How Did "The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon End? All of the Plot Twists and Spoilers!

How does "The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon end? Have you finished reading "The Pirate Queen" and desperately need to discuss it? Or maybe you've read it, but can't remember how "The Pirate Queen" ends, or do you want to skip ahead to discover all the spoilers? Need a refresher on "The Pirate Queen" before heading off to book club tonight or before seeing the movie? Keep reading to discuss this fiction novel and all the twists and turns at the end!

 

 

Spoilers ahead!

 

How Did " The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon End?

What Are the Twists and Spoilers?

Mother Storyline: Grace divorces Richard

Grace goes into labor while in the middle of a pirating expedition. Grace gives birth to her son with Richard, and she names him Tibbot. Exhausted after birth, Grace is taken by Finn and Gutty back to her home; however, Finola, Richard's mother, is there. Finola makes it clear to Grace that now that she is Richard's wife and has a son with him, Grace will be expected to do whatever Finola decides is best. Unsurprisingly, Grace is not interested. When Richard returns home quickly, he finds Grace and his son there. Richard and Grace signed a contract to be married for a year and a day, and to reevaluate at that point. That contract has expired, and the chapter ends with Grace telling Richard she is divorcing him.

Matriarch Storyline: Grace sails to England to speak with the Queen

Grace is sixty-three years old. Bingham sends twelve English warships to Grace's home in Clew Bay. They take her two ships that are farther out to sea. The Queen wants Grace to surrender and be ruled by English law. Grace refuses, knowing that means the Queen will choose who is in charge and there will no longer be chieftains in Ireland. Grace tells Gutty to sail to Burrishoole to protect her daughter, Margaret.

Bingham meets with Donal. He tells Donal that although Donal is technically called the chieftain, it is actually his sister, Grace, who is calling the shots. Bingham asks Donal to "bend the knee" to the Queen and allow their rule. When Donal refuses, Bingham kills one of his own soldiers and states that Donal did it, effectively framing Donal for murder. Donal is arrested. Donal asks his wife to run, but she refuses and insists she stay with him.

Grace has hidden her main ship, Niamh, so that Bingham can not find it. Bingham tells Grace that the land and castle are now his. Bingham then arrests Tibbot for treason. When Tibbot replies that he has done no such thing, Bingham states he has a "resistant" witness; the reader knows he is referring to Donal. Bingham tells Grace that she is planning to hang both Donal and Tibbot, fulfilling a "promise" he had made to Grace years ago.

Grace knows that at this point the only recourse for help she has left is the Queen herself. Because Niamh is small, they can sneak out in the middle of the night without anyone seeing. Grace and her crew sail to England to deliver a letter to the Queen in person.

Maiden Storyline: Richard and Grace kiss

Grace is fifteen years old. Grace struggles to complete her lessons under her cruel, strict teacher, Father McKenna. She is also struggling because although she is left-handed, she is forced to use her right - as is Richard. 

Richard continues to teach Grace about sword fighting - sometimes against her will. The play fighting turns to flirting as Richard pins Grace to the ground. Richard asks Grace if he can kiss her, and she says yes. As they are kissing, an adult, the steward, finds them and tells them to never do what they are doing again. Grace is meant to either marry Walter or O'Flaherty; Richard is not an option.

Mother Timeline: Grace teaches Lord Howth a lesson

Grace stops at Lord Howth's castle for a rest but is turned away. She explains that lords are supposed to be welcoming of other leaders, but she is laughed at and told she is not a chieftain. Back at her boat, she meets the grandson of Lord Howth, Christopher, and welcomes him onto her boat, kind of sort of kidnapping him, to teach Lord Howth a lesson.

Grace returns to Richard, who asks if she has changed her mind to get married. Grace says that they are common law married, but Richard pushes. Richard's mother has been dead for five years and can no longer be the reason they are not married. Grace prefers their current arrangement - not married by law, but in every other way.

Grace and Richard have a meeting with English representatives who state that they want to take control of several islands of Ireland. They agree to work together to prevent a Spanish invasion if Richard is kept as the future MacWilliam, instead of the Queen appointing someone of her choosing. After inspecting the ships that Grace offers as assistance, they agree to ask the Queen to maintain Richard's position.

Tibbot mentions to Grace that he hears what sounds like horses out at sea; this is a callback to when Grace, at around the same age, also had the ability to hear when a storm is coming by hearing the same sound of horses.

When they arrive home, Christopher's grandfather is there to retrieve him. Grace reminds the grandfather that he and his men have been waiting two days and have been well treated. Lord Howth asks what he needs to give in exchange for Christopher's safe return. Grace asks Lord Howth to promise that his castle will never be closed and that he will offer the same hospitality he received; Lord Howth agrees.

Matriarch Timeline: Grace works to get her family released

Grace bribes a serving girl to let her deliver food to Earl Butler; once inside, she asks Butler if she can speak to the Queen. Ultan also bribes the serving girl to tell him if a man from Ireland, Bingham, arrives to speak with Butler.

Grace and Butler have an official meeting. Grace tells Butler that Bingham has arrested her son and brother under false pretenses. Grace warns Butler that Bingham is stoking a rebellion with Spain by acting the way he has been. Grace asks Butler to get her a meeting with Lord Burghley, whose name is William Cecil. Butler reminds Grace that Cecil is incredibly loyal to the Queen, and a meeting with him could be dangerous considering how Grace has a history of piracy against English ships.

Grace meets with Lord Burghley, who hears her requests and asks for them to be delivered in writing before he asks the Queen to step in. After Grace writes her letter, Cecil responds with another letter requesting Grace answer many questions. Some of the questions are traps, such as how Grace has managed to provide for herself as a widow - the answer, of course, is piracy, but she will be hanged herself for admitting that in writing. Grace responds carefully.

The serving girl tells Ultan that Bingham has arrived in town.

Maiden Storyline: Grace is forced to wed Donal

Grace is called to speak with Finola, Richard's mother. Grace tells Finola that she does not want to marry Donal or Walter. Grace's training is complete, and she is going home. Grace is surprised that Finola is not upset that Grace was caught kissing Richard. Finola makes a deal with Donal O'Flaherty - if he wants to marry Grace, he needs to kill Walter so that Richard can become The MacWilliam.

Richard suggests to Grace that they get married and run away together. When Grace's parents arrive, Richard's father, O'Flaherty, asks to speak with Grace's father, Eoin. O'Flaherty tells Eoin that his son has become fond of Grace and wishes to marry her. O'Flaherty tells Eoin that if their children were to get married, he would offer Eoin all of his ships so that they could create a seafaring dynasty.

As they sit down to dinner, Donal approaches the head of the table holding Nora's hand. He announces that he and Nora are married. Nora is an "unrecognized" daughter of The MacWilliam. 

When it is time to leave the next morning, Rochard tells Grace that he will come for her as soon as he can get away. Grace tells her father that she does not want to marry either of the two boys she was supposed to consider, Donal or Walter. Eoin tells Grace that Richard is the second son of a second wife and will not hold a position, so she can not marry him. Grace asks if she can go to Spain instead, and her father says no to that, as well. Grace insists that she will not marry either Donal or Walter. When her father raises a hand to strike her, Grace can fight him off, but because she embarrasses her father in front of his crew, she loses any chance at cooperation. Eoin gives Grace one week to choose between Walter and Donal.

Richard is told that he has to go on a two week hunt; he is disappointed, as he wants to go be with Grace. 

Time is up, and Grace thinks she is getting ready for a betrothal dinner. She is shocked when she leaves her room to find Donal, Donal's father, and a priest waiting for her - it is her wedding day.

Mother Storyline: Grace is offered a deal to escape jail

Grace is in jail and has been for the last year. Grace is asked if it bothers her that her husband has not tried to recapture her. Grace knows that where she has been kept is too well fortified for them to make an attempt and that they are waiting for a better opportunity. She is now being held at Dublin Castle. Fitzwilliam has Grace brought to him to discuss a deal. Fitzwilliam tells Grace that the Queen wants Grace to spy on the Spanish and then tell the Queen's advisors everything Grace learns about Spanish naval movements, and then Grace can be released - she will face no charges for raiding Desmond.  

Reluctantly, Grace signs, knowing that in many ways she is still "shackled" by this deal.

Matriarch Storyline: Grace gets what she asks for

Grace is summoned to speak with Queen Elizabeth. Butler is frustrated that Grace did not dress up enough for the meeting. When Grace arrives at Queen Elizabeth's castle, she is searched; a knife is found- the one she has always kept in her boot. Unfortunately, when Grace enters the meeting, she finds that Queen Elizabeth is joined by Bingham. 

Queen Elizabeth asks Grace why she is not bowing. Grace replies that it is not appropriate given her station; her people also view her as a queen. Elizabeth decides to speak in Latin for privacy. She thanks Grace for her help with information about Spanish ships and says that's why she accepted her meeting today. 

Grace's letter is read to the Queen, detailing the charges that she is bringing against Bingham. Grace asks that her brother and son be released and that all her land and property, Rockfleet, be returned as well. She also asks that Bingham be removed from his position

Bingham is given the chance to defend himself. He calls Grace a pirate and a criminal, as well as her children. Bingham argues that he is simply trying to maintain the rule of law to keep peace. Bingham argues that the land that was taken is not rightfully Grace's, as it belonged to her husband, Richard, who has died. Bingham lies to the Queen that Grace's brother stabbed one of Bingham's soldiers - it was really Bingham. Bingham also insists that Grace and her son are working with the Spanish, who are not friends of England. 

Queen Elizabeth tells Grace that she can give her all that she asks and appoint her an Irish noble, if she will swear allegiance to England. Grace refuses the offer. Queen Elizabeth tells Grace that the land legally does not belong to Grace, but will be returned to her sons. Queen Elizabeth also tells Bingham that he must release Grace's son and brother. As to Bingham keeping his job, Queen Elizabeth says that that will be decided at a later date. Grace has successfully gotten what she asked for and owes the Queen nothing, likely due to how unpleasant Bingham is being apparent in the meeting. 

Maiden Storyline: Grace comes to terms with her new life

Grace is now married to Donal, and very quickly he heads off to a battle. Grace finds out that Donal has told his staff that Grace is not allowed to leave the castle unless she is accompanied. Grace refuses and holds a knife to the worker's neck insisting that she is going outside and anyone who tries to stop her will not survive. 

Gutty, Finn, and Murray take pity on Grace in their own ways. Grace is beside herself as she realizes this will now be her life.

Mother Storyline: Richard dies 

Richard is dying from an illness. 

“I loved you then. And I love you now. And I will love you long after I am gone, Grainne. Not even death can change that.” ( page 480)

Richard tells Finn that he knows Finn is in love with Grace. Richard and Finn both acknowledge that Finn’s love for Grace is not uncommon but also that Finn will not act on it, which is why Richard hasn’t felt the need to worry. Richard asks Finn to keep Grace safe. 

Grace is not technically married to Richard. Richard is going to make Hook the new chieftain because Tibbot is so youngand Grace is not concerned about being thrown out. 

Richard dies repeating the line he had always told her, “I will wait for you.”

Matriarch Storyline: Grace is dying

Everyone comes to visit Grace before she dies, except Merrick, her son that she is estranged from because he is aligned with Bingham. In her last moments, Grace cuts off her long ponytail and throws it into the Bay. 

What else were you surprised by reading "The Pirate Queen" by Ariel Lawhon? Did you see the ending coming for each character? Did "The Pirate Queen" end how you had hoped? Comment down below and let me know!