“The burden she carried was different from yours, and it had worn on her for many years. When I knew her she had forgotten joy, although I believe Arlbeth gave her a little back again.”
The protagonist Aerin as a young princess has had a rather difficult life as opposed to the easy life that someone in her position would typically have. Moreover, her mother to an extent faced the same scrutiny regarding her appearance and abilities. However, her mother was rumored to be a witch who had enchanted her father, Arlbeth. Therefore in the statement, Luthe informs Aerin how he knew her mother and how the king taught her to be happy again. Though, her dying of despair once Aerin is born and finds out the child is not a boy shows her inability to overcome depression.
“The king is simply the visible one. I'm so visible, in fact, that most of the important work has to be done by other people.”
Arlbeth directs this advice to Tor, teaching him of the truths regarding governance and kingship. Most of the narrative finds the potential heir Tor and Aerin to be the saviors of the kingdom on multiple occasions. Arlbeth is aware of this dynamic and expresses that the visibility of the leader cripples him from actually taking significant measures. Therefore, the people out of the public sphere have a greater chance of impacting change than the king himself. This is evident through Aerin with Tor’s help defeating the Northerners whilst also dragon-slaying.
“Yes, I am letting my own experience color my answer, which is what experience is for....”
Her appearance from her young age has made her a target of prejudice, specifically the red hair and complexion distinct from others. While the rejection she faced affects her, she rises above it and becomes a powerful heroine who ends up saving the kingdom. Gradually, Aerin molds her identity with the experiences she gains from each endeavor, for instance, slaying dragons and winning confrontations. With each fight or slaying, she gains experience and in turn power which gives her the courage to face the next adversary. The statement, therefore, highlights her approach towards life which proves reliable by the close.
