Walther Davies is a Tylwyth Teg chemistry professor at the University of California at Berkeley and a former member of Lily's court at the Tea Gardens. He invented the cure for elf-shot, and he regularly provides Toby with various weapons and materials she needs to carry out her missions. He occasionally accompanies her on quests himself, though reluctantly.
During the events of A Red-Rose Chain, he was revealed to be related to the ruling family of the Kingdom of Silences, although he and his sister were never in the royal succession. His sister does not initially recognize him because Walther is a trans man, and before the War of Silence, Walther was known as the girl Waltrune. He fled from Silences to the Mists after the War of Silences, then he used alchemy to transition and start officially living as a man.
About[]
Appearance[]
He has golden-blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, described as "spooky" by his human graduate student. He often looks exhausted, which suggests he is overworking himself. (Or Toby is overworking him.)
Personality[]
He presents the demeanor of a mild-mannered man, but Toby suspects him of slipping sedatives into his hyper graduate student Jack's mochas.[3] He takes strange events in stride, including Toby's found family and most of her adventures. He is also the opposite of over-dramatic: he tends to downplay bad situations, to the point that Toby knew she was in trouble because Walther didn't tell her to hurry.[4]
Abilities[]
He is a highly skilled alchemist, and the inventor of the elf-shot cure, a mix of potions and spells that can awaken any fae creature who is sleeping due to being elf-shot. As a Tylwyth Teg, he can also fly on a yarrow broom. He is not a very good illusionist, however.
He was able to use alchemy to change his body and make it permanent. During Toby's adventures, he was able to treat Luna's roses long enough for Acacia to stabilize her, create a topical power dampener for Chelsea, create a treatment for Toby using her blood when she was a goblin-fruit addict, anti-compulsion charms for Toby and anti-allergy medication to counteract Janet's marshwater charms.
Biography[]
Walther was born in the Kingdom of Silences where he lived as a woman called Waltrune up until the War of Silences. After the Silences lost the war, Walther fled. He started living as a man, using alchemy to change his body as encouraged by his aunt Siwan. He is the only known member of his family to make it out, with the others being elf-shot or pressed into service by the new King of the Silences.
He moved to the Bay Area for work, not long before the events of Late Eclipses. He didn't want to work for any of the big nobles right away, so Lily agreed to let him hang around and do a few odd jobs. Toby told him she would check his references. Later in the series, he finally acquired tenure at UC Berkeley.
In the Series[]
Late Eclipses[]
Walther accompanies Marcia when she comes to get October Daye because of Lily's illness, and flies the three of them back to the Tea Gardens on his yarrow broom. Though he is unable to save Lily, he saves October from iron poisoning and Luna from salt poisoning.
One Salt Sea[]
Walther helps identify poison in needles that Toby found in Rayseline's quarters and the elf-shot variant Raysel was using. He confirms that the elf-shot was brewed by Dugan.
Ashes of Honor[]
He aids Toby in stopping Chelsea's unstable teleportation by brewing a power dampening potion and its solution.
Chimes At Midnight[]
Walther helps Toby with her goblin fruit addiction.
A Red Rose Chain[]
Walther is part of the diplomatic party Toby assembles when Arden Windermere sends her as an envoy to Silences. Walther later leads Toby and the others to his aunt Ceres. Walther cures Marlis of King Rhys's obedience spell and recruits her to the cause of overthrowing the King. Walther creates an elf-shot cure with Toby's help, and cures Toby, May, and the royal family of the elf-shot that kept them sleeping.
Once Broken Faith[]
Walther cures Madden of elf-shot on Arden's request and against the wishes of the High King, Aethlin Sollys. He later attends the conclave held in the Kingdom of the Mists to determine the fate of his cure.
A Killing Frost[]
Walther is revealed to be dating Cassandra Brown. He wakes May Daye after she is elf-shot and then does the same for Toby when she is elf-shot by a bespelled Simon Torquill. It is mentioned by Toby that Walther was asked to speak in defense of Simon Torquill, and presumably he did, although this is never shown directly due to Toby being late to the event.
When Sorrows Come[]
Walther attends Toby's wedding as Cassandra's plus-one to avoid offense at Toby bringing her own alchemist. He brews the cure for elf-shot and an antidote for poison during the days leading up to the wedding. Aethlin and Maida are at first insulted that Toby does not want to use their own alchemists, but she reminds them that they are currently facing traitors within the High Court.
Be the Serpent[]
Walther insists on being by Cassandra's side as she deals with danger and revelations surrounding her mother. He mentions that it would be highly unlikely for him and Cassandra to have accidental children.
Relationships[]
Lily[]
Lily is Walther's former liege, the one who accepted him into the Tea Gardens.
Cassandra Brown[]
Cassandra is Walther's girlfriend.
Jack Redpath[]
Jack is Walther's assistant and a human graduate student who works in Walther's office.
Marlis Davies[]
Marlis is Walther's elder sister. The two of them lost contact after the war, and only recently reunited. Marlis had known Walther as Waltrune, unaware that he was trans.
Quotes[]
- “Did you think I put ‘Professor’ in front of my name because I wanted to get respect from college girls? I am actually capable of analytical thought.”[5]
- “I am a genius,” he announced. “You may lavish praise upon me at your leisure. But don’t take too long, I haven’t got all night.”[5]
Trivia[]
- Walther and Toby were originally supposed to date for a while.[6]
- Walther is the first transgender character in the series, having been born a woman before he alchemically transitioned.
- Word of God concerning Walther and Cassandra having children: "We know Walther managed his transition with alchemy. The specifics of his anatomy have never been discussed, and really haven’t been that relevant. While he absolutely COULD make himself fertile, we have no reason to believe that he HAS, as of this point in the timeline."[7]