# The Black Knight — The Water of the Wondrous Isles character guide

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

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Black Knight, The Black Knight, XIV The Black Knight

**First appearance:** 0055-x-how-birdalone-fell-in-with-a-man-in-the-black-valley-of-the-greywethers

## Snapshot

A stranger in dark armor who rides out of the Black Valley's shadows to shield Birdalone, offering aid whose price and purpose stay hidden.

## Who they are

He crosses Birdalone's path in the Black Valley, a lone knight whose armor and silence set him apart from the warring bands that haunt the wilds. His help comes without explanation, and his true name and allegiance remain folded away, leaving Birdalone to weigh whether rescue from an unknown hand can be trusted. His arrival widens the story's horizon beyond the wood and the Red Hold, hinting that the world pressing in on her is larger, and more tangled, than she knows.

## In the story

### [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)

Not directly present, but the lady-witch refers to the Sending Boat, which is associated with Birdalone's escape.

### [X: How Birdalone Fell in with a Man in the Black Valley of the Greywethers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/x-how-birdalone-fell-in-with-a-man-in-the-black-valley-of-the-greywethers)

The Black Knight appears suddenly from behind a stone, speaks softly but commandingly, and insists on accompanying Birdalone despite her protests.

### [XI: Birdalone Is Led Up the Black Valley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xi-birdalone-is-led-up-the-black-valley)

The Black Knight becomes courteous, telling Birdalone tales of the valley and the Stony People; he gazes greedily at her but refrains from jeering.

### [XII: How Those Twain Get Them from Out of the Black Valley of the Greywethers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xii-how-those-twain-get-them-from-out-of-the-black-valley-of-the-greywethers)

The Black Knight pressures Birdalone to wake the Greywethers, admits his desire for her, and leads her through a cleft to escape armed men, swearing to protect her.

### [XIII: Now They Rest for the Night in the Strait Pass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xiii-now-they-rest-for-the-night-in-the-strait-pass)

He stops to check on Birdalone, makes her a bed, covers her with his surcoat, and then rests himself.

### [XIV: The Black Knight Tells the Truth of Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xiv-the-black-knight-tells-the-truth-of-himself)

The Black Knight reveals he is a kinsman and trusted man of the Red Knight, sent to capture Birdalone, but confesses his love and refuses to take her to the Red Hold.

### [XV: The Black Knight Brings Birdalone to the Bower in the Dale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xv-the-black-knight-brings-birdalone-to-the-bower-in-the-dale)

The Black Knight brings Birdalone to his secret bower, confesses his fear of the Red Knight, and admits he built the bower years ago as a refuge from his burdens.

### [XVI: Yet a Day and a Night They Tarry in the Dale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_water_of_the_wondrous_isles_se/chapters/xvi-yet-a-day-and-a-night-they-tarry-in-the-dale)

Proposes a scheme to betray the Red Knight and marry Birdalone; when refused, he asks for one day of happiness, then sorrowfully leads her to the Castle of the Quest.

## Links

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