ldwechsler wrote:cthia wrote:I'd just like to interject something here for a moment.
All through the series I kept wondering why Honor never really had any memorable conversations with Prince Justin. Did I miss that some where? I recall thinking — when she was going through so much strife in her life and about to be cast out into the wilderness and exiled on Grayson — that she should go and have a talk with Justin.
"Come on Justin, why isn't the Queen there for me?"
Of course, she was there for her. Beth just had to make some tough calls. I had a hard time putting down resentment of Beth for not finding something to do to head off Honor's exile. But deep down inside I knew her hands were tied and that it was hurting her as much as it was hurting Honor. And that the tough calls she was making putting her Kingdom first above all else, is part and parcel to her integrity, her Soul of Steel, the very makeup that Honor found so worthy of her respect and devotion.
That's when it dawned on me that Honor and Justin never really had any memorable dialogue between them and I find that odd.
Queen Elizabeth III deserves much more applause and acknowledgement than she's gotten. I just never got a good read on Prince Justin and I longed for some tender, at least touching, at least memorable moments between he and Honor. I'll certainly have a fly on the wall APB out for such moments during a massive reread.
End of my party pooping reminiscing.
I think you're overdoing it a bit. First off, we don't know how much Justin is allowed to do. He undoubtedly met her at some point but it might well have been AFTER her exile.
People seemed to only take notice of her in a big way after Basilisk and even then she didn't meet the Queen right off. The queen felt she could not risk support for the war by supporting Honor even when it was clear the Lords were being insanely rebellious.
Chances are, Justin only met her far later in the time line...at least beyond formal occasions. I have the feeling things really changed after Honor came back from Cerberus. That's when she and the Queen really began to meet.
Perhaps. Maybe. If so, blame it on the surplus of surplussed compassion my maker thought it necessary I have.
Beth became very close to Honor. It is hard to imagine that she wouldn't have introduced her to Justin. And it is likewise difficult to imagine that Justin wouldn't have wanted to meet her. Who wouldn't want to meet Harrington, or certainly the Salamander? There are times — like the Grayson exile — when I thought a few words of encouragement from Justin might have been just what Honor needed and would have stood her in good stead. Informal enough to not have come from Beth, whose hands were tied, but significant enough to soothe her demons. That's how I feel anyway.
I knew how much Honor was hurting. Like I've said before on the forum... one of my teachers said "You've got an uncanny ability to be the character. Don't ever lose that."
I could feel Honor's pain. Imagine being someone whose every fiber of your being is altruistic and pure at its core. Honor did right by her Star Kingdom, her Queen, her crew, her upbringing, her family and her friends. Always. She did the right thing regardless of the personal cost to her person or her career. She'd give a limb, an eye, her life, her uniform, her career, to do what is right. And she didn't care
what who thought of her while she was doing it, as long as she felt it was the right thing, in the Honor of her Queen and Kingdom.
Yet, when it all went south politically, how so you think she felt being exiled? How would you have felt after all you had done? And then there was Hamish who pounced on her too. It must have felt like the whole phucking world was out to get her -- in defense of, and instead of, that lowlife cretin Pavel Young. She might have known better intellectually. But, being a woman — during that very emotional time — intellectuality ain't got a damn thing to do with it. Honor was a broken mess when she arrived on Grayson. I almost feel as bad for the Graysons having to witness it, having to witness what had befallen her. Someone they loved as much as their own mother.
The RMN could have really lost Harrington during those cold, cruel years. Anyway, I kept wondering what Justin felt about it. I know he simply had to have listened to his wife rant about what was happening to Honor. Beth had a helluva temper. And I know she must have blistered the paint off the walls of the Palace on many occasions. I can't imagine being in Justin's shoes and not shedding a tear. And at least wanting to meet Honor and show his well-earned respect for her, while offering a few words of encouragement. Honor could have used all she could get before departing her beloved Star Kingdom.
And, if Justin had had any kind of relationship with her, perhaps he could have been the better choice to talk her out of putting a bullet in the much deserved head of Pavel Young's.
No, I don't think he would have had a chance either. But still.
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