I want to see where truly the hearts lay in this topic.
I know it’s obviously a matter of preference and one of the largest points of discussion on this subreddit and nearly every platform where acotar can be discussed, but I want this discussion to be lead by theories that could be backed by looking at how SJM writes and by looking at the series and not ship wars (since i know a lot of people can take it personally).
I don’t particularly care whether Azriel ends up with Gwyn or Elain or whether or not the mating bond can be re-done or broken, I just want to see what everyone truly, wholeheartedly believes by how the books were written.
For example, I believe Elain and Lucien were meant to be together because of his connection to the Day Court, oftentimes ‘True Sight’ and clairvoyance which she seems to have, is associated with knowledge and wisdom which seems to be one of the characteristics of the Day Court. I might be wrong but there was a point of ACOSF where Nesta notes black doesn’t suit Elain and while it might seem like a stretch, I feel there is meaning behind it.
And I don’t think Rhys and Feyre mentioning Lucien’s likeness to Hellion was for nothing especially considering he has no heir or partner. (Which means I do think Hellion will die at some point in the next two books.)
I’m especially convinced now that I’m reading ToG (currently reading Assasin’s Blade after finishing the first two books) and seeing hints of those ’casual’ comments coming back later to be thrown back at more pivotal moments.
I don’t have four books of Elriel moments to compare to the single additional chapter SJM did about Azriel, Gwyn and Elain but I feel like it was enough to put doubt into Elain and Azriel being endgame. In that chapter it almost felt like Azriel’s attachment to Elain was more entitlement because of what he saw with Rhys and Cassian than true “love” for Elain. He cares for her, no one’s denying that, but would he feel as desperate if Rhys and Cassian hadn’t found their mates in two of the three Archeron sisters?
Not that the chapter does any favours to Azriel on the love department, by the way. The necklace move was a poor gesture that will come back to bite him in the ass later.
The thing that does make me think twice about Gwyn and him was the way his shadows acted with her versus how they acted with Elain. And the very last sentence of that ’chapter‘.
I feel like it was the clearest show and tell we could’ve seen. But then again, who knows anymore?
I do know (now more than ever after finishing crown of midnight) that SJM isn’t afraid of breaking up pairings she spent entire books building up.
I think Elain and Azriel’s story has the potential to be one of the most beautiful stories as much as I believe the same for a protential story between her and Lucien or with Azriel and Gwyn and so on and so forth. I also think that as of the end of ACOSF Gwyn deserves much more than a second-hand necklace.
But I don’t know, I just want to know other people’s thoughts and points of views not from the lenses of ship wars but from the standpoint that i’m hoping to give without sounding like a lunatic.