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Nanea writes...

I apologize if this has already been covered. I didn't see it, but I wouldn't be surprised if I missed it.

My inquiry is about the Magus-Katharine-Tom relationship. I normally hate love triangles because in every love triangle, there is one who loses so there is a built-in "ouch" factor for me. But in the case of Magus-Katharine-Tom, was there ever an opportunity for the Magus to win Katharine? Or were his feelings entirely one-sided which would make it all the sadder? Or if there was a chance, did he doom himself due to his feelings of inadequacy (as he relates to Elisa) or more due to his feelings of guilt for what he had done and a feeling that he did not deserve happiness?

To me, the Magus is such a tragic character because he seems the most guilt-ridden over the part he played in 994AD. Consequently, he takes on a huge amount of the burden of responsibility (and seems to be the only one to takes immediate responsibility). Yet, he appears to pay such a high price. He lives in what seems to be a state of self-flagellation as he banishes himself from the world and gives up the basis of his chosen trade to honor his service to the princess as well as honor his word to Goliath, only to watch the love of his life marry another. Finally, he spends the remainder of his days in relative seclusion.

Goodness, but the above is sad, but I think it is what makes this series so different. It didn't flinch from the melancholy.

Thanks for your time.

Greg responds...

You're very welcome. Thanks for the nice comments. I think your analysis is pretty dead on.

I think maybe the Magus might have had a chance with Katharine had he asserted himself earlier on. When the three of them first began their exile on Avalon, it would hardly have been surprising if the two of them had "married", treating Tom as their foster son.

But the COMBINATION of the Magus' feelings of guilt and inadequacy (on a number of levels) combined to prevent him from making a first move. She wasn't raised to make that move either.

It's hard to say if she ever felt as deeply about him (romantically) as he felt about her. Probably not. But the potential might have been there had he been even slightly direct about his feelings.

Response recorded on April 14, 2003