The Elfstones of Shannara

The Elfstones of Shannara is a fantasy novel by Terry Brooks, the first sequel to The Sword of Shannara and the second book in the loosely grouped Shannara Trilogy. It provides the history of the Elves, which was only hinted at in the preceding story, and follows Wil Ohmsford, grandson of Shea (the hero of the first book) and inheritor of the Elfstones.

History of the Elves

Before the dawn of mankind was the age of faerie. Many powerful spirits (such as the King of the Silver River) came from this era. The Elves, at that time, were extremely long-lived and possessed great magic, as did all beings from that time. The Elves created the Elfstones at this time. However, in the beginning of time, darkness was also created as a necessary balance to the light, and from this darkness the Demons were born. After years of battle between the light and the dark, the Elves summoned there greatest magic and created the Forbidding, a spell that imprisoned the Demons beyond the confines of the world. They also created the Ellcrys, a beautiful silver tree with crimson leaves to maintain the Forbidding. Unfortunately, this drained nearly all the strength of the Elves, leaving them with very little magic. Most of the creatures of Faerie died out in this time of waning magic. However, the Elves survived, though diminished in splendor. In time, they came to resemble more and more the human race that had recently evolved, both in strength and longevity. Afraid of the rapidly multiplying humans, Elves went into hiding, remaining one with nature, ever guarding the Ellcrys. Even when mankind nearly destroyed the world in the Great Wars, the Elves lived on, spending their last remaining magic to save the Ellcrys. In the aftermath of the destruction, as mankind split into four distinct races, the Elves took that opportunity to come out from hiding. Indeed, most believed that the Elves were just another offshoot of mankind. The Elves emerged as leaders in the new world; it was the Elf Galaphile who summoned the first council at Paranor.

Plot

Wil Ohmsford lived in Storlock, training under the Gnomes to become a Healer. After the destruction of the Warlock Lord at the hands of his grandfather, Shea, the Four Lands had begun to heal, as well. The Races were on better terms with each other finally. In fact, Wil was the first Man ever accepted into the all-Gnome school of Healing. Wil never thought much of the famous Elfstones he had inherited; he had no use for such a weapon. However, a new threat loomed. The Ellcrys, guardian of the Forbidding, was dying after thousands of years of holding back the Demon hoardes. Eventine Elessidil, King of the Elves was old now, uncertain he could lead his people against such a foe now the Elves were mortal and without magic. Yet not all hope was lost--Allanon, presumed dead after the battle with the Warlock Lord, returned to the Four Lands. He summoned a reluctant Wil Ohmsford to protect Amberle Ellessidil, last surviving Chosen (guardian of the Ellcrys). Allanon, meanwhile, helped lead the fight against the Demons once the Forbidding wall had collapsed. Joining him was Ander Ellessidil, the uncertain Elven prince. Wil's task was to lead Amberle to Arborlon, the Elven capital, where she could retrieve a seed from the Ellcrys, in hopes of a new tree growing. The only way to make the seed grow would be to journey to the Bloodfire, source of the earth's magic, and immerse the seed in the flames. Wil found it difficult to invoke the power of the Elfstones when he needed them; he just didn't have enough Elven blood in him, it seemed. He and Amberle barely stayed out of the clutches of the Reaper, the Demon that hunted them, but they grew close along the way. Wil shunned the affections of his beautiful rover guide, Eretria, having realized his love for Amberle. But that love was not to be. As Wil finally overcame his fear of the Elfstones and used them against the Reaper, Amberle realized the true extent of her quest. As she came to the end of her journey, she absorbed the seed and the flames of the Bloodfire, thus becoming the new Ellcrys and sealing the Forbidding once again. Wil was heartbroken; Allanon could not explain to him that it was necessary to hide the truth from Wil, and Wil felt betrayed by the old Druid, who had started to finally show signs of aging after the final battle. Wil, having been nursed back to health by Eretria, returned home, but not alone, as now-king Ander Ellessidil noted seeing Wil and Eretria together. Not alone, but forever scarred and distrustful of the half-truths of Druids.