--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They reached for her, faces shadowed and…" description: "\"“They reached for her, faces shadowed and twisted. Yet—yet even those faces, so warped with hatred … she still loved them—even if they loathed her, eve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/sarah-j-maas-58_darkness_they-reached-for-her-faces-shadowed-and_2847866.png" --- # They reached for her, faces shadowed and twisted. Yet—yet… ![“They reached for her, faces shadowed and twisted. Yet—yet even those faces, so warped with hatred … she still loved them—even if they loathed her, even if it ached; loved them until their hissing faded, until they vanished like smoke, leaving only Aelin lying beside her, as she had been all along…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/sarah-j-maas-58_darkness_they-reached-for-her-faces-shadowed-and_2847866.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/sarah-j-maas-58_darkness_they-reached-for-her-faces-shadowed-and_2847866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/204/sarah-j-maas-58_darkness_they-reached-for-her-faces-shadowed-and_2847866.png) > ““They reached for her, faces shadowed and twisted. Yet—yet even those faces, so warped with hatred … she still loved them—even if they loathed her, even if it ached; loved them until their hissing faded, until they vanished like smoke, leaving only Aelin lying beside her, as she had been all along. She looked at Aelin’s face—the face she’d once worn—and at her still outstretched hand, so small and unscarred. The darkness of the Valg princes flickered. There was solid ground beneath her. Moss and grass. Not hell—earth. The earth on which her kingdom lay, green and mountainous and as unyielding as its people. Her people. Her people, waiting for ten years, but no longer. She could see the snow-capped Staghorns, the wild tangle of Oakwald at their feet, and … and Orynth, that city of light and learning, once a pillar of strength—and her home. It would be both again. She would not let that light go out. She would fill the world with it, with her light—her gift. She would light up the darkness, so brightly that all who were lost or wounded or broken would find their way to it, a beacon for those who still dwelled in that abyss. It would not take a monster to destroy a monster—but light, light to drive out darkness. She was not afraid.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A heroine confronts hatred and loss, choosing to become a beacon of hope and light for her people. **In simple terms:** She chooses to bring light despite darkness. Key Takeaway Embrace light, inspire others. Themes hope resilience leadership healing Mood determined inspirational Type literary motivational When to use this quote - personal loss - national crisis - rebuilding community - spiritual awakening Key Concepts heroic sacrifice inner strength redemption Questions to Reflect On - How can one sustain hope in prolonged suffering? - What actions turn personal pain into collective healing? A Different Perspective Light alone may not erase all darkness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Dwelled Abyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dwelled-abyss-3772750/) [Hatred Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-loved-454489/) [Leaving Aelin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving-aelin-3772749/) [Pillar of strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pillar-of-strength/) [Ten years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten-years/) [Unscarred Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unscarred-darkness-3772748/) ## Related quotes > [If a man had begun to hate an object of his love, so that love is thoroughly destroyed, he will, causes being equal, regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-a-man-had-begun-to-hate-an-object-of-his-love-so-that-love-is/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [If anyone conceives, that an object of his love joins itself to another with closer bonds of friendship than he himself has attained to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/if-anyone-conceives-that-an-object-of-his-love-joins-itself-to/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“Her people, waiting for ten years, but no longer. She could see the snow-capped Staghorns, the wild tangle of Oakwald at their feet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/her-people-waiting-for-ten-years-but-no-longer-she-could-see-the-snow/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You will be his pillar of strength!” Julie prompted. “That is a vile cliché, and I will not say that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/you-will-be-his-pillar-of-strength-julie-prompted-that-is-a-vile/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [You make the world come alive. You make the world colorful. You are the inspiration behind all that happens. You are the pillar of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-make-the-world-come-alive-you-make-the-world-colorful-you-are-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Family is supposed to be your pillar of strength,be in your life because they genuinely love you. Not in your life, to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredericaehimen/family-is-supposed-to-be-your-pillar-of-strength-be-in-your-life/) [FredericaEhimen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredericaehimen/) > [I'd like to be a wounded leading man. Instead of a pillar of strength, I'd be the scared one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-kennedy/i-d-like-to-be-a-wounded-leading-man-instead-of-a-pillar-of-strength/) [Jamie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-kennedy/) > [A Tongue Has No Bones But It Can Also Break A Heart And It Can Also He A Nillar Can Also Be A Pillar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unk/a-tongue-has-no-bones-but-it-can-also-break-a-heart-and-it-can-also/) [Unk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unk/) > [The Japanese bureaucracy is unique. It is also very powerful, although it is now the object of so much criticism. Many of Japans brightest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-sionil-jos/the-japanese-bureaucracy-is-unique-it-is-also-very-powerful-although/) [F. Sionil José](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-sionil-jos/) > [I was not able to work up much enthusiasm over the ball game, and in the midst of it I was handed a note…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/i-was-not-able-to-work-up-much-enthusiasm-over-the-ball-game-and-in/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [Along with my will power, it was my parents who stood by me like a pillar of strength in my most challenging phase of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/along-with-my-will-power-it-was-my-parents-who-stood-by-me-like-a/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [Oh, Roger! You were a pillar of strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-rabbit/oh-roger-you-were-a-pillar-of-strength/) [Jessica Rabbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-rabbit/) > [“But I am glad you are not some sort of superhuman pillar of strength. I would not be able to prevail against it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-balogh/but-i-am-glad-you-are-not-some-sort-of-superhuman-pillar-of-strength/) [Mary balogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-balogh/) > [I fall to pieces when I am hurt, but when it comes to my children, I am a pillar of strength, applying balm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sridevi/i-fall-to-pieces-when-i-am-hurt-but-when-it-comes-to-my-children-i-am/) [Sridevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sridevi/) > [“Whitebread was in there, waiting like the fucking pillar of strength she was. That little brunette had out-couraged pretty much every damn person he’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/whitebread-was-in-there-waiting-like-the-fucking-pillar-of-strength/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. And I know there are limits to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-love-you-i-am-in-love-with-you-rowan-i-have-been-for-a-while-and-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Darkness quotes > [“Narrative cannot sustain formlessness any more than light can sustain darkness - it is the antithesis of formlessness, and so it can never truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/narrative-cannot-sustain-formlessness-any-more-than-light-can-sustain/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. 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The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [Twinking tears in a sea of black. Soft light in a world of darkness. Tiny wishes in a place of dreams. Do you see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-gentile/twinking-tears-in-a-sea-of-black-soft-light-in-a-world-of-darkness/) [Nicole Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-gentile/) [Browse all 8,219 Darkness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They reached for her, faces shadowed and twisted. Yet—yet even those faces, so warped with hatred … she still loved them—even if they loathed her, even if it ached; loved them until their hissing faded, until they vanished like smoke, leaving only Aelin lying beside her, as she had been all along. She looked at Aelin’s face—the face she’d once worn—and at her still outstretched hand, so small and unscarred. The darkness of the Valg princes flickered. There was solid ground beneath her. Moss and grass. Not hell—earth. The earth on which her kingdom lay, green and mountainous and as unyielding as its people. Her people. Her people, waiting for ten years, but no longer. She could see the snow-capped Staghorns, the wild tangle of Oakwald at their feet, and … and Orynth, that city of light and learning, once a pillar of strength—and her home. It would be both again. She would not let that light go out. She would fill the world with it, with her light—her gift. She would light up the darkness, so brightly that all who were lost or wounded or broken would find their way to it, a beacon for those who still dwelled in that abyss. It would not take a monster to destroy a monster—but light, light to drive out darkness. She was not afraid.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. 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