Ficlet: "Arha's Shadow" (Earthsea)

[miss_morland]

Another ficlet out of absolutely nowhere... I may do Maurice next.

Title: Arha's Shadow
Fandom: Earthsea
Characters: Manan, Thar, Penthe
Rating: PG
Summary: Three people who love the Eaten One, each in their own way.
Disclaimer: This is based on Ursula Le Guin's work, and written entirely for fun.
Word count: 450

Comments

[luzula]

Oh, I like this, especially the bit about Penthe and how it's the difference between her and Arha that attracts her.

She sighs instead, turning to lie on her back, letting her body do as it pleases, but softly, quietly.

Oooh, beautiful sentence.

[miss_morland]

Thanks very much! I'm glad that line worked for you. :-)

[espresso_addict]

I enjoyed this, Miss M! The repeated structure works very well here; the three vignettes are strong enough to stand alone, yet work well together illuminating different facets of Arha's life.

Only sometimes, when he watches her dance in front of the Throne, knives fluttering from hand to hand, does he remember that there was another time, another place; that he, too, has known departure, desolation, the glimmer of steel.

Interesting thought, and a good rationale for Manan's devotion.

She does not want to forget, but forty years of friendship mean nothing when she is the only one who recalls them -- and so she must let go.

I like your Thar very much, her pragmatism in the face of the loss of her friend and her knowledge that her part in things continues.

All she knows is that when Arha tells her to come, she comes; and when Arha tells her to stay, she stays;

Penthe's not one for deep thought, is she?

I think there might be a couple of typos -- at the end of the Thar section, I think you might mean 'teach' not 'learn'; and in the

[miss_morland]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked! (And urgh, I can't believe I missed those things... Goes to show the danger of writing & posting fic right before going to bed. *fixes* Thanks!)