After the chapter before last, I'm going to have to go with Aenrua. The idea of Malrua is interesting, but after everything she's been through, I don't know if "interesting" is what Lasrua needs in a relationship. Aengus is a nice, stable guy with a castle in the valley and clearly there's something there if he's willing to drop everything to take to her to get closure with his established historical romantic rival.

Now, I don't blame Malcolm for not staying--he does genuinely think she's dead--but at the end of the day... he and Rua barely know each other. They had a connection, but for all we know, it might have just been a short-lived infatuation that got glorified as something a little more due to the circumstances. Who's to say they'd even hit it off if they met again? And even if they did, can anyone really see Mr. Flighty McFlightyPants going back to Lothere and setting up a homestead there to live happily ever after with a dog and a white picket fence and a bunch of pointy-eared babies? I'm not sure I can.

That and Aenrua would generate a lot of short-term drama. Not only would there be people making a fuss about adultery, but this would be the second time that Aengus has run off with Malcolm's wife. Also, there could be some stepmother drama on the part of Ete. And don't even get me started on what it would do to Cubby's relationship with his dad.

But in the long-term, I think it would be nicer for all the characters involved. Even if Malcolm loves Rua, I don't know if he'd be happy doing the whole functional family thing, and then there's the whole murderous brother issue, which probably isn't a problem with Aengus seeing as Paul has been living with him for a while and it seems reasonable to assume that they at least tolerate each other. And wouldn't the kids be cute with Rua--even Maire-like Ete?

Also... speaking purely in terms of the game here, I imagine Aengus makes better-looking children

But hey, I will read and enjoy whatever gets posted. That's just my two cents' worth for now.

Now that I'm fully caught up, I feel ok leaving my opinion here.

I'm voting hard for Malrua, and here is my essay in support.

First of all, we had the fantastically earth-shattering kiss in the rain that fundamentally affected two previously very self-involved characters. It sent Malcolm into Maud-levels of love/obsession/despair and led to Lasrua burning herself - the only other time we've seen an elf so desperately seeking their opposite nature after separation from their lover was in bonded couples. This kind of high bonding after a single kiss and this kind of a romance in the story is compelling - I need resolution!

Secondly, Aengus already did the falling-for-Malcolm's-abandoned-wife thing. We already got to see him be the shelter in the storm, raise a family, and deal with the dissolution of that relationship. He doesn't need to do that again, and Lasrua deserves better than to be part of Aengus' pattern. I know he has feelings for her, but his wife and his mistress just died terribly and violently. Maire was the love of his life, if I remember a comment Lothere made correctly. He needs time to heal and be with his children, not get tangled up in another sordid love triangle. Lasrua is elven nobility, not a rebound girl. Plus, it seems like the women of Lothere tend to end up love-thwarted and miserable - I wouldn't mind seeing Aengus deal with it if he doesn't get the girl (or not, seeing how easy-going he is).

Thirdly, Lasrua is obviously just leaning towards Aengus as a rebound guy. He's sweet and perfect for the job, but that doesn't stop him from being a rebound guy. She only feels this way because Aengus opened his big mouth about Lord Colban's misinformation/possible-lies and feels rejected by a man with a bad track record. She doesn't know how devastated he is, how he's grabbing at sea gulls trying to be close to her supposedly-departed soul. Once she sees him and is proven to be alive, it will change everything (not necessarily the direction I want to go per se, but a game changer nonetheless).

Fourth, as I mentioned in a chapter comment, we already saw what happens when an elf girl chooses her Scot human-Sidhe support/rebound guy over her earth-shattering-connection first husband with Malcolm-Ilyaine-Vash because she didn't think her first husband really cared for her. It would be so so very interesting and compelling to see what happens when she does end up with the First Guy. Similarly, we already saw Malcolm leave his lover to the "good guy" and not run off with her with Maud. We've also already seen him despairing over not having Lasrua. What will happen to his character if all he has is more of the same? Will we even realistically get to see him much anymore? None of these passion-pairings are going to be as peaceful and happily-ever-after-ish as Sigfirth-Eadie or Britamund-Dunstan, but then they're different characters as well - fiery characters. I've never ever liked reading much about romantic drama, but for the first time Lothere made me really want to see the fireworks and passion a relationship like Malrua. I don't expect them to settle down into domestic bliss, or even live in Lothere (Scotland would be better probably - and then we get to see more Scots! ), but to see their passion as they try to live with one another and get used to thinking of someone else would be fantastic. Like the romance of Alred & Matilda on steroids with dynamite thrown in!

Fifth (yes, I have a fifth! ), Cubby did some serious selfish immature ish when he didn't pass on the message to Malcolm, and Malcolm got himself into a pickle by not sharing his marriage with Cubby. Don't they need to confront this, and deal with the situation of What-If Cubby really did get a stepmother, in order for them to grow?

So, in summary, I guess my point is that Lothere managed to get me invested in Malrua as a tantalizing glimpse of previously unexplored possibilities, and now I'm dying to see the paths it will take. I want the fireworks and the passion that you can only read about in stories. <3

Ok, The End. lol

Wow! Thanks Lothere! Teeheehee (silly laughing over being-quoted excitement)

Good points as well Ann. I agree that in Real Life Aenrua is a much more stable pairing. I definitely would never go for Malcolm myself. But since this is a story - and Lothere famously drops couples once they achieve happiness, lol - I'm much more interested in Malrua!

I guess part of it is that I really don't see Aenrua being "true love" on either's parts. Aegnus already had, and lost, not only the love of his life (*cough* Malcolm's Wife 1) but also a beautiful, heartwarming, elfen mistress. I would really be ok just seeing him fade into the background, recover, and do Man things (like all the value Sigfrith attributed to him - ooh! Lothere battle training sequences!). I just can't see him as anything other than the Rebound guy for Lasrua. And she for him - he get's Maire's queenly thing + the Malcolm's-wife thing combined with Lena's elfiness + desire for family and to be taken care of. Nah, total rebound on his part too. No way he just mellowed and familied his way into getting over the Murder-Delayed-Suicide of 1085 in just three months.

Lasrua has the fieriness in her to not only make Malcolm heartsick, but mourn the death of freakin' Lor for goodness sakes. Even the dude's own mother can't mourn him without becoming sickened over "what he had become." Chick is complicated and tempestuous.

I actually don't see Aenrua working out at all, the more I think about it. He is way too easy going, and she is far too queenly. We already saw him with a domineering (yet beloved) wife. They just don't "mesh well" together. Malcolm, on the other hand, can match her imperious and tempestuous character and has age and experience on his side as well. He could really help mature her, while should could definitely help mature him by forcing him to care about someone besides Number 1. In my mind, those two are just freakin' made for each other!

But yeah, Cubby is a problem. Poor kid always has been.

My only worry is that Aengus is also looking for a mother for his children. I don't think Rua can look beyond herself enough yet (being only what? 17?) to be a mother to four children. That is a lot of responsability to have suddenly thrust on you. I think she would be overwhelmed. Cubby is at an age where he is not so much in need of a mother, simply a more stable lifestyle. The marriage with Rua could provide that. Also poor Rua has to compete with the memories of so many dead women on both ends. Malcolm has Maud and Maire (who he clearly felt SOMETHING for if it wasn't love), while Aengus has Lena and Maire. However, I anticipate problems either way. So I don't really care so long as it is interesting.

Off the top of my head, I vote Aenrua (which I did) for the simple reason that I'm not all too fond of Magog and that I like Aengus pretty well. But after reading all the discussion, I have reserved the judgment of my opinion until further notice. I'll just wait and see what Lothere's got in store for them and be happy either way.

And to quote, you use < blockquote > and < / blockquote > without spaces.
___________________________
Here may we sit and view their toil
That travail in the deep,
And joy the day in mirth the while,
And spend the night in sleep.

I'm with Ann. Out of the two, I lean toward Aenrua. But if there is a third option, which there is in this poll, I would be happy if Rua went with a third party. Or just had some alone time.

I'm not a big fan of Magog. He leaves a sour taste in my mouth. And sparks flying is great and all, but a whole bunch of them is likely to create a fire. And not the sexy kind.

Aengus, he's sweet, but still mourning. In ye olde Lotherian times, I'm sure that marrying this soon wouldn't be unusual, but for the sake of everyone involved, LET AENGUS BE. He needs to get himself together.

I'm a little afraid of commenting here, lest my own Official Authorial Opinions shut the conversation down. But I did want to say I am loving this thread. It is giving me a lot to think about, and some ideas.

Any of you guys care to start a "What should happen with Alred and Hetty" thread? *cough*

That's interesting about others' perceptions of Malrua being True Love vs. Lust/Whirlwind/Celebrity-esque at First Sight.

I guess I didn't even look at it like that. I think if the famous kiss in the rain had occurred between two human characters I would probably agree. However the impression I got from Lothere is that this was Different. Magog is not just an irresponsible philanderer (although I don't deny he is/has been that) but he's one of the ever-so-mysterious and unexplored Sidhe-Scots. And Lasrua, of course, is a high-magic khirron elf. I got the impression that Something unexplained (magical?) happened there. In no other situation has either character/species had such a strong and lasting reaction without being bonded. I really have no other way if interpreting that interaction other than something beyond what would even be possible for 2 humans or Lasrua+human. He is fire, she is water - something magical bonded there that I think at least approached the elf bonding ceremony. And they're married. Yeah it wasn't consummated, but that was one of those tragic-twist-of-fate plot things.

There is absolutely zero doubt in my mind that Lasrua is 100% rebounding! She never cared about Aengus as other than one of her new family members until HE OPENED HIS FAT MOUTH on stupid GOG'S STUPID MISINFORMATION. Lasrua is not a girl-woman who can be scorned. Of course she's looking at someone else now. Seriously!

The thing that really bugs me as I continue thinking about it is Aengus. He spent, what?, A YEAR hanging around Maire just waiting for her to forgive him over Lena Gate? Then she's raped(ish) and dies in a terrible murder-suicide and 3 MONTHS LATER HE'S TOTALLY OK AND MOVING ON TO MRS MALCOLM #2??? WTF?? I'm sorry but there's no way I can take his supposed Lasrua feelings seriously. If Malrua isn't the destined camp, then I, too, am definitely in the Leave Aengus Alone camp.

I can admit there are a million reasons why Malrua wouldn't be a successful pairing - especially in Real Life! But that's why I read, to explore unlikely/otherworldly possibilities. It's fiction, so there are some really tantalizing (and I mean that in it's full Greek myth implications! ) possibilities for character and story development with Malrua. Whereas, for me, while Aenrua is nice-ish, there's really nothing I'd want to read about them that I can think of. Is Aengus going to regret rushing into a new marriage with a much younger romantic woman after loosing the love of his life and mother of his children? Had that (Alred-Hetty). Is Lasrua going to regret choosing the safe guy over passion husband 1? Had it (Malcolm-Ilyaine). Are they going to be happy-ish and fade into he background with their mysteries and past relationships unexplored? Yup (Catan-Osh). Have a mostly successful blended family despite age differences? Check (Sigfrith-Eadgith). Is Magog going to drift into misogyny and despair in a foreign country and never return to Lothere and be an at-best-awkward-single-father to Cubby? (That's pretty much just Magog).

Lol, I just really want to see Married!/(Happy?/)InLothere!Magog, Married!Lasrua, Stablized!Cubby and a Followed/Explored!Sidhe-Scot-Elf combo! Pleeeaaaaase?

As stated over at the Plumbbob Keep forum, yes, I am for Maelcolm and Lasrua. I will agree that they fell in love rather quickly, HOWEVER, there are many marriages that began with the couple knowing each other only a couple of weeks before vows were exchanged and lasted the couples'lifetimes. Not unheard of folks.

But with it becoming clear to me that my speed reading in order to quickly catch up to speed with the story left me with shoddy information and memory, I have been rereading old chapters. I think most of you will find this chapter rather interesting -

Malcolm is afraid - http://www.lothere.com/chapter/1226

A consumated union between Maelcolm and Lasrua should produce some VERY interesting results.

My position is strengthened. Team Malrua All the way! And Aengus can sniff up someone else's tree.