Against All Things Ending
Chapter 14: Part Two — 2. Trying to Start Again
by R., Donaldson, StephenLinden Avery finds herself consumed by She Who Must Not Be Named, a malevolent entity embodying the torment of countless betrayed women, including Elena and others. Overwhelmed by guilt and despair, she believes her actions have doomed her companions, Jeremiah and Covenant, to a watery grave. The bane’s eternal anguish merges with Linden’s own, forcing her to relive the pain of her failures, particularly her lack of compassion for Elena. She accepts her fate as deserved, screaming in unison with the lost souls within the bane, until her body instinctively fights for survival, struggling against suffocation.
Just as Linden succumbs to despair, she is violently pulled back to consciousness by strong hands—Stave and Pahni—who rescue her from drowning. Disoriented, she gasps for air, barely comprehending that she has escaped the bane’s grasp. Pahni’s voice anchors her to reality, and sunlight confirms she is no longer trapped in darkness. The Staff of Law, offered to her, symbolizes hope and power, though Linden remains weakened by her ordeal. Meanwhile, Covenant lies unconscious, his arms bleeding from her frantic scratches, a grim echo of Joan’s past violence.
As her senses return, Linden realizes her friends are alive, and the bane’s influence is fading. Stave and Pahni work together to keep both her and Covenant afloat in the current, urging her to take the Staff to regain control. The rune-covered Staff, now blackened by her previous use of immense power, remains a mystery to her, yet its presence is a lifeline. Covenant’s limp form worries her, but she lacks the strength to reach him, relying instead on her companions to guide them to safety.
The chapter ends with Linden grappling with the aftermath of her torment, physically and emotionally drained. Though free from the bane’s immediate grasp, its echoes linger in her mind. The Staff represents both her past mistakes and her potential for redemption, while Covenant’s unconscious state underscores the fragility of their survival. As Stave and Pahni steer them through the water, Linden begins to reclaim her agency, though the weight of her guilt and the challenges ahead remain daunting.
FAQs
1. What is the nature of Linden Avery’s torment in this chapter, and how does it reflect her past actions?
Answer:
Linden Avery is consumed by She Who Must Not Be Named, an eternal entity embodying the anguish of betrayed women, including Emereau Vrai, Diassomer Mininderain, and Elena. Her torment stems from her guilt over releasing destructive forces in Mount Thunder, which swept away her companions, Jeremiah, and Covenant. She also grapples with her failure to show compassion to Elena, Covenant’s daughter, despite understanding her pain. This reflects Linden’s self-perceived betrayals—of Covenant, her son, and the Land—amplifying her despair. The chapter highlights her psychological and spiritual suffering as she confronts the consequences of her choices (e.g., withholding pity from Elena, resurrecting Covenant, and unleashing the bane).2. How does the chapter portray the theme of betrayal, and which characters are central to this theme?
Answer:
Betrayal is a central theme, manifested through Linden’s actions and her interactions with other characters. She feels she betrayed Covenant by doubting his loyalty (though Roger was the true betrayer) and failed Elena by denying her compassion. The women within She Who Must Not Be Named—like Emereau Vrai (betrayed by her Elohim lover) and the Auriference (whose greed led to folly)—mirror Linden’s guilt. Even Covenant’s unconscious state, marked by Linden’s scratches, echoes Joan’s betrayal in the series’ past. The chapter underscores how betrayal, whether real or perceived, binds these characters together in shared suffering.3. Analyze the significance of Linden’s rescue by Pahni and Stave. How does this moment shift the chapter’s tone?
Answer:
Linden’s rescue marks a turning point from despair to hope. After being submerged in the bane’s torment, she is physically and symbolically pulled back into the world of the living by Pahni and Stave. The sunlight, fresh air, and clean water contrast sharply with the darkness of the caverns and the bane’s screams. Pahni’s voice and the Staff of Law restore Linden’s identity, while Stave’s strength anchors her to reality. This moment reaffirms her connections to Covenant and her companions, offering a reprieve from her guilt and hinting at potential redemption. The tone shifts from existential horror to tentative survival.4. What role does the Staff of Law play in Linden’s psychological and physical recovery?
Answer:
The Staff of Law serves as a lifeline for Linden, both literally and metaphorically. Pahni hands it to her, emphasizing its power to restore and strengthen (“already I have become more than I was”). As a conduit of Earthpower, the Staff represents Linden’s agency and capacity for healing, contrasting with the bane’s destructive force. Though she cannot read its runes, its presence grounds her in her role as a healer and leader. Physically, it aids her resurgence from drowning; psychologically, it symbolizes hope and her ability to reclaim her identity amid guilt and despair.5. How does the chapter explore the idea of eternal suffering versus redemption?
Answer:
The chapter juxtaposes the eternal suffering of She Who Must Not Be Named—a being whose anguish “could not die” and would persist “beyond comprehension”—with Linden’s fleeting chance at redemption. The bane’s victims, including Linden, are trapped in endless torment, reflecting the irreversible consequences of betrayal. However, Linden’s rescue suggests that redemption is possible through external aid (Pahni, Stave) and internal resilience (her grip on the Staff). Covenant’s unconscious state, marked by bloodied arms, hints at the cyclical nature of pain but also the potential for renewal, leaving the question of redemption unresolved yet open.
Quotes
1. “She had released a flood among the roots of Mount Thunder. Because of her, ancient poisons and the accumulated weight of millennia had thundered into the cavern. They had swept her companions out of existence, carried Jeremiah and Covenant like flotsam to the bottom of the world. Everything that she had ever loved was gone.”
This quote captures Linden Avery’s overwhelming guilt and despair as she reflects on the catastrophic consequences of her actions. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of personal responsibility and the weight of unintended consequences.
2. “She was an eternal being: a concept as essential and illimitable as Creation or Despite. Tortures would expand beyond the swallowed stars, beyond the salvific definitions of Time, beyond comprehension, until they filled the reaches of infinity.”
This powerful description of She Who Must Not Be Named reveals the cosmic scale of the threat Linden faces. It highlights the novel’s recurring themes of eternal forces and the limits of human comprehension in the face of ultimate evil.
3. “A Law-Breaker herself, she was intimately familiar with the exigencies and passions which had driven Elena. And yet Linden had refused or failed— Now she deserved her fate.”
This introspective moment shows Linden recognizing her own hypocrisy and failures, particularly in her treatment of Covenant’s daughter. It represents a key moment of self-awareness in her character arc.
4. “Then hands lifted her. They were stronger than She Who Must Not Be Named. Strong enough to be the foundation-stones of reality: strong enough to draw her out of despair.”
This turning point in the chapter marks Linden’s rescue from the abyss, symbolizing hope and redemption. The imagery contrasts the overwhelming power of evil with the even greater strength of salvation.
5. “She was in water somewhere, saved and sustained. ‘Ringthane! Here is the Staff!’ The bane could not reach her.”
This climactic moment represents Linden’s return to hope and agency, as she regains both her physical bearings and her connection to the Staff of Law. It shows the power of friendship and tools of power to overcome despair.