Ralph, the youngest son of King Peter of Upmeads, leaves his father's small kingdom in search of adventure. He becomes involved in a quest for the Well at the World's End, whose water is an Elixir of Life.
Not to be confused with the children's book The Well At The End Of The World by Robert D. Sans Souci.
The Well at the World's End contains examples of:
- The Ageless: The Lady of Abundance was about forty years old when she drank from the Well, but it permanently de-aged her into a young and beautiful woman.
- And Now You Must Marry Me: The Sun Knight forces the Lady of Abundance to marry him, but she runs off with Ralph before they consummate the marriage. The Sun Knight tracks them down and stabs the Lady to death.
- And There Was Much Rejoicing: Bull Shockhead kills Lord Gandolf of Utterbol, a tyrant with a 0% Approval Rating, in front of two of his soldiers. One soldier says, "Thus endeth the worst man in the world. Well done, lion-tamer! Thou art no ill guest, and hast paid on the nail for meat, drink and lodging." Bull is made the new Lord of Utterbol by the grateful citizens.
- Antagonistic Offspring: The Lady of Abundance's first husband was the son of a king. His father thought she was an evil enchantress and tried to have her executed, which led to a war that decimated the kingdom. Eventually the Lady, her husband, and a small group of followers were forced to flee into the forest and live as outlaws. Years later, after the Lady's father-in-law died, she and her husband went back to the kingdom and took the throne.
- Antiquated Linguistics: The book is written in pseudo-medieval English, which can make it a little difficult for modern readers.
- Chick Magnet: Nearly every female character comments on Ralph's attractiveness. This includes the Lady of Abundance, who hasn't been involved with a man since her first husband died many decades ago, and who it's said will only love the man whom all women love.
- Damsel in Distress: Ralph first meets the Lady of Abundance when he rescues her from two men who kidnapped her.
- Damsel out of Distress: Ralph learns that Ursula, a beautiful young woman he met earlier in his journey, has been captured by the cruel Gandolf, Lord of Utterbol, who wants to use her as a Sex Slave. Ralph travels hundreds of miles in order to rescue her. Before he reaches her, Ursula escapes, disguised in Gandolf's nephew's armour. They stumble across each other in the wood near Utterbol.
- Did You Die?: The Lady of Abundance tells her life story to Ralph. When she gets to the part where she almost gets burned at the stake, she says, "Nay, my friend, thou hast no need to look so troubled; for thou seest that I was not burned. This is the selfsame body that was tied to the stake in the market place of the king's city many a year ago."
- Don't Go Into the Woods: The Wood Perilous is extremely dangerous because of the conflict between three neighbouring city-states: Hampton under Scaur, the Burg of the Four Friths, and the land of the Wheat-wearers. Anyone who passes through is likely to be killed or Made a Slave.
- Drawing Straws: At the beginning of the book, Ralph and his brothers Blaise, Hugh, and Gregory tell King Peter that they would like to leave Upmeads. King Peter has his sons draw straws to determine who will go north, who will go east, who will go west, and who will stay in Upmeads to keep the king and queen company. Ralph draws the short straw, meaning he has to stay at home, but that night he sneaks out anyway and travels south on his horse Falcon.
- Fluffy Tamer: Bull Shockhead has a gift for getting wild animals to do what he wants. When a lion gets loose in the marketplace, everyone else flees in terror, but Bull goes up to the lion, calms him with a few words, and then buys him from his previous owner. Bull uses the lion to make money as a Street Performer while he travels to Utterbol. He trains it to fetch and carry like a dog. As long as Bull is in the room, the lion is completely tame and won't attack anyone.
- Friendless Background: Ursula's parents are dead, and her only surviving family member is her younger brother, with whom she isn't close. When Ralph and Ursula are traveling back to Upmeads, Ralph asks Ursula if she wants to visit her home again, but Ursula refuses because there isn't anyone she wants to see.
- The Good King: King Peter doesn't wage war or oppress his citizens, and he isn't as wealthy as he could be because he keeps taxes low. Ralph also becomes this at the end of the book after he takes Peter's place.
- The High Queen: The Lady of Abundance is a wise and benevolent ruler whose people have enjoyed many decades of peace and prosperity under her, and who is universally beloved by her male subjects (women tend to be jealous of her).
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: After the Lady of Abundance's murder, she appears to Ralph in a dream to say goodbye. Then she sends him a vision of Ursula and encourages him to search for her instead.
- Just Like Robin Hood: During the Lady of Abundance's years as an outlaw, she and her followers only robbed rich people, and helped and defended the poor.
- Last Disrespects: Narrowly averted for Gandolf. After he is killed, Otter suggests that Bull feed him to his lion, but Bull refuses because the body of such an evil man would poison the lion.
- Let's Wait a While: Ralph and Ursula shelter for the winter in a mountain range known as the Wall of the World. After Ralph realises he loves her, he asks her to share his bed, but she refuses because they're alone in the wilderness, and she doesn't consider a marriage valid without witnesses. That spring they're discovered by the messengers of the Innocent Folk, who agree to witness Ralph and Ursula's marriage.
- Master of Illusion: This is one of the Sage of Swevenham's abilities. When he, Ralph, and Ursula are almost recaptured by riders from Utterbol, the Sage has them hide under his cloak. He then enchants the cloak to look like two boulders, himself and the horses to look like skeletons, and the campfire to be invisible.
- No Name Given: The Lady of Abundance is never named. It's possible that she doesn't have a name, since she was raised from infancy by an abusive woman who only wanted her for free labour.
- Outliving One's Offspring: The Lady of Abundance's first son was killed in front of her by enemy soldiers who had captured her, and her second son died of a pestilence during the period of famine that followed the war. She has no living children.
- The Runaway: 21-year-old Ralph is older than most examples, but as a prince he's still legally under his father's authority.
- Second Love: Ralph falls in Love at First Sight with the Lady of Abundance. After she is murdered, he feels like he'll never be happy again. But after he meets up with Ursula, he falls in love with her over the course of several months. Ralph eventually marries Ursula, and she becomes his queen after he is crowned king of Upmeads.
- So Beautiful, It's a Curse: The Lady of Abundance is so beautiful that her first husband's father tried to have her killed. She has also survived multiple attempted kidnappings and rapes, and is finally murdered by a jealous would-be lover.
- Sweet Polly Oliver: Ursula spends much of the journey disguised in armour. When she and Ralph meet outside Utterbol, Ralph is briefly fooled by her disguise even after hearing her voice.
- Take Our Word for It: At first Ursula won't tell Ralph what happened to her in Utterbol, except to say that she wasn't "dealt with shamefully," i.e. raped. Once Ursula has recovered somewhat from her experience, she tells Ralph more about what happened to her. Ralph is horrified by what she tells him, but we never learn the details.
- Thirsty Desert: Ralph and Ursula cross the appropriately-named Thirsty Desert, a vast wasteland scattered with the bodies of travellers. They run out of food and nearly run out of water before they reach the other side.
- Together in Death: Ralph and Ursula, the king and queen of Upmeads, die at an advanced age and are buried in the same tomb.
- Wizard Classic: The Sage of Swevenham is an old man with a beard and a staff who lives in the wilderness. He serves as a mentor to Ralph and Ursula, teaching them how to find the way to the Well.
- You Killed My Father: Ursula is captured by a slaver named Bull Nosy, but then Gandolf murders him and takes Ursula for himself. Bull Nosy's brother, Bull Shockhead, finds the body and vows revenge. He travels to Utterbol and kills Gandolf by cleaving his skull with a sword, the same way Gandolf killed Bull Nosy.
