jvj

This particular entity (their relationship) has been talked about throughout a number of different threads. The way they are bound, how strong their relationship is, just _what_ their relationship is.

{ ACOBI, Chapter Thirty-One, last page }

Raif shook his head. "I will not let them take her again."
Crouching, Angus brought his face close to Raif's. He studied whatever was showing there for a long moment and then said in a weary voice, "And so it begins."
A quarter passed before Raif could finally be persuaded to let her go.

At the moment I'm thinking Angus knows something about the cycle of the Reach and the King (Red Sword Guy). And that this is what he is referring to. But that then seems too simplistic. Clearly there is a bond growing between Raif and Ash, a special bond that grew from a special touch, and Angus sees something .. special .. in that. "And so it begins." I mean, how laden with foretelling (or some kind of telling) is that! Very cool.

Yeah, I think it is one more thing in the prophecy of the Reach and the King. My gut feeling is that the King and the Reach haven't joined power before though.

Maybe we'll get some of that prophecy/fate in the next book.

Or maybe JVJ will release a new chapter on the website that gives us something more to go on. . .

it is interesting how Raif now has Ash in his heart/mind like he has Effie and Drey. they clearly belong together somehow. And I know there has been much speculation elsewhere on their relationship and whether it is romantic or not, i personally think they are doomed lovers. not brother and sister.

i am so glad some one brought up this topic
i has thought that it was hinted in the book that a union between the king and the reach was pre-destanted mayb dats just wishful thinking

You know, just at the end of Cavern, and it's brought back some very real points.

There _is_ something deep and strong between Raif and Ash. It's romantic (little thoughts about her touch, and her thoughts about him). It's family (she is clan to Raif, and he is the only one who she could trust).

And with the Reach and the King stuff coming up in Sword, I think it's safe to say that their relationship has a little of the "eternal" in it. Something bound tight and tighter.

At the end of Cavern, it's so real that they have a relationship. But it's been so long since I read book 2 that I can't remember why that changes. Obviously, they are broken apart physically, going different paths. But with the Argola Initiative (heh heh) I can't exactly marry up the thoughts you have at the end of Cavern with at the end of Sword.

This is one quote I found particularly poignant ..

"Ash came down smoothly, both hands feeding rope. Raif caught her before she hit the riverbed and pulled her free of the hoist. She was shivering. The blue light reflecting off her face looked like moonlight. When he pulled his hand free of her waist, she made a small movement as if to hold it there." - Bolded by me

{ A Cavern of Black Ice, Chapter Fifty-Four - "The Hollow River" }

This isn't enough by itself, but there are more than a few other examples throughout Cavern.

Yeah i have to agree with theUnguru.
Raif and Ash had a realtionship at the end of book one.He imagions her as his clan. Remember raif had the vision of a future with Ash and Effie and Drey...
although at their seperation in book 2 both seemed upset,Raif more so but as it the story went on it kind of got a bit less.
but at the end of each book i think Raif in some way shows that the has a strong connection with Ash even just with a simple thought...

I can't help thinking that Ash and Raif are destined to end up together. There has been foreshadowing alluding to their union all throughout the series. Sure, Ash and Lan had their little fling, but it turned out to be a betrayal for Ash (and perhaps a catalyst for her powers?). Who's to say whatever comes of the budding relationship between Raif and Mallia Argola won't parallel Ash's experience?

pangie: It's what I hope for. Not sure that's what will happen, given that JVJ has a great way of ripping stories this way and that out of predictable behaviour .

But here's hoping!

oh god i'm such a hopeless romantic, it's one of the only things I think about in Sword of Shadows.

I'm so glad you highlighted all those snippets from 'A Cavern' Unguru because these are all the things that totally told me that Ash and Raif have something deep. I mean it's so blatantly there in Bk 1, and it's so heartbreaking to see that it breaks apart physically. But personally I'm just waiting for their reunion. Among other things of course but yeh...I just hope JV isn't THAT cruel...hehe.

soul_scion:

Cool! There are quite a few more places where the bond in hinted at, or blatantly revealed.

I'm a quarter through Book 2 re-read, and there is a definite break. Which is kind of sad, good for story, bad for my heart, heh heh.

yeh bad for my heart too! we shall unite in that..hehe

One of my fave 'moments' is toward the end after Raif and Ash have reunited after they were split and he was tortured and then he asks her what happened at dawn, when Marafice Eye and his men tried to rape her. When Ash tells him, he goes and hugs her and then wraps his hands around hers and they share an awkward laugh. Heck, I don't know why I told it like you haven't read or whatever but yeh...definitely a scene that had me grinning like a fool. ^^

A very cool scene.

After reading book 3 I got really sad because it is made clear in this book that Ash was never attracted to Raif like her attraction towards Lan. I feel sorry for Raif because he definitely loves Ash a lot but it seems his love is gonna remain unrequited coz Raif had a dream "where he was standing on the bank of the river while calling out Ash's name but Ash never once looked back". In some ways book 3 was really unfair because Raif from the beginning of the series has to bear all the burdens alone while all Ash did was make love in the whole of book 3. So my question is why cant Raif ever be a little happy?

I think it is cool how we can all read the same book and interpret the story a little differently.

What I read was that Ash felt All alone in the world after splitting from Mal and Ark (when Ark died). Lan Fallstar was a bit of a self righteous prick, (my opinion, no worries if you don't agree) but he was better than traveling alone. He was also her ticket to Sull territory since she did not know how to get through the days of travel through trees (can't think of the name of that area). As for the sex, she's a woman, he's a man, they were traveling alone, it happens.

dark mage wrote:So my question is why cant Raif ever be a little happy?

You are stressing this in about three threads, if I count correctly.
Some characters are just not meant to be happy, especially not with several books to go in the series.

I don't think he came to love Ash in lover's way. He is protective of her, sure, but understand it more like love between siblings.

As for Lan, he is a stranger picking her up just as Raif did. Why do you think the one sould be more important than the other one?

Akerbos wrote:I don't think he came to love Ash in lover's way. He is protective of her, sure, but understand it more like love between siblings.

I agree with you. Although there is a very deep bond that exists between them, I never really got the feeling that it was in anyway a physical attraction. I don't know if it will ever spill over into anything sexual. Time will tell.

Ash and Lan is another story. I think what Ash felt for Lan was a combination of fear and desperation due to her circumstances and good old fashioned teenage / young adult lust. A very potent combination that was bound to lead to something.

Am I the only one who is pleased Ash at least got to have sex? As for Raif, I hope he gets a little lust and affection of his own soon. I am sure the outlet would do his soul good.