#anyway. i would like to thank the head jeweler. i think thats the person responsible

[renfriscreyden]

So. I have some observations on the theme of history and history revision in "four marks."

The connecting theme between the storylines shared by the three main protagonists, Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri, in episode two is the concept of history as we know it versus history as it was. Briefly said, it's about history revision and the realization that the taught history does not reflect the history experienced. This theme comes through especially strong with Geralt (and Jaskier) and with Ciri (and Dara, Adon, and Lilja) in this episode, as they both discover history is different from what they've been taught.

Now, I'm sure the scene with Geralt and Jaskier has already been discussed, so I won't go into that. However, I think the scene between Ciri, Adon, and Lilja has not been discussed as much.

You might wonder who Adon and Lilja are. Fret not, I didn't know their names either. Adon and Lilja are the son and mother Ciri meets at the Cintran refugee camp, and with whom she stays the night.

What struck me are the similarities and differences between Adon and Lilja. We first meet Adon, who then invites Ciri over to their tent. Upon meeting her, Adon immediately shows Ciri his necklace of elf ears. The necklace is somewhat crude and gruesome, and Adon explains that he has been killing elves to take revenge on the elves who killed his brother. Said necklace is depicted below.

This necklace is then prominently shown throughout the following scene, in which Adon and Ciri converse with Lilja, Adon's mother.

Now, here comes the fun part. Lilja is wearing a necklace, too. Her necklace, as shown below, is made from some type of metal, and features six pendants which start out broad before converging in a fine point. You might wonder why on earth this is relevant. Well, Lilja's necklace is another version of her son's necklace! Her necklace, too, is meant to represent elf ears, and matches the number of ears on Adon's necklace. Her necklace is basically a more refined and adult version of Adon's necklace.

Now this is where history comes in. Adon, youthful, is set on taking revenge on the elves that killed his brother. He even explains that the fall of Cintra wasn't Calanthe's fault. No, it was elven spies who led the way for Nilfgaard. Adon is supposed to represent the simpler, taught version of history, for he believes it was the elves who are to blame for the death of his brother and father, not Calanthe. Even when Nilfgaard kills his father, he deflects and blames the elves. His necklace then, represents his crude understanding of history, for it was the elves, and the elves only, who killed his brother and father.

Lilja on the other hand, has a more critical approach to the death of her son and husband. She blames Calanthe, cursing her and her family in front of Ciri, explaining that it was Calanthe's selfishness that got her husband killed, and her son. As the episode progresses, the audience is informed that this is, in fact, true. Lilja's necklace, then, represents her more realistic and hardened view of the world and Cintra, represented in metal, a refined metal that symbolizes her maturity in her view on history, as opposed to her son, whose crude necklace shows his simpler and naive perspective of history.

The necklaces show their attitude towards said history, too. Adon is angry, and takes control over his situation by killing elves. His necklace, handmade, shows his willingness to take revenge as well as his desire to do something. Lilja's necklace reflects her passive attitude; unlike her son's necklace, hers was made for her, most likely by a jeweler. Her necklace, though visually resembling her son's, shows her inaction towards the death of her husband and son. She would rather someone else handle it than do something about her problem herself her problem being Calanthe and her actions, though the necklace does also serve as a reminder of Calanthe's actions and the consequences they bear for Lilja and her family.

Thus, both necklaces visually share the same connection: the elf ears and the connected deaths in the family. However, Adon's necklace represents the youthful and naive vision of history, one which Ciri shares, for she also seems shocked to hear Lilja's opinions on Calanthe. Lilja's necklace represent history in its more objective and mature version, showing that there is more than one side to any conflict, and often one or several people responsible for the consequences and fatalities of any conflict.

Their necklaces represent two opposing sides of the same coin, and visually aid in illustrating both the history Ciri is familiar with, and the one she is not familiar with. History and taught history then suddenly collide, and the door is opened for Ciri to realize the complexity of the continent and its history. Something which a small as detail as two necklaces represents.

#WOW im so sorry for dumping this analysis on yall its a lot #had to suppress the urge to add footnotes. what has university done to me #anyway. much to think about #i mean it ties in too geralt and jaskiers realization too! like they also experience something that changes their perspective on history #esp vis a vis what theyve been taught #anyway. i would like to thank the head jeweler. i think thats the person responsible?? #i dont think its tim aslam this time lol #anyway tags. i didnt spend twenty minutes typing this out for this to not get any notes #the witcher #netflix witcher #witcher netflix #witcher #four marks #ciri #princess cirilla #cirilla fiona elen riannon #cirilla of cintra #fuck she has so many names #geralt of rivia #jaskier #the continent #analysis #also. i love how detailed this show is ahhh #sorry for the low quality pics lol

[flowerflamestars]

I'm in a very angry-with-the-IC-and-Rhys-in-particular mood, and since I'm just rereading Daylight I was wondering, what is going through Rhysand's mind throughout the events of Daylight? Because it's basically his entire life CRUMBLING around him and I'd love to see the mental gymnastics he does to fit it all into his "I'm the good guy, actually" narrative. Or just his general reaction.

this is a FABULOUS question, thank you!

Daylight! Rhys is, in my opinion, the closest to a canonical (pre-acosf) character representation that I go for. He's so SO fucked up, and sublimating and burying all that trauma has, of course, failed, and it's all manifesting, in all these different directions.

To understand the level on which Rhys is losing his shit, it's important to go back to the very beginning: Rhysand, to Rhysand, is always, always the hero of the story. The down on his luck knight with truth in his heart. The struggling, just man.

He CANNOT seeing beyond himself for even a second. He casts himself in the most important role, as the only person whose personal consequences exist.

His mother, at probable great risk, takes him to Illyria to be trained- the precious, first-born, godly son of Night. To learn to fight- to learn, presumably, her culture- to see what that culture is reduced to, a harshness he will on day have the power to change. Rhys had to be, at some point, a great hope for Not High Fae denizens of the Court.

What does Rhysie learn? Illyria is harsh. Illyria is bad. Backwards and cruel.

He hates his father for...presumably, the crime of being a pretty traditional High Lord? Rhys hates the cruelties! the Court of Nightmares! the broken system!

So what does Rhys do when he has power? he fires everyone. He doesn't like them, he doesn't like whatever they did under his father...so instead of hiring new people, he removes himself entirely from a potential role in changing/mitigating those policies. See also: the Court of Nightmares, cowed occasionally, but not in any way governed by Rhys.

But he's the hero! He's destroyed the oppression! His Court of Just his Bros is made of women and Illyrians!

(Rhys removed the terribleness from his direct experience...because only his experiences matter)

So, Rhys in his head: the struggle, the hero, the man just trying to do it right.

Which brings us to Daylight....and Feyre. I know we can attribute the way the characters stop even remotely being sympathetic between acomaf and...everything else...to poor writing, but I also think there's some (maybe accidental but PERFECT) character work there: in acomaf, pre-acknowledged bond, Feyre is an important possession/ally- she's on the same level as the other members of the Court of Dreams, if the jewel of the collection, a high point in the story Rhys tells himself: HE saved the HERO OF PRYTHIAN

(which...let's not even touch on the fact that the deal he makes in acotar is CREEPY and he can only justify it later. she wasn't someone he wanted to work with in acotar- she was a vulnerable, hot young woman he fully took advantage of)

And then they're mates.

And then, slowly but surely, Feyre's personhood disappears. For two reasons: 1) Feyre is on a pedestal so sky-high it blots out everything. Good, pure, true hero Feyre whose adoration Rhysand needs like air. the happy end of his story, the prize and the salvation, the one who sees him.

and 2) ultimately, to Rhys, Feyre is an extension of him. A symbol: his happiness, his peace, his endless power, what he fought to keep.

She's his whole anchor staying sane, which isn't great, considering...ya know, everything. But the Story is Over. They are Happy.

Except- except- nothing is over. Post fifty straight years of torture, a freefall into war and fuckery, teen marriage and literal death, the consequences for all those things AND THE SHIT RHYS WAS PULLING LONG BEFORE AMARANTHA TURNED HIM INTO A CHEW TOY, are still present.

But now, he has something to protect. His golden future. His puppy Mate.

Because Feyre's safety is the safety of his power and vice versa. Anything he does is justifiable because the loss of Feyre is Not an Option. She is Happy. They Are Happy.

It bleeds into everything- and then it intensifies, because this is the breaking point.

The Az/Lucien thing and Feyre incredibly hurtful blindness? No Rhys isn't going to interfere- Az is so private anyway- if Feyre believes its a romantic bond, Feyre is right, she knows her sister, not that it matters because Elain is totally out of her mind.

Sending Cassian to Illyria? Illyria is a backwards shithole right? They're fierce fighters and that's what Rhys values them for- as the hammer of his power- and nothing else? why would there be anything else? Look at them fighting and hurting each other.

Nesta runs and Cassian is left throwing himself in battles actively trying to die and Rhys? Rhys is totally smug. A problem that hurt Feyre and his brother is GONE.

But it's not gone. Az isn't talking to anyone- and Rhys thinks this probably means Lucien is probably, finally fucking him- but even Feyre understands that Azriel knows where Nesta is. When this is proved (when Elain surfaces and they have the very fun kitchen fight) Rhys isn't happy- but he understands. Azriel has always felt responsible for broken things.

But thats not his job, it's Rhysands job, and Rhys has already made that tough choice for the safety of his own: Nesta has no place here. When she resurfaces inevitably, broke and wanting something, Rhys will stop her before she gets close enough to upset (hurt) Feyre. It's his job.

Cassian goes missing, and Rhysand sets upon what will become his eventual move: Illyria's value is strength. (a martial strength that belongs to RHYS). But they think they can take from him? They can destroy their own best chance? (Rhys recognizes Cassian's value to Illyria even while, you know, ordering him to slaughter Illyrians) They would threaten his power? hurt his family?

Rhys will not allow a world to exist where Feyre can be hurt.

If Illyria can't be controlled, Illyria will be put down, like the rabid creatures they are. (They were always backwards, Rhys thinks. Freeing my mother was the one good thing my father ever did)

But Cassian lives.

Rhys asks Azriel if he's been cursed. Az laughs in his face.

And Cassian is a terrible enemy to have. The strategies the loyalists are using? His, filtered through Rhys. The magical contingencies? Cassian and Az, trying to prevent bloodshed.

Feyre thinks, for a long time, that maybe the rebels have Nesta. What else could compel Cassian to even care? these people keep trying to kill him. they want to kill Rhys. the brothers suffered in the frozen mud at the hands of these monsters, what is Cassian doing?

And then the massacre happens.

And Feyre sick to her stomach, cries when she hears. Rhysand thinks about a little hazel eyed boy who'd never had a bed, a present, who'd been nothing until Rhysand plucked him up- a little boy who'd grown into a dangerous man, who'd just killed every person who ever contributed to his pain. Rhys thinks, knowing he'll have to punish Cassian for this, that it's over.

The camp lords are dead, it has to be over.

(Azriel hears and understands- because he knows damn well Cassian was something before Rhysand, and after despite him. That beneath those repeatedly broken ribs is a heart that was once so big so save him, grown strong enough now to save everyone who was like them: forgotten, abandoned, used.)

It's not over. The mountains are burning. Banners fly on northern wind in a language long dead. They're singing, the spies say, they call him dawn. Loyal-heart-as-dawn.

It's Cassians name. Not that Rhys, who never knew more than a few vile insults in the language of his mother's ancient, proud people, understood it then.

Rhysand, the long-suffering hero of his own story, has been betrayed.

He can risk no more- it's time to end this madness. It's Feyre's idea to use Elain- it's Feyre who is left crying, a betrayal Rhysand will never forget- when Elain, who they've given everything, Elain, perhaps just as broken and wretched as her eldest sister, refuses to help keep Feyre safe.

(Elain refuses to participate in what she sees as genocide, but as we've established, what consequences exist? the ones Rhys feels right in front of his face)

Azriel, Elain, and Lucien run.

Of course, if both Feyre's sisters are capable of betraying her, of course, both of Rhysand's brothers would as well. They are one in the same, aren't they? Marked by destiny, by fate for this hard and terrible work- of course it hurts. Of course- but Rhysand will stop it from hurting Feyre any more.

There's one force in the world that can stand in truth against Illyria. The Darkbringers- their ancestral, ancient conquers.

(Yes, I do think Rhys knows the shitty, shitty history of his court! He just doesn't care! He didn't do it. He's different. He's in Velaris with the common people. He has wings. He's not his father.)

(He is, in fact, far worse)

When he thinks of it, it seems perfect. Illyria will be destroyed- a loss, but a safe one. Keir, will, almost certainly, also be destroyed or at least critically weakened.

Rhysand will stand alone, the man who was willing to do anything for peace. He will rule over an emptied playing field, secure in a world where Feyre is safe.

The Hewn City empties, the armies march- Rhysand holds tight Feyre's hand, says nothing about the fact that nothing, nothing, will stop Keir from killing anyone in front of him when battle starts, and reaches once more for Cassian's mind.

His brother, his friend, his loyal right hand- he begs him to come back. To come home. That they can put down this rebellion and in his love for Cassian everything can go back to how it is meant to be, all of them together.

It does not occur to him to address the hundreds dead. The system he was complicit in and responsible for that ground a culture to dust and ash- what matters is brother against brother should never have turned, and Rhys, in his kindness, will offer Cassian this last chance for honor.

Rhys doesn't want Cassian to die- he wants Cassian by his side- but he will drown the world in blood before he'll lose his crown and hope and Feyre.

And when Cassian dies, falling to the earth in Rhysand's arms, Rhys thinks of penance.

A circle closed.

But of course- Cassian wakes. Death is not done with her right hand anymore than the contract between Lordship and land in immutable. Cassian brought the magic back, brought Illyria back.

Rhys is fighting for something personal- Cassian is fighting for a whole world and future, with everything in himself.

When the new border is drawn, Rhys doesn't despair- sure he's shaking, he's covered in Cassian's blood, his twelve thousand year old walls are smoking and the whole world smells like fucking Nesta Archeron- he's been the victim of curses before.

He won't let it keep him down. He'll be fine. He has Feyre, they're safe. Illyria is going to implode- and maybe, maybe, he'll save some of those that remain when the violence is too much, when they need a real High Lord.

They'll come home. Just like Feyre's sisters will. Rhysand's brothers. They fought for peace and Velaris has it- it is their home.

It's what they fought for, the happy ending, and it's all worth it.

It has to be worth it.

#Rhys is deadset a huge narcissist #and in the middle of a breakdown the entirety of daylight #he's SO HURT #But's turning all that hurt into anger #and an even stricter paranoia #its all catching up to him #everything from imperialism #to the shitty way he treated his friends #to the Winter Massacre that yes was absolutely him #this is more of a Shoreless Concept but all of feysand can be summed up #by Feyre making teary BUT WE'RE FAMILY demands and Rhys immediately committing a literal warcrime #and like #I do think Rhys hates himself too #but for wildly the wrong reasons #and never more or in a real way that overcomes how much he thinks everything he does is right #Cassian's death was a cost to them #as Nesta tells Feyre: what's done cannot be undone. Rhys chose wrong #the truly bonkers Rhys thing in canon #will always be that he's both represented as Most Powerful Ever #and the wrongly ignored underdog #when in fact he throws around power constantly for petty shitty reasons