The Water of the Wondrous Isles · Chapter
XX: Birdalone Telleth Habundia of Her Love for Arthur, and Getteth from Her Promise of Help Therein explained
Birdalone confesses to Habundia her deep love for Arthur the Black Squire, recounting her story with shame but without concealment.
What happens
Birdalone confesses to Habundia her deep love for Arthur the Black Squire, recounting her story with shame but without concealment. Habundia listens kindly, though she finds Birdalone's passion somewhat strange. At dusk, Habundia promises to help her, noting that many men have recently appeared in the woodland, possibly remnants of the Red Hold. She instructs Birdalone to wait patiently for seven days while she investigates.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
Birdalone openly confesses her love for Arthur, and Habundia acknowledges the power of love as a master that can be tempered.
Female Agency and Autonomy
Birdalone takes control of her narrative, confessing her feelings without covering up, and Habundia empowers her by promising to seek what she desires.
Characters to notice
- Birdalone
Confesses her love for Arthur to Habundia, weeping and seeking solace.
- Habundia
Listens kindly to Birdalone's tale, promises help, and plans to investigate the men in the woodland.
- Arthur the Black Squire
The object of Birdalone's love; praised for his wisdom, grace, and loveliness.
Key passages
“Long they sat there that day, and until the sun was down, and by then had Birdalone little to tell of her story, for she was gotten therein to the days of the Five Crafts.”
They sat together from morning until sunset, and by then Birdalone had nearly finished her tale, having reached the time of the Five Crafts.
Sets the scene for Birdalone's lengthy confession.
“True it is, my child, that thou hast lived long in these six years time; neither do I wonder at the increase of thy beauty, and the majesty thereof; for fair is the life thou hast lived, although thou hast been grieved and tormented by it at whiles.”
Indeed, my child, you have experienced much in these six years; it is no surprise that your beauty and dignity have grown, for your life has been noble though sometimes painful.
Habundia acknowledges Birdalone's growth and suffering.
“And now I know what it is for which thou longest; and herein again will I play the mother unto thee, and seek about to fetch thee that thou wouldst have; so be not overanxious or troubled;”
Now I understand what you desire; I will act as a mother to you and try to obtain what you want, so do not worry or be anxious.
Habundia promises to help Birdalone achieve her heart's desire.
“One thing I will tell thee, that whereas erewhile it was but seldom indeed that any son of Adam might be seen in the woodland here, of late, that is, within the last three years, there be many such amongst us; and to our deeming they be evil beasts, more pitiless and greedy than any bear;”
I will tell you this: where once men were rarely seen in these woods, now in the last three years many have appeared; we consider them evil beasts, crueler and more greedy than bears.
Habundia reveals the recent influx of men, possibly from the Red Hold.