# XVIII: The Wood-Mother Cometh to Birdalone and Heareth Her Story explained — The Water of the Wondrous Isles > Chapter companion for The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris. ## What happens Birdalone meets Habundia, the wood-mother, at the Oak of Tryst. They embrace and Birdalone weeps for joy. Habundia notes Birdalone's physical and emotional changes, and Birdalone confesses her grief and loss. Habundia asks to hear Birdalone's full tale, and Birdalone begins to recount her adventures, including her flight from the witch and the failure of the Sending Boat. Habundia comforts her, promises to bring her new raiment, and assures her of protection. They part at twilight, and Birdalone returns home safely. ## Themes in this chapter ### Female Agency and Autonomy Birdalone chooses to share her story with Habundia, asserting her own narrative and seeking comfort on her own terms. ### Identity and Transformation Habundia observes that Birdalone has changed physically and emotionally, and Birdalone reflects on how joy and grief have shaped her. ## Character check-ins ### Birdalone Birdalone meets Habundia at the Oak of Tryst, weeps for joy, and begins to tell her full story. She is older and sadder, but still deeply attached to the wood-mother. ### Habundia Habundia, the wood-mother, appears to Birdalone, embraces her, and listens to her tale. She notes Birdalone's growth and sorrow, and promises to provide raiment and protection. ## Key lines > Now Birdalone arose and bathed her and broke her fast, and then went about her work with the beasts and the dairy; but all that time seemed long to her till she had bow in hand and quiver on back, and was wending her way to the Oak of Tryst; and swift were her feet and her heart beat quick with hope of pleasure. Birdalone got up, bathed, ate breakfast, and did her chores, but she was impatient to go to the Oak of Tryst with her bow and arrows, her heart racing with anticipation. _Birdalone's eagerness to meet Habundia is emphasized._ > Mother, she said, I am grown older than I should be by the tale of the years, for I have had joy and grief, and grief and joy, and grief again; and now that the years have worn, the grief abideth and the joy hath departed, save this joy of thee and the day of the meeting I have so often thought of. Birdalone tells Habundia that she feels older than her years because of her alternating experiences of joy and grief, and now only sorrow remains except for the happiness of seeing Habundia again. _Birdalone expresses her emotional weariness and the importance of her bond with Habundia._ > Said Habundia: I know nought thereof save the beginning, that thou fledst away naked and escaped the witch; and the ending, to wit, that the Sending Boat failed thee at the last of the Wonder Isles, and that thou calledst on me not wholly in vain, whereas the witch was dead, and therefore there was nought to stay me from sending thee one of my trees and the wight thereof (whom belike I may show to thee one day) to save thee from the bottom of the deep water. Habundia says she only knows the start of Birdalone's story—her naked escape from the witch—and the end, when the Sending Boat failed and Birdalone called on her, so she sent a tree and its spirit to rescue her from drowning. _Habundia reveals her role in saving Birdalone from the water._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xviii-the-wood-mother-cometh-to-birdalone-and-heareth-her-story - 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