@rayonfrozenwings / rayonfrozenwings.tumblr.com
So If Rhys looks exactly like Ruhn.
And Rhys lost his sister to death.
Does Bryce look like Rhy's long dead sister?
It’s Christmas in Bookclub!❧ feysand for @ratabrasileira
“To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys.“ Rhys clinked his glass against mine. “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered.”
😏 Hello, Feyre darling 😈
Me: Living my life. Rhysand is fictional and that’s okay. I’m at peace.
Chapter 21: I’m gonna put some dirt in your eye. 👁 👁
Characters by Sarah J. Maas
Book series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
I have been wondering about why the Bone Carver appeared to Rhys as Jurian when they visited the Prison for the first time.
Rhysand shuddered – the most human gesture I’d seen him make.
“What did you see?” I pushed.
“Jurian,” Rhys said. “He appeared exactly as Jurian looked the last time I saw him: facing Amarantha when they fought to the death.”
I’ve realized that Jurian would be awful for Rhysand to see, but not because of his time during the War.
Jurian, trapped in the ring on her finger, would have been forced to witness every time Rhys had to service Amarantha in the bedroom. I would bet anything that Rhysand was terrified of having to confront the sole person who knew every detail of what happened to him.
oh damn true.
“If Amarantha offered us a slim shot at survival,” Rhys said, his gaze unflinching, “then I would not give a shit that she made me fuck her for all those years.”
Cassian flinched. The entire room flinched.
“If Amarantha showed up at that door right now,” Rhys snarled, pointing toward the foyer entry, “and said she could buy us a chance at defeating Hybern, at keeping all of you alive, I would thank the fucking Cauldron.”
Mor shook her head, tears slipping free again. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do.”
Rhys.
But the bond, the bridge between us … it was a howling void. A raging, dark tempest.”
New HC: Helion recognized the Illyrian markings for glory in battle Rhys had painted on Feyre when he starts to bring her to the revels.
“Love the new decoration for your new pet,” Helion laughs to Rhysand, who pulls Feyre closer and gives the Lord of Day a lazy grin.
“Indeed. I think they quite suit her.”
They share a glance that to outsiders looks salacious and wicked, but Helion reads the intent in Rhysand’s eyes. He has seen those markings in the books of his libraries and knows. He knows what a bold statement of defiance they are. He knows that this mortal is now their best chance. Their only chance. He knows why Rhys is keeping her by his side every night, why he’s keeping her out of the darkness of the dungeons as long as he can.
And he begins to hope.
(Long ask btw)
Coming from someone who was quite neutral on the ships until the bonus chapter (Azriel and Elain had there moments and Gwyn was a nice addition but the actual book didn’t seem to have that much of a romantic coding between them), I find it rather odd when people say Rhys was out of line. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Rhys (especially during ACOSF) I found his action reasonable and not just in a High Lord to subject power dynamic. I think a lot of people were rushing to finish the chapter and see what was going to happen next, that they didn’t bother to see the reasons of Rhysand’s actions beyond the answer he stated.
Before he even told Azriel he couldn’t go after Elain he asked many questions to his brother. “What are your plans?” We see in Azriel’s mind he admits he hadn’t thought past his sexual fantasies. “What about Mor?” Azriel ignores this question and rather talks about how The third sister was given (not meant, but given like some object) to another. “You think you deserve her?” (Important to note that Rhys visibly pales here I believe) Rather than answer that very important question Azriel speaks on behalf of Elain to say she doesn’t want Lucien (which we don’t truly know as we don’t have her POV).
It is then and only then after those 3 vital questions-questions that should be convincing us that Azriel and Elain are supposed to be together- go completely ignored that Rhys tells Azriel to stay away from Elain. People seem to forget that these two are brothers. It was obvious to me that Rhys saw something amiss with Azriel (as seen with his reactions to Azriel’s responses) and from there told him to stay away. It was from the aspect of a High Lord to his subject and one brother to another that Rhys came from. Azriel is a toxic character right now and Rhys, his brother who has know him for 500 years and who is a literal mind readers, knows that.
I would also like to add that it is canon that the brother beat the ever-living crap out of each other (like bleeding, bruises, black eyes, etc) when they are mad, yet telling the other to not pursue a girl who they clearly put on a pedestal, who they only care sexually about, who they think they are entitled to, is where y’all draw the line????
This ask is one of the most valid things I've ever read.
We've all been so concerned about what Azriel did or didn't say, that we haven't thought about whether or not he was given the opportunity, or was allowed an opening, to talk about how he feels about Elain. And he was given that opportunity, explicitly.
All of those are important questions, and they aren't straight-up "how do you feel about her" because that's not what anyone is looking for. (Ugh, if only it were that easy.) That would be the definition of telling us the story, rather than showing it. I don't think that sjm is the queen of showing - in fact I think that she tells quite a bit. But in this scene, Sarah Rhys asks Azriel three times about what he thinks or feels towards Elain/Mor, and Azriel refuses to answer. And at a moment like this, of all moments? When he knows that Rhys is pissed at him and has said to not go near her? He has nothing better to say than deflection??
Azriel ignored the question. "The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another." He had never before dared speak the words aloud.
Rhys's face drained of color. "You believe you deserve to be her mate?"
That just reinforces that it's not about Elain at all. And it's certainly not about his feelings for her, because the slightest hint to Rhys that Azriel had feelings, and Rhys would have changed his tune. Rhys knows Azriel better than anyone else, except maybe Cassian. And even Rhys's face lost color, as you noted, when he heard how Azriel was talking about Elain (or refusing to, rather). He was disturbed. And a literal mind reader as you also pointed out. Rhys knows what’s up.
Damn. That might be the best argument I’ve seen. Rhys visibly paled! He probably doesn’t recognise this az, or he hasn’t been looking hard enough.
We also have to remember that while the brothers seemed to slip into old patterns when Rhys returned from UtM that Azriel had had 50years to brood in Velaris, trapped, he couldn’t be a spy, couldn’t do what he spent his whole life doing… maybe there is more to him being “not himself” than we realise. and maybe, just maybe Rhys hasn’t looked too hard at his friends, expecting everything to stay the same and was now only just realising this fact.
Okay, as someone who has been in the "Rhys was out of line" court, this is a great argument. My concern comes less for Azriel's feelings than Elain's though. If she wants to be with Az, even if he is being a jackass, then her agency in that decision should matter.
Rhys should have spoken to Elain, at the very least. Elain is consistently infantilized by the IC and her sisters. She's treated as a pretty doll with just as much agency, which is wrong.
I'm not an Elriel shipper and I'm not even a huge fan of Elain, but I still think she should be involved in decisions about her body and her sex life and her relationships.
If my brother-in-law warned off one of his friends from dating me, a friend that I had a mutual attraction to, I would be so upset. If he had concerns FOR me, then I would want him to bring them TO me. Instead, Elain is just left feeling suddenly pushed away and left to wonder what *she* might have done wrong.
That's where Rhys is out of line, in my opinion.
I think Rhys has a nasty habit of making decisions for other people that he thinks is for the best. He does it with Feyre's pregnancy, with Nesta's abilities, with Mor's insecurities regarding Eris and her father. (And Mor's was the only one that was really heavily influenced by his making hard choices because of his status).
But I agree that as far as Azriel goes, Rhys was not out of line. It was where Elain is concerned that I get frustrated.
@iserenademefan I can see what your saying but essentially he is doing that. He is telling his friend azriel to stay away from her because he’s also concerned for his friend. Yes he frames it as protecting elain but I don’t think he could tell az - “I don’t think this is the right fit for you because that’s not really how you should be thinking about a relationship” without az walking out and not coming back.
And I was also in the - how dare rhys say that, but also it didn’t surprise me because rhys is um…. Very um…. I dunno how to say it. He thinks about himself and his court first and family relationships second? Feyre it too because she directly relates to him loving her and that’s about him.
I also am meh on elain and her ships. I want to be into her but I’m not. I’ll still read and see where it goes though. I’m also not anti her which I borderline was in the past when elain and nesta were out against eachother.
The thing that gets me is - there is no right and wrong. These characters all have their own motivations and world view for doing things. We saw azriels motivations and yeah if I was az I’d be pissed at rhys to. How dare he think to command my love life!
If I was elain I wouldn’t have any idea it happened. 🤷♀️ so how can I react to something I don’t know. To me it might just be azriel seems less into me. if it came out later in the story or someone told elain then yeah she has every right to get pissed. Because she would know what they are doing.
None of these characters are omniscient. They can’t know everything that happens and can only react to what they know which is also important to remember. Sometimes theories will tell us what elain was thinking but we don’t have her POV or entered her head via rhys or feyre. We just don’t know. We do know about az.
(Long ask btw)
Coming from someone who was quite neutral on the ships until the bonus chapter (Azriel and Elain had there moments and Gwyn was a nice addition but the actual book didn’t seem to have that much of a romantic coding between them), I find it rather odd when people say Rhys was out of line. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Rhys (especially during ACOSF) I found his action reasonable and not just in a High Lord to subject power dynamic. I think a lot of people were rushing to finish the chapter and see what was going to happen next, that they didn’t bother to see the reasons of Rhysand’s actions beyond the answer he stated.
Before he even told Azriel he couldn’t go after Elain he asked many questions to his brother. “What are your plans?” We see in Azriel’s mind he admits he hadn’t thought past his sexual fantasies. “What about Mor?” Azriel ignores this question and rather talks about how The third sister was given (not meant, but given like some object) to another. “You think you deserve her?” (Important to note that Rhys visibly pales here I believe) Rather than answer that very important question Azriel speaks on behalf of Elain to say she doesn’t want Lucien (which we don’t truly know as we don’t have her POV).
It is then and only then after those 3 vital questions-questions that should be convincing us that Azriel and Elain are supposed to be together- go completely ignored that Rhys tells Azriel to stay away from Elain. People seem to forget that these two are brothers. It was obvious to me that Rhys saw something amiss with Azriel (as seen with his reactions to Azriel’s responses) and from there told him to stay away. It was from the aspect of a High Lord to his subject and one brother to another that Rhys came from. Azriel is a toxic character right now and Rhys, his brother who has know him for 500 years and who is a literal mind readers, knows that.
I would also like to add that it is canon that the brother beat the ever-living crap out of each other (like bleeding, bruises, black eyes, etc) when they are mad, yet telling the other to not pursue a girl who they clearly put on a pedestal, who they only care sexually about, who they think they are entitled to, is where y’all draw the line????
This ask is one of the most valid things I've ever read.
We've all been so concerned about what Azriel did or didn't say, that we haven't thought about whether or not he was given the opportunity, or was allowed an opening, to talk about how he feels about Elain. And he was given that opportunity, explicitly.
All of those are important questions, and they aren't straight-up "how do you feel about her" because that's not what anyone is looking for. (Ugh, if only it were that easy.) That would be the definition of telling us the story, rather than showing it. I don't think that sjm is the queen of showing - in fact I think that she tells quite a bit. But in this scene, Sarah Rhys asks Azriel three times about what he thinks or feels towards Elain/Mor, and Azriel refuses to answer. And at a moment like this, of all moments? When he knows that Rhys is pissed at him and has said to not go near her? He has nothing better to say than deflection??
Azriel ignored the question. "The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another." He had never before dared speak the words aloud.
Rhys's face drained of color. "You believe you deserve to be her mate?"
That just reinforces that it's not about Elain at all. And it's certainly not about his feelings for her, because the slightest hint to Rhys that Azriel had feelings, and Rhys would have changed his tune. Rhys knows Azriel better than anyone else, except maybe Cassian. And even Rhys's face lost color, as you noted, when he heard how Azriel was talking about Elain (or refusing to, rather). He was disturbed. And a literal mind reader as you also pointed out. Rhys knows what’s up.
Damn. That might be the best argument I’ve seen. Rhys visibly paled! He probably doesn’t recognise this az, or he hasn’t been looking hard enough.
We also have to remember that while the brothers seemed to slip into old patterns when Rhys returned from UtM that Azriel had had 50years to brood in Velaris, trapped, he couldn’t be a spy, couldn’t do what he spent his whole life doing… maybe there is more to him being “not himself” than we realise. and maybe, just maybe Rhys hasn’t looked too hard at his friends, expecting everything to stay the same and was now only just realising this fact.
A family portrait 🤗 hope you all like it
does it bother anyone else that rhys’s trauma of having to serve amarantha for 49 years is just. never addressed in any of the books?
So I guess my latest theory with no evidence is that...
If Elucien happens then we get a dusk court.
No Helion death - Rhys and him just give Lucien and Elain some land and let them start a city. Maybe for refugees from the war who knows. and then yeah, that happens. and the seasonal courts and the time courts are balanced.
I blame this post by @bookofmirth which allowed me to ramble and make it to this point.
Some wholesome daddy Rhys content to bless your feed today!
- art by me :)
one of my most favorite parts of a court of silver flames is also one the worst parts imo. the scene where nesta is having a nightmare and cassian senses this through their bond (mate behavior right there) and fights azriel to let him go to her. it’s such an intense scene and so beautiful for nessian, but the reason it’s a favorite is actually because of rhys in that moment. having gone into her head to calm her down so her powers wouldn’t destroy the house/velaris. how he witnessed her pain and trauma from the cauldron was just so good.
“I saw it,” Rhys whispered. “Felt it. Everything that happened within the Cauldron. Saw her take its power with her teeth and claws and rage. And I saw … felt … what it took from her.” Rhys rubbed his face, and slowly straightened. He met Cassian’s stare unflinchingly, his eyes full of remorse and agony. “Her trauma is …” Rhys’s throat bobbed. “I know,” Cassian whispered. “I guessed,” Rhys breathed, “but it was different to feel it.”
i love this moment. at this point everyone else only seems to know a very small bit of nesta’s trauma, but to feel the pain nesta endured in the cauldron through someone who up to this point treated her pain as her just being irrationally angry was such a smart play by SJM. at this part in the series rhys has had very little patience with nesta (and sometimes rightfully so), but it was this moment that made him open his eyes to see how wounded she actually is.
now the reason i think this is also one of the worst scenes is because we got no payoff to this moment. i was hoping that before nesta hit rock bottom and told feyre about the baby/rhys threatened to kill her we would have had a callback to rhys bearing witness to her nightmare. he had suffered his own nightmares after UtM and feyre was there to calm him down and soothe him awake. he knows what it’s like to be trapped in a never ending moment of sheer terror, but it’s never brought up again. it was overshadowed by all the baby drama.
i am ok with rhys not offering comfort or kindness to nesta because knowing her she would have said something rude to push him away/out of embarrassment. i was, however, hoping that rhys and cassian would discuss her nightmares and offer words of wisdom from someone who also suffered traumatizing dreams. an acknowledgement that even if he didn’t particularly like nesta he felt her pain and understands what she’s going through. but we got none of this. and i’m bitter lol.
Okay but I get all sorts of feels when I think about Papa Rhys
