Kevin's Watch

Fall in love? Where about in the books would you say they felt strong enough towards each other to fall in love?

My take: They both had major hang-ups. TC had to feel like he was worthy of someone else's love and Linden kinda had this need to take care of someone. But she had a major secret (which I am not going to say because it would ruin the story 4 those who haven't read to that point yet - but it was something that was directly in opposition to caring for someone.) Because of what she did she also felt like she was not worthy of someone else's love. I think they had "inklings" before the ocean trip but when the company gets out of Brathairealm (in TOT) they were both able to overcome their hang-ups and hook up.

Of course the "fit hits the shan" shortly thereafter at the One Tree and they both fly apart. Story of my life.

There was an attraction between them from the beginning - I tend to think that TC was in love with Linden by the time he arrived in Revelstone in TWL.

I don't think so dlbpharmd... I think he cared for her then... But don't think he loved her. I think he loved her when she helped him when he was vemoned on the Gaint Ship...

With the group read going on, and taking my time and reading it again VERRRRRRYYYY slowly, I think they starting falling for each other at first site...at least she did for him...and he tells her about a dream he has in the Land where he fell in love with her when she knocked on his door.

I don't believe that he fell in love at first sight... I think they were attracted to each other at first sight...

I say love at first sight. Why else would Linden have gone back to his house? I think for Covenant it was also love at first sight but it took him longer to realize it.

I really don't believe in love at first sight... to be honest... they were attracted to each other at first sight... Sure... but not love... Love is deeper than just meeting someone and falling in love with them

Darth Revan wrote:I don't think so dlbpharmd... I think he cared for her then... But don't think he loved her. I think he loved her when she helped him when he was vemoned on the Gaint Ship...

I base this opinion on TC's reaction as LA was helped from the dungeon by the Haruchai - I don't have the book with me right now but I recall that he tore chunks from the ceiling and ground them to dust until Brinn was able to make him understand that she was alright. Had she been hurt more extensively or dead, TC would've broke the Arch of Time right then from despair. IMHO.

I tend to agree with Revan that it wasn't first sight. I think there was a mutual fascination at first sight, I think they recognised something in each other, but I wouldn't go so far as to say love... Just the potential for love.
Whether they ever actually fell in love at all is a different story, and I've expounded my thoughts on that before

Now then, you two are not looking at this from Covenant's POV.
Put yourselves in his hiking boots for a moment.
Ten years in the real world without a kind word, a hug, or even a real smile from a member of the opposite sex (we won't even talk about the sex/impotence issues -- this guy can't even get someone to hold his hand, for crying out loud! )...he is shunned, isolated, and everyone he meets is friggin afraid of him...the only contacts he has with women are either medical (and even the nurses who are supposed to take care of him talk about killing him instead), or business (his lawyer, by phone), or with his crazy ex who wants to drink his blood...
And along comes Linden...a beautiful woman who is not afraid of him...and who, in fact, is attracted to him...

duchess of malfi wrote:Now then, you two are not looking at this from Covenant's POV.
Put yourselves in his hiking boots for a moment.
Ten years in the real world without a kind word, a hug, or even a real smile from a member of the opposite sex (we won't even talk about the sex/impotence issues -- this guy can't even get someone to hold his hand, for crying out loud! )...he is shunned, isolated, and everyone he meets is friggin afraid of him...the only contacts he has with women are either medical (and even the nurses who are supposed to take care of him talk about killing him instead), or business (his lawyer, by phone), or with his crazy ex who wants to drink his blood...
And along comes Linden...a beautiful woman who is not afraid of him...and who, in fact, is attracted to him...

hmmmm.... This would convey the impression (for mr at least) that he only fell for Linden because she wasn't afraid of him... and that his love came out of sheer desperation of being lonely... so if Linden had been an entirely different person... but still not scared of him... he would have fallen in love with her regardless...

Exactly, that's pretty much my theory. They never fell in love as such, it was just a big mass of conducive circumstance. They were both lonely, embittered people, and they both found themselves pitched into the Land. I could go into more detail, but that's a different topic really...

So your saying they didn't really love each other because of who they were... But because they were so lonely they needed love?

Pretty much. They were both in need, they had some personality traits in common, and then they had a shared experience in the Land...

I don't like that opinion... though I think it might be true... Because it casts a shadow on their love... And I thought it was a very good love story.

It IS a very good love story -- and many people fall in love for just the same sorts of reasons that Thomas and Linden did -- physical attraction, a meshing of flaws as well as strengths (these are the two most stubborn people you could ever meet , and that stubborness is both a flaw AND a strength)...for many couples love is not the perfect moonlight and roses that popular culture portrays love to be...
Also remember, Dr. Berenford sent Linden out to Thomas's house in a sort of matchmaking gesture...he, at least, thought they would do well together...

I don't know if it was love at first sight, but I believe both TC and LA were certainly drawn to each other at first sight. Early on I think they were aware of their commonalities--some flaw(s), inner-demons, stand-offish nature etc...They were physically attracted to each other and, whether admitting it or not, desperately needed some love and affection from another person who understood their pain.

TC pushed LA away at first, but the love he shows her later tells me that he did this out of love--to keep her safe.

There is no such thing as love at first sight... Except... maybe between a mother and her child.

But I think that Thomas really needed love, and he might have fallen for her even if she was a different person.