The Sundering Flood · Chapter
Of Wethermel and the Child Osberne explained
This chapter introduces the lonely stead of Wethermel, its history of ill-luck, and the young boy Osberne who lives there with his grandparents and the old carline Bridget.
What happens
This chapter introduces the lonely stead of Wethermel, its history of ill-luck, and the young boy Osberne who lives there with his grandparents and the old carline Bridget. Despite warnings and dangers—the Sundering Flood, wolves, and the Dwarf-kin—Osberne's bold spirit leads him into perilous adventures, including a night spent with a Dwarf who prophesies his future as a champion and gives him a magical knife.
Themes in this chapter
Separation and Longing
Osberne's lonely life at Wethermel, with few companions and a longing for adventure, sets the stage for his future separations and quests.
Heroism and Growth
The Dwarf's prophecy that Osberne 'shalt verily be a champion' marks the beginning of his heroic journey from a bold child to a future warrior.
Nature and the Supernatural
The chapter is steeped in supernatural elements: the Dwarf-kin, the Land-wights, the magical knife, and the protective parchment, all intertwined with the natural landscape of the Dale.
Characters to notice
- Osberne Wulfgrimsson
The twelve-year-old protagonist, strong and bold, who lives at Wethermel and has a fateful encounter with a Dwarf.
- The Carline
Bridget, the old kinswoman and foster-mother, who protects Osberne with a parchment charm against evil.
- Bridget
The carline who hangs a protective parchment around Osberne's neck and prays for his safety.
- Goodman
Osberne's grandfather, a hale man of fifty winters, who scolds and threatens to beat Osberne for his dangerous wanderings.
Key passages
“Draw we nigher now to the heart of our tale, and tell how on the east side of the Sundering Flood was erewhile a stead hight Wethermel: a stead more lonely than most even in that Dale, the last house but one, and that was but a cot, toward the mountains at the head of the Dale.”
We now approach the main story, describing a remote farm called Wethermel on the east side of the Sundering Flood, one of the loneliest places in the valley, with only one small cottage beyond it near the mountains.
Opening description establishing the setting and isolation of Wethermel.
“He took a stone and stroked it, and mumbled, and it turned into a mouse, and played with us nought afraid a while; but presently it grew much bigger, till it was bigger than a hare; and great game meseemed that was, till on a sudden it stood on its hind-legs, and lo it was become a little child, and O, but so much littler than I; and then it ran away from us into the dark, squealing the while like a mouse behind the panel, only louder.”
The Dwarf transformed a stone into a mouse, then into a larger creature, and finally into a tiny child that ran away squeaking, showing his magical powers.
Osberne recounts the Dwarf's magical play, illustrating the supernatural nature of his encounter.
“I tell thee that one day thou shalt have a sword of my father's father's fashioning, and that will be an old one, for they both were long-lived.”
The Dwarf prophesies that Osberne will one day possess a sword forged by the Dwarf's grandfather, an ancient and powerful weapon.
The prophecy foreshadows Osberne's future as a hero and his connection to the Dwarf-kin.