WGW Chapter 16 - "Andelain! Forgive!"
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2004 11:28 pm
This chapter is dedicated to Joy, who told me to be myself.
We begin in Andelain, with Linden lying in the rain, stunned from the ‘revelation’ of Lord Kevin; the last guy I’d be taking advice from, seeing as how all he ever did in life or death was further Foul’s schemes. I mean, come on; how long has she been with Covenant? Close to 150 days, in life and death situations, and she’s going to take the word of a proven loser who she’s never met instead of trusting the guy who keeps on saving her, the guy who is her lover? Anyway. Linden sees a Wraith and she asks the Wraith to take her back to him and the others. Most of the party is asleep, except for the usual suspects; Vain, Findail, and, naturally, Covenant, who still prefers the company of his Dead to the living.
It should have been a beautiful, serene picture, with Wraiths dancing playfully over the sleeping forms of the Giants, Thomas talking to the closest friends he ever had in life or death, and Vain and Findail staying out of trouble for once. But no, Linden’s bitterness gives her the strength to ignore such things, and instead of responding to Thomas’s concern for her, she proceeds to abash each of the Dead with her anger and outrage, until they disappear (God help me when she finds out I’m voting for George W). Linden accuses Elena of arrogance and claims she never loved Thomas, her own father. How absolutely quaint; but still forgivable, as Elena did try to be his lover, too, and this could be just an outward sign of a hidden jealousy. Then she has to attack Bannor, who never tried to be Conenant’s boyfriend, but is one of the Haruchai, and frankly, after the treatment by the only four Haruchai Linden ever knew, well, I can understand her bile. Of course, she has no personal reason to hate a Giant. Fortunately, Foamfollower sees through her anger and correctly guesses that Kevin is behind it. Asking her forgiveness, he leaves. Now, only Mhoram is left. In a way, I think Linden is more jealous of Mhoram than Elena. Covenant trusted Mhoram, confided in him in ways that he never would to her. After her rant, Mhoram simply says “Linden Avery, you gladden my heart. You are worthy of him (Thomas)…..Only this I urge you: strive to remember that he is also worthy of you”.
Well, I have to agree that in the matter of insane rants, Linden is indeed Thomas’ equal. Still, I’d be lying if I said I thought that this was a small matter; after all, Kevin told her that Thomas was going to GIVE his ring to Foul, and so far, nobody is denying it. Still, Kevin has the perspective of a man who has lost repeatedly to Foul; Covenant has the distinction of beating Foul, and crazy as it seems, if he says he’s got a plan, I’m following him. But then again, I wouldn’t be the major protagonist of a Donaldson book if I was that simple…..
After being asked about 50 times by Thomas, Linden finally tells him what Kevin said, and, of course, Tom does not deny it, either. Oh boy. His actual words are “Don’t say it like that. You don’t understand. You said you trusted me.” Hmmm, not exactly how I would have done it, but then again, I’m no Donaldson creation. As you might have guessed, Linden is less than satisfied with Thomas’ explanation. She goes off alone as the evening shower turns into a downpour, proving I am in fact reading this chapter, not just going off of memory.
Linden heads off in the direction of Mount Doom, all the while analyzing Thomas and his motivations for giving up the ring and not telling her, placing each of his actions into safe little categories taught to her as a doctor in training, never noticing that once again she is running away from Thomas, like she has run away from so many things in her life. Well, at least she’s heading in the right direction.
Linden then comes across a gem of a plan; she will beat Covenant to Foul, and defeat him herself. Well, if a half-handed leper can beat Foul, then I guess a neurotic abandoned doctor can too. Still, she is without her own white gold ring, hasn’t held up so well against the Ravers she’s met, and her only special power in the Land is the easiest way for Foul to injure her. Speaking of being hurt through her health-sense, it is not morning and she’s near the edge of Andelain, and the new torturous sun is rising, and the sight of the halo of pestilence freezes her in her tracks. Boy, I bet Foul is quaking in his boots now. Still, common sense takes over, and she rushes back to the others to warn them in time. Which is a good thing, and I hope the beginning of an attitude change, because frankly, Linden is better than this.
Just as she finds the others, Donaldson decides to use the word “Crepuscular”, which, as you all know, is my favourite word, and indeed the reason I wished to do this chapter’s read. Just in time, too. Linden, that is; not my favorite word. They reach stone in the nick of time, happy to have found it, incredibly sad to see the Sunbane in Andelain for the first time. Linden is also sad because every resolve she made since listening to Kevin is now lost, as she chose to remain with Covenant instead of doing what she thinks is right. Great. Now she has to start all over again making rash decisions. When Thomas confronts her, tells her that giving the ring to Foul won’t help Foul in any way, tells her he knows this from experience; she secretly vows again to stop him. What did I just say about rash decisions?
Later in the day Linden tries to get Pitchwife’s help in stopping Tom. What she finds out is that while Pitch would be glad to help her, his wife will only support Thomas. So this difference of opinion not only has further wrecked one relationship; it threatens to wreck another, leaving only Findail and Vain’s odd one unscathed (Then again, Findail never makes an appearance in this chapter, contrary to my using his name over and over again, like he was here, which may have something to do with it). Pitchwife tells Linden that only she can act in time anyway, as he has no earth-sight, or health sense to guide him. But, he offers his service and his very life to her. That at least seems to make Linden happy.
The next day is like the day before, with everybody worn out and in a bad mood. Fortunately, Covenant doesn’t yet have a sucking chest wound, so we know it’s not the end yet. But, Mount Thunder is getting closer, and there’s less than 100 pages left in the book, so it has to be close to the end. The next day Mount Thunder was in view (I could have swore it was in view two days ago.....heh). Thomas looks like he’s going to address the company, but he doesn’t say a thing. Linden knows she could help him, but she also does nothing. Then her health-sense warns her to run, and she yells at the others to do the same, as the ground behind them explodes in a fury, putting the whole company in an even worse mood.
We begin in Andelain, with Linden lying in the rain, stunned from the ‘revelation’ of Lord Kevin; the last guy I’d be taking advice from, seeing as how all he ever did in life or death was further Foul’s schemes. I mean, come on; how long has she been with Covenant? Close to 150 days, in life and death situations, and she’s going to take the word of a proven loser who she’s never met instead of trusting the guy who keeps on saving her, the guy who is her lover? Anyway. Linden sees a Wraith and she asks the Wraith to take her back to him and the others. Most of the party is asleep, except for the usual suspects; Vain, Findail, and, naturally, Covenant, who still prefers the company of his Dead to the living.
It should have been a beautiful, serene picture, with Wraiths dancing playfully over the sleeping forms of the Giants, Thomas talking to the closest friends he ever had in life or death, and Vain and Findail staying out of trouble for once. But no, Linden’s bitterness gives her the strength to ignore such things, and instead of responding to Thomas’s concern for her, she proceeds to abash each of the Dead with her anger and outrage, until they disappear (God help me when she finds out I’m voting for George W). Linden accuses Elena of arrogance and claims she never loved Thomas, her own father. How absolutely quaint; but still forgivable, as Elena did try to be his lover, too, and this could be just an outward sign of a hidden jealousy. Then she has to attack Bannor, who never tried to be Conenant’s boyfriend, but is one of the Haruchai, and frankly, after the treatment by the only four Haruchai Linden ever knew, well, I can understand her bile. Of course, she has no personal reason to hate a Giant. Fortunately, Foamfollower sees through her anger and correctly guesses that Kevin is behind it. Asking her forgiveness, he leaves. Now, only Mhoram is left. In a way, I think Linden is more jealous of Mhoram than Elena. Covenant trusted Mhoram, confided in him in ways that he never would to her. After her rant, Mhoram simply says “Linden Avery, you gladden my heart. You are worthy of him (Thomas)…..Only this I urge you: strive to remember that he is also worthy of you”.
Well, I have to agree that in the matter of insane rants, Linden is indeed Thomas’ equal. Still, I’d be lying if I said I thought that this was a small matter; after all, Kevin told her that Thomas was going to GIVE his ring to Foul, and so far, nobody is denying it. Still, Kevin has the perspective of a man who has lost repeatedly to Foul; Covenant has the distinction of beating Foul, and crazy as it seems, if he says he’s got a plan, I’m following him. But then again, I wouldn’t be the major protagonist of a Donaldson book if I was that simple…..
After being asked about 50 times by Thomas, Linden finally tells him what Kevin said, and, of course, Tom does not deny it, either. Oh boy. His actual words are “Don’t say it like that. You don’t understand. You said you trusted me.” Hmmm, not exactly how I would have done it, but then again, I’m no Donaldson creation. As you might have guessed, Linden is less than satisfied with Thomas’ explanation. She goes off alone as the evening shower turns into a downpour, proving I am in fact reading this chapter, not just going off of memory.
Linden heads off in the direction of Mount Doom, all the while analyzing Thomas and his motivations for giving up the ring and not telling her, placing each of his actions into safe little categories taught to her as a doctor in training, never noticing that once again she is running away from Thomas, like she has run away from so many things in her life. Well, at least she’s heading in the right direction.
Linden then comes across a gem of a plan; she will beat Covenant to Foul, and defeat him herself. Well, if a half-handed leper can beat Foul, then I guess a neurotic abandoned doctor can too. Still, she is without her own white gold ring, hasn’t held up so well against the Ravers she’s met, and her only special power in the Land is the easiest way for Foul to injure her. Speaking of being hurt through her health-sense, it is not morning and she’s near the edge of Andelain, and the new torturous sun is rising, and the sight of the halo of pestilence freezes her in her tracks. Boy, I bet Foul is quaking in his boots now. Still, common sense takes over, and she rushes back to the others to warn them in time. Which is a good thing, and I hope the beginning of an attitude change, because frankly, Linden is better than this.
Just as she finds the others, Donaldson decides to use the word “Crepuscular”, which, as you all know, is my favourite word, and indeed the reason I wished to do this chapter’s read. Just in time, too. Linden, that is; not my favorite word. They reach stone in the nick of time, happy to have found it, incredibly sad to see the Sunbane in Andelain for the first time. Linden is also sad because every resolve she made since listening to Kevin is now lost, as she chose to remain with Covenant instead of doing what she thinks is right. Great. Now she has to start all over again making rash decisions. When Thomas confronts her, tells her that giving the ring to Foul won’t help Foul in any way, tells her he knows this from experience; she secretly vows again to stop him. What did I just say about rash decisions?
Later in the day Linden tries to get Pitchwife’s help in stopping Tom. What she finds out is that while Pitch would be glad to help her, his wife will only support Thomas. So this difference of opinion not only has further wrecked one relationship; it threatens to wreck another, leaving only Findail and Vain’s odd one unscathed (Then again, Findail never makes an appearance in this chapter, contrary to my using his name over and over again, like he was here, which may have something to do with it). Pitchwife tells Linden that only she can act in time anyway, as he has no earth-sight, or health sense to guide him. But, he offers his service and his very life to her. That at least seems to make Linden happy.
The next day is like the day before, with everybody worn out and in a bad mood. Fortunately, Covenant doesn’t yet have a sucking chest wound, so we know it’s not the end yet. But, Mount Thunder is getting closer, and there’s less than 100 pages left in the book, so it has to be close to the end. The next day Mount Thunder was in view (I could have swore it was in view two days ago.....heh). Thomas looks like he’s going to address the company, but he doesn’t say a thing. Linden knows she could help him, but she also does nothing. Then her health-sense warns her to run, and she yells at the others to do the same, as the ground behind them explodes in a fury, putting the whole company in an even worse mood.
But if Covenant had trusted Linden enough to tell her his plans, perhaps she wouldn't have given Kevin the time of day? Both trust and communication inside of the realtionship between lovers should be a two way street.
Loved it.
