The Castle of Llyr facts for kids
The first edition
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| Author | Lloyd Alexander |
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| Audio read by | James Langton |
| Cover artist | Evaline Ness |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Chronicles of Prydain |
| Genre | Fantasy, Children's literature |
| Publisher | March 3, 1966 (Holt, Rinehart and Winston) |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 204 (first edition) |
| ISBN | 978-0-8050-1115-9 (first edition, hard) |
| OCLC | 22921733 |
| Preceded by | The Black Cauldron |
| Followed by | Taran Wanderer |
The Castle of Llyr is a fantasy novel written by Lloyd Alexander. It was published in 1966. This book is the third of five stories in The Chronicles of Prydain series. It continues the exciting adventures of Taran, who is known as the "Assistant Pig-Keeper," and his friends.
In this story, Princess Eilonwy faces a new challenge. She is the last enchantress from the House of Llyr. She must learn how to be a proper young lady. Taran goes with her on her journey to the royal court on the Isle of Mona. This island is where her family's old home was located. Eilonwy will continue her education as a princess there. Soon after she arrives, she is kidnapped. Evil sorceress Achren's helpers take her away. Achren wants to use Eilonwy as part of her plan to rule. During this adventure, readers learn more about Eilonwy's family. They also learn about her family's old castle, Caer Colur.
The Story's Beginnings
The Prydain book series was inspired by Welsh mythology. This includes old Welsh stories and legends. The author, Lloyd Alexander, also got ideas from the castles, scenery, and language of Wales. He experienced these things during World War II. He was training for the army's combat intelligence unit.
Many names in Prydain come from history or myths. For example, "Isle of Mona" is a version of Ynys Môn. This is the Welsh name for the Isle of Anglesey. Like the other books, The Castle of Llyr uses ideas from Welsh folklore. However, these stories are not exact retellings. Alexander said that The Prydain Chronicles share "the feeling, not the fact, of the land of Wales and its legends."
What Happens in the Story
About a year and a half after the Black Cauldron was destroyed, Dallben the enchanter makes a decision. He believes Eilonwy needs a proper royal education. He cannot provide this for her. So, he sends her to Dinas Rhydnant. This is a royal court on the Isle of Mona. It is in the west of Prydain.
Taran and Gurgi go with Eilonwy to Mona. They travel on a ship belonging to Prince Rhun. Rhun is a cheerful but clumsy young man. Taran realizes he has strong feelings for Eilonwy. But he is sad because he is a commoner and she is a princess. He feels jealous of Rhun's royal birth.
While Eilonwy learns about court life, Taran meets his old friend Fflewddur Fflam. Fflewddur is a minor king who travels as a bard. Taran also meets a shoemaker who is actually Prince Gwydion. Gwydion is traveling in disguise. Gwydion tells Taran that Eilonwy is in great danger. This danger likely comes from the evil sorceress Achren. Taran and Eilonwy had escaped from Achren in The Book of Three.
Taran and Gwydion see Chief Steward Magg leave the castle at night. He signals a ship at sea. The next morning, Magg and Eilonwy are missing. Everyone believes Magg has kidnapped the princess. King Rhuddlum organizes groups to search for her. Prince Rhun leads one of these groups. The king asks Taran to join Rhun's group. He also asks Taran to protect his son. The king tells Taran that he and Queen Teleria hope Rhun and Eilonwy will marry. Taran feels upset and jealous. But he promises to keep Rhun safe.
Later that day, Rhun separates from his group. Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi follow him. The next morning, they find Rhun at an old hut in the woods. Inside, they find a small book with blank pages. Rhun keeps this book for himself. They also find notes from the hut's former resident, Glew. Glew was a man who made potions to change size. As they prepare to leave, they meet Llyan. Llyan is a mountain cat that Glew made larger than a horse. It seems Llyan wants to eat them. Fflewddur plays his harp, charming the cat. This allows the group to escape.
Taran's pet crow, Kaw, spots Magg and Eilonwy. They are riding horses toward the Alaw River. When they reach the river, Rhun finds Eilonwy's magical bauble. They also see tracks showing Magg and Eilonwy continued by boat. The friends quickly build a raft to follow them. But the raft breaks apart before reaching the river's end. While fixing the raft, Rhun falls into a deep pit. This causes a landslide, trapping the group.
They explore nearby caves. The friends eventually find Glew. He is now a giant, trapped in the caves because of his size. The friends promise him Dallben's help to make an antidote. Glew promises to lead them out of the caves. Instead, Glew leads them to a dead end and traps them. Glew explains he knows how to make an antidote. But he needs to kill one of them for a final ingredient. Glew leaves, promising to free the others if one of them agrees to be a sacrifice. Rhun surprises everyone by offering himself. He believes he is a burden and not fit to rule.
Before Glew returns, the friends see an exit above them. They convince Rhun to let them help him reach it. As he escapes, Rhun promises to return with help. When Glew comes back, Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi break out. They attack Glew. Rhun does not leave the area. Instead, he comes back, guided by the light of Eilonwy's bauble. Glew is used to the dark caves. The bauble's light overwhelms him. This allows the friends to escape. Taran discovers that Rhun's book of blank pages is actually filled with writing. It can be read under the bauble's light. But none of them can understand the language.
The friends reach the mouth of the Alaw River on their fixed raft. They meet Gwydion again. Gwydion tells them he visited Caer Colur. This is the old home of the House of Llyr. It is a ruined castle off the coast. Eilonwy's grandmother, Queen Regat, was the last queen there. Eilonwy's mother, Angharad, married a common man named Geraint. She left Caer Colur against Regat's wishes. Angharad took a book of powerful spells from the House of Llyr. She also took the Golden Pelydryn, which is needed to read the spells.
Gwydion tells Taran that Eilonwy's bauble is the lost Golden Pelydryn. The book of blank pages found in Glew's house is Angharad's spell book. Gwydion explains that Eilonwy was not sent to Achren to study magic as a child. Achren had kidnapped the princess. She took her to Spiral Castle. Achren wanted to use the House of Llyr's magic for her own plans.
Gwydion explains he saw Achren, Magg, and Eilonwy arrive at Caer Colur. They had several guards with them. Achren hopes to rule Prydain. She plans to control Eilonwy's mind. She also wants to awaken Eilonwy's full magical power. That night, Gwydion rows their raft to a point below the castle walls. These walls protect the ruins of Caer Colur from the ocean. He hides the book and bauble before they search for the princess.
Taran climbs to the tower room where Eilonwy is. But she does not recognize him. She also does not remember her friends' names. She runs from her room, and Taran follows. But Magg arrests Taran. Gwydion, Fflewddur, and Gurgi fight Magg and several guards. Then Eilonwy and Achren appear. The princess is now completely under the witch's control. Achren needs the spell book to fully control the House of Llyr's magic. Rhun foolishly reveals that he and his friends know where it is.
Achren turns to Taran. She offers him a deal. She will restore Eilonwy's memories of him. She will also let them marry. But Taran must help her get the book and bauble. Gwydion reveals where the items are. He does this so Taran does not have to choose or be punished.
Eilonwy is given the two special items. She begins to look at the book in the bauble's light. As she does, she starts to fight Achren's spell. She uses the full power of the Pelydryn. She burns the book in a bright red flame. She does this so it cannot be used for evil. Achren turns her anger on Magg. Magg responds by opening the gates that protect the castle from the sea. He then escapes on the only ship with his remaining guards. As the castle fills with water, Taran passes out.
Taran wakes up and finds his friends are safe in the shallow water. This is thanks to Llyan, the enchanted mountain cat. She pulled them up the beach. Eilonwy explains how Magg kidnapped her. She lost her bauble on the way to Caer Colur. Before leaving the sea, she finds a ceremonial horn washed ashore. She says this horn is "all that's left of Caer Colur." She gives the horn to Taran. It is a promise that she will not forget him while she is at Dinas Rhydnant. Taran has no gift to give her. He can only promise his word in return. But he notes that the word of an Assistant Pig-Keeper "shall do very well indeed." Taran then mentions that Prince Rhun's parents hope he and Eilonwy will get engaged. Eilonwy scolds him for taking such a hope seriously.
