Claire worries about Mandy in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 115
It’s Independence Day in the Colonies, but all Claire can think about is Mandy in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 115. That is until Jamie and Ian come in with stories of their fight.
We know the only way to save Mandy is by her heading to the 20th century. Heart surgery would be dangerous, but it would be far less risky than allowing this baby to grow up with her defect. She just isn’t going to survive if the family does nothing.
However, time travel isn’t easy. It’s going to be dangerous in itself, and then there are all the gems that they need to collect. Up to this point, Bree and Roger had decided to remain in the past. Claire had also made that decision. The family could start to use their gems for cash, but now they need the gems back.
The chapter hasn’t been used in the series just yet. I’m not sure if we’ll see everything play out. After all, the show has ever really made the laws around time travel the same. Instead of multiple gems, people just need one gem to travel in the series. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
As for foreshadowing, I guess there is a little. It all comes down to Mandy’s future.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 115.
Just the Outlander chapter
While it is Independence Day in the Colonies, Claire isn’t thinking about that. She is worried about a sleeping Mandy. The only option is to get Mandy to the 20th century. When Claire left in 1968, heart surgery was still risky, especially on an infant. She’s likely assuming that medicine will have grown considerably within the last 10 years, which makes sense considering the growth she will have seen from the 1950s to the 1960s.
Before she can think too much, Jamie and Ian come into the room laughing. They have been in a fight, and they used a fish as a weapon. I love seeing the bonding between uncle and nephew. I would love to see more of this humorous bonding in the TV show now that we have some of the weighted storylines out of the way.
It turns out Young Ian put something up his nose during the fight for safekeeping. Now he can’t get it out. Claire uses snuff to make Ian sneeze it out. It’s a sherry-colored gem, which Ian knew was necessary for time travel. He got it from Forbes, although did he take it, blackmail for it, or was it given? We don’t get to find out.
Despite all the commotion, Mandy hasn’t woken up. I’m always surprised when reading this since my two seemed to wake up from the slightest noise. However, I know a lot of babies that sleep through everything!
At the end, Jamie holds the gem over Mandy’s crib. She reaches up for it without waking up, making it very clear that she can time travel.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
We knew from Jemmy that Mandy could time travel. This scene here foreshadows that he’s right. Mandy reaches for the gem in her sleep. Only those who will be connected to time traveling is sure to do something like that.
I think this does foreshadow that the family will get through the stones. There’s something extra special about Mandy, and it’s going to help the entire family.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
The chapter hasn’t been used in the TV series, and I’m not sure if it will. I know there are some complaints that the show changed some of the rules around time travel from the book, but the changes don’t bother me. In a TV show, there isn’t as much time for explanations. It makes sense to keep things as simple as possible, and having the “gem is required for time travel” does make the most sense to utilize the book’s rules while keeping it simple for the series.
So, I don’t think we’ll see any of Ian getting the gem. However, we might see Jamie hold the gem over Mandy’s crib to show us that she is connected. I just don’t see the need for the whole chapter when it comes to the TV show. What about you?
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 115? Let us know in the comments below.
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