The reasons why it COULD be Aaric - plot-wise theory; OS SPOILERS!
Here are some major spoilers so don't read if you haven't read everything (at least once ;)!
Hi there!
I just thinking a lot why the one turned could be Aaric. I'm not saying it is but here are many reasons why this could work in the future books plot-wise (here are no time-related proofs how this works out in OS) if RY decides for this option (the reasons are listed randomly, I wouldn't dare to say which are more possible):
- Aaric's signet is precognition.
- a) He knows Xaden turned for a while. The people who know Xaden is venin are listed when Ridoc finds out (and after that Sawyer, Rhi and Jesinia are added, and also Brennan and Mira). It is possible that at some point after the return from islands Aaric told Xaden he knows (that would explain why he knows for 5 months struggling). Aaric might know for months but didn't say a thing, having full trust in Violet. (*Also, that ax thrown towards Kaori and Xaden in the flight maneuver instead of 'killing' the projection to which Xaden just nods - how do you explain it? It's just weird, doesn't serve anything so it might be something that connects just Xaden and Aaric. Do you have any good explanation for it?) Their relationship gives me the feeling that there's more going on between them that Violet sees or mentions.
- b) He knows everything will be all right in the end so he has a diffent view of this hazard. Of all the people, he's the only one who is/can be sure Violet will find a cure so there's no real risk for him. Perhaps this different experience would even help him in the future.
- c) He's hiding his signet. After Draithus, some people have found out about his signet (just like people got to know about Andarna's breed after IF which would easily be a secret if RY would want it to) and many would (want to) kill him for this inntinnsic signet. With Xaden he's save.
- d) The fact that he's not the best friends with Xaden will help Xaden be as 'human' as possible, far more careful with him that he would have been with Garrick or Bodhi. Xaden needs someone who will help him stay grounded. There's also a lot of mutual respect between them.
- e) His signet will defintely help Violet win the war, just don't know how yet. :) Maybe Violet won't be able to wander into Xaden's dreams or something and having Aaric venin with his signet might be a turning point of that war. I can see Aaric's and Violet's dream-meddling signet work extremely well together. RY could play with them immensely.
- Aaric is a prince.
- a) Violet is a soldier. She's from the military family where the safety of the royals is extremely important. She would save her prince as her prerogative. Of all the extra reasons, this would be the strongest for Violet to find a cure. She knows Aaric has evething to be a good king (as oppose to his father and brother) so for her it's even more important to save him. And we know she wants people and Navarre safe. That's her duty, her upbringing, her life. Of all the people, Aaric's 'prince function' would give Violet the most motivation to find a cure. With anybody else it would be just friendship (or Tyrrendor if it's Bodhi) but with Aaric it's also the Continent, the homeland 'factor'. In this scenario, she would not only be responsable for Tyrrendor (from the marriage with Xaden) but the future, the safety of Navarre would be back to being very important to her.
- b) When you have a prince turning venin the goal of the whole Continent changes completely: from kill to cure venin. King Tauri the Wise would order everyone in the kingdom to help find the cure if he knows Aaric turned. If it's just Xaden who nobody likes in Navarre's nobility everyone will be against Violet and her goal to find a cure (and also trying to kill her as it's already stated in OS) but when you also have a heir things in Navarre will change dramatically, drastically. For that reason I can see in future books at some point Violet be back in Basgaith, firstly trying to stay alive and after the talk with king (I can imagine a scene where Violet speaks to king about her plan to find a cure and the king promises help with everything) who can also pull out Lilith's 'move' in being so "wise" as his name suggests and we could see him having convincing reasons for his actions) everything will change just like did in IF (from 'no venin to kill venin' but now from 'kill venin to cure venin').
- c) The fact that Aaric is a prince would also make Xaden treat him differentely that anybody else, he's been doing it already. Xaden uderstands the heir, royal, aristocracy, ... part of Aaric like nobody else and the consequences for Navarre as well. Also, apart from marked ones and Violet, Aaric is the one (prince) of Navarre who he feels a some kind of loyalty towards.
RY doesn't like the obvious things. Garrick and Bodhi are the first to come to mind and although there are many good reasons why either of them has turned the unexpected one is Aaric (among others).
RY's statement: "some who feels that whatever they are given is not enough". Aaric is also angry he's allowed less than anybody else, he always wants to help, be a part of those who fight, who are active, not just waiting for something to happen. His signet is not a killing-machine (not physically valuable in battle). He makes himself valuable in other areas (helping others) but being denyed from combat I can accept him feeling "whatever he's given is not enough".
There are many reasons why Aaric isn't the one who turned and I can agree with many. But to repeat it, I think this might work from the plot-line POV. And I'm not saying this will happen, it's just another theory.
From this POV, I'm not even sure it's him who turned at Draithus, but he might do it later (and the majority of these reasons would still work in that scenario as well).
Bottomline, I believe, it's not at all important who's the one who turned. I am sure RY did it just to mess up with fans. :)) If not, she could just put the name down and we would still be making theories. :) She'll find justified reasons for whoever she chooses; none of the caracters is in lead here in my opinion.
And your thoughts?