Good thing Faerie doesn't have a nuclear arsenal. I wouldn't want THAT anywhere near the launch codes.

Nah, Gawain is cool and tightly in control of himself.

"He swallowed hard, closed his eyes, and I could sense a tremendous fighting for self-control. Which won out in the end, though I suspect just barely.

Part of the whole problem, I should think. But then, I'm a mere chronicler and observer, nothing more."


A lot of anger there.

I think he's entitled to a bit of anger...he's now 0 for 2 in finding the love of his life and actually being able to marry...

True. Not like Fuma to be a cock-blocker.

And this time, Gawain has no-one but himself to blame. If he hadn't let St. Bostolph betray him, used the Bearers as his uncle suggested, they most likely would both have lived. He knows it, knows that he is ultimately responsible for Aroglou's death. and he will have to live with that knowledge for the rest of his life. And elves are very long-lived.

He may be a right bastard at times, but.... I feel sorry for him.

That's no doubt one reason he wishes her to remain the secret of those who were there. Hearing others discuss the matter would likely be too much for him to bear.

Gawain was made to eat humble pie…this meeting was no doubt at the behest of his father the King.

That said, his gift to the Master was well thought out, and despite the barbs said in the meeting he is at least somewhat grateful for his life...

It is said that to bring humility and the understanding of life to one, often the world must make one fall and for a time diminish one... the tragedy of this is that the higher or stronger you are, predominantly the longer or harsher the fall required to do so is.

Gawain has been diminished and his fall was tragic.... but he is showing signs that the regrowth is beginning... the choice of reward is showing he can see beyond his prejudices if he tries hard enough... at the same time, we see that he is still very tied up in himself and his rank and does not understand that a sorrow shared can be a sorrow reduced, regardless of the rank that berth has granted those who it is shared with... or fully see that tragedy knows no bounds of social stature... or seem to understand that threats are not the best to command loyalty and respect from those who have shown that bravery, honour and integrity are their driving forces.

Well written, sir!

Another really good one.

By this time Estvan has probably sired several kits ... he's just not the settle-down-at-home kind who would make a good husband & father. One of the reasons for the changeling practice, which dates back to the Long Ago: If children cramp your style, just get the lowfolk to raise them for you!

When did WW5 get blackballed form the Literary Society?

Shouldn't "a matter of business behind which my lips are sealed" be "around which my lips are sealed" or some such?

And as for the traitorous Shadow Guard...I'd be deeply terrified of the kind of punishment a magic-using society could lay on one. How much could they do and not be thoroughly unseelie? Or are unseelie punishments considered deserved by traitors?

(1) Your editorial comment is appreciated, and I've revised that bit to make it read better.

(2) Episode A of this story had two paragraphs wherein WW5 discussed the L&H, and how his application to join the L&H had been handled.

(3) Your question regarding Welf St. Bostolph's punishment is well-taken. I was going to leave it vague, but I might allude to it from a surprising source in the next story. One imagines you can't torture-by-execution (cf. tearing apart with wild horses, or sewing in a sack and tossing down a long flight of stone steps).