# Leonard — The Water of the Wondrous Isles character guide

> Leonard in The Water of the Wondrous Isles by William Morris.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Leonard, Sir Leonard, priest Leonard, St. Leonard

**First appearance:** 0046-i-of-birdalone-s-grief-and-of-leonard-the-chaplain

## Snapshot

The Castle of the Quest's chaplain, whose blessing and tears send Birdalone out alone onto the black water in the blood-driven Sending Boat.

## Who they are

Leonard is the priest who has taught and befriended Birdalone during her years among the knights, and he is the last familiar face she sees before the boat carries her away from the haven. He stands speechless with grief as she bloods the stern and sings the raven-wine song, unable to hold her back or follow. His helpless blessing marks the threshold between her sheltered life and the solitary, dangerous voyaging that the rest of the story demands.

## Relationships

### [Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/birdalone)

_friendship_

Leonard is a loyal and steadfast companion to Birdalone, offering support and camaraderie during her adventures.

### [Birdalone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/birdalone)

_friendship_

Leonard is a loyal and steadfast companion to Birdalone, offering support and camaraderie during her adventures.

## In the story

### [VIII: In the Meanwhile of the Departing of the Champions, They Would Pleasure Birdalone with Feats of Arms and Games of Prowess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-in-the-meanwhile-of-the-departing-of-the-champions-they-would-pleasure-birdalone-with-feats-of-arms-and-games-of-prowess)

The chaplain is meek and humble before Birdalone, but sorrow and trouble are evident in his countenance.

### [I: Of Birdalone’s Grief; and of Leonard the Chaplain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/i-of-birdalone-s-grief-and-of-leonard-the-chaplain)

The chaplain visits Birdalone, offers to guide her outside, but is rebuffed.

### [II: Birdalone Learneth Lore of the Priest. Ten Days of Waiting Wear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ii-birdalone-learneth-lore-of-the-priest-ten-days-of-waiting-wear)

Leonard the priest teaches Birdalone to read, and she proves an apt scholar.

### [III: Now Would Birdalone Ride Abroad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/iii-now-would-birdalone-ride-abroad)

The priest Leonard teaches Birdalone writing, finding both pleasure and torment in being near her.

### [V: Sir Aymeris Showeth Birdalone the Mountains Afar Off](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/v-sir-aymeris-showeth-birdalone-the-mountains-afar-off)

Leonard the priest is mentioned by Sir Aymeris as one who knows tales of the wild places and can tell them well.

### [VI: Birdalone Heareth Tell Tales of the Black Valley of the Greywethers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vi-birdalone-heareth-tell-tales-of-the-black-valley-of-the-greywethers)

The priest who has been to the Black Valley and recounts the dangerous legend of the Stony People.

### [VII: Birdalone Beguileth the Priest to Help Her to Outgoing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/vii-birdalone-beguileth-the-priest-to-help-her-to-outgoing)

The priest who is beguiled by Birdalone; agrees to provide the key and arrange her palfrey for the secret outing.

### [VIII: Birdalone Fares on Her Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/viii-birdalone-fares-on-her-adventure)

Helps Birdalone escape by leading her through the chapel and postern. He confesses his romantic love for her, is gently rebuffed, but receives a single kiss before she rides away.

### [I: Of Sir Leonard’s Trouble and the Coming of the Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/i-of-sir-leonard-s-trouble-and-the-coming-of-the-quest)

Tormented by love and guilt, he tries to confess to Sir Aymeris but is silenced.

### [II: Now Ask They of Birdalone, and Sir Leonard Speaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/ii-now-ask-they-of-birdalone-and-sir-leonard-speaks)

The chaplain who brings the news of Birdalone's disappearance and peril.

### [XI: Birdalone and the Black Squire Talk Together in the Hall of the Castle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xi-birdalone-and-the-black-squire-talk-together-in-the-hall-of-the-castle)

The priest who carries Birdalone's message to Arthur to meet 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)

Hushed and abashed, fears to speak to Birdalone but resumes teaching her scribe-craft.

### [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)

The priest who has become a hermit in the bower; he tells Birdalone of the departures and the haunting fetches.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/characters/leonard
- 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