As an Arwen shipper there was plenty I disliked about this episode too. That said I do appreciate this story, good job.

Firstly, I'm sorry to see that no-one has yet reviewed this story, which is a shame, as it is definitely worthy of (positive) feedback!

Secondly, I really hated the way they took the Gwen/Lancelot storyline in Ep.4.09 and totally agree that robbing the characters of any feelings / choice in the matter was a very bad move. Having Gwen under enchantment was a bad enough cop-out, but having Lancelot not even alive to have a say in the matter was, IMHO, unforgiveable (and "killing" him again in the same episode - twice if you count his brief revival/expiry at the end - was totally adding insult to injury).

BTW, I liked your rather poignant reference to how Gwen "feels the life leaving Lancelot's body". As a matter of interest, was Gwen's awareness that he had died (or lack of awareness thereof)ever addressed in the following episodes? I have to ask, since I was so put off by Ep4.09 that I couldn't watch the rest of the season, although I did hear that the enchntment / shade aspects of the "betrayal" were not addressed further beyond the end of that episode.