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siren-theories · 5 years

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Siren-human cohabitation before the Pownall massacre

NOTE: The following is a theory. It is an argument based on evidence by the show but has not been confirmed by the writers or any episodes of the show.

Obligatory TL, DR: I believe the show depicts Sirens having regular contact with humans (at least with the Haida) up until the time of the massacre.

One of the biggest questions that arise out of Freeform's Siren is when exactly human and mermaid paths diverged. Biologically speaking the Sirens and Humans are closer to each other than Horses are to Zebras. Whether they share a common ancestor or whether Sirens evolved directly out of the human species is an imposisble question to answer due to a lack of evidence, though I favour the latter theory given the close similarities between humans and sirens.

Just for how long did the two species coexist peacefully together after the biological divergence though? This is the main question of this post and although we never get an explicit answer I do believe there are several scenes in the show that allow us, the viewers, to form an opinion about this subject.

Evidence 1: The Siren Song

The mere existence of the Siren Song is by itself a strong piece of evidence for continued Siren-human interaction as the Song itself only works when in proximity of humans.

As Donna demonstrated in Episode 101 “The Mermaid Discovery” the more powerful and more harmful "defensive" variant can be sung even when there is no visual contact with humans (she sang it from inside the hold of the north star in the premiere). The less harmful "love" variant can only be sung when in visual contact (and close proximity) with a human, as confirmed by Ryn in Episode 203 "Natural Order".

Ryn sings to Ben in Episode 101 “The Mermaid Discovery”.

Evolutionary changes in human or near-human species take a lot of time, especially when such a change manifests in different body physiques. This is especially true regarding such complex changes (in this case changing the vocal cords and surrounding area to be able to use so many frequencies). This alone tells us that they had enough prolonged contact with humans to develop these abilities. Furthermore this also suggests a very close, maybe even an originally symbiotic relationship between humans and Sirens because otherwise there is no reason such an ability would ever be favoured by evolution.

Evidence 2: Cave paintings

Further evidence of a harmonious, maybe even symbiotic earlier relationship arrives in episode 207 "Entrapment". In this episode Katrina leads the group to a cave where they discover cave paintings made by native americans and the Sirens. Eliza (who seems to be the groups intellectual), Levi and Frank help Helen translate them.

The cave paintings in Episode 207

According to their translation, the original message was: "We live here in harmony, tribes of land and tribes of sea"

And after all, it would make sense that those that evolved into Sirens would stay close with their human cousins and that this continued even after different societal structures had formed in the two tribes. Did this cohabitation continue into a timeframe close to the time of the arrival of US settlers in Bristol Cove? I would argue that it did, based on the following.

Evidence 3: The Haida knew how to help hybrids

In Episode 110 "Aftermath" Helen reveals her ancestry to the Trio, namely that she is the last descendant of the daughter of Charles Pownall and "his" mermaid. She explicitly mentions how the British settlers did not know how to deal with the Baby being born in mid-transformation. Charles then brought his baby to the Haida people, who helped the Baby complete her transformation.

Helen dropping some knowledge in episode 110

The question though is how the Haida knew how to deal with this? It might have been simple trial and error based on what Charles would have told them. Yet I find this unlikely considering that it was a life-threatening situation that would not allow for a slew of experiments and that time was most likely in short supply.

A more logical explanation would be that the Haida of Bristol Cove knew about hybrids precisely because they had interacted with the sirens before. Charles' daughter probably was not the first hybrid either given that Sirens and humans were literally living together (see above). I would therefore argue that the Sirens probably lived with (or at least had regular contact with) the haida right up until the time the British arrived. Otherwise, it would have make no sense for the Haida to help a hybrid born from a British man and people they had no contact with. Nor would they have had any reason to pass on such knowledge of how to help hybrids complete their first transformation in the first place.

Evidence 4: Eliza can diagnose human medical problems

In Episode 212 "Serenity" Ryn decides to get help for Ben and Maddie. She eventually returns with Eliza, the mermaid healer. After placing some resonating chrystals in their hands she hums a few tones at them and then immediately (and accurately) diagnoses both the problem and prescribes the cure.

(Eliza the sonic brain scanner hard at work in Episode 212 “Serenity”)

When I first saw this scene, I was so impressed with Eliza and how routine this seemed for her. If you would ask any human doctor today to diagnose a brain problem in a near-human species he would probably tell you that he is not qualified to do this and that you should go to a specialized vet. Yet for some reason Siren physicians are able to do so. Not only do Siren healers have knowledge of human anatomy but they also have knowledge of the effects of the song on humans. This knowledge must have passed on to successive healer generations even after the massacre as Eliza was not alive back then (the oldest merm we have seen so far was Frank and he was not hostile at all against Ben or humans and thus most likely not involved in the massacre). Again, it makes no sense to pass this knowledge on unless it occupied a significant and useful part within their reportoire of their medical knowledge.

[A caveat: It might be that Eliza only knew the problems with the brains because human and Siren brains have a similar structure. Yet this does not explain why she knows the problem with the song's effects as the song is a feature reserved only for the human-siren interaction.]

Evidence 5: The massacre itself

A human-made depiction of the massacre from episode 102 "The Lure"

The mere fact that fishermen armed with with harpoons, primitive nets and ships that were unable to go faster than ~14 knots (20 km/h) were able to slaughter many Sirens is unbelievable on its own unless one assumes special circumstances.

Sirens can run as fast as a deer on land, break steel bars with one hand, swim faster than sharks in the ocean and have a unique defence mechanism that can turn humans into thralls that are entirely at the mercy of the Siren that is singing the song. Plus the massacre by all accounts happened on the water where Sirens enjoy even greater advantages than on land over humans.

The only way the whole story of the massacre makes sense is if the Sirens and humans were in close proximity and if the Sirens did not consider humans a threat, thus allowing surprise attacks to work. Which would in turn require the Sirens being used to a human presence in their lives. Maybe there was a long history of cooperation with (some) fishermen. After all, how else could Captain Pownall not only gather more fish than anybody else but also have regular contact with "his" mermaid?

This of course would also mean that the Pownall Massacre not only dealt a severe blow to the Siren population (maybe even one they never recovered from) but also ended hundreds, maybe thousands of years of cooperation and cohabitation.

Based on the above evidence I would therefore argue that Sirens had regular contact with humans (at least with the Haida) up until the time of the massacre.

Speculation: It would not surprise me if there are more hybrids besides the hybrid cult we see on the show. There might even be pureblood siren families who have lived for decades and centuries among humans and have gone undetected for all this time.

As always, feel free to drop a comment, rebuttal or additional information / different interpretations. Thank you for reading.

#siren #siren freeform #freeform siren #analysis #long post #siren-human interaction #Pownell Massacre

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elven-oracle · 5 years

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the siren, act i: serenity |p.p. / part 7 |

[teaser] [part one] [part two] [part three] [part four] [part five] [part six] [part eight]

moodboard credit to @astral-parker

special thanks to @christmas-marvel for always being willing to edit my thinGS!!!

to listen to the sea shanty i have drawn minimal inspiration from, click here

to see another amazing moodboard by @harryrholland click here

SUMMARY: When merchant ships start mysteriously going missing, Tony Stark enlists the help of Peter Parker to discover what could possibly be causing them to vanish from thin air. Unbeknownst to them, some mysteries go deeper than the sea itself.

PAIRING: Peter Parker x Siren!OC

WORD COUNT: 2K

Peter was overjoyed that he had made that connection with her, and that she wanted to return it had him walking on air. It was the first step in hopefully adapting her to a life similar to a human being. She slipped back into the water, something resembling a smile lingering on her face.

I would like to tell you my story.

Now that he was used to hearing her voice inside his head, he allowed himself to listen to how it actually sounded, even though he wasn’t technically hearing it. She had a low, soothing voice, similar to how she sang. When he thought of a siren, he typically imaged a high soprano-like voice, but her low alto sound captured him just as much. He wondered if the others had different vocal types or if they were all the same. If they reproduced asexually as she had described, then they would all have the exact same vocal folds. She was different in that she was half human, so maybe she was the odd one out.

Peter nodded, wishing he could communicate back to her. He had so many questions that she wouldn’t be able to answer for a long time.

Instead of sitting back in his chair, he crouched down and leaned his head up against the side of the glass. He could hear the soothing sound of the water circulating the containment, and her voice inside his head like earbuds. There was a pleasant, warm feeling in his stomach, and he knew he was somewhat underneath her spell. It was a sensation that he knew he would have to get used to, as well as trust. Until she could speak it was the only way that she would be able to communicate with him.

As she told her story, he was shown images to go along with it. It was like watching a movie. The beginning was something he had already seen in his sleep; a human and a siren falling in love, creating a child, but the horror that followed was difficult for him to watch. The set of lovers had their throats torn out by the creatures for going against the siren law. A brutal way to be killed. The child, however, was preserved, after much deliberation.

She was beaten down. Her existence was held over her head like a cat toy on a string. They demanded her to be grateful for her life and abused her at the same time. She was isolated, picked on, her tail was nipped on by pointed incisors, and no single siren seemed to be on her side. She was hated only for being born by a human.

To prevent her from moving onto land as her mother did, the base of her tail and the mid-waist were tied with a rope, tightly. Apparently, it was cursed, but Peter knew that this had to be a trick placed in her mind. Unless there was such thing as magic, which was now entirely possible, he felt like he could cut the rope with a good pair of scissors or a knife.

She had never experienced love or care. This was the first time anyone had asked her about her.

Through this trance, he felt the same emotions she felt. The tear slipping down his face was completely involuntary. The intense amounts of pain she felt day by day, the strong desire to cease from living, it was a depression much like many teenagers his age faced. He could tell that she just didn’t have the resources to pursue death by her own hand. She was subject to a life she didn’t ask to live.

Peter hoped that they had saved her.

He turned around, pressing his forehead against the cold glass and subdued a sob. The desire to cry was strange, as he had known this being for less than a day, but he knew that it was partially due to her strong emotions feeding through the spell. Still, e felt an inexplicable tie to her. A fishing line connected their hearts. He opened his eyes to see her silver irises, a fragment of compassion lingering in them.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

...

His siren became his new research project. Mr. Stark even approved him to become the lead worker on her, entrusting him to do what was right and ethical and to be as thorough as possible. It was an extension of his Stark Internship. Per Aunt May’s request, his routine became homework, patrol, and then siren.

Some days, he didn’t have much to do concerning to her. Those days consisted of sitting by her doing homework, taking notes on her behavior and physicality, listening to her sing, and then going home. On Fridays, he stayed the night. Most days, they practiced speech. Peter figured that the first step to getting the most accurate assessment would be if it came from her own interpretation on how she operated.

Her ability to verbalize was limited, but he discovered that she picked up on the meaning of words quickly. The more he babbled, talking about his day, the more she was able to respond within his mind. It was a revolutionary day when they were finally able to have a complete conversation.

Peter was unsure on how Mr. Stark had managed the politics behind this. He was grateful that it wasn’t his responsibility to figure out how to tell the government about this creature, as he wouldn’t know how to do it. It all seemed awfully complicated, and he had been tempted to talk to Mr. Ellis about the situation, but always tended to wimp out on it. Asking Mr. Stark would be out of the question; he already had enough on his mind.

Two months after they first discovered her, Peter sat at the base of her tank, skimming The Great Gatsby. She had been swimming and singing, mindlessly. When she stopped he hadn’t noticed that the book had fallen on his lap, and he was staring into open space. She had told him once that she never purposefully intended for him to fall under her trance, sometimes people were susceptible. Some more than others. From what she could tell, he had a pretty strong mind. For most sirens it would be difficult to break through.

She seemed to infer that it was different for her case, and he wondered why but didn’t ask. She had vowed to him to never make him do anything he didn’t want to, and he trusted her.

He turned around looking at her to question why she had stopped. She fell to the bottom, sitting and letting her tail extend behind her. She gave him a short grin, the closest he had gotten her to smile, and leaned her head against the glass on the same spot his rested. The way she looked at him, he sometimes felt as if he was falling. Her mystic stare was enough to make his heart swell.

I would like to be able to identify myself.

Peter raised his eyebrows, “You want a name?”

She nodded. Peter gestured at her, and he could see the slight irritation by the way her face twitched, but she followed what he was asking for, by mouthing the word ‘yes’ and the word ‘name.’ It was an easy way of practicing her dictation without her having to swim to the top and speak the words out loud.

He pulled out his laptop and googled ‘popular names’ to get a brainstorm going. He figured he would spurt names out until she found one she liked, it probably wouldn’t take too long. He hoped it wouldn’t take too long.

An hour later, Peter was still lazily reading names, and she was laying over the edge of the tank, head dangling, saying, “no” to almost every suggestion. Rarely was there hesitation. She insisted that she would know the name when she heard the right one, so they compromised that he would keep helping her if she spoke her responses out loud.

“Name number 300 is Haven.”

She scrunched her nose, “No.”

“Elsie.”

“No.”

“Nyla.”

“No.” “Paris?” “No.”

“Lena.”

There was a hesitation that he hadn’t heard in a while. Sometimes she paused for a second or two, a possible contemplation, but this hesitation was longer, and her facial features relaxed at the sound of it. Peter broke into a grin.

“You like that one? Lena?”

She nodded.

“Say it. Say the words.”

“My name…my name is L-” she hadn’t spoken the word before, so it was difficult for her to string the consonants and syllables together.

“You got this.”

“Lena. My name. Is. Lena.”

Peter shut his laptop and turned around. She had done the same, now letting her torso fall over the edge to get closer to him, “Nice to meet you, Lena. My name is Peter.”

She had been right. The name suited her, better than any of the others that he had said that day. When he googled the name that night, it was no surprise to him to discover that her name meant “temptress” or “one who allures.” Allure was one word for it, that was for sure. That impenetrable force was what brought Peter to the Avenger’s complex every evening. They had this connection, and every time he tried to describe it to Ned, he fell short on the words. Ned used the word soulmate, Peter insisted he didn’t see her like that.

He didn’t know if he didn’t or if he didn’t want to. She was obnoxiously gorgeous, and it would be easy to see her like that, but for the sake of her rehabilitation, he didn’t want his feelings getting in the way. Those stupid, teenage feelings were absolutely vexatious.

He found himself needing to spend extra time on patrol. He left early, checked in with May, and leapt out the window to swing through town. He always found solace in the feeling of swinging from building to building. It was a clarity that he needed, especially after spending so much time around a girl who could hypnotize him by the sound of her voice.

Incoming call from Tony Stark.

Mr. Stark never called unless it was absolutely necessary. While they had grown closer through the existence of Lena, it wasn’t the type of relationship where Peter felt like he could call whenever he needed to. Some days he spent hours in the lab without seeing Mr. Stark once. He knew that had to be regarding something important.

“Hey Mr. Stark!” he yelled, the wind was whistling in his ears.

“Peter, does she have a name now?” Peter didn’t say anything, not knowing if Mr. Stark was proud or annoyed.

“She just introduced herself to me, so I’m assuming that would be a yes.” “Listen it wasn’t even my idea I just helped out and actually it sort of fits her, you know? The Latin meaning of Lena is ‘temptress’ and well you know that-”

“Yeah, I know. I like it. Good work.” Peter stopped swinging, hanging onto the side of a hotel window. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a set of kids rush over, trying to get his attention. He wiggled his fingers to wave and jumped to the roof, wanting to hear his mentor a bit more clearly.

“Wait, really?”

“I mean, it’s better than calling her the siren or the mermaid. She’s an individual just like you and I. Obviously she has a soul. If she doesn’t we’re both fucked. Anyways, I have to go. Good talk.”

Call ended.

There were moments like this that continuously popped up in Peter’s life. When Mr. Stark first came to his apartment, when he got his suit back, when he specifically asked Peter to join his project, it all gave Peter a sense of pride. He felt a warmth in his chest that made him want to leap for joy. He jumped, pumping a fist in the air and hoping no one could see him doing a victory dance.

Then he did leap for joy, off the edge of the hotel and into the city of Queens.

M A S T E R L IS T

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promin-blog · 6 years

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Finrod’s brilliant tactic

Finrod and the Language of Diplomacy During ‘First Contact’ – Kinship Through Music

It just occurred to me how smart Finrod’s strategy for the First Contact of the Noldor with Men really was. Let us first reread the passages in question:

Long Felagund watched them, and love for them stirred in his heart; but he remained hidden in the trees until they had all fallen asleep. Then he went among the sleeping people, and sat beside their dying fire where none kept watch; and he took up a rude harp which Bëor had laid aside, and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not heard; for they had as yet no teachers in the art, save only the Dark Elves in the wild lands.

Now men awoke and listened to Felagund as he harped and sang, and each thought that he was in some fair dream, until he saw that his fellows were awake also beside him; but they did not speak or stir while Felagund still played, because of the beauty of the music and the wonder of the song. Wisdom was in the words of the Elven-king, and the hearts grew wiser that hearkened to him; for the things of which he sang, of the making of Arda, and the bliss of Aman beyond the shadows of the Sea, came as clear visions before their eyes, and his Elvish speech was interpreted in each mind according to its measure.

(The Silmarillion)

Even though the music Finrod plays to Men is perhaps not as sophisticated as what they are used to hearing (”he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not heard; for they had as yet no teachers in the art”), he is still drawing at his kinship with them through the primordial, Eru’s Music.

Not only is the making of Arda said to be invoked as a vision by Finrod’s song (“for the things of which he sang, of the making of Arda, and the bliss of Aman beyond the shadows of the Sea, came as clear visions before their eyes”), the idea that the music was “interpreted in each mind according to its measure” is similar to the one we find in the Ainulindalё, concerning the Valar preparing to perform Eru’s Music:

But for a long while they sang only each alone, or but few together, while the rest hearkened; for each comprehended only that part of me mind of Ilúvatar from which he came, and in the understanding of their brethren they grew but slowly. Yet ever as they listened they came to deeper understanding, and increased in unison and harmony.

Eru’s Music also, as Finrod’s Music, results in a vision:

Ilúvatar said to them: 'Behold your Music!' And he showed to them a vision, giving to them sight where before was only hearing; arid they saw a new World made visible before them

And Elves had a First Contact experience of their own, with the Valar. In that ‘first contact’, there was also an important musical component – Oromë did not even first see the Elves, he first heard them singing:

And Oromë wondered and sat silent, and it seemed to him that in the quiet of the land under the stars he heard afar off many voices singing.

(The Silmarillion)

Finrod seems apt in using the language of diplomacy – emphasizing similarities, not differences – which in this case happens to be ‘kinship through Music’. It is also interesting to note one of the subjects of his song - the making of Arda. While singing about the making of Arda, Finrod also performs it, reiterates it on a smaller scale - as Eru declares to the Valar the actual progression of his creation in Time:

And it came to pass that Ilúvatar called together all the Ainur and declared to them a mighty theme, unfolding to them things greater and more wonderful than he had yet revealed; and the glory of its beginning and the splendour of its end amazed the Ainur, so that they bowed before Ilúvatar and were silent.

so does Finrod sing to the Men the history of their world.

Both of these displays seem to invoke awe in the listeners.

We too seem to be “hardwired for songs and dreams”, as Margaret Atwood’s Crake from the novel Oryx and Crake (2003) puts it. Crake couldn’t cut the genes for singing from his new sentient species, the Crakers, based mostly on the human genome. In this way, Atwood emphasizes how singing is one of the things that are inherently a human characteristic. But, what inspired this post in the first place was Werner Herzog’s movie Fitzcarraldo (1982), where the main character, Brian Fitzgerald, plays opera to the Indians living in the Amazon who never had contact with the white man. Fitzgerald does this in an effort to deter an Indian attack on his ship. Watching that movie I was irresistibly reminded of Finrod and his singing to Men. Not only did both characters use music in hopes to achieve a peaceful first contact, but from the perspective of Men, when a Noldor came among them, it was arguably like an alien came in their midst, much like white men probably seemed aliens to Indians living in the Amazon.

This begs the question: ‘What if aliens just came down signing to us humans in the ‘real world’?’

In the case alien life did exist and they wanted/could make contact with us, would it be less scary/more reassuring if they ‘landed singing’?

It is interesting to think how much we consider singing, and music in general, as one of the basic human characteristics (especially singing, since it combines language, an inherently human characteristic, with music), how much we are ‘hardwired’ for it. In the end, among such basic information as our bodies’ shapes (male and female) and planet specifics, we also sent “27 musical extracts” (http://www.lvbeethoven.com/Curiosites/Space.html) on golden phonographs on the Voyager probes in 1977 as an introductory message for extra-terrestrial civilizations. That we send a literal music record in space is quite fascinating (even though the wisdom of sending any information at all could be debated).

Both sides of one of the Voyagers’ golden phonograph plates, named The Sounds of Earth (also known as the Golden Record), looks kind of alien itself (especially the right side), but also showcases how much music is important to our human identity.

Even though, admittedly, extra-terrestrial singing could be super freaky, it could be truly alien. I think I myself would probably scream if that would happen, if aliens came down singing. But maybe if they just played some instrumental music and I woke up gently to the sounds of my own harp, and saw an alien sitting down in the middle of our camp, completely focused on his music, I would believe they are beings at least capable of having good intentions. If nothing else, they woke me up while they had the advantage, and did not slit my throat while I was sleeping.

And this is precisely the effect Finrod might have hoped for (I always thought it interesting (and smart) that he used a harp the Men used, and not his own – true, he might not have had an instrument on him, but also, a Noldor-made instrument might sound much too different – taking the harp Men used is cautious and implies both kinship and respect for their craft.

However, a comparison of Finrod and aliens is a bit of a fake comparison. The Noldor are not really extra-terrestrial. I also argued elsewhere, that Men, Elves and even the Ainur, are actually not three different species, but the same ‘upgradeable species’, based on the upward and downward mobility between the three categories. Examples are Melian, Arwen, and also arguably Morgoth (‘killed’ like an Incarnate), and Turin (prophesized to become a Valar at the End of Days in some of the versions of Tolkien’s texts)) and the possibility of producing fertile offspring (Thingol and Melian, Aragorn and Arwen).

And, finally, Tolkien’s ‘species’ (at least Elves and Men) are literally ‘variations’ of the same song (coming into existence first as the ‘two themes’ in the world-creating Music), so it is not so surprising that music ties them and reminds them all of this kinship.

#finrod #tolkien #silmarillion #meta #long post

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fedonciadale · 6 years

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I don't know much about literary tropes but how does Daenerys fit the 'heroes journey' like so many fans claim? She seems to be a dead ringer for the "fallen hero" trope. Aren't heroes technically suppose to hit rock bottom at some point in the middle of their journey to come back learning valuable lessons? I always thought that a hero is someone who has gone through some kind of humility as a way to build their character. Like breaking them down to rebuild them better and stronger and wiser.

Dear nonny,

it is really interesting how some of the assumptions based on ASOIAF’s endgame are still based on the first book. Readers (and watchers) formed their opinion in the first book, the first season and they cling to them. Many still see Sansa as spoiled brat, many still deny the very dark turns Tyrion’s arc has done (at least in the books), and Da€nerys is a good example for that as well. From the very first, we are in her head, and her story in the first book is indeed very close to a hero’s journey. There is a low point at the beginning, her being set in a new environment (the Dothraki) that frightens her at first, and then she grows accustomed to the situation, even makes good of her new found status, only to have another setback, when Drogo dies. She’s betrayed and at her lowest and then there is the new dawn at the horizon, when the dragons are born.

In a traditional fantasy, the birth of the dragons probably would happen very close to the end. Da€nerys would then use her dragons to eliminate the White Walker threat and the people of Westeros would see her as a saviour and make her queen.

But.... This is the situation at the end of the first book. Now, you could argue that by the end of the first book, Westeros is not yet ready for Da€nerys from a Doylist perspective.... The wall still holds, White Walkers have not yet swarmed the land.... But if that would be the case, why not introduce Da€nerys later? Why not prolong her hero’s arc over several books? Why reiterate her ‘hero’s arc’ with Qarth and Mereen, even if it happens in variations? Da€nerys’ arc is a repetition of (sometimes minor) setbacks and triumphs and you have to wonder: Why?

I would say, that this is incredibly cleverly done by GRRM. He reiterates Da€nerys’ hero’s journey from the first book and this has two reasons:

1) Reiteration makes the reader expect that Da€nerys will overcome the setbacks, that she will triumph again. He builds up the readers’ expectation for the finale, the war against the White Walkers/Others. And the readers will expect another triumph, the more realistic readers expect her to die a hero’s death.

2) With every setback Da€nerys methods to reach her goals get more and more ambiguous, more and more darker. In a way she is lured by her house words: Fire and blood. She is conflicted about that. There are two ‘songs’ that attract her, one is the song of home, that makes her want to lead a normal life, live in the house with the ‘red door’, the other song is ‘fire and blood’ and her dragons and in her last chapter in ADWD she finally embraces her house words and rejects the other song. I wrote about these two alluring songs in another post (x).

No, Dany told herself. If I look back I am lost. She might live for years amongst the sunbaked rocks of Dragonstone, riding Drogon by day and gnawing at his leavings every evenfall as the great grass sea turned from gold to orange, but that was not the life she had been born to. So once again she turned her back upon the distant hill and closed her ears to the song of flight and freedom that the wind sang as it played amongst the hill's stony ridges.(ADWD, Da€nerys X)

You could interpret this, that she has to learn lessons, to become more ruthless, less caring, ready to use her weapons of mass destruction, and her lessons are a hero’s arc in a way, because she is a hero in her own mind. The PoV trap lets us, the readers, forget, that the lessons she learns are not necessarily good lessons, because her goals are not necessarily good. She wants to uphold her family legacy, only the legacy of her family is not a good legacy. Her legacy is ‘fire and blood’ and not ‘peace and justice’. This is what is so brilliant about Da€nerys and her arc. The patterns are so strong that we tend to overlook her goals which are not the goals of a hero.

At the same time Da€nerys’ and Jon’s arc mirror each other, further stressing the hero qualities of her arc. Mirroring means that their arcs are very similar, but inverted...

You can read all her chapters and conclude that her claim is justified, that she ‘deserves’ to get what she wants, because she has suffered for it. But the thing is 1) Does personal suffering make her deserving of the Iron Throne, if she will not reign in peace? 2) Should we root for her? A hero who seemingly suffers setbacks only to stand up again, but whose goals are not as pure as people believe?

The traditional hero has an aim that is something beyond himself. Da€nerys has no aim that is beyond herself. She stays in Mereen to learn how to rule. The city is a big project for her. Her aim is not to free the slaves. It happens as a side-effect of other goals. She did not free the Unsullied (after she told them to kill the masters by the way) because she wanted them free. She just had no money to pay for her army and didn’t want to pay with her dragons. She did not rule Mereen to bring peace, but to learn how to rule.

And since we tend to root for liberators, we get the feeling that we should root for her. And earnestly I think this is why GRRM set her in such an environment in Mereen. Da€nerys’ arc fits perfectly in the arc of the white saviour our reading and watching habits have led us to expect.

As a hero in her own mind, her destiny probably is to fall. I would add to my musings on how we are tricked by patterns that look like hero patterns at first sight, that Da€nerys also reminds me of Icarus, mostly because of this:

Clouds seen from above. Horses small as ants thundering through the grass. A silver moon, almost close enough to touch. Rivers running bright and blue below, glimmering in the sun. Will I ever see such sights again? On Drogon's back she felt whole. Up in the sky the woes of this world could not touch her. (ADWD, Da€nerys X).

It’s the moon she remember being close enough to touch, but in the next sentence the sun is mentioned. I suspect that this is deliberate. Icarus came to close to the sun and fell, and Da€nerys will fall as well.

When I read the first book, I sympathized with Da€nerys, I liked her. It was only later that I grew uncomfortable with her and much, much later only that I came upon what I think is the right interpretation. Da€nerys as a hero in her own mind and a red herring. But once I have thought about this, I cannot unsee that, and now I detect hints as early as the first book.

I guess, you have to want to see that. I was so puzzled by the fact that I did not like her, that I searched for that. If you like her, it is easy to overlook the warning signs, very easy, our training in hero patterns and expectations divert us from the warning signs.

Thanks for the ask!

#anon ask #Anti-Daenerys #DarkDany #A hero in her own mind #A villain from the other side

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sugarplum-blossom · 3 years

Text

IU x Ellemen Youth November 2020

Translate: by myself from chinese to english. My own ellemen magazine.. i will add photo later..

Become famous when you are young, take your time.....

In the twelve years of her debut, since the age of 15, IU has been watched enthusiastically by people through her adolescence and slowly matured. She made her debut as a singer, was exposed to performances, and tried to be a producer. She accepted and digested every result. She became more and more brave and gentle after maturity, like gardenias in the wind. In September, we completed IU exclusive interview and the first exclusive cover shooting for her in China. When IU was filmed remotely in South Korea, she was able to quickly get into work, even finishing the work 3 hours earlier than expected. The weather is good, and she has a distant and exciting future.

Qualified Idol (Li Zhien = Lee Jieun)

IU has liked listening to music since kindergarten and often followed her father to sing karaoke. But it wasn't until the first grade of middle school was fined to sing in physical education because of her mischief, that made people around her realize her singing talent, and then she was recommended by the teacher to sing at the sports meeting. After a few years, Li Zhien stood in the mature Korean entertainment At the door of the industrial system, ready to step into it. At that time, she was still a middle school student and participated in 20 selections, including the trainee selection held by JYP Entertainment, but all were rejected. In October 2007, she passed the audition of the current agency LOEN Entertainment. The trainee lasted ten months. Later, when I remembered, Li Zhien felt that that period of time was short, hardworking, and full of "uneasy feeling of nothing."

"I was able to debut earlier because I was too young. Even if I failed a few times, I still have time, so let's try."

"So when she was 15 years old, Li Zhien wore a black costume, stood on a cable music program and sang a song "Mia", and made her official debut. The coveted debut stage did not seem to go as smoothly as she had imagined. She rushed to the TV station excitedly , I saw a lot of fans supporting the boy group, but when she started singing, the people underneath began to scold her,

“After someone scolded me like this, I was scolded in all directions.”

And because she chose a lyrical quiet song, She could hear her voice clearly.

"I feel that the three minutes of singing were really long, and I totally lost the feeling of hope."

IU said in a show, "Probably because of the failure of "Mia", even if the audience hasn't reacted since then, It doesn’t matter. So, if there is a little cheering voice, I will be very excited about it.”

In December 2010, Li Zhien released the album "REAL", and the single "Good Days" from this album finally won her many honors and loves have also reversed people’s previous perceptions of her: She won the Melon Music Awards in 2011 for the best song of the year; won the Mnet Asian Music Festival Best Solo Singing Award in 2011; more and more people recognize her , I heard her singing... During the performance this winter, a fan came to give Li Zhien a support. When Zhien sang, she shouted the slogan of support. Li Zhien once again heard the voice from the audience on the stage, and it was completely different from the day of her debut. She sang "How blue the sky is, and the wind is so perfect today" almost to tears. She was not originally an ambitious singer.

"Although it is good to get the first place (in the competition), it doesn’t matter; it’s great to be the best female singer in our country, but it’s not okay."

After that, she became the first goal after being a singer: at least to become a singer who can take care of my fans.

She worked hard to play a qualified idol and gave herself the stage name IU- I for Li Zhien, and U was for the audience who listened to her songs. Participate in more activities, sing more songs, and start acting. Li Zhien often sleeps only four hours because of too many announcements, and because of this job, she has irregular sleep and insomnia. Even ten years later, she felt that she was too pleased at that time. It seemed that no matter good or bad, she would take it as long as it was an event that could show up, "survive anyway." Popularity also accumulates under such circumstances. The three high notes shown in "Good Days" are praised, the young face is cherished, and the title of "National Sister" is closely related to her.

Young Mental Crisis Until the age of 22

Li Zhien encountered a mental crisis. She is filming the TV series "My Uncle" with director Jin Yuanxi, in which she plays the role of Li Zhian. Zhi'an is a small clerk who is heavily indebted and burdened with crimes and lives with her elderly grandmother. Like the lonely and bleak character, Li Zhien herself is in a downturn. One day, Li Zhien found the director and said,

"I'm very sorry, because the TV has not been broadcast yet, I will stop shooting here (probably the best choice). I will compensate for the content I shot before, no matter what method I use."

She fell into a trap. In the doubt about herself, nothingness and fear searched her. At the same time, her physical condition deteriorated and she even needed hospitalization. This was the first time she had to suspend her trip

In the talk show "The Joy of Dialogue", her mood at the time: "In the eyes of the public, it was a very successful year for me. When "Meaning of You" was popular, the cover album of "Flower Bookmark" was released. , I have achieved good results since "Good Day".

But at that time, from the perspective of my spirit, it was the worst year. The reason is still not clear. From the debut stage, I was on the stage I’ve never been nervous before, but at that time I started to be afraid of the stage. When I was recording a show, I was also scared when I watched the camera. As long as I was watched, my face would turn red and sweat, and I couldn’t sing on the stage... All the things I experienced suddenly disappeared. Can I really do this? How did I do it before? These thoughts surfaced, I was too nervous, and even tried to take a neuroleptic after going on stage When performing. Because I started (being an artist) when I was very young, people always said *younger, good job', but the age will grow slowly, so in the future, if you think of'younger' If this part is removed, can I still get the "good job" evaluation? It's really deep.

Thought about this problem carefully. But the smoother the business, the more I feel uneasy. I feel that bubbles have been created. If all these bubbles burst at a certain moment, when I condensed all these things, I am afraid that I only have this little bit. , In that year, I was really afraid of being like that. For me, I felt "too beautiful to be packaged?" In this case, "How many crimes I will redeem in the future."

Li Zhien of that year performed very well. She covered classic songs such as "Meaning of you", which was included in the album "Flower Bookmarks". Among them, "My Old story" Reached "Perfect All-kill" within days (six real-time charts, six daily charts, ichart real-time charts, and ichart weekly charts). The single "Zhaoge Cave" was released with good results, GENIE The real-time list broke seven times in a row, and the Melon real-time list broke four times in a row. However, popularity and praise turned into pressure, making her almost impossible to move. In 2014, Li Zhien even withdrew from some programs that were originally a regular host, such as "SBS Popular Songs".

Reveal the nature me

In order to overcome these emotions, she made up her mind to make songs by herself.

"Rather than live decently and uneasy, it is better to be pitiful but peaceful."

At the age of 22, she released her first album "Chat- Shire", which she had produced herself. She became Alice, in seven songs composed of seven songs. Shuttle through a story. It’s also because she was misunderstood by others on this album, and she confronted these malice in a restrained and empathetic way:

I don’t want to make the conclusion that “this is right, this is a misunderstanding” on the interpretation of the song, I feel that my freedom is very important. If you want to protect it, you should also protect the freedom of interpretation by others. I still like this song just like before the album came out.

At the age of 24, "Palette" was born. Now, looking back after three years, IU still thinks "Palette" is precious.

"Maybe if I choose a very thankful album in a long time, I will also choose "Palette". This album makes me more like myself and makes me understand myself better. It is a way of realizing the most natural self. The album revealed without any extra decorations and hidden purchases.”

The process of creation and production is not easy, but because I can express what I want to express, I still feel happy without regretting singing,

"It’s like sitting on an amusement ride. same". singer Lee Hyori said, if you want to know IU's true age, just listen to her songs. Li Zhien has the habit of keeping a diary, sometimes in the diary.Some part of it will become lyrics. She values the expression of the lyrics. If it conflicts with the melody, then change the melody. Each capital in "Palette" is like a piece of Li Zhien's body, reflecting a certain part of her.

In the title song "Palette" Li Zhien sang: Now I seem to understand myself a little bit. Compared with long hair, I like neatly cut short hair, but when I say "Good Days", it is really beautiful. Because she often suffers from insomnia, she thinks that the best care for a person is to let the other person have a good sleep time, so there is "Night Letter": I have been in the sea, written on the beach, you It seemed to disappear completely into the distance, making me miss it more and more. Although I can't tell you all the words in my diary, the phrase "I love you". I will show the fireflies of that day to your window this night, hoping it will be a good dream. And "people" has also become the theme of this album, not only the narration of personal stories, but also "surrounding the people around us, as an ordinary person can say". "We will all have a lot of labels. We are women and entertainers, not focusing on a certain aspect, but as a person, not based on my profession or my gender, but just want to tell what I think and experience as a person. ."

IU once said in an interview. In that interview, the host met Li Zhien for the second time. After six years, he said: (the first interview) I didn’t directly tell IU how I felt, but I didn’t think I knew IU at the time. Is it because I didn't sleep well, I felt a sense of liveliness that I wanted to conceal my exhaustion. So what should I say at the time, I felt a little distressed after it was over. But compared to that time, it has really changed a lot now.

The career of an entertainer means the glamour in front of people, and it also means the other side of cruelty. A few years ago, the news of the death of young Korean artists always made people sigh. In 2018, the "32nd Golden Record Awards" was held in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Li Ji-eun won the award in the music department.

She said thanks, luck, and sadness. "In fact, it is still very sad now. Why is it so painful? I seem to understand some. It is not a strange emotion to me. In addition to me, there are many people who are sad for this. But we all have to run for tomorrow and live a month from now. Distressed, we must prepare a plan for a whole year in advance.

Standing on the podium, facing so many artists and fans, Li Zhien continued:

"Laugh when you are happy, cry when you are sad, these are all natural things, so I hope everyone can accept them naturally. Although professionalism is very important, as a person, we must first face ourselves, face our own hearts, and hope that there will be no more painful things because we endure it alone. It would really be nice not to happen again.

"These words are like those of her songs. They convey a clear voice of self in a gentle tone, as well as gentleness and strength. Li Zhien is still moving forward. 2017 is better than the year when "Good Days" was released. In a year that made her even more happy, her self-produced album was loved by everyone. She participated in the variety show "Hyo Lee's Homestay". During the two weeks in Jeju Island, she often wore loose sweaters, stared in a daze, or read a book with chocolate .It was quiet in front of strangers, and always took time when doing things. Lee Hyori joked that she looked gloomy. In fact, those few days were rare times for her to sleep well, relaxed and happy.

In the music part, each song is filled with her unique emotions. Rather than using music as a product, she hopes to return to the music itself.

“Although I’m not sure whether all the works have a high degree of completion, there is one thing. I can confidently say that no piece of music is compromised because of trends. In any case, fans know me better than others, so I feel that kind of sincere words in music, regardless of style (subject), everyone will Accept that this is'IU brand' music.

When she couldn't go out because of the epidemic this year, she wrote songs, deleted songs, watched scripts, and watched TV every day. If you ask Li Zhien what her ideal life is like, she will respond like this:

"Because I am in a profession where people's reactions or comments to my actions are taken for granted, I often look at other people's colors when I was young. But from the age of 25 Realizing that “I’m me” is more important than “I am in the eyes of the public”. Many fans feel that being “I’m me” is more comfortable and more attractive than they think. This makes me very moved and surprised. I think The ideal life is to have a loyal life every day. The homework of this life is "I", I just want to be loyal to this."

#iu #ellemen #iuellemen #iumagazine #iuellemenyouth #iuinterview #ellemensubsenglish

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darthsharapova · 7 years

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An obikin prompt for you! Anakin realizes he has fallen in love with Obi-Wan when he is carrying the unconscious man in RotS. He realizes Obi-Wan loves him (based on Obi-Wan's words) before the man goes to fight Grievous. Anakin knows Obi-Wan wasn't "cheating" with Padme as Palpatine said as Obi-Wan's com had records of the man being on a 4 way com call with Ti, Bail, and Vos. How does this effect Anakin's interactions with the man as Vader?

OMG YES A PROMPT! I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE SUNFLOWER ANON 🌻❤ (please feel free to send me more prompts y'all!!) Now I want to apologize, though, I might write/interpret this differently than you meant it, so bear with me!! (Also, I’m using the unused Padmé RotS arc where she goes to Mustafar planning to kill Anakin 👍🏼 because it’s some good stuff) (P.S. I’m sorry if this is awful and not what you wanted 😂😭)

He didn’t know how things had gone so wrong. It had been simple, really. Save Padmé and the baby at all cost. What that cost was though? He hadn’t been sure, hadn’t even found the need within himself to question it. Where was the Chancellor getting this information? Why had the man taken such an interest in making sure he knew he could teach him ways to save his wife? All were questions he should’ve considered-should’ve taken the time to meditate on. Questions that were important to the delicate balance of the Force that had been on the verge of tipping into chaos for sometime now. All of this, and he failed to ask the right questions. Anakin- no, Lord Vader now- stood in the control room on Mustafar. The mutilated corpses of the slain Separatist leaders on the duracrete tile. Vader peered out into the dusk. His new pair of yellow eyes perusing the barren wasteland of ash and rock. The golden halos glowing under the Sith’s black hood. The arid breeze stealing strands the blonde out from the clock and bending them to the will of the wind.

The deceptively calm hum of the atmosphere shattered as the familiar purr of a space cruiser broke through the planet’s barrier. Vader heaved in labored guilt-ridden breaths. The weight of all his transgressions crushing him and his conscious. The all too familiar sight of the platinum Naboo cruiser brought in waves of anxiety. The shimmering vessel sliced through the thick polluted air, making its way towards the landing pad. Lord Vader brought his gloved hand to his mouth, unable to control the whimpers that left him, whimpers that betrayed him, whimpers that made him weak. How could he face Padmé? How could he face her after the events that had transpired over the last couple of months? He was devoted to her, yes, and he never questioned his loyalty to the woman bearing his child. But his love, his allegiance was with one who would never take him after this. Not after what would be seen at the Temple. The fallen Masters, the younglings..His mind had been so easily poisoned, so easily invaded, yet he had still come here to finish off the last of the resistance, the last of the Chancellor’s liabilities. No, he couldn’t face her, not when his love for another was so strong.

He’d realized his true weakness for Obi-Wan the day they’d gone to rescue Palpatine, which now in retrospect was a complete and utter failure for the Order to miss. “His fate will be the same as ours” he’s said to Sheev. How had he not seen the looks of contempt, the vile sneers, and the clear disregard for his presence? All of it failed to matter now, though. All he was aware of, was how hopelessly in love with his former Master he was. In those moments, bounding down the failing corridors of the shuttle, he knew how bonded he was to the man. Obi-Wan had transcended the lines of Jedi, Master, even friend, and stolen a place in Anakin’s heart. He knew he couldn’t leave the man behind, he wouldn’t be able to go on without him. Obi-Wan had his flaws. He was a perfectionist, he was passive aggressive, he was infuriating, he didn’t know how to express emotion. Yet, despite all of it, Anakin knew he loved him. His attachment to the man solidified when he came to, and clung to Anakin to keep him safe. They molded so well together, body, mind, and spirit. They balanced each other. It’s what they’d always done. He was perfectly content to love unrequited, though, knowingly full well the older man was too good a Jedi to feel anything back.

It wasn’t until Obi-Wan was leaving for Utapau that everything changed for Anakin. Their parting was special, different than the ones they’d shared before. Obi-Wan was supportive and kind, not critical and chastising. He’d told Anakin that he was proud of him, told him that he was already a better Jedi than he could even hope to be. Obi-Wan had called him an old friend, and recognized his growth, his maturity. Obi-Wan’s Force signature sang differently that day too, raw emotion seeping from him and into their bond. It was so overwhelming, and Anakin wasn’t sure what it was he was feeling until Obi-Wan had turned to leave. Obi-Wan loved him. He may not have said it outright, but Anakin knew that’s what he meant. He could feel it inside him, and the Force only confirmed it. Neither one of them could have predicted, however, just how quickly things would fall apart after that.

Padmé had been up to something after that, and he’d feared the worst. Infidelity. Certainly it was out of her character, and he knew it, but his mind had been ravaged, and Palpatine had planted the seed in his thoughts. How could Padmé do this to him? And with Obi-Wan? Anakin had gone to the Temple archives with R2 and gotten him to slice into the data storing com logs. There’d been frequent 4 way conversation with Obi-Wan, Bail Organs, Quinlan Vos, and Shaak Ti. Anakin learned a shocking truth. Obi-Wan knew about himself and Padmé, and was confiding in the others on how to approach him. How to approach him with understanding, and how to not get him angry or distrusting. Quinlan had been the most outspoken, telling him to be done with it, tell Anakin how he felt about everything, try to help him, and… be with him? Organa had agreed for the most part, advising him to follow his heart is its own matters, and not to talk himself out of it. Master Ti was naturally against everything, which was not a surprise. The surprise was the undertones to the conversations Anakin was missing. He knew there was something they were talking about that he wasn’t picking up on, and it made him boil with suspicion. If Padmé wasn’t being unfaithful, there was something going on that he didn’t know about. So it was that he confided in a man he always had.

And that man corrupted him. The Chancellor turned him against his friends, his fellow Jedi, and he’d slaughtered them. The clones turned on their leaders, cutting them down in cold blood. A massacre. Anakin could only kneel in his moment of weakness and pledge faithfulness to the deranged Sith. He felt it in the Force as the souls of the Jedi departed, he physically couldn’t withstand the ache in his heart.

And so, it was with the corruption of the Republic and the Order, that Vader found himself gazing out the window, tears pooling in the corner of his eyes as he realized he had to face his wife, the woman he’d claimed to do it all for. He watched as the speeder landed, and the platform lowered. Padmé emerged, dressed in crimson robes, fine embroidery and ornate details, seemingly out of place. Vader’s sickly yellow orbs matched the danger and evil around him, though. The lava spewing forth in tall pillars, hissing as they stretched to their limit,l before plummeting back down to the sea of magma.

Padmé approached him, wrapping her arms around his neck, her fingers carding through the curls at the base of her husbands neck. His arms gingerly wrapped around her waist, and she stiffened only slightly, before remembering her purpose. She had to find the truth. As dark as it may turn out to be, she was ready. Ready to confront him.

“Anakin. I’ve heard whispers. Terrible whispers. That you turned to the Dark Side. Destroyed the Temple. Killed younglings. Tell me they aren’t true!” Her husband avoided her eyes, casting his gaze to the ground.

The silence all the answer she needed, she dropped her arms to her sides, the vast sleeves swallowing her hands as they fell. She reached up to her wrist, feeling the point of the sterling blade she’d stashed. Ready to unsheathe it, she paused.

“I-there is no excuse Padmé.” He murmured, broken.

“I thought what I was doing was right, I was doing it to save you. To save him.”

Padmé licked her lips, resolve wavering, and she looked to the side before she faced her husband again. Her whole world had come crashing down in the same day. The Senate, her life’s work, what she devoted her time and energy to had fallen. Fallen with thunderous applause to the poisoned words of Palpatine, a man she used to trust. Now, she stared at her husband, a fallen Jedi, and broken man, and she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t do what she’d come to do, what she’d willed herself to try. She could fix him, she could fix this.

“Anakin. You don’t have to continue down this path. We can leave, raise the baby, have a life away from this corruption and hatred.” She cupped his face then, wiping the tears that fell with her thumb.

“No. No, I can’t. I have to do this. I have to-” he stopped for a moment. He was about to break his marriage. “-I have to save Obi-Wan. From myself, and from the Emperor.” Padmé was crying now too, and swallowed. She placed a hand on her hip, sleeve opening, and the knife fell to the ground with a clatter. Vader’s eyes widened with realization, and he stepped back from his wife.

“You came here to kill me.”

“Anakin. Please. Calm down.” She pleaded, trying to sound calm, her tone stricken with fear.

“You were going to strike me down. You came to betray me.” He raised he is arm, lifting her from the ground, her legs dangling.

“Anakin, that is enough.” The familiar accent rang.

“Let her go.” Obi-Wan articulated. Vader’s eyes flickered from the man to the suspended woman and gasped in horror. What was he doing? This wasn’t right? It wasn’t to end this way. He laid Padmé to the side, watching as the older Jedi dropped his cloak.

“You turned her against me…” Vader seethed. “You did this!”

“No, you did that yourself. You let the Chancellor get to you, get inside your head. Anakin,” the auburn haired man whispered, moving forward slightly. “I know you. This isn’t who you are, you can stop all of this!”

Another eruption of lava, and Vader drew his gaze away from his former Master. He closed his eyes, and felt the dry gust of air on his face. The coarse soot, scratching him. He felt a hand cup his face, and he leaned into the touch.

“Anakin. You can fix this. You’re so strong.” He ran a thumb over Vader’s cheekbone. “You’re kind.” There was a pause, a long one, and Vader felt a pair of lips where the thumb had been. “You’re brave. You’re passionate. You’re The Chosen One.” Each adjective articulated by a chaste kiss to dry chapped skin.

Tears were steadily falling from the younger man’s eyes now. Convulsions and whimpers shaking his frame. Obi-Wan put both hands on either side of Vader’s face.

“And I love you.” Anakin now opened his eyes, lips parted in shock. Surely he’d known what he’d done. Surely he’d seen the Temple footage. This had to be a ploy, a trick to get him into custody. He’d be taken prisoner, tried and executed as a traitor. The Emperor warned him of this. But Anakin stopped his thoughts. Stopped the fear and chaos roaring and ravaging through him, and he did what he should’ve done from the beginning. He searched his feeling, searched the bond. He let out a sob then, when he felt that Obi-Wan’s feelings were true. He jolted forward and embraced the older man, kissing him with renewed zeal and vigor.

“I’m sorry, Obi-Wan. I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me. I beg you. I love you too. I love you so much.” Anakin cried into the crook of the older man’s neck.

“We can fix this Anakin. Together.” He lifted Anakin’s chin and looked him in the eyes. The pale sickly yellow still shooting back at him.

“What about Palpatine…” Anakin whispered.

“Again, something we’ll handle together, dear one.” Obi-Wan let a small frail smile grace his features as he knitted his fingers with the younger man’s.

#i'm honestly sorry #anon ask #obikin #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #padme amidala #ficlet

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araitsume · 7 years

Video

Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 660-674: Chapter (65) The Magnanimity of David

This chapter is based on 1 Samuel 22:20- 23; 23-27.

After Saul's atrocious slaughter of the priests of the Lord, “one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord's priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

Still hunted by the king, David found no place of rest or security. At Keilah his brave band saved the town from capture by the Philistines, but they were not safe, even among the people whom they had delivered. From Keilah they repaired to the wilderness of Ziph.

At this time, when there were so few bright spots in the path of David, he was rejoiced to receive an unexpected visit from Jonathan, who had learned the place of his refuge. Precious were the moments which these two friends passed in each other's society. They related their varied experiences, and Jonathan strengthened the heart of David, saying, “Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.” As they talked of the wonderful dealings of God with David, the hunted fugitive was greatly encouraged. “And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”

After the visit of Jonathan, David encouraged his soul with songs of praise, accompanying his voice with his harp as he sang:

“In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may privily shoot at the upright in heart. If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord's throne is in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.” Psalm 11:1-5.

The Ziphites, into whose wild regions David went from Keilah, sent word to Saul in Gibeah that they knew where David was hiding, and that they would guide the king to his retreat. But David, warned of their intentions, changed his position, seeking refuge in the mountains between Maon and the Dead Sea.

Again word was sent to Saul, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.” David had only six hundred men in his company, while Saul advanced against him with an army of three thousand. In a secluded cave the son of Jesse and his men waited for the guidance of God as to what should be done. As Saul was pressing his way up the mountains, he turned aside, and entered, alone, the very cavern in which David and his band were hidden. When David's men saw this they urged their leader to kill Saul. The fact that the king was now in their power was interpreted by them as certain evidence that God Himself had delivered the enemy into their hand, that they might destroy him. David was tempted to take this view of the matter; but the voice of conscience spoke to him, saying, “Touch not the anointed of the Lord.”

David's men were still unwilling to leave Saul in peace, and they reminded their commander of the words of God, “Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.” But his conscience smote him afterward, because he had even marred the garment of the king.

Saul rose up and went out of the cave to continue his search, when a voice fell upon his startled ears, saying, “My lord the king.” He turned to see who was addressing him, and lo! it was the son of Jesse, the man whom he had so long desired to have in his power that he might kill him. David bowed himself to the king, acknowledging him as his master. Then he addressed Saul in these words: “Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord hath delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.”

When Saul heard the words of David he was humbled, and could not but admit their truthfulness. His feelings were deeply moved as he realized how completely he had been in the power of the man whose life he sought. David stood before him in conscious innocence. With a softened spirit, Saul exclaimed, “Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.” Then he declared to David: “Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.... For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.” And David made a covenant with Saul that when this should take place he would favorably regard the house of Saul, and not cut off his name.

Knowing what he did of Saul's past course, David could put no confidence in the assurances of the king, nor hope that his penitent condition would long continue. So when Saul returned to his home David remained in the strongholds of the mountains.

The enmity that is cherished toward the servants of God by those who have yielded to the power of Satan changes at times to a feeling of reconciliation and favor, but the change does not always prove to be lasting. After evil-minded men have engaged in doing and saying wicked things against the Lord's servants, the conviction that they have been in the wrong sometimes takes deep hold upon their minds. The Spirit of the Lord strives with them, and they humble their hearts before God, and before those whose influence they have sought to destroy, and they may change their course toward them. But as they again open the door to the suggestions of the evil one, the old doubts are revived, the old enmity is awakened, and they return to engage in the same work which they repented of, and for a time abandoned. Again they speak evil, accusing and condemning in the bitterest manner the very ones to whom they made most humble confession. Satan can use such souls with far greater power after such a course has been pursued than he could before, because they have sinned against greater light.

“And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah.” The death of Samuel was regarded as an irreparable loss by the nation of Israel. A great and good prophet and an eminent judge had fallen in death, and the grief of the people was deep and heartfelt. From his youth up Samuel had walked before Israel in the integrity of his heart; although Saul had been the acknowledged king, Samuel had wielded a more powerful influence than he, because his record was one of faithfulness, obedience, and devotion. We read that he judged Israel all the days of his life.

As the people contrasted the course of Saul with that of Samuel, they saw what a mistake they had made in desiring a king that they might not be different from the nations around them. Many looked with alarm at the condition of society, fast becoming leavened with irreligion and godlessness. The example of their ruler was exerting a widespread influence, and well might Israel mourn that Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, was dead.

The nation had lost the founder and president of its sacred schools, but that was not all. It had lost him to whom the people had been accustomed to go with their great troubles—lost one who had constantly interceded with God in behalf of the best interests of its people. The intercession of Samuel had given a feeling of security; for “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”James 5:16. The people felt now that God was forsaking them. The king seemed little less than a madman. Justice was perverted, and order was turned to confusion.

It was when the nation was racked with internal strife, when the calm, God-fearing counsel of Samuel seemed to be most needed, that God gave His aged servant rest. Bitter were the reflections of the people as they looked upon his quiet resting place, and remembered their folly in rejecting him as their ruler; for he had had so close a connection with Heaven that he seemed to bind all Israel to the throne of Jehovah. It was Samuel who had taught them to love and obey God; but now that he was dead, the people felt that they were left to the mercies of a king who was joined to Satan, and who would divorce the people from God and heaven.

David could not be present at the burial of Samuel, but he mourned for him as deeply and tenderly as a faithful son could mourn for a devoted father. He knew that Samuel's death had broken another bond of restraint from the actions of Saul, and he felt less secure than when the prophet lived. While the attention of Saul was engaged in mourning for the death of Samuel, David took the opportunity to seek a place of greater security; so he fled to the wilderness of Paran. It was here that he composed the one hundred and twentieth and twenty-first psalms. In these desolate wilds, realizing that the prophet was dead, and the king was his enemy, he sang:

“My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.... The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”

Psalm 121:2-8.

While David and his men were in the wilderness of Paran, they protected from the depredations of marauders the flocks and herds of a wealthy man named Nabal, who had vast possessions in that region. Nabal was a descendant of Caleb, but his character was churlish and niggardly.

It was the time of sheepshearing, a season of hospitality. David and his men were in sore need of provisions; and in accordance with the custom of the times, the son of Jesse sent ten young men to Nabal, bidding them greet him in their master's name; and he added: “Thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. [Not Mount Carmel, but a place in the territory of Judah, near the hill town of Maon.] Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes; for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.”

David and his men had been like a wall of protection to the shepherds and flocks of Nabal; and now this rich man was asked to furnish from his abundance some relief to the necessities of those who had done him such valuable service. David and his men might have helped themselves from the flocks and herds, but they did not. They behaved themselves in an honest way. Their kindness, however, was lost upon Nabal. The answer he returned to David was indicative of his character: “Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?”

When the young men returned empty-handed and related the affair to David, he was filled with indignation. He commanded his men to equip themselves for an encounter; for he had determined to punish the man who had denied him what was his right, and had added insult to injury. This impulsive movement was more in harmony with the character of Saul than with that of David, but the son of Jesse had yet to learn of patience in the school of affliction.

One of Nabal's servants hastened to Abigail, the wife of Nabal, after he had dismissed David's young men, and told her what had happened. “Behold,” he said, “David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household.”

Without consulting her husband or telling him of her intention, Abigail made up an ample supply of provisions, which, laded upon asses, she sent forward in the charge of servants, and herself started out to meet the band of David. She met them in a covert of a hill. “And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience.” Abigail addressed David with as much reverence as though speaking to a crowned monarch. Nabal had scornfully exclaimed, “Who is David?” but Abigail called him, “my lord.” With kind words she sought to soothe his irritated feelings, and she pleaded with him in behalf of her husband. With nothing of ostentation or pride, but full of the wisdom and love of God, Abigail revealed the strength of her devotion to her household; and she made it plain to David that the unkind course of her husband was in no wise premeditated against him as a personal affront, but was simply the outburst of an unhappy and selfish nature.

“Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.” Abigail did not take to herself the credit of this reasoning to turn David from his hasty purpose, but gave to God the honor and the praise. She then offered her rich provision as a peace offering to the men of David, and still pleaded as if she herself were the one who had so excited the resentment of the chief.

“I pray thee,” she said, “forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.” Abigail presented by implication the course that David ought to pursue. He should fight the battles of the Lord. He was not to seek revenge for personal wrongs, even though persecuted as a traitor. She continued: “Though man be risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God.... And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that He hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel; that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offense of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: and when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.” 1 Samuel 25:29-31, R. V.

These words could have come only from the lips of one who had partaken of the wisdom from above. The piety of Abigail, like the fragrance of a flower, breathed out all unconsciously in face and word and action. The Spirit of the Son of God was abiding in her soul. Her speech, seasoned with grace, and full of kindness and peace, shed a heavenly influence. Better impulses came to David, and he trembled as he thought what might have been the consequences of his rash purpose. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9. Would that there were many more like this woman of Israel, who would soothe the irritated feelings, prevent rash impulses, and quell great evils by words of calm and well-directed wisdom.

A consecrated Christian life is ever shedding light and comfort and peace. It is characterized by purity, tact, simplicity, and usefulness. It is controlled by that unselfish love that sanctifies the influence. It is full of Christ, and leaves a track of light wherever its possessor may go. Abigail was a wise reprover and counselor. David's passion died away under the power of her influence and reasoning. He was convinced that he had taken an unwise course and had lost control of his own spirit.

With a humble heart he received the rebuke, in harmony with his own words, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.” Psalm 141:5. He gave thanks and blessings because she advised him righteously. There are many who, when they are reproved, think it praiseworthy if they receive the rebuke without becoming impatient; but how few take reproof with gratitude of heart and bless those who seek to save them from pursuing an evil course.

When Abigail returned home she found Nabal and his guests in the enjoyment of a great feast, which they had converted into a scene of drunken revelry. Not until the next morning did she relate to her husband what had occurred in her interview with David. Nabal was a coward at heart; and when he realized how near his folly had brought him to a sudden death, he seemed smitten with paralysis. Fearful that David would still pursue his purpose of revenge, he was filled with horror, and sank down in a condition of helpless insensibility. After ten days he died. The life that God had given him had been only a curse to the world. In the midst of his rejoicing and making merry, God had said to him, as He said to the rich man of the parable, “This night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Luke 12:20.

David afterward married Abigail. He was already the husband of one wife, but the custom of the nations of his time had perverted his judgment and influenced his actions. Even great and good men have erred in following the practices of the world. The bitter result of marrying many wives was sorely felt throughout all the life of David.

After the death of Samuel, David was left in peace for a few months. Again he repaired to the solitude of the Ziphites; but these enemies, hoping to secure the favor of the king, informed him of David's hiding place. This intelligence aroused the demon of passion that had been slumbering in Saul's breast. Once more he summoned his men of arms and led them out in pursuit of David. But friendly spies brought tidings to the son of Jesse that Saul was again pursuing him; and with a few of his men, David started out to learn the location of his enemy. It was night when, cautiously advancing, they came upon the encampment, and saw before them the tents of the king and his attendants. They were unobserved, for the camp was quiet in slumber. David called upon his friends to go with him into the very midst of the foe. In answer to his question, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” Abishai promptly responded, “I will go down with thee.”

Hidden by the deep shadows of the hills, David and his attendant entered the encampment of the enemy. As they sought to ascertain the exact number of their foes, they came upon Saul sleeping, his spear stuck in the ground, and a cruse of water at his head. Beside him lay Abner, his chief commander, and all around them were the soldiers, locked in slumber. Abishai raised his spear, and said to David, “God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.” He waited for the word of permission; but there fell upon his ear the whispered words: “Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless? ... As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.” How easily the Lord can weaken the strongest, remove prudence from the wisest, and baffle the skill of the most watchful!

When David was at a safe distance from the camp he stood on the top of a hill and cried with a loud voice to the people and to Abner, saying, “Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant.” Again the acknowledgment fell from the lips of the king, “I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly. And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.” Although Saul had made the promise, “I will no more do thee harm,” David did not place himself in his power.

The second instance of David's respect for his sovereign's life made a still deeper impression upon the mind of Saul and brought from him a more humble acknowledgment of his fault.

He was astonished and subdued at the manifestation of such kindness. In parting from David, Saul exclaimed, “Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail.” But the son of Jesse had no hope that the king would long continue in this frame of mind.

David despaired of a reconciliation with Saul. It seemed inevitable that he should at last fall a victim to the malice of the king, and he determined again to seek refuge in the land of the Philistines. With the six hundred men under his command, he passed over to Achish, the king of Gath.

David's conclusion that Saul would certainly accomplish his murderous purpose was formed without the counsel of God. Even while Saul was plotting and seeking to accomplish his destruction, the Lord was working to secure David the kingdom. God works out His plans, though to human eyes they are veiled in mystery. Men cannot understand the ways of God; and, looking at appearances, they interpret the trials and tests and provings that God permits to come upon them as things that are against them, and that will only work their ruin. Thus David looked on appearances, and not at the promises of God. He doubted that he would ever come to the throne. Long trials had wearied his faith and exhausted his patience.

The Lord did not send David for protection to the Philistines, the most bitter foes of Israel. This very nation would be among his worst enemies to the last, and yet he had fled to them for help in his time of need. Having lost all confidence in Saul and in those who served him, he threw himself upon the mercies of the enemies of his people. David was a brave general, and had proved himself a wise and successful warrior; but he was working directly against his own interests when he went to the Philistines. God had appointed him to set up his standard in the land of Judah, and it was want of faith that led him to forsake his post of duty without a command from the Lord.

God was dishonored by David's unbelief. The Philistines had feared David more than they had feared Saul and his armies; and by placing himself under the protection of the Philistines, David discovered to them the weakness of his own people. Thus he encouraged these relentless foes to oppress Israel. David had been anointed to stand in defense of the people of God; and the Lord would not have His servants give encouragement to the wicked by disclosing the weakness of His people or by an appearance of indifference to their welfare. Furthermore, the impression was received by his brethren that he had gone to the heathen to serve their gods. By this act he gave occasion for misconstruing his motives, and many were led to hold prejudice against him. The very thing that Satan desired to have him do he was led to do; for, in seeking refuge among the Philistines, David caused great exultation to the enemies of God and His people. David did not renounce his worship of God nor cease his devotion to His cause; but he sacrificed his trust in Him to his personal safety, and thus tarnished the upright and faithful character that God requires His servants to possess.

David was cordially received by the king of the Philistines. The warmth of this reception was partly due to the fact that the king admired him and partly to the fact that it was flattering to his vanity to have a Hebrew seek his protection. David felt secure from betrayal in the dominions of Achish. He brought his family, his household, and his possessions, as did also his men; and to all appearance he had come to settle permanently in the land of Philistia. All this was gratifying to Achish, who promised to protect the fugitive Israelites.

At David's request for a residence in the country, removed from the royal city, the king graciously granted Ziklag as a possession. David realized that it would be dangerous for himself and his men to be under the influence of idolaters. In a town wholly separated for their use they might worship God with more freedom than they could if they remained in Gath, where the heathen rites could not but prove a source of evil and annoyance.

While dwelling in this isolated town David made war upon the Geshurites, the Gezrites, and the Amalekites, and he left none alive to bring tidings to Gath. When he returned from battle he gave Achish to understand that he had been warring against those of his own nation, the men of Judah. By this dissembling he was the means of strengthening the hand of the Philistines; for the king said, “He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant forever.” David knew that it was the will of God that those heathen tribes should be destroyed, and he knew that he was appointed to do this work; but he was not walking in the counsel of God when he practiced deception.

“And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.” David had no intention of lifting his hand against his people; but he was not certain as to what course he would pursue, until circumstances should indicate his duty. He answered the king evasively, and said, “Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do.” Achish understood these words as a promise of assistance in the approaching war, and pledged his word to bestow upon David great honor, and give him a high position at the Philistine court.

But although David's faith had staggered somewhat at the promises of God, he still remembered that Samuel had anointed him king of Israel. He recalled the victories that God had given him over his enemies in the past. He reviewed the great mercy of God in preserving him from the hand of Saul, and determined not to betray a sacred trust. Even though the king of Israel had sought his life, he would not join his forces with the enemies of his people.

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