Thomas Covenant 8 — The Fatal Revenant
Chapter 14: Part Two — 1. From the Depths
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery emerges from the depths of Rivenrock into Garroting Deep, physically and emotionally shattered. The cold winter air and her soaked, exhausted body are the least of her burdens—her son, Jeremiah, is lost to Lord Foul and the croyel, leaving her heart hardened like stone. Despite her overwhelming grief and fatigue, she presses forward, driven by a grim determination that refuses to surrender. The Staff of Law in her hand has transformed into a dark, unrecognizable form, mirroring her own inner desolation, yet she no longer cares about its changes or her own survival.
Her journey through the mountain’s ruins was a blur of instinct and Earthpower, as she navigated collapsing stone and raging waters without awareness of time or the devastation around her. Now, in Garroting Deep, she trudges beside the Black River, guided only by its faint trickle under the starlit sky. The Ranyhyn’s earlier warnings about Jeremiah’s fate haunt her, but she had failed to grasp their full implications, distracted by Roger’s manipulations and the croyel’s cruelty. Her love for her son has been twisted into a tool for Despite, leaving her adrift in confusion and despair.
Linden’s resolve is unbroken, but her options are bleak. She cannot create a caesure to reach Jeremiah without risking the Arch of Time, nor can she rely on the Staff of Law to transcend time’s barriers. The Theomach’s silence and Roger’s treachery have left her isolated, yet she clings to a sliver of hope tied to Thomas Covenant. His enduring spirit represents a defiance against Lord Foul’s victory, a belief that the Land’s story is not yet over. Even in her numbness, she recognizes that the world’s laws still hold—proof that the Despiser has not yet triumphed.
As she stumbles deeper into the Forestal’s domain, Linden’s actions are mechanical, her mind stripped of fear or ambition. She expects death from Caerroil Wildwood but continues moving, her Staff and Jeremiah’s racecar the only remnants of her past life. The chapter closes with her grim acceptance of her fate, yet a faint spark persists—the possibility that Thomas Covenant’s legacy might still offer redemption, not just for her, but for the Land itself.
FAQs
1. What physical and emotional state is Linden Avery in as she emerges into Garroting Deep, and how does this reflect her internal transformation?
Answer:
Linden Avery emerges into Garroting Deep physically exhausted, chilled to the bone, and weakened by hunger and prolonged exposure to frigid conditions. Emotionally, she is bereaved and hardened, described as having a “stone heart” after the loss of her son, Jeremiah. This reflects her internal transformation from a woman driven by love and hope to one who has been “annealed like granite” by suffering. The chapter emphasizes that her restraint and emotional vulnerability have been “consumed in flame,” leaving her unyielding yet numb to fear or despair. Her continued movement forward, despite her condition, symbolizes her dogged determination, even as she grapples with profound grief.2. How has Linden’s Staff of Law changed, and what does this transformation signify about her actions and their consequences?
Answer:
Linden’s Staff of Law has transformed from its original state into a blackened, ebony-like shaft, deepened by her use of the Seven Words and EarthBlood during her struggles in Melenkurion Skyweir. This change signifies that her actions—driven by extreme desperation and power—have altered the Staff’s fundamental nature, just as her son Jeremiah’s innocence has been corrupted. The text notes that the “natural cleanliness of the wood is lost,” mirroring Linden’s own moral and emotional toll. The Staff’s transformation underscores the irreversible consequences of her choices, particularly her willingness to wield immense power in ways that may defy the natural order.3. What role does the Forestal, Caerroil Wildwood, play in the chapter, and why does Linden continue toward him despite the danger?
Answer:
Caerroil Wildwood, the Forestal of Garroting Deep, is portrayed as a formidable and lethal force—an “out-and-out butcher” whose power is unmatched within his domain. Linden continues toward him not out of hope or strategy but because she has no alternative. Her journey is directionless, guided only by the Black River, and she no longer fears death or retribution. The chapter suggests that Wildwood may be delaying her demise because he perceives her weakness or because her fate is intertwined with larger forces (e.g., the Arch of Time). Linden’s movement toward him reflects her resignation to doom, yet her persistence hints at an unresolved role she may still play.4. Analyze the significance of the Ranyhyn’s warning to Linden during the horserite. How does this foreshadow the events of the chapter?
Answer:
The Ranyhyn’s warning during the horserite revealed Jeremiah’s torment under the croyel’s possession and foreshadowed Linden’s failure to save him. They forced her to confront her own trauma and the futility of her efforts, which parallels her realization in this chapter that she cannot bridge the time gap to reach Jeremiah. The warning also highlighted her susceptibility to manipulation (e.g., by Roger and the croyel), which culminates in her being “made to serve Despite.” The horserite’s imagery of Jeremiah’s corruption directly mirrors her current despair, emphasizing that her love, while powerful, cannot overcome certain cosmic or temporal barriers.5. How does the chapter frame Linden’s relationship with Thomas Covenant, and why does she still cling to the idea of him despite her hopelessness?
Answer:
The chapter positions Thomas Covenant as Linden’s last vestige of hope, the one figure who might still influence the Land’s fate. Even in her despair, she believes that as long as Covenant’s spirit endures, Lord Foul’s victory is not inevitable. This reflects her deeper reliance on Covenant as a moral and existential anchor—a “kind of god” whose legacy offers slim hope for redemption, even for Jeremiah. Her stubborn focus on Covenant underscores her inability to fully surrender, as he represents the possibility of mysteries beyond her comprehension (e.g., the Elohim’s intervention). This clinging to faith in him contrasts sharply with her otherwise stone-like resignation.
Quotes
1. “She had become a stillatory of pain, and her heart was stone.”
This powerful metaphor captures Linden Avery’s emotional state after losing her son Jeremiah. It represents the chapter’s central theme of unbearable grief and transformation through suffering, showing how her pain has both hardened and distilled her essence.
2. “Like granite, she did not yield.”
This succinct statement embodies Linden’s newfound resilience despite her overwhelming losses and physical exhaustion. It marks a turning point where her character transcends ordinary human limitations, becoming as unyielding as the stone she shaped within the mountain.
3. “The Staff no longer lit her way… With the Seven Words and the EarthBlood, she had gone beyond herself; and so she had transformed her Staff as well.”
This passage highlights the profound change in both Linden and her magical instrument, symbolizing how her extreme trials have altered her fundamental nature. The transformed Staff represents her passage into a new state of being beyond her previous limitations.
4. “Therefore the Land’s tale was not done.”
This pivotal realization comes as Linden recognizes that the ongoing struggle must continue despite her personal losses. It serves as both a thematic statement about the narrative’s continuation and a personal motivation for Linden to keep moving forward.
5. “As long as Thomas Covenant remained—He might guide her friends to rouse the Elohim from their hermetic self-contemplation; or to thwart Roger and Lord Foul in some other fashion.”
This quote reveals Linden’s last remaining hope amidst her despair, tying back to the series’ central relationship. It shows how her faith in Covenant persists even in her darkest moment, serving as her final motivation to continue.