White Gold Wielder
Chapter 12: Part Two — Twelve: Those Who Part
by Donaldson, Stephen R.The chapter opens with Linden and Covenant sharing an intimate, sleepless night in Revelstone, cherishing their reunion after prolonged separation. Linden is acutely aware of Covenant’s emotional state, sensing his certainty and desire for her, which feels like a form of grace. Around them, Revelstone exhales in relief as the Banefire is extinguished by Glimmermere’s waters, and Nom restores the stream’s natural flow. The city, once tormented, now basks in temporary peace, with Cail standing guard outside their door, ensuring their privacy.
Before dawn, Covenant leads Linden to Glimmermere, a mystical tarn hidden in the hills. The lake, fed by deep springs, holds profound significance—it once concealed the krill of Loric and possesses Earthpower strong enough to resist the Sunbane. As they walk, Linden feels the barren land underfoot, a reminder of the Sunbane’s devastation, yet Covenant’s anticipation infuses the journey with hope. The sound of flowing water feels fragile, mirroring the precarious balance of the Land’s fate, but Covenant’s unwavering purpose overshadows her doubts.
At Glimmermere, Linden is struck by the lake’s mirror-like surface, reflecting the sky and mountains but not her own image. Covenant dives in, inviting her to join, and the icy water cleanses her physically and emotionally, burning away her weariness and grime. As they swim, Linden notices a surreal shift: her body becomes invisible underwater, only reappearing when submerged, as if crossing into another realm. Covenant’s joy is contagious, and the lake’s purity feels transformative, offering a fleeting respite from their burdens.
The chapter closes with Linden and Covenant immersed in Glimmermere’s waters, their laughter and kisses embodying a rare moment of joy. The lake’s magic seems to renew them, symbolizing Covenant’s hope and the possibility of redemption. Despite the looming threat of the Sunbane and Lord Foul, this interlude at Glimmermere becomes a sacred pause—a testament to their resilience and the enduring power of love and hope in a world teetering on the brink of destruction.
FAQs
1. How does Glimmermere’s unique property of reflection serve as a metaphor for Linden’s self-perception and role in the Land?
Answer:
Glimmermere’s waters reflect the world with perfect clarity yet fail to show Linden’s image, symbolizing her struggle with self-worth and belonging in the Land. The lake mirrors Covenant and the landscape but renders Linden “invisible,” echoing her feelings of insignificance (“as if she were too mortal or insignificant to attract Glimmermere’s attention”). However, when submerged, she becomes visible again, suggesting her true role emerges only through immersion in the Land’s struggles. This duality reflects her internal conflict—she doubts her impact yet is central to events, much like the lake’s paradox of showing “all the world except herself.”2. Analyze the significance of Covenant and Linden’s nighttime communion. How does this moment contrast with their earlier separation and foreshadow future challenges?
Answer:
Their sleepless night together underscores emotional healing after prior estrangement (“she had not been in his arms since the crisis of the One Tree”). Covenant’s tears and smiles mirror Linden’s emotions, showing restored connection. This intimacy contrasts sharply with their separation outside Revelstone, where Cail barred Linden from approaching Covenant. The scene foreshadows impending trials by juxtaposing their “precious” bond with looming threats—the Banefire’s quenching and the Sunbane’s persistence. Their unity here becomes a thematic anchor for future sacrifices, as Covenant’s “certainty” and Linden’s trust (“communion… was more important than questions”) hint at resilience against despair.3. What thematic role does Glimmermere’s cleansing power play in the chapter, and how does it intersect with broader motifs in the series?
Answer:
Glimmermere’s waters symbolize renewal and moral clarity. The lake’s “cold shock” burns away Linden’s grime and pain (“lit all her nerves”), paralleling the Land’s need for purification from the Sunbane. Its Earthpower—resistant to corruption—ties to broader motifs of healing versus violation, as seen in the Banefire’s defeat by Glimmermere’s waters. Covenant’s playful bathing (“scrub her scalp… like an atonement”) transforms the lake into a site of personal redemption, reflecting the series’ tension between joy and suffering. The tarn’s dual nature (reflective yet cleansing) mirrors the characters’ need to reconcile perception with action.4. How does the chapter use sensory details to convey Revelstone’s transition from turmoil to peace?
Answer:
Linden’s “health-sense” tracks Revelstone’s transformation through tactile and auditory imagery. The Banefire’s quenching is felt as a “granite sigh” through the city’s stone, personifying relief (“breathe like relief through every wall”). The cooling rock and Nom’s restoration of the stream (“distant flow… stopped”) create a sensory arc from heat to calm. These details ground abstract conflict in physical experience, emphasizing the Land’s responsiveness to balance. The “hushed” sound of water later contrasts with this peace, hinting at fragility—a motif reinforced by Linden’s “barren” ground underfoot, which tempers hope with unease.5. Evaluate Covenant’s statement: “There are a few things Foul doesn’t understand. I’m going to explain them to him.” How does this assertion reflect his character development and the chapter’s tone?
Answer:
Covenant’s claim embodies his hard-won certainty, contrasting earlier self-doubt. His confidence (“as if it could take the place of rest”) stems from surviving the Banefire, granting him authority to challenge Lord Foul. The statement’s audacity (“not insane”) reflects a shift from reactive to proactive heroism. Yet the chapter’s tone tempers this resolve with vulnerability—his tears with Linden and Glimmermere’s precarious beauty underscore that his plan hinges on fragile hope. The duality mirrors the series’ core theme: even “grace” (like his desire for Linden) coexists with looming catastrophe, framing his resolve as both triumphant and desperate.
Quotes
1. “They did not sleep at all that night… she sought to impress every touch and line of him onto her hungry nerves.”
This opening passage establishes the profound emotional and physical connection between Linden and Covenant, highlighting their desperate intimacy amid the larger crises they face. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of love and vulnerability.
2. “Finally she felt the distant flow of the lake stop as Nom restored the stream to its original channel. For the remainder of this one night, at least, Revelstone had become a place of peace.”
This moment captures a rare respite in the story’s tension, symbolizing temporary restoration and hope. The imagery of cooling stone and restored waters reflects broader themes of healing in the Land.
3. “She felt he was taking her to the source of his most personal hope.”
This concise statement encapsulates the chapter’s central journey to Glimmermere, framing the tarn as both a literal and symbolic destination representing Covenant’s faith and the possibility of redemption.
4. “She felt that if she watched those waters long enough she would see all the world rendered in them. All the world except herself.”
This paradoxical observation about Glimmermere’s reflective properties powerfully illustrates Linden’s ongoing struggle with self-perception and significance, a key psychological thread throughout the series.
5. “Instantly, a cold shock flamed across her skin as if the water meant to burn the grime and pain from her… Glimmermere’s chill purity lit all her nerves.”
This transformative moment of cleansing represents both physical and spiritual renewal, using vivid sensory language to convey the lake’s mystical power to purify and reveal truth.