# XXXIV: The Last Great Rune explained — The King of Elfland’s Daughter > Chapter companion for The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany. ## What happens Elfland approaches Erl, bringing with it a tide of starlight and lost memories. The villagers experience a profound nostalgia as the magical border sweeps over the land. Lirazel returns to meet Orion and Alveric in a garden of roses, where time and season are reversed. Ziroonderel witnesses the reunion. The Freer's holy ground remains an island of Earth amid the enchantment. The Parliament of Erl, having summoned magic, now faces its consequences as trolls and will-o'-the-wisps fill the streets. ## Themes in this chapter ### Magic vs. Reality Elfland's tide overwhelms Erl, blending the magical and mundane; the Freer's sanctuary alone remains purely earthly. ### Longing and Loss The villagers feel a wistful nostalgia for past days; Lirazel and Orion's reunion after long separation is central. ### Time and Change Elfland reverses time, bringing summer to November and restoring lost youth to Alveric. ## Character check-ins ### Orion Hears the horns of Elfland blowing all day, sensing his mother's nearness; meets Lirazel in the garden. ### Lirazel Returns to Erl with Elfland, bringing summer and roses to the withered garden; reunites with Orion and Alveric. ### Alveric Returns to Erl, freed from the burden of years and sorrow; stands with Lirazel. ### Ziroonderel Witnesses the arrival of Elfland and the reunion; later visits Lirazel on starry nights. ### Niv Finds ease from fierce fancies as Elfland's calm settles. ### Zend Finds ease from fierce fancies as Elfland's calm settles. ### Vand Seen amongst his golden sheep, munching strange sweet flowers. ### Narl Elders gather at his forge to counsel about the magic overwhelming Erl. ## Key lines > And hardly had they wondered at its strangeness, when they found themselves amongst most familiar things, for the old memories that floated before it, as a wind before the thunder, beat in a sudden gust on their hearts and their houses, and lo! they were living once more amongst things long past and lost. The strange light brought back vivid memories, making the villagers feel as if they were reliving long-lost times. _Describes the nostalgic effect of Elfland's approach._ > And there fell on these folk as they all leaned hushed from their windows a mood that looked gently, wistfully backward through time, such a mood as might lurk by huge dock-leaves in ancient gardens when everyone is gone that has tended their roses or ever loved the bowers. A gentle, wistful nostalgia settled on the people as they gazed from their windows. _Illustrates the collective mood of longing for the past._ > And from Alveric had fallen away that heavy burden of years, and all the sorrow of wandering: he too was back again in the days that were, with old songs and lost voices. Alveric's age and sorrow vanished, returning him to the joys of his youth. _Shows the rejuvenating power of Elfland._ > Only the holy place of the Freer and the garden that was about it remained still of our Earth, a little island all surrounded by wonder, like a mountain peak all rocky, alone in air, when a mist wells up in the gloaming from highland valleys, and leaves only one pinnacle darkly to gaze at the stars. Only the Freer's sanctuary stayed untouched by magic, an island of Earth amid Elfland. _Highlights the lone earthly refuge._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_king_of_elfland_s_daughter_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-last-great-rune - 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