The Book of Three

Caer Dallben—caer means “castle”—is the stronghold of the ancient wizard Dallben. It’s basically a farm protected by Dallben’s magic. For Taran, it symbolizes a home that, at first, he’s anxious to leave, but later comes to respect for its subtle power to sustain and nurture those who live there. Taran’s shifting feelings for Caer Dallben reflect his growth; he values the stronghold as he comes to value love and friendship. Caer Dallben is a beacon of hope for Taran during the darkest hours of his trek across Prydain, and returning to it becomes his reward for a job well done. Though he returns to where he began, he is transformed.

Caer Dathyl, in the north of Prydain, is the house of the Sons of Don and their heir-apparent, Prince Gwydion. The Caer is the seat of Prydain’s government, but it’s under threat from the forces of the evil King Arawn, who wants to overthrow its good rule and replace it with a dark tyranny. Its beauty symbolizes goodness under threat. Taran’s group sets Caer Dathyl as their goal—they want to warn the kingdom of the approach of the armies of the Horned King—and reaching it in time becomes their measure for success.

Dyrnwyn, the ancient sword that Eilonwy finds, is a symbol of greatness that reflects the greatness of its true owner. Gwydion says, “It is a weapon of power […] So ancient that I believed it no more than a legend. There are still deep secrets concerning Dyrnwyn, unknown even to the wisest” (176).

The sword is too powerful for ordinary mortals. When Eilonwy removes the sword from the Spiral Castle, the stronghold promptly collapses. When Taran tries to unsheathe it to fight the Horned King, the sword emits a powerful blast that hurls him backward.

Prince Gwydion, having demonstrated his heroic virtues, and having faced down death and extracted from it great wisdom, is more than ready to accept the sword. Eilonwy presents it to him, and he wields it easily. The sword serves the story as a grail, one that must find its true owner.

The northeast part of Prydain is covered by the Eagle Mountain range. Taran’s group skirts the Horned King’s armies by detouring through these mountains. The group’s mountainous sojourn both tests and teaches them, with lessons in endurance, forbearance, tolerance, and teamwork. Cold and filled with danger, they form an obstacle course that the team must surmount. In its foothills, they encounter Medwyn’s valley and, beneath the treacherous Black Lake, the underground realm of the Fair Folk. Taran’s team successfully meets the challenges of each place, and they’re rewarded with ample supplies and a guide, Doli, who leads them out of the mountains.