Two plus two is Starborn

[Dina]

Carrying on the conspiracy theory of Uriel somehow creating the scenario for Malcolm and Maggie getting in love, I would propose that he also created the chance for Harry to meet Michael and, by extension, other Knights. While I agree with all of you that Malcolm is a significant part of what made Harry a "good starborn" I do not want to overlook Michael's influence. In my opinion, Malcolm shaped Harry because he was with him in his first years. And then, after Harry proved to have the potential to be a force for good, Michael was on his path. I imagine that is what people say "God put him in his path" and it could be true in this case.

[Tinfoil hat]

Uriel can't mess with free will..  He can perhaps bring two people to the dance floor, but he cannot make them dance with one another..

True you cant force people to dance but you can treak the circumstances of the meeting to make them receptive to the idea. The sun setting at just the right angle, the wind blowing gently enough to make you notice something that you may overlook on any other day.
Im not saying a plant in the way that Uriel forced Malcolm and Margie Sr to fall for each other. Just make sure they meet on the right day , at the right time to fall for each other.

[Mira]

I imagine that is what people say "God put him in his path" and it could be true in this case.

I agree with Dina on this, however the free will ice gets very thin at this point..  However if the Boss give the orders, I imagine Uriel is then free to tweak the conditions conducive to the desired outcome.  Uriel sort of said how that worked back in Changes when he told Harry he could heal his back, but he wasn't allowed to.  Uriel could very well have made a gust of wind blow just as Kincaid shot his rifle, just enough to blow the bullet off course enough that yeah, it hit Harry's heart but it wasn't instantly fatal.

[peterwiggin94]

Even if Uriel doesn't interfere with Malcom and Margaret getting together, he could still do a lot of things to help cause a "good starborn". Harry describes Malcolm and Harry being fairly isolated while traveling the countryside. Uriel could protect and shelter them from most threats to ensure that Harry's most formative years are spent with Malcolm. I'd be surprised if Uriel didn't help out with Harry's gift in Christmas Eve. He could have helped supply the memories.

[g33k]

True you cant force people to dance but you can treak the circumstances of the meeting to make them receptive to the idea. The sun setting at just the right angle, the wind blowing gently enough to make you notice something that you may overlook on any other day.
Im not saying a plant in the way that Uriel forced Malcolm and Margie Sr to fall for each other. Just make sure they meet on the right day , at the right time to fall for each other.

Also I think Uriel has a "see into the heart" ability.  He knew when Margaret, on the run, might be receptive to the kindness of a good man.

Remember Ebenezer's testimony about Malcolm -- the best man he ever knew.
Imagine what it would be like for someone escaping a shark like Raith to Soulgaze someone like that...

[Mira]

Also I think Uriel has a "see into the heart" ability.  He knew when Margaret, on the run, might be receptive to the kindness of a good man.

Remember Ebenezer's testimony about Malcolm -- the best man he ever knew.
Imagine what it would be like for someone escaping a shark like Raith to Soulgaze someone like that...

Also meeting Malcolm changed Margaret's whole outlook. We have Chauncy's testimony on that one, he told Harry that they were waiting to receive his mother, and then something changed and she was lost to them.. Who or what was that? Malcolm.

[g33k]

Also meeting Malcolm changed Margaret's whole outlook. We have Chauncy's testimony on that one, he told Harry that they were waiting to receive his mother, and then something changed and she was lost to them.. Who or what was that? Malcolm. 

I think very likely Malcolm was -- in her whole life, amongst scores or hundreds of Soulgazes -- the very first time Margaret gazed upon a genuinely good, kindly, loving soul.

I think that "restored her faith in humanity" -- possibly restored her faith in Creation itself.
 

[Mira]

I think very likely Malcolm was -- in her whole life, amongst scores or hundreds of Soulgazes -- the very first time Margaret gazed upon a genuinely good, kindly, loving soul.

I think that "restored her faith in humanity" -- possibly restored her faith in Creation itself.

  I think it goes deeper than that, I think Margaret would have a need to do the soul gaze in the first place.

[Talby16]

I think very likely Malcolm was -- in her whole life, amongst scores or hundreds of Soulgazes -- the very first time Margaret gazed upon a genuinely good, kindly, loving soul.

I think that "restored her faith in humanity" -- possibly restored her faith in Creation itself.

I like the idea that a genuinely good soul might have changed Margaret. I also would like to toss in another potential aspect. When Harry gazed Molly he saw potential futures for her. What if something similar happened to Margaret? She saw a Good Soul and also saw ways that Good Soul might be used in the future. She might have saw the potential for a future where together they were a positive force for change. Just a WAG.

[Mira]

I like the idea that a genuinely good soul might have changed Margaret. I also would like to toss in another potential aspect. When Harry gazed Molly he saw potential futures for her. What if something similar happened to Margaret? She saw a Good Soul and also saw ways that Good Soul might be used in the future. She might have saw the potential for a future where together they were a positive force for change. Just a WAG.

  That soul would be Malcolm.   It's not a stretch that when they met and were attracted to one another they soul gazed.  Now it could have been "accidental," it happens, even to Harry at this time, a guard is dropped, eyes make contact, and the gaze begins.   Sometimes it can be stopped, other times not so easily.  I used the italics for accidental because someone like Uriel may have set Margaret up for that very thing! And yes, just as Margaret saw all the good in him, he saw the possibity of redemption and goodness in her, and was able to let her see that in herself.

[g33k]

... Now it could have been "accidental," it happens, even to Harry at this time, a guard is dropped, eyes make contact, and the gaze begins.   Sometimes it can be stopped, other times not so easily ...

Yes; although Margaret was hugely more-experienced than Harry, at that point.  IIRC she was well over 100 years old, plus being the most-experienced Waywalker the White Council knew of (with all that implies for meeting strange beings and needing to avoid gazes).

... I used the italics for accidental because someone like Uriel may have set Margaret up for that very thing! And yes, just as Margaret saw all the good in him, he saw the possibity of redemption and goodness in her, and was able to let her see that in herself.

Lots of scenarios.

Maybe she fell ordinarily in-love, or just deep respect; and at some point when Malcolm was really down & depressed he expressed (to his dear friend Margaret) that he "really, really wished there was real magic in the world," and she decided to show him that in fact there was.

[Mira]

Lots of scenarios.

Maybe she fell ordinarily in-love, or just deep respect; and at some point when Malcolm was really down & depressed he expressed (to his dear friend Margaret) that he "really, really wished there was real magic in the world," and she decided to show him that in fact there was.

Yes, lots of senarios and just because something seems logical, it doesn't mean it happened.  The biggest example of that is Harry and Murphy, yes, Harry had seen her with his sight, and had an idea of what she was really like, but that was before Changes, where he did make her a Holy Knight for a day, based on that view and the Sword's reaction to her in Small Favor.  Yet even after falling in love, having a sexual relationship, Harry didn't even attempt a soul gaze until she was dying.. It was very incomplete, didn't really tell us anything about her that we didn't already know or guess, and nothing about Harry.  What I am trying to say is though Eb soul gazed Malcolm, he says he did, there is really not proof that Margaret and Malcolm ever soul gazed.  Also just because they were in love, it doesn't mean that they did.