First time through, I didn't know how the novel comes out. Consequently, I didn't experience these chapters as a peaceful interlude at all: I'd been convinced through a lot of part 4 that Ewen was going to be executed -- or, best case, maybe die escaping. It was such an unexpected surprise and relief that he'd gotten away, that I read these chapters absolutely tense that it might all be taken away again in an instant, as Aunt Margaret kept worrying. And yet I was still quietly hopeful that we might get to a happy ending after all? Maybe?
And then we got to the conversation with Angus, where he passes on Lachlan's vow to kill Keith, and my OHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOO went off with the force of sirens.
(Although not, apparently, for Ewen: The story of Lachlan’s vow had perturbed him, but now he saw it in a far less menacing light. I am reminded of him being similarly dismissive of the heron prophecy. Poor Angus is touched with Cassandra's curse, where Ewen is concerned.)
When Ewen is dragging his heels about leaving, I find it a bit surprising and very interesting that Aunt Margaret tries to guilt him away to France via how Keith would feel, if Ewen were to be captured. Not his wife, not the memory of his foster brothers -- her first attempt is to use Major Windham! Which raises the question of exactly how much he has told her about their meetings -- a fair bit, apparently (does she know about the prophecy?) But also makes me wonder how he spoke of Keith, that she thinks that Major Windham is the first and best emotional prybar to use against Ewen.
And then Ewen responds that Keith would understand...! I just. For as close as his bonds of clan and family are to Aunt Margaret and others, it's Keith who most understands exactly where Ewen is right now, emotionally. Keith understands what he's been through, and what haunts him, and what still needs to be set right. It's rather breathtaking that Ewen, who has such close bonds to his kin, is best understood in this moment by his purported enemy.
(Meanwhile, he tells Margaret she doesn't know all the things about why he's dragging his feet, and she's all pointedly like, "you could tell me?" and he goes all silently moody and misunderstood like a teenager. Ewen! Talk to your Aunt who is far wiser than you're giving her credit for!)
There's a mention in these chapters that Lochiel is wounded -- I discovered in other reading that he was shot through the ankles at Culloden, which just, ow. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. Given that, it's little wonder that Archie views bringing one to the other as a nonstarter! (Even putting aside that everyone's first duty is to get away to safety so they may make another attempt later! Ewen's lame; Lochiel's lame; he's not going to carry one across the Highlands to meet with the other!)
That whole scene with Archie is wonderful. There's such a strong sense of an older and more centered person dealing with a beloved-but-despaired-of young hothead. He's gentle and understanding and a wonderful confidante, but he's also absolutely implacable to Ewen's drama. (And perhaps a little fondly amused by it? "You do realize that the part of this that would grieve Lochiel is your not trusting him to trust you? And yes, I AM going to tell him you were tortured, you made me promise to tell it all, so you have no one to blame for my passing on that part of it but yourself.") Vg'f bayl n oevrs fprar, ohg vg'f fgebat rabhtu gung lbh pna frr jul Oebfgre gubhtug fur pbhyq unat zbfg bs nabgure abiry ba Rjra naq Nepuvr'f eryngvbafuvc. (Not sure if that counts as a spoiler or not, but with an abundance of caution...)
Fuck, next week is the last two chapters already? *keens*
no subject
And then we got to the conversation with Angus, where he passes on Lachlan's vow to kill Keith, and my OHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOO went off with the force of sirens.
(Although not, apparently, for Ewen: The story of Lachlan’s vow had perturbed him, but now he saw it in a far less menacing light. I am reminded of him being similarly dismissive of the heron prophecy. Poor Angus is touched with Cassandra's curse, where Ewen is concerned.)
When Ewen is dragging his heels about leaving, I find it a bit surprising and very interesting that Aunt Margaret tries to guilt him away to France via how Keith would feel, if Ewen were to be captured. Not his wife, not the memory of his foster brothers -- her first attempt is to use Major Windham! Which raises the question of exactly how much he has told her about their meetings -- a fair bit, apparently (does she know about the prophecy?) But also makes me wonder how he spoke of Keith, that she thinks that Major Windham is the first and best emotional prybar to use against Ewen.
And then Ewen responds that Keith would understand...! I just. For as close as his bonds of clan and family are to Aunt Margaret and others, it's Keith who most understands exactly where Ewen is right now, emotionally. Keith understands what he's been through, and what haunts him, and what still needs to be set right. It's rather breathtaking that Ewen, who has such close bonds to his kin, is best understood in this moment by his purported enemy.
(Meanwhile, he tells Margaret she doesn't know all the things about why he's dragging his feet, and she's all pointedly like, "you could tell me?" and he goes all silently moody and misunderstood like a teenager. Ewen! Talk to your Aunt who is far wiser than you're giving her credit for!)
There's a mention in these chapters that Lochiel is wounded -- I discovered in other reading that he was shot through the ankles at Culloden, which just, ow. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. Given that, it's little wonder that Archie views bringing one to the other as a nonstarter! (Even putting aside that everyone's first duty is to get away to safety so they may make another attempt later! Ewen's lame; Lochiel's lame; he's not going to carry one across the Highlands to meet with the other!)
That whole scene with Archie is wonderful. There's such a strong sense of an older and more centered person dealing with a beloved-but-despaired-of young hothead. He's gentle and understanding and a wonderful confidante, but he's also absolutely implacable to Ewen's drama. (And perhaps a little fondly amused by it? "You do realize that the part of this that would grieve Lochiel is your not trusting him to trust you? And yes, I AM going to tell him you were tortured, you made me promise to tell it all, so you have no one to blame for my passing on that part of it but yourself.") Vg'f bayl n oevrs fprar, ohg vg'f fgebat rabhtu gung lbh pna frr jul Oebfgre gubhtug fur pbhyq unat zbfg bs nabgure abiry ba Rjra naq Nepuvr'f eryngvbafuvc. (Not sure if that counts as a spoiler or not, but with an abundance of caution...)
Fuck, next week is the last two chapters already? *keens*