here, too (though I have a more detailed post here if you're interested). 

Veritas - inspired by the Undry

There was an orb, it turned out, that had belonged to Mor’s family for millennia: the Veritas. It was rife with the truth-magic she’d claimed to possess—that many in her bloodline also bore. And the Veritas was one of their most valued and guarded talismans. - ACOMAF, chapter 41  

The Veritas is an intriguing object; a valued and guarded “talisman” - an object thought to have magical powers that can bring about good luck - of Mor’s family, that has existed for millennia, at the very least. It’s power appears to be kin to what Mor “claimed to possess,” which I suspect is more than simply being able to know or tell truths. What if the Veritas could also do more than satisfy people of the truth of a matter? 

The orb was known amongst the humans, had been wielded by them in the War, Rhys told me over a quiet dinner that night. The queens would know it. And would know it was absolute truth, not illusion or a trick, when we used it to show them—like peering into a living painting—that this city and its good people existed. - ACOMAF, chapter 41

I suspect that the Veritas is the ACOTAR version of The Undry, Dagda’s Cauldron of Abundance. As Feyre noted in ACOMAF, Rhys told her over dinner that the queens would know the Veritas, that it would be able to satisfy their desire for proof of the Night Court’s intentions for the Book of Breathings. Describing the Veritas itself as like a “ripe apple” brought food back to mind, and Feyre’s description of the cloud that came from the Veritas as leaking from the orb, swirling, roiling and drifting across the carpet, is using imagery that brings to mind both the water that would be inside any cauldron, including the Undry, as well as the Cauldron of ACOTAR itself, but the Tuatha de Danann's arrival to Ireland in mythology. There are also potential water/rift associations which, if confirmed, could parallel the Book of Breathings being thrown into Prythian's Cauldron and ending up in Midgard, with Bryce.

The obvious water and cauldron based adjectives also reminded me of when Elain was washed from the Cauldron, in chapter 65 of ACOMAF, “as if she’d been thrown by a wave.” The Veritas is also frequently described as an orb - a spherical body, a globe - which could be a reference to the Cauldron of ACOTAR, which is tied to the life of their world. 

Mor opened the lid of the black box. The silver orb inside glimmered like a star under glass. “This is the Veritas,” Mor said in a voice that was young and old. “The gift of my first ancestor to our bloodline. Only a few times in the history of Prythian have we used it—have we unleashed its truth upon the world.” She lifted the orb from its velvet nest. It was no larger than a ripe apple, and fit within her cupped palms as if her entire body, her entire being, had been molded for it. “Truth is deadly. Truth is freedom. Truth can break and mend and bind. The Veritas holds in it the truth of the world. I am the Morrigan,” she said, her eyes not wholly of this earth. The hair on my arms rose. “You know I speak truth.” She set the Veritas onto the carpet between us. Both queens leaned in. But it was Rhys who said, “You desire proof of our goodness, our intentions, so that you may trust the Book in our hands?” The Veritas began pulsing, a web of light spreading with each throb. … Mor stretched out a hand, and a pale cloud swirled from the orb, merging with its light as it drifted past our ankles. The queens flinched, the guards edging forward with hands on their weapons. But the clouds continued roiling as the truth of it, of Velaris, leaked from the orb, from whatever it dragged up from Mor, from Rhys. From the truth of the world. - ACOMAF, chapter 57 

The Veritas was then further paralleled with the Undry at the Inner Circle’s meeting with the queens, as Mor mentioned that it had been given to her bloodline - the Morrigan of Irish mythology was married to Dagda - and that Truth can “break and mend and bind,” which sounds like a nod to the Undry’s ability to heal any wound, not to mention the possibilities for the Veritas future use. Thinking further along this track, could the Veritas “break and mend and bind” a mating bond, if the right person were to wield it? Healing any wound could also, possibly, play a role with the crossover going forward; can the Veritas somehow access the same space between as the Cauldron, or a pocket realm of sorts? Could it play a role in breaking apart the rifts, sealing out the Asteri/any other enemies like the Valg, and then mend and bind the populations of the Dusk Court and other involved fae worlds? 

Ouroboros - inspired by the Lia Fail   

“My sister had a collection of mirrors in her black castle,” the Carver said. We halted once more. “She admired herself day and night in those mirrors, gloating over her youth and beauty. There was one mirror -- the Ouroboros, she called it. It was old, even when we were young. A window to the world. All could be seen, all could be told through its dark surface. Keir possesses it -- an heirloom of his household. Bring it to me. That is my price. The Ouroboros, and I am yours to wield. If you can find a way to free me.” A hateful smile. - ACOWAR, chapter 24 

The Ouroboros in our real world is an ancient symbol that depicts a serpent swallowing its own tail, which signifies “the mystery of cyclical time, which flows back into itself,” and is an emblem of wholeness, or infinity. This is likely significant, as cyclical time, which focuses on the idea of “renewal, repetition, and regeneration,” appears to be a common theme amongst SJM’s works.

I won’t mention her use of cyclical time in Throne of Glass, as that would contain too many spoilers (and take up too much time), but it is also rife both in A Court of Thorns and Roses itself, and between CC, TOG and ACOTAR, in the many parallels that we have all noted between characters as individuals, and their relationships. One clear example of this - and please note that I am not suggesting that Lucien is anything like Beron in either his personality or behaviour, just that Lucien's position in his respective "love triangle" appears to be the same - is the parallel between the relationships of Azriel, Elain and Lucien Vanserra, and Helion, the Lady of Autumn, and Beron Vanserra. As we saw in TOG, the “repeated” event tends to resolve itself successfully, so I suspect that (though of course I could be wrong), in this instance, Beron and Lucien are foils for each other, used to highlight how terrible Beron is, and that Lucien will not - would not - go down the same path. 

The Ouroboros that we know from ACOTAR is also known as the “the Mirror of Beginnings and Endings, which definitely sounds like it has taken inspiration from the ancient Ouroboros of our own world, yet I believe that, in the context of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danann, it may represent the Lia Fail - the Stone of Kings. This is potentially more of an abstract parallel than that of the any of the other pairings, but please bear with me, and I think (and hope) it will make sense. 

The Ouroboros in ACOTAR might show you your true self, warts and all - perhaps even your "fanged beast" - but it is constantly written in terms of mastery, worthiness, and servitude, which are three themes that are strongly associated with kings… and High Lords. The Bone Carver even called Feyre and Rhys “majesties” when they went to speak to him about the Ouroboros (a possible nod to any future high king plot, perhaps). 

“Feyre and Cassian spoke to the Bone Carver. He wants the Ouroboros in exchange for serving us—fighting Hybern for us. - ACOWAR, chapter 27 

I could not find an account of anyone who had mastered it. Faced what lurked within and walked away with the mirror in their possession. - ACOWAR, chapter 29 

“Pick something else,” I replied. And not a fool’s errand this time. “What would you give me? Riches do me no good down here. Power holds no sway over the stone.” … “It is rude, Majesties, to speak when no one can hear you.” - ACOWAR, chapter 40 

Rage—blistering rage started to fill in the holes left by what I’d beheld in that mirror. “You wanted to see if I was worthy?” - ACOWAR, chapter 68.

Feyre looked into and mastered the mirror to prove herself worthy of the Bone Carver’s service in the war against Hybern in ACOWAR, the imagery of which is a metaphor for the Lia Fail declaring whether the person who sits on top of it as being worthy of a kingdom and its rule. 

The last we saw of the Ouroboros, Feyre gave it to the Carver in his cell at the Prison. Is it still there? Could it be the reason why Elain - and likely Azriel - will visit the Prison in the book that they will likely share? If "power holds no sway over the stone," was the Ouroboros a chess piece that needed to be moved to the Prison to facilitate future events, and the Bone Carver knew this? How? Regardless, given both Feyre and Rhys, as well as Nesta and Cassian, journeyed there together, it seems safe to assume that Elain and her love interest will do the same. 

Whether or not the Ouroboros is still in the Carver’s cell in the Prison, I believe it will play a part in Elain’s - and potentially Azriel’s - story. If you look carefully, the mirror has consistently been written in terms and themes that we associate with Elain, Az, and both of them combined. Feyre thought, in chapter 27 of ACOWAR, that Elain “might very well have gone mad” when she was Seeing things after her transformation, and Rhys noted in chapter 7 of ACOFAS that the “lightless, airless prison” in which Azriel spent his childhood was meant to “break him.” Lucien even told Feyre he wanted to see if Elain was "worth" fighting for.

Furthermore, beginnings are representative of the rebirth of Spring, and Endings with Death - both themes that many associate with Elain and Azriel, respectively. In chapters 67 and 68 of ACOWAR, the Mirror is extensively linked to moonlight and winter - again, possibly metaphors for Elain and Azriel… and maybe the Mother and Koschei/Void related beings? I realise that Nesta also has associations with moonlight, however I think Elain shares some of this imagery: she smells like jasmine and honey, and jasmine is the first scent Feyre smelt when she arrives at the moonstone palace above the Court of Nightmares, where the Ouroboros was once kept; additionally, Mor was admiring a moonstone necklace when she and Feyre were discussing Elain, Azriel and Truth-Teller in ACOFAS (I'll come back to the Truth-Teller scene below).  

Keir rose to his feet, smirking like a cat with a canary in its mouth. “To take the Ouroboros, to claim it, you must first look into it.” He headed for the doors, not waiting to be dismissed. “And everyone who has attempted to do so has either gone mad or been broken beyond repair. Even a High Lord or two, if legend is true.” A shrug. “So it is yours, if you dare to face it.” Keir paused at the threshold as the doors opened on a phantom wind. - ACOWAR, chapter 26 

But as for the Carver … “He wanted a—gift. In exchange. The Ouroboros.” The Suriel let out a sound that might have been a gasp—delight or horror, I did not know. “The Mirror of Beginnings and Endings.” “Yes—but … I cannot retrieve it.” “You are afraid to look. To see what is within.” “Will it drive me—mad? Break me?” - ACOWAR, chapter 58 

I did not expect the snow. Or the moonlight. The chamber must have lain beneath the palace of moonstone—shafts in the rough rock leading outside, welcoming in snowdrifts and moonlight. […] And there, against the far wall of the chamber, snow crusting its surface, its bronze casing … The Ouroboros. - ACOWAR, chapter 68  

The Clever Crow, on Instagram, has suggested that Elain could potentially scry from the Carver’s Prison cell, with the bones present - such as that of the midengard worm - and the stone in of the Prison acting in place of the bones and stones that Nesta used before, which would be a fascinating twist and a possible way for her to boost her Sight.

Alternatively, Elain demonstrated in ACOWAR that she could simply use a mental image, a map and her Sight (or some similar/related power) to locate things and beings at will. Will Elain - or, less likely - Azriel, or both of them together, use the Ouroboros to scry, attempt to See - to spy on? - a place or point in time or space, or even go somewhere? Possibly using the orrery as her star map for long distances, as @wingedblooms and I have wondered? It screams of witch mirrors. This link is suggested by following line from Feyre’s POV, when she blinked after she had mastered the Mirror, which sounds suspiciously like Elain coming out of a Vision.  

“That is none of your concern.” For the mirror … it had shown me. So many things. I did not know how long had passed. Time—it had been different inside the mirror. […] I blinked slowly. - ACOWAR, chapter 68. 

Given the multiple associations of Elain with the moon (not as many as Nesta, I know, but imo they do exist), Sight, rebirth, shadows and light, I suspect that the following two quotes could be suggesting that Elain will use the Ouroboros, with the full moon that the figurine of the - assumed - Mother is holding being a metaphor for Elain holding the Mirror, while the snake devouring its tail sounds like it's half-hiding itself, as the shadows hid Elain's rose.

The Ouroboros. It was a massive, round disc—as tall as I was. Taller. And the metal around it had been fashioned after a massive serpent, the mirror held within its coils as it devoured its own tail. Ending and beginning. - ACOWAR, chapter 68

Her gaze shifted to the carved wooden rose she’d placed upon the mantel, half-hidden in the shadows beside a figurine of a supple-bodied female, her upraised arms clasping a full moon between them. Some sort of primal goddess—perhaps even the Mother herself. - ACOSF, chapter 56   

And finally, coming back to the Truth-Teller scene from chapter 69 of ACOWAR, the imagery in the final quote appears to invoke Azriel passing his legendary blade off to Elain: "Elain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade. I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife." I'll elaborate on this further when I discuss Gwydion, but I think this could possibly be SJM hinting at Truth-Teller being the moon, which represents the Mother (and I wouldn't be surprised if that was Theia, or someone from whom Theia was descended).

Narben - inspired by the Spear of Lugh 

@merymoonbeam recently posted a theory that touched on the Spear of Lugh and Sword of Light, and my interpretation of the final two members of the Tuatha de Danann's four jewels matches hers (please read her amazing theory here). 

We don't know a whole lot about the blade called Narben, which means "scar" in German, but we do know that it is older than Gwydion - which the ending of CC HOSAB revealed to us as Bryce and Ruhn's Starsword - and has powers "far darker." No holy, saviour's light to be seen there, or so they say.

Rhys murmured, “I have never seen anything like this.” His magic set the three blades to rotating, allowing them to observe every facet. Az’s face was still slack with awe. “Amarantha destroyed one,” Amren said. Cassian started. “I never heard that.” Amren amended, “Rumor claimed she dumped one into the sea. It would not come to Amarantha’s hand, nor the hands of any of her commanders, and rather than let the King of Hybern attain it, she disposed of it.” Azriel asked, “Which sword?” “Narben.” Amren’s red lips quirked downward. “At least that’s what rumor said. You were Under the Mountain then, Rhys. She would have kept it secret. I only heard from a fleeing water-nymph that it had been done.” “Narben was even older than Gwydion,” Rhys said. “Where the hell was it?” “I don’t know, but she found it, and when it would not bend to her, she destroyed it. As she did all good things.” It was as much as Amren would say about that terrible time. “It was perhaps in our favor. Had the King of Hybern possessed Narben, I fear we would have lost the war.” Narben’s powers had not been the holy, savior’s light of Gwydion, but ones far darker. “I can’t believe that witch threw it into the sea,” Cassian said. “Again, it was a rumor, heard from someone who heard it from someone. Who knows if she actually found Narben? Even if it would not obey her, she’d have been a fool to throw it away.” “Amarantha could be shortsighted,” Rhys said. Cassian hated the sound of her name on his brother’s tongue. From the flare of rage on Azriel’s face, so did the shadowsinger. “But you, Rhysand, are not.” Amren nodded to the still-rotating weapons. “With these three blades, you could make yourself High King.” The words clanged through the room. Cassian slowly blinked. - ACOSF, chapter 42 

A naked, golden-haired male stood before her. He was of average height, his golden skin sculpted with muscle, his sharp-boned face simmering with hate. Not a repulsive, awful creature, but one of beauty. His black eyes narrowed upon the blade as he hissed, “That is not Narben.” The name meant nothing to her. Nesta lunged, thrusting Ataraxia into eighth position. Lanthys leaped back. Cassian groaned, stirring to consciousness as she held the ground in front of her. “Which death-god are you?” Lanthys demanded, glancing between the blade and her. The silver fire sizzling in her eyes. - ACOSF, chapter 54 

Nesta considered all Lanthys had said. “And what is Narben?” “Lanthys asked about it?” “He said my sword isn’t Narben. He sounded surprised.” Rhys studied her blade. “Narben is a death-sword. It’s lost, possibly destroyed, but stories say it can slay even monsters like Lanthys.” “So can Nesta’s sword, apparently,” Feyre said, studying the blade as well. “Beheading him with it killed him,” Rhys mused. “A slice from it seemed to bind him into a physical form,” Nesta corrected. “Cassian’s dagger struck true only after Lanthys had been forced to give up his mist.” “Interesting,” Rhys murmured. - ACOSF, chapter 55 

I do still wonder if Truth-Teller, which we know from the end of CC HOSAB pulses with a dark light - could have been the blade of Narben somehow turned into a spear, as Azriel (with his many references to death) found it, Elain managed to slay the King of Hybern using it with no previous training (and that's not to belittle her defeat of Hybern, or the fact she may have managed to use great magic with no training after only a few months tops as a faerie), and Azriel might be so protective over TT not only because it's (likely) Made, and non-Made beings cannot use it, but it might also lead to his doom if lost (which, hello scary future plot point). 

That being said, Narben could still be it's own blade/spear, a third in a trio of weapons to mirror the trove that Nesta Made in ACOSF (and this is the way I lean, purely because SJM seems to love balance and cyclical events in her writings, and "three" features quite consistently). As I mentioned above, Narben contains, at least as far as we know, powers far darker than those of Gwydion. We also know that "light and dark and gray" formed part of the Book of Breathings' prophecy back in ACOMAF; could Gwydion be the light, Narben the dark, and Truth-Teller the grey? The bridge between the two? 

Additionally, Amarantha was rumoured to have found it during her reign, supposedly destroying it when it would not bend to her will; was that because Narben, like Gwydion, was Made by the Cauldron, so she could not access its powers, as a non-Made faerie? If Narben is actually a spear, did Amarantha then remove its hypothetical blade from its shaft… could Narben's shaft be the age worn bond Nesta saw when she was in her song-lured scrying? Will Elain and Azriel have to chase down both components of it to wield it at it's full power? Perhaps in Hel?

As an aside, it's interesting that the Spear of Lugh is also known as the Spear of Destiny. The fates were apparently warped into Lugh's spear, which was then brought from (and so I assume forged in) Goirias, known as the city of the faith. This, to me, sounds very much like it could apply to a blade of some sort used by a priestess, and forged in a temple. I know I have theorised about her before (and also suggested that Narben could have been Fionn and/or Koschei's blade - I never said I was consistent lol), but which priestess has a very unknown past, we've never seen her face to judge her age or features, and is associated by name with the fates/Moirai? CLOTHO.

Could Clotho/Narben have been far older than Theia/Gwydion, and with powers far darker? Theia was known for her light, and Clotho, as I've said before, was first introduced from the shadows. It's not substantiated by much, but who knows at this point. 

Gwydion - inspired by the Sword of Light

Back when I first drafted this post, in June 2021 (shh, I know, it's been almost a year and a half), we had no idea what was awaiting us at the end of CC HOSAB, but after the discovery that Gwydion is, in fact, the Starsword - which shines with light and is wielded by the heir to Theia's power - it's pretty likely that if anything was to be inspired by the Sword of Light, it would be Gwydion. 

“All three,” Cassian said. “First the sword, then the dagger, and then the great sword.” Rhys and Amren exchanged a look. Cassian demanded, “What?” [...] “Once, the High Fae were more elemental, more given to reading the stars and crafting masterpieces of art and jewelry and weaponry. Their gifts were rawer, more connected to nature, and they could imbue objects with that power.” Cassian instantly knew where this was headed. “Nesta put her power in those swords?” “No one has been able to create a magic sword in more than ten thousand years,” Amren said. “The last one Made, the great blade Gwydion, vanished around the time the last of the Trove went missing.” - ACOSF, chapter 42

Was Narben made first, then Truth-Teller, and then, finally, Gwydion? We know from CC HOSAB that Gwydion was Theia's, and belongs to her female heirs… Could Narben and Truth-Teller be the same? Whether or not Narben was Clotho's, or another female of Theia's line, it's interesting (and I know I've said this before) that Gwydion and Truth-Teller were found by two males who are heavily associated with shadows (and while we know Ruhn pulled the Starsword from a rock, I only suspect that Az might have done the same with Truth-Teller) before passing them on to a female who has a power associated with the Greek goddess Theia (Light and Sight) to be used for maximum magical effect.

Could the "true Fae High King" actually have referred to Theia all along, and "King" just meant ruler, but the language has evolved to mean male only? Did Fionn, who is possibly Koschei, co-opt Theia's power for himself and rewrite history to suit? The "true" reminds me a little too much of Dusk's Truth for me to let this idea go.

“This sword isn’t Gwydion,” Cassian said, well aware of the myths regarding the sword. It had belonged to a true Fae High King in Prythian, as there had been in Hybern. He had united the lands, its people—and for a while, with that sword, peace had reigned. Until he had been betrayed by his own queen and his fiercest general, and lost the sword to them, and the lands fell into darkness once more. Never again to see another High King��only High Lords, who ruled the territories that had once answered to the king. “Gwydion is gone,” Amren said, a shade sadly, “or has been gladly missing for millennia.” She nodded toward the great sword. “This is something new.” Azriel said, “Nesta created a new magic sword.” “Yes,” Amren said. “Only the Great Powers could do that—Gwydion was given its powers when the High Priestess Oleanna dipped it into the Cauldron during its crafting.” Cassian’s blood chilled, waves rippling over his skin. “One touch from Nesta’s magic while the blade was still hot …” “And the blade was infused with it.” - ACOSF, chapter 42 

If you're up to date with Crescent City, then you know that Gwydion is, at that point (wherever it will play into ACOTAR's timeline), no longer missing from Prythian, and I'm excited to see what happens next. 

Truth-Teller - inspired by Fragarach 

Fragarach was not one of the Four Treasures of the Tuatha de Danann, however, I believe it still rates a mention in this post. Given we now know from CC HOSAB that Gwydion and Truth-Teller are paired blades, as @icedflames had theorised (light and dark light, alpha and omega), I think it's likely significant that both the Sword of Light and Fragarach were both used by Nuada, the first high king of the Tuatha de Danann. The Sword of Light was said to be used by Nuada in battle, and Fragarach - which was also known as The Answerer or the Whisperer - was Nuada's own blade, as well.

Does this mean that both Gwydion/the Starsword and Truth-Teller were Theia's own blades? Did the different properties of each, light and dark light, allow her to access different aspects of her own hypothetical powers? We know that Theia was a Starborn faerie with a very specific and powerful light, but was she also a Seer, able to access the murky space between as Elain theoretically can? And, as I keep obsessing about, could she be the Mother figure known to Prythian?

For a much more detailed look at Truth-Teller and Fragarach's parallels, and how they may have been pointing towards Elain all along, please read this post here. Essentially, though, I would not be at all surprised if Truth-Teller was able to help Elain access the murky realm, and possibly the Ouroboros, especially while she was still learning, allowing her access to her powers (posts by @wingedblooms): Sight, of which we already know, as well as others. I think and hope she can winnow, as Azriel does, at a minimum. 

At any rate, whether this theory is accurate or not, I can't wait to see where everything is going. Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this theory, please consider reblogging. 💜

#dusk court #the dusk court #dusk court theory #acotar #acotar theory #crescent city #crescent city theory #hosab spoilers #acotar cc tog crossover theory #starborn #gwydion #queen theia #high king fionn #fionn #koschei #koschei acotar #elain archeron #azriel shadowsinger #elain archeron theory #azriel theory #truth teller #truth teller theory #four treasures

[deathladyofdusk]

It does make sense to have Nesta find 3 Troves, resurrect the Valkeries, rise a skeleton army, and be called a Queen at least five different ways...if she's going to become the High Lady of the Dusk Court.

It does make sense to have Commander General Cassian become a courtier...if he's going to become the High Lord of the Dusk Court.

#dusk court theory #acosf theory #nesta archeron #nessian #nesta acosf #a court of silver flames #Nesta #and no spring allergies in the Dusk Court!

[thefangirlofhp]

“Stop! Putting! Hints! To! The! Dusk! Court! Theory! In! Every! Work! You! Put! Out!!”

I. Would. Rather. Die.

#dusk court #dusk court theory #listen idc idk idgaf it is canon in my head somewhere along the line that it’ll happen #not in the foreseeable future. in the distant one. sorta like an ambition for many ages to come

[emmitaaa4]

"As if the city view held some answer." On visions, heartbeats through stone, and the Dusk Court.

I'm but a procrastinating engineering student so this is going to be a bit of a messy post/theory, but here we go.

HOFAS spoilers:

Others have probably already theorized about this, but we know that Bryce ended up giving back TT and handing the Starsword (Gwydion) to the acotar folks... could it be that the Gwydion is destined to be Elain's? Or used by Elain, perhaps in the revival of the Dusk court? After all, as @bright-side20 and others have pointed out we already know that she likely accessed TT's powers in acowar (stepping out of a shadow to kill Hybern; if I am not mistaken TT leaked a darkness that even Az was surprised to witness in HOFAS).

sidenote: if you are curious about the link between Avallen & the Dusk court, I encourage everyone to go read this theory/breakdown!

Could this also be why the fact that Elain returned TT (which was an obvious action) was emphasized in ACOFAS, where SJM said she planted seeds for future bookS? Cause I find it interesting that it is Mor of all people that hums pensively as she points out that Elain gave TT back to Azriel: does she know/sense something with that power of hers? Does Elain perhaps See something too, given that she supposedly moved away from it very assuredly? After all, Mor was the one to say that "there is a reason that Elain is seeing these things" (acowar).

ALSO... I believe it's been pointed out already that the heartbeat through the stone that elain famously heard in acowar could have been a literal "beating, vibrant heart locked away far beneath"; i.e. the heart of the Dusk court (hofas). I find it all the more interesting, then, that Gwydion is described to have its light like a heartbeat (paraphrased from hofas, I dont remember the exact quote).

After all, it is looking away from Lucien, towards the windows, that she tells him--or rather, appears to be telling him:

“When I sleep,” she murmured, “I can hear your heart beating through the stone.” She angled her head, as if the city view held some answer. “Can you hear mine?” “He wasn’t sure if she truly meant to address him, but he said, “No, lady. I cannot.”

I repeat:

as if the CITY VIEW held some answer.

What if it did? And what if that answer is found in Gwydion's light and/or the Dusk court's beating heart?

In fact, what else do we know happens (or happened in acowar at least) when she sleeps? Visions, most likely: before she gained the understanding she needed to free herself from the murky-realm she was trapped in (thanks to my man Az), she was lost in a dream-like state. And those dreams often including the trashing sea...

"I can see so very far now. All the way to the sea." Indeed, the sea beyond the Sydra was a distant sparkle. (...) “I can hear your heartbeat—if I listen carefully. I can hear her heartbeat, too.” (who is her? is she hearing her sisters' literal heartbeats, or someone/something else's?)

“I can hear the sea. Even at night. Even in my dreams. The crashing sea—and the screams of a bird made of fire.”

These quotes have been dissected countless times already, but what I'd really like to add to the conversation is that there is something interesting from a passage from HOFAS I referenced earlier:

“And in that moment, the mountain—the island—spoke to her. Alone. It was so alone—it had been waiting all this time. Cold and adrift in this trashing grey sea. If she could reach out, if she could open her heart to it… it might sing again. Awaken. There was a beating, vibrant heart locked away, far beneath them. If she freed it, the land would rise from its slumber, and such wonders would spring again from its earth (…)”

I am about to make the mother of all reaches (call me delulu idc idc), but all this talk about Elain being “blooming spring” and “a promise of spring”… and here we have a slumbering, barren Island (not unlike the way she herself has been forgotten, has been lost in dreams) in the trashing sea (crashing sea, anyone?) which could spring anew.

Just to wrap this up, you cant tell me that this passage isn't extremely Elain "gentle-grower-of-life" Archeron coded:

Dusk, twilight—that’s what the island was in its long-buried heart, what her power bloom into, the lands rising with it. It was, as she said, as if the island had a soul that now blossomed under her care, nurtured by the court she built here.

-------

Voila :) Hopefully I didnt get things mixed up and this made at least a little bit of sense. Ok so done with my procrastination and now back to thermodynamics (send help)(please).

#hofas spoilers #elain archeron #pro elain #dusk court #hofas #truth teller #gwydion #acotar 5 #acotar theory #kinda messy but bear with me #i needed to brain dump #mor acotar #elriel

[acourtofthought]

HOFAS SPOILERS -

More on Gwydion, Fionn, and Truth Teller

I was kicking around this idea yesterday but now I think I've solidified my thoughts on it and changed my mind on a few things. .

"It's why the Starsword calls to the descendents of Helena - of Theia". But only those with enough of Theia's starlight to trigger its power."

We can almost guarantee Rhys is a descendent of Theia through Silene.

And Mor is Rhys's cousin, her family having ruled the North long before his family, even before the prison was created which means she could be as well, Mor who has golden hair as did Theia:

Based on what we now know, Gwydion did originally belong to Fionn and at the time it was a symbol of the first High King. Truth Teller once belonged to Enaulis (his friend), which Fionn wore at his side after his death. However once Theia took the weapons from Fionn after his death, she "made" the Starsword and Truth Teller with her light which is why only her female descendents can use it at its full power (which I think is telling us that it has to go to someone other than Nesta despite it being in her possession, she is not a descendent of Theia).

Az was able to use it at one point only because he was the keeper of Truth Teller and the blades have a desire to be close to one another.

Theia was not necessarily the heroine as she was made out to be in Crescent City and Gwydion no longer represents a "saviors" light so it belonging in the possession of someone who is both light (a characteristic of Mor) and bloodthirsty (which Rhys mentions her as being) is a good fit. Light and Dark - a combination of the two being Twilight or Dusk.

I do still think Bryce leaving Nesta the lands of the Prison, Bryce's birthright, is setting us up for it becoming Valkyrie territory, where they'll possibly remain as defenders of the portal that seems to exist there, and as Mor expressed interest in training with the Valkyrie in SF and we're given hints she'll not be staying in the NC, the pieces seem to fall into place for her to end up living there if they all found a way to bring it back from its current state. It seems the monsters in the Prison are the cause for the land around it dying so by eliminating the current inhabitants, it's possible for it to again become what it once was.

And I think that whoever else is a descendent of Fionn & Theia could still be a contender of the High King plot if SJM goes that route. A lot of focus is placed on the bloodline of the females who contain Theia's light however not much is said of what Fionn's bloodline was capable of (if anything) or whether there are male or female descendants who show hints of his power.

Or if they simply realizing that they are a descendent, it could somehow lead to a course correction of history, where the land that died as a result of his death will be restored, a land I believe to be the Bog of Oorid.

We're told Fionn's general Pelias had red hair and Fionn had golden hair. We're also told they once went hunting in the lands in the middle, where Oorid lies and to me that indicates Fionn was possibly not of NC descent.

So maybe there is still something there to connect Lucien to the High King plot considering he is not only descended from Autumn Court but connected to the lands of Spring through the Rite and has Day powers through Helion which may or may not somehow connect to the "bright light" part of Theia's light versus the darker lights of Silene and Helena (her daughters).

Rhys could be connected to the High King plot through Silene and Fionn as well however, Amren tells us that the Cauldron's benevolence may extend itself to another if he rejects his birthright.

Truth-Teller

I do believe that if Mor were meant to have Gwydion it could provide an explanation for Az struggling to let go of Mor.

If Truth Teller has been longing to reconnect with the sword for 15,000 years it would make sense that Az would find himself pulled to Mor if TT recognized her as a descendent of Theia's daughter. It was not necessarily Az himself being pulled to her but him being influenced by the dagger to some degree.

It does not seem that Gwyn will end up with Gwydion, she doesn't seem to be descended from Theia or her daughters as her heritage is not that of the Night Court. But Gwydion and Truth Teller want to be together.

What if Az takes the dagger Nesta made (as it was in their possession again at the end of SF) and he gives Emorie Truth Teller to keep?

It's poetic, not only if she and Mor are endgame, but because Truth Teller originally belonged to Enaulis. A female Illyrian ending up with the dagger of an original Illyrian hero is girl power at its finest.

#pro lucien vanserra #pro morrigan #mor acotar #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acotar #hofas spoilers #gwydion #theia crescent city #nesta acosf #crossover acotar #dusk court #valkyrie #emorie #gwyn acotar #rhysand acotar #truth teller #acotar theory

[bright-side20]

Dusk Court/Night Court

I have a theory but I'm not quite sure

Could Mor's family be involved in prisonning people of the Dusk court?

“This place,” he said, “was made before High Lords existed. Before Prythian was Prythian. Some of the inmates remember those days. Remember a time when it was Mor’s family, not mine, that ruled the North.”

“There was a time when the Night Court was a Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City."

=We know that Mor's family rulled before Rhys's family,and knows when the prison was made.

“The hounds looked like the beasts in the Hewn City,” Nesta said quietly. They all looked at her. She admitted, “Lanthys showed me a vision. Of … what he and I might be. Together. We ruled in a palace, king and queen with the Trove, and at our feet sat those hounds. They looked like the scaled beasts carved into the Hewn City’s pillars.”

Even Rhys had no answer to that.

=Could this imply that Mor's family has a history of slaying those beasts, carving them into the pillars of the Hewn City to commemorate their victory? Therefore, they might be descendants of Fionn, and that's why Keir thinks he's more worthy of ruling the Night Court. However, even though Fionn was married to Theai, her blood might not have crossed with the people of the Hewn City.

Also, Amren was imprisoned before Fionn's fall :

"she arrived during those years before Fionn and Gwydion rose, and went into the Prison during the Age of Legends—They feared Amren, believing her one of their enemies, and threw her into the Prison. When she emerged again, she’d missed Fionn’s fall and the loss of Gwydion, and found the High Lords ruling.”

=That implies the Dusk Court was turned into a prison possibly by Fionn, before Theia killed him and initiated the crossing.

_I think that perhaps when Fionn made the prison, the Dusk Court people were given a place in the Night Court, close to Rhys's family and maybe Azriel's. This could be how they shared blood with them, possibly through Theia's unknown daughters. After Theia and Pelias took revenge and initiated the crossing with Helena and people from different courts, someone from Fionn's people (from the Hewn City) decided to punish the remaining Dusk Court people through the harp. Perhaps they made them believe they could use it to open a gate between worlds, but instead, it pushed them into the stone, where they were imprisoned.

“ I think someone very wicked used this last.” She stared into the darkness above. “I think they used it to … to trap their enemies and their enemies’ children into the stone itself.” Was that what had been happening to her just now? The Harp had been pushing her into the rock, fusing her soul with it?

Mor and Rhys are a distant cousin:

"Mor is my cousin in the loosest definition,” he said. She grinned at him, devouring slices of tomato and pale cheese. “But we were raised together. She’s my only surviving family.”

So if they're related only through Fionn it would make sense.

_In general whether it's a Fionn's relative who prisoned the dusk cout people or not, I think the court of nightmares is involved and I guess the spy mission could be there.

In relation to Elain :

The dread troves were remembered after the sisters were made. Obviously, it's not a coincidence; it's the time of the Dusk Court to come into play, and who can do this mission other than a Cauldron-blessed ? Elain is the Cauldron of Rebirth, and she's the one to bring them back to life.

#acotar theory #acotar thoughts #rhys acotar #elain archeron #pro elain #pro elriel #azriel acotar #sarahjmaas #sjm #dusk court #night court #morrigan #a court of thorns and roses

[pinklayla123]

Are the Illyrians a Retired Prototype of the Angels from Crescent City?

Illyrians are notorious throughout Prythian, because they are only found in Illyria and because of their physical appearance, most notably their bat-like wings. While bats are commonly believed to be nocturnal (most active at night), they are actually crepuscular (most active at dawn/dusk).

Why is this important? This creates a link between the Illyrians and the Dusk Court, the Court that has been destroyed for all purposes and now serves as a Prison, but has some strange link to CC. We know this because the Asteri have a literal room called Dusk's truth, that mentions an island (the Prison) in another world (Prythian) where the fae in CC came from. The floor in the inner chamber of the Prison also has an eight-pointed star engraved into it, the symbol of the Starborn fae in CC.

Their geographic spread is also a little strange. The people of the Dawn Court and Drakon's people have the same feathered wings, so their population spread sometime in the past, and many other species are mentioned to be found throughout the world, but Illyrians, for some reason, stick to their mountains.

The Illyrians also have Ramiel, which they believe to be a sacred mountain and is essentially a giant teleportation machine. They also have stories of their greatest warrior protecting the pass, and stopping people from getting to the top, where the a strange black stone is, so we know it served an important at some point in history.

It is possible that Ramiel somehow acted as a portal, or at least a small window, that the Asteri could control and used to send the Illyrians, soldiers they had created for conquest, into Prythian, since they obviously had some issue with the people of Dusk.

If I remember correctly, CC mentions that the Starborn Queen Theia, who is presumably from the Dusk Court, created problems for the Asteri, so it is possible that in return they made Illyrians to fight for them in Prythian, but when Theia somehow removed their access to Prythian, the Illyrians were left behind, with protecting Ramiel programmed into their brains, and the Asteri created new and improved soldiers for Migard, who were more obedient and had better healing.

#acotar #acotar theory #acotar crossover #crecent city #dusk court #mine

[nightcourtreader]

I need an explanation as to why people think that out of all people in acotar, it’s Azriel whose story ties into the dusk court.

I still don’t even think we know enough about the “dusk court” because one it’s not even a court and hasn’t been for many years. We don’t have the full story yet even after reading hosab.

We don’t know if the court will be up and running because if the dusk court is what the prison isle is now, and the court is suppose to be up and running after crescent city or Elain’s book then where the hell are the creatures that’s locked up there suppose to go?

But connecting Azriel to the dusk court when nobody really has a hard connection to the prison isle besides feysand & nessian since they are the only people we’ve seen go there. I don’t see the connection with Azriel.

#azriel #azriel acotar #dusk court #dusk theory #azriel spymaster #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acosf

[lorcandidlucienwill]

Acotar theories: Mor

So I reblogged this in response to a post about the Prythian magic system ages ago and now I’m expanding on my own theory so I’m making a separate post about it.

Everyone is obsessed with the Dusk Court and is convinced that the Valkyries will repopulate it and Azriel will become High Lord or whatever. But I disagree completely. @acourtofthought had a post ages ago about Mor that made me think: what if Mor is destined to leave the Night Court? What if she becomes the High Lady of Dusk? She did say she wants to train with the Valkyries so it would make sense if she became one of them. And if you read my post above you’ll see my explanation as to why I think Mor is a High Lady.

#mor #the morrigan #acotar theories #dusk court #the valkyries

[fleyrie]

We gonna ignore that fact that in Hoeab, Bryce had her nails painted DUSK colours. (*cough* Dusk Court)

The foreshadowing, though. Sarah misses absolutely nothing.

#sjm #Hoeab #dusk Court #high lords of prythian #sjm theory #crescent city #Bryce Quinlan #acosf

[offtorivendell]

The Asteri, the Daglan, and Prythian's Court System

Disclaimer: this is a stupidly massive crack theory that could end up being disastrously wrong. Oh well.

Spoilers: the ACOTAR and CC series to date (I'm halfway through HOFAS right now, slowly plodding along, so nothing beyond that).

Image from ACOSF, Kindle edition.

Buckle up for some more of my nonsense! I think I could have discovered why Prythian's land has the Court and High Lord Systems. This theory still has a couple of wrinkles to iron out, but it's plausible, so I figured I'd share what I've got.

A massive thank you goes to @ladynightcourt3 and @psychologynerd for our chat yesterday morning, which led to this post. I love you guys! 💜

Full warning that this will A) be absolutely cracked, and B) contains Maasverse spoilers, including from HOFAS (up to around 40% I think), but I was mulling over what I'd read so far and this popped into my mind.

Part 1 - The Court System

Bryce made, I think, one hell of an assumption when she said the following in HOFAS:

Vesperus, the only Asteri left on this world, lay dead. - CC HOFAS, chapter 26

@wingedblooms and I have previously theorised that some of the barren regions in Prythian may be so because the death gods were trapped there, drinking the magic of the land, rendering it spent - lifeless - and possibly unable to power up a gateway to an interstellar rift. We both also think it's very interesting that one Elain Archeron was referred to as “a rose bloom in a mud field,” but I digress.

However, in HOFAS, we learnt that there was a Daglan/Asteri, called Vesperus (who considered herself the Evening Star and their god), trapped in a crystal coffin far below the Prison, which was once a land of Dusk.

The female’s long nails scraped along the lid of the coffin. She didn’t look at them as she tested the lid for weaknesses. “I am your god. I am your master. Do you not know me?” - CC HOFAS, chapter 24

It's interesting, no, that the region was named after the Daglan who ruled it? Was this common practice? Because we just so happened to learn, in Feysand’s ACOSF bonus chapter, that there was once an ancient Night Court goddess named Nyx.

You know, their son's namesake? Yikes. 🫣

“You may call me Vesperus.” The creature’s eyes glowed with irritation. “Are you related to Hesperus?” Bryce arched a brow at the name, so similar to one of Midgard’s Asteri. “The Evening Star?” “I am the Evening Star,” Vesperus seethed. - CC HOFAS, chapter 25

Silene, Theia's second daughter, who “escaped into the night,” gave us further information that appeared - to me, at least - to be incomplete. Or perhaps inaccurate? She had been taught by her mother, so she could have been fed certain things as facts. For example, was the land of Prythian really divvied up into seasons and times of day before the Daglan came to town?

The land strengthened. It returned to what it had been before the Daglan’s arrival millennia before. We returned to what we’d been before that time, too, creatures whose very magic was tied to this land. Thus the land’s powers became my mother’s. Dusk, twilight—that’s what the island was in its long-buried heart, what her power bloomed into, the lands rising with it. It was, as she said, as if the island had a soul that now blossomed under her care, nurtured by the court she built here. - CC HOFAS, chapter 19

The Cauldron was of our world, our heritage. But upon arriving here, the Daglan captured it and used their powers to warp it. To turn it from what it had been into something deadlier. No longer just a tool of creation, but of destruction. And the horrors it produced … those, too, my parents would turn to their advantage. - CC HOFAS, chapter 19

My sister and I grew older. My mother educated us herself, always reminding us that though the Daglan had been vanquished, evil lived on. Evil lurked beneath our very feet, always waiting to devour us. - CC HOFAS, chapter 19

Reading between the lines, I think it's just possible to link the powers of each land with the Daglan who once ruled over them. Perhaps each region - each “precursor” to a modern day Court - had a Daglan/Asteri buried underneath a barren peak, or in a body of water? Is this why the lands have frozen seasons, pools of starlight*, or powers based upon the light of the time of day? Because of a monster buried far, far below the surface?!

*Is there a Daglan entombed in a crystal coffin far below the surface, or is it a cache of firstlight, one that may be refuelled each Calanmai? Or, as @psychologynerd has suggested, is there a Made object of power that will draw Elain to the Spring Court?

Our home had been left empty since we’d vanished. As if the other Fae thought it cursed. So I made it truly cursed. Damned it all. - CC HOFAS, chapter 21

Despite my efforts to hide what this place had once been, a terrible, ancient power hung in the air. It was as my mother had warned us when we were children: evil always lingered, just below us, waiting to snatch us into its jaws. So I went to find another monster to conceal it. - CC HOFAS, chapter 21

I left, wandering the lands for a time, seeing how they had moved on without Theia’s rule. They’d splintered into several territories, and though they were not at war, they were no longer the unified kingdom I had known. - CC HOFAS, chapter 21

As a quick aside, I still suspect that Fionn may have been a Daglan - or similar, perhaps an Under King - who tricked Theia into thinking him a normal faerie and used her to overthrow his peers in order to gain more land for himself. It seems exactly like something a rogue Asteri would do.

Like I suggested earlier, could each region be named for its ruler? Because the names of at least one of the Midgard Asteri was, shall we say, coincidentally similar to the Daglan of Prythian, and others appear to match at least the solar courts.

Solar:

Dawn - Eosphoros

Day - Rigelus

Dusk - Hesperus

Night - Sirius

Seasonal (incomplete/unsure/probably incorrect):

Spring - Austrus?

Summer - Octartis?

Autumn - ?

Winter - Polaris?

As I said, the Midgardian Asteri don't perfectly match up to the seasonal Prythian courts, but it's too close to not consider as a possibility, imo.

Perhaps the lands of Midgard were broken up into solar regions and something else that wasn't seasonal? But given the Vesperus/Hesperus competition... maybe whatever species Asteri and/or Daglan are are strongest when travelling with a full complement of powers? And each "clan" (for lack of a better word) that travelled together had dawn, day, dusk, and night “lights,” as well as spring, summer, autumn and winter lights? Could it weaken them to be without a full cohort of powers? As @ladynightcourt3 said, it would explain why they were so upset about Sirius. Could Rigelus be hoping for a replacement to find them and return them to full strength, and that's why he keeps an empty throne?

Part 2 - The High Lords

No one knew that the infant who sometimes glowed with starlight had inherited it from me. That it was the light of the evening star. The dusk star. - CC HOFAS, chapter 21

An Asteri being buried under each Court could explain the high lord magic as well.The HLs are “a different breed,” per Lucien. Did the Asteri/Daglan need a Starborn Fae who is predisposed to holding, or withstanding, their magic? If this is the case, it would explain why the next in line to inherit the power - or who the magic chooses - isn't always a direct descendant of the previous high lord. Does it pass to the Fae with the strongest Starborn blood? And why the mountain shook when Mor got her first period. There has to be a Daglan/Asteri buried under the Hewn City.

That being said, why is it only men who can inherit the magic, and not women, especially when we now know that high ladies used to exist? Did Theia's betrayal made them distrust females in general, or was it something Seline did? Or is it because the women have the most/purest/strongest, starborn power, so did the men keep them down to use them as “breeding stock” in order to legitimise their rule, similar to what Pelias did with Helena?

Part 3 - Further Thoughts

I still wonder how Hybern and Hel could come into play here, because I think those lands are linked. A Valg/Hel Prince population on a different island?

@psychologynerd noted that we’ve previously connected the solar and seasonal courts, such Dawn = Spring, Day = Summer etc., and that it would track for Autumn and Dusk - an appropriately matched pair - to migrate together to Midgard. As an aside, this could tie in with the parallels shared by Azriel and Lucien, who may be/are linked to Dusk and Autumn. What if their power was connected via their “stars”?

@ladynightcourt3 wondered if Hesperus may have changed her name, hence Vesperus’ anger.

I can understand how a Daglan's presence may impart their magic into the land, especially if they're left buried - steeping? - in the soil for millennia, but how would that magic shape the faeries living there? Is it like I suggested in this post, that prolonged exposure to a powerful object allows a tie to be forged?

A bonus crack theory for fun - what if Merrill is a trapped Asteri? Either Nyx or Sirius, whom Apollion ate, and perhaps she escaped the pit of Hel through the base of the House of Wind library; nobody knows where she came from, she's descended from Rabbath of the Western Wind… her room is described as a cell and she called Nesta “girl” like Amren - an ancient - did. I dunno, but there's something about Merrill.

As always, thank you for reading! 💜

#hosab spoilers #hofas spoilers #acotar cc tog crossover theory #acotar theory #the dusk court #dusk court #the night court #night court #prythian #acotar #sjm books #maasverse #feysand #feyre archeron #rhys acotar #crack theory

[deathladyofdusk]

Dusk Court Theory

I think SJM's endgame is to make Nesta and Cassian in charge of the Dusk Court.

First of all, SJM pivots Cassian from being the General to learning how to play nice in political situations.

Nesta is drawn to the area beneath the prison where she found the Harp. It was as though she was being told to explore more.

Nesta's powers seem to align more with rebirth/resurrection instead of just death. She brought Nyx back and saved Feyre/Rhys, but she also rose the Valkeries from absolutely nothing. And of course she found and used the Trove, which had essentially been dead for centuries.

Plus, the winged horses were originally from the island, right? Wouldn't it make sense if the pegasus and Valkerie were connected to the Dusk Court originally?

Nesta's never really been a member of the IC. That's okay! She's created her own group, and it looks like she may be in charge of her own court in the future.

Does anyone want a more in-depth Dusk Court theory? I would be happy to dig into this more.

#pro nesta archeron #nesta archeron #acosf #a court of silver flames #dusk court theory

[vestigesofperversion]

The absolutely UNAWARE foreshadowing of Bells Hells being like been a while since we had a fight! as Orym spars with the person they could fight next, after said fae attempts to murder Fearne’s family 😭😭

i love this for them

#kinda wonder if any of them #watched last weeks episode #not that they have time #critical role #cr3 #cr3 spoilers #bells hells #seelie court #orym of the air ashari #cr dusk #erika ishii #fearne calloway #birdie calloway #oleander calloway #fearne backstory #cr shitpost #critspiracy theories

[shallyne]

“No. The Prison is law unto itself; the island may be even an eighth court . But it falls under my jurisdiction, and my blood is keyed to the gates.”

"Some of the inmates remember those days. Remember a time when it was Mor’s family, not mine, that ruled the North.”

“I was born stronger than anyone in my family. Even the males. And I couldn’t hide it, because they could smell it— the same way you can smell a High Lord’s Heir before he comes to power. The power leaves a mark, an … echo."

Mor is High Lady of the Dusk Court

#acotar #a court of thorns and roses #dusk court #mor #mor acotar #morrigan acotar #morrigan #High Lady of the Dusk Court #Mor Starborn #Shallyne theories #Shallyne theory

[nikethestatue]

What if the Cauldron was a Male?

The theory is this (and I’ve discussed it with a mutual who isn’t on Tumblr, so I don’t think I am the only one who has this as a possibility) - what if the Cauldron was once a man?

We know that there is a Mother, and then there is the Cauldron. And, based on the tapestry/mural that Feyre saw in Tamlin’s manor, the Mother (a woman) basically ‘poured’ life out of the Cauldron. Both are always interconnected. And, as we witness, without the Cauldron, the world would end.

Frequently, when there is a mention of mate bonds, both the Mother and the Cauldron are discussed.

For example, when Rhys and Feyre discuss mate bonds, Rhys states that they could be coming from the Mother or from the ‘Cauldron’s swirling eddies’. In Azriel’s POV, we have ‘only for the Mother to witness’ and ‘what if the Cauldron was wrong?” During the birth scene, we have Nesta hearing a soft female voice (the Mother, we assume), all the while she is bargaining with the Cauldron. 

We know that the Cauldron is sentient--at least to a certain degree. It ‘raged’ when Nesta stole something from it. And it ‘purred’ in Elain’s presence. It’s been said that ‘the Cauldron loves Elain’. It ‘took’ whatever Nesta gave back and it ‘responded’ to her pleas.

So, the theory is--what if at one point, the Cauldron was a male. The Mother’s male counterpart. Wherever the Mother came from, and we can assume that she is an Asteri-like figure, but benevolent, rather than malevolent, she had a male mate/husband/lover (whatever you want to call it). But, during the move to Prythian and the new world, for whatever reason, only SHE could enter. Not the male. And what if the male was made into this life/death giving object, that she brought with her? Not only is there no life in Prythian without the Cauldron (it’s life sustaining), but all life came FROM it (as in seeded). What if the Mother, unable to part with her mate, managed to either transform him into this object of immense power, which contains his essence, for we can assume that he would’ve been at least as powerful as the Mother. OR, he sacrificed himself to be with her, and willingly was re-made into the pot?

And what if the concept of matehood comes from the two of them? It mimics their love and their union. But only a few chosen ones could really experience it in all its force and glory. That’s why true mates are so rare? What if those bonds--a Feysand-level bond--come from both the Mother and the Cauldron? Whereas weaker bonds are indeed designed to create stronger species? powerful leaders? Fae with very powerful magic?

If the Cauldron was a male, it would explain ‘human’-like feelings that it gives off. What if Elain, with her beauty and kindness and general disposition, reminded the Cauldron of the Mother? Of his/its lover? The Cauldron could’ve destroyed Elain--she was the first one to be put into it. It could’ve killed her, made her into something horrific, or even punished her like it did the Queen. Instead, not only did she survive, emerged beautiful, it also GAVE her something. Nesta stole something, but the Cauldron gave Elain a gift--a gift of Sight (and probably more). What if the Cauldron have her TWO MATES as well? One--a true soul mate, in Azriel--and another, the mate of Power, with Lucien? Could she, therefore, become a High Lady? Because of whatever gifts the Cauldron bestowed upon her? 

If we assume that Elain’s Power is Life, versus Nesta’s Death, it would be in line with the Cauldron’s love for her, for it is a vessel through which all life flows and began. Can someone, with the power of Life, which was granted by an object that is not just the Void, but also Life, revive a dead Court then? And is Azriel, who is associated with Death, is called Death, then not the perfect counterpart to Life? The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end? Azriel, with his strange powers, which resemble the powers of others, who come from a small island which used to be an 8th Court and who is likely that Court’s heir, paired off by Mother and the Cauldron, with a Made female, whose power is Life?

Too farfetched? Perhaps. Or not.

#acotar #acotar theory #acosf theory #ACOTAR 5 #Elriel Book #elain archeron #elain and azriel #elriel #the dusk court

[ae-neon]

Crackpot ACOTAR Theory:

I spoke about this years ago on twitter with a pro-Nesta acc. It's not unpopular I think to think there's an 8th Court: Dusk. And to think it suits Nesta quite well but I've never been one to fantasize about Nesta making her own court.

Theory was that Night was the biggest Court cause it colonised Dusk. Something about Night is so...off? Two capitals and two largely distinct ethnic groups. I know "lesser" Fae exist everywhere but no other court seems to have such a large, distinct group living "untamed" (Ew) within its borders.

High Fae don't seem to have many special distinctions besides their magic so it wouldn't be impossible for the High Fae of Dusk to integrate within Night Court society.

This along with the distinct dislike for Illyrians always made me wonder. It makes Rhysand's mixed heritage and him being the "most powerful Highlord" actually meaningful?

(Nesta and Lucien solo btw, Beron only just loses cause of Daemati hax and in 30 years Tarquin will equal if not surpass)

#acotar #nesta archeron #rhysand #night court #dusk court #theories #headcanon #tarquin #lucien vanserra