# Aurea — The Water of the Wondrous Isles character guide > Aurea in The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Aurea, Aurea and Viridis **First appearance:** 0024-iii-birdalone-is-brought-before-the-witch-wife-s-sister ## Snapshot One of the three captive queens, sweet-tempered and wise, whose gentleness toward Birdalone becomes one of the bonds that makes rescue worth the risk. ## Who they are Aurea belongs to the sisterhood imprisoned on the Isle of Increase Unsought, and her kindness is the first thing Birdalone meets there after terror. She is tender without being passive, and her affection for Birdalone deepens the debt that later drives the escape. In the story's middle movement, she stands for the friendships that make Birdalone's loneliness bearable and her loyalties costly. ## In the story ### [II: Birdalone Falleth in with New Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ii-birdalone-falleth-in-with-new-friends) First to meet Birdalone; warns her of the Queen; gives her bread and cheese; introduces herself and her sisters. ### [III: Birdalone Is Brought Before the Witch-Wife’s Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iii-birdalone-is-brought-before-the-witch-wife-s-sister) One of the three damsels who leads Birdalone before the witch-wife's sister and kneels to confirm Birdalone's arrival. ### [IV: Of the Witch’s Prison in the Wailing-Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iv-of-the-witch-s-prison-in-the-wailing-tower) Mentioned as part of the plan to save Birdalone, though not present in the chapter. ### [V: They Feast in the Witch’s Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/v-they-feast-in-the-witch-s-prison) Mentioned as not present because she is serving the witch at the time. ### [VI: Atra Tells of How They Three Came Unto the Isle of Increase Unsought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vi-atra-tells-of-how-they-three-came-unto-the-isle-of-increase-unsought) One of the three ladies, beloved of the Golden Knight; present during the events described by Atra. ### [VII: The Three Damsels Take Birdalone Out of the Witch’s Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vii-the-three-damsels-take-birdalone-out-of-the-witch-s-prison) Another damsel who tells Birdalone of past victims of the witch. ### [VIII: In What Wise Birdalone Was Clad, and How She Went Her Ways from the Isle of Increase Unsought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-in-what-wise-birdalone-was-clad-and-how-she-went-her-ways-from-the-isle-of-increase-unsought) Gives Birdalone her golden gown and a golden collar, and kisses her farewell. ### [How Birdalone Dight Her for Meeting the Champions of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iii-how-birdalone-dight-her-for-meeting-the-champions-of-the-quest) Birdalone wears Aurea's collar. ### [V: Birdalone Has True Tokens from the Champions of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/v-birdalone-has-true-tokens-from-the-champions-of-the-quest) Mentioned as Baudoin's love; her token is the golden gown. ### [VI: Of the Talk Betwixt Birdalone and Viridis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vi-of-the-talk-betwixt-birdalone-and-viridis) Does not blame Birdalone for Baudoin's death; plans to comfort her. ### [VII: Birdalone Telleth the Tale of Her Wandering Up the Valley of the Greywethers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vii-birdalone-telleth-the-tale-of-her-wandering-up-the-valley-of-the-greywethers) Kisses Birdalone coldly, thanks Arthur for his words, and says her man shall rejoice in Paradise. ### [VIII: Atra and Birdalone Talk Together While the Lords Sit at the Murder-Council](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-atra-and-birdalone-talk-together-while-the-lords-sit-at-the-murder-council) Aurea is mentioned as sitting sad and silent during the lords' absence, her gladness reft from her. ### [IX: Hugh Tells the Story of the Quest's Ending](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ix-hugh-tells-the-story-of-the-quest-s-ending) Aurea is rescued and reunited with Baudoin. ### [X: How It Fared with the Three Ladies After the Escape of Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/x-how-it-fared-with-the-three-ladies-after-the-escape-of-birdalone) Aurea is one of the three ladies who suffer the witch's punishment and are chained in the hall. ### [XII: The Knights and Their Fellows Betake Them to the Assaulting of the Red Hold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xii-the-knights-and-their-fellows-betake-them-to-the-assaulting-of-the-red-hold) Keeps to herself after the knights depart. ### [XIII: Birdalone Bethinks Her to Fulfil the Promise Made Unto Atra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xiii-birdalone-bethinks-her-to-fulfil-the-promise-made-unto-atra) Laments Birdalone's departure but does not try to stop her, being listless since her man's death. ### [XIV: Birdalone Leaves the Castle of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xiv-birdalone-leaves-the-castle-of-the-quest) Bids Birdalone farewell, praising and chiding her, expressing concern that Birdalone might have stayed despite the trouble. ### [XXXII: Of the Fight in the Forest and the Rescue of Those Friends from the Men of the Red Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xxxii-of-the-fight-in-the-forest-and-the-rescue-of-those-friends-from-the-men-of-the-red-company) Captured and bound, rescued and comforted by Birdalone. ### [XXXIII: Viridis Telleth the Tale of Their Seeking](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xxxiii-viridis-telleth-the-tale-of-their-seeking) Timorous but joins the others in the hall; rides with Arthur afterward. ### [IV: Of the Abiding in Utterhay in Love and Contentment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iv-of-the-abiding-in-utterhay-in-love-and-contentment) Aurea is wedded to Robert Gerardson with Birdalone's blessing, finding a mate after lacking one. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/aurea - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters