midwinterludes: A Midwinter's Knight, Part 2: Ser Perrin

[w0rdinista]

Okay, so it's a little later than I usually aim for, but technical difficulties (like fifty BILLION Microsoft updates that had to install before I could get out of Boot Camp, heh) prevented me from posting any earlier than now.

At any rate!  This is new stuff, but definitely falling within the rubric of AMWT "canon," for lack of a better word.

Comments

[katznhund]

Aww Perrin. I like how his feelings for Elinora sneak in there.

[w0rdinista]

Thanks! I had a lot of fun showing him slowly growing into the Perrin we eventually see in AMWT. :)

[melinda_goodin]

Poor Elinora. Always having to be the leader, the strong one. Her self-doubt and sadness are so understandable. In fact, I'm surprised she doesn't have post traumatic stress disorder... but then, I guess there's still no "post" about it at this point. The trauma just keeps on rolling for the poor Warden for quite some time to come.

[w0rdinista]

Well, I can only speak for myself here, but to be honest, I'm not... terribly inclined to give Elinora PTSD in a real, formal sense, because once you go down that road with a character, you must be committed to it, and that's not really a path I want to take (possibly because I've seen too many fanauthors treat the condition clumsily, turning it into a plot device, or worse, a triviality). That said, Elinora has mentioned having nightmares about Kal'Hirol, and I'm sure that's not the only "adventure" that's left a lasting mark. Make no mistake: I think certain things do absolutely haunt her. Buuuut I wouldn't call say she had PTSD. :)

[melinda_goodin]

Oh, I totally understand why you wouldn't want to delve into it in your fic. Elinora has been established as having the mindset and understanding that she does what she must do for the greater good and she has the moral strength to accept the good and bad of her decisions. And she has the most incredibly support systems all the way through, which has to be a critical factor in her ability to keep on going.

I too have seen PTSD handled badly, and am seriously debating the issue myself after finishing a novel where the main character has seen most of her city burn down, been blamed for it, almost sacrificed her soul to save the remnants and ended up a fairly crispy critter. She's survived, but won't be taking part in most of the second book due to the need to heal and getting over the urge to curl up in a fetal position and cry. My poor heroine doesn't measure up to Elinora, I'm afraid, but she'll survive and be stronger for it eventually.

[w0rdinista]

Oh, I think those first few months after the Archdemon battle, Elinora spent quite a bit of time curled in the fetal position. But you're absolutely right -- she has a great support system, so she's been very lucky to keep her marbles. More or less. ;)

[tarysande]

Heh. I love the ending of this.

And you know I love any excuse to use my appropriate icon.

I love the way we see hints of the people they will become. And also, I gotta say, having to see Elinora so sad here makes me happy to know how her story goes.

<#

[w0rdinista]

That's always the most fun part of doing these little flashbacks -- being able to go back and take a look at who they used to be, and who they'll become. (And, honestly, knowing how things work out for Elinora makes me more comfortable exploring just how bad things were at that point.)