Honestly this doesn't really have that many spoilers for TWatWK, but it does have a few, so just to be on the safe side, I'm putting it here.
It is worth beginning this by noting that both the Water from the First Well and the Ancient Stones have healing properties in them, placed there by the Maker. The Ancient Stones are also called, “healing stones,” at least, I think they are. I'm almost positive I saw that in a footnote or in the books somewhere, but now I can't find it. I'm not imagining this, right?
Anyway....before what could be considered “The Fall of Aerwiar” occurred, the Maker and Dwayne and Gladys walked together (I think...), similar to Adam and Eve. There are two things that have been around since the beginning of time: one is the Ancient Stones and the other is the First Well/Water. We know that Dwanye gave the Water to other people, presumably to heal them physically, however we have no details regarding what was actually done with the Stones.
I am taking an educated guess, based on how the Stones work in the series, that someone, likely the Maker, used them to heal mind/heart and body of people in Aerwiar. This did not kill or weaken Him because…well, because He's the Maker. That's just how it works. While Dwanye could heal people physically with the Water, only the Maker could heal them spiritually (like how a person can evangelize, but only God can forgive sins).
After the whole thing with Will, the Well was more or less hidden from others when the Maker sealed it away and it could only be reached when He wants someone to reach it. It was quite similar with the Ancient Stones, where they could only be reached going through the specific Word/Form/Song ritual.
Now, Gnag took the holoré and the holoél, and he corrupted them. He used them for his own gain and twisted the hearts and bodies of people who truly did not deserve it. Because the Divine (that is, the Maker) was not involved in the melding process that, if completed by the Maker would be a healing process, it weakened/killed the one the life and spirit was being taken from (i.e. the animal/person 😬).
However, we know that the Ancient Stones can also be used for good. If the one who is melding with others has good intentions (truly good, Maker-centered intentions) it is both a melding and healing process. It heals those who have been afflicted in both mind and body, because the Maker's power, which rests partially in the Stones, is going into them, while also draining life from the one doing the meld because they are human and not eternal, nor all-powerful.
So, the point? Basically just my thoughts on the Stones and their origin intent and how they differ from the Water. I believe the Maker created them, placed His power in them, and used them as a physical way of redeeming others and symbolically accepting them as His child. Almost like an Aerwiaran equivalent of baptism*.
Is it a perfect analogy? No, because obviously the Stones are used in different ways throughout the series. But when the Maker specifically used them, I think this is what He used them as.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, because this is a fairly new theory I've come up with, the origin of it being the next WFS fic I'm writing. Also, feel free to call me out if I said anything noncanonical 😅 And this ended up being way longer than I originally planned 😅😂
*please, I'm not trying to start a war on people's different beliefs on baptism. Personally I believe that while people should be baptized if it is physically possible (because Jesus was baptized and we want to follow His example), they will not be condemned if they accept Him right before they die just because they didn't get baptized. God knows the heart. But baptism is very important, and if it can be done, I believe it should be.
I've heard Baptism as a portrayal of Christ's Death and Resurrection, and the stones could also be seen similarly to that. The main difference is that they can be used for good or evil, unlike Baptism.
This makes sense! The Maker could never be 'drained'.
As I think about it, I suppose melding depends a lot on the character of the person being melded.
If they have a selfish, evil desire, then that will be drawn out and enhanced. The thing they become is disgusting and horrible, but still powerful -- a very apt description of a Fang.
But if they want peace, healing, and hope, like Esben, Artham, or the former Fangs did, then that will be highlighted. What they become is something good but humble; something that serves others well -- a very apt description of, wouldn't you know it, a Throne Warden.
Artham became a birdman/warrior to serve Kalmar (and later, others, like Sara, Maralay, and Gammon).
Esben became a more powerful bear to serve/protect his family from the Fangs.
Finally, the former Fangs became less powerful, to serve the Maker and their King, and to help rebuild Anniera back to its former beauty.
Honestly, it fascinates me how well all of these details fit...
That's a really interesting theory! Andrew Peterson has said himself that the world of Aerwiar isn't supposed to be parallel to our world or the same theologically, but just to mirror truths. It's still a different world though. I think that theory makes a lot of sense.
Ooh! I like this! I've been wondering how the Maker had originally intended for the stones to be used, and I really liked @J M 's theory that the Maker had never actually intended for the stones to be used at all. But I think this takes that idea and builds on it to explain even more! It would make sense for the Maker to use them, for all the reasons you said! It might also explain how Will managed to figure out the song needed for the melding, because the Maker may have taught the song to the person being healed so they could sing it. Ouster Will could have learned it from someone (maybe who learned it from someone else) who was healed by the Maker. I have a hard time believing that Will himself would have been one of those who was healed because I would imagine that such a close connection with the Maker would change his heart so much as to prevent his later evils, but then again, if he was close to the Maker and then chose to reject the Maker, it might explain his extremely evil and twisted mindset, bordering on madness!
What??? You don't want a war about different beliefs about baptism??? 🤣🤣🤣 I'm actually really excited right now because we're going to do some baptisms on the last Wednesday night of our kids program before we break for the summer, and at least THREE of the girls in my class want to be baptized, most of whom are from unchurched (aside from Wednesday nights at our church) families! Now we just need to pray that their unsaved parents will support them (and get saved themselves!)