# Hugh the Green Knight — The Water of the Wondrous Isles character guide > Hugh the Green Knight in The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Hugh the Green Knight, Hugh, the Green Knight, Sir Hugh, IX Hugh **First appearance:** 0038-iv-and-now-she-meets-the-champions ## Snapshot Frank, free, and joyous, this knight of the Quest is loved by all men — and bound in heart to the gentle Viridis he calls his speech-friend. ## Who they are Hugh is the warmest of the three champions, a man whose frankness and good cheer make him beloved wherever he goes. His devotion to Viridis is the anchor of his character, and when the Castle of the Quest empties and he departs for his own country, his leaving marks how thoroughly the fellowship has scattered. He matters because his loyalty shows what the quest cost its champions, and because his absence is one of the losses Birdalone must reckon with. ## Relationships ### [Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/birdalone) _romantic_ Birdalone shares a passionate romantic bond with Hugh, marked by longing and mutual admiration. ### [Arthur the Black Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/arthur_the_black_squire) _rivalry_ Arthur and Hugh are romantic rivals for Birdalone's love, creating tension and jealousy between them. ### [Viridis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/viridis) _family_ Hugh and Viridis are siblings, sharing a close familial bond with mutual care and loyalty. ### [Arthur the Black Squire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/arthur_the_black_squire) _rivalry_ Arthur and Hugh are romantic rivals for Birdalone's love, creating tension and jealousy between them. ### [Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/birdalone) _romantic_ Birdalone shares a passionate romantic bond with Hugh, marked by longing and mutual admiration. ### [Viridis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/viridis) _family_ Hugh and Viridis are siblings, sharing a close familial bond with mutual care and loyalty. ### [Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/birdalone) _romantic_ Birdalone shares a passionate romantic bond with Hugh, marked by longing and mutual admiration. ### [Viridis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/viridis) _family_ Hugh and Viridis are siblings, sharing a close familial bond with mutual care and loyalty. ## In the story ### [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) Viridis's beloved, one of the three champions. ### [IV: And Now She Meets the Champions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iv-and-now-she-meets-the-champions) The Green Knight, young and beauteous, takes hold of Birdalone's wrist and shoulder, seeking news of Viridis. ### [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) The Green Knight; recounts how Viridis gave him her smock and receives the smock as a gift. ### [How the Champions Would Do Birdalone to Be Clad Anew in the Castle of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vi-how-the-champions-would-do-birdalone-to-be-clad-anew-in-the-castle-of-the-quest) Wishes to hear more of Birdalone's tale, caresses her hand, and gives her a great gold ring which he kisses on her bare arm. ### [VII: Of Birdalone, How She Told the Champions All Her Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vii-of-birdalone-how-she-told-the-champions-all-her-tale) Praises Birdalone's beauty, wearies her with kisses, but is heart-whole and true to Viridis; weeps at her tale. ### [IX: Birdalone Cometh Before the Champions in Her New Array](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ix-birdalone-cometh-before-the-champions-in-her-new-array) Swears the oath; is hushed, meek, and sad-faced after swearing; asks Birdalone about her life in the House under the Wood. ### [X: The Champions Go Their Ways in the Sending Boat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/x-the-champions-go-their-ways-in-the-sending-boat) Proposes a direct attack on the witch, but is counseled by Birdalone to seek Atra's advice first. He kisses Birdalone's cheeks in farewell. ### [The Fourth Part: Of the Days of Abiding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/the-fourth-part-of-the-days-of-abiding) Hugh is the third champion and the host of the castle, providing shelter and resources for the group as they abide and plan the quest. ### [III: How They Follow the Slot of Birdalone and the Black Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iii-how-they-follow-the-slot-of-birdalone-and-the-black-knight) One of the three champions who agrees to the plan and rides with the party. ### [IV: Of the Slaying of Friend and Foe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iv-of-the-slaying-of-friend-and-foe) Comforts Birdalone after the battle, helps bury the head, and weeps over Baudoin. ### [They Come Home to the Castle of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/v-they-come-home-to-the-castle-of-the-quest) Hugh rides beside Birdalone and offers comfort, helping to recount the tale of their journey to Sir Aymeris. ### [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) Mentioned as Viridis's loveling; speaks well of Birdalone. ### [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) Bids Birdalone sit, pardons Leonard, kisses Birdalone kindly, and supports Arthur's plan for war against the Red Hold. ### [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) Hugh is in the murder-council with Arthur, planning the hosting against the Red Hold; he is the object of Atra's conflicted love and desire. ### [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) Hugh narrates the journey and rescue, describing the knights' adventures. ### [VII: Birdalone Cometh to Greenford, and Hears of the Wasting of the Castle of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vii-birdalone-cometh-to-greenford-and-hears-of-the-wasting-of-the-castle-of-the-quest) Mentioned as having left the Castle of the Quest three months after Arthur became captain, returning to his own country. ### [VIII: Birdalone Cometh to the Castle of the Quest, Heareth the Tale Thereof from Leonard, and Departeth Thence by the Sending Boat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-birdalone-cometh-to-the-castle-of-the-quest-heareth-the-tale-thereof-from-leonard-and-departeth-thence-by-the-sending-boat) Departed with Viridis, Aurea, and Atra to a place seven days' ride away. ### [XXIX: Those Twain Will Seek the Wisdom of the Wood-Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xxix-those-twain-will-seek-the-wisdom-of-the-wood-wife) Mentioned as one of the fellows of the Quest whom Birdalone and Arthur hope to find again. ### [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) Found bound to a tree by the rescuers, freed by Arthur and Atra. ### [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) Leads the quest from the Green Mountains; is bound by the Red Felons but rescued. ### [The Seventh Part: The Days of Returning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/the-seventh-part-the-days-of-returning) Accompanies Birdalone on the return journey. ### [I: Sir Hugh Asketh Birdalone Where She Would Have the Abode of Their Fellowship to Be](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/i-sir-hugh-asketh-birdalone-where-she-would-have-the-abode-of-their-fellowship-to-be) Hugh speaks for the fellowship, offering to follow Birdalone anywhere and agreeing to fetch his children and livelihood from the Green Mountains. ### [II: Birdalone Taketh Counsel with Her Wood-Mother Concerning the Matter of Sir Hugh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ii-birdalone-taketh-counsel-with-her-wood-mother-concerning-the-matter-of-sir-hugh) The Green Knight who wishes to return to his lands under the Green Mountains to fetch his goods and folk. ### [Of the Journeying Through the Forest of Evilshaw Unto the Town of Utterhay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iii-of-the-journeying-through-the-forest-of-evilshaw-unto-the-town-of-utterhay) Departs on a journey, returns after twenty-three days having settled his affairs, leads the company through Evilshaw, and negotiates entry into Utterhay. ### [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) Hugh is made a war-duke of Utterhay, leading the town's defenses and helping to build the castle. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/hugh_the_green_knight - 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