# XXX: Osberne Goes to the Trysting-Place explained — The Sundering Flood > Chapter companion for The Sundering Flood by William Morris. ## What happens After the guests depart from Wethermel, Osberne hurries to the trysting-place at the Bight of the Cloven Knoll, torn between hope and fear. He finds Elfhild waiting, and they share a deeply emotional reunion after 511 days apart. Elfhild recounts a troubling encounter with a mysterious stranger who stayed at her home, raising Osberne's fears for her safety. They exchange tales and reaffirm their love before parting, with plans to meet again soon. ## Themes in this chapter ### Separation and Longing Osberne and Elfhild reunite after 511 days, their longing palpable in their emotional exchange and tears. ### Love and Sacrifice Their love is tested by distance and danger; Osberne fears for Elfhild's safety and wishes he could protect her. ## Character check-ins ### Osberne Wulfgrimsson Returns to the trysting-place after the guests depart, filled with hope and fear; he is gaily clad and eager to see Elfhild. ### Elfhild Meets Osberne at the trysting-place after 511 days; she is clad in black and recounts a troubling visit from a stranger. ### The Carline Mentioned as Elfhild's companion; she is wise and protective, but not present at the tryst. ### Dame Anna Elfhild's guardian; she hosted the mysterious stranger and spoke with him about the Dale's customs. ## Key lines > But on the morrow ere the day was old, the guests departed in all contentment each to his own folk, and Osberne and the Wethermel men led them out with blessings. The next morning, the guests left happily, and Osberne and his men bid them farewell. _Sets the scene for Osberne's departure to the trysting-place._ > He tarried for nought save to take up the gifts of Eastcheaping, and he had no weapon with him save his bow and arrows wherewith to flit the said gifts across the water. He only paused to grab the gifts from Eastcheaping, carrying only his bow and arrows to shoot them across the river. _Highlights Osberne's haste and the method of exchanging gifts._ > But when he came to his place he lifted up his eyes, and there to his great joy saw her coming up the ness; and when she saw him she uttered a great cry and spread out her arms and reached out to him. When he reached the trysting-place, he looked up and joyfully saw Elfhild approaching; she cried out and stretched her arms toward him. _Captures the emotional reunion._ > It was the fourteenth of May was a year that we parted; now is this the eighth day of October. That makes five hundred and eleven days: not oftener than that have I come here to look for thee. We parted on May 14 last year, and today is October 8—511 days. I have come here no more often than that to look for you. _Elfhild counts the days of their separation, emphasizing her devotion._ > He spake as his face cleared: 'Nay, my dear, it was not all for thee, but for me also; and it was not all for grief, but for love.' He replied with a clearing face: 'No, my dear, I wept partly for myself and partly for love, not just grief.' _Osberne explains his tears as a mix of sorrow and love._ > She said: 'I wish I had not said that to make thee weep for me, my dear.' She said she regretted making him cry. _Elfhild shows concern for Osberne's feelings._ > He sprang up and cried out fiercely: 'I would I had been there to cleave his skull! Many a better man I have slain for less cause.' He jumped up and shouted angrily that he wished he had been there to kill the man, having slain better men for less reason. _Osberne's fierce protective reaction to the stranger's advances._ > But this I will say,' and he blushed very red at the word, 'that thou art so lovely and so dear that thy man, thy love, and the stout and good friends who love him, were not over many for thy guarding even in this lonely place.' He blushed deeply as he said she was so lovely and dear that even her love and his strong friends might not be enough to guard her in this lonely place. _Osberne expresses his fear for Elfhild's safety and his helplessness._ > She stood up also, and he saw that the tears ran over her cheeks, and he stretched out his arms to her; but she said: 'Grieve not too much, my friend; and know, as thou saidst e'en now of thyself, that these tears are not wholly for sorrow of thy grief, but O! so much and so much for joy of thy kindness.' She stood up, tears streaming, and told him not to grieve too much, explaining that her tears were partly from joy at his kindness. _Elfhild reassures Osberne, showing her emotional depth._ > And one thing I must tell thee, that if I am alone in my house, I am at least alone with a friend, and one who loves me. She tells him that even alone at home, she is with a friend who loves her. _Elfhild hints at the carline's protective presence._ > So on the said day appointed he went to meet her, smiling and happy and fresh as a rose; and she was of like mien, and when they faced each other she smote her palms together as in the old childish time, and cried out: 'Ah! now the warrior is all ready, and the minstrel is stuffed full of his tale, and happy shall be the hour.' On the appointed day, he went to meet her, happy and fresh; she was similarly joyful, clapping her hands and exclaiming that the warrior was ready and the minstrel full of tales, promising a happy time. _Their second meeting is joyful and lighthearted._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xxx-osberne-goes-to-the-trysting-place - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters