The Steward of Nightmares, the Father of the Queen of Nightmares, is the Father of the Singer of Shadows, the Great Torturer of Night.
Keir is Azriel's father. Truth-Teller + Gift of Truth.
The Inner Circle
The name Azrael is an Abrahamic name and is an archangel of Death, tasked with separating the soul from the body, while the name Azril means helped by God.
Cassius means hollow or empty; it can also mean vain (and not necessarily in terms of physical looks, as vain also means arrogant or egotistical).
The Morrígan is a battle goddess who is also a visionary who foresees wars and deaths.
Amram means exalted peoples.
Rhys can mean ardor and enthusiasm. (It's likely SJM added "and" as a linking word to join Rhys with Feyre.)
Before Prythian's courts (contains Crescent City information)
Fionn means light or fair-haired.
Enyalius is a war deity who is sometimes conflated with Ares, god of war.
Theia is, in Greek mythology, is the mother of Selene (moon goddess), Helios (sun god) and Eos (Dawn).
Vesperus is the Romanized version of Hesperus, the Evening Star, who is the son of Eos.
The Daglan could be a play on the The Dagda, the great god who owns a staff that holds both life and death, who is the keeper of a never empty cauldron and owned a harp that contained sorrow, joy and sleep and could be a useful tool in battle.
The Dagda was the ruler of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the tribe of gods who live in the "Otherworld". They are also associated with The Morrígan.
Other death entities in the Night Court
Lanthys: I can't find any references to Lanthys, but there are quite a few malevolent gods of wind, including the Greek deities, The Anemoi Thuuellai
The Bone Carver: we don't get his name, but bone carving is an ancient practice in a variety of cultures and is seen as a sign of respect and reverence and serves to remind people of the impermenance of life
Stryga: the striga is a common upyr/vampire in fantasy stories
Koschei: a common sorcerer in fantasy stories who separated his soul from his body and deposited his soul in a variety of objects to ensure an immortal life
Bryaxis: a famous sculptor (!); in lore, creatures that feed on fear are ubiquitous. In Greek mythology, the Phobos (son of Ares) is the personification of fear
ACo series and triples (death and life):
The Night Court is divided into three territories (on the landmass):
This tri-split territory works with SJM leaning into the common myth of threes.
And, Rhysand's Inner Circle can also be depicted in triplet:
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The three "old gods", mentioned above, who are siblings:
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After the Archeron sisters are turned by the Cauldron, both Nesta and Elain wield powers of Death and Life;
Elain alerted the Inner Circle of Vassa, who, along with the Archeron's father, brought a killing force to the war;
Elain, along with Nesta, killed the King of Hybern, giving the Prythian soldiers a further edge in the war;
Nesta kills two ancient figures, saving three lives in the process;
Nesta kills a queen, saving a life in the process;
Through Nesta's actions, a priestess and an Illyrian escape a situation with their lives;
Through Nesta's actions and bargain, she resurrects a babe and his mother, thus saving the father from imminent death, and, in the process, saving an entire territory;
Amren, Feyre and Rhysand destroyed the Cauldron then rebuilt it (another triplet)
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The Night Court symbolizes Death and Resurrection, with the Inner Circle as both harbingers and bearers of Death.
With the Introduction of the Sisters (and possibly Lucien, thus possibly Helion), we see the beginning of balance, the Introduction of Life and Light.
The purpose of these posts: to provide a focused place for us to discuss how Elain has processed her trauma of being turned Fae, which, for Elain, meant losing her fiancé, thus losing the life she’d looked forward to as a human, and it meant gaining a mate.
In Part 1, I stayed in the Hybern castle scene. That post was longer than anticipated, so let’s think of that post as the Set-Up.
In Part 2, I focused on Lucien, although it was impossible to extract Lucien from the Inner Circle.
Part 3 stayed with Lucien, CH 24 in WAR.
This post will be a bit of a departure. While hoping to finish out Elain with Lucien in WAR-SF, I found myself taken by, not sight, but hearing. It doesn’t seem like this departure can pair with thinking through Elain’s trauma and how she deals with that trauma, but it does tie in, as, lack of awareness of the (new) self leads to inability to speak of the (new) self and, for a fae, lack of training for the new powers.
This is another shorter post and will focus on WAR, only, with a brief beginning in MAF.
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Settings: House of Wind, townhouse, battleground (brief moment in Hybern castle)
The players: Nesta, Elain, Feyre, Rhysand, Mor, Azriel, Lucien, King of Hybern (who I will refer to as Frank, for lazy typing), Amren
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The first time we get a glimpse into the possibility of Elain’s dormant powers is in the Hybern castle. We don’t know what Elain sees when she shouts out, but Feyre thinks Elain is warning her that Tamlin is heading towards her. However, there is nothing by way of the narrative to suggest that Feyre is right.
As a reminder, Elain and Nesta have just been dragged into the chamber. Frank does most of the talking, explaining why he has the sisters, how he got them, why the queens want to be immortal. This is the first time that both sisters have ever seen Tamlin and Lucien, and they do not know that the big blonde guy wants to take Feyre away with him. Right before the below happens, Frank has unleashed power, ripping through Cassian’s wings.
>Rhys was moving in an instant, as if he’d lunge for the king, but power hit us again, and again. Rhys slammed to his knees.
>My sisters were shrieking over their gags. But Elain’s cry—a warning. A warning to—
>To my right, now exposed, Tamlin ran for me. To grab me at last. (MAF, 519)
Why would Elain, who has no idea who Tamlin is, warn Feyre that there’s an opening for Tamlin to grab her? She wouldn’t. She is crying about something else. Is it a warning? For what?
And, I’ll very quickly call attention to this language that SJM puts in her books, and how important it is to do the opposite: “Elain yielded step after step toward that Cauldron.” (emphasis mine, 520) We see this language applied in war with nobles in SJM’s other books. Interesting to see it here.
Ok, on to WAR:
When Feyre first encounters Elain, she makes note of the silence surrounding Elain: “... Elain’s silence was … hollow. Empty.” (108) In their second encounter, Elain observes how far her sight goes: “I can see so very far now. All the way to the sea”. (167 ) This is an interesting moment, as the first thought seems to set the stage for Elain as Seer or Oracle, but the second one seems to be about literal sight. (NOTE: Feyre thinks she’s talking about the Sidra, which is another moment of Feyre not understanding Elain’s words or sounds. The Sidra is a river, not the sea.)
Elain goes on to say that she can hear Feyre’s heartbeat, which is significant, because Feyre, the previous evening, had a nightmare that involved Nesta and Elain. But, it’s also interesting that Elain says “...if I listen carefully, I can hear her heartbeat, too.” (167) The only follow-up here is Feyre telling Elain that she can learn to temper her sharpened senses. However, who is “she”? Is it >!Vesperus!<? Bryaxis? The HoW?
But, Elain presses, to try and help Feyre understand: “I can hear the sea. Even at night. Even in my dreams. The crashing sea–and the screams of a bird made of fire.” Feyre redirects and asks Elain if she’d like to tend her garden. Elain then says her most quoted lines:
>Will I hear the earthworms writhing through the soil? Or the stretching of roots? Will the bird of fire come to sit in the trees and watch me? (167)
Feyre steps away and goes to have a chat with Nesta about Elain’s mental health and Lucien enters the library.
In the two instances that we see Elain, she is looking out of the window; she asks to go home, many times; she mentions a “he” waiting for her; she mentions the sea that she can hear “Even at night. Even in my dreams.” Why is a sea sounding at night remarkable? Is it possible that what Elain hears is her father? That her father is out at sea? I think she may be talking about her father on page 108, when she said “He’ll be looking for me.” We later discover that her father had crossed the sea to find alliances and that one of those alliances was with the firebird Vassa. Can Elain hear the negotiation between her father and Vassa? Or does Vassa lure the father to her and Elain can hear that? Is that why she thinks Vassa will perch in a tree and watch her? Or has Vassa learned of Elain and will watch over her, as protection? What does "home" mean for Elain? In WAR, we encounter another being who talks about "home" when offered a chance to leave.
During this same scene, we have Elain telling Lucien that she can hear his heartbeat through the stone. And she asks if he can hear hers.
Elain’s primary sensory focuses during this short scene, both with Feyre and with Lucien, is on sound and sight. (In addition to asking Lucien if he can hear her heart, she conflates sight with sound: “No one ever does [hear my heart]. No one ever looked–not really.”)
Later that evening, Elain stumbles upon the IC and Nesta discussing Amren’s past and Elain says that she awoke because she heard something. Azriel prods her to talk about what she heard and she hedges that she might have been dreaming, that she’s “always dreaming these days.” (192) When Feyre tries to redirect, Elain pushes back and explains what she heard: “I can hear her–crying. Everyone thinks she’s dead. But she’s not. Only–different. Changed. As I was.”
Azriel pushed her to tell them what she saw, and she tells them. She goes on to explain the Cauldron’s anger.
In CH33, Azriel says Elain is a Seer and Elain asks Mor: “Is that what this is?” Mor “Slowly, clearly…nodded” and later Feyre says that Elain’s “eyes clear[ed] again. As if the understanding, our understanding…it freed her from whatever murky realm she’d been in.” (emphasis mine) This is one of the turning points for Elain, when she begins to recover her senses and to step more into this new her.
When Azriel asks more questions about the firebird queen, Elain “cocked her head, as if listening to some inner voice.” Her sight gives her glimpses into somethings and others are “all mist and shadow.”
Mor asks: “...why is she being sent this image? Why is she hearing this queen?” She’s the first to put sight and sound together.
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There a few mythological references to those who have extraordinary hearing. In Norse mythology, Heimdallr (IDRIS!) can hear the slightest sounds, from the soil to the sky and between realms. I’m not suggesting that Elain is Heimdallr; simply, what if Elain is more than a Seer. What if her powers are both sight and sound, and this combination is more akin to a figure like Heimdallr, standing on the cusp of the now and the future, on the cusp of life and death? What if Elain is more “watchman” than anything, and that the sight power aids her gift of protection? For example, what if she warns Cassian that broken, mangled wings can kill him, to make him more attuned to his mortality? To prepare him for Nesta’s bugle cry? What if Elain asks Mor for clarification of who and what she now is, because the combination of Truth and whatever Elain is will be vital for the future of Prythian?
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I’ll stop here and open the floor to other investigators thinking through hearing and Elain in FAS and Silver Flames.
The Rules of Engagement:
Who are your favorite friends in the MAASVERSE? What makes their friendship stand apart?
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I loved the friendship between Tharion and Pax. The Bonus Chapter really highlights their instant connection, their similar wit, their similar passions/jest for life.
Hello,
I'm reading a good fan fic that follows a younger Rhysand and a very young Lucien. I'd love to read more fan fic that feature the characters in their younger years (younger than 200 years of age, would be ideal; and no first person).
Any of the minor majors is fine: Lucien, Tamlin, Helion, Kallias, Morrigan, Thesan, Lady of Autumn, Azriel, Amarantha, Beron, Frank, Dagdan+Brannagh, Cresseida, Varian, Tarquin (before he became HL).
Any recs?
Hello. I took my 10th 2.5mg dose today and will begin the 5mg dosage when this current box runs out (2 more pens); although I may have to do another 4 doses of 2.5mg if the pharmacy is still back-ordered on 5mg.
My food cravings increased last week, which is why I asked the doctor about increasing to the 5mg. And the food cravings are still there. I'm also super thirsty, so have been drinking quite a lot of water.
For those of you who titrated up, how did you battle the cravings while waiting to start the new dosage?
I've added cashews and peanut butter, as a snack, and have also increased my meals to 3 meals a day versus 2.
The hunger is insistent, so I'd like to hear about some healthy options that you've found that works for your increased appetite.
are pretty nonexistent LOL. As I once heard Nalo Hopkinson say: "Mothers get in the way."
Let's play, though:
Imagine the Archerons mother was still around, impoverished along with them, when the beast burst through the door. Go!
Imagine Nehemiah's mother traveled to Adarlan with her and overheard her >!fatal promise !<to Helene. Go!
Imagine Ruhn's mother. That's it. Go!
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Or, find your own way, but imagine an absent mother in one of your favorite SJM series and run!
Edited to note: my perimenopausal brain has just realized the title heading should be ACOMAF, not ACOTAR. Apologies.
While several readers point at Tamlin's tantrums as evidence of fae abuse, SJM herself pointed only to the locking of Feyre in the manor as evidence, not of abuse, but of something unstated.
I'll speculate that Tamlin's greatest sin was not recognizing Feyre as the Cursebreaker or She Who Returned Full Magic to the High Lords of Prythian.
Outside of Feyre, the only person in Spring Court who talks about freedom is Lucien, who weighs total freedom with re-stabilizing the Spring Court, after 50 years of limited magic:
>Don’t ask me to risk the stability of this court by pushing back. Not right now. He’s giving you as much free rein as he can. (MAF, 29)
Feyre, herself, feels restless in Spring Court, as she is relegated to the Manor and its surrounding acreage. The people of Spring do not wish to have her roaming around the villages, as they have not yet figured out how to accept her as one of their own:
>And so it went at every place we stopped in the village: Lucien dismounting, asking to help, and polite, reverent rejections. (33)
Rhysand calls in the bargain, Feyre further contemplates freedom:
>I blazed on, “Isn’t it enough that we’re all free?” I splayed my tattooed hand on the table. “By the end, I thought you were different, thought that it was all a mask, but taking me away, keeping me here … ” I shook my head, unable to find the words vicious enough, clever enough to convince him to end this bargain. (emphasis mine, 62)
"taking me away" as Tamlin had done, when he took her from the cottage. "keeping me here" as Tamlin was currently doing, at Spring. Feyre's position is clear. She needs to be who she was in the Mortal Lands: a complete and utterly independent person.
So, what is it that Tamlin does, what distinguishes him from other fae males? He locked the Cursebreaker in the manor: "He’d trapped me; he’d trapped me; he’d trapped me—"(112)
What it means for a fae male to "lock someone in" in the ACo series
Mor:
In MAF, the first outsiders who discuss What Tamlin Did To Feyre, are the Inner Circle of the Night Court, beginning with Mor:
>“Did you think his shield would keep us from you? Rhys shattered it with half a thought.”
>But I didn’t spy Rhys anywhere—not as the darkness swirled back in. I clung to her, trying to breathe, to think.
>“You’re free,” Mor said tightly. “You’re free.” (112)
For my read, the shield is mentioned as a way to remind us that Feyre had been trapped, locked in. Mor's declaration of Feyre's freedom is significant, as it is freedom that Feyre has wanted:
>". . .[Mor] said, “You’re out; you’re free,” again and again and again as true darkness swallowed us." (113)
"You're out". This comes up again at the first dinner with Feyre and the IC:
>“I was a dreamer born into the Court of Nightmares,” Mor said. She twirled a curl around a finger, and I wondered if her story might be the worst of all of them as she said simply, “So I got out.” (emphasis mine, 156)
We later learn what it means for Mor to be trapped in the Court of Nightmares and to demand her freedom.
Rhysand
Although Feyre has already noted that Rhysand locked her in the Moonstone Palace, his rage at Feyre being locked in the manor was the ultimate catalyst for Feyre living Spring Court. It is this act that has enraged him:
>“He locked me in that house,” I managed to say.
>A shadow of mighty wings spread behind Rhys’s chair. But his face was calm as he said, “I know. I felt you. Even with your shields up—for once.” (116)
>“He locked you up because he knew—the bastard knew what a treasure you are." (279)
>Darkness rippled, and wings tore from his back. “I am not him,” Rhys breathed. “I will never be him, act like him. He locked you up and let you wither, and die.” (366)
>"Until that day … that day he locked you up. I would have killed him if he’d been there." (456)
And while Rhysand does joke around with Feyre about being locked away, it is the act of locking Feyre up that Rhysand focuses on, mentioning it no less than 3 times (as noted above).
>Rhys shrugged. “Would you rather I locked you in the House of Wind and stuffed you with food and made you wear fine clothes and plan my parties?” (186)
This is meant as an echo to Lucien, earlier playfully asking Feyre: "“Isn’t that what all human women wish for? A handsome faerie lord to wed and shower them with riches for the rest of their lives?”" (30)
Tarquin
Tarquin is SJM's last-ditch effort to explain that confinement is the bad; it reflects the Wall as a source of fae and human containment; it represents Amarantha's leashing of powers as containment of magic; it represents Amarantha's UTM as confinement for Prythian fae.
>Tarquin held my gaze, face wary, but a bit bleak. “Then allow me to ask you a blunt question. Is it true you left Tamlin because he locked you up in his house?”
>I tried to block out the memory, the terror and agony of my heart breaking apart. But I nodded.
>“And is it true that you were saved from confinement by the Night Court?”
>I nodded again.
>Tarquin said, “The Spring Court is my southern neighbor. I have tenuous ties with them. But unless asked, I will not mention that you were here.” (290)
Wrapping it up:
Tamlin is a fae; part animal, part person. He's feral, as are all the fae. His outbursts are not the reason that he's depicted as the bad fae. It's the confinement of Feyre, the Cursebreaker, the very person who died to free magic and thus free the Prythian fae from their own confinement that is the dealbreaker. That is the bad Tamlin has done. That is the reason Mor wants him dead; the reason Tarquin keeps Feyre's secret in MAF.
I know that we only had what we have, but/and:
From what we know of bargains, why didn’t Feyre’s bargain break after her >!death!<? Although she was in a >!limbo place!<, tethered by Rhysand, she still >!died!<. And if the tethering >!kept her!< and thus the bargain, why didn’t it break when she returned as completely >!remade?!<
This is somewhat a question of how readers understand magic in Prythian; again, I know we don’t have much to work with. In thinking about Amren and Feyre’s bargain with >!Bryaxis!< I remembered that only Feyre’s bargain tattoo was described, which had me wondering if Amren’s bargain was nil after her >!death!<
Since Rhysand’s bargain was with Feyre, the human, why does it still hold for Feyre the fae?
Added some spoiler tags, but not sure what was spoiled in the original post.
I've seen speculation that Lorcan was about 7 feet, based on his estimation of the Ilken height compared to his.
Why, then, is Lorcan considered such a huge guy? His height seems to be what marks him as demi-fae, visually, but 7 feet is not that tall, and the fae in ToG all seem to skew tall. I imagined that his height would exceed what any human could be reach.
You have a healthy love for relationships between people
Because of this healthy love of relationships between people, it gets under your skin when a writer chooses to craft people with little attention to details
Because characters are crafted with little attention to details, the writer has intentionally crafted one victim in a household of four people
Because you understand that if one person in a household of four people is a victim of financial circumstances, then all persons are victims of the same
Because you understand that great narratives have complex characters
Because you are a complex character who enjoys reading about tough decisions that may make other characters victims of circumstances
Because you understand the differences between bad behavior and bad people
Because you enjoy reading and you have a healthy love for relationships with people, you love to discuss what you've read with others who have read the same material
Because readers are not homogenous and because you have a healthy love for relationships with people and because you love to discuss what you've read with others who have read the same material, you're ready for conversation/discussion engagement
Because readers are not homogenous, differing viewpoints are expected
Because differing viewpoints are expected, respectful arguments are expected
Because arguments are expected to be respectful, you rely on all you've learned about "making an argument"
Because the books you're reading are full of contradictory information, you find yourself making many arguments
Because the books you're reading are full of plot holes, you find yourself making many more arguments
Because the books you're reading have some retconning with pretty serious implications, you make even more arguments
Because you understand that developing a series is a process of discovery for the writer, and that contradictions will happen and that plot holes are inevitable and that retconning is the name of the game of developing an engaging series, you dive in to explore and discover
Because that's what it means to be an engaged reader: diving in
Because you respect the writer who put in the work to make the series you're reading, even if you don't always love her choices (of words, phrases, character decisions)
Because you know that to read and disengage is the true measure of hating what you've read
Because your time belongs to you
In MAF (page 251), Rhysand says that Velaris has always been hidden from the Court of Nightmares.
>“There was a time when the Night Court was a Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City. Long ago. But an ancient High Lord had a different vision, and rather than allowing the world to see his territory vulnerable at a time of change, he sealed the borders and staged a coup, eliminating the worst of the courtiers and predators, building Velaris for the dreamers, establishing trade and peace.”
His eyes blazed, as if he could peer all the way back in time to see it. With those remarkable gifts of his, it wouldn’t surprise me.
“To preserve it,” Rhys continued, “he kept it a secret, and so did his offspring, and their offspring. There are many spells on the city itself— laid by him, and his Heirs, that make those who trade here unable to spill our secrets, and grant them adept skills at lying in order to keep the origin of their goods, their ships, hidden from the rest of the world. Rumor has it that ancient High Lord c*st his very life’s blood upon the stones and river to keep that spell eternal.
“But along the way, despite his best intentions, darkness grew again— not as bad as it had once been … But bad enough that there is a permanent divide within my court. We allow the world to see the other half, to fear them—so that they might never guess this place thrives here. And we allow the Court of Nightmares to continue, blind to Velaris’s existence, because we know that without them, there are some courts and kingdoms that might strike us. And invade our borders to discover the many, many secrets we’ve kept from the other High Lords and courts these millennia.” (emphasis mine)
In MAF (162), he says that he erased the minds of those in the Court of Nightmare so they'd forget Velaris.
>
“When she tricked me out of my powers and left the scraps, it was still more than the others. And I decided to use it to tap into the mind of every Night Court citizen she captured, and anyone who might know the truth. I made a web between all of them, actively controlling their minds every second of every day, every decade, to forget about Velaris, to forget about Mor, and Amren, and Cassian, and Azriel. Amarantha wanted to know who was close to me—who to kill and torture. But my true court was here, ruling this city and the others. And I used the remainder of my power to shield them all from sight and sound. I had only enough for one city—one place. I chose the one that had been hidden from history already. I chose, and now must live with the consequences of knowing there were more left outside who suffered. But for those here … anyone flying or traveling near Velaris would see nothing but barren rock, and if they tried to walk through it, they’d find themselves suddenly deciding otherwise. Sea travel and merchant trading were halted—sailors became farmers, working the earth around Velaris instead. And because my powers were focused on shielding them all, Feyre, I had very little to use against Amarantha. So I decided that to keep her from asking questions about the people who mattered, I would be her whore.”
And this is repeated a few chapters later (449):
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"... I flung [my powers] out one last time, wiping Velaris, the wards, all that was good, from the minds of the Court of Nightmares—the only ones I’d allowed to come with me. I threw the shield around Velaris, binding it to my friends so that they had to remain or risk that protection collapsing, and used the last dregs to tell them mind to mind what was happening, and to stay away. Within a few seconds, my power belonged wholly to Amarantha.” (emphasis mine)
In WAR (183) Keir mentions Velaris (". . . what is its name? Velaris..."); this is after the Attor attack.
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Does anyone have any reference point to how citizens of the CoN would have known about Velaris before the Atttor attack?
This is another safe space to drop those inconsistencies, plot holes, retcons, general misinformation, that have your brain wondering if it's activated or not.
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Back before streaming tv/apps, viewers had to wait a few months between their favorite show's final season episode and the next season's first episode. Lots of balls got dropped between those months of waiting. Lots of children disappeared. Lots of babies came back 10-15 years older. Lots of dead characters returned and no one spoke of it as magic. Some interior living spaces were completely different and no one talked of a move. Melody may have shot JR in S4,E8, but in S5,E2 Melody is JR's mother's uncle's best friend's granny who has never even met JR.
And poor viewers had no streaming services that allowed us to rewatch an entire previous season to gear us up for the new season. We had no online social networks to log into and vent about this or that inconsistency in the show.
We just had to deal.
We were the generations of:
What the . . .
Ummmmmm, no, that didn't happen . . .
Hold on a minute here . . .
Now they have gone and did what to who?
You remember when . . . Yeah, girl, they killed they just forgot to write that character back in the script . . .
Remember Judy? (Family Matters)
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Thank goodness for the turn of the century!
What are some moments that bump against each other between SJM series that leave you agog? Scratching your head. Flipping back through previous books to prove to yourself that you're not the crazy one. Engaging in pointless (but oh so fun) debates about this or that plot hole?
Leave them here! Feel free. & yo, judge not. If you don't agree with what someone has pointed out as an inconsistency, either provide textual proof that they've misread, OR leave it alone and go find your own inconsistencies.
(Critical Tuesday post)
Although we have five chapters of the King of Hybern in ACOMAF, we never truly learn what it is that the King of Hybern wants. I've pieced together snippets of what the king said in the castle scene; he wants
>to "let my forces enter Prythian through [Spring] territory. And then use it as a base as we remove that ridiculous wall."
> to help me convince these queens to aid in my cause. . . I do not wish to invade the continent— but to work with them. . . I desire to give [life]. . . A mortal queen becomes one who might reign forever. . . a Prythian free of High Lords, where the High Priestesses might rule
Then he makes these two interesting observations:
>What a mighty queen you are,” he breathed. . . “What a prize,” the king said, that black gaze devouring her. . .
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Pity about the other brute’s wings.
In ACOWAR, Hybern says:
>You want to know why? Because we suffered--when you stifled us, when you shut us out. I have no interest in spending another five centuries seeing my people bow before human pigs...So we shall reclaim what is ours. . .
Simple seeming enough: the king of Hybern wants to shatter the wall and begin the long process of re-enslaving the humans. The Wall crosses Prythian and the Continent, so has to alliance build on the Continent.
However, Hybern has already lost a war against Prythian; and the island being cut off from trade is not explained. Why is the island cut-off from trade? Who are its Western, Northern and Southern neighbors? Why is Hybern dependent on on Prythian?
Additionally, it's interesting that the king has such a focus on females/women: the human queens, the Priestesses, Morrigan, Amanrantha. Was his aim to take the island and continent by positioning women and females as leaders, those who he thought he could control, turn into his puppets?
(OT: It's still unclear to me why the king attacked the Summer Court. (Does anyone have a notion?)
Koschei & his freedom:
Hybern's focus on females/women calls to mind Koschei, who enslaves women/females by trapping them as birds. Are they to be his legion, once he's freed from the curse of the lake? Will they be forced to fight alongside him, so he can rule Prythian? During the final battle with Hybern, Stryga tells the king to bow to her, as "it was once done". Does he, like, Hybern, wish to return to a far past, a time when "ancient Fae feared and worshipped them"?
And, is Koschei the end of the line? The final "ancient one"?
The Future:
The situation with Koschei reflects the situation with the king. What little we know is that the king wanted to make Prythian great again, through the use of human enslaved labor, and that Koschei wants a chance to "make himself [the island's] master" (Vassa, Silver Flames).
The Night Court once again holds the information and the resources to take down an oppressor and holds its cards close to its chest.
But, will the future book give us another war? With Night once again taking the lead? Or has SJM planted Eris in Silver Flames as someone who will disrupt that role the NC has given itself (to lead the charge in a battle/war)? Or has SJM planted Jurian and his BoE to be the great disrupter?
(NOTE: this is a repost from A Court of Canon sub.)
& a Critical Tuesday post please, subs
I’ve been thinking quite a lot about Tarquin and the Summer Court in the ACo series. In (1) thinking about Tarquin, (2) the ancient artifacts and establishing the Night Court as the leaders in the Hybern war and (3) the issue with Koschei, it has occurred to me that ACo carries an imperialist message, although I don’t think this is the message that SJM intends with this romantasy. Additionally, the three sisters who are each Cauldron-"blessed" and the Inner Circle as being dominated by presences that are "the most" suggests a narrative that leaves no room for argument in terms of who should lead all of Prythian.
We know, from the outset, with Amarantha positioning herself as High Queen, that it is not outside of SJM's thinking that there might be a story in which Prythian chooses a High Queen.
This post will focus on Rhysand and Feyre's relationship with the youngest High Lord, Tarquin, casually gesturing to their "friendship" with the other two young High Lords, Helion and Kallias (not in terms of birth age, although this is true for Tarquin, but in terms of tenure as ruler).
*
During the later chapters in TAR, we learn (from Alis, a citizen of Summer and resident of Spring) that three of the seven courts were rebel courts and that Amarantha killed the High Lords and their families when she discovered this. The new leadership, then, in those courts have ruled for fewer than 49 years.
Those courts are Day, Winter and Summer.
The Day Court is now ruled by Helion, who we know was old enough to have an affair with the Lady of Autumn during the first Hybern invasion and old enough to fight in the war and profit from the war. Helion is also another brown figure in the narrative, one who is written as a lascivious war profiteer. (In TAR, he is described as having “dark skin” that “gleam[s] with an inner light”.) Helion is the third-last to offer a glimmer of magic to resurrect Feyre*.
The Winter Court is now ruled by Kallias, who we know is perhaps the age of the IC, as Viviane is old friends with Mor, but we have no fixed age for either Kallias or Viviane. Kallias and Tarquin were the 2nd and 3rd High Lords to offer their seed of magic, and it’s interesting that SJM had Feyre refer to them as “companions”.
>Two more figures approached—both handsome and young. Through my host’s eyes, I knew them instantly. The brown-skinned one on the left wore a tunic of blue and green, and atop his white-blond head was a garland of roses—the High Lord of the Summer Court. His pale-skinned companion, clad in colors of white and gray, possessed a crown of shimmering ice. The High Lord of the Winter Court.
Summer Court is now ruled by Tarquin, the 82-year old who this post will focus on.
For those who have read through Silver Flames, you know that Day, Summer and Winter are instrumental to the Night Court’s efforts in the war with Hybern.
*
Summer enters the picture (MAF): The Wall and The Book of Breathings
The first time Rhysand (and Feyre) hear that the Cauldron can destroy the wall is during their first visit with the Bone Carver:
>Even the Bone Carver said gently, “With the Cauldron, you could do other things than raise the dead. You could shatter the wall.” (p 177, CH 18)
The Summer Court becomes a player in the series when it’s discovered that ½ of the Book of Breathings is in the Summer Court. It’s a long explanation, and I’ll only quote part of what the Bone Carver says:
>“When the Cauldron was made,” the carver interrupted, “its dark maker used the last of the molten ore to forge a book. The Book of Breathings. In it, written between the carved words, are the spells to negate the Cauldron’s power—or control it wholly. But after the War, it was split into two pieces. One went to the Fae, one to the six human queens. It was part of the Treaty, purely symbolic, as the Cauldron had been lost for millennia and considered mere myth. . . So now the High Lord of Summer possesses our piece, and the reigning mortal queens have the other entombed in their shining palace by the sea. (178)
At this point, Rhysand begins to devise two, co-existing plans to retrieve the Book of Breathings: steal one half from Summer, during an invited visit and convince the queens to hand over one-half, during a visit at the Archeron Estate.
Rhysand has decided that the King of Hybern has unofficially declared War on the Night Court, because of the assault at Sangravah, although it’s clear the King had his soldiers invade Cesere to take the third leg of the Cauldron: ““The King of Hybern sacked one of our temples to get a missing piece of the Cauldron. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an act of war…”.
This is the first outright indication that we’re entering into a novel that holds an imperialist agenda. The personalization of a political act. Rhysand takes it as a personal affront that his temple was “sacked,” although the Inner Circle are all aware that two other temples were also raided, solely for the purpose of retrieving a Cauldron leg. A different route would have been for Rhysand to reach out to those other two Courts, tell them what he’d learned from the Bone Carver (that the King of Hybern was using the Cauldron to resurrect Jurian and that he stole the legs (and killed the priestesses in the temple) in order to re-activate the Cauldron to bring down the Wall). But, he doesn’t do this. He internalizes the act in order to justify his decision to steal the Book of Breathings.
The Bone Carver has made it clear that the Cauldron made all life, that it, then, belongs to no single person, no single court. And yet, Rhysand has decided that it is the job of the Night Court, and the Night Court alone, to nullify the Cauldron: “Rhys crossed his arms. “It will require careful planning. But if the Cauldron is in Hybern, then to Hybern we must go. Either to take it back … or use the Book to nullify it.”” (181) Although they know that one half of the book is Summer, where a new, young High Lord presides, Rhysand and the Inner Circle do not suggest reaching out to the High Lord, to discuss this. Instead, Rhysand decides they will steal the book and use their new, and new-to-fae friend to do this work.
Both Tarquin and Feyre are “young and untested” (as Amren says of Tarquin, 266); they are both new. Tarquin came into rulership during a period of a curse. His court was held UTM. He’s had no experience leading an entire territory, on the outside of the Mountain, and his father was not the High Lord. Feyre is new to being a fae; new to having magical power. Rhysand is old, tested, has come out on the other side of a war, was raised in a magical family, the son of a High Lord. Now these two untested beings are used by the older person to do his bidding.
Feyre does not wish to steal the book from Summer, even before she meets Tarquin: “I stiffened. What I had to do—meaning track down that Book of Breathings and steal it. Feyre Cursebreaker … and thief.” She’s referencing Rhysand’s code speak “while Feyre does what she has to,” here. He doesn’t outright say that she’s to steal the book, but it is heavily implied. In addition, he suggests that Amren steals jewels: “Rhys said too casually, “There is also a great deal of treasure to be found in the Summer Court. If the Book is hidden, Amren, you might find other objects to your liking.”” (266).
Rhysand is willing to have his team do whatever is necessary to achieve his personal ends. He wants to be the sole person to nullify the Cauldron, and he’s willing to declare war, steal, and turn his new friend, new fae into a thief to do so.
Tarquin is not shown, in any part of the Summer Court visit, to hold suspicions about the visit from the Night Court. He’s gracious and generous, despite Rhysand immediately insulting him by referring to his ascension to the crown as a “promotion” (270).
We learn, throughout the ACo series, that Rhysand is not disinclined to make himself the lord of other lord’s properties (we first see this in the Spring Court when he breaks through the wards, enters the manor without invention and then growls: “You dare glamour me?” (TAR, 137) before threatening the High Lord by snatching Feyre’s mind, threatening his friend and his friend’s entire family and forcing the High Lord to crawl and beg.
In the Summer Court, he makes similar moves; in addition to insulting the High Lord, Rhysand “teaches” Tarquin how to be a host: “Rhys said, jerking his chin toward the glass doors behind them. “So why not get comfortable?”” He will later threaten Tarquin and the entirety of the Summer Court, in Tarquin’s home, once again, based on a personal affront:
>“We all made sacrifices,” Rhysand said, the icy boredom now shifting into something razor-sharp. “And you now sit at this table with your family because of the ones Feyre made. So you will forgive me, Tarquin,if I tell your princess that if she sends word to Tamlin, or if any of your people try to bring her to him, their lives will be forfeit.” (275)
When Tarquin calls him on it, Rhysand doesn’t back down:
>“Do not threaten me in my own home, Rhysand,” Tarquin said. “My gratitude goes only so far.”
>“It’s not a threat,” Rhys countered, the crab claws on his plate cracking open beneath invisible hands. “It’s a promise.”
Feyre, too, quickly becomes imperious in Summer Court. She tries to entice Tarquin with simple flirtation and then makes an odd observation:
>“A lesser male might have preened.”; she questions Tarquin positioning himself at the head of his own table: “... claiming the seat at the head of the table between Rhys and Amren. A bold move, to situate himself between two such powerful beings. Arrogance—or an attempt at friendship?” (emphasis mine, 274);
she wonders how new Tarquin is to his position:
>“ The three advisers peeled off to attend to other duties, murmuring farewell—with wary looks in Tarquin’s direction. As if this might very well be the first time he’d needed to play host and they were watching their High Lord’s every move.” (272);
and she decides that, because she is personally affronted, that she is justified in stealing from the Summer Court: “My next words were quiet, slow, and I decided I did not mind stealing from them, not one bit.” And, similar to Rhysand, she belittles Tarquin’s position as High Lord: “Tarquin must have been one of the few surviving members, if the power had passed to him.” (281)
(Later, Feyre reconsiders this, through time spent with Tarquin. She thinks that if they just ask for the book, Tarquin will hand it over. Rhysand, however, shuts that down.)
It’s Feyre who first brings up the idea of dismantling the individual courts to have one territory, one ruler:
>“. . .I would not mind to see their order disrupted.” Like the hate-mongering family of Elain’s betrothed.
>Tarquin said very quietly, “There are some in Prythian who would think the same of the courts.” “What—get rid of the High Lords?”
>“Perhaps. But mostly eliminate the inherent privileges of High Fae over the lesser faeries. . .” (282)
She jumps to this conclusion with no provocation. She says that she wouldn’t mind seeing “order disrupted” amongst the ruling class in the Mortal Lands. And when Tarquin agrees that disruption is needed in Prythian, she leaps to “get rid of the High Lords?”. So, this idea is already brewing in her head. And with Rhysand deciding that only he can defeat Hybern and only he can nullify the Cauldron, the terms for a Prythian takeover are set.
Tarquin leaves his entire city open for the trio to wander. This suggests that he is green and his lack of suspicion is precisely what the Night Court feeds on. While Feyre thinks Tarquin is flirting with her, it seems clear to me, as a reader, that some instinct is telling him that Feyre has his magic and he sees the mating bond between Feyre and Rhysand (this is before Feyre has acknowledged and accepted the bond).
Tarquin’s dream of a different Summer Court is similar to Tamlin’s dream of a different Spring Court. Tamlin wants no slavery, ever; Tarquin wants no ethnic division between “High” and “lesser” fae. What is the dream of the Court of Dreamers?
SJM’s Tarquin is naive, easily manipulated, and obsequious. He shows deference to Rhysand and to Feyre, because they “saved [their] necks” (275). Note that soon after Taruqin chides his relative, Rhysand leaps in to threaten the full Summer Court. (see above)
This is SJM showing us how utterly green Tarquin is. How easily manipulated. He will follow the Night Court because of this greenness.
Feyre is put above Tarquin. She’s also new and green. But, with the elder, powerful Rhysand by her side: “No one was my master—but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.” (279)
*
*
WAR: I’d recommend re-reading the first few pages of CH34 of WAR to get the Inner Court’s thoughts on the Hybern invasion of Summer.
In WAR, the Night Court goes to the aid of Summer Court during the Hybern invasion. When Tarquin calls Feyre out, for being the cause of the invasion, Rhysand shuts him down: “We did nothing. Hybern chooses its actions, not us.“
Rhysand then tells Tarquin that the Night Court will remain in the Summer Court lands, despite Tarquin telling them to leave:
>“My force shall remain camped in the hills until you’ve deemed the city secure. Then we will go.”
Adding fuel to the fire: Feyre says: “Tend to your wounded, Tarquin.” and he responds “Don’t give me orders.” (248)
At this point, Feyre and Rhysand are written as the ultimate rulers of Prythian, although it’s never said aloud. They enter the Summer Court without permission or invitation to help them fight off Hybern’s soldiers. They refuse to leave when ordered to do so. They set-up parameters for when they will leave. And they give the High Lord orders that one would give to a soldier “Tend to your wounded”.
Prior to that exchange, Tarquin asks Feyre “Why” and she tries to determine what his question is referring to: their deception and thievery or their unasked for aid in the invasion. Instead of asking him for clarification, she says: “Our dreams are the same.” and internally, she thinks “A united realm, in which lesser faeries were no longer shoved down. A better world.” (emphasis mine, 248)
As far as I recall, the only dream that Rhysand has (and that Feyre later shares) is his ancestor’s dream:
>“There was a time when the Night Court was a Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City. Long ago. But an ancient High Lord had a different vision, and rather than allowing the world to see his territory vulnerable at a time of change, he sealed the borders and staged a coup, eliminating the worst of the courtiers and predators, building Velaris for the dreamers, establishing trade and peace.” (MAF, 251)
And yet, she says that they have a shared dream for a unified Prythian. This is now the second time that Feyre has articulated this interest.
Later, during the High Lord’s meeting (WAR) to aid the Night Court in the war against Hybern, for it has been established that this is the Night Court’s war against Hybern (“Come to the meeting Tarquin. We need you–Prythian needs you.” (249)), Rhysand says to the assembled group: “War is upon us. I have no interest in wasting energy arguing amongst ourselves.”
This is akin to shutting down conversation and this is said after he has stolen Tamlin’s voice. His “most powerful” power is a threat to the High Lords and he does not resist showing that power. His disinterest in “arguing amongst ourselves” is yet another sign of his self-assertion as Ruler of Prythian, not just High Lord of Night Court.
Before Tarquin publicly rescinds the blood diamonds, and, thus agrees to help the Night Court in the war against Hybern, Feyre thinks to herself, while observing Tarquin, “Tarquin, across the pool, watched and listened–either because he was the youngest of them, or perhaps he knew some advantage lay in letting us battle it out ourselves.” (emphasis mine, 281)
Again, very interesting observation from someone who is newly fae. Tarquin is not the only young ruler there. Feyre is 20 and has been fae for one year and has been High Lady for a few months. Yet, she singles Tarquin out, once again calling attention to his inexperience.
Finally, Tarquin is the first High Lord to “forgive” Feyre for having his power “You saved us Under the Mountain” and he is the first High Lord to give Rhysand a bit of magic to return him to life: “For what he gave”. Again, Tarquin’s lack of experience is on display here, as is his submissiveness. He continues to bow to Rhysand and Feyre for UTM and aid during the invasion of Summer. He doesn’t think about the danger that Rhysand poses to Prythian, with the unnatural amount of power that Rhysand holds.
Ok, this is rather long, but I’d suggest re-reading the Tarquin passages in WAR, the yielding of authority to Rhysand and Feyre, throughout.
SJM has (unwittingly) uses the dynamics of Tarquin’s age and his newness to his title as rationale for setting him up as a “natural ally” for the much older Night Court Inner Circle. In FAS, Rhysand has Tarquin send his sentries to Spring, without Spring’s permission, and Tarquin does so, despite Tarquin needing his sentries to protect the humans who are now living in Summer.
Tarquin is the stepping stone for Feyre and Rhysand to begin their claim as the obvious choice for leaders of a “unified dream”.
*the order of who gives magic is Feyre is critical, for my read, in establishing that (1) the High Lords did not willing give up that magic, and (2) to hint at both possible enemies and alliances and to wackily show the future tension between Rhysand and Tamlin for Feyre’s attention.
Which side character from Crescent City do you want to see more of and why?
Ariadne, for me. Her character is rarely seen but the glimpses we get of her are complex.
In MAF, Amren begins the work of healing Cassian's wings. Do all of the magical beings have the power to heal? It seemed that Amren's power was similar to Illyrians: brutal killing power. Do the Illyrians have healing power?
NOTE: I am using a PDF of MAF, so the pages are linked to those PDF pages. I’ll include the chapters as well as the page numbers, when I can.
I’ve been thinking quite a lot about Tarquin and the Summer Court in the ACo series. His and Helion's courts have residents who seem to be of African descent and both are new High Lords. Tarquin's position is the least stable, as he's the youngest High Lord. In thinking about Tarquin, it has occurred to me that ACo carries an imperialist message, although I don’t think this is the message that SJM intends with this romantasy.
During the later chapters in TAR, we learn (from Alis, a citizen of Summer and resident of Spring) that three of the seven courts were rebel courts and that Amarantha killed the High Lords and their families when she discovered this. The new leadership, then, in those courts have ruled for fewer than 49 years.
Those courts are Day, Winter and Summer.
The Day Court is now ruled by Helion, who we know was old enough to have an affair with the Lady of Autumn during the first Hybern invasion and old enough to fight in the war and profit from the war. Helion is also another brown figure in the narrative, one who is written as a lascivious war profiteer. (In TAR, he is described as having “dark skin” that “gleam[s] with an inner light”.) Helion is the third-last to offer a glimmer of magic to resurrect Feyre*.
The Winter Court is now ruled by Kallias, who we know is perhaps the age of the IC, as Viviane is old friends with Mor, but we have no fixed age for either Kallias or Viviane. Kallias and Tarquin were the 2nd and 3rd High Lords to offer their seed of magic, and it’s interesting that SJM had Feyre refer to them as “companions”.
>Two more figures approached—both handsome and young. Through my host’s eyes, I knew them instantly. The brown-skinned one on the left wore a tunic of blue and green, and atop his white-blond head was a garland of roses—the High Lord of the Summer Court. His pale-skinned companion, clad in colors of white and gray, possessed a crown of shimmering ice. The High Lord of the Winter Court. (TAR)
Summer Court is now ruled by Tarquin, the 82-year old who this post will focus on.
For those who have read through WAR, you know that Day, Summer and Winter are instrumental to the Night Court’s efforts in the war with Hybern. And if you're read through Silver Flames, it's these three courts, with the newest High Lords, who make an appearance in Silver Flames (The Inner Court go on a barge party hosted by Summer and Varian is Amren's lover, often in Velaris; Helion is invited to the Moonstone Palace to spell-lock the Dread Trove; Mor's friendship with Viviane is reunited in FAS.)
*
Summer enters the picture (MAF): The Wall and The Book of Breathings
The first time Rhysand (and Feyre) hear that the Cauldron can destroy the wall is during their first visit with the Bone Carver:
>Even the Bone Carver said gently, “With the Cauldron, you could do other things than raise the dead. You could shatter the wall.” (p 177, CH 18)
The Summer Court becomes a player in the series when it’s discovered that ½ of the Book of Breathings is in the Summer Court. It’s a long explanation, and I’ll only quote part of what the Bone Carver says:
>“When the Cauldron was made,” the carver interrupted, “its dark maker used the last of the molten ore to forge a book. The Book of Breathings. In it, written between the carved words, are the spells to negate the Cauldron’s power—or control it wholly. But after the War, it was split into two pieces. One went to the Fae, one to the six human queens. It was part of the Treaty, purely symbolic, as the Cauldron had been lost for millennia and considered mere myth. . . So now the High Lord of Summer possesses our piece, and the reigning mortal queens have the other entombed in their shining palace by the sea. (178)
>
At this point, Rhysand begins to devise two, co-existing plans to retrieve the Book of Breathings: steal one half from Summer, during an invited visit and convince the queens to hand over one-half, during a visit at the Archeron Estate.
Rhysand has decided that the King of Hybern has unofficially declared War on the Night Court, because of the assault at Cesere, although it’s clear the King had his soldiers invade Sangravah to take the third leg of the Cauldron:
>“The King of Hybern sacked one of our temples to get a missing piece of the Cauldron. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an act of war…”.
This is the first outright indication that we’re entering into a novel that holds an imperialist agenda. The personalization of a political act as an excuse to control a territory. Rhysand takes it as a personal affront that his temple was “sacked,” although the Inner Circle are all aware that two other temples were also raided, solely for the purpose of retrieving a Cauldron leg. A different route would have been for Rhysand to reach out to those other two Courts, tell them what he’d learned from the Bone Carver (that the King of Hybern was using the Cauldron to resurrect Jurian and that he stole the legs (and killed the priestesses in the temple) in order to re-activate the Cauldron to bring down the Wall). But, he doesn’t do this. He internalizes the act in order to justify his decision to steal the Book of Breathings.
The Bone Carver has made it clear that the Cauldron made all life, that it, then, belongs to no single person, no single court. And yet, Rhysand has decided that it is the job of the Night Court, and the Night Court alone, to nullify the Cauldron:
>“Rhys crossed his arms. “It will require careful planning. But if the Cauldron is in Hybern, then to Hybern we must go. Either to take it back … or use the Book to nullify it.”” (181)
Although they know that one half of the book is in Summer, where a new, young High Lord presides, Rhysand and the Inner Circle do not suggest reaching out to the High Lord, to discuss this. Instead, Rhysand decides they will steal the book and use their new, and new-to-fae friend to do this work.
Both Tarquin and Feyre are “young and untested” (as Amren says of Tarquin, 266); they are both new. Tarquin came into rulership during a period of a curse. His court was held UTM. He’s had no experience leading an entire territory, on the outside of the Mountain, and his father was not the High Lord. Feyre is new to being a fae; new to having magical power. Rhysand is old, tested, has come out on the other side of a war, was raised in a magical family, the son of a High Lord. Now these two untested beings are used by the older person to do his bidding.
Feyre does not wish to steal the book from Summer, even before she meets Tarquin:
>“I stiffened. What I had to do—meaning track down that Book of Breathings and steal it. Feyre Cursebreaker … and thief.”
She’s referencing Rhysand’s code speak “while Feyre does what she has to,” here. He doesn’t outright say that she’s to steal the book, but it is heavily implied.
In addition, he suggests that Amren steals jewels:
>“Rhys said too casually, “There is also a great deal of treasure to be found in the Summer Court. If the Book is hidden, Amren, you might find other objects to your liking.”” (266).
Rhysand is willing to have his team do whatever is necessary to achieve his personal ends. He wants to be the sole person to nullify the Cauldron, and he’s willing to declare war, steal, and turn his new friend, new fae into a thief to do so.
Tarquin is not shown, in any part of the Summer Court visit, to hold suspicions about the visit from the Night Court. He’s gracious and generous, despite Rhysand immediately insulting him by referring to his ascension to the crown as a “promotion” (270).
We learn, throughout the ACo series, that Rhysand is not disinclined to make himself the lord of other lord’s properties (we first see this in the Spring Court when he breaks through the wards, enters the manor without invention and then growls: “You dare glamour me?” (TAR, 137) before threatening the High Lord by snatching Feyre’s mind, threatening his friend and his friend’s entire family and forcing the High Lord to crawl and beg.
In the Summer Court, he makes similar moves; in addition to insulting the High Lord, Rhysand “teaches” Tarquin how to be a host: “Rhys said, jerking his chin toward the glass doors behind them. “So why not get comfortable?”” He will later threaten Tarquin and the entirety of the Summer Court, in Tarquin’s home, once again, based on a personal affront:
>“We all made sacrifices,” Rhysand said, the icy boredom now shifting into something razor-sharp. “And you now sit at this table with your family because of the ones Feyre made. So you will forgive me, Tarquin,if I tell your princess that if she sends word to Tamlin, or if any of your people try to bring her to him, their lives will be forfeit.” (275)
When Tarquin calls him on it, Rhysand doesn’t back down:
>“Do not threaten me in my own home, Rhysand,” Tarquin said. “My gratitude goes only so far.”
“It’s not a threat,” Rhys countered, the crab claws on his plate cracking open beneath invisible hands. “It’s a promise.”
Feyre, too, quickly becomes imperious in Summer Court. She tries to entice Tarquin with simple flirtation and then makes an odd observation: “A lesser male might have preened.”; she questions Tarquin positioning himself at the head of his own table: “... claiming the seat at the head of the table between Rhys and Amren. A bold move, to situate himself between two such powerful beings. Arrogance—or an attempt at friendship?” (emphasis mine, 274); she wonders how new Tarquin is to his position: “ The three advisers peeled off to attend to other duties, murmuring farewell—with wary looks in Tarquin’s direction. As if this might very well be the first time he’d needed to play host and they were watching their High Lord’s every move.” (272); and she decides that, because she is personally affronted, that she is justified in stealing from the Summer Court: “My next words were quiet, slow, and I decided I did not mind stealing from them, not one bit.” And, similar to Rhysand, she belittles Tarquin’s position as High Lord: “Tarquin must have been one of the few surviving members, if the power had passed to him.” (281)
(Later, Feyre reconsiders this, through time spent with Tarquin. She thinks that if they just ask for the book, Tarquin will hand it over. Rhysand, however, shuts that down.)
It’s Feyre who first brings up the idea of dismantling the individual courts to have one territory, one ruler:
>
“. . .I would not mind to see their order disrupted.” Like the hate-mongering family of Elain’s betrothed.
Tarquin said very quietly, “There are some in Prythian who would think the same of the courts.” “What—get rid of the High Lords?”
“Perhaps. But mostly eliminate the inherent privileges of High Fae over the lesser faeries. . .” (282)
She jumps to this conclusion with no provocation. She says that she wouldn’t mind seeing “order disrupted” amongst the ruling class in the Mortal Lands. And when Tarquin agrees that disruption is needed in Prythian, she leaps to “get rid of the High Lords?”. So, this idea is already brewing in her head. And with Rhysand deciding that only he can defeat Hybern and only he can nullify the Cauldron, the terms for a Prythian takeover are set.
Tarquin leaves his entire city open for the trio to wander. This suggests that he is green and his lack of suspicion is precisely what the Night Court feeds on. While Feyre thinks Tarquin is flirting with her, it seems clear to me, as a reader, that some instinct is telling him that Feyre has his magic and he sees the mating bond between Feyre and Rhysand (this is before Feyre has acknowledged and accepted the bond).
Tarquin’s dream of a different Summer Court is similar to Tamlin’s dream of a different Spring Court. Tamlin wants no slavery, ever; Tarquin wants no ethnic division between “High” and “lesser” fae. What is the dream of the Court of Dreamers?
SJM’s Tarquin is naive, easily manipulated, and obsequious. He shows deference to Rhysand and to Feyre, because they “saved [their] necks” (275). Note that soon after Taruqin chides his relative, Rhysand leaps in to threaten the full Summer Court. (see above)
This is SJM showing us how utterly green Tarquin is. How easily manipulated. He will follow the Night Court because of this greenness.
Feyre, on the other hand, is elevated. Although she, too, is new and green, with the elder, powerful Rhysand by her side: “No one was my master—but I might be master of everything, if I wished. If I dared.” (279)
WAR: I’d recommend re-reading the first few pages of CH 35 to get the Inner Court’s thoughts on the Hybern invasion of Summer.
In WAR, the Night Court goes to the aid of Summer Court during the Hybern invasion. When Tarquin calls Feyre out, for being the cause of the invasion, Rhysand shuts him down:
>“We did nothing. Hybern chooses its actions, not us.“
Rhysand then he tells Tarquin that the Night Court will remain in the Summer Court lands, despite Tarquin telling them to leave:
>“My force shall remain camped in the hills until you’ve deemed the city secure. Then we will go.”
To make matters worse, Feyre says:
“Tend to your wounded, Tarquin.” and Tarquin responds “Don’t give me orders.” (248)
At this point, Feyre and Rhysand have decided that they are the ultimate rulers of Prythian, although it’s never said aloud. They enter the Summer Court without permission or invitation to help them fight off Hybern’s soldiers. They refuse to leave when ordered to do so. They set-up parameters for when they will leave. And they give the High Lord orders that one would give to a soldier “Tend to your wounded”.
Prior to that exchange, Tarquin asks Feyre “Why” and she tries to determine what his question is referring to: their deception and thievery or their unasked for aid in the invasion. Instead of asking him for clarification, she says: “Our dreams are the same.” and internally, she thinks “A united realm, in which lesser faeries were no longer shoved down. A better world.” (emphasis mine, 248)
As far as I recall, the only dream that Rhysand has (and that Feyre later shares) is his ancestor’s dream:
>“There was a time when the Night Court was a Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City. Long ago. But an ancient High Lord had a different vision, and rather than allowing the world to see his territory vulnerable at a time of change, he sealed the borders and staged a coup, eliminating the worst of the courtiers and predators, building Velaris for the dreamers, establishing trade and peace.” (MAF, 251)
And yet, she says that they have a shared dream for a unified Prythian. This is now the second time that Feyre has articulated this interest.
Later, during the High Lord’s meeting (WAR) to aid the Night Court in the war against Hybern, for it has been established that this is the Night Court’s war against Hybern (“Come to the meeting Tarquin. We need you–Prythian needs you.” (249)), Rhysand says to the assembled group: “War is upon us. I have no interest in wasting energy arguing amongst ourselves.” This is akin to shutting down conversation and this is said after he has stolen Tamlin’s voice. His “most powerful” power is a threat to the High Lords and he does not resist showing that power. His disinterest in “arguing amongst ourselves” is yet another sign of his self-assertion as Ruler of Prythian, not just High Lord of Night Court.
Before Tarquin publically rescinds the blood diamonds, and, thus agrees to help the Night Court in the war against Hybern, Feyre thinks to herself, while observing Tarquin,
>“Tarquin, across the pool, watched and listened–either because he was the youngest of them, or perhaps he knew some advantage lay in letting us battle it out ourselves.” (emphasis mine, 281)
Again, very interesting observation from someone who is newly fae. Tarquin is not the only young ruler there. Feyre is 20 and has been fae for one year and has been High Lady for a few months. Yet, she singles Tarquin out, once again calling attention to his inexperience.
Finally, Tarquin is the first High Lord to “forgive” Feyre for having his power “You saved us Under the Mountain” and he is the first High Lord to give Rhysand a bit of magic to return him to life: “For what he gave”. Again, Tarquin’s lack of experience is on display here, as is his submissiveness. He continues to bow to Rhysand and Feyre for UTM and aid during the invasion of Summer. He doesn’t think about the danger that Rhysand poses to Prythian, with the unnatural amount of power that Rhysand holds.
Ok, this is rather long, but I’d suggest re-reading the Tarquin passages in WAR, the yielding of authority to Rhysand and Feyre, throughout.
SJM has (unwittingly) uses the dynamics of Tarquin’s age and his newness to his title as rationale for setting him up as a “natural ally” for the much older Night Court Inner Circle. In FAS, Rhysand has Tarquin send his sentries to Spring, without Spring’s permission, and Tarquin does so, despite Tarquin needing his sentries to protect the humans who are now living in Summer.
Tarquin is the stepping stone for Feyre and Rhysand to begin their claim as the obvious choice for leaders of a “unified dream”.
*the order of who gives magic is Feyre is critical, for my read, in establishing that (1) the High Lords did not willing give up that magic, and (2) to hint at both possible enemies and alliances and to wackily show the future tension between Rhysand and Tamlin for Feyre’s attention.
NOTE: This is one part of a many part analysis (not sure how many parts) that will conclude with Nesta’s trove and Amren’s push for a unified Prythian with Rhysand as High Lord.
What if what Azriel wanted to confess to Mor was that he, like her, preferred his own kind, his own sex?
And what if Mor thought that what Azriel felt, before she bedded Cassian, was not actually what Azriel felt?
And what if Azriel thought, knowing that Mor had the Gift of Truth, knew the truth of him, and that was the reason he felt "unsuitable" when she chose Cassian instead of him?
Because choosing him would be simpler, wouldn't it, if he preferred males?
And what if, in that moment at Autumn, during Azriel's confession, Mor stopped him because it clicked for her? She saw him for who he was: someone like her? And that confession would expose her. Out in the open like that, him confessing that essential part of who he was. What if, all of these 500 years, they've kept each other's secret, without admitting it to the other?
(And yes, I admit, all of these thoughts came tumbling about when I realized that Azriel ignored Rhysand's question about Mor; that he felt fate meant for three sisters to be with three brothers; and that not once, but twice during his encounter with Gwyn, he thought of violence.)
(& of course, I'm still pondering what their actual relationship is: Truth-Teller bearer to Gift of Truther; something that is not romantic, but essential, like a sibling bond, but not)
(Has this already been floated? Is this the basis of the Azris romance ship?)
Quite aware this may all be cockamamie
Hello! Does anyone know the name of the fourth Palace in Velaris?
There's the
The fourth?