Chapter Seventeen: Healing the Wilderwood Together

⚠️ 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

Red rummages through a dusty closet with Lyra and finds clothing left by previous Second Daughters, including a green dress that once belonged to Merra. Changing into it, Red notices the sentinels that normally guard the corridor are missing. She follows signs of blood and finds Eammon in the courtyard, preparing to bleed again to save a sentinel sapling that has become shadow-rotted. Determined to help without blood, Red convinces him to let her use the Wilderwood magic they share through their marriage bond. Together they place their hands on the sentinel and channel their power, healing it and restoring it to a full-grown tree. During the process, Red’s mind’s eye opens to the golden network of the Wilderwood and she sees Eammon as part of it — half tree, half man — holding the forest together. Afterward, Eammon gives Red her books, which he salvaged from the collapsed corridor, and reveals a magic mirror made by his mother that can let someone see a loved one. Using a strand of her hair, Red activates the mirror and sees her sister Neve.

Key Events

Red and Lyra find stored clothing; Red chooses a dress once belonging to Merra.
Red discovers the sentinels have been moved and Eammon is bleeding to save shadow-rotted ones.
Red insists on helping, and they heal a sentinel together using their linked magic.
Red experiences a vision of the Wilderwood as a network of golden trees connected to Eammon.
Eammon returns Red’s books, which he retrieved from the collapsed corridor.
Eammon presents a magic mirror that can show the image of a loved one.
Red activates the mirror with a strand of hair and sees her sister Neve.

Character Development

Red shows growing confidence in her magical abilities, moving beyond small ivy-growing exercises to actively healing the forest. She also demonstrates compassion by noticing and caring about Merra’s dress, and she admits vulnerability when she asks Eammon to trust himself.
Eammon reveals his exhaustion and shame over the changes the Wilderwood causes in his body, but also shows care by retrieving Red’s books and offering the mirror. He allows himself to be seen — both physically and emotionally — after the healing.
Lyra extends friendship to Red, sharing stories and helping her find clothes, signalling that Lyra believes Red will survive.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Actually Evidenced

Cycle and connection: The magic used to heal the sentinel is described as a cycle — rain feeding the river that becomes rain again — mirroring the recurring patterns of Second Daughters and Wolves. Red’s vision shows Eammon tangled in the Wilderwood’s roots, emphasizing that he is not separate from the forest.
Sacrifice and protection: Both Red and Eammon are willing to sacrifice their blood and energy for the forest. Eammon’s reluctance to let Red bleed shows his protective instinct, while Red’s determination reflects her commitment to sharing the burden.
Sisterhood and longing: The mirror’s purpose — to see a sister — echoes the novel’s broader theme of sisterly bonds. Red’s immediate desire to see Neve, and Eammon’s gift of that connection, underline the importance of family even when physically separated.
Identity and transformation: Eammon’s changing body (extra height, bark on arms, green-veined eyes) symbolizes his gradual loss of humanity, yet Red’s acceptance — “If he wasn’t hiding, she wasn’t, either” — suggests that identity can be shared and affirmed through trust.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a turning point in Red’s relationship with the Wilderwood. She moves from being a recipient of magic to an active participant, healing a sentinel without blood and witnessing the forest’s true nature. The vision of Eammon as part of the forest deepens her understanding of his sacrifice and her own role. The gift of the mirror re-establishes her emotional link to Neve, raising the stakes for her mission and reminding her of the world outside the Wilderwood. It also strengthens the bond between Red and Eammon through shared vulnerability and trust.

Study Questions and Answers

What does Red see in her vision of the Wilderwood?
Red sees a golden network of sentinels connected by roots, each one a light of varying brightness. All roots lead to Eammon, who is tangled in the forest — “half subsumed in the Wilderwood, but not drained.” She realizes he is part of the forest, holding it together with immense strength.
Why is Eammon reluctant to let Red help with the sentinel, even without blood?
Eammon is afraid that the sentinels will harm Red, even when she has no wounds. He knows “what they want to do” and does not like her being close to them. He also feels shame about his own physical changes and may worry that Red will see him as less human.
How does the mirror work, and what does Red see?
The mirror was made by Eammon’s mother to see her sister Tiernan. It requires a sacrifice, but not blood — Red uses a strand of her hair. After waiting, the mirror shows a light that grows until she sees an image of her sister Neve.