# XI: Birdalone and the Black Squire Talk Together in the Hall of the Castle explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles

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

## What happens

After Sir Baudoin's burial, the knights prepare for war against the Red Hold. On the eve of departure, Birdalone seeks private talk with Arthur the Black Squire. They share an intimate conversation in the hall, where they confess their love, discuss the ring from the Isle of Increase and its return from Atra, and Arthur explains his earlier grim demeanor. Their moment is interrupted by approaching men, and they part, yet both feel a brief happiness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

Birdalone and Arthur's intimate conversation reveals deep romantic longing, physical affection, and the pain of impending separation.

### Female Agency and Autonomy

Birdalone takes the initiative to arrange a private meeting with Arthur and asks direct questions about his feelings and actions.

### Identity and Transformation

Birdalone reflects on how her simple troubles have become tangled, and Arthur's perception of her wisdom is challenged and revised.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Seeks private talk with Arthur before his departure; expresses longing and grief; questions him about the ring and his earlier coldness.

### Arthur the Black Squire

Chosen as captain of the host; meets Birdalone in the hall; confesses his love and explains his grim behavior due to jealousy and grief over Baudoin's death.

### Atra

Mentioned as having returned the ring to Arthur; Arthur feels shame and confusion when thinking of her.

### Leonard

The priest who carries Birdalone's message to Arthur to meet in the hall.

### Sir Baudoin

His body is laid in earth in the chapel; his slaying is a source of grief and tension.

### Sir Aymeris

Turns heartily to dighting the war against the Red Hold alongside the two knights.

## Key lines

> Dear friend, I had it in my mind to say to thee many things that meseems were sage, but now neither will the thought of them come into my mind, nor the words into my mouth. And this is a short hour.

Birdalone tells Arthur she planned to speak wisely, but now cannot think or speak clearly because their time is so brief.

_Birdalone's emotional turmoil prevents her from articulating her thoughts._

> More than enough of grief no soul may bear; for either death comes, or else some dullness of the pain, and then by little and little the pain weareth.

Arthur says that unbearable grief leads either to death or to a gradual numbing and fading of the pain.

_Arthur's philosophical view on enduring sorrow._

> Lo now! the shadow of parting and the shadow of death could not come between our present joy; but this shadow of the third one cometh between us and is present between us.

Birdalone observes that while thoughts of separation and death did not spoil their joy, the memory of Atra now intrudes between them.

_Birdalone acknowledges Atra's lingering presence as a barrier._

## Links

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