So Now the Big Question...

[tresa_cho]

And no, it's not the 'Does Laurent know who Damen is' question. There's a slightly larger question hovering over my head as I try to figure out where this story could possibly go.

Why is Damen still alive?

No, seriously. Why is he alive when it would be so much easier to kill him and not risk him reappearing on the political landscape?

Comments

[luci0logy]

I have often wondered why Margaret chose this slavery for the man she dallied with, unless she was so incensed at not being able to secure the position of Queen via Damen, once he was king, she wanted a long and painful humiliation for him... or did she want to save his life?

[tresa_cho]

I don't think she's quite that sentimental. My friend and I were hashing it out today, and she pointed out something interesting. We've all heard the discussions about who knows Damen and who doesn't, and someone mentioned that most of Rabat's court may know who Damen is. I think the Regent knows very well who Damen is.

My friend suggested that Margaret made a deal with the Regent to get rid of Damen in exchange for something the Regent wants, like possibly Delfuer. The Regent then dispatches with Damen so there is no dirtying of the royal hands. But the Regent, being Rabatian, is keeping Damen alive to use against Margaret in the future. That may be why he got so angry with Laurent when Damen was almost flogged to death. The Regent would have lost his leverage.

This would also put a whole new spin on the Captive Prince title. Laurent would definitely be included in the nets of his uncle's games...

[tresa_cho]

The more I go over the early chapters, the more I agree with you. I really think the Regent is behind everything, and Laurent is indeed playing catch-up. The Regent has always tried to befriend Damen or treat him with a general degree of respect, except when he used Damen to get Laurent to agree to border duty. He knew Damen was no ordinary slave.

I've wondered that myself...

[kestrelsparhawk]

Although not why Laurent is keeping him alive. I think he was shocked to see him (although Damien is not a completely reliable narrator, his description of Laurent's face does convey the impression that Laurent did not expect what he saw). Laurent's first thoought was to have him whipped to death, you may recall, and then he rethought, apparently to humiliate and hurt Damen further. "Don't let him die... yet," was what Laurent said after Damen was whipped

Re: I've wondered that myself...

[tresa_cho]

What if the Regent has his eyes on both kingdoms and promised Margaret to queen her if she could deliver? They could be holding onto Damen to use him to destabalise Akielos and allow the Regent to swoop in.

Re:Regent and Margaret plotting

[kestrelsparhawk]

Well, I think it's psychologically unlikely -- we know the Regent hates women in general, right? And if he knew who Damen was, I think he would have been much more careful of him; first, make sure Laurent doesn't kill him, just hurt him badly enough to make D hate L. D liked the regent at first, so the Regent could just charm him out of the trees by good treatment, and then late, do the "Oh my, you're the prince, huh? Amazing." thing. He could always kill D later; Margaret under those circs would likely have said "he's not very bright, never expects bad from anyone"and it would be obviously true. (except the "not bright" part)

Re: Regent and Margaret plotting

[aubade_saudade]

Well, I think it's psychologically unlikely -- we know the Regent hates women in general, right?

ah, good point!

[alethiaxx]

I'm trying to figure out just how far his hand extends in Damen's original capture and subjugation

I don't think Laurent had anything to do with the arrangement. For one thing, he was shocked to see Damen when he was presented as a slave. He also asked Damen multiple times why he had been sent. But... I wouldn't be surprised if Laurent's had something in the works from the moment he decided to bring Damen along for the border patrol.

The Regent, on the other hand, is a very plausible orchestrator in the Damen exchange, as tresa_cho pointed out. The Margaret/Kastor angle is also curious. Surely Kastor wanted him harmed and humiliated but it's likely there was more to it. Both Kastaret and the Regent want Laurent off the throne, so possibly there was a role for Damen in that. The Regent has tried to use Damen to antagonize Laurent, have him spy, and possibly aid in Laurent's murder (that night when Laurent was drugged). Whatever larger plans they had, I can't guess.

[fer_de_lance]

I always thought it was essentially the same reason Damen ends up aiding Laurent -- just as Damen concludes that Akielos would be better off with Laurent in charge of Rabat, Laurent must think that an Akielos run by Damen (now that he knows what kind of man he is) will be a much better neighbour than one run by the usurping, illegitimate (which Rabatians have a huge squick for, don't forget), backstabbing Kastor. There may be some advantages to Kastor -- a dishonest king could be bribed or even blackmailed to some extent, for instance -- but in the long run, wouldn't it be better to have a monarch on the Akielon throne whom you know is honest enough to keep his agreements after you've wrangled them out (instead of for however long your bribe lasts

[fer_de_lance]

Erm, all of which is my very long-winded way of saying, I think that having him reappear on the political landscape is exactly what Laurent wants.

I don't believe he had anything to do with the initial situation; his shock was too real, and his anger too genuine when he first "met" Damen. Also, from everything he's said or implied, he's never met either Kastor or Margaret, so I don't think he's been in collusion with them. He hates their entire country, so I doubt he would be corresponding with their royal bastard or trusting any message brought to him by an Akielon messenger (if Kastor tried to initiate a conspiracy).

I believe he was quite set on killing Damen slowly for his perceived crimes, in fact, which would have fallen into Kastor/Margaret's plans precisely. It was only when Damen offered himself in exchange for the slaves that he started to see Damen as a person, and very dubiously began to question his own view of the situation.

[tresa_cho]

I agree. Putting Damen on the throne is best for Laurent at this point, and I think he is starting to realise that. I wonder if he still has plans to extract revenge for his brother's death, though. If he does, and his plans are too far started to be stopped now then things could get really interesting between the boys.

[aubade_saudade]

the phrase "whatever falls out between us then" or however freece beautifully phrases it, makes me think that he wants to face off with Damen once they're equals. otoh, i think that perhaps the face off is more about Laurent accepting that what he did in Arles (flogging, near rape, ...) is something for which Damen would want retribution.

i hope Laurent will accept that his soldier brother died in a honorable way, and that there's no need to avenge him.

this is so freaking complicated. i'm now thinking of Laurent's twisty mind imagining that every time he likes Damen or is in any way kind to him, he is betraying the memory of his brother. :*(

[aubade_saudade]

revenge is too weak a motive? yr friend hasn't been to Sicily then. anyway

[ghost_guessed]

Completely unsubstantiated speculation here, but I wondered if Margaret might have known somehow that Laurent would recognise Damen and therefore assumed that Damen wouldn't make it beyond the first few days in Arles...she might have underestimated Laurent as well as underestimating Damen

[feverfewmole]

... I wondered if Margaret might have known somehow that Laurent would recognise Damen and therefore assumed that Damen wouldn't make it beyond the first few days in Arles...

She also gave them his name on a silver platter, interesting, indeed. Either she wanted him killed (which could have been achieved more easily), or she knew that the Rabatian royalty would likely keep a possible political bargaining chip alive. There's a lot about that woman to be found out...

I, too, think Laurent is a caring person under all his cold demeanour. Sometimes his kindness comes disguised as cruelty - e.g. when he told their captors to make it hurt. And he often manages to further his own interests, by doing good - e.g. when he sent the slaves to safety. I like that about him, that he isn't a self-sacrificing do-gooder, but capable to turn kindness into an advantage. He'll make a good king for that!