heavymetalb0rdr wrote:This relationship is possibly one of the most confusing things about this series. Which of course makes sense, after all, we're dealing with love. A lot of things can be said, and many of them have been, but for the sake of clarity, I'm going to attempt to put all aspects of this relationship into words.
Well, I guess I'll start at the very beginning....
The first time Raif sees Ash, he immediately wants to help, but at this point its purely his instincts and honor driving him to do so. Angus stops Raif, which may have been the wise thing to do if it had been another girl, but be that as it may, Angus recognizes what she is and quickly goes to her aid, telling Raif to stay put. Of course Raif has no idea why this girl is suddenly worth risking his life to save, but he naturally trusts his uncle's judgment (who wouldn't trust Angus's judgment). The act of risking his life to save her, a stranger, does dramatic things to his view of her. It immediately raises her importance over others, even to the point of having feelings of protectiveness and maybe possessiveness. Once this is coupled with what he sees of the creatures of the blind in her head when he touches her, he is put in a dilemma. At this point, most people would fear her to the point of running or violence, but Raif seems to gain more concern for her with this revelation.
This introduces Ash's first glimpse at what kind of person Raif is. It also signifies the first completely selfless thing someone else does for her in her life. What he just did for her was in no way a small favor, and she realizes that. She becomes attached to him, viewing him as a safe harbor and a genuinely nice person.
Now, i know that was a lot for just the first minutes of their relationship, but i felt it was necessary, this is, in for two reasons. One, it had only been glanced over in previous posts. Two, this scene is, in my opinion, the catalyst for their fast forming feelings for one another. Now on to the pre-cavern time.
The addition of Ash to their party does give purpose to Raif in the form of protecting her, but I think it did a few other things as well. It allowed Raif, recently shunned by the clanholds, to get a view of life without clan. It also relieved him of being in the constant company of his uncle, who could be know to be a frustration what with all the secrets. So, Raif clings to Ash, his last comfort in what becomes the beginning of his own personal hell.
On the other side, Ash is suffering with the wralls and the isolation of not being able to trust anyone for so long. It's a shock when Raif comes along, because not only is he someone strong enough to help, but also, he is more than willing. She talks to him some, observes more, and finds someone who is truly incredible in a lot of ways. So, Ash clings to Raif, her first real comfort in a world she had long ago started to hate.
Once they meet again, without Angus, things have gotten a little more desperate. First off, they don't have Angus to comfort them with his perpetual knowledge of everything. Second off, with Heritas Cant's wards broken, the time they have went down a lot. So, they're alone, except for each other, and both of them obviously need each other at that point, so there's nothing to do but continue toward the cavern. They both interact more, learn more about each other, and further cling onto each other in their race to survive.
cavern...
Not a whole lot to say, even with the significance of giving Ash his lore. That particular action shows how much she has come to mean to him, which is to say, that he loves her. It doesn't necessarily say what kind of love though (I like to think it's romantic).
post-cavern...
This period shows a distinct change in Ash's attitude. She decided that she wants to know who and what she is, at all costs. In her mind, it's something that needs to be done. She already has deep feelings for Raif though, which is why the pointed coldness of her attitude was necessary. She knew he had feelings for her, and she knew she had feelings for him, so she tried (and some would say failed, myself included) to stop the feelings they had by acting that way. In her mind, it would make separation easier when it came, and maybe it did for her, but i really don't think Raif fell for it. She also lets her facade slip right before Raif loses consciousness, shown by her crying silently, probably still not wanting to alarm or upset Raif.
travels with the sull...
Where Raif was the love interest/knight in shining armor, the first two sull Ash travels with, Ark and Mal, are her "new and improved" family. They really do treat her like one of them(once she becomes one of them) and they show genuine care for her also. In my opinion, by the end of thier traveling, she comes to love them as real family, and not just shelter or protection. Then there's Lan... there aren't any appropriate words to describe my feelings toward him. And this is probably also the most discussed aspect of this forum so I'll keep it short. For a multitude of reasons (loneliness, feeling of belonging, etc...) she had this "fling" with Lan. Actually, to be perfectly honest, Miss Fish has already explained this in perfect enough words, just read her explanation of it if you haven't.
his own personal hell...
After Ash leaves, almost immediately, the weight of the world, literally, falls on Raif's shoulders. Time and time again, he either can't help (the destroyed Fort with the dying knight) or he ends up disappointing people by being forced to break another oath, and he's still expected to go save the world. Raif is truly strong, because this is somehow not breaking him, but it won't stop him longing for a better life, which is symbolized in Ash. This places her at an ever higher place in his mind, getting to the point where she can't be replaced (miss argola)
So, these are the reasons i think they have such strong feelings for each other, even though its obvious one of them is trying to forget her feelings and the other isn't necessarily forgetting, just ignoring to save himself from more pain (because that really is the last thing he needs).
Anyone got an opinion on any of this? Any discrepancies? Anything I missed?
Wow you and Miss Fish are awesome because both of you pretty much said what I was thinking but was unable to give it shape in words. I agree with all of your points and I also think, that to Raif, Ash has become irreplaceable because not only with Maria Argola, the time where he was being tempted by the ice-trapper girl, Raif first held himself back, because he thought he was betraying Ash by getting interested in another girl while Ash has no problems not only betraying but going all the way with another man. What's more Ash seemed to have succeded in shrugging off her feelings for Raif as in the 3rd book she rarely thought about Raif except for the part where she thought Lan made a heart-kill and in contrast Raif kept thinking of her in both the 2nd and 3rd book. Hence I agree Ash hs been trying to get over Raif while Raif has been trying hard not to sully his memories and feeling of Ash with another girl.
