So what you are saying is that going through the fire didn't exactly
change her so much as make her
more herself, meaning intensified what was already there? So the fact that she was an already caring, loving, and compassionate woman became sort of sharper, more defined, as if the Fire took what it found within her and magnified it. A very interesting theory, Krin.
So what about the others? Can we examine them as well using this theory? Perhaps some of the more dormant characteristics they already had were also intensified in the Fire. For instance, Achmed never seemed to care about much of anyone, besides maybe Grunthor, before the trip through the Root, yet afterward he decided to become the leader of a people that he does seem to genuinely care about. And Grunthor, well he already had a sort of soft side that we see first in the Root, with the way he'd have Rhapsody sleep close to him to help stave off some of her dreams and protect her from falling. Perhaps what happened was that these characters did not change so much as became more fully themselves, or at least more fully what the Fire (and Rhapsody through her song) saw them as. So, I guess what I am saying is that I think you might be correct.
And I think you are dead on correct about the balance within Rhapsody. I think that the balance began with her study as first a Singer and then a Namer, but the Fire must have awakened both of its natures, both the negative and positive aspects of the element, to full attention within her during her walk and communion with the Fires at the center of the Earth. Of all the characters, Rhapsody is the most balanced. Perhaps what we see as her not seeing the big picture is really us not seeing the smaller picture. She sees people almost from within sometimes. Did you notice that? Look at Achmed. Why would she put up with all his crap? He's really been a jerk to her a great deal of the time, yet she loves him. And Ashe? Why should she put up with his erratic behavior? I think both answers are the same: Rhapsody sees within each man and loves them as they really are, behind all they show the outer world. She's not a psychic, but she can sense inherent goodness, perhaps.
I think nearly everyone has at some point commented on being annoyed by how oblivious Rhapsody is to her own beauty. But imagine if she wasn't. What you'd have had was a very different woman much more akin to...someone I cannot mention in the Destiny thread. LOL Let's just leave it to this: it'd be a freaking nightmare!
![Indifferent [:|]](/emoticons/emotion-8.gif)
I'd like to see it too, Krin.
Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)