Chosen
From The World of Shannara
The Chosen are the daily caretakers of the Ellcrys, the strange and wondrous tree that sits in the Gardens of Life at the center of the Elven city of Arborlon and maintains the Forbidding. Since the time that the Ellcrys was created there has been Chosen in service of the tree. Theirs was a tradition of service handed down from generation to generation that the Elves regarded as both a coveted honor and a solemn duty.[1]
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Choosing
At the dawn of each new year, which would be the summer solstice,[2][3][4] all the Elves that had crossed over into manhood and womanhood in the prior year are brought before the tree. Each would pause momentarily before the tree, those who the tree touch upon the shoulders become new Chosen. When touching the Elf the Ellcrys will speak the name of the Chosen.[3] This is generally the only time the Ellcrys will speak to the Chosen, though there have been rare exceptions to this.
Males tend to be the most common Elves chosen to serve. Though in the time of the Great Wars it would seem that females where commonly chosen to serve as well.[5] By the time of Eventine Elessedil no woman had been chosen in five hundred years.[3]
Service
The Chosen then serve the tree for one year only, and then relinquished the duty to a new group. The tree would chose no more than eight and no less than six.[2] It was a highly coveted honor to serve as a chosen, and those who served often went on to places of honor later in life. How the Ellcrys made her choices and how she decided who would serve her for the next twelve months was a mystery that no one had solved.[2]
One of the ways the Chosen serve the tree by greeting her every morning in a ritual that would seem to be as old as the Chosen. One Chosen each morning stands with hands on the tree while the rest of the Chosen recite a morning greeting. They do this every morning as the first light of the dawn strikes the top of the leaves of the tree.[6] The Chosen do not miss this ritual for anything.[7]
The Chosen care meticulously for the grounds near and around the Ellcrys, keeping the ground free of weeds and harmful plants. Tending to the vegetation planted to help care for the tree and maintain the beauty of the gardens. They tend to the gardens and to any perceived needs of the Ellcrys for every day for the term of their service. Caring for the Ellcrys is the only duty that these Elves perform not being required to do any other duties in Elven society.
At times of great need, the Ellcrys would ask one or more of the Chosen to perform special service to the tree. One was in finding the Loden Elfstone to move the Elven homeland to safety during the time after the Great Wars. A few of the Chosen left their daily service of the tree for this greater purpose. The second was during the time of the War of the Forbidding when one of the Chosen carried the seed of the Ellcrys to the Bloodfire to help the tree in its rebirth and again save the Elven people.
The Chosen
Below are a listing of Chosen that are mentioned within the Shannara Series either as major or minor characters.
- Kirisin Belloruus
- Erisha Belloruus
- Biat
- Raya
- Jarn
- Giln
- Eventine Elessedil
- Amberle Elessedil
- Lauren
- Jase
References
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1982). The Elfstones of Shannara pp. 1
- ^ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brooks, Terry (2006). Armageddon's Children pp. 171
- ^ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brooks, Terry (1982). The Elfstones of Shannara pp. 3
- ^ The Elfstones of Shannara say that the choosing happen on the dawn of the New Year. Armageddon's Children says that it happens on the summer solstice. It is concluded then that the Elves New Year starts on the summer solstice.
- ^ Brooks, Terry (2006). Armageddon's Children pp. 178-179 At least two of the six Chosen where female in Armageddon's Children.
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1982). The Elfstones of Shannara pp. 4
- ^ Brooks, Terry (1982). The Elfstones of Shannara pp. 32
