Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands

A key facet to Emily Wilde’s character is her preference to be alone, as she largely relies on her unique experience and scholarly intuition and is able to navigate some situations that others would shy away from. She is also socially awkward, making any attempted bonding or conversation very difficult and distracting for her. Yet, in this particular research expedition, her desire is outweighed by the necessity of relying on others not only to survive, but to make breakthroughs she wouldn’t have otherwise managed. As Rose says, “we cannot afford to be divided during this investigation. The nexus is too important” (90). Not only is the mission of academic and personal importance—Wendell would have likely died without her help—but it is Emily’s most dangerous expedition to date. As the dangers mount and the injuries begin piling up, Emily worries she’s “nearing some sort of breaking point [because her] experience with incidents this gruesome has heretofore been limited to secondhand accounts, dutifully recorded in [her] notebook” (123). To add to the difficulty of Emily’s quest, Wendell is too ill to help for the last leg of her journey. Quite literally, she is unable to succeed in her mission without the help of an entire team. Nearly every solo decision she makes, especially those against the advisement of her academic peers, ends gruesomely. Throughout the narrative, Emily gradually learns to welcome the help of others, sometimes in simply admitting that she’d be unable to proceed otherwise, and other times with genuine happiness to love and be loved.

Emily previously learned some benefits to reliance on others, especially in terms of the expertise held by the townsfolk, which makes her more receptive to social niceties than she may have been previously. When their host, Julia, and her daughters greet them upon arrival, Emily understands that she must “set [her] questions aside—[she] did not wish to repeat the mistakes [she] had made in Hrafnsvik. It was in [their] interest to befriend the people of St. Liesl, and that would be more difficult if [she] insisted on cross-examining them before [they]’d even exchanged pleasantries” (82). The locals prove instrumental to Emily’s survival and success in St. Leisl. Anticipating an attack near nightfall that both Emily and Rose do not foresee, a local named Anges and her husband arrive with a group of villagers to rescue “the idiot scholars who had tangled with the most fearsome of the local Folk, despite their warnings” (201). Emily both appreciates the help and feels immense shame when a villager is hurt because of her recklessness.

The research expedition to St. Leisl represents a change in Emily’s past expeditions. She’s not alone as usual, but with the added company of her potential fiancé, the dryadology Department Head, and her biological niece. Having an actual family member present on such a dangerous expedition is new territory for Emily, especially as she’s never had any close family who’s been interested in knowing her intimately. Emily has the added stress of ensuring Ariadne’s personal safety—a responsibility she doesn’t quite know how to handle. Therefore, she ends up relying on the enchanted scarf Wendell gifts Ariadne for her protection. She appreciates the gesture so much that it prompts her to kiss Wendell for the first time since Ljosland.

While Emily believes the young Ariadne to be adept and intelligent, she spends most of her time scolding her and warning her of potential danger rather than trusting her. As it turns out, Ariadne understands before Emily that the faun foot she carries around is the cause for the scratches at their doorstep. Additionally, Ariadne accompanies Emily into the Silva Lupi realm despite Emily’s protestations. In the nights spent inside his dangerous realm, Emily can’t help noting “that [she] would not be sleeping at all if not for Ariadne’s company, or at least not without significant risk” (246). Ariadne’s aid proves invaluable to Emily, who would not have relied on her without her unrelenting insistence.