# Hall-Sun — The House of the Wolfings character guide

> Hall-Sun in The House of the Wolfings by William Morris.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the Hall-Sun

**First appearance:** 0001-the-house-of-the-wolfings

## Who they are

Seeress of the Wolfing hall, beloved for her wisdom and beauty, whose sweet measured voice and prophetic sight steady a people waiting on war.

## In the story

### [The House of the Wolfings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/the-house-of-the-wolfings)

The wise woman of the Wolfings, who interprets signs and speaks of fate.

### [The Dwellings of Mid-Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/i-the-dwellings-of-mid-mark)

The maiden appointed to keep the eternal flame in the Hall-Sun lamp, a sacred office held by an unwed Wolfing woman.

### [II: The Flitting of the War-Arrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/ii-the-flitting-of-the-war-arrow)

Thiodolf's foster-daughter, a fair young woman who sits under the lamp in the hall; she remains behind as the warriors prepare to depart.

### [III: Thiodolf Talketh with the Wood-Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/iii-thiodolf-talketh-with-the-wood-sun)

Mentioned as the source of light under which Thiodolf sat in thought before departing; she is the guardian of the Wolfing hall.

### [IV: The House Fareth to the War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/iv-the-house-fareth-to-the-war)

Sits on the dais in an ancient garment, gives Thiodolf the War-horn, then lights a torch from the Hall-Sun flame and delivers a farewell prophecy before quenching it.

### [V: Concerning the Hall-Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/v-concerning-the-hall-sun)

The Hall-Sun is the central figure of the chapter. She is left alone on the Hill of Speech after the warriors depart, falls into a prophetic trance, and recounts her mysterious origins and early life to the carline. She experiences a vision of her true mother and foresees destruction, though she later forgets the prophecy.

### [They Talk on the Way to the Folk-Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/vi-they-talk-on-the-way-to-the-folk-thing)

Mentioned by Wolfkettle as having lit the farewell candle and spoken of the day of return.

### [X: That Carline Cometh to the Roof of the Wolfings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/x-that-carline-cometh-to-the-roof-of-the-wolfings)

Sits outside the Women's-Chamber, weary from fieldwork yet alert; welcomes the carline with kindness and speaks of her love for the Wolfings, then departs to be alone in the meads.

### [XI: The Hall-Sun Speaketh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xi-the-hall-sun-speaketh)

The Hall-Sun delivers a prophetic speech to the Wolfing women and elders, describing a vision of battle and victory.

### [XII: Tidings of the Battle in Mirkwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xii-tidings-of-the-battle-in-mirkwood)

Hall-Sun receives the tidings from Gisli, sends riders to spread the news, and is troubled by the mysterious carline's appearance and disappearance.

### [XIII: The Hall-Sun Saith Another Word](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xiii-the-hall-sun-saith-another-word)

Delivers a prophetic song to the folk in the feast-hall, foretelling victory and confusion, then falls into a deep sleep.

### [XIV: The Hall-Sun Is Careful Concerning the Passes of the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xiv-the-hall-sun-is-careful-concerning-the-passes-of-the-wood)

Takes charge of the Wolfing stead, organizing defenses and sending watchers to the wood passes.

### [They Hear Tell of the Battle on the Ridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xv-they-hear-tell-of-the-battle-on-the-ridge)

Remains at the Wolfing Stead, preparing defenses and organizing supplies with Sorli.

### [Tidings Brought to the Wain-Burg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xviii-tidings-brought-to-the-wain-burg)

Mentioned as the one at Wolf-stead who will receive tidings and coordinate the defense.

### [XXI: They Bicker About the Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxi-they-bicker-about-the-ford)

Sends the lad Ali to Otter with a message asking whether to hold the hall or flee; she has seen the Roof-ridge red in the sunlight.

### [Thiodolf Meeteth the Romans in the Wolfing Meadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxiii-thiodolf-meeteth-the-romans-in-the-wolfing-meadow)

Not directly present, but her prophecy and warning are implicitly referenced through the chapter's events.

### [The Host of the Markmen Cometh Into the Wild-Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxv-the-host-of-the-markmen-cometh-into-the-wild-wood)

Sends a message via Ali commanding the host to move to the Thing-stead; later stands beneath the lamp, prophesies victory, and urges action.

### [XXVI: Thiodolf Talketh with the Wood-Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxvi-thiodolf-talketh-with-the-wood-sun)

The Hall-Sun leads Thiodolf to the Wood-Sun, speaks of two griefs and her power to vanquish one, then departs after a tender farewell with her mother.

### [XXVII: They Wend to the Morning Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxvii-they-wend-to-the-morning-battle)

Sits under the Hall-Sun, gives instructions to Steinulf, Athalulf, and Grani to quench fires, and shares a prophetic farewell with Thiodolf.

### [Of Thiodolf's Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxi-of-thiodolf-s-storm)

Enters the hall after the battle, restores the Lamp to its place, closes Thiodolf's eyes, and announces his death.

### [XXX: Thiodolf Is Borne Out of the Hall and Otter Is Laid Beside Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxx-thiodolf-is-borne-out-of-the-hall-and-otter-is-laid-beside-him)

Leads the mourning and ritual, calls forth warriors by name, kindles the torch, and follows the bier with the Candle of Returning.

### [XXXI: Old Asmund Speaketh Over the War-Dukes: The Dead Are Laid in Mound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxxi-old-asmund-speaketh-over-the-war-dukes-the-dead-are-laid-in-mound)

Leads the procession back to the Hall, quenches her candle at the threshold, presides over the feast, and receives Throng-plough from Ali; she speaks a farewell to her father Thiodolf and foretells the sword's future use.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/hall_sun
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters