Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of [The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark
    FantasyFiction

    [The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark

    by R., Donaldson, Stephen
    “The Last Dark” by Stephen R. Donaldson is the concluding volume of “The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant,” bringing the epic fantasy saga to a climactic end. The story follows Thomas Covenant and Linden Avery as they confront the ultimate destruction of the Land, battling cosmic forces and personal demons. Themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the struggle between despair and hope are central to the narrative. Donaldson’s intricate world-building and morally complex characters culminate in a resolution that tests the limits of courage and love. This finale is significant for its philosophical depth and emotional intensity, marking a definitive close to a landmark series in fantasy literature.
    PreviousNext
    [The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant 10] • The Last Dark

    Chapter 2: Part One — 1. Betimes Some Wonder

    by R., Donaldson, Stephen

    Lin­den Avery stands in Muir­win Delenoth, over­whelmed by a tumul­tuous mix of emo­tions as she embraces her son Jere­mi­ah, who has final­ly emerged from years of dis­so­ci­a­tion. Her joy at his restora­tion is so pro­found it defies sim­ple descrip­tion, blend­ing relief, aston­ish­ment, and grat­i­tude. Yet her hap­pi­ness is shad­owed by the mem­o­ry of past trau­mas, includ­ing Thomas Covenant’s res­ur­rec­tion and the awak­en­ing of the Worm of the World’s End. Sur­round­ed by the rem­nants of ancient bones and watched by Stave and the Rany­hyn, Lin­den is obliv­i­ous to every­thing except Jere­mi­ah, who now responds to her touch and speaks for the first time in his life.

    Jeremiah’s trans­for­ma­tion seems mirac­u­lous, as if he has tran­scend­ed the scars of his suf­fer­ing under Lord Foul and the croyel. Lin­den mar­vels at his appar­ent whole­ness, yet her healer’s instincts warn her that such pro­found trau­ma can­not be so eas­i­ly dis­missed. She fears that buried pain may resur­face, threat­en­ing his frag­ile recov­ery. Despite her ela­tion, she strug­gles to rec­on­cile her hope with the knowl­edge that Jeremiah’s past hor­rors might still define him. The Staff of Law and Covenant’s ring, sym­bols of pow­er and fate, lie for­got­ten as she clings to the moment, unwill­ing to con­front the uncer­tain­ties ahead.

    Stave inter­rupts Linden’s rever­ie, urg­ing her to rec­og­nize the dan­gers still loom­ing over them. He reminds her that the world’s fate hangs in the bal­ance, and the Rany­hyn grow rest­less, sens­ing the need for haste. Lin­den resists, reluc­tant to let go of Jere­mi­ah or face the dilem­mas await­ing her. Her son, how­ev­er, sur­pris­es her by break­ing their embrace and turn­ing toward Stave, hint­ing at a new­found agency. Linden’s train­ing as a heal­er tells her that Jeremiah’s recov­ery is only the first step, and she dreads the emo­tion­al storms that may fol­low.

    The chap­ter clos­es with Lin­den caught between exal­ta­tion and dread, unable to ful­ly trust Jeremiah’s appar­ent heal­ing. She knows that Lord Foul’s influ­ence may still lurk with­in him, and the prophe­cies of doom remain unful­filled. As Jere­mi­ah inter­acts with Stave, Lin­den grap­ples with the fear that her son’s restora­tion is incomplete—or worse, tem­po­rary. The world’s impend­ing cri­sis demands her atten­tion, but she hes­i­tates, torn between mater­nal joy and the grim aware­ness that deep­er tri­als lie ahead.

    Down­load PDF Sum­ma­ry

    FAQs

    • 1. How does Linden Avery emotionally respond to Jeremiah’s restoration, and why is her reaction more complex than simple joy?

      Answer:
      Linden experiences an overwhelming confluence of emotions—relief, gratitude, astonishment, and profound love—but these transcend simple joy because of the context of Jeremiah’s suffering and the broader stakes of their situation. Having endured his dissociation and possession by the croyel, his sudden awareness feels miraculous, yet Linden’s healer instincts warn her that trauma may resurface later. The chapter describes her emotions as “too great and complex to be joy” because she simultaneously fears future psychological fallout and the looming threats of Lord Foul and the Worm of the World’s End. Her tears and exaltation are tinged with dread, reflecting her awareness that restoration is only the first step in a fragile process.

      2. Analyze the symbolic significance of Jeremiah’s transformation being compared to the Staff of Law.

      Answer:
      The comparison elevates Jeremiah as a embodiment of hope and purity, contrasting with Linden’s guilt-tainted Staff. Where her Staff is “runed and ebony, transformed to blackness by her sins,” Jeremiah resembles the Staff as Berek Halfhand originally created it—”pure and beneficent.” This symbolizes not just his physical healing but a spiritual renewal, suggesting he may play a pivotal role in restoring balance to the Land. However, the symbolism is bittersweet: Linden’s awe underscores her fear that his wholeness is temporary, mirroring the Staff’s corruption. The imagery ties his personal redemption to the broader fate of the world.

      3. Why does Stave urge Linden to leave Muirwin Delenoth, and what does his interruption reveal about his character?

      Answer:
      Stave insists they depart because lingering risks exposure to renewed dangers, such as the return of the Falls or the Worm’s advance. His practical urgency contrasts with Linden’s emotional immersion, highlighting his Haruchai discipline and foresight. Notably, his plea carries uncharacteristic emotion—a “timbre of pleading or regret”—revealing his hidden grief for his own lost son. This moment humanizes Stave, showing how his stoicism masks deep empathy. His reminder that “the last crisis of the Earth gathers against us” refocuses the narrative on collective survival, subtly challenging Linden to balance maternal love with her larger responsibilities.

      4. How does the chapter frame the tension between immediate miracles and long-term consequences?

      Answer:
      Jeremiah’s awakening seems miraculous, but Linden’s training as a healer forces her to question its sustainability. The text notes that “full recall [of trauma] came later—if it came at all,” implying his apparent wholeness may be a protective dissociation. This tension mirrors broader themes in the series: Covenant’s resurrection came with leprosy, and Linden’s Staff bears the marks of her failures. The chapter warns against mistaking initial relief for resolution, as Lord Foul’s machinations and Jeremiah’s unresolved trauma loom. The setting—a ruin of bones—further underscores that past horrors cannot be easily buried.

      5. Evaluate Linden’s internal conflict as both a mother and a healer in this chapter.

      Answer:
      Linden’s dual roles clash sharply. As a mother, she wants to revel in Jeremiah’s return, clinging to the “exaltation” of his embrace. As a healer, she clinically assesses the impossibility of his seamless recovery, fearing suppressed trauma will erupt. The chapter notes she “knew better” than to trust surface appearances, reflecting her professional skepticism. This conflict paralyzes her; she resists Stave’s warnings because confronting reality would mean acknowledging vulnerabilities in Jeremiah’s restoration. Her struggle epitomizes the tension between love’s hope and a healer’s pragmatism, foreshadowing difficult choices ahead.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Linden Avery’s fate may indeed have been written in water. It was certainly writ in tears. They blurred everything; redefined the foundations of her life.”

      This opening line sets the emotional tone for the chapter, illustrating Linden’s profound grief and transformation. The water and tears imagery symbolizes both impermanence and the deep emotional impact of her experiences.

      2. “A staggering confluence of valor and trust had restored her son. At that moment, she believed that if the Worm came for her now, or She Who Must Not Be Named, or even Lord Foul the Despiser, her only regret would be that she did not get to know who her son had become during his absence.”

      This quote captures the pinnacle of Linden’s emotional journey—her overwhelming joy at Jeremiah’s restoration. It highlights her unconditional love and the transformative power of hope, even in the face of apocalyptic threats.

      3. “He seemed to glow with warmth and health in her arms as if he had become the Staff of Law: not her Staff, runed and ebony, transformed to blackness by her sins and failures, but rather the Staff of Law as it should have been, pure and beneficent, the Staff that Berek Halfhand had first created to serve the beauty of the Land.”

      This passage symbolizes Jeremiah’s redemption as a counterpoint to Linden’s perceived failures. The comparison to the Staff of Law underscores themes of purity, healing, and the potential for renewal.

      4. “Training and experience had taught her that an escape from unreactive passivity was a vital step, crucial to everything that it enabled—but it was only the first step.”

      Here, Linden’s healer instincts reveal the complexity of Jeremiah’s recovery. The quote reflects the chapter’s deeper exploration of trauma, resilience, and the uncertain path to true healing.

      5. “Nevertheless we cannot remain here… The last crisis of the Earth gathers against us.”

      Stave’s urgent reminder forces Linden (and the reader) back to the overarching peril of the story. This quote marks a turning point where personal joy must yield to existential threats, balancing intimate emotion with epic stakes.

    Quotes

    1. “Linden Avery’s fate may indeed have been written in water. It was certainly writ in tears. They blurred everything; redefined the foundations of her life.”

    This opening line sets the emotional tone for the chapter, illustrating Linden’s profound grief and transformation. The water and tears imagery symbolizes both impermanence and the deep emotional impact of her experiences.

    2. “A staggering confluence of valor and trust had restored her son. At that moment, she believed that if the Worm came for her now, or She Who Must Not Be Named, or even Lord Foul the Despiser, her only regret would be that she did not get to know who her son had become during his absence.”

    This quote captures the pinnacle of Linden’s emotional journey—her overwhelming joy at Jeremiah’s restoration. It highlights her unconditional love and the transformative power of hope, even in the face of apocalyptic threats.

    3. “He seemed to glow with warmth and health in her arms as if he had become the Staff of Law: not her Staff, runed and ebony, transformed to blackness by her sins and failures, but rather the Staff of Law as it should have been, pure and beneficent, the Staff that Berek Halfhand had first created to serve the beauty of the Land.”

    This passage symbolizes Jeremiah’s redemption as a counterpoint to Linden’s perceived failures. The comparison to the Staff of Law underscores themes of purity, healing, and the potential for renewal.

    4. “Training and experience had taught her that an escape from unreactive passivity was a vital step, crucial to everything that it enabled—but it was only the first step.”

    Here, Linden’s healer instincts reveal the complexity of Jeremiah’s recovery. The quote reflects the chapter’s deeper exploration of trauma, resilience, and the uncertain path to true healing.

    5. “Nevertheless we cannot remain here… The last crisis of the Earth gathers against us.”

    Stave’s urgent reminder forces Linden (and the reader) back to the overarching peril of the story. This quote marks a turning point where personal joy must yield to existential threats, balancing intimate emotion with epic stakes.

    FAQs

    1. How does Linden Avery emotionally respond to Jeremiah’s restoration, and why is her reaction more complex than simple joy?

    Answer:
    Linden experiences an overwhelming confluence of emotions—relief, gratitude, astonishment, and profound love—but these transcend simple joy because of the context of Jeremiah’s suffering and the broader stakes of their situation. Having endured his dissociation and possession by the croyel, his sudden awareness feels miraculous, yet Linden’s healer instincts warn her that trauma may resurface later. The chapter describes her emotions as “too great and complex to be joy” because she simultaneously fears future psychological fallout and the looming threats of Lord Foul and the Worm of the World’s End. Her tears and exaltation are tinged with dread, reflecting her awareness that restoration is only the first step in a fragile process.

    2. Analyze the symbolic significance of Jeremiah’s transformation being compared to the Staff of Law.

    Answer:
    The comparison elevates Jeremiah as a embodiment of hope and purity, contrasting with Linden’s guilt-tainted Staff. Where her Staff is “runed and ebony, transformed to blackness by her sins,” Jeremiah resembles the Staff as Berek Halfhand originally created it—”pure and beneficent.” This symbolizes not just his physical healing but a spiritual renewal, suggesting he may play a pivotal role in restoring balance to the Land. However, the symbolism is bittersweet: Linden’s awe underscores her fear that his wholeness is temporary, mirroring the Staff’s corruption. The imagery ties his personal redemption to the broader fate of the world.

    3. Why does Stave urge Linden to leave Muirwin Delenoth, and what does his interruption reveal about his character?

    Answer:
    Stave insists they depart because lingering risks exposure to renewed dangers, such as the return of the Falls or the Worm’s advance. His practical urgency contrasts with Linden’s emotional immersion, highlighting his Haruchai discipline and foresight. Notably, his plea carries uncharacteristic emotion—a “timbre of pleading or regret”—revealing his hidden grief for his own lost son. This moment humanizes Stave, showing how his stoicism masks deep empathy. His reminder that “the last crisis of the Earth gathers against us” refocuses the narrative on collective survival, subtly challenging Linden to balance maternal love with her larger responsibilities.

    4. How does the chapter frame the tension between immediate miracles and long-term consequences?

    Answer:
    Jeremiah’s awakening seems miraculous, but Linden’s training as a healer forces her to question its sustainability. The text notes that “full recall [of trauma] came later—if it came at all,” implying his apparent wholeness may be a protective dissociation. This tension mirrors broader themes in the series: Covenant’s resurrection came with leprosy, and Linden’s Staff bears the marks of her failures. The chapter warns against mistaking initial relief for resolution, as Lord Foul’s machinations and Jeremiah’s unresolved trauma loom. The setting—a ruin of bones—further underscores that past horrors cannot be easily buried.

    5. Evaluate Linden’s internal conflict as both a mother and a healer in this chapter.

    Answer:
    Linden’s dual roles clash sharply. As a mother, she wants to revel in Jeremiah’s return, clinging to the “exaltation” of his embrace. As a healer, she clinically assesses the impossibility of his seamless recovery, fearing suppressed trauma will erupt. The chapter notes she “knew better” than to trust surface appearances, reflecting her professional skepticism. This conflict paralyzes her; she resists Stave’s warnings because confronting reality would mean acknowledging vulnerabilities in Jeremiah’s restoration. Her struggle epitomizes the tension between love’s hope and a healer’s pragmatism, foreshadowing difficult choices ahead.

    Note