Gardens of Life

Shannara location


name=Gardens of Life
nickname=
capital=
inhabitants=the Ellcrys
location=Arborlon
appearance="The Elfstones of Shannara", "The Genesis of Shannara"

The Gardens of Life are a fictional location in the epic fantasy [cite web |url=http://www.terrybrooks.net/novels/index.html |title=Terry Brooks' official website|accessdate=2008-06-26 |last= Speakman |first=Shawn |authorlink= |year=2008 |publisher= ] "Shannara" series by Terry Brooks. Being the home of the Ellcrys, the magical tree that keeps the Demons of old locked away in an alternate universe (the Forbidding), it was one of the central locations in "The Elfstones of Shannara".

Description

The Gardens of Life were surrounded by an "ivy-grown wall" [Brooks, Terry (1982). "The Elfstones of Shannara", Page 32.] that had a few "arched, wrought iron gateway [s] inlaid with silver scroll and ivory chips". [Brooks, Terry (1982)."The Elfstones of Shannara", Page 1.] [cite web |url=http://www.terrybrooks.net/novels/shannara/elfstones-chap1.html |title="The Elfstones of Shannara", Chapter One|accessdate=2008-06-26 |last=Brooks |first=Terry |authorlink= |year=2006 |publisher=Terroy Brooks' official website ] Inside,

Role in "The Elfstones of Shannara"

The Gardens of Life played a minor role in "The Elfstones of Shannara" up until the end of the novel; at the end, the "forces of good"cref|a were forced from the bluff where they had been holding the Demons for three days.cite web |url=http://www.alitheia.org/shannarafiles/Elfstones_Timeline.php |title="The Elfstones of Shannara" Timeline |accessdate=2008-06-26 |last= Gong |first=Minnie |year=2007 |publisher=The Shannara Files] They managed to disengage long enough to retreat back to the Gardens of Life for a last stand due to an almost total sacrifice by Stee Jans and his Free Corps. The combined armies then managed to hold the Demons off long enough for Amberle Elessedil to return and become the new Ellcrys, therefore shoving the Demons back into the Forbidding.

References

Notes