White Gold Wielder
Chapter 11: Part Two — Eleven: Aftermath
by Donaldson, Stephen R.Linden Avery, driven by desperation, navigates the passages of Revelstone as water from Glimmermere is channeled into the Keep to quench the Banefire. The Giants and Haruchai have engineered an efficient route for the water, which now flows toward the sacred enclosure where the Banefire still burns. Linden’s plan to extinguish the Clave’s power stems from her realization that Covenant’s intended self-sacrifice would only serve Lord Foul. Despite her efforts to stop him, Covenant refuses her intervention, leaving her distraught and questioning her own motives.
Linden reflects on her failed attempt to save Covenant by mentally dominating him, an act she now recognizes as morally reprehensible, akin to the Ravers’ corruption. Horrified by her own actions, she considers sacrificing herself in the Banefire to atone for her mistakes. However, Findail intervenes, urging her to reconsider for Covenant’s sake, as his survival depends on her presence. This moment of clarity forces Linden to confront her guilt and abandon her self-destructive impulse, though she remains emotionally shattered.
Meanwhile, the Sandgorgon Nom aids in diverting Glimmermere’s waters under the First’s guidance, demonstrating unexpected obedience. Linden stays to oversee the task, wrestling with trust in Nom’s altered behavior after its encounter with the Raver. The First departs to tend to the wounded, leaving Linden to ensure the water’s successful flow. Despite her inner turmoil, she focuses on the practical demands of the moment, though her thoughts linger on Covenant’s fate and her own moral failings.
The chapter concludes with Linden’s reluctant acceptance of her role in the aftermath of Covenant’s ordeal. Though she is urged to tend to the injured, she remains fixated on the Sandgorgon’s work, seeking solace in action. Her journey through Revelstone mirrors her internal struggle—between despair and duty, self-condemnation and the need to persevere. The flowing water symbolizes a fragile hope, even as Linden grapples with the consequences of her choices and the weight of her responsibilities.
FAQs
1. What was Linden Avery’s initial motivation for trying to stop Covenant from entering the Banefire, and how did her understanding of this motivation change by the chapter’s end?
Answer:
Linden initially believed she was acting to prevent Covenant’s self-destructive sacrifice, fearing his death would bind him to Lord Foul. She saw parallels to her father’s suicide and assumed Covenant’s actions stemmed from self-pity. However, after witnessing Covenant emerge from the Banefire unharmed yet unresponsive, she realized her true motivation was darker: a possessive desire to control his choices, mirroring the Ravers’ corruption. This epiphany horrified her, as it violated her core belief against dominating others’ wills (evidenced by her internal monologue: “she had reacted… as if she were a Raver”).2. Analyze the symbolic significance of Glimmermere’s water being channeled into Revelstone. How does this act reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
The diversion of Glimmermere’s pure water into the corrupted Revelstone represents purification and renewal. The water’s “untainted” blue shine contrasts with the Sunbane’s devastation, symbolizing hope against despair. Its path—forged through cooperation between the Giants, Haruchai, and even the Sandgorgon Nom—mirrors Linden’s flawed but communal effort to redeem Covenant. Notably, the water targets the Banefire, the Clave’s instrument of oppression, paralleling Linden’s struggle to cleanse both external evil (the Banefire) and internal darkness (her possessive instincts).3. How does Findail’s intervention alter Linden’s trajectory, and what does his argument reveal about Covenant’s role in the larger conflict?
Answer:
Findail stops Linden from following Covenant into self-destruction by appealing to her responsibility: without her, Covenant might resort to “the Earth’s ruin” (likely referencing the Arch of Time’s collapse). This underscores Covenant’s precarious position as both savior and potential destroyer—his choices hinge on external support. Findail’s paradoxical stance (he “does not desire [Linden’s] death” yet implies it might benefit him) also reflects the ambiguous alliances in the Land, where even reluctant allies share a vested interest in Covenant’s survival.4. Contrast Nom’s behavior in this chapter with traditional Sandgorgon traits. What might explain its obedience to Linden?
Answer:
Nom exhibits uncharacteristic cooperation: it obeys Linden’s orders, refines the water channel voluntarily, and shows no aggression. This contrasts with Sandgorgons’ typical “wildness.” The change likely stems from its encounter with the Raver—hinted at when Linden notes “the rending of the Raver had changed Nom.” By destroying a Raver, Nom may have absorbed some humanity or purpose. Its actions suggest a newfound capacity for loyalty, possibly recognizing Linden’s role in its liberation.5. Evaluate Linden’s moral crisis in this chapter. How does her guilt over controlling Covenant compare to her past actions (e.g., her mother’s death)?
Answer:
Linden’s guilt here surpasses her remorse for her mother’s murder, which she calls a mere “physical” crime. Her attempt to dominate Covenant strikes at her ethical core: it mirrors Lord Foul’s possession of others, the very evil she despises. This “crime of the spirit” (her words) is unforgivable to her because it violates autonomy—a principle central to her identity. The chapter marks a turning point where she confronts her capacity for corruption, making her earlier sins seem simpler by comparison.
Quotes
1. “In rage and despair she had conceived this means of quenching the Clave’s power… She had learned that her own former visceral desire for death was in truth a black passion for power, for immunity from all death forever.”
This quote reveals Linden Avery’s profound self-realization about the true nature of her suicidal impulses, showing how they mask a deeper craving for control and immortality—a key turning point in her character development.
2. “Despite her horror of possession… she had reacted to Covenant’s need and determination as if she were a Raver. She had tried to save him by taking away his identity.”
This powerful confession exposes Linden’s moral crisis as she recognizes her hypocrisy in attempting to dominate Covenant despite her hatred of such control, highlighting the chapter’s theme of unintended corruption.
3. “There was no excuse. Even if he had died in the Banefire, or brought down the Arch of Time, her attempt would have been fundamentally evil—a crime of the spirit beside which her physical murder of her mother paled.”
This stark self-judgment shows Linden’s absolute condemnation of her actions, equating mental domination with ultimate spiritual evil—a crucial moment of moral reckoning that defines her character arc.
4. “What hope will remain for him if you are gone? How will he then refuse the recourse of the Earth’s ruin?”
Findail’s poignant question to Linden shifts her perspective from self-destruction to responsibility, encapsulating the chapter’s transition from despair to purpose through interconnected fates.
5. “She had thought that her passion was directed at him… but when she saw him emerge from the Banefire and pass by her, she knew better.”
This realization marks Linden’s painful understanding that her anger was actually self-directed, a pivotal moment of clarity about her own failings rather than Covenant’s.