A song for Arbonne Book

[If you think about it, we read on thinking that the main engine for events is a drama between two men who had the same woman - we are led on believing that only one loved her. We even pity the poor girl and her fate. But this is proven to be false! Firstly, Aelis what a horrible, spoiled brat that was! She ruined lives of two men, her own parents, and her cousin, and endangered the very existence of her country on a whim - not to mention the fact that she deprived her daughter of a father! two fathers in fact! grandparents... a proper family... everything, because in her sick head there was no place for anything save revenge and lack of forgiveness.

Her second victim was her lover, Bertrand, who carried the torch of her love for twenty-some years, even though the feeling continues against himself. This is the reason why he beds all the women he can; to find if not a replacement, then somebody who can make him forget, if only for one night. Undoubtedly Bertand is also a victim of this tragic love, just like his dead paramour.

He is also a victim because Aelis locked him within a world of hatred for her husband Urte. Urte and Bertand become like king and yang, unable to live lives independently of each other: "they needed each other to keep alive the clear, bitter memories of that long-ago year, to give each other, however inexplicable it might appear, a reason to continue living."

But Urte, Urte is the greatest victim. Only in the last chapter is it revealed that the portrait of a crude, unfeeling husband Aelis painted has been false. Urte loved all these years, but because he himself was more Gorhautian in demeanour and habits than Arbonnais nobody realised this was the case. He loved but was not loved in return. And Aelis attributed him only the hatred she felt. (hide spoiler)]