# Alveric — The King of Elfland’s Daughter character guide > Alveric in The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany. **Role:** major **Also known as:** II Alveric, IV Alveric **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-plan-of-the-parliament-of-erl ## Snapshot A moody dreamer who leaves Erl to find the frontier of Elfland, and returns with the King's daughter as his bride. ## Who they are Alveric is the lord of Erl who gathers a small, strange band — a lovesick lad, a shepherd, a moonstruck boy, a witless horse-tender — and rides past the fields we know to demand a bride from the King of Elfland. His love for Lirazel is real, but so is his restlessness: once she is in Erl he tries to make her earthly, and when she is gone his own thoughts turn daily more elvish. His divided nature drives the book's central question of whether the two worlds can ever be held at once. ## Relationships ### [Lirazel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/lirazel) _romantic_ Alveric is deeply in love with Lirazel, the ethereal daughter of the King of Elfland, and their relationship is marked by longing and separation across worlds. ### [Niv](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/niv) _friendship_ Niv is a loyal retainer and companion to Alveric, accompanying him on his quests and offering steadfast support. ### [Oth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/oth) _professional_ Oth serves as a huntsman and trusted servant to Alveric, carrying out his orders with dedication. ### [Zend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/zend) _friendship_ Zend is a loyal follower of Alveric, aiding him in his journeys and battles with unwavering loyalty. ### [Ziroonderel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/ziroonderel) _psychological_ Alveric interacts with Ziroonderel warily, as she possesses deep magical knowledge that both helps and complicates his quest. ### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion) _family_ Alveric is the father of Orion, but their relationship is strained by distance and Orion's dual heritage between Elfland and the mortal world. ### [Erl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/erl) _family_ Alveric is the son of Erl, and their relationship is defined by duty and the burden of ruling the mortal kingdom. ### [Vand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/vand) _professional_ Vand is a loyal servant and huntsman to Alveric, carrying out his commands with quiet competence. ### [Oth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/oth) _professional_ Oth serves as a huntsman and trusted servant to Alveric, carrying out his orders with dedication. ### [Lirazel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/lirazel) _romantic_ Alveric is deeply in love with Lirazel, the ethereal daughter of the King of Elfland, and their relationship is marked by longing and separation across worlds. ### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion) _family_ Alveric is the father of Orion, but their relationship is strained by distance and Orion's dual heritage between Elfland and the mortal world. ### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion) _family_ Alveric is the father of Orion, but their relationship is strained by distance and Orion's dual heritage between Elfland and the mortal world. ## In the story ### [The King of Elfland’s Daughter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/the-king-of-elfland-s-daughter) The mortal lord sent to wed the Elf King's daughter; he journeys to Elfland, marries Lirazel, and later searches for Elfland after its ebbing. ### [I: The Plan of the Parliament of Erl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/i-the-plan-of-the-parliament-of-erl) The Lord of Erl's eldest son, sent to wed the Elf King's daughter; obtains a magical sword from the witch. ### [II: Alveric Comes in Sight of the Elfin Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/ii-alveric-comes-in-sight-of-the-elfin-mountains) Alveric awakens with joy from the magical sword, leaves Erl without farewells, travels east, obtains a scabbard, and crosses into Elfland, heading toward the silver spires. ### [III: The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/iii-the-magical-sword-meets-some-of-the-swords-of-elfland) Alveric enters the enchanted wood, fights the ivy and moving trees, meets Lirazel, and battles the four elvish knights, using both his father's sword and the magical sword. ### [IV: Alveric Comes Back to Earth After Many Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/iv-alveric-comes-back-to-earth-after-many-years) Returns from Elfland with Lirazel, learns ten years have passed, marries Lirazel, and returns to Erl. ### [V: The Wisdom of the Parliament of Erl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/v-the-wisdom-of-the-parliament-of-erl) Weary with age, he seeks the witch Ziroonderel to nurse his son and grapples with the growing distance between him and Lirazel. ### [VI: The Rune of the Elf King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/vi-the-rune-of-the-elf-king) His passage through Elfland troubled the wood and slew the four knights of the guard. ### [The Arrival of the Rune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/viii-the-arrival-of-the-rune) Troubled by Lirazel's whims, he tries to guide her to human customs and is pleased when she suggests naming the boy Orion. ### [IX: Lirazel Blows Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/ix-lirazel-blows-away) Attempts to teach Lirazel the Freer's worship, condemns her stone-prayer as heathenism, and fails to reconcile with her. ### [X: The Ebbing of Elfland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/x-the-ebbing-of-elfland) Frantic and weary after Lirazel's disappearance, he searches all night and then follows the leaves southeast, only to find Elfland has ebbed away. ### [The Unenchanted Plain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xii-the-unenchanted-plain) Alveric searches for Elfland after its ebbing, traveling eastward across the desolate plain. ### [The Reticence of the Leather-Worker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xiii-the-reticence-of-the-leather-worker) Returns from his failed quest to find Elfland, exhausted and disillusioned, but begins planning a new northern route. ### [XIV: The Quest for the Elfin Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xiv-the-quest-for-the-elfin-mountains) Gathers a band of misfits and sets out on a quest to find the ebbed frontier of Elfland, leaving Orion in Ziroonderel's care. ### [XV: The Retreat of the Elf King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xv-the-retreat-of-the-elf-king) Sensed by the Elf King as he approaches across Earth with his sword of thunderbolt-iron. ### [XVI: Orion Hunts the Stag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xvi-orion-hunts-the-stag) Absent and presumed lost; his disappearance leads to Orion being accepted as lord. ### [The Grey Tent in the Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xviii-the-grey-tent-in-the-evening) Leads the quest for Elfland for over eleven years, clinging to hope of reuniting with Lirazel; shows wisdom by turning back for provisions. ### [The Horn of Alveric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxvi-the-horn-of-alveric) After twelve years of wandering, Alveric meets Ziroonderel and learns the Elf King's weakness. He disenchants his sword and attempts to enter Elfland, but is dragged back by Niv and Zend. ### [XXXII: Lirazel Yearns for Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxxii-lirazel-yearns-for-earth) Mentioned as wandering on Earth, lost to Lirazel unless the rune can bring him to Elfland. ### [The Shining Line](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-shining-line) Wanders without hope, held captive by Niv and Zend, living in memories of Lirazel and Orion. ### [XXXIV: The Last Great Rune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-last-great-rune) Returns to Erl, freed from the burden of years and sorrow; stands with Lirazel. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/alveric - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters