# The King's Son — The Wood Beyond the World character guide

> The King's Son in The Wood Beyond the World by William Morris.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0015-xvi-of-the-king-s-son-and-the-maid

## Who they are

A prince from a distant land who becomes a rival to Walter.

## In the story

### [X: Walter Happeneth on Another Creature in the Strange Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/x-walter-happeneth-on-another-creature-in-the-strange-land)

Mentioned as the only goodly man in the land before Walter; the maiden notes he will be free to love elsewhere.

### [XI: Walter Happeneth on the Mistress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xi-walter-happeneth-on-the-mistress)

Sits beside the Lady, converses with her, and questions Walter's kneeling.

### [XII: The Wearing of Four Days in the Wood Beyond the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xii-the-wearing-of-four-days-in-the-wood-beyond-the-world)

The King's Son is jealous of Walter and speaks with the Lady about him, showing his insecurity and desire for mastery.

### [XIII: Now Is the Hunt Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xiii-now-is-the-hunt-up)

Mentioned as a dangerous suitor to the Maid, with the Lady warning her to avoid his traps.

### [XVI: Of the King’s Son and the Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xvi-of-the-king-s-son-and-the-maid)

Coerces the Maid into a promise of love, threatens her, and is followed by a monstrous creature.

### [XIX: Walter Goes to Fetch Home the Lion’s Hide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xix-walter-goes-to-fetch-home-the-lion-s-hide)

Meets Walter joyfully, claims the Maid has promised herself to him and that he will soon be free; Walter perceives him as false and an enemy.

### [XX: Walter Is Bidden to Another Tryst](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xx-walter-is-bidden-to-another-tryst)

Mocks Walter in the porch, boasting of his power over the Maid and dismissing Walter's warnings.

### [Walter and the Maid Flee from the Golden House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxi-walter-and-the-maid-flee-from-the-golden-house)

Reported dead by the Maid, having died at midnight.

### [XXIV: The Maid Tells of What Had Befallen Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxiv-the-maid-tells-of-what-had-befallen-her)

A handsome but cold-hearted man who loved the Lady briefly, then pursued the Maid, leading to betrayal and the Maid's use of him in her scheme.

### [XXXV: Of the King of Stark-Wall and His Queen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/chapters/xxxv-of-the-king-of-stark-wall-and-his-queen)

Not directly present; the elder and lords serve as advisors to the new king.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters/the_king_s_son
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wood_beyond_the_world_se/characters