A Court of Thorns and Roses
Chapter 33
by Maas, Sarah J.The chapter opens with the protagonist preparing for a perilous journey, arming herself with a bow, arrows, and daggers despite knowing her weapons are inadequate against faeries. Guided by Alis through silent woods, she reflects on the Suriel’s advice to stay with the High Lord, Tamlin, and regrets her earlier decisions. The weight of her mission—to rescue Tamlin from Amarantha—hangs heavy as they traverse the night-shrouded landscape, her legs aching from the relentless pace. The tension builds as they reach a chilling cave entrance, a shortcut to Under the Mountain, where Tamlin is imprisoned.
Alis reveals the cave’s dark history and warns the protagonist of the dangers ahead, including poisoned wine, deceitful deals, and untrustworthy allies. The protagonist’s fear is palpable as she grapples with the reality of facing Amarantha, whose cruelty surpasses even the Attor’s. Despite her terror, she steels herself, determined to free Tamlin. Alis shares cryptic advice about an undisclosed part of the curse, hinting that the protagonist must uncover it herself. Their farewell is bittersweet, with the protagonist offering her family’s home as refuge for Alis and her nephews.
Entering the cave, the protagonist navigates the oppressive darkness, her senses heightened as she inches toward distant voices and flickering light. The eerie silence amplifies her dread, reminding her of Alis’s warnings about faerie trickery. She squeezes through a narrow fissure into a fire-lit passageway, her heart racing as she prepares to confront the unknown. The stakes are clear: failure means endless torture or death, but her love for Tamlin drives her forward.
The chapter culminates in her cautious advance through the hostile environment, drawing parallels between her past hunts and the deadly game ahead. Her internal struggle—balancing fear with resolve—underscores the gravity of her mission. The narrative leaves her on the threshold of danger, poised to face Amarantha’s court, where every step could be her last. The tension remains unresolved, setting the stage for the challenges to come.
FAQs
1. What preparations does the protagonist make before entering Under the Mountain, and what does this reveal about her mindset?
Answer:
The protagonist arms herself with a quiver of arrows, two daggers, and a bow, despite knowing these weapons may be ineffective against faeries. She deliberately chooses not to overburden herself with more weapons she can’t use, showing practical judgment. This preparation reveals her determination to face danger while acknowledging her limitations. Her thought that “I might have been going to my death, but I wouldn’t arrive unarmed” demonstrates both her courage and fatalistic acceptance of the risks she’s taking to save Tamlin.2. Analyze the significance of Alis’s three rules for surviving Under the Mountain. What do they suggest about the nature of this realm?
Answer:
Alis’s rules—avoiding the wine, making no deals unless absolutely necessary, and trusting no one—paint Under the Mountain as a place of deception and psychological warfare. The warning about wine suggests substances there may be enchanted or poisoned. The prohibition against deals hints at the manipulative nature of faerie bargains, where even survival might come at too high a cost. The final rule about trust indicates that senses and emotions will be weaponized against intruders. Together, these rules establish that the real dangers aren’t just physical, but psychological and magical in nature.3. How does the chapter build tension around the protagonist’s mission to rescue Tamlin?
Answer:
The tension builds through several elements: the ominous description of the cave as an “ancient shortcut… once considered sacred, but no more,” the repeated reminders of Amarantha’s terrifying reputation (“if the Attor wasn’t the wickedest of her cronies”), and Alis’s grim warnings about likely torture and death. The protagonist’s internal monologue (“if I thought about the danger too long, I might lose my nerve”) adds to the suspense, as does the physical description of squeezing through a dark, narrow passage. These elements combine to create a sense of impending danger and uncertainty about whether the protagonist’s love and courage will be enough.4. What important clue does Alis reveal about the curse, and why is this information significant?
Answer:
Alis reveals there’s “one part of the curse” she cannot disclose, as even mentioning it causes her physical pain (“my bones are crying out”). This suggests Amarantha has placed powerful magical restrictions on this knowledge. The significance lies in two aspects: first, it hints that discovering this hidden element is key to breaking the curse, and second, it establishes that the protagonist must rely on her own wits to uncover this critical information (“listen to what you hear”). This sets up a major challenge the protagonist must solve through observation and interpretation during her dangerous mission.5. Compare the protagonist’s emotional state at the beginning versus the end of the chapter. What development occurs?
Answer:
At the chapter’s start, the protagonist shows determination mixed with regret about not admitting her feelings sooner. By the end, after receiving Alis’s warnings and facing the cave’s horrors, her resolve hardens into a more focused, pragmatic mindset. The transition from emotional reflection (“if I had admitted what I’d felt…”) to action (“I walked into the cave”) shows her moving beyond doubt. Her instructions to Alis about seeking shelter with Nesta demonstrate both her strategic thinking and her growth in trusting others—a contrast to her earlier isolation. This development suggests she’s becoming both more courageous and more willing to rely on connections with others.
Quotes
1. “I might have been going to my death, but I wouldn’t arrive unarmed.”
This opening line sets the tone for the chapter, showcasing the protagonist’s determination and resilience despite facing overwhelming odds. It highlights her refusal to be a passive victim, even in the face of potential doom.
2. “Stay with the High Lord, the Suriel had said. Stay with him, fall in love with him, and all would be righted. If I had stayed, if I had admitted what I’d felt … None of this would have happened.”
This quote reveals the protagonist’s internal conflict and regret, emphasizing the consequences of her earlier choices. It underscores the theme of fate and the weight of unspoken emotions in driving the narrative forward.
3. “All dark and miserable roads lead Under the Mountain… It’s an ancient shortcut—once considered sacred, but no more.”
Alis’s ominous description of the cave entrance foreshadows the horrors awaiting the protagonist. The quote reinforces the dark, twisted nature of Amarantha’s realm and the loss of sacredness in a corrupted world.
4. “Don’t trust a soul in there—not even your Tamlin. Your senses are your greatest enemies; they will be waiting to betray you.”
Alis’s warning encapsulates the chapter’s tension and the deceptive nature of the faerie world. It prepares the protagonist (and reader) for the psychological and sensory traps that lie ahead in Under the Mountain.
5. “I looked at her one last time, then at the night sky that was unfurling above us, and at the deep green of the hills. The color of Tamlin’s eyes. I walked into the cave.”
This powerful closing moment shows the protagonist drawing strength from her love for Tamlin before facing her fears. The poetic connection between nature and Tamlin’s eyes emphasizes her motivation while marking a point of no return in her journey.