Chapter 75: Rune — Summary, Themes, and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
You have been warned.
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Now, let's break down this pivotal moment.
Summary
The chapter opens with a deafening gunshot that tears through Rune's chest. Pain and heat flood her body, and her legs give out. Cressida's enraged scream splits the air, but it's Gideon who catches Rune, lowering them both to the ground. Blood pours from the wound, and Rune finds herself cradled in Gideon's lap, his warmth and strength surrounding her. She notes, even in her dying moments, how gentleness and strength coexist in him.
Gideon is consumed by grief, crying out, “What have I done?” Rune, though fading, whispers that he spared her—and everyone else. She touches her blood-soaked fingers to both of his cheeks, drawing a mark on each one, though Gideon is too distraught to notice. The narrative clarifies that Cressida needed Rune's life to resurrect their sisters, and Gideon's shot has denied her that.
Cold begins in Rune's fingers and toes, spreading inward to her core. She knows she'll never be warm again. She closes her eyes, silently saying goodbye to Gideon and to the future they might have shared—including three joyful children she'll never meet. As Cressida approaches, Rune smiles, remembering the last symbol she drew on the floor of Larkmont after her whipping. She realizes that she didn't just break the curse—she reversed it permanently, meaning Cressida can no longer touch Gideon. But she's fading too quickly to tell him.
Gideon's arms tighten around her, his tears falling on her face. He whispers that he loves her, that he should have said it sooner. As death presses in, Antonio's words echo in Rune's mind: sometimes paths must diverge, but if love is the highest power, they will converge again—if not in this world, then the next. Pressing her hand to Gideon's heart, Rune whispers, “Come find me in the next world.” And then death finds her.
Key Events
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Gideon shoots Rune, wounding her fatally in the chest.
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Cressida screams in fury, realizing her plan to use Rune's life for resurrection is thwarted.
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Gideon catches Rune and holds her as she bleeds out.
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Rune marks Gideon's cheeks with her blood, a protective gesture.
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Rune tells Gideon he spared her and everyone else.
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Rune realizes she reversed the curse at Larkmont, making Cressida unable to touch Gideon.
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Gideon confesses his love for Rune, regretting not saying it sooner.
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Rune recalls Antonio's words about paths converging in the next world if love is the highest power.
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Rune asks Gideon to find her in the next world, then dies.
Character Development
Rune undergoes her final transformation in this chapter. Her sacrifice is not just physical—it's a deliberate act of love and protection. Even as she dies, she uses her blood to mark Gideon, ensuring Cressida can never harm him. Her realization about the curse reversal shows her growth from a girl who once broke curses to one who can invert them entirely. Her final words are not about herself but about reunion in the afterlife, demonstrating her deep faith in love as a transcendent force.
Gideon is shattered by his own action. His immediate grief and self-condemnation reveal his humanity and the weight of his choice. His love confession, though late, is raw and sincere, showing that he has finally shed his emotional armor. The chapter cements his role as both protector and tragic figure.
Cressida is reduced to a scream of fury, her power broken by Gideon's shot. Her absence from the physical scene (she's approaching but not yet upon them) emphasizes her defeat. The reversal of the curse means she is now powerless against Gideon, a significant shift in the antagonist's threat level.
Antonio is not present but his words echo, showing his lasting influence on Rune's philosophy. His earlier teaching about love and convergence becomes the guiding principle of Rune's final moments.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Sacrifice: Rune's death is a willing sacrifice, not just to stop Cressida but to save Gideon and everyone else. Her blood becomes a tool of protection.
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Love as the highest power: Antonio's words and Rune's final request underscore the theme that love transcends death and can reunite souls across worlds.
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Curse reversal: The symbol Rune drew at Larkmont is revealed to have permanently reversed the curse, turning Cressida's power against her. This motif of inversion highlights the idea that even the darkest magic can be undone by a stronger will.
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Blood marks as protection: Rune's blood on Gideon's cheeks is a physical symbol of her sacrifice and a ward against Cressida. It echoes earlier blood rituals but now serves a protective, loving purpose.
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Death and the afterlife: The chapter confronts death directly, but frames it as a transition rather than an end. Rune's belief in convergence in the next world softens the tragedy.
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Parting of paths: Antonio's concept of diverging paths is realized here, as Rune and Gideon are separated by death, but the hope of convergence remains.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the emotional and narrative climax of Rebel Witch. It delivers on the long-building tension between Rune and Gideon, resolving their relationship in a moment of devastating intimacy. The revelation that Rune reversed the curse at Larkmont is a crucial payoff, explaining why Cressida's plans have been failing and giving Gideon a permanent shield. Rune's death is not a defeat but a victory—she has saved everyone and ensured Cressida's power is broken. The chapter also cements the novel's central theme: love is the highest power, capable of transcending even death. It sets up the possibility of reunion in the next world, leaving readers with a bittersweet but hopeful ending.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rune mark Gideon's cheeks with her blood, and what does this action signify?
Rune marks Gideon's cheeks with her blood as a protective gesture. She has just realized that the symbol she drew at Larkmont after her whipping reversed the curse permanently, meaning Cressida can no longer touch Gideon. The blood marks are a physical manifestation of that reversal, a final act of love and protection. They signify her sacrifice and her desire to keep him safe even after she's gone.
2. How does Antonio's earlier teaching about paths and love influence Rune's final moments?
Antonio's words—that paths may diverge but will converge again if love is the highest power—give Rune comfort as she dies. She recalls them just before pressing her hand to Gideon's heart and asking him to find her in the next world. This teaching shapes her belief that death is not an end but a temporary separation, and it gives her the strength to let go peacefully.
3. What is the significance of Cressida's scream at the beginning of the chapter?
Cressida's scream is a reaction to Gideon's shot, which wounds Rune fatally. Since Cressida needed Rune's life to resurrect their sisters, the shot destroys her plan. The scream signals her fury and desperation, but also her powerlessness. It marks the moment when Cressida's scheme unravels, and it sets the stage for Rune's realization that the curse has been reversed, making Cressida unable to touch Gideon.
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