# VIII: Birdalone Cometh to the Castle of the Quest, Heareth the Tale Thereof from Leonard, and Departeth Thence by the Sending Boat explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles > Chapter companion for The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris. ## What happens Birdalone returns to the Castle of the Quest, where she meets Leonard the priest, who tells her that the Black Squire and the others have departed due to uncanny apparitions. She learns that the witch-mistress has sent a fetch of herself and one of Birdalone to haunt the castle. Birdalone then uses the Sending Boat to depart across the lake, after shedding her blood to activate the boat's magic. ## 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. ## Character check-ins ### 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 lines > 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._ > Then she went up to him, and laid her hands upon his shoulders, and kissed him, and turned about without more ado and stepped into the boat; then she sat down and stripped her arm of its sleeve, and drew forth a knife and let blood of her arm, and then arose and smeared stem and stern therewith, and then sat down with her face to the stern and sang: The red raven-wine now Hast thou drunk, stern and bow; Wake then and awake And the Northward way take: The way of the Wenders forth over the flood, For the will of the Senders is blent with the blood. Birdalone kisses Leonard goodbye, steps into the Sending Boat, cuts her arm to let blood, smears it on the boat, and sings a spell to awaken the boat and send it northward. _Birdalone uses blood magic to activate the Sending Boat and depart._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-birdalone-cometh-to-the-castle-of-the-quest-heareth-the-tale-thereof-from-leonard-and-departeth-thence-by-the-sending-boat - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters