# XX: A Historical Fact explained — The King of Elfland’s Daughter

> Chapter companion for The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany.

## What happens

Orion returns to Erl with the head of the unicorn he has slain, and the parliament of Erl celebrates this magical victory. The Freer arrives and curses unicorns and all magical things, but the men of Erl refuse to renounce magic and instead shout 'Magic' in defiance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Magic vs. Reality

The parliament debates the reality of the unicorn, and the Freer curses magic while the men embrace it, highlighting the tension between the magical and the mundane.

### Tradition vs. Desire

The Freer represents religious tradition and prohibition, while the men of Erl cling to their desire for magic and the unicorn's beauty.

### Quest and Wandering

Orion's hunt for the unicorn is a quest that brings magic and fame to Erl, fulfilling the long-held hopes of the parliament.

## Character check-ins

### Orion

Orion kills his first unicorn, takes its head as a trophy, and returns to Erl triumphant.

### Threl

Threl prepares the unicorn head by skinning, washing, boiling the skull, and stuffing the neck with straw.

### Narl

Narl hosts the parliament in his forge, provides mead, and defends magic against the Freer's curses.

### The Freer

The Freer enters the forge and curses unicorns, magic, and all enchanted things, but the men refuse to renounce them.

### Erl

The parliament of Erl meets to debate the unicorn and ultimately celebrates the magic that has come to their valley.

## Key lines

> Thus Orion came home over the downs in the night, till he saw the valley before him full of the smoke of Erl, where one late light was burning in a window of one of his towers.

Orion returned to Erl at night, seeing the valley filled with smoke and a single light in one of his castle towers.

_Describes Orion's return after the unicorn hunt._

> This was the horn that was sent in later years as a gift from the Pope to King Francis. Benvenuto Cellini tells of it in his memoirs.

The unicorn's horn was later given by the Pope to King Francis, as recorded by Cellini.

_Connects the fictional horn to a historical event._

> Cursed be unicorns, and all their ways, and all things that be magic.

The Freer cursed unicorns and all magical things.

_The Freer's condemnation of magic._

> Magic! one cried. And the rest with one accord took up his cry till all were shouting Magic.

The men of Erl shouted 'Magic' in defiance of the Freer's curses.

_The parliament's rejection of the Freer's authority._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xx-a-historical-fact
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters