The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella
Chapter Eight
by Maas, Sarah J.In this chapter, the focus is on Celaena’s preparations for her upcoming departure and her attempt to enjoy a rare moment of camaraderie with her friend Ansel. The scene begins with Celaena applying makeup, highlighting her skill and the dual purpose of her routine—both practical for her work and a source of personal enjoyment. Ansel, celebrating her birthday and Midsummer Eve, is surprised by Celaena’s insistence on fun, though Celaena’s playful threat underscores their close bond. This intimate moment reveals Celaena’s desire for normalcy amidst the chaos of her life as an assassin, emphasizing her longing for connection and fleeting happiness before her imminent departure.
The chapter then shifts to the Midsummer Eve festival, a silent yet vibrant gathering of assassins in the fortress courtyard. Contrary to expectations of lively music, the scene is characterized by silent dancing under the moonlight, with everyone engaging in strange and familiar dances. Celaena observes the unusual atmosphere, feeling a mix of nostalgia and detachment. The gathering is infused with wine and a sense of carefree revelry, contrasting sharply with her usual focus on training. Despite her love for parties, she is inwardly torn, wishing she could spend more time honing her skills with her master, yet understanding the importance of participating in this tradition.
Further into the festivities, Celaena witnesses her companions, especially Ansel and Mikhail, enjoying the dance and the night’s fleeting joy. Her thoughts drift to Arobynn, her former master, and her conflicted feelings about him—his calculated grace versus Mikhail’s carefree nature. She also reflects on her concern for Sam, worried about what Arobynn might have done to him, and her guilt for not checking on him sooner. These reflections highlight her internal struggle with trust, safety, and her desire for independence, as she contemplates her future away from Arobynn’s control.
In the closing moments, Celaena’s resolve solidifies as she prepares to leave her current life behind. She has secretly acquired her own apartment, a symbol of her independence and her defiance against Arobynn’s authority. She is determined to stand up to him if he ever harms her or Sam again. When Ilias offers to dance, she initially hesitates but ultimately decides to embrace the moment, influenced by her friend Ansel’s advice to live a little. This decision marks a pivotal step toward reclaiming her agency and embracing her own path, even as the shadow of her past and her impending departure loom over her.
FAQs
1. Question 1
How does Celaena’s attitude toward her appearance and the Midsummer Eve festival reflect her inner state and her relationships with others?
Answer:
Celaena’s engagement in preparing her appearance for the festival reveals her desire to enjoy moments of normalcy and fun amidst her dangerous and demanding life. Her playful threat to draw a mustache on Ansel shows her comfort and camaraderie with her friend, contrasting with her usual serious demeanor as an assassin. The festival itself, with silent dancing and shared wine, highlights a rare moment of vulnerability and human connection. Celaena’s internal conflict—her longing for companionship and her awareness of the fleeting nature of these moments—shines through. Her attitude towards the festival emphasizes her need for emotional respite and her recognition of the importance of friendship, even in a world dominated by danger and duty.2. Question 2
What does the description of the silent dancing at the festival symbolize about the culture or atmosphere among the assassins?
Answer:
The silent dancing symbolizes a unique, almost ritualistic aspect of the assassin culture—one that values restraint, discipline, and shared understanding over outward expression. The absence of music, yet the continuation of dance, suggests a deep internal connection and a collective sense of purpose that doesn’t require words or sound. It reflects a culture where actions and unspoken bonds are more significant than outward displays of emotion. The muted celebration also underscores the solemnity and secrecy inherent in their world, where even moments of joy are tinged with quiet intensity and restraint. This atmosphere of controlled emotion highlights the complex nature of their lives, balancing danger with fleeting moments of camaraderie.3. Question 3
In what ways does Celaena’s interaction with Ilias at the festival reveal her internal conflict and her attitude toward social interactions?
Answer:
Celaena’s hesitant interaction with Ilias—shaking her head and giving a dramatic shrug—demonstrates her discomfort and uncertainty about engaging in social dances, which she perceives as unfamiliar or perhaps unnecessary given her focus on her training and imminent departure. Her attempt to avoid the dance by pointing to his feet indicates her reluctance to fully participate in the festivities or to reveal her vulnerabilities. Ilias’s playful encouragement, “Live a little,” suggests he sees her potential for enjoyment and connection that she is hesitant to embrace. This exchange reflects her internal conflict: she longs for genuine moments of connection but is also cautious due to her guarded nature and the dangerous circumstances surrounding her life. It illustrates her struggle between retreating into her armor and daring to experience joy.4. Question 4
Analyze how Celaena’s feelings about her upcoming departure and her relationship with Arobynn influence her actions and mindset during the festival.
Answer:
Celaena’s thoughts about leaving and her strained relationship with Arobynn create a sense of urgency and emotional tension that color her experience of the festival. Her desire to spend every moment training with her Master shows her determination to prepare for her future, but her feelings of longing and impending separation make her cherish fleeting moments of friendship and normalcy more intensely. Her decision to secretly secure her own apartment indicates her growing independence and her resolve to escape Arobynn’s control, especially after the abuse she endured. Her internal resolve not to return to Rifthold without her friends and her anger toward Arobynn’s actions reveal her desire for autonomy and justice. These conflicting emotions—hope, anger, vulnerability—drive her to seek small acts of defiance and moments of joy amid her turbulent circumstances.5. Question 5
How does the chapter illustrate the theme of fleeting innocence and the contrast between the characters’ external appearances and internal realities?
Answer:
The chapter depicts moments of innocence through the festival and Celaena’s playful interactions with Ansel and Ilias, highlighting a rare glimpse of vulnerability and human connection in their otherwise dangerous lives. The silent dancing, the shared wine, and Celaena’s light-hearted threats show their attempts to hold onto normalcy and joy. However, these scenes are contrasted sharply by the undercurrents of tension, fear, and unresolved conflict—such as Celaena’s anxiety about her departure, her concerns about Arobynn’s influence, and her internal anger. The characters’ external appearances—Ansel’s beauty, Celaena’s poised facade, Ilias’s charming demeanor—mask deeper emotional struggles and the harsh realities they face. This juxtaposition emphasizes that beneath their composed exteriors lie complex, often fragile, internal worlds shaped by danger, betrayal, and the longing for freedom.
Quotes
1. “Besides being useful for my work, it’s fun.”
This quote highlights Celaena’s attitude toward her daily grooming routine, emphasizing that her personal care is intertwined with her identity and work as an assassin, while also revealing her capacity to find joy in routine moments.
2. “If you don’t shut up, I’ll draw a mustache on you.”
This playful threat underscores the close, teasing relationship between Celaena and Ansel, illustrating the human moments of camaraderie amidst their dangerous lives, and showcasing Celaena’s lighter side.
3. “You’re going to have to wash it all off.”
This moment reveals Celaena’s honest self-assessment and her desire to appear better, which reflects her inner conflict and her awareness of her own appearance and confidence, especially on her birthday and Midsummer Eve.
4. “And all of them, including Ansel, were totally silent. The moon provided the only light, silhouetting the date trees swaying along the courtyard walls.”
This description captures the eerie, almost surreal atmosphere of the festival, emphasizing the silent, ritualistic nature of the gathering and the sense of mystery and otherworldliness.
5. “If Arobynn ever laid a hand on her or Sam again, she’d see to it that he lost that hand. Actually, she’d see to it that he lost everything up to the elbow.”
This powerful declaration underscores Celaena’s resolve to protect those she cares about and her willingness to take extreme action against her oppressors, marking a significant moment of her growing strength and defiance.