Okay, I've written another song...

[catsittingstill]

And this one is also about a character from the Temeraire series, and as such contains some spoilers. It's about a character we meet in _Throne of Jade_ but includes some information about her we get in _The Black Powder War_



Lien's Song
Lyrics and melody by Catherine Faber

From here to his grave, there lie ten thousand li,
And ten thousand more between vengeance and me,
Ten thousand years won't see hatred undone;
I shake out my wings and step into the sun.

People walk wide of me, lonely and proud
The color of mourning, the white of a shroud,
Ill-omened my aspect; my shadow they shun,
I shake out my wings and step into the sun.

Though royally hatched, of the Celestial line,
And a scholar of note, yet no companion was mine,
A prince left his throne; my life from exile he won
I shake out my wings and step into the sun.

You turned on my prince and left him murdered and blind.
What can foreigners fathom of the love of the mind,
As from ten thousand cobwebs mighty cable were spun?
I shake out my wings and step into the sun.

Your countries are verdant, they are wealthy and fair
If they perish in agony, what do I care?
For under all Heaven I have loved only one;
I shake out my wings and step into the sun.

Comments

[almeda.livejournal.com]

I was so strongly affected by this that I thought, no, too strong, don't comment, wait to see what other people say.

And then they didn't.

So lest you think we all skimmed past it or hated it ... I didn't. I really didn't.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

:-) I'm glad you liked it. I like the way Lien has good reasons for what she does.

[almeda.livejournal.com]

I love it when authors have enough (faith in us and their characters), or perhaps (skill at writing) or (strength of imagination and empathy) to acknowledge that, in a different story, this story's antagonists would be right, good, and strong.

It's like the seven blind men and the elephant: it's all about which bit you get hold of first.

Sorry about the parentheses, just trying ot make it a little less incoherently rambly. :->

:D

[zzzgoogynoober]

Very nice song! I like it.

Re: :D

[catsittingstill]

Thank you.

Re: :D

[zzzgoogynoober]

You're welcome! Nice to see that Lien has own fans like Temeraire. ;)

Re: :D

[catsittingstill]

I am not sure I qualify as a Lien fan; I actually tend to root for Temeraire. It's more that I found her motivations realistic and compelling and was moved by the poem she left at the gate out of China (I forget its name now.) I would like to see her happier--but not at the cost of her getting her wish.