Tamlin is one character from Sarah J Maas’A Court Of Thorns And Rosesseries that’s awaiting a redemption arc, and this mate theory could be the missing piece that propels him forward in the best-selling series. The upcoming sixth book in theA Court of Thorsn and Rosesuniverse is likely to explore fresh relationship dynamics between various characters, including Tamlin and Elain Archeron (whose romantic storylines have been left open-ended). Foreshadowing throughout the series, fromthe first book, to A Court of Silver Flames, suggests Tamlin and Elain have deeply ingrained similarities, making a strong argument that they are mates.
Tamlin has a dark, complicated past in the overarching plot with none other than Feyre Archeron, Elain’s sister. Despite all of his mistakes and betrayals throughout the series, his actions during the war inA Court Of Wings and RuinsuggestTamlin has hope for real redemption. This series still has time (and more books) left to redeem this once-loveable character, as Sarah J. Maas has pointed at as a possibility for the next installment of the series. Elain Archeron may seem like an unlikely pairing for Tamlin, but recurring imagery and foreshadowing by Mass suggests otherwise.
Elain Archeron’s Character Descriptions Are Full Of Spring Court Imagery
The Unlikely Pairing of Tamlin and Elain Is Hinted At Since Book One
Sarah J Maas has stated that Elain Archeron will be the main character in her next book; Elain is a character she consistently describes with this flowery, springtime, blooming imagery, even going as far as to directly compare Elain to the Spring Court inA Court of Silver Flames, “Elain would love this place. So many flowers, all in bloom, so much green—the light, vibrant green of new grass—so many birds singing and such warm, buttery sunshine.Nesta felt like a storm cloud standing amid it all. But Elain…The Spring Court had been made for someone like her.”
This imagery is consistent with the descriptions of Tamlin’s home, the Spring Court,which is depicted as a blooming, bright oasis of flowers and life.Elain’s only notable hobby, and escape from her problems, has been her love for flowers and gardening since the first book of the series. These interesting aspects of each character bring attention to the similarities and compatibility between the descriptions of Tamlin and Elain by Maas.
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Imagery and foreshadowing are recurring elements of Maas’ writing style, and this couple’s pairing is no different. When Feyre details her childhood bedroom, she talks about painting a dresser for her and each of her sisters. Feyre describes her drawer as painted to look like the night sky, foreshadowing her future mating bond with Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. Similarly, Nesta Archeron’s drawer was painted with flames, foreshadowing her future powers. Finally,Elain’s drawer was decorated with flowers that depict the Spring Court.
Could Lucien Have Put A Glamour On Elain To Fake The Mating Bond?
When The King of Hybern Put Elain In The Cauldron, Lucien’s Magic Could Have Intervened
One critique of this theory is that Lucien Vanserra had already claimed his mating bond to Elain after she was forced into the Cauldron inA Court of Mist and Fury. It only makes sense to wonderwhy Lucien would do this if Elain was truly mated to Tamlin. The explanation of this question requires an analysis of foreshadowing from past books to provide more context. For example, the powers Lucien inherited from Helion give him the ability to see past glamours and spell-cleave himself, whether he realizes it or not.
…it’s logical to assume that Lucien would quickly formulate a plan and jump into action during a high-stakes moment like this.
This theory suggests that immediately after Elain became fae, Lucien stepped forward as her mate before Tamlin could, to cover for him. Known to be a historically intelligent character, it’s logical to assume that Lucien would quickly formulate a plan and jump into action during a high-stakes moment like this. Being mated to Elain would not be advantageous for Tamlin at this point in the series,however, Lucien may have figured a way that it was advantageous for him. If this ends up being true, itleaves the door open to the possibility of Tamlin and Elainexperiencing a mating bond.
This Pairing Would Kick-Start A Redemption Arc For Tamlin In The Next Book
Tamlin’s Redemption Arc Is Imminent And This Could Be How It Starts
Sarah J. Maas has talked about her characters extensively in various interviews where she has hinted Tamlin has a future in the series. After his heroic events inACOWAR, revealing himself as a spy and risking his life to save Elain, Maas has made it clear that Tamlin does have a heart after all. This giveshope for Tamlin moving forward in the series, as he finally faced a character-defining moment and chose to do the right thing and redeem himself for his past actions.
Elain could be the beauty to Tamlin’s beast, inspiring him to rebuild the Spring Court and stop lurking the grounds of his manor in beast form. While Tamlin and Elain as a couple might seem like a stretch, since the two characters have minimal interaction,Sarah J. Maas is known to include plot twists and unlikely pairings in her works.Elain has not yet chosen between Azriel or Lucien as a love interest, two of the most canonically supported pairings, suggesting Maas may be holding out on that reveal since Tamlin is her mate, after all.
Throughout theA Court of Thorns and Rosesseries, Tamlin has proven to be a character with positive intentions, but imperfect actions. A redemption arc would highlight Tamlin’s positive qualities including his loyalty, bravery, and selflessness.Elain has always been described as a gentle and sweet soul, filled with compassion;the exact character type that has the power to bring a morally gray character to see the light.Elain and Tamlin may not officially be mates yet, but their compatibility cannot be written off; there are undeniable similarities between the imagery used to describe both characters and the ways this pairing would subvert expectations like Feysand did.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Based on theA Court of Thorns and Rosesfantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman dragged into the world of faeries after slaying one of their kind. The series will follow her journey through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its lords, Tamlin.
