Perhaps Something Greater

Perhaps Something Greater

link to Ao3

Hi everyone! I saw all those beautiful fanarts of Gwyn and Catrin, and just had to write something about them. So, this is a quick drabble for day 1 of @gwynweekofficial.

I hope you like it!

The night of the Great Rite was always one of chaos. Amidst flowy fabrics and perfume sprays, you could sometimes distinguish a priestess or another, but the children—Gwyn and Catrin included, at the ripe age of sixteen—were advised to stay as far away as possible from the females preparing. Gwyn wondered why.

🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚🌊🐚

She and Catrin climbed to the top of their favorite tree after Isobel shouted at them for the fifth time that night. Between the breeches and leaves, all Gwyn could see was the shining, silver moon and its reflection on the river. And her sister's beautiful face.

“Perhaps they all go naked and hug each other...” Catrin mused.

Gwyn laughed at Catrin's attempts to guess what exactly happened in the Rite. They knew males and females copulated, of course. It was a subject of great importance to the priestess who taught them biology, for the girls to know what exactly happened between two people for a child to take root. But it was odd, the need to have a huge get-together of sorts, just to have sex.

“Stop this nonsense. They may simply... reunite so the magic is stronger.”

Catrin shrugged, all charm and beauty. She was a spitting image of their mother, with her dark hair and pale complexion, no freckles in sight. Gwyn probably got her colors from their father, but that was something she would never be sure of. Suddenly, Catrin's smile faded and she looked at the stars, huffing a breath.

“Do you think we will participate in it someday? In the Rite, I mean?”

Gwyn considered her. Priestesses of Sangravah were only allowed to participate in the Rite after completely finishing their studies—not only in biology and mathematics or philosophy and literature, but also in their studies about the Mother and the universe. It was a breaking point for all of them, for they could have way more freedom than before.

“I really think so. We are doing well, Cat. We can do it.”

Catrin absently nodded. “Yes, I know. But sometimes... it feels really meaningless, you know?” She stared intently at Gwyn, her huge blue eyes a little wild. “I mean, is that our life? Study, pray, graduate, and then babies?”

Gwyn studied her sister. They had already talked about it, how they were raised almost to be just mothers. How Catrin sometimes wanted... more.

“It is... odd, I know. But I fear we don't have many options.”

Catrin's eyes glinted with mist as the wind gently blew her hair. “We could run.” This rakish smile illuminated her face.

Gwyn's mouth went fully agape, and her sister laughed.

“We can't run!”

“Why not?”

“Cat, we have a whole life here! And, only Mother knows what they’ll do to females like... us, out there.”

The mood darkened, growing heavier as they thought of their mother. Of how she went to take a swim and came back weeks later, dragged by the river flow, a gaping wound where her heart was supposed to be.

“I know, I know. I just... wonder sometimes. If I am fit to be a mother.”

Gwyn's cheeks burned a little when she thought about her own dreams. Dreams of a little girl she would cradle and love and care for, as soon as possible. She reached for Catrin's hands.

“I know. Perhaps there is another path for you, my beloved sister. There's no shame in wanting different things, and I pray for you to find your way.”

Catrin puffed and rolled her eyes, but Gwyn could see the grateful, loving glint in them.

“Enough of talking like our High Priestess. I think the carriages are here. Should we go down to spy on them?”

Gwyn threw her head back and laughed before agreeing with her sister. As they watched the carriages go away, she wondered when she would be the one leaving inside them.

She hoped Catrin would be by her side, too.

Gwyn - Chapter 28

A glance over her shoulder revealed Gwyn walking to the water station, either to give the two males privacy or from discomfort at being left with them.

What scars had been etched so deeply in Gwyn that two of the most trustworthy males in this entire land couldn’t put her at ease.

Gwyn - Chapter 55

Azriel had winnowed her and Cassian here after training, but hadn’t lingered. Apparently, Gwyn wanted him to go over dagger handling, so he’d left them with a promise to return in an hour.

People who say SJM can't write soft women are wrong. Or at least she accidentally wrote one in the best way possible.

No, it's not Elain. It's Gwyn.

Gwyn is kind and sweet to everyone. She's funny. She's observant of everyone and everything around her. She's considerate. She indulges in 'feminine' hobbies like making bracelets. She entertains her friends by taking interests in their hobbies as well. She invites Nesta to their prayers knowing she'd enjoy the music, the only source of music in HoW. She loves her family very much and carries guilt for not doing enough to save her sister. She doesn't let that grief to dictate how she treats others, nor does she bring others down. She healed herself (most parts) even when cut off from the rest of the world. She makes new friends and help them become better not in a 'I'm going to save her' way but she's compassionate. She isn't afraid to cry and express her feelings to her friends who later become her sisters. On top of it all, she faced her fears for her found family. She doesn't care about other's opinions of her. She's willing to sacrifice her life for them.

Literally this woman has done nothing wrong so far, at all.

I don't understand how anyone could hate this character. Honestly, she's one of the few characters who's refreshing and well developed in the series.

“Gwyn is in the BC to show she’ll be an evil lightsinger that lures Azriel!”

“I admit there’s some mating language in that BC, but Lorcan had that spark with Aelin too!”

“Gwyn will be another woman in E|riel’s story!”

“Gwyn cant be with Azriel, he’s kinky and she’s traumatized so that’s not good for her healing.”

“Gwyn is just a side character!!”

“Gwyn is the traitor!!”

“Of course there’s a spark in Azriel’s chest!! She’s his daughter!!”

“Gwyn’s hair is not red!!”

They’re ✨Unhinged✨ Your Honor..🥰

⭐️Bonus

Them when a girl who likes to garden being called ‘gardener girl’:

bro really said "I hate people and living beings and conversations but this one looks kinda cute, I like it. Lemme tease the hell out of her"

That's the last post I make about any e/riel theory, because it pisses me off.

Gwyn is THE ONLY character who says, with all words, she searched for professional help with her trauma. She's so damn emotionally intelligent and we can see it everytime she goes through Nesta barriers and traumatic responses, understanding her with no words needed.

She showed so many sings of healing, going from being afraid of Cassian and Azriel to bickering Cassian with Nesta and Emerie, and having private lessons with Azriel.

Of course, the rite must have had a deep affect in her healing. But it does not mean she can't search for help. Yes, her trauma is the most terrible thing that can happen to a woman, but putting her in a position where she can't heal and overcome it, is terrible as well.

And I am not even starting to discuss what suggestions like "she can't be with Azriel because of her trauma" or "She'll never have sex" implie. It's just so degrading to say a SA victim can never heal and have normal relationships. It's almost like they want her to be in the position of a victim for the rest of her life.

And I'll tell you more: Elain never got professional help.

Azriel never got professional help.

When we ignore Azriel's fear of non-sexual intimacy/Elain's trauma from her previous relationship and say that Gwyn, a sexual assault victim, is the only one not ready to date, we reduce all the aspects surrounding a romantic relationship to sex.

Dating is not sex, y'all. Yes, sex is important and a great thing. But people involved in a relationship without trust, communication, love, and friendship, are called sex buddies, flings at most. Not mates, not lovers.

If you believe Gwyn can't have a relationship, fine. But then you have to assume neither Azriel, or Elain, or Lucien can have one too.

I see Elriels say that they can’t wait for Az and Elain’s sex scenes or Az is down bad for Elain’s 🐱. Which okay, have we seen him lust for her? Yeah. But do they really think that sex is end all be all for a relationship? Cause sex isn’t the only thing that makes a healthy relationship, and at that, sex doesn’t even need to be there period for a relationship at all.

I guess it makes sense since they also say that Gwyn is ‘damaged goods’ for being SA’d and that she can’t possibly be with Az because of it. That she can’t possibly heal, when WE HAVE CANON TEXT of Azriel notice Gwyn’s improvement since that moment. Sorry but if that’s one of your arguments for furthering your ship, please do better 🤷🏼‍♀️