Isabeau's Journal

By:Isabeau
 November, 12 2005

OK, folks-this is the general forum now for questions that don't seem to fit in any of the other threads. I'm going to sort some of the earlier posts into the appropriate forums, but it might take a while, so bear with me. I'll delete the ones that have already been reposted by their authors.

Comment:
[30 Jan]

Rebecca wrote:

Just out of curiosity, what are folks' objections to Hethlin and Elrohir?

We agree that Elrohir and Hethlin have a strong friendship that is multi-leveled. They've helped each other, consoled each other, and more to the point have conversed with each other privately many times as peers. [snip good examples] In that sense he and Hethlin are a lot closer to each other in terms of where they are in life. Elrohir and Hethlin have talked about these things, as friends.

Yes, to all of that.

The only answers I've received on that front are "he'd be breaking his oath" (which he never should have been asked to make in the first place) or "not fair for Elrond to lose all his children."

That's not it, definitely, in my case at least.
The oath is a stupid one, on par with other stupid oaths made by Elves who should know better. I'm waiting for a scene where Elrond releases Elrohir from it and apologizes, but seeing as his farewell with Arwen is coming up, I can understand why he wouldn't be in the mood for it.

As to the 2nd objection, there's a bit of that in the back of my mind, but only because Elrond is one of my favourite characters (I had adjustments to make to accept Isabeau's somewhat harsh portrayal of him). But it's not a consideration to me concerning a possible relationship between Elrohir and Heth.

Now, to my reasons why I can't see a future together for them... I fear this will be all rather long and incoherent...

Yes, they can and do talk as friends, and on many levels, what we have seen so far how they interact seems merely to cement this further. But somehow I feel that Elrohir accomodates himself in that relationship to fit, and from time to time, his "true" character, wider experience, and especially different outlook etc. come to the fore to make the gap between them apparent. That's not to say that he makes this adaptation condescending or patronizing, but I can't shake the feeling that this is a temporary thing, that they will grow apart. Not necessarily due to Heth's inevitable aging, but more that their interests will grow apart from each other, a big and immediate part being her education in Dol Amroth, both arms-training and social polishing, coming to terms with her new, elevated social status, and later on, her family in the north, and the eagles.

He is, IMO, a bit set in his ways as errand warrior, restless (and yes, I forsee a big problem should he come to the bliss and peace of Aman). I really do think he needs this relationship with Heth, that she really helped to cure many of his pains and sorrows, and he, too, would need time after Sauron's overthrow to adjust to the end of the war, Arwen's choosing, Elrond's departure etc. IMO, this time of adjustment would certainly be longer than for Mortals, due to his "world" being so far longer the way it was before tWotR and so the change that much more significant.

I think Hethlin will have a good share of that, too, but I think she would want to build something permanent, a home, or, to put it better, a "nest". And I simply just can't imagine Elrohir doing that.

In a previous comment on Jan 6th, you mad a very good argument why a relationship between Heth and Imrahil won't work, and I admit you almost swayed me, because they're all very good points, and I can agree with most of them. But I think I'm still of the opinion that these obstacles can be overcome, and that the good that can come of their relationship outweighs the disadvantages. I guess what it comes down to is gut-feeling sigh...

Already I think their parting, when it happens, will be heart-wrenching for both of them. I know I'll be teary!

Oh, yes, me too! Particularly as I have the strong feeling that Elrohir feels more for Heth that he admits to her and wants to face himself.

Actually I suspect she won't end up with either Elrohir or Imrahil. It dawned on me last night who that second white bird in Faramir's dream might be. Not Imrahil. Not Amrothos...

Not Erchirion, surely? Him, I can't figure out. I get a totally diffent image from the glimpses we've seen from him so far in Isabeau's stories than from Altariel's "Adrift".

Initially, I was rooting for Amrothos, but I can't wrap my head around all the awkwardness that would cause. And now we know of his future bride, so that's that.

And furthermore, isn't it such fun that we're still arguing the old "who shall Heth nest with?"-question when Isabeau has already decided? I like it very much, indeed!

Because we have been getting a lot of spam, we now have a security number which you have to enter in order to post a journal reply. In the field marked validation number, enter nine six one six as a four place number.