#elain theory

[nikethestatue]

I wrote about this before, and I am thinking it needs revisiting.

We know that when Rhys was shot out of the sky, when Feyre found him after that, he was wearing gorsian chains, to stifle his magic.

In HOFAS, we learn that Ruhn was forced to wear them as well, by his father the Autumn King, to stifle his magic.

One other, curious person who was put in such chains was...Elain Archeron. The blue chains that the King placed on her when she showed up at his camp, lured by the Cauldron.

Why is that that the King felt that little Elain who was just Made a couple of months ago in front of him needed gorsian chains on her? Especially when he dumped her in his tent, right by the Cauldron.

What was it about her that concerned him so much, that he felt the need to put something so powerful on her? She's just been lured, she is barefoot and wearing only her nightgown (kind of similar to how she was presented to him initially). What is it that he is so afraid of in sweet little Elain that he doesn't feel secure enough in the knowledge that the Cauldron would be able to keep her in place. He puts her in chains, next to the Cauldron, with additional guards outside the tents, in the middle of his camp, with thousands of his soldiers and where you cannot winnow.

What powers does little Elain have that the King of Hybern needs to stifle them with gorsian chains?

And why did Azriel's first request, while he was bleeding and stumbling, as he carried her in his arms, was 'get Helion to take those chains off her!'

Chains so powerful, they needed a spell cleaver High Lord to wrestle them off of her and even he struggled.

What IS Elain? And what IS her magic?

#elain archeron #elain #elain theory #pro elain archeron

[offtorivendell]

What if Azriel didn't let go of Elain after escaping from Hybern's camp because they're carranam, and he needed the power boost?

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

This is more of a thought dump than a properly researched theory, but I think it's plausible... and I still wanted to share it despite feeling lazy. 😅

Azriel’s power gave out on the outskirts of our camp. [...] The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—a trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out. Contained only by the patches of power he’d slapped on it. Help—he needed a healer immediately. [...] Rhys winnowed into our path before we’d made it past the first line of tents. His eyes went right to Azriel’s wings, then the wound in my shoulder, the paleness of my face. To Elain, then Briar. [...] She let out a sob at the sight of Elain, still in Azriel’s arms. I’d never heard a sound like that from her. Not once. She isn’t hurt, I said to her, into that chamber in her mind. Because words … I couldn’t form them. [...] Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.” Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek. And then walked to me and Nesta, who pulled back long enough to survey Elain’s clean face, her clear eyes. “We need to get you to Thesan,” Rhys said to Azriel. “Right now.” - ACOWAR, chapter 65

This passage from ACOWAR is often quoted in Elriel theories discussing the possibility of a second, or true, mating bond between Elain and Azriel - and for a good reason, imo - but what if it's hinting at the existence of a possible carranam bond instead of, or as well as, a mating bond?

Looking at it in a new light - and this is thanks to me remembering something that @ultadverb posted a week or so ago, but I can't find it now, sorry - what if Azriel, who was bleeding at the time, with no power left of his own, was holding onto Elain because they are carranam, and he needed the power boost to get them home? Could Elain have had a small cut that helped to establish their bond, or do power sharing bonds function without blood contact in ACOTAR, as opposed to TOG? Alternatively, and this is far more likely in my opinion, given his power did in fact "give out" eventually, were the spelled chains that Elain was wearing interfering with a hypothetical carranam bond as they once did with Feyre and Rhys' mating bond?

Was Azriel's cradling Elain to his chest instinctual not because (or at least, not just because) they are mates of a sort, but because they are carranam and Azriel sensed that it was, somehow, what he needed to do to get them all home in one piece? Not that I'm suggesting he was wanting to steal her power for selfish or nefarious reasons of course, but it sounds like something he might have sensed at the time, but not known the depth of what it truly meant for them. Did the spelled chains that the king of Hybern had put on Elain trap her power such that she couldn't help Azriel, even if she had known how? Was Az so insistent that the chains were removed from Elain because his magic sensed hers could help out if it was only unlocked?

This could all be part of why Azriel's shadows seem to disappear around Elain; does she, unwittingly or not, charge them in some way that allows them to brighten through neutral and on into sunlight, and could Azriel do the same for her in a time of need?

Will we see them function as conduits, carranam - or whatever they call it in Prythian - again at some point in the future? 🤞🏻

#elriel #pro elriel #carranam #carranam theory #elain archeron #azriel shadowsinger #elriel theory #azriel theory #elain archeron theory #elain theory #true mates #two mate theory #acotar theory #acotar

[deathsweetblossoms]

Elain, like Elide, Uses Appearance to Make People See What She Wants them to See

I've been playing with this idea for awhile and as soon as I started reading TOG for Elide & Lorcan, it really pulled the whole theory together. Elide is able to borrow the personas of people she knows to get people to do what she wants. Similarly, she knows how to change her appearance (and even Lorcan's) to get people to give her information or do what she needs them to. She knows how to play a role. And Elain? "Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles".

In Feyre’s bonus chapter in ACOSF, Rhys suggests Elain “felt she had to be (sweet and innocent) or else she’d disappoint (everyone).” My personal headcanon is that almost every article of clothing she wears plays exactly into this sentiment. In my theory, she is very similar to Elide, in a way that guarantees a future in espionage. For Elide this was a survival tactic, for Elain she was almost compelled to play into the roles expected of her so as not to disappoint those she cares about. Both motivations for their manipulations play into each woman's journey to self empowerment. It's not seen as "evil" or "bad", it's simply a tool in their arsenal.

The infamous black dress in Hewn City. "Both sisters wore black. Both walked behind Rhys and Feyre...they'd planned it that way, wanting Eris to see for himself how valuable Nesta was." "Elain in black was ridiculous....the color of her long-sleeved, modest gown leeched the brightness from her face....Elain had let her golden-brown hair down tonight*, and pinned it back with twin combs of pearl." Elain is canonically the most beautiful sister. Knowing that, she and everyone knew the political game required all curious eyes to avoid her and to gravitate towards Nesta. The best way to do this is to dress so far down that none of the members of Hewn City would even look twice at her -- which she achieved. Cassian mentions that "he knew the cruelty of the Hewn City troubled (Elain)", but that she'd squared her shoulders and insisted she was a part of the Night Court anyway. That she would do what needed to be done. Knowing that, I think Cassian played right into how she intentionally dressed herself for this event. When Elain wants to feel beautiful, she braids her hair or adds adornments to her body (*see my next point to further prove this), but she purposefully avoided doing that to the extreme. Cassian played right into what she wanted him to see, in the same way that Lorcan played right into Elide's ploy to come across as a naive girl. (Until she isn't anymore and he starts to see who she truly is).

In ACOWAR, when Feyre returns from the Spring Court and comments: “Her hair was down — not even braided. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen it unbound. She wore a moon-white silk dressing gown.” Elain was obviously in crisis mode here, but it says a lot that Feyre can’t remember seeing Elain’s hair unbound — so even when they were starving, even when she had visited her in ACOTAR and ACOMAF, Elain always puts some effort into her hair. * Furthermore, in ACOFAS when Elain sees Azriel in the potato scene, she immediately excuses herself to remove her apron and "rebraid her hair". Canonically, she returned with her hair rebraided. For Azriel. Because she wanted to look pretty for him. Only when Elain was in basically a deep depression was she unable to care enough about her appearance to leave her hair completely unbound. Keeping this into consideration, it casts the scene in Hewn City in a different, curious light in that she put very minimal effort into making her hair look presentable (unbound and simply pinned back with the pearl clips? The girl didn't want ANYONE to notice her).

In ACOTAR, Feyre says this about Elain: “my sister was beaming, content — prettier than I’d ever seen her, even in her simple muslin gardening dress. Her cheeks were flushed beneath her large, floppy hat.” This quote is what inspired this whole theory. I have always wondered if this was Elain's "natural" state, when she felt most comfortable, when she was happy, when she wasn't putting on a show was when she was wearing her simple, muslin gardening dress. In this scene, she was talking about her passions and showing Feyre the garden she grew with her own efforts. She didn't need to put on a show for queens, or neighbors, etc. She was simply with her sisters.

So, what does this all mean? Personally, I think we will see the inner workings of Elain's penchant for intentional fashion in her upcoming POV and we will finally see what it looks like when she isn't playing into the "sweet and innocent" role. Like Elide, I believe she will continue to use appearances and charm as a tool to protect herself and to assist the IC. I also wouldn't be surprised if it assisted with a particular skill set required for gleaning information from rival courts to bring down the bad guys. A few people have expressed that they wish to see Elain wear THE SLUTTIEST DRESS OF ALL TIME when she revisits the Hewn City, and I fully believe she will. It will play into her journey of self discovery and self empowerment; a way to express herself that is still her but with a little more kick to it.

#elain archeron #elain theory #i dont think shes going to pull an entire 180 and go full goth or anything hahaha #but i do think a lot of this is a front #not in an EVIL way #but in a way I can really relate to as i was growing up and people expected me to play into this.. disney princess-esque persona #to keep me in line and keep me soft and keep me obeying the rules #and thats what elain has been doing #as she starts to show her claws more i think this will drop and her choices in appearance will start to change a bit #i just really cant wait for her POV because there is A LOT going on underneath the surface #and im convinced she's the FREAKIEST of all three sisters lol #queue #there’s a mention of elriel in here so I’m tagging it #elriel

[wingedblooms]

passing the mantle

as solstice nears, Nesta visits their dilapidated cottage—the one Elain looked at with hope, as Sarah reminded us in the live—and takes Elain’s carved rose from the mantel.

She didn’t mean to, but she looked toward the dark fireplace. Toward the mantel.

She plucked another figurine from the mantel: a rose carved from a dark sort of wood. She held it in her palm, its solid weight surprising, and traced a finger over one of the petals. “He made this one for Elain. Since it was winter and she missed the flowers.”

She clenched the wooden rose in her pocket. “I think I just needed to see this place. One last time. To know we got out. That there’s nothing left here except dust and bad memories.”

Nesta then leaves with the rose, a symbol of love and beauty, and sets it on another mantel in the House of Wind, where she stares at it as she faces bad memories.

Instantly, the House had a tiny blaze going in the fireplace. A log popped, and Nesta straightened, stomach twisting.

It was a fire. Not her father’s neck. 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. Nesta hadn’t let herself dwell on why she’d felt the need to set the rose there. Why she hadn’t just thrown it in a drawer.

Another log cracked, and Nesta flinched. But she remained sitting there. Staring at that carved rose.

mantels are above the hearth—the heart of the home. and mantel is a variation of mantle, with several other meanings: n., cloak or other covering, a bird’s back, a part of the earth’s interior, passing a role or responsibility onto another, etc. it can also be used as a verb, covering or veiling something, like when a bird of prey mantles its prey from view as it feeds. interesting, then, that Elain’s rose—veiled in shadows—is moved from mantle to mantle [and hearth to hearth, like a lovely little witch].

when spring blooms and light shines bright in her heart, Nesta takes that dark rose and places it on Papa Archeron’s gravestone, as if passing the mantle from one sister to the next [and we are mind twins, so of course @offtorivendell has also thought of this]. after hearing the whisper of wings, she joins her sisters, one of whom is calmly holding the future in her arms.

Her father had died for her, with love in his heart, and Nesta held love in her own heart as she pulled the small, carved rose from her pocket and set it upon the gravestone. A permanent marker of the beauty and good he’d tried to bring into the world.

i don’t know about you, but i hope this means we will finally see behind the veil of our quiet dreamer soon. since her story is inspired by Blodeuwedd, it might just involve a winged predator and witch [which is really perfect because owls have long been linked to witches], one who hears the song of the wind and travels like a shadow.

#elain archeron #elain theory #passing the mantle #elain as blodeuwedd #shifting forms #winged predator #song of the wind #witchy elain #blodeuwedd 🤝 owl 🤝 witch = elain #it’s witch season

[acourtofthought]

Elain, Lucien and Koschei’s Soul

There’s been a lot of talk surrounding the three sisters conquering the three mountains.  Feyre was UTM (which was located in Prythian’s sacred mountain, Nesta was Ramiel, and that leaves the Prison mountain for Elain.

While Nesta’s experience with Ramiel was with her found family by her side, Feyre’s help came from Rhys (and Lucien to a small extent).

Which makes me think if Elain were to also conquer a mountain, she’d have someone by her side as well (most likely Lucien). 

I do think Elain will travel to the continent to free Vassa from Koschei but they won’t be able to kill Koschei without first finding and destroying his soul (which based on mythology, he keeps hidden somewhere). 

“There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything....save for them.  The girls”

My guess is his soul is in the box Elain had a vision of.

As to where that box might be?

One of the stories surrounding Koschei the Deathless tells us this:

In Russian traditional stories Buyan is a magic island, mentioned in incantations and spells.  This invisible fortunate island located somewhere in the ocean has ability to appear and disappear using the tides.  The Sun, according to some sources, lived on the island with its attendants.  Seed of all living things are stored here. Powerful forces made the island the source of all-weather which is created there and sent forth into the world by the god Perun.  There’s also the mention of it’s location marking the center of the universe and having Indriks, which is “a fabulous beast, the king of all animals with a bull’s body, head of a horse, legs of the deer and a large horn”.  According to legend, it’s a place where the Koschei the Deathless hid his soul. Koschei cannot be killed unless somebody find its soul.  

How is it possible that the Prison would be SJMs version of Buyan and how would it relate to Elain and Lucien?  

First, we know the Prison is on an Island (like Buyan) and not easily seen:

On an island in the heart of the Western Isles,"

This place, wherever it was, was freezing, deserted, barren.  Only rock and grass and mist and sea

There was nothing - no one around." "I don't see anything.  The rock is the Prison"

The Sun and it’s attendants may have lived on Buyan, the seeds of all living things being stored there, and the place where a fabulous beast lived.  We know this of the Prison:

The very land seemed abandoned.  Like something great had once existed here and then vanished.  Like the land still waited for it to return."

According to legend, the pegasuses had come from the island the Prison sat upon - had once fed in fair meadows that had long given way to moss and mist. Perhaps that was part of the decline: their homeland had vanished, and whatever had sustained them there was no longer."

Nesta studied the carvings in the floor.  They all seemed to spiral toward one point.  I think these are stars.  Constellations.  And like a golden sun, the Harp lay at the center of the system.”

She had the creeping feeling she'd been brought here.  Not by the Cauldron or the Mother or the Harp.  By something vaster.  Something that stretched into the stars carved all around them."

The fact that the fairytale mentions the Sun and its attendants seems important as Helion must have a connection to the prison lands considering he has the only remaining Pegasus which (as legend tells) came from the island the Prison is located on.  A land that used to have fair meadows instead of moss and mist and a land that once had something great which existed there.  We know whatever sustained the life of the Pegasus is no longer around which has caused the decline in their numbers so in a way “seeds of life” is not far off the mark though I’m guessing there was something even more important that was once in that territory.  He is stated to be the Sun personified and Nesta states she was brought to that specific place, where the constellations meet with the Harp in the center like a Golden Sun, by something vaster than the Mother or Harp (so the area the Harp was sitting on seems to have greater meaning, a possible portal?)  And anything that relates to Helion also relates to Lucien and there’s no way SJM wrote what she did about where the Harp was found (”that specific place” “something vaster than the Mother or Harp” without the intent of us visiting that place again in the future. 

As to where Koschei might be keeping his soul hidden, the fairytale usually mentions things like a needle inside an egg inside a duck inside a hare inside a chest buried under a tree but in SJMs world, it’s inside an onyx box. 

But rather than red stone, it was carved of black rock."  Spells and wards pulsed around the room.

Part of me wonders if the Prison was either built or stocked with its inmates to hide the Harp's presence.  There are so many terrible powers here and the wards on the mountain itself.....I wonder if someone hid the Harp knowing that it'd never be noticed with so much awful magic around it."  

But who put it here?"  "Your guess is as good as mine.  Someone who existed before the High Lords ruled."

Nesta and Cassian were talking about the Harp but it’s information we could apply to Koschei.  A onyx box, possibly hidden behind a onyx (aka black) cavern wall.  Hidden in a place where most would never go because of the inmates that would deter them.  A place with spells and wards around the room and a place that someone who existed before the High Lords ruled would have access too.  I can’t think of a better place for Koschei to hide his soul.    

Along with Elain’s connection to Koschei because of her visions, SJM could also turn what most anti’s make fun of her for into something that will be of enormous value.  My guess is the Pegasus ate some sort of grass or plant as horses do and wouldn’t a “grower of things” gifted with powers be exactly the right sort of person to find out what caused a land of fair meadows to become moss and mist and eventually bring back whatever it was the Pegasus had fed on?

#pro elucien #elucien #acotar theory #elain theory #lucien vanserra #lucien spell cleaver #helion spell cleaver #elain archeron

[vic-the-bookdragon]

“They’d spent more time with Elain than even I had. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙙."

Is Elain a new kind of Shadowsinger? And are Nuala and Cerridwen her shadows?

As we know, the twins are half shadow-wraiths. Wraiths are incorporeal faeries. They can pass through solid objects such as walls and blend into shadows and often serve as good spies.

According to Amren it is not known how Fae can procreate with wraiths. That makes me think that it might not be by the normal baby-making way, but rather some type of spell or magic or magical object is used.

We don't know for sure how Nuala and Cerridwen came to be, where they come from and who are their parents.

Also, Elain's friendship with the twins started when she was in a sense lost. Azriel's shadows came to him when he too was at his lowest, when he was all alone and scared and abused and traumatized.

And we also know that his shadows are sentient.

I know this is not a complete theory and I might have missed something, but it is interesting to think about.

#elain theory #half theory #elain archeron #elain archeron theory #pro elain archeron #pro elain #elain x azriel #elain and azriel #azriel and elain #azriel x elain #elriel #pro elriel

[helloitsme43]

Why I hope ACOTAR 5 focuses on Elain and Azriel and not Elain/Lucien or Azriel/Gwyn. 

(MAJOR SPOILERS FOR ALL PUBLISHED ACOTAR BOOKS)

I accidentally found myself randomly falling into an acotar theory hole. I’m on break and my brain got stuck on this mystery so this is the result whoop whoop. 

I’m just enjoying theorizing about the future of the series I like, not trying to upset anyone. I think all four of these characters are cool and could see interesting love stories for any of the couples. I definitely see how SJM could be hinting at the book going somewhere different as well, however from purely a story standpoint, I think Az/Elain are set up to be way more interesting. 

Why I think Az/Gwyn wouldn’t be that interesting: 

Azriel = Just like pretty much all the other characters mans def needs some healing journey stuff more similar to Rhys than Cassian. No matter what, the things with Mor and his past and anger with Illyria will be addressed. If he ends up with Gwen, he will also need to address not being with Mor or Elain and the role Rhys played in that. So significant healing vibes. On top of falling in love with Gwyn and moving the series plot forward so a lot to cover. 

Gwyn= There would probably be some addressing of Azriel first being into Mor and then Elain on her side as well. Gwyn’s past ordeals and recovery were heavily referenced in acosaf so if she was a main love interest in the next book I imagine even greater emphasis on her healing journey, particularly in relation to embarking on a physical relationship with Az. 

Gwyn’s healing journey would likely be her continuing to gain confidence and belief in her own strength through her work with the Valkerie, friendship, music and song, and a love interest. Now not saying that in itself isn’t interesting, but, as much as I LOVED acosaf, we have already gotten 700+ pages of pretty much this exact same plot. Right down to the same characters and passion projects. There is a significant amount of people putting off reading acosaf because they aren’t interested enough in Nesta to read a whole book about her healing and not a lot of series plot. I think Gwyn is a cool character but I don’t know how appealing it would be to have a whole 350+ pages about her going through such a similar journey to Nesta, in addition to Azriel going through something like that as well. 

Series Plot: Gwyn and the Valkeries are very cool and interesting but still training and its said in acosaf that it might be close to 100 years before they were ready to fight in a legion during war. We don’t have any knowledge of Gwyn possessing any additional powers other than being Valkerie. I think it might be a little much to introduce those powers and have them become a major plot point all in one book. Now they are strong fighters and won the rite, but I don’t see how that can directly impact other aspects of the plot other than Gwyn’s role in research. Which again is so similar to acosaf. So as of right now, I don’t see how Gwyn’s role clearly lends to driving the actual series plot forward and it seems plausible that her book might end up very similar to Nesta’s in which growth was the plot more than the series plot. Which again interesting, but we just had an entire (great) book like that. 

So in terms of series plot, not sure where it would go. In terms of romance, it would likely be Azriel realizing that no one else was right for him but Gwyn is and them falling in love. 

Why I think Elain/Lucien wouldn’t be that interesting: 

Elain: I’m really not sure how this would go for her, but there would be emphasis on her realizing that Lucien was the right one for her all along. In addition to personal growth, maybe some things about becoming her own person and finding out where she fits in this new world which if she goes with Lucien, likely wouldn’t be in the Night Court. 

Lucien: He also would have to find where he belongs in this world which makes sense for them to do together. He would have to address his relationship with Tamlin and figure out what’s going on with his father and possibly end up taking some form of leadership or even becoming a High Lord. I think its possible his previous heartbreak and struggle to get Elain interested in him would be addressed as well. 

Series Plot: I could see how this one could have more to drive the plot forward. I think Elain and her seer abilities are going to play a huge role no matter what. I think Lucien and his connections to Tamlin, Jurien/Vassa, and the Day Court could also easily become a significant plot point. 

Romance: One thing I don’t like is how a possible theme is Lucien finally convincing Elain to give him a chance after multiple books of rejection. It gives a bit ‘nice guy finally wore the girl down vibes’. Now I’m sure SJM would write it in a way where that’s not a problem and maybe go for more of forced proximity kind of thing but still not my favorite idea. I also don’t like the role Lucien played in her capture and the fact that despite her being his mate Lucien kind of sat around while a dying Azriel still tried to help her. Other than that, it would be about Elain and Lucien falling in love and realizing they were right for each other all along. 

Now nothing wrong with that but it would be remarkably similar to the plot of Azriel/Gwyn falling in love. Which as stated above, that story is already possibly quite similar to acosaf so there is a big potential for some serious repetition. Also, I kind of feel like Elain ending up with Lucien would lend to her staying more one-dimensional but who knows. 

Why I think Azriel/Elain would be interesting: 

Azriel: Same healing journey in regards to Illyria and Mor mentioned above. Additional conflict in terms of deciding whether or not to go against orders and the fact that his brother gave those orders. Potential conflict of going against Lucien (who may or may not have been revealed as potential High Lord) and the politics of the Night and Autumn Court. Plus developing relationship with Elain. 

Elain: I definitely think her story would be super interesting if she ends up staying in the Night Court. Many of the characters hint that Elain doesn’t belong in Night and as a softer person she would fit well in some place more like spring. However, Elain starts to show signs of there being way more to her than that. I think this book could have her coming into her own and showing everyone that things she did (telling off Grayson because no-one owns her, stabbing Hyburn with truth teller because he threatened her sister, claiming her capture by Hyburn as her own story…) are not just flukes and the type of person she is. I think her story would be about choice. I can see her being super angry about Rhys and the others stopping her from being with Az because they feel that at least some part of her should give Lucien a chance even though she has expressed no desire in three years. I can see her choosing who she loves instead of just following a mating bond, choosing to bake/garden and be powerful at the same time showing she does belong in the Night Court. 

Series Plot: Az and Elain have both been main characters throughout the series. I can see how Az being a spy and Elain being a seer could come together really well to drive the plot forward. 

Romance: Forbidden love plot with both choosing their destiny instead of what others think they should do. I think before that there would be some tension because Az initially obeys Rhys so Elain might spend time hitting him over the head and reminding him that she wants him. Elain recognizing that Az is pretty dark but loving him and allowing them both to have a mix between dark and light. Azriel having someone choose him even above something as sacred as a mating bond. They have had very intense scenes like Azriel giving her truth teller, saving her from Hyburn, being the only one who doesn’t treat her like she is weak and guessing she is a seer. If they both end up with other people, those really lose their significance which I just think isn’t as cool as if they remain importance scenes.  

The significance of Azriel’s story would be recognizing he deserves the love of someone as ‘good’ as Elain and being chosen over everything else. The significance of Elain’s story would be her controlling her own life plus realizing/showing she can be both; a kind person who loves her hobbies and someone strong and powerful who belongs in Night. I personally feel as though these outcomes are more interesting in terms of character development than the alternatives if they end up with other people. 

Lowkey think Elain or Az + someone totally different would be interesting as well.

Either way, I’m sure SJM will make it good and no hate to anyone who wants something different, these are just theories. I’d love to hear opinions and or other ideas on where the stories might go.

#acotar #acotar spoilers #acosf spoilers #elain x azriel #elain x lucien #acosf bonus chapter #azriel acotar #elain theory #acotar theory #azriel x gwyn #lucien vanserra #acotar 5 #acotar 6 #acosf theory #azriel spymaster #gwyneth berdara #sjm theories

[123moiaussi]

Me: Has a long and convoluted theory that Elain is actually a half sister and it connects to the continent and how she was raised

Reality: You have to type it

Me:

#elain acheron #Elain theory #IM TOO LAZY #Casio speaks #Elain #acotar

[cassianfanclub]

“This time, you sent the trembling fawn to find me. I did not expect to see those doe-eyes peering at me from across the world.”

Happy Elain Archeron Week Day 6: Fanged Beast

One of my absolute favorite theories in this fandom is that Elain will be able to traverse the murky realm, like the Mystics in HOSAB. @wingedblooms incredible mind connects details in a way most only dream of and has helped to further my excitement for Elain’s book and journey. You can find the two main theories that inspired this piece here and here.

The first time we see Elain peer across the world, she is doing so as a trembling fawn, but my hope is that, she will peer across worlds on her way to becoming a fanged beast and embrace that side of her in her own book.

In this piece, Elain has left behind Az and Bryce in Velaris, and stepped into the murky realm, only to be greeted by a waiting Apollion, mirroring Az. Apollion’s black eyes, deep and dark as the Pit in which he dwells- a telltale sign that his relaxed posture is nothing more than a trick to give a false sense of calm. But I have confidence Elain’s fangs and claws will get her back home.

A massive thank you to @luxury_banshee on IG for creating this piece for me💕

You can find this art on IG here

Please do not repost

@elainarcheronweek

#elain archeron week 2023 #pro elain #elain acheron #azriel shadowsinger #elriel #bryce quinlan #hofas theory #crescent city #acotar 5 #acotar fanart #fan art #acotar #maasverse #sarah j maas #seer #mystic #pro elriel #house of sky and breath

[dawneternal]

What did Azriel whisper in Eris's ear???

Where is Elain going so early in the morning???

Why is Rhys being so extra???

What did Eris trade to keep Keir out of Velaris???

What are Eris hounds named???

Eris Eris Eris???

#acotar #a court of thorns and roses #a court of wings and ruin #a court of silver flames #a court of frost and starlight #acowar #acosf #acofas #acotar theory #eris #azriel #rhysand #elain archeron #eris vanserra

[nikethestatue]

Elain and the Harp

So I wonder if Elain and the Harp are connected? What if they are made of the same 'THING' that is inside the Cauldron? The harp was dipped into it and now it controls time. Elain was thrown into it and now, in some manner, she also controls time.

What's a vision? The ability to influence time and actions.

Elain PREDICTED that Cassian was going to die during the war. Word for word and it happened just like she saw. But what did she do? She stepped in and changed the flow of time and the outcome.Just like the Harp, she reversed the inevitable.

Cassian offered her his dagger, for protection. She refused to take it. Yes, in the next minute, she took Truth Teller. Did she know that she needed to take TT specifically? Did she sense/Saw that TT was Made, just like she was, and like Nesta?

We know from Lanthys that he was able to hear the Harp, even though he didn't know that it was in Prison, with him. But he heard the note that it kept 'singing'.

So I wonder whether Elain heard the 'song' of Truth Teller as well? Did like call to like? Is there a silent song that she can hear and did she know that she needed to take that specific dagger to change history? To save Nesta's and Cassian's lives?

And is Azriel's shadowSINGING somehow connected to the silent songs that Elain can hear?

Nesta is the embodiment of the Mask. It's the thing that she controls the best, it raises armies, it's a weapon. Nesta is a weapon. She also forges weapons.

But the Harp--what it aligns to Elain and her magic, her GIFT? The gift that allows her to change the trajectory of time and influence events? Just like the Harp did when it turned back time and 'saved' Feyre. We know that Elain was praying to the Mother at that moment--could that prayer have influenced the way the Harp was used? Nesta was bargaining with the Cauldron and promising to return everything that she stole. Elain, who is more associated with the Mother, was praying to the Mother, and then next moment, Nesta felt the Mother's presence. What if Elain KNEW that she needed to bring the Mother into this? That the Cauldron wasn't enough. That the Harp had to be influenced by something even bigger than the Cauldron? By its creator--the Mother?

I suspect that each Trove object will be aligned to a sister--the Mask to Nesta, the Harp to Elain, and the Crown to Feyre, while the last remaining object--the Horn-- is already inside the other starborn female descendant of Theia, Bryce.

#elriel #elain archeron #acotar #elain theory

[elainemg97]

❤️ACOTAR multiple bonds theory❤️

🛑MAJOR SPOILERS for ACOTAR and Crescent City Series (especially HOFAS)🛑

Summary: I believe there to be 2 types of mating bonds in the ACOTAR universe specifically. 1 bond is the original bond that spans universes and planets. The kind of bond that is there since you are born. This bond transcends worlds and species. It pairs humans with Fae, demons and Fae, Illyrians with high Fae, etc.

Examples: Feysand, Nessian, Rowaelin, Quinlar, Theia x Aidas, Elorcan, etc.

Cauldron Bonds: When the Asteri moved into Prythian, they used and corrupted the cauldron to do their bidding. One of these corruptions was to pair people together for the best breeding outcomes. They love to experiment and pair people together to produce the best offspring in CC, and it wouldn’t surprise me that they did the same in ACOTAR. This bond is flimsy and weak. People hate each other after a time because it is based on breeding, not soul pairings.

Conclusion: The Elain and Lucien bond is a cauldron bond— an Asteri bond. It is solely made for breeding purposes.

Conclusion number 2: Elain and Azriel have had a connection since they first met in the human lands, and Azriel is progressively suffering the consequences of having the bond being unacknowledged. He’s having headaches; he can’t sleep; he has “writhing need.” He’s in his “I can’t stay away” moment. 🤭

Conclusion 3: Lucien could potentially break the cauldron bond as it is a possible ancient Asteri spell. That or they could use Truthteller to unmake the bond and possibly de-corrupt the cauldron.

#acowar #acotar #sarah j maas #a court of thorns and roses #elriel #elain x azriel #acomaf #art #fanart #azriel #elriel art #elriel fanart #elriel true mates #pro elriel #acofas #acosf #vassien #acotar theory #acotar fanart

[pinklayla123]

Is it a coincidence that three seemingly normal human sisters are now Fae? Is it a coincidence that one of them is mated to and is the High Lady of the most powerful High Lord the land has ever seen, and rivals him in power? Is it a coincidence that one of the sisters stole from the Cauldron, the bowl of Life and Death, and was then blessed by the Mother herself? Is it a coincidence that she is mated to one of the most fearsome warriors the land has ever seen, who is often likened to one of the original heroes who gave his life defending his people against the Daglan? Is it a coincidence that the third sister, blessed by the Cauldron despite its corruption, is able to wield the knife of that long-ago warrior? Is it a coincidence that the male who now bears that knife, a mighty warrior in his own right, has powers resembling those of the Fae who fought against the Daglan, and is unable to stay away from the third sister? Is it a coincidence that the Dread Trove of the Daglan has resurfaced and is in the hands of one of the sisters, who can wield it with little effort? Is it a coincidence that Gwydion, lost for fifteen thousand years, has been returned and is now in close proximity to its dark twin, Narben, both Made in the Cauldron? Is it a coincidence that the history of the Fae who originally took a stand against the Daglan has been rediscovered after being forgotten for millennia? Is it a coincidence that three Illyrian boys, born around the same time despite their long life spans, ended up growing and training in the same war-camp, forming an unbreakable unit the likes of which the world has never seen? Is it a coincidence that each has been inexplicably drawn to one of the once-human sisters since the beginning? Is it a coincidence that there are three sacred sister peaks in the land, barren because of the darkness tainting them, to match the three sisters? Is it a coincidence that the world seems poised on the brink of something that will send ripples across the cosmos? Is anything a coincidence?

#acotar #acotar theory #the archeron sisters #feysand #nessian #elriel #feyre #nesta #elain #rhys #rhysand #cassian #azriel #mine

[wingedblooms]

We’ll get more of Elain in SOME FORM. I see what you did there, Sarah.

#fuck yeah #shifting forms #elain theory #elain Archeron

[acourtofthought]

Elain and Elide definitely share similar characteristics in their personalities. They often deflect the very major role they've played in something in order to give credit to others.

I also love how both their endgame / Mate give them full credit for their accomplishments (Rhys also acknowledged that Elain was responsible for killing the King but Lucien addressed it first).

Elide:

“I hear,” he said onto her hair, “that you’re to thank for Erawan’s destruction.”

“Yrene is,” she said, walking until she found a quiet spot near a bank of windows overlooking the celebrating city. “I just came up with the idea.”

Elain:

Elain fell into step beside me, peering at Lucien. He noticed it. “I heard you made the killing blow,” he said.

Elain studied the trees ahead. “Nesta did. I just stabbed him.”

And...

I surveyed the food she was assembling and asked between bites, “How long have you been working on this?”

A one-shouldered shrug. “Since dawn.” She added, “Nuala and Cerridwen were up hours earlier.”

And:

My friends—my family—echoed the words as Rhys set the cake on the low-lying table before the fire. I glanced toward my sister. “Did you …?”

A nod from Elain. “Nuala did the decorating, though.”

I also think there's a possibility Elain is developing to be a combination of the characters of Elide and Yrene. There are a few subtle hints that suggest Elain could be a healer of sorts and the things said in TOD and about Yrene are so in line with how I view Elain.

“Quick wits save lives more often than magic,” was Hafiza’s only reply. (said to Yrene but makes me think of how Elain is noted as "wise".

So I may not be a warrior waving a sword about, may not be worthy of your glorious tales, but at least I save lives—not end them.” (something Amren said to Nesta but turned out not to describe Nesta who became a warrior. Which leaves it as a possible hint for Elain).

#pro elucien #pro elain archeron #elain theory

[vic-the-bookdragon]

Ok.

A (crack) theory is forming in my head about why Elain asking Cerridwen and Nuala to teach her how to bake could be very important for her book.

We know almost nothing about the twins, except that they are half wraiths, but reading about the origins of their names I think Sarah has more in store for them, their history and how their friendship impacts Elain's journey.

#elain theory #crack theory #pro elain #elain archeron #cerridwen #nuala #nuala and cerridwen #elain nuala and cerridwen