All you people need to take a DEEP BREATH!!! Everything is OK. First of all, I understand the frustration that comes with Gwynriel's, however we have great reason to see some high potential between the two, this while book whilst being Nesta and Cassian's story was heavily focused on the way Azriel, and Gwyn interact. So lets break it down!
Az and Gwyn challenge eachother, Elain does not and she never would. I have put together a carefully thought out explanation and I would love to share it!
WARNING: IF YOU ARE NOT A GWYNRIEL SHIPPER AND GET DEFENSIVE EASILY THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!
Lets begin.
I went back and dove into the most important tabs I forgot out, Sarah is HUGE on relationship parallels yes? Ok I found one a HUGE one hidden but simply glowing, between elain and Nesta. But before I get into that, I would like to say, I had shipped Elriel, and I still kind of do but I just don’t see it happening at all, we have had a lot of red herrings in the books. Azriel, is the red herring for Lulu, and Elain is it for Gwyn. Elain had just gotten dumped by Tamlin 2.O, and it hasn’t taken her long to be over it which made no sense given the root of her trauma was Greyson, or however you spell he ain’t important, the spelling of his name can die in a hole along with him for hurting Elain. Anyways, Acowar takes place only a month after the events of acomaf. Elain is strong willed, yet has a conversation with Lucien and isn’t rude she’s traumatized and still civil. Later she wants to stop Lucien from leaving, but stops herself. He’s a ✨respectful king.✨ it’s also wrong to blame him for what happened to Elain, since he was so badly manipulated and didn’t want to lose his friend. It was Ianthes fault Tamlin was PISSED they took Nesta and Elain, Lucien was so upset too.
It is very interesting that Elain started acting very funny and uncomfortable around Lucien when it was clear she craved him or craved conversation with him just to talk. It’s suspicious ( no fault of Elain) that she started pining after Azriel in acomaf it was more friendship and it was VERY weird I feel like Koschei is manipulating her BECAUSE of what she is , which we don’t fully know and would be good plot. She’s a seer and Koschei must know that and is using that to plan. I think she knows this and that’s why she tapped out of her power but he is still in her head. It was be incredible if Elain was the one to knock that * insert nasty name here)’s head right off his shoulder or WORSE. Anywho.
To the parallel ( sorry it took so long.)
But Nesta was glancing between us all, her back stiff, mouth a thin line. “ where is he?” “ who?” Rhys crooned. “ Cassian.” I didn’t think I’d ever heard his name from her lips
Nes and Cass.
Graysen swallowed, “ Did you think you could come back here- live with me as this… lie?” “ No. Yes I— I don’t know what I wanted—“ “ And now you’re bound to some… Fae male. A High Lords son.” A different High Lords heir likely, I wanted to say. “ His name is Lucien.” I wasn’t certain if I’d ever heard his name from her lips.
Elain and lulu.
That is the start of mating bonds between the sisters and their mates ( endgame.)
As for Azriel “Elain shuddered, drifting closer. So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest. She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea that he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars. Such terrible things that it was a sacrilege for his fingers to skin, tainting her with his presence.”
This is foreshadowing that they won’t happen, it’s basically saying she will never accept him for who he truly is, and he is never his true self around her. He is the kind of man she is terrified of. Later in his bonus chapter it is said he avoids Elain and before that ‘ he avoided dinners’
Now the Necklace has been a HUGE controversial factor. But I would like the point something out.
“The golden necklace seemed ordinary -- its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.
This is a HUGE thing, because Gwyn sees herself as ordinary and unworthy, Gwyn feels she’s a small and unworthy of herself and who she is after her sister died, and is easily dismissed. She over comes this however for the most part, at the end of the chapter it is a huge turn in Gwyn and Azriels stories alike.
“Clotho's pen moved once more. She deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her. Something sparked in Azriel's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the House proper. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason... he could see it.But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”
Emphasis on “But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”
Sarah only uses ‘ glowed’ in this instance when describing a mating bond, and it was internal, not like describing someone’s hair or skin, “Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.”
In this case Sarah wrote this to try to make it unnoticeable, but still there to create the Gwynriel ship, then thrust it forward in the future.
Now to go back, He had a pull to give someone he wanted to be his mate jewelry, it is ‘ interesting’ and easily overlooks me ( which was the point) for both the Necklace and and Gwyn are described as the same thing. Throughout the book Sarah makes special points to write about Cass and Nes notice between Azriel and Gwyn. A turning if tides.
I would also like to bring this to the table.
“The faelights gilded Elain's unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.” This is a hint hint hint HINT. Elain is Lulu’s mate and Sarah had a made a point throughout the whole series to sprinkle this whenever she can.
Gwyn is also lightly described in ways Azriel is, as far as Witt, the challenging attitude and competitiveness. Az is just on a more silent level.
Now for the similarities Between Gwyn and Az
Azriel and Gwyn both have blue stones, stone, for what and who they are. They are both Carynthian, they are both competitive, Strong, protective, and in all meanings of the word BEAUTIFUL. Gwyn is compared to the beauty of Merrill and Mor ( that’s us not to be taken lightly) and Mor is the most beautiful female in the series, and so is Azriel only a male, so for Gwyn to be not to so subtly hinted at being on their tier is a big deal.
Now back to Elain and Lucien, Elain is the most beautiful sister, ( though we truly don’t know that for sure since Feyre thinks so low of her beauty, and in a lot of ways can be a unreliable narrator.) Lucien is son of the high lady of Autumn who is gorgeous, and son of Helion who is described as ‘ sun personified’ so um pop your eyeballs good looking, so Elain and Lucien are just gonna happen, cause that’s how Sarah works.
Sarah has been holding back on Elain and Lucien BOTH for a reason, for their story.
We shall see what the genius has in store for us!!!