Against All Things Ending
Chapter 19: Part Two — 7. Implications of Trust
by R., Donaldson, StephenLinden Avery stands isolated and desolate amidst her companions, physically and emotionally drained. Her appearance reflects her inner turmoil—matted hair, worn features, and tattered clothing mirror her fractured spirit. The Staff of Law, once a symbol of hope, now feels tainted, mirroring her despair. Covenant’s departure leaves her feeling unprotected and abandoned, as he prioritizes his ex-wife Joan over their shared mission. Linden grapples with the fear that Covenant may be riding to his death, unable to reconcile his absence with her reliance on him.
Her focus shifts to her son, Jeremiah, a hollow shell of the boy he should have been. Despite his emptiness, he remains her anchor, the last vestige of her former life. She clings to him, tormented by the mystery of why Anele’s Earthpower failed to awaken him. Though she understands his self-imposed isolation as a defense mechanism, she feels powerless to help him without violating his autonomy. The ethical dilemma of possession weighs heavily on her, compounded by past mistakes and the warnings of the Ranyhyn.
The urgency of their situation is underscored by Rime Coldspray, who insists they must move forward despite their exhaustion. The Worm of the World’s End looms as an abstract yet dire threat, and the group’s physical toll is evident—Coldspray, Mahrtiir, and the Giants bear the marks of their struggles. Linden acknowledges their resilience but remains uncertain of their next steps. Covenant’s absence forces her to reconsider their strategy, though bitterness and grief cloud her judgment.
Linden’s internal conflict deepens as Mahrtiir urges her to try again to reach Jeremiah. She resists, haunted by the moral implications of possession and her failures as a healer. Her past experiences—both as a victim and perpetrator of possession—reinforce her conviction that true healing must come from within. Covenant’s admonition to trust herself rings hollow as she confronts her limitations. The chapter closes with Linden torn between her desperation to save her son and her growing awareness that some wounds cannot be forced to heal.
FAQs
1. How does Linden Avery’s physical appearance reflect her emotional and psychological state in this chapter?
Answer:
Linden’s disheveled appearance mirrors her inner turmoil and despair. Her matted hair, eroded features, and stained clothing symbolize her prolonged suffering and loss. The bullet hole over her heart visually represents emotional wounds, while the faded red of her shirt suggests diminished vitality. The Staff of Law, now stained dark, reflects her perception of her own soul as “stark and irredeemable.” These physical details collectively paint a portrait of a woman worn down by grief, guilt, and hopelessness after Covenant’s departure and her son Jeremiah’s continued catatonia.2. What internal conflict does Linden face regarding healing Jeremiah, and how does her medical background inform her perspective?
Answer:
Linden grapples with the ethical dilemma of whether to forcibly possess Jeremiah to heal him versus respecting his autonomy. As a former psychiatrist, she recognizes that true healing must come from within - patients must “heal themselves.” She acknowledges Jeremiah’s catatonia may be a conscious defense mechanism, like Anele’s madness. However, her maternal desperation conflicts with this professional wisdom. The chapter reveals her painful self-awareness about past mistakes with possession (both as victim and perpetrator) and her growing understanding that violating autonomy - even with good intentions - often causes harm.3. Analyze how Covenant’s departure impacts both the practical quest and Linden’s psychological state.
Answer:
Covenant’s absence creates both strategic and emotional crises. Practically, the group loses his white gold ring’s power against caesures and chaos, leaving them more vulnerable. Psychologically, Linden feels profoundly abandoned, describing it as “an open wound.” She had relied on Covenant as her emotional anchor (“counted on him in ways too profound for language”), and his choice to prioritize Joan undermines Linden’s sense of purpose. His parting words about her having “other things to do” now seem hollow, leaving her directionless. This abandonment exacerbates her existing guilt and self-doubt about her capacity for leadership.4. How does the physical condition of the Giants and Mahrtiir reflect the cumulative toll of their journey?
Answer:
The exhaustion of the companions manifests physically in telling ways. Rime Coldspray shows “marks of strain” with visible tremors, while other Giants display lingering injuries - Latebirth’s tender ribs, Grueburn and Cabledarm’s limps. Mahrtiir’s slumped posture reflects both physical depletion and emotional loss after sending away his Cords. Only Stave’s Haruchai stoicism masks his internal wounds. These descriptions create a powerful contrast with the Giants’ typical robustness and Mahrtiir’s usual fierce demeanor, emphasizing how their prolonged trials have pushed even these formidable beings to their limits.5. What does Linden’s evolving understanding of trust reveal about her character development in this chapter?
Answer:
Linden demonstrates painful growth in her understanding of trust. She recognizes her pattern of repeating mistakes, particularly in overriding others’ autonomy despite good intentions. Her reflections show dawning awareness that trust must be reciprocal - she criticizes herself for not trusting Jeremiah’s choice of catatonia as a defense mechanism, just as she failed to trust Anele’s resistance to healing. This represents maturation from her earlier, more paternalistic approach to healing. However, the chapter ends with her still struggling to apply this insight, highlighting the difficulty of changing deeply ingrained behaviors even with self-awareness.
Quotes
1. “His abandonment left her with nothing to shield her. In spite of his vulnerabilities, she had counted on him in ways that were too profound for language.”
This quote captures Linden’s profound emotional devastation after Covenant’s departure, highlighting her dependence on him despite his flaws. It underscores the chapter’s exploration of trust and vulnerability in relationships.
2. “The vigor of his new theurgies was clear to every dimension of her health-sense. It should have sufficed—yet it was not enough.”
This passage reflects Linden’s frustration and helplessness regarding her son Jeremiah’s condition, emphasizing the limits of power and understanding even with enhanced perception. It represents the chapter’s theme of grappling with insurmountable challenges.
3. “I used to be a doctor. A healer for people with broken minds. And the one thing I learned is that I couldn’t heal them.”
This confession reveals Linden’s painful self-awareness about the nature of healing and autonomy. It’s a key moment where she acknowledges that true healing must come from within, tying into the chapter’s examination of agency and trust.
4. “Possession is still wrong. I know because it’s been done to me. And I’ve done it myself.”
This powerful statement encapsulates Linden’s moral reckoning with her past actions and the chapter’s central ethical dilemma. It shows her growth in understanding the violation inherent in overriding another’s will, even with good intentions.
5. “Covenant keeps telling me to trust myself, but that doesn’t make…”
This truncated thought (intentionally left incomplete) poignantly represents Linden’s ongoing struggle with self-doubt and the complex nature of trust. It reflects the chapter’s unresolved tension between external validation and internal confidence.