regshoe

Another couple of chapters very good for just wallowing in the iddiness, but I'll try to find a few constructive things to say... :D

These two chapters are more Proper Broster, in the emotional intensity and the 'curst tangle' of honour and betrayal. One aspect I especially enjoy is the sheer drama of Keith and Ewen's meeting—from Ewen's opening Judas!, to him actually putting his hands over his ears when Keith begins trying to explain himself, to Keith swearing on his honour as a gentleman, to many more dramatic moments throughout their long conversation. It's so intense, so all-important and Broster makes it so very believable—it's all gripping stuff. And, aww, the way they both, especially Ewen, think and talk about That Night in the Hut just makes me want to sit here and cry: 'What, are you trying to act that night over again?'; 'that night I thought you . . . generous, kind, charitable beyond anything that could be imagined. . . .'; 'There are some hours in it which I am glad I can never lose again'. Beautiful significance, which I think the whole book completely justifies. <3

I think this line is significant (as well as terribly heart-rending): All his courtesy, all his self-command, his usual rather gentle address, every quality which Keith had observed and carelessly admired in him, seemed obliterated by the event which had brought him almost to breaking-point. Really, both Keith and Ewen come to this moment having lost nearly everything that defined them: Ewen the gentleness (in both senses) and admirable courtesy that were his in the happy confidence of his comfortable position earlier on, at the beginning as a secure landowner and in the early part of the war when things are going well for the Jacobites, and now his honour and self-respect too; and Keith the military career which is introduced right back at the beginning as the one thing he really cares about and which he's been trying, increasingly improbably, to convince himself still is that. It's a really good situation to put your two main characters in! All those things are gone, and we see the strength of what is left, of them and between them. And I especially love how little Keith cares about his career in comparison to how much he cares about Ewen, which is highlighted repeatedly throughout these chapters—it's such a complete revolution for Keith, or perhaps a revelation of what was really in his character all along, but which Ewen and his love for Ewen have brought out.

Oh, poor Ewen! Especially as we see him through Keith's eyes, I think: 'looking with something more painful than pity at the utter desolation of his aspect', 'The tired voice seemed for the moment empty of emotion; and yet it wrung Keith’s heart...'. I remember the horrible suspense of wondering exactly what had been done to Ewen when I first read this bit, and its horrible resolution.

I love the movement of emotion between them over the course of the two chapters, as well, especially the gradual growth of Ewen's trust in Keith, and the quiet little moment when Keith realises that trust is restored. I confess I was reading it thinking, goodness, could I ever do anything this elegant in a fic—it's such beautiful and well-controlled writing.

I like Sergeant Mullins, and his interactions with Keith! Interesting too that he gives us another reminder of the gulf between the Jacobite and Hanoverian treatment of prisoners.

And at the end of chapter 4 Keith is, somehow, still wondering why he cares so much about Ewen—his debt of honour was terribly important but that's dealt with now, surely there isn't anything personal in there?... I love the 'But that, he supposed, was why...' that introduces his writing the letter: Keith is still unable fully to understand his feelings, but he keeps acting on them like the person much better than he thinks he is that he is. I love him. <3