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Sween Myth-tery of Life :: Asprin Robert
Страница: 94 из 110You aren't going into it with the notion of reforming her, or that she'd give up her throne to hover around you adoringly, or any one of a myriad of other false hopes or assumptions that most grooms have on the way to the altar."
"I suppose that's good," I said.
"Good? It's vital," the troll insisted. "Too many people marry the person they think their partner will become. They have some sort of idea that a marriage ceremony is somehow magical. That it will eliminate all the dubious traits and habits their partner had when they were single. That's about as unrealistic as if you had expected Aahz to stop being a money-grubber or to shed his temper just because you signed on as an apprentice. Anyway, when their partner keeps right on being the person he or she has been all along, they feel hurt and betrayed. Since they believe that there should have been a change, the only conclusion they can reach is that their love wasn't enough to trigger it ... or, more likely, that there's something wrong with their partner. That's when marriages start getting bloody. At least with Queen Hemlock's proposal, nobody's kidding anybody about what's going to happen."
I mulled over his words for a few moments.
"So you're saying that you think I should marry Queen Hemlock," I said.
"Here now. Hold on," the troll said, leaning back and holding up his hands. "I said no such thing. That's the kind of decision that only you can make. I was just commenting on what I see as the more common pitfalls of marriage, is all. If you do decide to marry the Queen, there are certain aspects that would weigh in favor of it working ... but you're the one who has to decide what you want out of a marriage and whether or not this is it."
Terrific. I had been hoping that Chumley's analytic approach would simplify things for me. Instead, he had simply added a wagon load of other factors to be considered. I needed that like Deva needed more merchants.
"Well, I appreciate the input, Chumley," I said, rising from my seat. "You've given me a lot to think about."
"Think nothing of it, old boy. Glad to help."
"And you're all set with the assignment? Guido told you how to hook up with Pookie?"
"Right-o."
I started to go, but paused for one more question.
"By the way, Chumley. Have you ever been married yourself?"
"Me?" the troll seemed genuinely surprised. "Gracious no. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," I said, and headed out the door.
Chapter Seventeen:
"What am I supposed to do with all this gold?"
MIDAS, REX
AT THIS POINT, I had to admit that I was more confused than ever. It seemed that everyone I talked to had a different view of marriage, which wasn't making my decision any easier.
"I suppose that's good," I said.
"Good? It's vital," the troll insisted. "Too many people marry the person they think their partner will become. They have some sort of idea that a marriage ceremony is somehow magical. That it will eliminate all the dubious traits and habits their partner had when they were single. That's about as unrealistic as if you had expected Aahz to stop being a money-grubber or to shed his temper just because you signed on as an apprentice. Anyway, when their partner keeps right on being the person he or she has been all along, they feel hurt and betrayed. Since they believe that there should have been a change, the only conclusion they can reach is that their love wasn't enough to trigger it ... or, more likely, that there's something wrong with their partner. That's when marriages start getting bloody. At least with Queen Hemlock's proposal, nobody's kidding anybody about what's going to happen."
I mulled over his words for a few moments.
"So you're saying that you think I should marry Queen Hemlock," I said.
"Here now. Hold on," the troll said, leaning back and holding up his hands. "I said no such thing. That's the kind of decision that only you can make. I was just commenting on what I see as the more common pitfalls of marriage, is all. If you do decide to marry the Queen, there are certain aspects that would weigh in favor of it working ... but you're the one who has to decide what you want out of a marriage and whether or not this is it."
Terrific. I had been hoping that Chumley's analytic approach would simplify things for me. Instead, he had simply added a wagon load of other factors to be considered. I needed that like Deva needed more merchants.
"Well, I appreciate the input, Chumley," I said, rising from my seat. "You've given me a lot to think about."
"Think nothing of it, old boy. Glad to help."
"And you're all set with the assignment? Guido told you how to hook up with Pookie?"
"Right-o."
I started to go, but paused for one more question.
"By the way, Chumley. Have you ever been married yourself?"
"Me?" the troll seemed genuinely surprised. "Gracious no. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious," I said, and headed out the door.
Chapter Seventeen:
"What am I supposed to do with all this gold?"
MIDAS, REX
AT THIS POINT, I had to admit that I was more confused than ever. It seemed that everyone I talked to had a different view of marriage, which wasn't making my decision any easier.