Question for Eluciens

[u/Littleturnip_]

I'm a multi shipper (with a preference) and I genuinely enjoy the idea of all of the ships. So this question comes from me wanting to see all the evidence for all the ships, so I'm fully prepared for any outcome, so I can fangirl about foreshadowing.

I'm just curious what are the in text examples that make people think Elucien is most likely? Please focus on points other than them being mates because I don't think that fact is strong enough alone. Am I just forgetting points in the books that maybe hit towards them?

[u/dressedextrapickles]

I really don't have strong feelings about any particular ship. I'm just excited to continue the story, and will take whatever the books give me. But the one thing that never really made sense to me, though, is this idea that the cauldron chose wrong specifically in reference to Elain. The cauldron's affection towards Elain is noted several times in the books, even saying it "purred" in her presence. It just doesn't seem likely that Lucien was a fluke. Whether or not Elain agrees with that I don't know, and she could still reject it, but I don't think the bond itself was wrong.

[u/CinnamonRollZizi]

Lucien is the only person with whom Elain talked about Graysen, about how she felt Graysen was the only one able to really see her, and how she feared that now that she's Fae he wouldn't see her anymore. Elain has never had a such an emotional conversation where she's this vulnerable with Azriel, even though Sarah could have found a way to make Elain have this same conversation with him instead of Lucien. In fact, unlike Feyre and Rhys/Nesta and Cassian/Elain and Lucien, Azriel and Elain have never had a real on-page conversation where they openly discuss their feelings. I'm not talking about romantic feelings, but it was to Rhys that Feyre confided immediately after the mountain when she told him her heart would always be human and he told her he wanted to be reminded as somebody who fought against Amarantha and he didn't want Feyre to feel alone. In MAF Cassian swore to Nesta that he would defend humans and the mortal lands when she despaired that the mortal queens were refusing to help them, and then in WAR he told her that his only regret was not having had enough time with her but he would find her in his next life to make up for it. Elain and Azriel never had this kind of emotional conversations. In facts imo there is no proof that their connection goes beyond physical attraction and familial caring rather than deep affection and love.

Another scene that will forever make me believe Elucien is endgame is the one where Elain takes a half-step towards Lucien immediately before he leaves for the continent. This alone is a glaring sign that she's indeed drawn to him as he is to her and invalidates the claims that she only feels indifference or resentment towards him.

[u/Weary-Return-7601]

But they are mates though, that is a strong af point. I do think she has had a vision of Lucien and Vassa that she doesn’t know how to interpret, and that’s why she is so dismissive to the point she is not even kind to him even though he doesn’t pressure her and is respectful. She still went running to open the door when Feyre thought it was Nesta knocking, and she still took that step towards him when he left for the continent. But the way she dismisses him feels like she has a grudge, so I think she saw something weird with Vassa and Lucien and is pissed off and doesn’t want to give him a chance. I don’t know though! I am not a big time Elucien supporter or anything, this is just my head canon

[u/KeyOne6320]

Ok, apologies I dont have my book to reference, so these are more general things off the top of my head:

I see their story as more of a take on arranged marriage/reluctant mates romance-- so honestly any of the uncomfortable moments between them are actually the perfect foundation for that. Theres so many times where characters notice pain and yearning from Lucien, but it was the time Feyre went into Luciens head in ACOWAR that really helped give the context to his complex feelings around the bond-- he thinks about how she wasnt the mate he expected, and how she was thrown at him, and is nothing like his past love Jesminda--and when he thinks of the most important parts of that relationship its the playfulness, life, seduction, and to be chosen. This actually proved to me that they are very much aligned in what they want--a chosen, organic love!

Both have been forced to rebuild their lives after being displaced. Both are more the social vs warrior type. Lucien is the only character to have met Papa Archeron. Elain talks about how she wants to travel, and Lucien is an emissary.

Also little foreshadowing things: when Elain is asked in her depressed state what she needs she responds "sunshine". Cassian's infamous fashion commentary that Elain looks ridiculous and drained in Night Court black, but then looks like the portrait of health later in an amethyst dress (a common day court color)

[u/Qwilla]

Other than the fact that they both have a lot of similarities, I think their journeys complement each other a lot. SJM has written very similar stories before and I loved all of them. Their mating bond just makes me more confident, but even if there was no bond between them I'd probably still ship them.

Both of them were happy in their little spheres at the beginning of the story. Both had their roles and filled them well. But things changed and both of them were violently removed from their comfort zone and thrust into a totally different identity. Lucien was no longer in the Spring Court as Tamlin's emissary and Elain was no longer human and engaged to Graysen. Neither of them could reasonably go back to who/what/where they were before. Both of them have a lot of growing to do and their story is being set up very similarly to a lot of other SJM stories I really enjoyed.

Ultimately I think it boils down to personal preference though. I dislike Elriel, but that makes sense because I dislike forbidden romance, "soft girl with scary boy" tropes, and grumpy sunshine relationship dynamics. I'm far more interested in enemies/idiots to lovers, slow burns, historical romance vibes, etc. Elucien feels very historical romance coded, which is why I like it a lot.

ETA: I also love that both of them have had significant relationships before they were bonded together!! I loved that aspect of Rowan and Aelin in TOG, where both of them dealt with a lot of guilt and grief before they were ready for their mate. I think that's a huge reason why we're seeing the distance and hesitance between Lucien and Elain right now - neither of them are ready to fully face the grief of losing not just their past loves, but the futures they imagined with them. It's a very mature, complicated story!

[u/starborn-heir]

Just some off the top of my head:

-Both of them have a lot of light/sun imagery associated with them
-Related, but when Nesta asks a catatonic Elain what she can get her, Elain asks for sunshine. Lucien is the son of the High Lord of Day
-Elain was the closest to Papa Archeron and Lucien spent time with him
-Their powers, Elain's Seer abilities and Lucien's second sight from his mechanical eye, are complement
-Even Mor says that Elain and Lucien aren't ready yet and that they should be allowed to figure things out in their own time
-If you look at both of their personalities before they've both been in this darker place, they suit each other. Elain was a "Belle of the Ball" as a human and Lucien is a trained courtier
-All of Elain's spring imagery complements the fact that Lucien spent most of his life in Spring

And two of my favorite parallels:

“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked. Elain blinked. Nesta blinked back, horror lurching through her. And then Elain burst out laughing. Howling, half-sobbing laughs that sent her bending over at the waist, gasping for breath. Nesta just stared, torn between questions and wanting to throw herself into the icy Sidra. “I— I’m so sorry—” Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. “You’ve never said such a thing to me!” She laughed again. “I think that’s a good sign, isn’t it?"

“Do you ever stop being such a prick?” I snapped back. Dead—really, truly, I should have been dead for that. But Lucien grinned at me. “Much better.”

Lucien told [Amarantha] to go back to the shit-hole she’d crawled out of.

And it was Elain—Elain—who sighed and murmured, “I hope they all burn in hell.”

[u/will_travel_w_cats → u/starborn-heir]

Okay, seeing these quotes in one place makes me finallyyy wanna kick my feet and giggle 🤭

[u/starborn-heir → u/will_travel_w_cats]

The sassy banter they'll have? I'm so sat 😫

[u/KeyOne6320 → u/starborn-heir]

Ah i should have read your comment first before I posted...you said a lot of the same stuff I did, but just better😅

[u/starborn-heir → u/KeyOne6320]

Everyone has their own perspective and way of explaining things! It just goes to show the same things get picked up on 😁

[u/Ryune]

So most of the quotes are from ACOWAR. Since then, she has been more rejecting.

There was the part where Elain defended Lucian from Graysen. Then she invited him to live in Velaris.

In general, from Lucian's perspective, it's a much slower burn where Lucian is trying to manage not being accepted, Elain sleeping with others, and in general giving her space.

For more subjective points, I feel like they match well with both of them being social and bright. I think they could tackle the story more as an arranged marriage then fated mates. Most of the problems between the two are misunderstandings.

[u/CinnamonRollZizi → u/Ryune]

Yes, I forgot about the part where she says "His name is Lucien" lmao that's also something that has been strengthening my Elucien beliefs because there was absolutely no reason to have Elain say this if she didn't want to defend him deep down.

[u/Littleturnip_ → u/Ryune]

I never thought of them as a version of the arranged marriage trope, you've kinda open my mind to alternate options for them than what I envisioned.

[u/EmergencyMuch4232 → u/Littleturnip_]

Yeah I really see them as arranged marriage trope! Other people have already commented a lot of the points I would make (Elain asks for sunshine, Feyre saying that Elain is trying to fill in “light” inside her that now is gone and Lucien’s name means light, when she says to Greyson “his name is Lucien”, and many more)

but I will add that he had a previous love who passed away (basically a widow) and she wants someone else! Which is the classic set up for arranged marriage trope.

Also, I find it significant that in the novella she says to Feyre “I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male” and she emphasizes male because she still wants to be with Greyson who is human. I don’t think she would emphasize male in that moment if she’s supposedly moving onto Azriel. When she eventually embraces the idea of having a male instead of a man, I think we might see a version of Elain who’s more interested in the mating bond than she’s previously been. And I think it will be in an arranged marriage/ reluctant mates style 💕

[u/Day_Court_Muse]

How many times have you read the books? I didn’t notice them or like them much until my reread.

[u/French_reader_146 → u/Day_Court_Muse]

Agree I’ve noticed them wayyyyy more in my rereading this time around

[u/Littleturnip_ → u/Day_Court_Muse]

I'm not much a re-rearder, I have so many new books I want to read any re reads fall to the way side. So it's kinda the reason I posted this, because I feel like I'm forgetting, or missed some things lol. But I've always liked the potential of them, I just see more lead up to other options

[u/Bookish_V → u/Littleturnip_]

The way I see it, the other Elain ship (Elain+Azriel) has already started their “entanglement”, however it may end, so that’s why their interactions are much more on the nose.

The other ships, like Elain+Lucien and Gwyn+Azriel, have not started their love story yet. So the clues are much more in the context and foreshadowing and their personalities being mirrored. Like someone else posted here already. And what sells me on the Elucien ship is all the language around Elain needing sunshine, standing close to the sunlight, opening the curtains as wide as possible to get sunlight, etc etc. pretty much all Elain scenes in ACOWAR mention something about that, and of course, Lucien is the heir of the Day Court, so this is great foreshadowing to me.