I’m conflicted about Arobynn…

This post contains spoilers.

Just finished KoA last night at 2 am so my thoughts and reactions are still trickling in…

first let me preface this by saying Arobynn is an evil bastard, and his death was so incredibly satisfying when it finally came. Especially after he played his final hand, slipping that fake wyrdstone ring on Aelin, showing what his intentions have always been (wanting to possess her and have ultimate control over her). Fuck him the most.

But it got me thinking… in a twisted way he is responsible for contributing to Aelin’s success as a warrior. In a big way. Trust me, the last thing I would want to do is give this guy credit, but he did train her from childhood to become the kingdom’s most feared assassin. Aelin is a honed weapon thanks to the skills he provided her with. She was able to learn hand to hand combat, how to master different weapons, how to manipulate her marks, how to withstand torture, etc. Which were all crucial skills leading her to her path on the throne.

Don’t get me wrong, the last thing I would want to do is give him a sliver of credit for her success, yet I can’t completely ignore the fact that he played a major role in it. It’s toxic and messed up.

So here’s my observation:

I just realized that in the final act when Aelin defeated Maeve, she took a move STRAIGHT out of Arobynn’s playbook by slipping the gold ring on her while she was distracted which destroyed the Valg inside her. Had he not tried to manipulate her that way months ago, would she have thought of that same tactic? Did he plant the idea in her mind, that saved the world?

Thoughts?!