Queen Achren, also known simply as Achren, is the secondary antagonist of the Chronicles of Prydain book series by Lloyd Alexander. She is an evil sorceress who is the former ruler of Annuvin and mentor of Arawn Death-Lord, until he overthrew her in a coup and usurped her throne. From there on, she was forced to work for him whilst biding her time to regain the throne.

Biography[]

Origin[]

Queen Achren was once the ruler of the Kingdom of Annuvin in Prydain, who knew a lot of deep enchantments. She took Arawn as her apprentice and taught him magic, and later promoted him to her consort. However, the more powerful Arawn grew, the more power-hungry he became, and he eventually orchestrated a coup to wrestle the Iron Crown of Annuvin from her. Demoted and became Arawn's servant, she worked for him from the Spiral Castle while secretly despising him and plotting his downfall.

At some point, Achren met Eilonwy and pretended to be her aunt, teaching her many forms of magic.

The Book of Three[]

In the first book of the series, Achren employed some of Arawn's Cauldron Born warriors to kidnap Gwydion, Taran and Melyngar. She tried to convince Gwydion to join her but he refused, so she broke his sword in anger and bled her hands. She then ordered Gwydion and Taran to be imprisoned. When Eilonwy met Taran and tried to speak to him, Achren had her imprisoned as well as a punishment within an enchanted cell. However, Eilonwy used a tunnel that Achren didn't know of to escape.

After Taran and Eilonwy escaped the castle and it collapsed, Achren was presumed dead. Gwydion later revealed that she offered him to join her to overthrow Arawn, but he refused, so she tortured him again.

The Castle of Llyr[]

In the third book of the series, Achren returned to kidnap Eilonwy when the latter traveled to the Isle of Mona to learn how to become a proper lady. It turned out the Chief Steward of Mona, Magg, was in league with Achren and brought Eilonwy to her at the ruins of Caer Colur. Achren then bewitched Eilonwy in an attempt to use the princess' ancestral magic powers to rule Prydain through her. When Taran and his companions arrived to save Eilonwy, Prince Rhun accidentally revealed the existence of the Golden Pelydryn to Achren, forcing Gwydion to reveal its location.

After getting the Golden Pelydryn, Achren gave it to Eilonwy and commanded her to read the spells from the Book of Llyr. However, touching the Golden Pelydryn gave Eilonwy enough strength to break from the enchantment and burn the book, foiling Achren once more.

Taran Wanderer[]

In the fourth book of the series, after her defeat at Caer Colur, Achren went on to become Dallben's scullery maid, since the previous maid, Eilonwy, was still away at Mona.

The High King[]

In the final book of the series, now seeking revenge on Arawn, Achren decided to flee Caer Dallben before the companions could restrain her. Magg, who now worked for Arawn, betrayed her and attack her, before leaving her for death. She was then wounded by the gwythaits, but Taran and his companions found her and nursed her back to health. In return, she led them past Mount Dragon through a secret pass into Annuvin.

When Arawn took the form of a snake and attempted to bite Taran, Achren jumped in, wrestled Arawn away and took the bite instead. After Arawn was vanquinshed, she passed away in peace, and the companions carried her body into Arawn's Great Hall to honor her sacrifice.

Personality[]

Described as "beautiful, yet deadly", Achren was proud of her own beauty, which she likely kept through enchantments, and used it to seduce Gwydion and Taran. She was ambitious and vengeful, still seeking revenge on Arawn for overthrowing her long ago. She was also ruthless and not above torturing her prisoners and even underlings. Due to her obsession with victory, she became angry and even suicidal once defeated.

However, once she was nursed back to health by Taran and his companions, she felt grateful to them and began to change for the better. This was shown when she led them to Annuvin with no ulterior motives, and sacrificed herself to save Taran from Arawn's attack.

External Links[]

• Queen Achren on the Prydain Wiki