Quest and Wandering

Where it surfaces

• I: The Plan of the Parliament of Erl

  Alveric is sent on a perilous journey to Elfland to wed the princess, setting the stage for a quest into unknown realms.

• II: Alveric Comes in Sight of the Elfin Mountains

  Alveric embarks on a journey eastward, crossing the frontier of twilight into an unknown realm, driven by his father's command and the allure of the magical sword.

• III: The Magical Sword Meets Some of the Swords of Elfland

  Alveric's journey into Elfland and his battle against the elvish guard represent a key stage in his quest to wed the Elf King's daughter.

• VII: The Coming of the Troll

  The troll's mission to deliver the Elf King's rune drives his journey across the fields, encountering various creatures and obstacles.

• XI: The Deep of the Woods

  Orion's growing desire to explore the woods and his journey into the forest reflect the theme of quest and wandering.

• The Unenchanted Plain

  Alveric undertakes a great journey eastward, driven by a single hope to find the lost land.

• The Reticence of the Leather-Worker

  Alveric's failed journey to find Elfland and his immediate planning of a new northern route highlight the relentless nature of his quest.

• XIV: The Quest for the Elfin Mountains

  Alveric dedicates his days to a hopeless search for Elfland, gathering a band of outcasts to roam toward the world's edge.

• XVI: Orion Hunts the Stag

  Alveric's quest is over, but his followers like Vand return from wandering; Orion's hunt becomes a new kind of quest.

• XVII: The Unicorn Comes in the Starlight

  Orion's daily hunts and the parliament's search for a magic lord both reflect a restless quest for meaning and legacy.

• The Grey Tent in the Evening

  Alveric's eleven-year quest for Elfland, with his company dwindling yet united in hope, embodies the theme of relentless wandering.

• XIX: Twelve Old Men Without Magic

  Orion's pursuit of the unicorn across the fields of men exemplifies the theme of quest and wandering.

• XX: A Historical Fact

  Orion's hunt for the unicorn is a quest that brings magic and fame to Erl, fulfilling the long-held hopes of the parliament.

• XXII: Orion Appoints a Whip

  Orion's solitary hunts near the boundary and his search for whippers-in reflect a quest-like journey into the unknown.

• XXIV: Lurulu Speaks of Earth and the Ways of Men

  Lurulu's mission to bring trolls to Earth for Orion's hunt sets up a new quest.

• The Horn of Alveric

  Alveric's relentless search for Elfland, his encounter with Ziroonderel, and his final attempt to cross the boundary highlight the theme of endless wandering.

• The Return of Lurulu

  Lurulu's return from Elfland and the trolls' journey across the fields and downs embody a wandering quest.

• A Chapter on Unicorn-Hunting

  Orion's hunts for unicorns at the border of Elfland represent a quest for magical quarry.

• The Shining Line

  Alveric's long quest for Elfland is thwarted by his mad companions, and he wanders back toward Erl without hope.