#vale gardner

[wiselemonpie]

“When I look up at him, his expression has grown serious. “The true demons of this world come in many guises, Elloren Gardner. Go find them,” he says, his tone unyielding. “And go fight them.”

The Iron Flower Laurie Forest

[lilelvenwitch]

Warning, loong post about The Black Witch ahead

Probably not many of my followers, if any, have read The Black Witch by Laurie Forest, but I did and have a lot of feelings so get ready to scroll past if ya want.

Okay yes I have a lot of feelings about this book (mostly good) but like I thought of what you could call a conspiracy theory in the shower.

In TBW, Elloren tells us that Tessla and Vale Gardner (her parents) died in a raid by the kelts during a military mission on which Tessla went to visit Vale.

Now this could actually be true and me being overly sad but it could not be true. (I mean it could be, but like conspiracy theory here)

In Wandfasted, the prequel, the story of Tessla and Vale meeting then falling in love is told. During the story, Vivian smugly says at one point that the war is Basically over. The Black Witch has basically scorched the keltic villages into submission.

The Gardnerians haave taken to treating refugees badly, which Vale comments on and says he finds terrible. He also says, which is a big maybe clue here, that he's going to withdraw from the military very soon, since the war is almost over anyways and he doesn't agree with the garderians. This is almost before Rafe is born, which means it's also 2 and a half years before Elloren is born. So if he did in fact withdraw, it would make no sense for him and Tessla to be at a military mission 5 and a half years later. They may not have been there.

Which leads us to an idea of maybe why Jules and Lucretia, despite having known Vale and Tessla, played dumb throughout The Black Witch and The Iron Flower. If Vale and Tessla are alive, but are presumed dead and aren't around for the kids, it would make sense they are hiding in sorts. Jules and Lucretia could potentially know and don't want to give anything away.

I could go on a bit more about Lucretia and Jules and Edwin and the little hints. But there are the main points of my conspiracy theory.

[wiselemonpie]

<

p>“Don’t apologize,” he counters tightly. “I rather enjoy your straightforward displeasure.”

“Hostility,” I scathingly corrected him.

“Yes, well, it’s refreshingly honest.”

Wandfasted Laurie Forest

[wiselemonpie]

“May I...may I court you?”Vale to Tessla

“I’m a scholar, Tessla,” Vale says, quiet and tentative. “Or was. At the University. And I love books. Just like you. I think that’s patently obvious.” The corner of his mouth turns up, and he gestures around at his scattered piles of books for emphasis. He shoots me a wry look, then grows serious. “All those things you’ve been wanting... I think you’ll find you could have them with me. May I...may I court you?” Ridiculous laughter bubbles up. I hold up my fast-marked and sealed hands, the design a perfect mirror of the marks on his skin. “Don’t you think you’re doing this backward?”

[wiselemonpie]

"Why are you unclothed?" Tessla

I’m not in the woods. It was all just a dream. I take a deep, shuddering breath, my panic slowly receding. I lower the sword. I punched him. I punched Vale. It’s a shock to see him sprawled out over his bed. Lean and muscular. The tops of his hipbones jutting up from his pants. His chest, streaked with blood. His head thrown backward, long neck arcing. His half-naked state pushes my alarm higher. “Why are you unclothed?” The question comes out as an unfortunate shriek. “I heard you screaming,” he grinds out, pinching his nose tightly. “I didn’t throw on my tunic. I just grabbed my wand.” He holds up his wand and flicks it idly in the air. “I quickly realized you were dreaming, and I was trying to wake you.”