Ellidyr

Ellidyr is a fictional character in the "Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander. He plays a tragic, pivotal role in the second book of the series, "The Black Cauldron".

Ellidyr is described as a prince, the son of a king who had nothing left to leave his son but "his name and his sword." He is deeply sensitive about his poverty, and covers this with arrogance, treating all whom he does not see as social equals with disdain and contempt. Adaon, with the aid of a magic talisman, sees this as a "black beast," sitting on Ellidyr's shoulders and tormenting him.

Shortly after arriving at Caer Dallben, Ellidyr quarrels with and offends Taran; their interactions afterward are marked with friction for most of the rest of the book. When Taran, Princess Eilonwy, Fflewddur Fflam and Gurgi are bogged down by the Black Crochan, Ellidyr only agrees to help them after they promise to allow him to have the glory of recovering the Crochan to himself.

Later, when Ellidyr has been captured by an enemy along with Taran and his companions, Ellidyr finally comes to wisdom and realizes what sort of person he has been. He makes amends by destroying the Crochan; only a living person throwing himself into the Crochan, knowing that to do so is fatal, will do this. Afterwards, Ellidyr is buried with honour, along with Islimach, his horse; the horse threw herself from a cliff after Ellidyr's death.

Ellidyr is described as having extraordinary strength and seems to only truly love Islimach. Though arrogant, he is not evil and swears to Taran though he would have taken credit for finding the Crochan, he would have seen it destroyed and never would have used it to create Cauldron-Born.