Barak (Belgariad)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barak is a fictional character in the David Eddings book series The Belgariad followed by The Malloreon; however, his part in The Malloreon is much more brief. An intimidating Cherek berserker, and the captain of the largest Cherek warship in existence, he is the Earl of Trellheim, a Clan Chief of the Chereks, and a cousin of Anheg, King of Cherek. He is known as the Dreadful Bear in the Mrin Codex and other similar texts.
He is tall and muscular with red hair. He has a luxuriant beard and extensive body hair, causing his friend Silk to remark that he must be the son of a bear. Despite his brutish appearance, booming voice, and love of good ale, he is a highly intelligent and emotional person. He usually wears a mail shirt and carries a war axe and broadsword, often using both weapons simultaneously in battle.
Barak is married to Lady Merel, and they have two daughters, Gundred and Terzie, at the start of the series. Barak loved Merel from his youth, and after his cousin Anheg took the throne, Merel's family saw in him a fortuitous match to improve their family connections. Because the marriage was arranged by her family against her wishes, Merel initially despises Barak, and the two have a very antagonistic relationship which leads to estrangement and separation. However, at the end of the first book in the Belgariad, Pawn of Prophecy, they have a reunion that leads to a third child and the couple's first son, Unrak. The birth of the son and heir, and Merel's realization that Barak was a good, just, and heroic man, leads to a reconciliation between the pair, and they remain close and loving through the rest of the series. Barak and Merel act as close advisors to King Anheg and Queen Islena of Cherek.
Barak is Belgarion's protector and turns into a bear whenever Belgarion is in danger. Although horrified and loathing of it at first, Barak is eventually told that the transformation will be hereditary and happen to someone of his line when the current Rivan heir is in danger. He is proud of this to the point of spending much of a voyage trying to find a tactful way of adding the concept to his coat of arms. It is passed down to his son, Unrak, who transforms whenever Garion's son Geran is in danger during The Malloreon.
