Beautiful.

aw this was so cute

So pretty...

I just finished "This Pendent Heart" and decided to check out your other stories, and thus far, I'm very impressed. Your writing style fits well with the characters, the plots merges seamlessly with the canon story, and the allusions and quotes are fantastic. From e.e cummings (whose poetry I love and recognized instantly), to the various myths, to Ophelia's line in the story (which I knew from the moment Raetsel mentioned pansies), and the use of the meanings behind Rue's name (which I have researched in the past, and only made me love her more), you blend classic literature, the series itself, and the future into one smooth tale of epic proportions. Bravo

This was so sweet(

I loved it!

Oh, I loved this. Rue is my favorite character of the series, and you wrote her beautifully, and I really enjoyed how you structured the story and sustained your theme throughout. I liked the wordplay running through this so much, and how it fed into Rue's ongoing identity crisis so smoothly. This ficlet was involving and rich with detail, and you have Rue so *right* at all her stages of development - I adored your description of her when she first meets Mytho and is "dazzled like a crow that has found something so shining that it wants to hoard it away from the rest of the world". That's a wonderful image.

The interactions are all very well done too - I love reading about the rivalry between Fakir and Rue, especially when they were children, and you captured both of them well (and how cute to see him try to win a fight using a book!). I particularly liked Rue's tearful threat - it definitely shows the taunting and dangerous Kraehe starting to grow inside her. And one thing I've long wanted to see was some interaction between Rue and Raetsel (I totally agree with Moon Shadow Magic on this - they must've been aware of each other after so many years, and it would definitely be in Raetsel's character to try and reach out to the strange little girl), and I was so surprised and pleased to read a scene between them! Any interaction between these two has so much potential to be interesting imho, and you definitely made the most of that. I loved how many double-meanings Raetsel picked up on (two different kinds of knowledge, two meanings to Rue, two meanings to Grace); so very clever and appropriate for a character so strongly defined by her love for two men! Such a great touch.

I'm surprised you didn't mention at any point that Rue now has another name (her real one, whatever that may be) to add to Kraehe and Rue. But I suppose it might've detracted from your focus on the pairing if you'd gone down that path.

Speaking of pairings, maybe I'm biased because Mytho/Rue is my OTP, but the final segment was so heartwarming. It was such an original take on what their post-series life together might've been like, and so lovely to see them living an ordinary existence for a change (and really, that final image of them dancing together leaves so much room for interpretation and creativity). There was so much I loved about this part and in your descriptions of their relationship, their everyday life together, the darker moments, and how well they understand and support each other. Beautiful work, and the sweetness of the ending crowns it perfectly.

Love. 3

I enjoyed this! Always wondered what Raetsel made of Rue, it seems impossible that they missed or ignored each other all those years, or that Raetsel wouldn't try to be friends... I was privileged once to help when a drama company visited our college; I think the only thing that's changed has been the substitution of used vans for used horses and wagons. Everybody works and pitches in wherever, and still manages to put on a wonderful show each evening (they were Savoyards- "Pirates of Penzance.") I particularly remember them being a bit overwhelmed by being the college's guests for dinner rather than being pointed to the nearest McD's.I also want to look up "Rue" in a book I have on The Language of Flowers, and will when I find it; having never seen Giselle, I wonder if the rosemary has a similar meaning to that mentioned by Ophelia...

Anyway. "2. good will; favor. 3. a delay granted for payment of an obligation...6. the love of God toward man." An Rue be the herb of Grace, there be many meanings withal, to reward the seeker.

Great.

This is nice, I liked the Fakir Rue bickering. Two kids fighting over there favorite toy. Raetsel being there to comfort Rue was unexpected but interesting. I liked the look into Rue and Fakir childhood. They are really cute grownup kids.

It was so sweet and beautiful and perfect! I loved this very much.