# XXXIII: Osberne Seeks Tidings of Elfhild explained — The Sundering Flood

> Chapter companion for The Sundering Flood by William Morris.

## What happens

After the battle at the Cloven Knoll, the Eastdalers and Westdalers confer among the dead. Wulfstan of Coldburne praises the Eastdalers' aid and warns that part of the enemy host has moved down the Dale. Osberne asks which steads have been wasted, and learns of a cot with two women. The Eastdalers tend their wounded, including Stephen the Eater, and bury their slain at Shooters' Knowe.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Kinship

The Eastdalers and Westdalers unite after battle, sharing praise and concern for each other's steads.

### Separation and Longing

Osberne's urgent question about wasted steads reflects his longing for tidings of Elfhild.

## Character check-ins

### Osberne Wulfgrimsson

Osberne speaks to Wulfstan, seeking tidings of Elfhild by asking which steads were wasted.

### Stephen the Eater

Stephen is grievously wounded in the battle and lies sick for two months before healing.

### Wulfstan

Wulfstan of Coldburne speaks for the Westdalers, praising the Eastdalers and reporting the enemy's movements.

## Key lines

> Now when this stour was all over, and the men of the East Dale were still standing together (not very triumphantly, because of their slain) on the east side of the Cloven Knoll, the Westdalers came toward them treading the field of dead from which the Flood sundered them.

After the battle, the Eastdalers stood somberly on the east side of the Cloven Knoll, and the Westdalers crossed the field of dead, separated from them by the Flood.

_Describes the post-battle scene and the mingling of the two groups._

> And he fell to praising the good help which the Eastdalers had given them by cleaving so manfully to the shot-stour, which he said had been their deliverance; for delivered they looked to be.

Wulfstan praised the Eastdalers for their brave archery, which he said saved them.

_Wulfstan acknowledges the Eastdalers' crucial role in the battle._

> Abide, master, and tell me one thing, to wit, the names of the steads which the thieves have wasted.

Wait, sir, and tell me the names of the farms the raiders have destroyed.

_Osberne urgently asks for information about the raided steads._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xxxiii-osberne-seeks-tidings-of-elfhild
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters