A Court of Wings and Ruin: The Soap Opera Version

Part 7

Chapters 44-47

Spoilers

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Discussion

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Spoilers 🪽 Discussion 🪽

Cursebreaker

1. Tamlin arrives at the Meeting of the High Lords, and he is pissed! Do you think Tamlin is well within his rights?

2. Did you expect the revelation about Lucien?

Recap

Confession time. I read multiple books at the same time. What I mean is, instead of some readers who sit with a book read it cover to cover and then pick a new book to read; I read a few chapters in one book and then pick up a different book to read and read a few chapters in THAT book. I don’t know how or why it works for me, but it does. The issue: I’ve been stuck in Westeros for the past couple of weeks and have yet to return to Prythian…Until now. To let you in on just how long I’ve been away…I started this draft on 9/25.

We ended the last recap and discussion with Tamlin's dramatic, yet somewhat expected arrival at the Meeting of the Lords at the Dawn Court. I've been waiting this moment since Feyre devastated his court and left with Lucien. I was aware that Tamlin was invited and even anticipated his participation. So why does it feel like he's gatecrashing? What was a tense, but peaceful meeting has now soured with Tamlin's arrival, as everyone hastily raised shields to protect themselves and their entourage. He must have heard about Feyre and Rhysand by now. To say he's furious would be putting it mildly, and his anger only grew as he observed Feyre and Rhysand. Tamlin is being exceptionally cruel to Feyre. If anyone wondered why Tamlin attended the Meeting, it was clearly to be petty, seizing every opportunity to undermine Feyre's credibility and dignity. Following a particularly vulgar comment, Rhysand was close to losing his temper, but unexpectedly, it was Azriel, who is usually reserved, who put Tamlin in his place.

Be careful how you speak to my High Lady

-Azriel

Taken aback by the revelation of Feyre's title as High Lady, Tamlin quickly regained his composure and used it to cast further aspersions on her character among the other High Lords. Remember the beginning of the story, where Feyre and Tamlin have a conversation. She asks about the title she would assume after their marriage. Being formerly human, Feyre is still adapting to Fae customs. She was unaware that the wife of a High Lord does not adopt her husband's title. Tamlin used this conversation to try and depict Feyre as someone seeking wealth, power, and social status.

Taking a step back in time, we are reminded that there is some tension between The Night Court and The Winter Court, and whatever caused the rift in their relationship happened while they were trapped Under the Mountain. Feyre remembers a report that was delivered to Tamlin while she was in residence at The Spring Court (ACOTAR) stating that the blight claimed the lives of two dozen children. She later learned that the blight was not an illness. The masks worn by Rhysand and The Night Court during Amarantha's rule led many of the captives under the mountain to believe Rhysand was an accomplice to her commands. It was the children of The Winter Court whom Amarantha had put to death.

Feyre was not spared from the onslaught of blame from the gathered Lords. She had provided a false name to protect herself, which led to Amarantha torturing Clare to death and slaughtering her entire family.

Rhysand explained to Kallias that Amarantha had targeted him. He believed he had persuaded her that killing Kallias would be pointless. However, he did not foresee her next move. Amarantha saw through Rhysand's ruse. She not only commanded the execution of the Winter Court's children but also dispatched a daemanti to fracture their minds, framing Rhys as the prime suspect for Kallias. The motive? To thwart any chance of an alliance between Rhys and Kallias.

When Tamlin is asked directly if he is an agent of Hybern or an ally of Prythian, Tamlin says that he stands against Hybern. Tamlin’s proof that he is an ally? He produced stacks of documents with locations and information about Hybern’s armies, ammunition, caches of faebane locations. Everything they would need to be able to stand a chance in a war with Hybern. Between his barbs and jabs, Tamlin’s argument was that The Night Court are agents of Hybern, and it is he who is truly helping to thwart Hybern’s plans. Tamlin’s verbal abuse towards Feyre continued, pushing Rhysand to the edge. With a mere flicker of his eyebrow, Rhysand stripped Tamlin of his speech.

Photo Credit: Shaun the Author and Storm @pinterest

The Dawn Court

Now that Tamlin's ability to create conflict has been removed, Rhys reminded everyone that if he were truly a spy for Hybern, it would have been easier for him to manipulate their minds to his will, with Tamlin as a prime example. Tarquin was the first to concur. Since the Night Court was the sole aid during Hybern's assault, he withdrew the blood rubies.

Rhysand attempts to redirect the meeting's focus. He admits that he believes Tamlin will ally with Prythian in the upcoming battle, although many High Lords remain unconvinced. I almost forgot the existing tensions between the Autumn and Spring Courts. Beron, sharing a border with Lucien, seeks Lucien’s insight on Tamlin’s reliability. Beron is likely aware of Lucien's escape from the Spring Court with Feyre. Furthermore, Elain being his mate is no longer a secret, which unsettles the Night Court due to the Autumn Court's treatment of women. The meeting escalates with insults exchanged, particularly between Mor and Eris. Eris's derogatory comment about Mor dressing like a slut was the tipping point, prompting Azriel act swiftly. No punches were thrown, but Azriel used his siphon power to trap and gradually suffocate Eris. Beron, unable to break the barrier, implores Rhysand to intervene. Rhysand, emphasizing Feyre's autonomy, defers to her decision. Feyre manages to de-escalate the situation with Azriel and Eris. Demonstrating the Night Court's values, she serves Eris a drink, asserting that disrespect towards her family will not be tolerated.

Focusing on more pressing issues, the High Lords, start formulating a strategy. Thesan introduces Nuan, his chief Tinkerer and Alchemist. Nuan is also the creator of Lucien’s enchanted left eye. Nuan has devised a method to counteract the faebane. To create the antidote, a sample of faebane was required, which she secretly obtained from Lucien during his stay at the Night Court. Should Lucien return from his quest to locate the Fire Queen, he is likely to face scrutiny.

The next matter of importance is the evacuation of The Spring Court. Tarquin offered them sanctuary at the Summer Court.

Beron continued to insult Rhysand, about the abuse he endured at the hands of Amarantha. Feyre lost her temper and attacked Beron with her Fire magic.

Tamlin

photo credit: Bloom

Serious question. Who won the bet? We know it wasn’t Azriel, because he bet on Autumn starting the fight. Yes, he did launch himself at Eris, but he didn’t actually hit him.

The Dawn Court

Despite forming an uneasy alliance, the High Lords continued to bicker among themselves. As evening descended, they decided to stay as guests of the Dawn Court and were shown to their rooms. Shortly after, Helion knocked on the door, and I have to confess, he's quickly becoming a favorite character of mine. It turns out he's been pretending since he arrived, and it appears he and Rhysand are actually close friends.

Mic drop

Helion admitted to an affair that began centuries ago and endured for just as long with the Lady of the Autumn Court. Feyre deduced, from Beron's lack of response to with a public humiliation of Helion (after Beron discovered them), that Lucien is their child. She also concluded that Helion is unaware of this truth.

Discussion

For a while, just like most of the readers, was absolutely disgusted with Tamlin. That opinion has since changed. I am still disappointed with his behavior, but I feel as though I understand him, and his actions. I really do believe that he was acting in desperation to have Feyre returned to him when he made a deal with Hybern. Because Rhysand crafted a villain version of himself, Tamlin did think that Feyre was trapped and in danger.

I wasn’t really shocked when I learned of Lucien’s parentage. I had concluded that Beron wasn’t his father a while back. Feyre kept making comments about how similar, yet different Lucien was from his brothers. The one example that stands out is when the Brothers Vanserra was chasing Lucien and Feyre through the lands of Autumn and Winter. I think I was more surprised about Helion being cool, then I was when I found out that he is Lucien’s dad. I am very happy for Lucien, if this secret is finally unearthed by Helion. Lucien is his sole heir after all, and Lucien has been having a difficult time finding a place to call home.