Reasons I Believe Elain and Azriel are Endgame:
(Also, I tried posting this on an ACOTAR FB group, idk if they accepted it, but if you see this twice that’s why!!)
(Also x2, Tumblr only lets you include 10 photos, so I had to chop some of the quote screenshots. Sorry!! 🥺)
First off, I would like to say that while I definitely don’t mind people shipping Elain + Lucien, I am bothered by some of the reasons individuals use to support the ship. Saying that Lucien has had a difficult life, so he “deserves” Elain & Azriel deserves “his own person” are both statements that rub me the wrong way. They make it seem as though Elain is an object, or a consolation prize that Lucien “deserves”. Elain is not “owned” by Lucien just because she’s his mate. Yes, Lucien has been through a lot & definitely deserves to be happy!! However, Elain has also been through a lot & deserves to be happy too!! She is her own person & deserves to be with whoever she chooses, she doesn’t owe anything to anyone.
Now that that is out of the way, I’d like to discuss why I believe Azriel and Elain will end up together.
Firstly, Feyre brings up a Azriel + Elain being a match a couple of times throughout the series:
- Chapter 49 of ACOMAF: “And I think Elain-Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.” I smiled at the thought-at how handsome they would be together. If the warrior ever stopped quietly loving Mor.
- Chapter 24 of ACOWAR (while watching Az & Elain garden): “Why not make them mates? Why Lucien?”...”You said your mother and father were wrong for each other; Tamlin said how own parents were wrong for each other. So it can’t be a perfect system of matching. What if that is what she needs?”
In my opinion, chapter 24 of ACOWAR isn’t discussed enough. It feels as though everyone ignores it. I view it as the biggest indicator / foreshadowing that Elain will end up rejecting the bond since Feyre and Rhys are literally having this discussion while watching Azriel and Elain in the garden.
Adding onto Elain rejecting the bond,
Chapter 54 of ACOWAR is also extremely important: “It means nothing...I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”
This displays that Elain has the backbone to reject the bond. If she feels as though she’s in love with someone else, she will not allow the bond to get in between that.
Chapter 24 of ACOWAR: “I couldn’t tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, “Beautiful”.
I feel as though this quote speaks for itself, no? (I 100% believe she was looking at his scarred hands 👀)
Chapter 63 of ACOWAR: Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?”
When the Cauldron attempted to lure the “made” fae (+ Amren) away, Azriel was the only one thinking of Elain.
Chapter 64 of ACOWAR: “I’m getting her back.” ... “Then you will die.” Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back”.
Chapter 65 of ACOWAR: “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.
Chapter 65 of ACOWAR: “Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek”.
These three moments are when I truly believe Elain started seeing Azriel as a potential partner. Yes, this is complete speculation on my part however, I believe this moment set him apart from the rest. When Elain was captured by Hybern, Graysen didn’t even attempt to save her or accept her for the fae she had become, he just gave up on her. Lucien also didn’t attempt to visit her after Hybern threw her into the cauldron & changed the course of her life until Feyre gave him an opportunity to flee the Spring Court. I do understand that it was difficult for him to leave Tamlin and just venture into Night Court territory, but still...
Finally, we’ve reached the big whammy.
Chapter 69 of ACOWAR: She refused the knife Cassian handed her, though. Went white as death at the sight of it. ... Elain weighed my words ... and slowly closed her fingers around the blade. Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that blade— Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.
This scene was deemed important enough to include in the ACOTAR coloring book!! 👀
+ Elain giving Azriel headache medicine for Solstice 🥺:
In conclusion, I believe that Azriel and Elain will end up together because they truly understand one another. They both relate to their powers not being understood by others, dwelling in the shadows. Azriel was the only one who didn’t believe Elain was “crazy” and was the first one to understand that she was a seer. He is gentle with her, never pushes her to do anything that she’s uncomfortable with or isn’t ready for. He helps her with her garden because he knows that it was something that she enjoyed in her human life before she was forced to become a fae. He thought about her when even her sisters hadn’t, he risked his life to save her from Hybern. He lent her Truth-Teller when he hadn’t let anyone else (Rhys, Cass, Mor, etc.) touch it. I love Elain and Azriel and they both deserve to be happy. Whether they become each other’s happiness remains to be seen, but I am definitely rooting for them. 🥺💜