Chapter 117 Summary, Analysis, and Key Takeaways
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens with Rune being woken in the middle of the night by Gordy, a Meadow Clan elf, calling up to her bedroom window from the ground below. Gordy has recently developed romantic feelings for Rune—feelings she does not return—and he has been making nightly declarations of love for about a week. Rune is on the second story, so he hasn't attempted to climb the trellis, but his persistent shouting threatens to wake the household.
Rune whisper-shouts at him to be quiet and repeatedly turns down his invitation to walk through the woods with him. She reminds him that they are friends and nothing more, and that she is waiting for her true-mate. Gordy insists he loves her and claims he will make a fool of himself every turn of the moon if that's what it takes to win her heart. Rune points out that everyone is laughing behind his back and that his behavior is embarrassing to both of them.
Rune notes that a treaty between her clan and the Meadow Clan prevents her from taking more forceful action against Gordy—though she admits the thought of using her bow has crossed her mind. She also mentions that her parents are conservative elves who waited until they met before even kissing anyone else, so they won't be swayed by Gordy's theatrics. Eventually, Gordy agrees to leave for the night, though he promises to find her in the morning, which Rune asks him not to do.
After Gordy leaves, Rune's younger brother Rain knocks on her door. He's wrapped in blankets and asks if she's okay. Rain admits he found Gordy's antics funny at first but now finds them creepy. Rune warns him that if he ever treats someone that way, she'll hang him by his balls from the Mother Tree. Rain asks how Rune stays so passionate about everything, particularly her poetry about a man she hasn't met yet.
Rune explains her belief that every elf has already met their true-mate before incarnating into this life. She says she's trying to remember him, and when she's really in the zone writing, she can almost feel him standing behind her. She describes anticipating his scent—warm like a hearth fire—and that he's taller than her. She trails off before sharing more intimate thoughts that came to her since her first heat last year, saying only that he's coming for her soon.
Rune also explains why she won't act against Gordy: the treaty is what keeps all the clans in line, and she doesn't want a war like the one their parents lived through. She dreams of a big house with a big backyard, keeping her bow and quiver by the door for hunting only, and reading to her children by the fireplace. She wants peace, and clocking Gordy isn't worth giving that up.
Rain then mentions a spellbook in the library that claims to have a spell to speed up meeting one's true-mate. Rune laughs it off as unlikely, but after Rain leaves, she decides that tomorrow she'll head to the Night Star Library to find the book anyway. As sleep pulls her under, she whispers goodnight to her unseen Alpha, expressing hope that he'll come for her soon.
Key Events
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Gordy wakes Rune with nightly romantic declarations from outside her window; she firmly rejects him multiple times
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Rune references a treaty between her clan and the Meadow Clan that prevents her from using force against him
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Rain enters Rune's room after Gordy leaves; the siblings discuss her passion and her poetry
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Rune explains her belief that every elf has met their true-mate before incarnation
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Rain tells Rune about a spellbook in the library that claims to speed up meeting a true-mate
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Rune dismisses the spell but decides to search for the book at the Night Star Library the next day
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Rune whispers goodnight to her unseen Alpha, hoping he will come soon
Character Development
Rune is established as a passionate, headstrong young elf who is deeply committed to her belief in true-mate destiny. She's practical enough to recognize the treaty's importance and mature enough to resist the temptation to lash out at Gordy, even though his behavior frustrates her. Her poetry is a channel for her longing, and her blueprints for a future home reveal a desire for a peaceful domestic life. Her decision to investigate the spellbook, despite dismissing it, shows both curiosity and a willingness to seek answers.
Gordy is portrayed as persistent to the point of being oblivious to boundaries. He ignores Rune's repeated refusals, interprets her attempts to end the conversation as signs of interest, and seems genuinely unable to accept that she doesn't return his feelings. His behavior is framed as embarrassing and increasingly creepy, even by Rain's assessment.
Rain serves as a supportive younger brother. He checks on Rune after Gordy leaves, offers to beat Gordy up (though Rune declines), and engages her in a genuine conversation about her passion and her poetry. His mention of the spellbook plants the seed for Rune's next-day quest.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
True-mate destiny and past-life memory. Rune's central belief is that every elf has already met their true-mate before incarnation, and that life is a process of remembering and reuniting. Her poetry is an attempt to reach that memory.
Boundaries and consent. Gordy's persistent advances despite Rune's clear refusals highlight the importance of respecting boundaries. Rune's frustration is compounded by the treaty, which prevents her from taking stronger action.
Treaty obligations and peace vs. conflict. The treaty between clans is a fragile mechanism for peace. Rune's refusal to escalate the situation with Gordy reflects her commitment to avoiding the kind of war her parents lived through.
Passion and enthusiasm. Rain identifies Rune's passion as the quality that draws people to her. Her enthusiasm for life, her poetry, and her future plans are central to her character.
Longing for reunion. Rune's whispered goodnight to her unseen Alpha captures the chapter's emotional core: a deep, almost spiritual longing for someone she believes she has met before but cannot fully remember.
Magical solutions and the search for answers. Rain's mention of the spellbook introduces the idea of seeking supernatural shortcuts to destiny, and Rune's decision to investigate it shows her willingness to explore possibilities even when she doubts them.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter establishes Rune as a central figure in the volume's narrative, introducing her belief system, her family dynamics, and her personal goals. It sets up her quest to the Night Star Library, which will presumably drive the next chapter's events. The chapter also introduces the treaty system between elf clans, which adds a political dimension to Rune's personal struggles. Her longing for her true-mate and her whispered goodnight to her unseen Alpha create emotional stakes that will likely pay off as the story progresses.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Rune refuse to take forceful action against Gordy, despite his persistent advances?
Rune is constrained by a treaty between her clan and the Meadow Clan. She explains that the treaty is what keeps all the clans in line, and she doesn't want to trigger a war like the one her parents lived through. She has a vision of a peaceful future—a big house, a backyard, reading to her children by the fireplace—and she isn't willing to sacrifice that for the satisfaction of confronting Gordy.
2. What does Rune's poetry reveal about her beliefs regarding true-mates?
Rune's poetry is an attempt to remember her true-mate, whom she believes she met before incarnation. She says that when she's really in the zone writing, she can almost feel him standing behind her, and she can almost recall his scent and height. Her poetry is thus a bridge between her present life and a past-life memory she's trying to recover.
3. Why does Rune decide to visit the Night Star Library despite dismissing the spellbook's claims?
Rune initially laughs off Rain's mention of the spellbook, saying she doesn't believe it's real. However, as sleep pulls her under, she decides she has to find out for herself. This reflects her curiosity and her deep desire to reunite with her true-mate—even a dubious magical solution is worth investigating when the longing is strong enough.
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