A Court of Thorns and Roses
Chapter 31
by Maas, Sarah J.The chapter opens with Feyre attending a lavish ball in her honor, where she remains guarded while her sister Elain socializes effortlessly. Feyre’s thoughts are consumed by guilt over abandoning Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court, despite sensing his peril. She reflects on her failure to uncover the truth about the blight threatening Prythian and Amarantha’s schemes, regretting her passive acceptance of exile. Lucien’s earlier disapproval weighs on her, amplifying her self-reproach for not fighting harder or confessing her love to Tamlin before leaving.
The next day, Feyre’s family gathers for lunch, where her father mentions purchasing the Beddor land—a property linked to a tragic fire that killed the entire family. Feyre is stunned to learn the disaster occurred the day before her return, realizing Clare Beddor’s name was the one she had given Rhysand. The timing suggests Rhysand’s retaliation, horrifying Feyre as she connects the dots: faeries crossed the wall, murdering innocents as a twisted message. Overcome with dread, she grapples with the implications for Prythian and Tamlin’s safety.
Feyre urgently warns her family of the looming threat, instructing them to flee at the first sign of danger. While her father and Elain react with confusion, Nesta remains composed, recognizing the gravity of the situation. Feyre reveals the blight’s spread and Tamlin’s role as a barrier against deadly forces, emphasizing the need for secrecy. Nesta, understanding the stakes, assures Feyre they can protect themselves and encourages her to leave without looking back.
Determined to act, Feyre arms herself with weapons and prepares to return to Prythian. Nesta’s parting words—a stark contrast to their past conflicts—serve as both permission and a blessing. Feyre equips herself with practical advice, warning Nesta about faerie deception and the effectiveness of ash wood. The chapter closes with Feyre’s resolve to confront the crisis, driven by guilt, love, and the need to redeem her earlier inaction.
FAQs
1. What realization does Feyre have about the Beddor family tragedy, and why is this significant?
Answer:
Feyre realizes that the Beddor family’s horrific fate—their house burning down with everyone killed or missing—is connected to her giving Clare Beddor’s name to Rhysand as a decoy for her own family. This is significant because it reveals Rhysand’s ruthless retaliation and confirms that dangerous faeries have crossed the wall into the mortal realm. The timing (the day before Feyre returned home) suggests this was a targeted act, making Feyre confront the consequences of her choices and the very real threat Prythian’s conflicts pose to the human world.2. How does Nesta’s role in this chapter contrast with Elain’s and their father’s, particularly regarding Feyre’s warnings?
Answer:
Nesta serves as Feyre’s sole ally, immediately grasping the gravity of the situation and silencing their father and Elain when they react with shock. Unlike Elain (who is preoccupied with social matters) and their father (who focuses on business), Nesta demonstrates sharp perception and pragmatism. She helps Feyre prepare to leave and explicitly releases her from family obligations, saying, “We don’t need you here.” This highlights Nesta’s protective instincts and understanding of the larger threat, contrasting with the others’ obliviousness.3. Analyze Feyre’s emotional conflict regarding Tamlin. What guilt does she grapple with?
Answer:
Feyre feels profound guilt for abandoning Tamlin to his fate. She acknowledges that she “stopped looking for answers” and accepted being sent home, prioritizing her own relief over his safety. Her regret is compounded by never having told him she loved him and failing to act on Lucien’s hints about Tamlin’s peril. This guilt resurfaces when she connects the Beddor tragedy to Prythian’s instability, realizing Tamlin’s court may have fallen to the blight—a crisis she might have helped prevent had she persisted in uncovering the truth earlier.4. What practical steps does Feyre take to protect her family before leaving, and what do these actions reveal about her growth?
Answer:
Feyre instructs her family to hire guards, monitor the wall, and flee at the first sign of danger, emphasizing secrecy to avoid drawing attention. She also arms herself with knives and a bow, demonstrating her return to a proactive, warrior mindset. These actions reveal her strategic thinking and leadership growth—no longer the passive participant she became in the human world. By prioritizing both her family’s safety and her duty to Prythian, she balances compassion with resolve, embodying the “savage, wild part” of herself she had suppressed.5. How does the chapter use the Beddor incident to foreshadow larger conflicts?
Answer:
The Beddor massacre serves as a microcosm of the impending invasion Feyre fears. It proves that Prythian’s threats can breach the wall undetected, hinting at Amarantha’s reach or the blight’s spread. The violence also mirrors the “deadly courts” Feyre mentions, suggesting Tamlin’s failure to contain them. By showing faeries targeting humans (and specifically those linked to Feyre), the chapter foreshadows a broader war, setting up Feyre’s urgent return to Prythian as a pivotal response to the escalating crisis.
Quotes
1. “I’d known something was wrong. I’d known he was in trouble—not just with the blight on Prythian, but also that the forces gathering to destroy him were deadly, and yet … and yet I’d stopped looking for answers, stopped fighting it, glad—so selfishly glad—to be able to set down that savage, wild part of me that had only survived hour to hour.”
This quote captures Feyre’s internal conflict and guilt over abandoning Tamlin despite sensing his peril. It reveals her self-awareness about choosing comfort over action, marking a pivotal moment of realization that propels her later decisions.
2. “I had given that name to Rhysand. And he had not forgotten it.”
This chilling revelation ties the Beddor family’s massacre directly to Feyre’s past interactions with Rhysand. It underscores the deadly consequences of faerie bargains and foreshadows the looming threat to the mortal world.
3. “If you won’t leave, then hire guards—hire scouts to watch the wall, the forest. The village, too… The first sign of danger, the first rumor you hear of the wall being breached or even something being strange, you get on a ship and go.”
Feyre’s urgent warning to her family demonstrates her growing understanding of the faerie threat. This passage shows her transition from passive observer to active protector, establishing key stakes for the story’s conflict.
4. “We don’t need you here, Feyre. Do not look back.”
Nesta’s surprisingly supportive statement represents a significant character moment for both sisters. It releases Feyre from familial obligations while subtly acknowledging her greater purpose, serving as both permission and benediction for her return to Prythian.