The river knows it's time...

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Hi Sounis!!!

I have not been here in so long! I got locked out of both LJ and my backup email (what possessed my 13 yo self to set my security question to the last name of the maid of honor at my wedding is almost more of a mystery than my actual answer!) but anyway, I'm back! And bearing a discussion question, too!

I was talking with

1221bookworm

and

manderelee

about the scene where Kamet meets Irene in the garden. Of course, I thought it sweet and touching and....a set up.

Think it through with me...there's Irene, in the garden- not the queens garden, mind you - the regular garden which Costis tells Kamet that she doesn't want Gen walking in. Now, Irene doesn't seem to be a 'do as I say, not as I do' sort of person, so for the sake of argument, I'm going to guess this is not a place where she can usually be found.

Kamet, however, is very fond of those gardens and Gen knows that, so I start to question the coincidence of there meeting.

It could be that Gen put them in each other's way so that Kamet could share those words of wisdom that might help Irene to heal, but I doubt it. Irene is not so easily led, and if she wanted to hear that phrase, she could just as easily have summoned Kamet. So, I still think that it was a) a set up and b) she was in on it. Also, Irene, a very private person, sharing something so personal with someone she chanced to meet in the garden seems uncharacteristic...

We tried scrutinizing the few lines of dialogue for any hidden meaning but came up empty. What do you all think?

The alternative is that MWT has successfully turned me into a paranoid reader.

Thanks for reading, please share your thoughts!!

~books

Comments

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Hi, sweetie! Great to see you back! You got married when you were 13...? XD

Before, I comment on your question... If you could please, add a spoiler warning before the cut? Your entry isn't too spoiler-y but the comments will probably get into more detail. Thanks for hiding everything under a cut! :) I will add your post to the list of TaT threads.

I do wonder how well Irene got to know Kamet during QoA? I think we forget that he was there for more than two years. She immeditely knew he was the one who had set fire to Nahuseresh's rooms, so maybe she had some idea of who he was. Also, had she spoken to Kamet before that moment, since he'd got back with Costis? I guess not since she was sick.

I do think there is a difference between walking in the gardens alone and sitting while surrounded by guards and attendants. I thought Irene's objections were more Gen being by himself in the public garden and not the queen's garden which is more secure and for private use of the royal family.

I will say she is more open with him in that scence then she is as a rule, but maybe that's just the grief?

It doesn't strike me as a set up for Kamet, because he had already agreeded to tell them everything he knows, so why manipulate him further?

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

You got married when you were 13...? XD I know, Books! Ugh, you didn't even invite me??? (Though we haven't had yet met for 5 years... if that sentence even makes sense.)

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Off topic, but I will take a moment to express my frustration with security questions when one is a teenager. They're always things like...

What was the model of your first car? What is your mother-in-law's first name? Where was your first job? Name of your eldest child?

None of which apply to a thirteen-year-old!

Apparantly, Elle_Winters got married. For real, not pretend for a security questions, and she didn't even invite us! XD

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

LOL, yes! That's why I really like the question, "Who's your favourite character?" I won't tell you because it's my *security* questions, but you can all probably guess.

I know, I saw about elle_winters in the Conspiracy Room too. Still pretty bitter about it. meh. =P

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Lol, poor Elle! I'm not bitter at all! I swear, I'll forgive not being invited as long as she wore mismatched socks to the wedding.

[manderelee.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I was just kidding!!

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

I never pick the 'what's your favorite character' type question, because I feel like I'm choosing between my babies!

Also, to Miss elle_winters, if you're reading this, congratulations!!!

[booksrgood4u.livejournal.com]

Hello hello! Good to be back, it's like coming home :) too bad I have no recollection of my wedding, maybe if I track down my elusive maid of honor, she can fill me in XD

Ooh, I like your thoughts about Irene's knowledge of Kamet - maybe it wasn't just Gen who thought he'd be a valuable asset...I think I sometimes forget how cunning she can be, too...maybe she wanted the opportunity to talk to him about the passage Gen had mentioned and chose to speak to him in a informal, non-threatening way.

As for why they'd continue to manipulate him? I don't know, but I do know that poor Costis got manipulated again, so I wouldn't necessarily put it past Gen...

P.s. Spoiler tag added :)