Arwen Valondale: The Last Full-Blooded Fae and Prophesied Savior

Overview

Arwen Valondale is the last full-blooded Fae alive and the prophesied wielder of the Blade of the Sun. Her story in A Promise of Peridot is shaped by two opposing forces: the crushing weight of grief and an unwillingness to abandon the people she loves. As the daughter of a Fae God and a mortal mother, she is a living prophecy—one that foretells her own death. Throughout the novel, Arwen struggles with emotional numbness, the temptation to hate Kane for his deception, and the burden of a fate she cannot escape.

Plot Role

Arwen is the central engine of the plot. The novel’s prophecy, delivered by the seer Ligeia, states that the king (Lazarus) can only die by Arwen’s hands, and that a sacrifice of the two full Fae is required to save both realms. Arwen’s search for the Blade of the Sun drives the journey to Citrine and Onyx, and her emotional arc—from numbness to acceptance—mirrors the book’s themes of prophecy and fate. In the climax, she leaps from a platform to confront Lazarus, believing only her death can end the war. The epilogue reveals she survives, imprisoned by Lazarus, who intends to force her to bear Fae heirs.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Arwen’s actions reveal a character torn between despair and duty. After her mother’s funeral, she feels only a “spark of fury” (Chapter 1) and chooses to hate Kane rather than face her pain. This emotional numbness is a defense mechanism against grief—a key aspect of grief and emotional numbness. Yet she also exhibits fierce protectiveness. When captured by Halden (Chapter 23), she refuses to reveal the blade’s location, even under threat of torture. Her motivation is not self-preservation but the safety of her companions. Later, she decides to teach Leigh sword-fighting, wanting to be “the frightening one” for her sister. This shift from numbness to action shows her growth.

Interpretation: While the text shows Arwen grappling with numbness, her decision to fight for others suggests that love—not just fate—drives her. She tells Kane, “I wouldn’t have changed a single thing” (Chapter 45), indicating acceptance.

Character Arc

Arwen’s arc moves from emotional paralysis to defiant sacrifice.

• Beginning (Chapters 1–2): She is numb, avoiding Kane, and angry at his lies. Her brother Ryder is seasick; her friend Mari is unconscious. She feels disconnected from everyone.
• Middle (Chapters 21–23): She is saved by pirates (Studs), captured by Halden, and learns painful truths about her birth and her mother. She discovers that Powell knew she was Fae and hated her for poisoning their mother. This revelation deepens her sense of isolation but also clarifies her purpose.
• Climax (Chapters 45–46): Arwen chooses to jump from the platform, embracing her fate. She tells Kane, “I don’t want to run anymore” and “This is how it has to be.”
• Epilogue: She wakes in Lazarus’s prison, bound by lilium ribbon. Despite her horror, she refuses his demands. Her hope is shattered, but her defiance remains.

Relationships

Kane: Their relationship is the emotional core. Kane admits his love is a “nightmare” because it threatens his revenge (Chapter 2). Arwen’s initial avoidance gives way to a night of intimacy at Shadowhold (Chapter 41). She confesses her love only when she believes she will die. Kane’s vow in Chapter 47—to find the White Crow, kill Lazarus, and join her in death—underscores their tragic bond.

Ryder and Leigh: Her brother Ryder is distant but protective; he later betrays their location to Amelia, leading to the ambush (Chapter 47). Leigh, her mortal sister, accuses Arwen of misdirecting grief and demands she be brave for the family. Arwen’s response—teaching Leigh to fight—shows her attempt to heal their relationship.

Mari and Griffin: Mari is a loyal friend who suffers a curse; Arwen carries her to Briar for healing. Griffin, Kane’s commander, respects her. These relationships ground Arwen in hope.

Halden: A former childhood friend turned enemy. He captures her but hesitates to torture her, revealing lingering sentiment. Arwen uses this knowledge (she knows he betrayed her) to steel herself.

Key Decisions and Consequences

1. Choosing to hate Kane (Chapter 1): Arwen deliberately suppresses her love to avoid pain. This isolates her and delays trust, but also preserves her focus on the mission.
2. Refusing to reveal the blade’s location to Halden (Chapter 23): Saves her allies but results in her capture and near-torture.
3. Leaping from the platform (Chapter 45): Intended to end the war and fulfill the prophecy. Consequence: Lazarus impales her, but she survives. Her sacrifice fails to kill him, and she becomes his prisoner.
4. Telling Mari the amulet’s secret (implied off-page): Keeps the amulet’s true nature hidden, which later allows her to trust Mari.
5. Agreeing to teach Leigh sword-fighting (Chapter 39): Strengthens their bond and gives Arwen a purpose beyond her own fate.

Theme and Symbol Connections

• Prophecy and Fate: The prophecy controls Arwen’s life. She is “the final full-blooded Fae” and the only one who can kill Lazarus. Yet she resists fate until the end, choosing how to die.
• Grief and Emotional Numbness: Her numbness after her mother’s death is a survival tactic. The text shows that confronting grief—not avoiding it—is necessary for healing.
• Love vs. Revenge: Kane’s love for Arwen conflicts with his desire for revenge. She becomes the reason he must choose mercy over vengeance.
• Trust and Betrayal: Arwen trusts Halden once and is betrayed; she trusts Kane again after he lied. Ryder’s betrayal deepens this theme.
• Vulnerability and Healing: Arwen learns that vulnerability is strength. Her scars (physical and emotional) are part of her identity. She tells Leigh bravery comes “from in here,” pointing to her heart.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Arwen choose to hate Kane in Chapter 1?
   She is emotionally numb after her mother’s funeral and finds it easier to direct her anger at Kane for lying than to feel her grief. This is a defense mechanism, as Leigh points out.

2. What does Arwen learn about her parents from Beth the seer?
   Beth reveals that Arwen’s father is a Fae God, and her mortal mother survived pregnancy only because Arwen’s healing abilities protected her. Powell knew the truth and feared Arwen was killing his wife.

3. How does Arwen’s relationship with Leigh change over the novel?
   Initially, Leigh is angry because Arwen won’t be brave for the family. Arwen later apologizes and offers to teach her swordplay, realizing Leigh needs her to be strong. This mends their bond.

4. What is the significance of the Blade of the Sun being in Onyx?
   Beth tells Arwen that the blade never left Onyx; it was hidden among discarded weapons. This means Arwen must return to the kingdom she fled to find her only hope of killing Lazarus.

5. Why does Arwen jump from the platform in Chapter 45?
   She decides to stop running and face Lazarus directly, believing she can kill him with the blade and end the war. She also wants to spare Kane from having to sacrifice himself as the White Crow. The cost is her own life—or so she believes.