# XX: Of Birdalone and 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 wakes on the morning of her planned escape, finds the witch-wife absent, and prepares by mingling the wood-mother's hair with her own and packing food. She swims to Green Eyot for a last visit, but upon returning finds her clothes and scrip stolen by the witch. Realizing the witch has discovered her plan, Birdalone runs naked to the Sending Boat, uses a thorn to draw blood and activate the boat's magic, and escapes as the witch pursues and hurls a sword after her. The boat carries her away across the Great Water, ending the first part of the tale.

## Themes in this chapter

### Female Agency and Autonomy

Birdalone takes decisive action to free herself from captivity, using her own wits and magic to escape the witch's control.

### Power and Sorcery

The Sending Boat is activated by Birdalone's blood and spell, demonstrating the power of sympathetic magic and the contest of wills between Birdalone and the witch.

## Character check-ins

### Birdalone

Birdalone executes her escape from the witch's captivity, using the Sending Boat and her own blood to flee across the lake.

### The Witch Wife

The witch-wife steals Birdalone's clothes, pursues her to the creek, attempts to command the boat, and hurls a sword after her in fury.

## Key lines

> The red raven-wine now / Hast thou drunk, stern and bow; / Then wake and awake / And the wonted way take! / The way of the Wender forth over the flood, / For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.

Birdalone recites a spell to awaken the boat, commanding it to take its usual path across the water, as her blood mingles with the vessel.

_This spell activates the Sending Boat, enabling Birdalone's escape._

> Back over the flood / To the house by the wood! / Back unto thy rest / In the alder nest! / For the blood of the Sender lies warm on thy bow, / And the heart of the Wender is weary as now.

The witch attempts to counter Birdalone's spell, commanding the boat to return to its resting place, but fails because it is Birdalone's blood, not hers, that powers the boat.

_The witch's spell is ineffective, highlighting that the boat answers only to the one who shed blood for it._

## Links

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