The Elenium by David Eddings
"The Elenium" is a fantasy narrative centered on a powerful gemstone called Bhelliom, which was created by a troll named Ghwerig. Initially shunned by his kind, Ghwerig imbues the gemstone with magical properties but is unable to harness its potential. After a series of events involving various divine beings and rival factions, the gemstone becomes highly sought after for its power. The story follows Sir Sparhawk, a knight previously banished from Elenia, as he embarks on a quest to save Queen Ehlana, who has been trapped in an enchanted crystal block. Alongside companions, including a Styric girl named Flute and a magic teacher named Sephrenia, Sparhawk must locate Bhelliom to cure Ehlana and thwart the ambitions of the power-hungry Annias, who seeks control over the Eosian church. The journey is fraught with challenges, including opposition from Azash, an Elder God determined to impede Sparhawk's mission. Ultimately, Sparhawk and his friends face numerous trials, leading to a climactic confrontation against Azash before they decide to cast Bhelliom into the sea to prevent its misuse. The tale weaves themes of power, divine intervention, and the importance of courage in the face of adversity.
On this Page
Subject Terms
The Elenium
First published:The Diamond Throne (1989), The Ruby Knight (1990), and The Sapphire Rose (1991)
Type of work: Novels
Type of plot: Fantasy—heroic fantasy
Time of work: Approximately the fourth millennium
Locale: Eosia
The Plot
At the dawn of time, a dwarfed, misshapen Troll named Ghwerig, shunned by the other Trolls, spent his time searching for treasure. He found a large, valuable blue gemstone. Ghwerig noticed and enhanced the gemstones distinctive shape by polishing it. He muttered spells, endowing the gemstone with the power of the Troll gods. Ghwerig, however, was unable to tap the power of his new gemstone, called Bhelliom. Guided by the gods directions, he fashioned two gold rings set with oval shards to serve as the key to Bhellioms power.
Later, the Styrics, a society endowed with magic, moved into the area. Their Elder Gods coveted Bhellioms power. To render Bhelliom powerless, the Younger Gods chose the child-goddess Aphrael to steal the rings. Eventually, the Elenes displaced the Styrics, and the Thalesian king took possession of Bhelliom and incorporated it into his crown.
The story of the Elenium begins several centuries later. Sir Sparhawk, a Pandian knight and the kings champion, had been banished from Elenia. Ten years later, the king died, and his daughter ascended the throne. Sparhawk returns to present himself to Queen Ehlana and finds her trapped in a block of enchanted crystal. Her cousin Lycheas is ruling as prince regent under the control of Annias, primate of the Eosian church in Elenia.
The Pandian knights Styric teacher of magic, Sephrenia, and twelve knights had conjured the crystal block to sustain Ehlanas life. The block is temporary, lasting only as long as those who created it live, and one of them is dying each month.
Annias uses the Elenian treasury to buy the position of archprelate of the Eosian church. After Annias tries to discredit and disband the Pandians, the four orders (Pandian, Crynic, Alcionic, and Genidian) of church knights preceptors agree that Annias ambition should be blocked and that the best way to do so is to effect Ehlanas cure. Representatives of the other three orders accompany Sir Sparhawk, Sephrenia, and four other companions around Eosia searching for a cure. They find an orphaned Styric girl called Flute, then discover that Ehlana has been give a fatal poison by Aldreas, Ehlanas fathers ghost. He commands Sparhawk to find Bhelliom to cure Ehlana. If he does not find it in time, he is to destroy it, preventing it from falling into evil hands. Aldreas also gives Sparhawk the monarchs ring, a companion to the one the monarchs champion wears.
Bhelliom was last sighted on a battlefield five hundred years ago. Sparhawk and his companions summon spirits of dead soldiers to locate it. Sephrenia concludes that the various attacks on them have been aimed at Sparhawk. She further believes that most of their difficulties, including Ehlanas illness, are directed by Azash, one of the Styric Elder Gods. Sephrenia concludes that Azash has seen some future event involving Sparhawk and is trying to prevent it. Azash uses Zemoch Styrics to look for Bhelliom, encouraging others to search for treasure and making Sparhawks search more difficult.
Azash employs spirits to locate Bhelliom and to kill Sparhawk. One of these spirits, a Seeker, follows Sparhawk’s party so it can destroy him or take Bhelliom. Sparhawk realizes that the most effective search technique is to find storytellers who recount local war events. One such storyteller directs him to Count Ghasek, who has been compiling all the old stories and is willing to help.
The count tells them where the king of Thalesia died. Sparhawk and his companions find the kings grave, call the kings spirit, and learn where Bhelliom is. They search for it but quit to prevent either Azash or Ghwerig from locating Bhelliom. When they are ready to return, Flute tells them that Ghwerig has it. Ghwerig dies, and Flute, the Styric goddess Aphrael, delivers Bhelliom to Sparhawk.
Now in possession of Bhelliom, Sparhawk travels back to Elenia, where Sephrenia and the knights dissolve the crystal block. Sephrenia and Sparhawk cure Ehlana, who sends Sparhawk and his companions to Chyrellos to prevent Annias from becoming archprelate. Sparhawk leaves local citizens to defend the city and Ehlana.
At Chyrellos, the knights and their preceptors temporarily thwart Annias’ influence with the hierocracy and send for their armies to prevent Annias from using church soldiers to intimidate the hierocracy. When the army arrives, it is the Zemoch’s who cooperate with Annias. The preceptors of the church knights declare a crisis of faith, putting the church soldiers under their authority. They fortify the inner city and hold off the Zemochs, but the cost is high.
The church knights block the Zemoch attack. The army of church knights arrives in time to prevent the fall of Chyrellos. Annias and his henchmen escape.
To thwart the remaining Zemoch massed at the border, Sparhawk and his companions go to the Zemoch capital to destroy Azash. The companions encounter many difficulties on the way but eventually arrive and battle Azashs worshipers, finally destroying them and the god. In a dream, Flute leads them to a sea coast; they throw Bhelliom into the sea.