# XIII: Birdalone Meeteth the Wood-Woman Again explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles

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

## What happens

Fifteen days after her punishment, Birdalone is sent to mow the meadow by the witch-wife. After a week of hard labor, she finally returns to the Oak of Tryst and meets Habundia, who now looks strikingly like her. Birdalone confesses her discovery of the Sending Boat and the witch's reaction. Habundia advises patience, telling her not to attempt escape until the following May, and instructs her to secretly observe the witch's use of the Sending Boat. She gives Birdalone a magical ring of invisibility to aid her spying. Birdalone accepts the quest, then hunts and returns home.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Autonomy

Birdalone actively chooses to spy on the witch despite the risk, demonstrating her determination to escape and control her own fate.

### Power and Sorcery

The Sending Boat's magic, the witch's secret journeys, and Habundia's gift of an invisibility ring all highlight the theme of magical power and its uses.

### Identity and Transformation

Habundia's physical resemblance to Birdalone and the 'skin-changing' Birdalone experienced underscore the fluidity of identity and transformation.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Awakens to the witch's scolding, works in the meadow, then meets Habundia in the wood, confesses her discovery of the Sending Boat, and accepts the quest to spy on the witch.

### The Witch Wife

Rouses Birdalone roughly, keeps her at work, but does not mishandle her; her earlier fury has subsided into surliness.

### Habundia

Meets Birdalone at the Oak of Tryst, now closely resembling her; she comforts Birdalone, advises patience, and gives her a ring of invisibility to spy on the witch's use of the Sending Boat.

## Key lines

> Thou art late, slug-a-bed, this fair-weather day, and the grass all spoiling for lack of the scythe. Off! and down to the meadow with thee.

The witch-wife scolds Birdalone for sleeping in and orders her to go mow the meadow immediately.

_The witch's harsh words contrast with her earlier soft speech, showing her return to usual behavior._

> For that boat, the thing which thou didst find, and for which thou didst suffer, is called the Sending Boat, and therein thy mistress fareth time and again, I deem to seek to some other of her kind, but I know not unto whom, or whereto.

Habundia explains that the boat Birdalone discovered is the Sending Boat, used by the witch to travel secretly, though Habundia does not know her destination.

_This reveals the boat's name and purpose, key to Birdalone's future escape._

> To left and right, Before, behind, Of me be sight As of the wind!

Habundia teaches Birdalone a charm to become invisible when wearing the serpent ring.

_The rhyme grants invisibility, a crucial tool for Birdalone's spying mission._

## Links

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