The very first drawing of Rhen Pendragon and Dameon Maurva that I was brave enough to post online! It looks very amateur and silly now, but I’m still proud of it because it took a lot of courage for me to share. Not just because it was among the first pieces of art I shared with the world, but also the fandom can be cruel sometimes and it can be really discouraging.
Luckily, my way was paved by a few brave artists before me. In 2015, Meroko aka Kurotsukikurosuki posted what I believe is the first RhenxDameon fanart that was shared online. It’s one of my favorite pieces to ever exist, and it represents a lot of courage and integrity as well as a huge amount of grace; no matter how ridiculed she or her art were, Meroko always responded kindly. I wish I could be half as tactful– but we’re all still growing, right?
And the art itself is gorgeous, warm and soft and it gives off a very intimate lovely vibe, you can feel how much Rhen and Dameon care for each other looking at it. Here’s a link: http://fav.me/d8khgl1
And in 2016, ame-saku of tumblr shared this: http://ame-saku.tumblr.com/image/139544118289
It’s tragic and melancholy and some might say almost dark but honestly, there is nothing dark about Rhen or Dameon, only a great capacity for sadness, and I think this piece shows that. They’ve both lost everything at this point. There’s no going back. There’s nothing but each other and their love, and they’re both so young and really almost naive when it comes to love, but it’s all they’ve got and they’ll hold onto it even if they lose their souls– which in this ending, they do, eventually. It’s chilling. It’s the most tragic story I’ve ever heard.
But I think that’s part of what makes the true ending so happy and beautiful. We get to see what they could have been, we know what their forms would have been if they gave in to the dark. But they didn’t. They don’t. A great capacity for sadness is also a great capacity for happiness. They believe in the light and when they can’t believe in that, they believe in each other, and themselves. And then they save the world. And they save themselves.
And they see the light again. And they’re given the choice to grow in it, to claim happiness even in the face of their fears. It’s the most beautiful story I’ve ever heard. Honestly, it might be the most beautiful story it’s even possible to tell, without going into real life. I’m so grateful to Amanda and the creators of Aveyond for being brave enough to tell it, and stand by it. I’m so grateful I got to know it.
When I’m sad, or stressed, or scared, I think of Rhen. I think of how brave and good she is and how she chose growth even when it was hard, and how she chose happiness because– she didn’t need a reason, she chose it, and it came to her. And I think of Dameon, and how he was always there for Rhen during the darkest parts of her story, like she was there for him, and how he is gentle and kind and full of integrity, how when it came down to it he chose the truth, at the cost of everything. How he chose love at the cost of everything, and found growth and happiness in the places emptiness used to dwell.
I think of these things, and I feel calm, and like maybe I can find happiness too, even if it’s hard. I remember that there are good people in the world, even if sometimes they are confused or frightened. I believe that love is real again. Rhen’s Quest gives me the courage to be a better, happier person, and that’s one of the most beautiful and important things a story can do. I’m forever grateful for it, and for Rhen, and for Dameon, and for RhenxDameon<3
Memory Caverns 