Study Guide

Midwinterblood Part 4, Chapter 12

By Marcus Sedgwick

Part 4, Chapter 12

That day, Bridget goes to check on Eric, but asks Merle to stay at home.
Bridget finds him sitting in a chair in front of his painting, dead and with a paintbrush still in his hand.
He must have died from grief. He'd given everything for that painting—he'd most certainly sacrificed. Who's outdated now, National Museum?
Suddenly, Merle comes in the door. She's followed her mother and sees Eric.
The two sit there for a moment trying to absorb what has happened. Finally, Merle points to the painting.
The brush in Eric's hand is still wet. He's added one last detail to the painting: Next to the king about to die is a small figure, a girl holding out an apple.
And her face is definitely Merle's.