Empire of Storms

Power plays a huge role in Empire of Storms, for the degree of power that each character wields drastically changes the interactions, dialogue, and outcomes of each scene. The most powerful character in Empire of Storms, with the exception of the Valg King Erawan, is Aelin Galathynius, and her power can be divided into two categories that stem from political theory: soft power and hard power. Soft power involves using persuasion rather than force or coercion to gain allies and supporters. Aelin’s soft power can be seen in her diplomacy, her kindness, and her appeals to historical precedent. For example, she manages to win Ansel of Briarcliff and the Silent Assassins to her cause because of the kindness and mercy she showed them in her past as Celaena Sardothien (events detailed in the prequel novellas of The Assassin’s Blade). She also attempts to utilize soft power to win over Rolfe by reminding him of the Mycenians’ failure to help Terrasen: a failure that she wants Rolfe to remedy. However, when this approach proves insufficient, she uses hard power, which traditionally involves coercion and force, often in a military context. Aelin uses hard power when she summons the Valg to Skull’s Bay, thereby forcing Rolfe to join the fight against Erawan. By knowingly placing Skull’s Bay and its people in peril and withholding military assistance until Rolfe acquiesces to her demands, Aelin demonstrates the darker side of the power she wields. 

Aelin’s power also influences her personal relationships with her friends, family, and entourage. Most prominently, her romance with Rowan is influenced by her status as his queen and his blood oath to her. However, Rowan and Aelin’s relationship is not necessarily ruled by this bond. As Gavriel tells them, “You two took the oath to each other with love in your hearts. You had no desire to own or rule him” (280). Although Aelin technically holds power over Rowan, she does not wield the oath in a way that forces him to submit; instead, she occasionally gives him “suggestions” that he can either follow or disregard. Likewise, Rowan’s devotion to Aelin and his desire to see her restored to her throne results not from his oath but from his love for her as an individual. However, although Aelin and Roman strike a healthy balance, her relationship with Aedion is deeply complicated by her power and status. As queen, Aelin must ask her followers to make sacrifices for the cause, and these sacrifices cause hard feelings to arise. As Lysandra fights the sea wyverns in Skull’s Bay, Aedion realizes that “for the first time, he […] hated Aelin for asking this of Lysandra” (334). Although Lysandra later reminds Aedion that she “serves” Aelin, Aedion still resents Aelin for putting her companions in danger. Although he loves his cousin, her vast political and magical power makes him wary of her decisions, especially those that impact his loved ones. Aedion’s festering inner tension ultimately explodes in a public setting when he questions Aelin’s strategy decisions in the midst of the ilken attack, demanding, “Where are our allies, Aelin? Where are our armies?” (517). In this moment, he does not realize that Aelin already has several plans in motion to gain more troops. Thus, he later feels guilty for his distrust when he sees these plans come to fruition, but the tension that he feels over Aelin’s power remains. In this way, Sarah J. Maas uses the dichotomy between Rowan and Aedion’s perception of Aelin’s power to demonstrate the variety of ways that power can influence close personal relationships.