VIII: Birdalone Cometh to the Castle of the Quest, Heareth the Tale Thereof from Leonard, and Departeth Thence by the Sending Boat explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Female Agency and Autonomy

  Birdalone takes decisive action, choosing to leave the castle and use the Sending Boat on her own terms, despite the grief and uncertainty.

• Power and Sorcery

  The Sending Boat responds to Birdalone's blood sacrifice and spell, demonstrating her command of magic; the witch-mistress's fetches show sorcerous malice.

• Identity and Transformation

  Birdalone's fetch appears in different guises, and Birdalone herself is transformed by her journey and choices.

Characters to notice

• Birdalone

  Returns to the Castle of the Quest, hears the tale of the departures and the fetches, then uses the Sending Boat to leave.

• Leonard

  The priest who has become a hermit in the bower; he tells Birdalone of the departures and the haunting fetches.

• Hugh the Green Knight

  Departed with Viridis, Aurea, and Atra to a place seven days' ride away.

• Arthur the Black Squire

  Departed earlier to take up toil and peril at Greenford; his whereabouts are unknown to Leonard.

• The Witch Wife

  Her malice is behind the fetches that haunt the castle; Birdalone believes she may be dead if the fetches cease.

Key passages

• “She arose betimes on the morrow, and was out of Greenford so soon as the gates were open, and at first made all speed that she might toward the Castle of the Quest; and nothing hindered her, for the land was verily in good peace, and she might have come there if she would before sunset, for all whom she met furthered her.”

  Birdalone left Greenford early the next morning and traveled quickly toward the Castle of the Quest, finding the land peaceful and everyone helpful.

  Birdalone's journey is unimpeded, reflecting the peace of the land.

• “But as the day waned her courage waned with it, so that at last she stayed some six miles short of the house, and craved shelter at a yeoman’s stead there, which was granted her with all kindness; and they made much of her, and she told them her vow of the sallet, and they deemed nought save that she was a young man.”

  As evening approached, Birdalone's courage faded, and she stopped six miles from the castle to stay with a yeoman, who treated her kindly and believed her to be a young man because of her vow.

  Birdalone's disguise as a young man continues to be accepted by those she meets.

• “Then she gave him back the cup and lighted down off her horse, and took the sallet from her head, and spake: I may not pass by a friend without a word; think if thou hast not seen me before? Then he knew her, and might not refrain him, but cast his arms about her and kissed her, weeping; and she said: It is sweet to me to find a friend after what I have been told of yonder house.”

  Birdalone dismounted, removed her helmet, and revealed herself to Leonard, who recognized her and embraced her with tears of joy.

  The emotional reunion between Birdalone and Leonard highlights her relief at finding a friend.

• “Yea, said he, and art thou going up thither? Certes, said she, and why not? Said he: They are gone, and all gone! How and whither? said she.”

  Leonard tells Birdalone that everyone has left the castle, and she asks where they have gone.

  Birdalone learns that the castle is empty of her friends.

• “Spake Leonard: Things uncouth there were, and I was called upon to lay them, and I did as biddeth Holy Church in all wise, but prevailed not against them, and still were they seen and heard, till folk might endure it no longer.”

  Leonard explains that uncanny apparitions appeared in the castle, and despite his efforts to exorcise them according to Church rites, they persisted until the inhabitants could no longer bear it.

  The haunting of the castle by fetches is described.

• “Said Leonard: I were fain not to tell thee. Yet needs must thou, said Birdalone. Dear lady, said Leonard, the other is an image of thee, and even most like unto thee; but whiles clad in a scanty grey coat and barefoot, and whiles clad in a fair green gown goodly broidered, and broidered shoon; and whiles all mother-naked.”

  Leonard hesitantly reveals that the second fetch is an image of Birdalone herself, appearing in different forms of dress or undress.

  The fetch of Birdalone is a disturbing double that haunts the castle.