Taran Wanderer

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Taran Wanderer

Recent US paperback edition
Author	Lloyd Alexander
Cover Artist	Jody Lee
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	The Chronicles of Prydain
Genre(s)	Fantasy novel
Publisher	Henry Holt
Released	Nov 1967
Media Type	Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-8050-1113-7 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by	The Castle of Llyr
Followed by	The High King

Taran Wanderer is the fourth book in the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. It tells of Taran's search for his lineage through which he encounters many different people who each help to shape Taran as he learns about who he truly is. Many fans of the Prydain saga consider this book the best of the series.

[edit] Plot summary

After the events from The Castle of Llyr, Taran and Gwydion return to Prydain, leaving Eilonwy in the Kingdom of Mona for "royal training" with her distant relatives. Taran, however, grows rather depressed about the fact that he loves Eilonwy but cannot act on his feelings because he is a commoner. He feels he needs more information about his parentage in order to be able to propose to Eilonwy, and he sets out on a quest to settle the question of his birth once and for all.

Taran, along with his companion and friend Gurgi, set out for the Marshes of Morva in the hopes that the witches Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch (whom he last encoutered in The Black Cauldron) will be able to help him. They do not give him a direct answer, but point him towards the Mirror of Llunet, a magical mirror said to reveal many things to those who gaze into it.

Almost immediately thereafter, Taran enters Cantrev Cadiffor, ruled by King Smoit. There, he meets the farmer Aeddan, who shelters the two after an encounter with Lord Goryon's men in which their steeds were stolen. His night in the care of the farmer and his wife gives Taran a new perspective on honor and its acquisition. Taran and Gurgi travel on to encounter first Lord Goryon, in order to reclaim Melynlas and the pony, and then to the stronghold of Lord Gast, where they meet the bard Fflewddur Fflam, their companion of old. Both Lords are quick to extoll the virtues they don't actually have. Following this, the three reunited companions go to Smoit's castle, where Smoit welcomes them heartily. The next morning, word from Lord Gast arrives that the Lord Goryon has stolen his prize cow, Cornillo. Furious at the disturbance of peace in his kingdom, Smoit immediately sets out to apprehend the two Lords with a dozen men in tow whose numbers include Taran, Gurgi and Fflewddur. Smoit, however, is quickly incapacitated, and it is Taran who forges peace between Goryon and Gast, who have destroyed Aeddan's land in their conflict. The two will help Aeddan for a year to make up what they can for this loss, and then shall be released.

After leaving King Smoit, Taran's pet crow, Kaw, returns to him with news of Princess Eilonwy's continued annoyance at her forced training. Llyan then surprises her bard with a 'gift' of a frog which is quite nearly dead. They are about to cast it aside, but at feeling a slight heartbeat, Taran entertains the thought that the frog may have life left in him yet. When the frog makes some rather peculiar noises which sound suspiciously like Gurgi, food, and help followed by another sound which we may only assume is 'Humph,' the companions realize that they have found Doli. Taran loses no time in reviving the frog with water from a flask. He then tells them of his encounter with the wizard Morda, the reason for his enchantment. Taran and Gurgi set off to rectify the situation, and fall into Morda's traps. Fflewddur follows them, revealing their connection with Doli of the Fair Folk. Morda turns Gurgi and the bard into animals before Llyan intervenes and with her help, Taran manages to kill the wizard, who has nothing but scorn for all of mankind. During this adventure together, the Companions learn that Morda allowed Eilonwy's mother Angharad to die when she begged for shelter during her search for her infant daughter.

After parting with Doli, Taran, Gurgi, and Fflewddur make camp with the mercenary Dorath and his mob. However, while Dorath is initially friendly, his true amoral nature is revealed the following morning. Taran and Dorath fight, and Dorath cheats by pulling a knife. Dorath steals Taran's blade, and the latter takes a while to convalesce.

The party later finds themselves at the farm of Craddoc, an old man who claims to be Taran's real father. Now feeling a commitment towards helping Craddoc, Taran and Gurgi remain with Craddoc, giving up the quest for the Mirror of Llunet. They tirelessly work for many months at his farm helping him out, and Taran and Craddoc form a bond together. Later, during the winter time, Craddoc suffers a bad fall down a mountain gorge and soon after passes away, revealing to Taran before his death that Taran was not his real son.

After Craddoc's death, Taran and Gurgi begin a long journey throughout the Free Commots, where Taran works with three of the best craftsman of Prydain in hopes of finding a trade he would like to work in. His first teacher is Hevydd the Blacksmith, who guides Taran through the making of a new sword to replace the one that was stolen from him. The final blade he crafts is dented and scarred, but the blade itself is very strong. The next teacher is Dwyvach Weaver-Woman, who instructs him in the art of weaving cloth. His training with her results in a brand-new cloak and a deeper understanding of patterns. His final teacher is Annlaw Clay-Shaper, one of the most revered potters in all of Prydain. From his training with Annlaw would come knowledge of shaping clay, which leads to Taran creating a bowl he would later present to Eilonwy as a gift in The High King.

It is through Annlaw that Taran learns where the Mirror of Llunet is. After a short journey, he arrives at the Mirror and gazes into it. Shortly after, Dorath appears with Taran's old sword and destroys the Mirror. Once again they clash swords, but this time, Taran's new sword is able to shatter his old one and disarm Dorath. Dorath flees from the cavern, but Taran does not pursue.

Taran later relates to Annlaw what he saw in the Mirror. It showed Taran his own reflection and nothing more. In that moment of reflection, however, Taran saw everything he had become after all he learned in his wandering. Taran was no longer the boy he started out as; now, through all he endured on his long journey of discovery, he sees himself as a man.

The Chronicles of Prydain
Books
The Book of Three (1964) | The Black Cauldron (1965) | The Castle of Llyr (1966) | Taran Wanderer (1967) | The High King (1968) | The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain (1970)
Characters
Achren | Angharad | Arawn | Coll | Dallben | Doli | Eiddileg | Princess Eilonwy | Fflewddur Fflam | The Horned King | Glew | Gurgi | Gwydion | Magg | Maibon | High King Math | Medwyn | Orddu, Orwen and Orgoch | Prince Rhun | Pryderi | Rhitta | Taran
Other media
The Black Cauldron (film) | The Black Cauldron (video game)
Animals
Gwythaints | Hen Wen | Kaw | Llyan | Lluagor | Melyngar | Melynlas
Places
Annuvin | Caer Cadarn | Caer Colur | Caer Dallben | Caer Dathyl | Cantrevs | Free Commots | Isle of Mona | Marshes of Morva | Spiral Castle | Summer Country
Other
The Book of Three | The Black Cauldron | Cauldron-Born | Dyrnwyn | Fair Folk | Golden Pelydryn | Huntsmen | Mirror of Llunet