*Few Months After HOFAS*

*Few months after HOFAS*

Gwyn: *Bloodied and smiling wildly after winning another hardcore obstacle course* *Extends her hand for Azriel*

Azriel: *omg what do I do* *HELP*

Azriel: ...

Azriel: *Holds her hand*

Gwyn: ???

Gwyn: I want my prize,Shadowsinger.

Azriel: *Panicking*

Azriel: I'm your prize 😏😉

Shadows: *need a raise*

No but it's so funny when people get mad about anything related to a character if said character is in a ship they don't support.

I'm using Gwyn as an example because I see this happening a lot with her, but it happens to a quite awful lot of characters:

I understand not liking Gwynriel, or even simply not liking Gwyn's character. But it doesn't mean you need to invalidate and shame every theory and aspect about her, even when it has literally nothing to do with the ship.

Like why are some people mad she's a redhead/ pictured as a redhead? Or that we're curious about her ancestry/ lineage and powers? About theories saying she can play a bigger role in future books?

I'm sorry, but when a character is introduced in a series like ACOTAR and gets the attention and the development she got, people are going to speculate. Even more when said character has no apparent reason for being the highlight in a few scenes, but is nonetheless.

SJM is not dumb. No, she is not the best writer in the world, but she does think and plan a lot for her books, mainly with the foreshadowing. There's a reason Gwyn is the first reborn Valkyrie, even when Nesta is the MC. There's a reason for the sentences indicating "larger forces" noticed Gwyn when she was cutting the ribbon. There's a reason she talks about wanting to leave the library and that she's the one saying their stories are worth telling. There's a reason she became Carinthyan just when the Illyrian rebellion was about to start.

And finally, it's not shameful or "dumb" to theorize about a character possibly having larger roles in future books when the narrative itself suggests so.

If you're threatened or mad about it, the shame is on you.

and everyone knows the real reason some people think the Valkyries shouldn't have won the Blood Rite, and it has nothing to do with being "unrealistic".

Evidence that Azriel’s shadows DO NOT DISAPPEAR when he is calmed or relaxed or around the people he feels safe with.

Buckle up, this might be longer than a Target receipt.

1. ACOMAF:

When Feyre is getting to know them and she asks Cassian how he’s lasted so long without anyone killing him, Cassian belts out a full laugh and “Azriel’s brows flicked up with approval as the shadows seemed to wrap tighter around him. As if he were the dark hive from which they flew and returned.” He’s calmed and relaxed here…the shadows are there.

Later on, they’re having a family dinner. Calmed. Relaxed. His whole family around. Talking about the Illyrians. “Azriel nodded, shadows wreathing his neck, his wrists.”

They seemed friendly with Feyre too when they were going to the Human Lands and she flew with Azriel to piss off Rhys.

2. ACOWAR:

Back in the Night Court, anothee family dinner. They’re all eating and joking. The whole gang is there, talking about teaching Feyre how to fly: “We’ve taught plenty of younglings the basics” Cassian countered. Azriel shook his head, shadows twining around his wrists.

Before they head out to the Dawn Court, when they’re all joking waiting to leave: “Azriel, wreathed in shadows by the front door, chuckled quietly. Cassian shot him a glare. “I don’t see you spouting poetry, brother”. You all know the response to this one.

3. ACOFAS:

This is Rhysand’s POV. In his study, just talking about stuff, calmed, relaxed: One glance at Azriel’s unreadable face and I added, “Don’t answer that”. A corner of Azriel’s mouth curled up, the shadows about him sliding over his neck like living tattoos, twins to the Ilkyrian ones marked beneath his leathers.

4. ACOSF:

Cassian and Nesta are having breakfast. A nice cozy family meal: She might have snapped something, but Azriel stalked into the room on his heels. Nesta straightened at the shadowsinger’s appearance, the darkness clinging to his shoulders as he offered her a grim smile.

When Azriel gave Nesta the reading light for Solstice and she hugs him, he even chuckled: “Thank you”, Nesta said, quickly pulling away to marvel at the device. “It’s brilliant.” Azriel blushed and stepped back, shadows swirling.

And now, for my personal favorites. Chapter 60: the cutting of the ribbon:

Cassian lingered at the doorway as Nesta murmured to Gwyn, “You’ve got this.” (I love them, your Honor) Azriel came up beside him, silent as the shadows that wreathed his wings.

Gwyn asked Az, her teal eyes bright, “What do we get if we finish the course?” Az’s shadows DANCED AROUND HIM. “Since there’s no chance in hell any of you will finish the course, we didn’t bother to get a prize.

(By the way, this is the first time the shadows dance in all the books)

5. And now for the grand finale, THE BONUS CHAPTER.

“How was the party?” Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one if his shadows darted out TO DANCE WITH IT before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music.

When something restless settled in him, you can safely say he’s calmed and relaxed; and yet, his shadows had calmed too, lounging on his shoulders. Still there.

I think there’s enough evidence to debunk that theory that his shadows disappear around the people he feels safe with. Or how they disappear when he’s calmed or relaxed.

And again, maybe it’s not a bad thing that they disappear around Elain (I personally think this is not good)…but I’ll take their reactions to Gwyn over them disappearing ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. And twice on a Sunday.

This shit is so annoying.

Stop diminishing a great woman character because she's a threat to your ship.

Gywn is so much more than a fucking love interest. And it's about time people realize that. I guarantee that if she was shipped with Az, most of yall would love her.

no but like why are people mad she's a redhead? It's giving Medieval Church😭🙏

If someone asked SJM “is Gwyn really a redhead?” She would have the same look on her face as when people asked her if Gwyn was a child.

I really need this fandom to stop being so stupid.

So, there's a lot of discussion right now about the color of Gwyn's hair (???) so I wanted to give my thoughts on it.

Oh, just wanted to add, she's so insignificant that even her hair's color is subject for discussion, you see...

Now, to the point:

Apparently, not even SJM actually knows what her hair color is, since it's described like this:

"Rich coppery chestnut", "Coppery brown", "Copper" and apparently it looks like "strands of gold" in sunlight.

Now, if you search on pinterest, these terms are used for basically the same color:

It may be because I have the most brown hair to ever brown, but that looks a lot like red hair to me.

The thing is, why is it described as "strands of gold" in sunlight? Gold is the color used to describe Mor's hair, which is very very blonde. This perhaps indicates that lightning in the library is not the best and Gwyn's hair may be lighter than first described.

But then, why does anyone care??? She could be bald and would still be beautiful, funny, smart, brave and in possession of a ✨charming irreverence✨ that delights a certain Spymaster. Deal with it.