Laudna is just so full of love, and I think up until now, she just hasn’t known where to put it. Ever since the Solstice, I think she’s been realizing that, specifically since she was separated from Imogen. I just want to look at this for a second…
I’ve just been thinking about Laudna towering over Imogen as she’s in her Form of Dread, protective of Imogen when she was injured, nearly dead, the ferocity and fearlessness with which she stared down Extovass. “Lets go, bitch.” She was ready to do whatever it took to protect Imogen.
Then I go to think about how just days prior, Laudna was towering over Bor'Dor as she was in her Form of Dread, defensive of her friends as he cowered beneath her injured, nearly dead, with anger and confusion in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I just can’t stand having anyone else betray me.” She was doing whatever it took to protect her friends.
One Form of Dread. Two different outcomes. Two different sides to Laudna.
Laudna, who was internally afraid she was a bad person, being kissed by Imogen. Laudna, who just listened to Imogen confess that she’s afraid if the moon disappears, so will she. Laudna, who has been tortured and tormented for many years, “your friends will betray you,” asking Imogen “do you trust me,” as she runs and jumps off a roof with her.
Here she is, showing the girl who has shown her the most kindness and compassion in her entire existence, the highest kindness she can possibly show in this moment: her own body. Standing up to Extovass, just like she stood up to Bor'Dor, ready for a fight, ready to defend, not backing down.
Laudna is gonna save the world one of these days, and she’s gonna do it out of love. It may not be grandiose, it may not be extravagant. It may not even be noticeable, but it will. Her love for her friends, her love for Imogen, is her biggest strength. Orym’s seen it. I’m sure the others have too.
But now she’s coming into it, and it’s shown in her defense and shielding of Imogen. She was ready to go down with Imogen, knowing she was just as vulnerable, she was prepared to go down swinging. Thankfully, she didn’t have to this time, but she showed that she was ready to then, and she’ll do it again if she has to.
The idea of letting Imogen go without a fight? Pft, Over her dead body.
Imogen definitely fell first, but Laudna is falling harder. And it’s that love she’s falling into that is going to end up saving them somehow in the end.
