Ander Elessedil
Encyclopedia
Ander Elessedil is one of the main characters in Terry Brooks
' epic fantasy
novel The Elfstones of Shannara
. He is the second son of King Eventine Elessedil
, being the younger brother of Arion Elessedil and the older brother of now-deceased Aine.
, but Arion's sword prowess and his superior leadership abilities have always made Arion his father's favorite. Ander never appeared to be bothered by this. However, in the years prior to the events of The Elfstones of Shannara
, Ander was often turned to for comfort by his niece Amberle
, after Aine's death. This made Arion very jealous of his younger brother, and he later blamed Ander for the departure of Amberle from the Chosen. Seeking seclusion from his older brother, he moved out of the palace, but remained in Arborlon
. Arion continued to be angry with Ander when he voted in favor of letting Amberle return to fulfill her duty as a Chosen. During the War of the Forbidding, Arion was killed and Ander regretted that their relationship was never fixed.
began to die, Ander was the first one alerted; he guided the messenger to Eventine
. He was also the first to discover the deaths of the Chosen, and he also was the first to meet the Druid Allanon
.
In the time that followed, Ander became a reliable aid to his father. When Amberle returned and was brought before Eventine's advisors (they were to decide if they should help her in her quest for the Bloodfire), Ander was the first to stand with her. After Amberle and Wil
left, Ander was delegated by his father and Allanon
to met the Legion Free Corps, led by Stee Jans, in his father's place. He later accompanied Eventine to Halys Cut while Arion led another army to a parallel pass, Worl Run. These were the places where the Elven army first engaged the Demon
horde. During the subsequent battles, Eventine was felled by a thrown club that hit his head and Arion was lost while attempting to recover the fallen battle standard. Forced to be at least the interim king, Ander commanded the 'forces of good' in the conflict, named the "War of the Forbidding".
After the Forbidding was restored, Ander was the last of his bloodline alive. His younger brother Aine had died years before, and Aine's only child, Amberle
, become the new Ellcrys
. His father, Eventine
, died from mortal wounds inflicted by a Changeling demon. Lastly, Arion had died in the war (see above) and had been childless; so Ander became King of the Elves. The last mention of him in The Elfstones of Shannara
was when he watched as Wil Ohmsford
departed Arborlon
with his future wife, Eretria
.
in The Wishsong of Shannara
, Ander sent a command of Elven Hunters to Culhaven under the command of his son Edain Elessedil as a token force while the Elven army mobilized. Though Edain died in the conflict, Ander must have had other children because the Elessedil line was continued on through Wren Elessedil
, as she appeared 300 years later in the Heritage of Shannara
series.
Terry Brooks
Terence Dean "Terry" Brooks is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two movie novelizations. He has written 23 New York Times bestsellers during his writing career, and has over 21 million copies of his books in print...
' epic fantasy
High fantasy
High fantasy or epic fantasy is a subgenre of fantasy that is set in invented or parallel worlds. High fantasy was brought to fruition through the work of authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, whose major fantasy works were published in the 1950s...
novel The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
. He is the second son of King Eventine Elessedil
Eventine Elessedil
Eventine Elessedil is a character from The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks.- The Sword of Shannara :...
, being the younger brother of Arion Elessedil and the older brother of now-deceased Aine.
Conflict with Arion
Ander is the younger Prince of the ElvesElves (Shannara)
Elves are one of the races in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. They are the only race of the faerie creatures still in the World, though they now have become mortal. Though Elves usually refers to the Westland Elves, Elves can be split into two: the "Land Elves" and the...
, but Arion's sword prowess and his superior leadership abilities have always made Arion his father's favorite. Ander never appeared to be bothered by this. However, in the years prior to the events of The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
, Ander was often turned to for comfort by his niece Amberle
Amberle Elessedil
Amberle Elessedil is a fictional character from the epic fantasy novel The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. She was meant to be the "strong female lead" that was lacking in The Sword of Shannara....
, after Aine's death. This made Arion very jealous of his younger brother, and he later blamed Ander for the departure of Amberle from the Chosen. Seeking seclusion from his older brother, he moved out of the palace, but remained in Arborlon
Arborlon
Arborlon is the capital city of the Elves in the fictional Shannara series of novels by Terry Brooks. In the Original Shannara Trilogy, the first 3 books, Arborlon is located in the Westland of The Four Lands. In The Elfstones of Shannara, the defense of Arborlon is one of the central plot lines...
. Arion continued to be angry with Ander when he voted in favor of letting Amberle return to fulfill her duty as a Chosen. During the War of the Forbidding, Arion was killed and Ander regretted that their relationship was never fixed.
Role in The Elfstones of Shannara
When the EllcrysEllcrys
The Ellcrys is a fictional sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She appears in two novels of the Shannara series. She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an...
began to die, Ander was the first one alerted; he guided the messenger to Eventine
Eventine Elessedil
Eventine Elessedil is a character from The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks.- The Sword of Shannara :...
. He was also the first to discover the deaths of the Chosen, and he also was the first to meet the Druid Allanon
Allanon
Allanon is a fictional character from the epic fantasy Original Shannara Trilogy and the trilogy's prequel, First King of Shannara; all four are by Terry Brooks. Described as Brooks' "most enigmatic character", Allanon is very secretive and appears only when needed...
.
In the time that followed, Ander became a reliable aid to his father. When Amberle returned and was brought before Eventine's advisors (they were to decide if they should help her in her quest for the Bloodfire), Ander was the first to stand with her. After Amberle and Wil
Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford is a fictional character from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford....
left, Ander was delegated by his father and Allanon
Allanon
Allanon is a fictional character from the epic fantasy Original Shannara Trilogy and the trilogy's prequel, First King of Shannara; all four are by Terry Brooks. Described as Brooks' "most enigmatic character", Allanon is very secretive and appears only when needed...
to met the Legion Free Corps, led by Stee Jans, in his father's place. He later accompanied Eventine to Halys Cut while Arion led another army to a parallel pass, Worl Run. These were the places where the Elven army first engaged the Demon
Demons (Shannara)
Demons is a common name for many different creatures in the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks. The 'true' demons were sealed long ago within an alternate universe, named the Forbidding; this prison is 'maintained' by the Ellcrys, a sacred Elven tree; if she dies, the Forbidding...
horde. During the subsequent battles, Eventine was felled by a thrown club that hit his head and Arion was lost while attempting to recover the fallen battle standard. Forced to be at least the interim king, Ander commanded the 'forces of good' in the conflict, named the "War of the Forbidding".
After the Forbidding was restored, Ander was the last of his bloodline alive. His younger brother Aine had died years before, and Aine's only child, Amberle
Amberle Elessedil
Amberle Elessedil is a fictional character from the epic fantasy novel The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks. She was meant to be the "strong female lead" that was lacking in The Sword of Shannara....
, become the new Ellcrys
Ellcrys
The Ellcrys is a fictional sapient tree with silver bark and crimson leaves that was "created by the bonding of earth and life". She appears in two novels of the Shannara series. She is the magical linchpin of the barrier that keeps the Demons that once overran the Four Lands trapped in an...
. His father, Eventine
Eventine Elessedil
Eventine Elessedil is a character from The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks.- The Sword of Shannara :...
, died from mortal wounds inflicted by a Changeling demon. Lastly, Arion had died in the war (see above) and had been childless; so Ander became King of the Elves. The last mention of him in The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. It is the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in The Original Shannara Trilogy...
was when he watched as Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford
Wil Ohmsford is a fictional character from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks, appearing in two novels: The Elfstones of Shannara and The Wishsong of Shannara. He is the grandson of Shea Ohmsford and the grand-nephew of Flick Ohmsford....
departed Arborlon
Arborlon
Arborlon is the capital city of the Elves in the fictional Shannara series of novels by Terry Brooks. In the Original Shannara Trilogy, the first 3 books, Arborlon is located in the Westland of The Four Lands. In The Elfstones of Shannara, the defense of Arborlon is one of the central plot lines...
with his future wife, Eretria
Eretria (Shannara)
Eretria is a character from the Shannara series of epic fantasy novels by Terry Brooks; she appears in The Elfstones of Shannara and aids Wil Ohmsford and Amberle Elessedil in their quest to find the Bloodfire.- Pre-Elfstones :...
.
Role in The Wishsong of Shannara
During the war against the Mord WraithsMord Wraiths
The Mord Wraiths are a fictional organization from the Shannara series by Terry Brooks. They were human sorcerors in service to the Warlock Lord who recovered and were subverted by the Ildatch....
in The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara, an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, is the third and final novel in the Original Shannara Trilogy, with the other two being The Sword of Shannara and The Elfstones of Shannara. The story revolves around Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of the main characters from...
, Ander sent a command of Elven Hunters to Culhaven under the command of his son Edain Elessedil as a token force while the Elven army mobilized. Though Edain died in the conflict, Ander must have had other children because the Elessedil line was continued on through Wren Elessedil
Wren Elessedil
Wren Elessedil is a fictional character from The Heritage of Shannara by Terry Brooks....
, as she appeared 300 years later in the Heritage of Shannara
Heritage of Shannara
The Heritage of Shannara is a series of four fantasy novels by Terry Brooks, set hundreds of years after the original Shannara trilogy. Unlike the original trilogy, however, this series is all one, cohesive story, in contrast to the three isolated stories of the originals...
series.