Chapter Forty-Five: The Alder Queen and the God of War

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

After escaping Gravenstone, Serilda, Gild, and the newly freed princess retreat to a graveyard outside Adalheid. The princess, who calls herself Erlenkönigin (“the Alder Queen”) and asks to be called Erlen, reveals that she has few memories of her life before captivity. Gild shows her a locket with her portrait and explains that she is his sister, the long-lost princess of Adalheid. Erlen also shares the nature of her gift: she weaves tapestries that show possible futures, not certain ones. One tapestry has always depicted the Erlking capturing all seven gods, and another shows both the dark ones being cast into Verloren and, in a different light, being served by humans in Gravenstone. Her loyal monsters—Helgard, Udo, Tilly, Wendelina, and others—find her in the graveyard. Erlen is distraught over failing them during the battle, but the creatures remain devoted.

Gild proposes that their god-blessed gifts might work together: if Erlen weaves a tapestry using his indestructible golden thread, she might create a fixed future that shows how to defeat the Erlking. Serilda points out that golden arrows could also trap dark ones, similar to how the Erlking’s arrows tethered spirits and captured gods. They decide that Gild and Erlen will go to Adalheid to secure a spinning wheel and a loom, while Serilda and the god Tyrr set out to find Wyrdith before the wild hunt does. The veil is still down, but the Hunt is hunting, and Serilda’s baby is due soon. She hopes Wyrdith can grant her wish to reclaim her body and child.

Key Events

The group escapes to a graveyard north of Adalheid; Tyrr shifts from wyvern to human form and stands guard.
The princess introduces herself as Erlenkönigin (“the Alder Queen”) and accepts the nickname Erlen.
Gild shows Erlen the locket with her portrait and explains she is his sister; she is skeptical but shows her family ring.
Erlen reveals that her tapestries show possible futures, not certain ones; the tapestry of the seven gods has never changed.
Serilda connects the tapestry of the garden party (king and queen as skeletons) to Erlen’s gift.
Erlen’s monsters find her in the graveyard; she tends to a drude with a broken wing.
Gild proposes weaving a tapestry with gold thread to create an indestructible future; Serilda suggests golden arrows to trap dark ones.
The group splits: Gild and Erlen go to Adalheid; Serilda and Tyrr go to the basalt cliffs to find Wyrdith.
Tyrr vows to put an arrow into the Erlking if they encounter the wild hunt.

Character Development

Erlen emerges as a proud, defiant figure who has spent centuries alone, earning the loyalty of monsters. She is quick-witted and blunt (calling Gild a “royal twit”), but also vulnerable when she admits she failed her subjects. Her gift gives her a complicated relationship with fate: she knows possibilities but cannot force them.
Gild shows sensitivity and hope. He offers his jerkin to Erlen, reveals his identity gently, and eagerly proposes using their shared blessing to create a new future. He also confesses his sadness at being forgotten, though he tries to joke about it.
Serilda takes charge of the plan, insisting on finding Wyrdith despite the danger. She balances her fear (the inescapable tapestry) with determination (the wish is still possible). Her maternal urgency drives her decision to leave the group.
Tyrr shifts from aloof guardian to willing ally, agreeing to guide Serilda. Their hunger for revenge against the Erlking adds a volatile element.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Fate versus free will: Erlen’s tapestries show possible futures, not predetermined ones. The distinction is crucial: the future can change until a tapestry becomes unchangeable. This allows the characters to hope, even when facing an “inevitable” prophecy.
Gold as a tool of power and binding: Gold spun by Gild is indestructible and can be molded into any shape. It is used for arrows to trap dark ones and for thread to fix a future. Gold represents the couple’s god-blessed gift as a weapon against the Erlking.
Family and identity: Gild’s discovery of his sister redefines his past and gives him new purpose. Erlen’s rejection of the “clay doll” portrait shows her refusal to be defined by her lost childhood. The royal ring becomes a symbol of their shared heritage.
The veil and mortality: With the veil down, the separation between mortal and spirit worlds is blurred. Serilda’s lack of a mortal body threatens her bond with Gild, emphasizing the stakes of her quest.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the novel. The freed princess is not a damsel in distress but a powerful ally with a prophetic gift. Gild’s idea to combine their god-blessed talents—spinning gold and weaving futures—forges a new strategy against the dark ones. The concept that golden arrows can trap immortals echoes earlier lore and provides a path to victory. Serilda’s decision to pursue Wyrdith alone, with only Tyrr as protection, raises the stakes and sets up the next leg of her journey. The chapter also deepens the world-building by explaining how Erlen’s gift works and why her tapestries are both accurate and malleable.

Study Questions

How does Erlen’s explanation of her tapestries challenge the idea of a fixed destiny?
Answer: Erlen insists that her tapestries show possible futures, not certain ones. They can change until the moment the future becomes permanent; once the tapestry is unchangeable, the event is locked. This means that prophecies are not absolute and can be altered by the characters’ choices.
Why does Gild believe that combining his gold with Erlen’s weaving could create a winning future?
Answer: Gild reasons that gold spun by his gift is indestructible. If Erlen weaves a tapestry with that gold, the future it depicts would also be indestructible—i.e., guaranteed to happen. Since a future in which the Erlking is defeated already exists (in the Verloren tapestry), weaving it in gold would make that victory inevitable.
What does Serilda’s decision to separate from Gild and Erlen reveal about her priorities?
Answer: Serilda chooses to search for Wyrdith even though it separates her from Gild and risks encountering the wild hunt. Her primary goal is to reclaim her body and save her unborn child before the winter solstice. This shows that her maternal instinct and personal agency outweigh her desire for safety or companionship.