# Ziroonderel — The King of Elfland’s Daughter character guide

> Ziroonderel in The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0004-ii-alveric-comes-in-sight-of-the-elfin-mountains

## Snapshot

The witch of Erl, whose earthly magic can guard a child but cannot cross the dread will of the King of Elfland.

## Who they are

Ziroonderel counsels Alveric before he rides, warns him plainly that her craft has no power over Elfland, and takes Orion into her care when his father departs. She is the practical, sorrowful anchor of the mortal world: she knows the limits of her spells, and she watches Lirazel drift away on the wind without any power to hold her. Her honesty about what magic can and cannot do gives the story its sober counterweight to wonder.

## Relationships

### [Orion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/orion)

_friendship_

Orion forms a close bond with the witch Ziroonderel, who becomes his mentor and protector in the mortal world.

### [Alveric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/alveric)

_psychological_

Alveric interacts with Ziroonderel warily, as she possesses deep magical knowledge that both helps and complicates his quest.

### [Oth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/oth)

_social_

Oth encounters Ziroonderel as a mysterious witch, interacting with her primarily through the needs of Alveric's quest.

### [Oth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/oth)

_social_

Oth encounters Ziroonderel as a mysterious witch, interacting with her primarily through the needs of Alveric's quest.

## 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 witch who aids Alveric in obtaining the magical sword and provides counsel.

### [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)

The witch from the hill, hired as nurse for the child; she uses her magic to tend him and teaches him of both Earth and Elfland.

### [The Arrival of the Rune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/viii-the-arrival-of-the-rune)

Accompanies the family to the naming ceremony and waits outside the holy place.

### [IX: Lirazel Blows Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/ix-lirazel-blows-away)

Watches Lirazel with concern, senses her departure but cannot prevent it.

### [X: The Ebbing of Elfland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/x-the-ebbing-of-elfland)

The witch whom Alveric consults; she mournfully tells him Lirazel has gone 'the way of the leaves.'

### [XI: The Deep of the Woods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xi-the-deep-of-the-woods)

Ziroonderel tries to soothe Orion with magic but eventually lets him go to the woods, realizing she cannot curb his roving spirit.

### [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)

Silently observes Alveric's return, reading his troubled state without asking questions.

### [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)

Alveric consults her about magic but she admits her power cannot charm Elfland; she is left to protect Orion.

### [XVI: Orion Hunts the Stag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xvi-orion-hunts-the-stag)

Departs from the castle to return to her cottage on the hill, leaving Orion to live alone.

### [XXII: Orion Appoints a Whip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxii-orion-appoints-a-whip)

Recalled by Orion as the witch who feared for her crockery when Lurulu leaped about the nursery.

### [The Horn of Alveric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxvi-the-horn-of-alveric)

The witch Ziroonderel appears sweeping the world's edge. She reveals the Elf King's fear of her magic and provides Alveric with a false weight and a poem to bypass the King's defenses, despite the risk of his fury.

### [XXX: The Coming of Too Much Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxx-the-coming-of-too-much-magic)

The witch Ziroonderel is approached by the parliament but refuses to grant a spell against magic, defending its value.

### [XXXIV: The Last Great Rune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-last-great-rune)

Witnesses the arrival of Elfland and the reunion; later visits Lirazel on starry nights.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/characters/ziroonderel
- 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