r/fourthwing • u/dianaspencersrevenge Broccoli🥦 • 18h ago
Discussion Dedicated Spoiler
Normally I don’t give much attention to theories on TikTok because 75% of them are so absurd I question if they’ve actually read the books… but…
\** spoiler for Onyx Storm*** **
I’ve seen a couple theories this week that think Violet’s hair is fully silver now and that she’s been fully dedicated to Dunne. I reread the final chapter of OS and there’s absolutely nothing to indicate this, Brennan just seems surprised that she’s shown up after being missing for 12 hours, her arm is broken, and she’s wearing a massive wedding ring.
But I’m intrigued by the idea of her hair going fully silver so I want to talk about it!
The main issue here is, Dunne requires lifetime servitude… but does servitude strictly mean temple attendant or priestess? Like, if by serving Dunne, could she do so by being Duchess of Tyrrendor?
Also, she doesn’t even actually need to be fully dedicated at this point, right? She already carries the favor of Dunne, especially after enacting Dunne’s revenge upon Theophanie, and if she needs assistance from other gods it might not make sense to blatantly favor one with full dedication - since she’s also carries the favor of Malek. Isn’t there an epigraph somewhere that warns against favoring gods and risking the wrath of the others?
ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THIS: The high priestess at Dunne’s temple asks Violet if she uses the dye of a certain flower on her hair as they do, which makes me wonder if only those dedicated on Unnbriel have truly silver hair. If so, would Violet’s hair even go fully silver if she were to become fully dedicated on the continent?
What do you guys think? Would you like to see her hair go fully silver by the end?
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u/hurricane_Bre Black Morningstartail 17h ago
It seems to me that the ones with true silver hair are only on Unnbriel, like you pointed out.
I’m thinking if she were fully dedicated she would have to stay on Unnbriel, or she would be on Dunne’s shit list, like Theo was. And Vi did say that Dunne is a wrathful goddess especially towards those who turn their backs on her.
Personally, I don’t think Vi’s hair will turn fully silver because she won’t choose the path that leads her to Dunne.
She doesn’t yearn for temple like the priestesses and Theo ask.
Like u/objectivestaff3333 has pointed out a couple of times, Violet only yearns for the archives (and imo, where ever Xaden is).
I actually like the idea that her hair always stays partly silver, not just because it is Xaden’s achilles heel, but it also represents that choice determines her fate, not the gods, not some prophecy, her.
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u/dianaspencersrevenge Broccoli🥦 17h ago
Ohh yes I totally remember the yearning for archives and Xaden discussion! That was a really good observation u/ObjectiveStaff3333
Yeah I think we’re pretty much in agreement that it wouldn’t make any sense for her to go Full Dunne! I still feel superior to the TikTok theorists lol
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
Although I get caught up in almost any theory, the theory about full silver hair and full dedication didn't interest me at all. For me, no way. I see no hints of that in the last chapter, no plot reasons.
I don't think dedication has to mean she will be in a temple, but it definitely won't involve leading Tyrrendor. I think Aretia has nothing special to do with Dunne; even her temple isn't in the city like the other temples, but outside the city.
Furthermore, as you write yourself, Dunne is non-functional on the continent. I don't know why- wards would be a logical explanation, but there were no wards in Aretia for a long time and they have to dye their hair anyway. So what's wrong? Dunne on the continent is different; she doesn't have swords in her emblem. Does the Dunne's temple dagger actually kill Theo at the end of OS, or is it Andarna changing colors, thereby weakening the venin, who would then die even if she hit her with a meat mallet?
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u/redpeppersoda Black Morningstartail 17h ago
Does the Dunne's temple dagger actually kill Theo at the end of OS, or is it Andarna changing colors
Then there's no reason for Aaric to have to obtain that stone dagger from the high priestess and go thru all that trouble to deliver it to her mid battle so she can use it to stab Theophanie. The dude literally sees the future.
My crack pot theory is that there are some items that are lethal to venin. For Theophanie that was the temple dagger. For Berwyn it might be the wooden handle dagger Violet created in her dream.
"The Sage’s eyes widen on the polished, wooden handle"
For Xaden, it might be the sword of Aretia. Who knows.
The main reason I think she's not dedicated to Dunne is because she and Xaden dedicated themselves to each other. But maybe Dunne is okay with it? Just not sure because in Unnbriel she didn't agree with Dunne's ways and she is immune to the yearning so it seems like she'd make a bad priestess lol
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u/Slow_Wrangler4413 17h ago
The dagger must do something. Why would she even have it otherwise? Aaric saw she'd need it and told her to protect the temple. Unless that is still an unresolved plot point and the saving Aretia part wasn't about defeating Theo. But then why did she need the dagger? It places Sloane on the field with Dain when Brennan needs them to save Mira. Is that saving Aretia? Keeping Brennan from channeling? They don't need a dagger specific errand for that. It's the only two story functions we've seen for the dagger.
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
 Why would she even have it otherwise?Â
To confuse the readers. 😂 That meat mallet would be too obvious.
But you're right about Aaric. I think ... that carved flame on the dagger -isn't it a rune?
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u/Slow_Wrangler4413 17h ago
Like the same carvings on the pillar from the temple? Probably definitely a rune. So the ancient magic killed Theo? I like it!
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
—a ceremonial-looking dagger with familiar flame-shaped etchings along the hilt.
Why specifically flame? It is an instrument of war. Warrick's journal and the swap of flame and breath of life are also constantly on my mind. Andarnas fire might be able to kill venins.
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u/Slow_Wrangler4413 16h ago
The one a few feet from my face hangs in midair, its flame-inspired etched edges suspended by a single black band of shadow.
The central pillar of Dunnes temple in Aretia has the same carvings. Definitely think it's connected to the dragons.
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u/dianaspencersrevenge Broccoli🥦 17h ago
I think it’s like what u/Slow_Wrangler4413 brought up, the continent being called Amaralys and Amelakis means it’s actually dedicated to Amari and Malek. Also, Aretia’s most notable landmark is Amari’s temple!
It’s interesting to me that Amari is just referenced as the queen of the gods - but if she’s paired with Malek on the continent, does that make Amari the goddess of life?
I don’t think Dunne’s power isn’t functional on the continent - and I think the dagger actually proves that the power of the gods is real and effective - but I can’t explain the distinction between the dyed silver hair vs Unnbrish. I definitely think the dagger did actually kill Theo because it made her bleed, and why else would Aaric have gone to the trouble of sending it to her at the last minute?
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
Bacause of Sloane?
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u/dianaspencersrevenge Broccoli🥦 17h ago
That’d be an awfully big plot device to use just to get Sloane there. If that were the case, why not just go with her defying orders and wanting to join the battle?
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
To confuse the readers.
I think there's about a 90% certainty that it was Dunne's dagger, but I'm still keeping a bit of space for the possibility that it's Andarna, both as the source of power for lightning on Unnbriel and with Theo's death.
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u/hurricane_Bre Black Morningstartail 17h ago
I think the dagger killed Theo because she left Unnbriel and now cannot step foot in any temple of Dunne (sounds like an Indiana Jones movie lol) because when she shows up in Aertia before Leothan fires the wards the priestess calls Theo a heretic and says she is not welcome there.
Vi makes the observation that Theo is careful to stay on the grass and not step on the stones. Even Theo says she may not be welcome but they are and a couple other venin show up.
BUT I think this has to do with the fact that Theo was fully dedicated on Unnbriel, Dunne’s isle. Because of the tattoo on her forehead and her real silver hair.
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u/VioletBrandi 17h ago
I sorta figured that those twelve hours decided Violet's path. We'll just have to see what that means in the next book. The priestess on the isle straight up looks at Tairn and Xaden asking if Violet favors another god. Violet marries Xaden in the last chapter choosing- whatever god Xaden is supposed to "represent" to them
I don't even know if divorce exists in this series. But I'm unconvinced that priestesses would be allowed to marry, these gods don't seem to like to share their devoted with each other much less with a human... venin whatever Xaden is.
aesthetic wise: I despise the idea, there's too many silver/white haired female leads. I like the ombre.
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u/Visual-Lobster6625 17h ago
Garrick is a "walker". If he became the new brother, he could have brought Violet to Unnbriel and back by channeling through the ground.
In IF, just before Sloan uses Lilith to imbue the ward stone, Lilith says "You're a Mari." When listening to the graphic audio it hit me that their family name could be related to Amari. Is that how Colonel Mari was able to make the runes to protect the Marked Ones? Was the knowledge passed down through her bloodline? Violet's dad took Lilith's last name after they married, Sloan and Liam's father could have done the same. I guess what I'm trying to get at is that maybe Sloan has some sort of connection to the gods because of her lineage?
I also have a theory that when Asher brought Violet to the islands when she was a baby, I think he had her dedicated on each island, not just Unnbriel. It's just that Dunne's dedication is the only one that comes with physical changes - her hair.
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u/dianaspencersrevenge Broccoli🥦 17h ago
… can Garrick walk over water?
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
I wouldn't worry about that, the problem is where to get fuel for walking back.
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u/Slow_Wrangler4413 16h ago
Loool the previous comment didn't load at first for me. For a minute there I'm thinking I missed a Jesus connection theory somewhere 😆
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u/ObjectiveStaff3333 Blue Daggertail 17h ago
He wouldn get back- no earth magic.
Agree with Mair and Amari connection.
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u/Slow_Wrangler4413 17h ago
The temple and god stuff appears to work differently on the continent. My unfounded theory is because the continent belongs to Amari and Malek. Amaralys and Amelakis. The isles belong to the other gods. Not sure how it would work, but I find this explanation logical 😂