Gwynriel Appreciation Week Day 1: FAVORITE MOMENT TOGETHER OR ON THEIR OWN Banter, Bonus Chapter.

Gwynriel Appreciation Week Day 1: FAVORITE MOMENT TOGETHER OR ON THEIR OWN Banter, Bonus chapter.

this is canon.

Rhysand: Darling

Cassian: Sweetheart

Azriel: Love

yeah e/riel would be cute but think of gwynriel as the first fucking couple of carinthians in the history

yeah, feel their power my friend

cause of death: gwynriel's banter and cuteness

Gwynriel: One Bed

I recommend first reading this headcanon for context: Confessing Their Feelings

Azriel had never in five hundred years blushed this hard.

Gwyneth Berdara was in absolute stitches, bracing her arm on the wall of their cramped room here at the inn, the index finger of her free hand pointing to the single bed they were meant to share.

“Truly, I-I asked for one room, not one bed—“

Gwyn’s wheezing laughter cut him off and his cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of scarlet.

How or why she found this funny he couldn’t understand. Less than two months ago they’d confessed their feelings for one another on the banks of the Sidra, agreeing to take things slow.

And now here they were, on an assignment together in the mountains forced to share a bed.

So much for taking our time…

“This is… this is…” Gwyn snickered, “this is right out of one of Sellyn Drake’s books.”

Azriel’s mouth went dry at the mention of the smutty books he knew the Valkyrie trio liked to indulge in. Not necessarily the concept, but more at the mention of it in relation to him… to them.

Gwyn caught her breath and removed her jacket, crossing to the far side of the bed then collapsing unceremoniously onto the limp mattress. Azriel tried not to look at the way her pants hugged her narrow waist or how the white tunic tucked into them outlined the curve of her breast.

Stop.

Right. This could not be allowed. Not tonight.

The shadowsinger cleared his throat and shed his pack. “I’ll take the floor, of course.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Gwyn snorted.

Azriel ignored her, snatching up one of the pillows and tossing it to the scuffed wooden floor.

“Shadowsinger, I already know how this plays out,” she sighed, closing her eyes and placing one hand behind her head. With the other she continued speaking with dramatic flourishes of her fingers. “You offer in a gentlemanly fashion to sleep on the floor. I say it isn’t necessary. You make some excuse about my honor or my virtue and then I tell you that I don’t mind if you keep to your side.”

Azriel’s brows raised as he studied her relaxed expression.

She proceeded. “And finally, you relent and you get into the bed beside me. You try to stay as far away from me as possible and I tease you for it and then drift to sleep. Whoever wakes up first will quietly admire the other’s beauty in the soft light of dawn and appreciate their sculpted features or the shape of their lips—“

“Then the sleeping one wakes and tells the one who is awake that their breath is abhorrent,” Azriel supplied with a smirk.

Gwyn opened her eyes and grinned at him. “Someone read This Oracle’s Love Letter.”

Azriel, feeling slightly more at ease, shrugged out of his jacket and took a hesitant seat on the edge of the bed. He faced Gwyn with a wry smile. “Honestly, I don’t mind the floor. I’ve slept in worse places…”

And I know what you’ve been through and would not blame you if you did not want to sleep with a male in your bed…

Gwyn’s eyes softened. “It’s fine, Shadowsinger. It’s just you.” The skin beneath her freckles turned pink. “And I feel comfortable around you. Especially after our… discussion by the Sidra.”

“I would think it would make this predicament all the more daunting, Berdara…”

Gwyn tilted her head at his balking tone. “How so?”

Azriel’s heart thundered. He was nervous as a prospective bridegroom.

Which was a ridiculous thought. No. He was no bridegroom to anyone. Much less Gwyn. Who had told him she was not ready for a relationship.

Or for a male to be admiring her form…

“We… Let’s say we do sleep in this bed side by side…”

“Yes, that’s how it’s done typically.”

Azriel continued, “Doesn’t it bother you to know that I am lying next to you and that I am… that I’m…” the words were hard to grasp. Azriel forced himself to voice his fears, but the words left him quietly, as though he had been defeated. “That I am attracted to you….”

It was quiet and Gwyn’s expression was carefully blank. Azriel was desperate to know what was on her mind.

…she is confused, Singer… his shadows relayed.

Before Azriel could inquire, Gwyn raised a hand. “If I recall, that conversation ended with both of us agreeing that we take our time and… and work on ourselves.” She gestured to herself. “Nothing has changed for me. Has anything for you?”

Only that I have grown to constantly crave your company…

But instead he said: “No.”

Gwyn smiled brightly. “Well then nothing will come of us sharing a bed.” She patted the spot beside her. “Blow out the candle and let’s sleep. I’m exhausted.”

Azriel didn’t have to force the small smile on his lips. Truly, she brought that out of him with no effort.

“Very well.” Azriel blew out the candle, the room now only illuminated by moonlight. “Do you… do you mind if I remove my leathers?”

“Not if you don’t mind me removing mine,” replied the priestess nonchalantly.

And sure enough, on the bed she was wriggling out of her leather pants leaving her in only leggings and her white top. Azriel followed suit and slipped beneath the blanket before she could potentially glimpse the outline of his manhood.

He tucked his wings in tight and eased back onto the pillows. “So in our ongoing book—“

“Ah, yes, The Shadowsinger and the Valkyrie.”

“Right,” Azriel nodded. “What happens in our… single bed scene?”

Gwyn’s eyes danced with amusement, the silvery moonlight making them glimmer like gemstones. “Well, my knowledge of smut is still rather scanty. The only one I’ve read was an enemies to lovers story so it doesn’t really apply here.” She angled her head. “I guess we decide what happens.”

Azriel’s mind was racing for what to do. The shadowsinger, normally so calm and composed, was scrambling to arrange his thoughts. In the flurry of panic all he could bring himself to say was:

“Goodnight to you.”

Then he crossed his arms tight across his chest, and scooted towards the very edge of the bed. Though his eyes were closed, he could feel Gwyn grinning… then he heard her snort.

“We have a long day of recon tomorrow,” Azriel said, his lips twitching. “I recommend you rest.”

“Yes, but I was laughing too hard and now I’m wide awake. I need to wind down…”

The things I could do to help you wind down…

But instead he said: “Best of luck.”

“You know what would help me wind down?” the priestess said, her voice sly.

Azriel did not answer. Only kept his eyes shut, lying still as a statue. Gwyn still answered.

“A lullaby. Someone singing me to sleep…”

The edge of Azriel’s mouth curled up in spite of himself. “I am not singing for you.”

“Give me one good reason.”

“No.”

She groaned beside him and Azriel heard the mattress squeak as she slammed back against it angrily. He could picture her lips thinning (as they always did when she was angry), her eyes narrowing. A small, beautiful creature wearing the fierce expression of a warrior. The corner of his lip hitched up… and he snorted.

“Something funny?” she snapped.

Azriel opened his eyes, chuckling as he turned his head to look at her. Sure enough, she was wearing that malevolent glower.

Snickering, he blurted the words before he could think about it, “You’re adorable.”

Gwyn’s eyes widened and Azriel cleared his throat, wiping the smirk off his face.

“I am not adorable,” she growled. “I am a Carynthian. I am a Valkyrie. I am very, very frightening and imposing and-and… assertive.”

Azriel laughed, a full bodied noise as he saw her fight off a smile. “So frightening and imposing that you have to tell me as much… And assertive is just a nice way of saying bossy.”

“I am not bossy!” Gwyn gasped.

“Please,” balked the shadowsinger. “Shadowsinger, I need you to install a wooden beam to stone. Shadowsinger, I need you to train me on dagger handling. Sing for me, Shadowsinger.” He gave her a rakish grin. “You are the bossiest female I know.”

Gwyn raised her chin. “If I was a male you would say I have initiative.”

“If you were a male I’d call you Rhysand. The bossiest person I know.”

“He is High Lord.”

“Oh, even before then he was a bossy little shit, I assure you,” Azriel murmured with a fond smile. “He enjoyed ordering me and Cassian around when we were boys. Nothing mean or harmful. On the contrary, rather inane commands. Make a pile of snowballs. Stack the pillows into a fort. Run to a tree and back.”

“He sounds like fun…”

“It was fun,” mused the shadowsinger. “But that you think so proves my point. No wonder you and Rhysand get along. You’re essentially the same person.”

“That’s an exaggeration…”

“It’s not a bad thing. Everyone likes Rhysand,” Azriel argued. His gaze grew tender. “I like Rhysand.”

In the silvery moonlight Azriel could see Gwyn’s cheeks turn pink, and his stomach flipped. Yes, he could admit to himself that he took pleasure in making Gwyneth Berdara blush.

In a voice so soft he wasn’t certain it belonged to her, Gwyn said: “What do you like about Rhysand?”

But Azriel heard the real question:

What do you like about me?

The shadowsinger rolled onto his side to better see her. She chewed her lower lip and Azriel briefly wondered what it would feel like between his teeth.

He swallowed the dryness in his throat. “I like that Rhysand is kind. He gives nearly everyone the benefit of the doubt, even if they don’t deserve it. He’s very hardworking and determined.”

He was surprised at how little he had to think about things he liked about Gwyn. They tumbled from his lips like water from a fountain.

“He’s very loyal - he would lay down his life for the people he cares for. He’s brave.” The shadowsinger matched the priestess’s gentle smile. “He’s also very funny. When we were boys he would have me in absolute stitches with laughter.” A pause as his heart drummed against his ribs. “What’s not to like?”

The silence between them was thick with an emotion Azriel couldn’t put his finger on. But then it struck him like lightning. The look in her eyes and the pounding in his chest. The way both of them were short of breath just staring at one another.

Yearning.

That was it.

They were both yearning.

His fingers itched to feel her freckled skin, to brush back a lock of her hair, to trace the outline of her lips. And likewise she was drinking him in with her eyes.

Azriel fought against the firming he felt between his legs, not wanting to scare her off… but he could scent it just barely. He could scent the desire coming off of her.

And when she averted those big eyes and her throat bobbed, he knew she was embarrassed.

So he pretended not to notice, shifting his wings to lie on his back and stare at the ceiling.

“For what it’s worth,” Gwyn said timidly, “I feel very fortunate to have you as a friend.”

Azriel smiled to himself, staring up at the ceiling. “The feeling is mutual, Berdara.”

And it truly was. He wanted more with her. So much more. More than he’d imagined having with Elain or Morrigan and he couldn’t explain why. He couldn’t explain why his heart leapt whenever he saw her or why whenever he entered a room it was Gwyn he looked for first. How for once, with Gwyn, he wasn’t constantly questioning his worth and if he deserved love. It was just so… easy with her. Easy to accept he’d conquer whatever demons he needed to in order to be his best for her. To be with her.

These were all ideas that he found himself welcoming eagerly.

However, for now, he was content to be her friend. To laugh late into the night and talk endlessly with her. If that’s all he ever remained then he would be happy to pine after Gwyn for centuries - he was confident it would not affect the joy her company brought him.

But then Azriel closed his eyes and in the darkness Gwyneth Berdara said:

“I look forward to eventually becoming more.”

And the words left Azriel without a second thought: “Me too.”

And for the first time in a very long time, both Azriel and Gwyn slept soundly, nightmares nowhere in sight. Together chasing away the terrors that plagued their thoughts, merely by lying side by side.

And when morning came and Azriel opened his eyes, he indeed found Gwyneth Berdara admiring him. When she blushed and he grinned she only said: “Your breath is abhorrent.”

And that was that.

My awesome #gwynriel commission from @lesyablackbird. Please reblog, do not repost. Support the artist 🎨.

am I the only one in the ACOTAR fandom that doesn't want the thressome between Nesta, Cassian and Azriel?

don't get me wrong, I would love reading a smut scene with Nesta, Cassian and Azriel, but I think that would be a fucking serious problem when Azriel' LI come into view, because it would be awkward if Azriel ends with Elain, having had sex with Nesta, being Elain her sister, and it would be awkward as well if Azriel ends with Gwyn, because Gwyn is Nesta's best friend