# V: They Feast in the Witch’s Prison explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles

> Chapter companion for The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris.

## What happens

Birdalone is awakened by Atra and Viridis, who bring her a lavish feast in the witch's prison. They remove her hand-shackles and serve her, speaking of the witch's cruelty and their plan to help Birdalone escape the next day. The sisters reveal that they have lovers they long for, and they ask Birdalone to carry tokens to those lovers once she escapes via the Sending Boat. Birdalone, moved by their kindness and the revelation of love, agrees and asks to hear the tale of how they came to the isle.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Autonomy

Atra and Viridis actively subvert the witch's orders, choosing to comfort Birdalone and plan her escape, demonstrating their own agency within captivity.

### Love and Desire

The sisters openly speak of their passionate longing for their lovers, and Birdalone experiences a dawning awareness of romantic and physical desire.

### Class and Servitude

Birdalone offers herself as a servant to the sisters, highlighting her background of labor, while the sisters live in a land of 'Increase Unsought' yet remain captives.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Awakens to find Atra and Viridis bringing a feast; she is freed from hand-shackles, eats, and learns of the sisters' plan to help her escape.

### Atra

Leads the visit, unlocks Birdalone's hand-shackles, explains the witch's cruel intent, and reveals the sisters' longing for their lovers and their request for Birdalone to carry tokens.

### Viridis

Brings food, kisses Birdalone, speaks comfortingly, and openly expresses her passionate love for her own lover, blushing and gleaming with emotion.

### Aurea

Mentioned as not present because she is serving the witch at the time.

### The Witch Wife

Referenced as the cruel mistress who sent Atra and Viridis to torment Birdalone with words, but whose plan is being subverted by the sisters' kindness.

## Key lines

> She hath no pity, nor ever shall have; but so hard of heart is she, that she may not deem that we could love thee, a stranger, and unhappy, who can serve us in nowise; so she feareth not the abatement of thy grief from any compassion of us.

Atra explains that the witch is so heartless she cannot imagine the sisters feeling compassion for Birdalone, and thus does not suspect their kindness.

_Atra reveals the witch's cruel miscalculation, which enables their plan._

> Those whom we love, and who love us, be not queans, but carles; neither be they of our blood, but aliens, till love overcometh them and causeth them to long to be of one flesh with us; and their longing is beyond measure, and they desire our bodies, which they deem far fairer than belike they be.

Atra describes their lovers as men, not kin, who are overcome by desire to be united with them physically.

_Atra speaks openly of romantic and physical love, educating Birdalone about the nature of desire._

> For Birdalone the colour came and went in her cheeks, her flesh quaked, her heart beat quick, and she was oppressed by the sweetness of longing.

Birdalone's body responds with flushed cheeks, trembling, and a racing heart as she is overwhelmed by a sweet yearning.

_Birdalone experiences a physical and emotional awakening to the concept of love and desire._

## Links

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