# XXIX: The Luring of the People of the Marshes explained — The King of Elfland’s Daughter

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

## What happens

A traveller in solemn black attire ventures into the marshes southeast of Erl, where the border with Elfland is thin. The will-o'-the-wisps, or people of the marshes, attempt to lure him to his doom, but he cunningly leads them instead onto dry land. Revealing himself as the troll Lurulu, he proposes they hunt unicorns together, and the will-o'-the-wisps agree to help, following him back to Erl.

## Themes in this chapter

### Magic vs. Reality

The marsh serves as a liminal space where Earth and Elfland meet, and the will-o'-the-wisps embody magical enticement against the solid, mundane world.

### Trickery and Deception

Lurulu, a troll, outwits the will-o'-the-wisps by luring them to dry land, reversing their usual predatory role.

## Character check-ins

### Lurulu

Disguised as a solemn traveller, Lurulu tricks the will-o'-the-wisps into following him to dry land and enlists their aid in hunting unicorns.

## Key lines

> And then the traveller spoke. Without rising or turning his head he spoke where he sat. 'People of the marshes,' he said, 'do you love unicorns?'

The traveller, still seated, asks the will-o'-the-wisps if they have any affection for unicorns.

_This question is the pivotal moment where Lurulu begins to enlist the will-o'-the-wisps for his hunt._

> And the people of the marshes saw that it was a troll that had tricked them.

The will-o'-the-wisps realized the traveller was actually a troll who had deceived them.

_Lurulu reveals his true form, confirming the trick._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxix-the-luring-of-the-people-of-the-marshes
- 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