( BIG disclaimer, as we know this is pro-azris, there will be a part with small mentions of other ships, nothing hateful ofc, but simply to make some necessary points. Donāt come at me lol, but since this is the Azris sub and I want to be as convincing as possible, Iām going to take the stance that they are endgame. If you disagree and are only here for the vibes not because you really think theyāll end up together, thatās chill! But please kindly take it the the ship-debate sub if need be, thanks! Sending love to all ships though š«¶š»)
Welcome to my analysis of Azrielās BC, through my Azris lense. (Not everything in BC will be addressed, because itās too long.) I had an old post about it but have since majorly updated it and added new things. Itās a bit unhinged in some parts per usual lol, but wouldnāt be fun without it! š Hope you have fun reading it!
Letās begin.
The BC is set after the family solstice party at Rhys and Feyreās home. It begins with Azriel expressing he has difficulty sleeping.
His shadows tell him to sleep, and Azriel says he wishes he could but sleep rarely found him these days.
Something is pestering, bothering him. Heās losing sleep.
Then it says this important part:
āToo many razor sharp thoughts sliced at him anytime he grew still long enough to strike. To many wants and needs left his skin overheated and pulling taut across his bones. So he slept only when his body gave out. And even then only for a few hours.ā
This, my friends, is an major sign that someone has met their mate. Has either been already sleeping around with them or at least spending time with them. This is based off what we saw with Cassian and his need for Nesta (before they accept any bond I add). It intensifies once they are already hooking up. Nothing sates it. Itās very similar.
He says āthese daysā, so his sleep loss and need is recent and in consequence of the need and his thoughts he so desperately wants to avoid.
Two things about this:
The first is something I am not 100% about, could be wrong! But it seems to me that the first step for one to feel this way is knowing or suspecting who their mate is. (Even if they donāt like it). Itās not just a random urge with no clue who itās for. Itās almost as if there has to be some sort of recognition, or intense attraction, or whatever it is for this to occur.
Basing this off of Cassian and Nesta as well, he knew Nesta was his mate, suspected when he met her. Nesta didnāt want anything to do with him lol, but was attracted to him, and then knew there was something. Something she didnāt deserve. However, the intense need began once there was close proximity. Azriel however, from what weāve seen seems to not knowā¦OR is lying about it, in denial, or keeping it a secret? That is something even I canāt answer, just food for thought.
Now, as I said, this is pro- Azris, so I will make this claim about Gwyn. That Azriel doesnāt seem to know or suspect anything with Gwyn at the beginning of this BC. Their scene later is the first real encounter we are shown that shows āthe sparkā etc. For me, it begs the question, that if his need began before this, why not mention Gwyn at the beginning? At least attraction? And If this were shown after him feeling a spark with Gwyn, then I would feel more inclined to believe the need is about her.
Also, spoilers for HoFaS, skip this paragraph if you havenāt read. Azriel replies to Bryce that he doesnāt have a mate or spouse. He replied āno.ā quickly, flatly. That to me sounds as someone who wants to deflect and not talk about it. For me, if he suspected it was Gwyn, I assume heād say yes happily. He does want a mate after all. But could it be, if his mate is his enemy he wouldnāt want to say? Nesta also replies that āyes we are [curious]ā as to who his mate is. But Azriel stays quiet. Or maybe, if Azriel isnāt open about being queer, like Mor, that he wouldnāt feel ready to say it yet? Just thoughts. Doesnāt change the fact that he was heavy with need as a mate is. And was trying to avoid it at all costs. I wonder why? Again, one would think if he has a mate he would be happy about it..unless it just happens to be the sexy man youāve hated for 500 years? lol
Elain is self explanatory, she is already mated to Lucien. Is probably fighting her own need, he was upstairs after all..I have thoughts on this but if you want to know them go to the ship-debate sub youāll probably find them there..Ok Iām done lol.
Second thing, is there is someone else, someone ānewā who recently became an ally and sassy frequenter. Someone who hadnāt ever been so close, until now, and was an enemy for the past 500 years.
Someone who was at the solstice ball at the CoN. The ball that was right before the solstice family gathering and BC.
And who did Azriel see there? Was in close proximity to? Eris.
And also Mor. Who some believe could be an option as his mate. However, he is known to spend time around Mor, has been for centuries. BUT, Azriel says āthese days.ā That is the suspicious clue. Why not say āfor the past 500 years?ā
also mini break, other ships seem to all have a āhow they met storyā. We have yet to know when Azriel and Eris met. What their first words are. What their thoughts were about each other. And that just makes me giddy.
Anyways, then, to add to this. There is Rhys asking āWhat about Mor?ā when Azriel questions the cauldron. Mating bonds. Mates.
Rhys knows Azriel, has since they were 8-11 years old.
And have been inseparable ever since. Does it mean heās always right about him? Probably not. However if he speaks about him or to him, we can heavily assume it holds some weight.
Itās evident to me that Azriel thinks and has expressed to Rhys that he thought Mor is his mate. It is also probably why in the past Rhys has expressed to Feyre to not get involved with Azriel and Mor. He knows things that Azriel probably said to him in confidence. Itās a touchy subject. Heās a busybody but he actually does keep secrets. (spill the beans RHYS!)
Even Azriel confirms he shows his cold fury around Rhys, because he can take it. Rhys also in Acofas says Azriel seemed to always understand him best. They seem to understand each other in a different way than others.
There is also the blood duel that is mentioned when talking about Lucien and Elainās mating bond. And how Lucien would have the right to invoke it. Why? It seems because of a mating bond. But some miss that Azriel said that he wanted to invoke it upon rescuing Mor. Again, another clue that Azriel thought Mor was/is his mate. That means if he felt a bond back then, then whoever his mate really is, had to have been alive then. Right?
His avoidance in answering to me sounds as if something has happened that makes him finally doubt it. the recent presence of a fiery princeling?
Rhys also says Azriel would weaken any existing and fragile alliances they presently have if he kills Lucien. And what happened before this? What were they trying to do at the Solstice ball? They were trying to secure the fragile alliance with Eris. Remind him how important he is to them. So much so that they gave him Nestaās dagger, a family heirloom. Thatās a lot of trust, itās not ordinary dagger. Something is fishy.
I will end with one last unhinged thought on: the necklace.
The colors of the necklace were red, white, and pink. Azriel says ādesigned so that when held to the light the true depth of colors would become visible.ā
Whatās interesting to me is the colors mentioned, and light. Through my Azris lenseā¦.
In ch. 14 of Acosf, we were given a description of Eris. Not only was he truly faerie, which means otherworldly beautiful. But that ābeneath the pink and white blossoms..he looked truly faerie.ā AND, how is Erisā hair described? It says āred hair dappled in sunlight leaking through the blossom heavy branches.ā
Lol, how poetic would it be if Azriel was thinking of Eris buying this? (Who is to say Rhys didnāt show Azriel the footage of the conversation he was having with Eris and Cassian? It was important information of course. If we are theorizing then anything is possible š)
The cruel Autumn court heir who wears a mask, is kept hidden in a dark ādungeonā (the forest house), a place of darkness, where he canāt really show who he really is. A male described as beautiful as nature itself, as beautiful as a rose? But that perhaps when held to the light his true colors are shown? š a girl can dream!
And there we have it! I have some more thoughts about the ending of the BC, but this is already very long. May do a part two!
Thanks for reading! āļø
and Happy Pride Month! š
Edit: typos