The Republic of Heaven

was it just a coincedence that it happened at the same time

No, the onset of puberty caused both.

I'm not sure; the all-knowing narrator definitely said that the touch of a lover's hand meant that the daemons would never want to change again.

But that would mean kids who didn't fall in love wouldn't have their daemons settle.

I assume ones that do the Will and Lyra thing have theirs settle like that, those that don't just have the usual puberty stick.

but the onset of puberty allowed them to be aware being in love with each other?

they fell in love when mary told the marzipan story

pjmaster wrote:they fell in love when mary told the marzipan story

No, that was when they realized they loved each other.
On that respect, can anyone reference the earliest part where Will showed romantic feelings for Lyra? Other way 'round is equally kosher too.

"Because he's Will"

Being in love was just incentive for the daemons to settle.

I actually think that falling in love was the thing that meant that Lyra and Will had grown up, and *that* made their Dæmons settle.

Now for them it was love that made 'em grow up, for other people it could have been something completely different. Point is, the growing up (caused by the falling in love in this case, sure) was what made the dæmons settle.

Puberty doesn't really happen in an instant, so I bet they already both went through puberty a little while back, so their daemons were already beginning to settle, but when they fellin love, it became final.

Final.

That's quite a good last explanation btw...

Chicken, egg, egg, chicken...they grew up, which caused them to fall in love, which accelerated the growing up process, which caused their daemons to settle at thirteen If my 14yr old brother's got a settled daemon, I'd be suprised.

It does occur that neither growing up or falling in love when sudden events. Losing their parents and being seperated from their daemons helped their spirits to mature through suffering-their daemons settling perfected their ability to love, and completed the journey.

Best explanation so far from Danny. I think that a way to answer the original question would simply be: "Circumstances"

Me is feeling complimented.

'Circumstances' is a fair starting point.

so really if you dont fall in love, you could have a daemon that hadnt settled for about, maybe 16 years more or less depending on when you went through puberty.

If you mean your daemon might not settle till sixteen, I fully agree with you.

Incidently, it isn't nice to think that what I am now is what i'll be all my life.