regshoe

Again not looking at other comments first.

I was thinking what an irony it was that this is the second time Keith is looking for the Prince and gets Ewen instead--the first time as farce, the second as tragedy--but then Keith himself has this exact thought.

The line about 'a species of bondage', aaaaah!

In actual history, when the Prince leaves Scotland it's with a party of almost 200, so they could easily have defeated Keith's spread-out little forces.

I find it chilling that Lachlan comes after Keith just after Keith has said 'God help me!', as if Lachlan is God's answer to Keith's dilemma!

This is so romantic, and echoes the moment when Ewen finds himself in Keith's arms before the firing squad: As he was lifted, Keith came back from a moment’s dream of a shore with long green rollers roaring loudly under a blood-red sunset, to pain and difficult breath and Ewen’s arms. He knew him.

The brandy, Ewen, as though that is going to help...

Okay, those are my random thoughts. But as a whole, the end of the chapter still makes me cry, even though I've read it multiple times by now. Gah. It's tragic, but also beautifully written in a way that makes sense and meaning out of Keith's death: that Ewen gave him someone to live and die for. In a meta sense I might resent that Keith and Ewen aren't allowed a happy ending whereas Ewen and Alison are, but I also genuinely do relish the meaningful tragedy of the ending that we get. And of course, this is only one possibility and we can write all the happy endings we want and they are as real as this.

I think Alison's worry and hope in the epilogue is beautifully written, too, especially the way she turns back down the stairs because she can't bear to immediately open the door because it might not be Ewen. The only thing I don't like about the epilogue is Ewen's comment about women and food! I'm thinking you're going to be glad of some good food, Ewen. But their relief and joy at finally meeting again, at the same time as Ewen can't bear to share his memories of Keith yet...yeah, that rings true to me.

(I still remember my proof listener at Librivox. When she commented on the next-to-last section, there was no reaction aside from that it was technically fine. When she commented on the last section, here is what she said: "Yay for happy endings :) So that's a wrap! Congratulations on a fine audiobook!" WHAT ON EARTH.)