As grief can fatally weaken a patient's constitution, the two explanations aren't really mutually exclusive. But it's good that Gloredhel's grief comes through!
I barely remember my grandparents, but they died within a year of each other, and Mum always said Grandpa died of grief... though officially it was pneumonia.
Yes, it seems to be the way grief can kill, quite often--by weakening the bereaved until something gets them, like pneumonia. Apparently pneumonia is often caused by bacteria that are harmless to a strong and healthy person... Thank you for reading and commenting!
Partly a matter of perspective, I think. The men observed the change in Gloredhel from a certain distance. Beldis, as a healer and a family member, had been fighting to keep her alive, step by step. But I did want to hint, also, that the harsh living conditions after the loss of such a large number of able men wouldn't help either--I was also thinking of your Rohirrim family there!
I very much like the contrast presented in the last line; the men's assumption of women's susceptibility to heartbreak, and Beldis's practical insistence on concrete facts. I imagine that both theories could be correct. Well done!
Thank you! Yes, I had both in mind: that perception of death from grief and heartbreak being a female thing (which I don't think is right) and the ways in which grief does kill (which are really quite unromantic, mostly).
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But it's good that Gloredhel's grief comes through!
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I barely remember my grandparents, but they died within a year of each other, and Mum always said Grandpa died of grief... though officially it was pneumonia.
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Thank you for reading and commenting!
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But I did want to hint, also, that the harsh living conditions after the loss of such a large number of able men wouldn't help either--I was also thinking of your Rohirrim family there!
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