# XXIII: The Leechcraft of the Lady explained — The Well at the World’s End

> Chapter companion for The Well at the World’s End by William Morris.

## What happens

Ralph awakens after his fight with the Knight of the Sun and is tended by the Lady, who reveals she was the disguised lad he saw earlier. The Knight of the Sun spares Ralph but takes him prisoner. They discover that the Black Knight, Walter the Black, is still alive, and the Lady tends to his wound. The group decides to stay in the woodland until Walter is stable enough to move.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

Ralph's love for the Lady deepens as he awakens, and the Knight of the Sun's jealousy is evident.

### Sacrifice and Loss

The Lady's care for the wounded Walter and the Knight of the Sun's grief over his friend's near death.

## Character check-ins

### Ralph of Upmeads

Awakens from his hurt, recognizes the Lady, and is taken prisoner by the Knight of the Sun.

### The Lady of Abundance

Tends to Ralph and Walter the Black; reveals she was the disguised lad in the Burg of the Four Friths.

### Walter the Black

Found alive after the fight; the Lady dresses his wound.

## Key lines

> He said: 'Forsooth, Lady, a chance knock or two is no great matter for a lad of Upmeads.'

Ralph downplays his injuries, saying a few blows are nothing for a young man from Upmeads.

_Ralph's bravado and modesty in the face of his wounds._

> She said: 'Yea, forsooth, what wilt thou do? Wilt thou abide here by Walter thyself alone, and let me bring the imp of Upmeads home to our house? Or wilt thou ride home and send folk with a litter to us? Or shall this youngling ride at all adventure, and seek to Sunway through the blind woodland? Which shall it be?'

The Lady presents the Knight of the Sun with three options for how to proceed with the wounded Walter.

_The Lady's strategic thinking and the Knight's dilemma, likened to a riddle._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters/xxiii-the-leechcraft-of-the-lady
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_well_at_the_world_s_end_se/chapters