Flight of the Heron read-along: Part IV chapter 7

[regshoe]

Let friendship and honour unite...

<3

Next week we'll read the first two chapters of Part V. I will be busy on the Saturday a) celebrating Christmas and b) reading Yuletide fic, so I'll probably put the post up on Sunday.

Comments

[regshoe]

I love this chapter. It's such a beautiful culmination of everything that's happened so far, and so brilliantly written as ever, and I may spend the rest of this comment just crying over it.

This chapter contains my favourite line in the whole book:

'You gave me hope; and above all you gave me back that night in the hut.'

<333 It's my favourite despite not being the biggest or most blatant of the Ewen/Keith bits because, while Keith's feelings for Ewen have already been made very plain plenty of times, this really shows how much Keith also means to Ewen, and the significance of what they are to each other. I often think of it...

However, I think this also deserves a very honourable mention:

It was strange, it was alarming, to feel, as by this time he did, how strongly their intimacy had progressed in two months of absence and, on his side, of deliberate abstention from communication—like the roots of two trees growing secretly towards each other in darkness.

What can one say to that, eh? :)

Oh, the emotions in this chapter! It strikes me that Ewen and Keith are both, at least at the start, repressing their emotions in rather different ways—Keith by desperately trying to keep a lid on his strong feelings, Ewen by gracefully hiding the more significant emotions under that 'unaffected cheerfulness' which is indeed sincere in its own way. I love Ewen's attitude in particular—he's so gentle towards Keith when Keith is being furiously modest about his sacrifice of the last chapter. And Broster has such a way of describing emotions obliquely ('In the dim light, momentarily becoming to Keith, however, a little less dim'; 'and not particularly good eyesight at the moment'; 'Ewen evidently saw; he could hardly fail to see it'), which gives a wonderful sense both of the repression going on and of its failure entirely to work. It gets less oblique towards the end of this chapter, too.

There's so much touching in this chapter! Hands on knees, clasped wrists, wrung hands... also, 'my dear Windham'. Aaaaaargh.

Jung, vapvqragnyyl, qb jr znxr bs gur qvfpercnapl orgjrra Rjra'f pregnvagl gung gurer jvyy or cyragl bs rivqrapr gb pbaivpg uvz ng Sbeg Jvyyvnz naq gur vzcyvpngvba bs puncgre 6 gung gur nhgubevgvrf frevbhfyl qbhog gurer jbhyq or rabhtu rivqrapr jvgubhg Xrvgu? Creuncf bayl gung gurl qba'g xabj jung Rjra xabjf nobhg ubj znal crbcyr ng Sbeg Jvyyvnz jbhyq erpbtavfr uvz, naq unq gur nggrzcg ng vqragvsvpngvba tbar nurnq gurl jbhyq unir sbhaq bhg gurve zvfgnxr naq ernyvfrq gurl arire arrqrq Xrvgu nsgre nyy.

Oh, that lock of hair... it has such an awful significance, doesn't it? sanguinity has pointed out in previous posts the parallels between Keith and Alison throughout the book; here, the cutting of the lock of hair is done, conventionally and acceptably, for Alison, but it's Keith who gets all the emotional weight of the gesture and the moment. And, er, more on that later.

And now—the lightning flash! Keith Finally Gets It! :D :D (or, er, some of It, at least). Yes, Keith, friendship and emotion and caring about people really are a good idea after all. Awwww. Seriously, however, I do want to point out how Keith immediately thinks that Ewen 'would never willingly fail friend or lover, much less play them false' —Keith is thinking about Ewen in relation to himself and in the context of his own feelings here, and if he meant to refer to Alison he'd surely say 'wife', so whence that second word?

I also like Ewen's observation about Keith, 'For whereas you think but poorly of your fellow-men and yourself—or am I wrong?—you act, Keith Windham, very much otherwise!'. He's right, and I think the general point that Keith's actions are often both better and more true than his thoughts (though not in this chapter, perhaps <3) is a very perceptive one.

The little scene with Keith pacing to and fro in the tent after Ewen leaves is awful, and I love it. Also interesting to get a glimpse of Keith's views on God and religion—it seems he's something of a deist.

As for the very end of the chapter, it brings up some points that I think will be best discussed later on, once we've seen how they play out in Part V...

[osprey_archer]

The way they both hearken back to that night in the hut is just Peak Romance. It's such a touchstone for both of them - something they can hold onto when things seem bleak - and the moment that cemented the initial attraction between them into a real friendship strong enough to come back from Guthrie's brutal insistence that "the night in the hut" was just some scheme on Keith's part.

And that image of the roots of two trees growing toward each other! Gosh.

Also, there's something so very Keith about the fact that it's only at the very end that he recognizes The Power of Friendship. Oh Keith... only getting there AFTER he has more or less sacrificed his career for the sake of a friendship he wouldn't even acknowledge till this point...

[regshoe]

The way they both hearken back to that night in the hut is just Peak Romance.

Aargh, I knowwwww. Such a beautiful thing. <3

The image of the trees is a brilliant one, that works on several levels—not least its meaning in terms of subtext, the image of the connection between them being something that develops secretly and unacknowledged, not out in the open but nonetheless powerful. And, as hyarrowen has pointed out, it suits the arboreal etymology of both their names!

Anyway—oh, Keith, indeed :D

[hyarrowen]

I too love this chapter. For the first time in a long time they've got the opportunity just to sit and talk, and they do exactly that. It's so quiet and intimate. As is all the touching; it's very sweet. The trust is back, absolutely.

Mullins has been true to his commission, aw! Even though he's not in charge of Ewen any more, he carried out that commission while he was able to. And then Ewen tries to arrange to pay Keith back and Keith just says, "it would be kinder to me" if he didn't - and Ewen accepts that.

Ewen always draws a great deal of strength from his religion. Here he's reading a psalter in his dark cell. I wonder what verse he'd got to?

Gurer'f nabgure znfgreyl ovg bs sberfunqbjvat urer, jura Xrvgu fuviref nf gurl gnyx nobhg Wbua Xrvgu. Xrvgu guvaxf vg'f orpnhfr Rjra vf nobhg gb or pbaqrzarq. Ohg ab. Vg'f gur svatre bs Sngr gbhpuvat Xrvgu uvzfrys. Q:

[regshoe]

And then Ewen tries to arrange to pay Keith back and Keith just says, "it would be kinder to me" if he didn't - and Ewen accepts that.

That's pretty significant, really—that matters like this between them are no longer a question of debts (of honour or otherwise) and obligations, but that they can accept gifts from each other as friends. Aww.

And hooray for Mullins :)

Ewen's religion is important, especially in contrast to Keith's agonised lack of faith later on in the chapter. Actually there's a bit in one of next week's chapters that I was going to bring up in relation to this—in the next post!

To your rot13'd bit—aargh, yes. And what a beautiful bit of ominously significant 'finger of fate' it is, too.

[luzula]

I accidentally read the first chapter in the next part as well, because I hadn't checked how far we were supposed to read, and it made me cry on the tram. Hopefully my mask hid most of it, though...and more about that next time.

Anyway. I love how the very first line makes clear that Keith has been thinking about Ewen; it sounds like he's been doing it a lot. And wow, what a lot of raw emotion on Keith's part in this chapter! Very impressive how Ewen has managed to keep such a steady keel during the rest of his imprisonment; it really speaks to his strength of mind. It's clear that he has suffered physically during that time, but he has done what he can to be neat and clean, and occupy his mind. It's such a contrast to the last meeting, when he was broken down mentally by the thought that he had betrayed Lochiel and that Keith had betrayed him. It's just a really great contrast, how it's Keith, who isn't imprisoned, who has lost his self-possession, while Ewen, who has been, has such an "unaffected cheerfulness". He even tries to comfort Keith about his own death, speaking with a "very gentle" voice.

And yes, I agree with regshoe about all the touching! Gah.

This chapter also contains the bit about Keith's father's Scottish friend, which I love. ♥

The door, opening, recalled him to an Englishman’s last obligation, the suppression of emotion before witnesses. Heh. You have not been acting in a very English fashion so far in this chapter, Keith. : )

The bit with Keith and Albemarle contains this great example of Broster's omniscient POV humour:
Had Lord Albemarle but known, no such heroic pilgrimage was required of him; a ten-mile expedition that night to a certain cave in Glenmoriston would have been sufficient.

And, finally, an excellent choice of song for this chapter! It's so lovely. <3

[osprey_archer]

One of the strongest indications of just how much That Night in the Hut met to Ewen is how much it buoyed him to have the memory given back to him untarnished. Keith gave him the memory back AND gave him hope that perhaps Ewen's inadvertent betrayal might not doom Lochiel, and between the two things he's regained the composure that was so thoroughly lost the first time he confronted Keith with that hissed "Judas." Especially impressive because his injury still isn't fully healed, and he's been moved to a dungeon!

It's a nice contrast that Ewen seems happy to pull strength from the memory of That Night in the Hut now that it's unsullied, while Keith has been trying (less successfully than ever) to put Ewen out of his mind. It calls back that basic difference between them - Ewen with such a strong group of friends and family that he is happy to rely on, and Keith isolated and telling himself that it's better that way... right up until now, when at LAST he realizes that friendship is beautiful and there's no one he'd rather have than Ewen for his friend.

[hyarrowen]

I strongly agree with your capitalisation of That Night in the Hut! It really is that important. The cup of cold water that gives a double blessing.

[regshoe]

Aww! I may have teared up a bit over the emotions of chapter 7...

I do like all Keith's un-English emotion—oh dear. And I agree about the contrast between that and Ewen's brave composure in the face of his probable death—though there is plenty of emotion on his side too in their conversation with each other.

Ha, that line about the Prince's hiding-place is a good one :D

It is a lovely song! And so fitting for Ewen/Keith. I remember you introducing me to it a while ago. :)

[sanguinity]

They are both so giving in this chapter. That first bit of the convo, where each keeps trying to redirect the conversation back to the other...! Ewen knows himself a lost cause, and so he directs his attention to he who can still be saved, while Keith refuses to discuss his own misfortunes (or even admit to them!), in the face of what is about to happen to Ewen. Both of them trying to comfort the other over Ewen's impending death -- God, I have so many feelings about this scene!

Ewen's composure is so good to see here, after his distress of the last chapter. His material situation is far worse of course -- two months imprisonment and malnutrition in a dungeon, and shackled to boot -- but he's so much lighter in spirit, knowing that he has not betrayed Lochiel, and Keith has not betrayed him. He made his choices and does not regret them, he retains his good standing among those he cares for, and he takes comfort in the promises of his faith. Even though he's facing his death, he has all -- or nearly all -- that he truly wants, and can face what's coming bravely.

(Mostly bravely. His black humour is at least a little a defense mechanism, and he is truly troubled that he did involuntarily confess a part of the direction to Lochiel's secret hideout. And there's that brief loss of composure over his letter to Alison -- he does regret very much the grief his death will bring her. He would very much have liked to have a happy future with her at Ardroy.)

But he can do little to nothing of those things. He does what he can, then goes back to comforting Keith. In part, I think, because Keith's discomposure might upset his own, but also because comforting Keith is comforting to him. His cause is lost, but Keith's is not.

(They make me cry, they're so good to each other in this chapter.)

And that line about almost wishing Keith might testify, so that they could see each other again! But at least Ewen has the comfort of knowing that this is the end of it: he can bring Keith no more misfortune after this. (V eraq zl pybgurf, xabjvat jung vf lrg pbzvat!! Ubj pehry vf Oebfgre'f xavsr!)

And the pen knife! The fucking pen knife. Ewen could have had that pen knife off of Keith with only a pleading look -- Keith was on the cusp of giving it to him -- and then Ewen refused to do it, for Keith's sake. Not even Ewen's own life is worth even a minor injury to Keith (not, that either of them consider personal honour minor!) -- and then boom, Keith finally understands what he has been groping towards for the entire novel. That here is a man who is worth the risks of attachment; here is a man who disproves what Keith had thought thoroughly proven. He wants to be friends, here on the threshhold of Ewen's death. So many would be pulling back now, unwilling to embrace a man who is about to die and take half their heart with them -- but not Keith. Keith, after years of holding himself apart, is all in. (V nz guvaxvat bs gur raq bs Tyrnz va gur Abegu: Xrvgu jbhyq unir tbar gb gur fpnssbyq jvgu Rjra, nf Rjra qvq sbe Nepuvr.)

‘Blessings go with you; may a straight path be before you, and a happy end to your journey’! Jbeqf gung jvyy pbzr gehre guna lbh jvyy rire xabj, Rjra, zhpu gb lbhe fbeebj.


I just. I could yell for a very long time about this chapter (and just have).

[sanguinity]

Oh, and more feelings, because I have more feelings!

That bit about Keith maybe naming a son after Ewen! Not to remember Ewen, but to remember who Keith was with Ewen...! Because somehow, after knowing this man only hours, and the vast majority of those hours at odds with each other, Ewen knows exactly what kinds of wounds exist in Keith's soul. (For whereas you think but poorly of your fellowmen and yourself—or am I wrong?) He knows what wounds exist in Keith's soul, and he wants to see them healed -- and to that end, hits upon the scheme of reminding Keith of the best version of himself. I am just bowled away by the amount of perspicacity and generosity and love in that.

[luzula]

You have just sparked a fic idea for me, which I will definitely write at some point! : D I love that feeling of a plot unfolding in your head from just a small kernel, and developing more and more detail. *looks mysterious*

[sanguinity]

Oh, that's tantalizing. *chinhands* But if you have your heart set on being mysterious about it, I suppose I shall have to possess my self in patience...

[luzula]

Well...I think it might be better unspoiled? : )

[sanguinity]

I trust your judgement, and place myself at your tender mercy while I await whatever it is. :-)

[regshoe]

Hooray!—I look forward to seeing more of this mystery :D

[luzula]

You will eventually! : ) It's nice to have more ideas to fill up my queue...

[regshoe]

Wonderful commentary—yes, I love the mutual comfort and how they're each so much concerned about the other.

Ewen really is showing a great deal of strength and endurance, in being so composed and cheerful after what he must have endured in that dungeon—much less bad than what Guthrie and Greening subjected him to, of course, but then he hasn't really had a chance to recover properly either.

Aargh, the pen knife! Such a beautiful moment for demonstrating the honourable principles of both of them. And Ewen showing his own regard for honour in respecting Keith's, simply and naturally and at the cost of his own chance of escape, is what finally sets off that realisation for Keith.

So many would be pulling back now, unwilling to embrace a man who is about to die and take half their heart with them -- but not Keith. Keith, after years of holding himself apart, is all in.

<3

He knows what wounds exist in Keith's soul, and he wants to see them healed -- and to that end, hits upon the scheme of reminding Keith of the best version of himself. I am just bowled away by the amount of perspicacity and generosity and love in that.

!! Yes, that's it exactly—reminding Keith of the best version of himself, who he becomes when he's around Ewen. Aaargh, this is such a beautiful relationship. Also a very good point about how well Ewen understands Keith—juvpu fhttrfgf fhpu ybiryl, arire-gb-or-shysvyyrq cbffvovyvgvrf sbe jung gurl pbhyq unir unq gbtrgure va gur shgher unq Xrvgu fheivirq. :(