History Literature / TheBelgariad

* BrainwashedBride: {{Discussed|Trope}} regarding the MadGod Torak's obsession with marrying Polgara the Sorceress. She says that if she ever fell under his will, he'd [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul see to it]] that she was deliriously happy to become his bride -- except for the part deep down that would be [[AndIMustScream screaming in horror]] forever.

* BrainwashedBride: {{Discussed|Trope}} regarding the MadGod Torak's obsession with marrying Polgara the Sorceress. She says that if she ever fell under his will, he'd [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul see to it]] that she was deliriously happy to become his bride - except for the part deep down that would be [[AndIMustScream screaming in horror]] forever.

* RebelliousPrincess: Ce'Nedra

* RefugeInTheWest: The [[CosmicKeystone Orb]] is stored in a CitadelCity on the Isle of Riva, the world's westernmost landmass. {{Justified|Trope}}: it's being protected from the Angarak HordesFromTheEast and the locale puts the world's best armies and navy in the way -- apparently there's [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap no danger of them sailing east around the globe]].

** Given some of the other marriages in the series, the fact that she's his cousin doesn't necessarily mean that they ''couldn't'' be an item, though in this case they happen not to be.

* RefugeInTheWest: The CosmicKeystone is stored in a CitadelCity on the Isle of Riva, the world's westernmost landmass. {{Justified|Trope}} since it's being protected from the Angarak HordesFromTheEast and the locale puts the world's best armies and navy in between them -- apparently there's [[LeftJustifiedFantasyMap no danger of them sailing east around the globe]].

** As for Taiba, not anymore, Mara and Relg saw to that. Hettar even complains that his wife Adara can't keep up when it comes to making babies with Taiba and accuses Mara of cheating.

* One of Torak's disciples, Ctuchik, is an example of an evil Archmage. He's nearly Belgarath's equal in power and knowledge, and he rules Cthol Murgos with an iron fist.

* AristocratTeam: Most of the Companions have aristocratic backgrounds: Barak is an earl, Kheldar the thief and spy is also a prince, Mandorallen is a baron, Ce'Nedra a princess, and Polgara is the Duchess of Erat and possibly [[SecretlyWealthy the richest of the entire lot]]. The sequel series adds the Margravine Liselle and Emperor Kal Zakath of Mallorea.

* SilverFox: Belgarath, the oldest person in the world short of the gods and who ''looks'' appropriately venerable for an aged sorcerer, when he strips to the briefs to dive into a lake and shows off his impressive physique in the process.

* WhenTreesAttack: An unnamed species of a deadly, flesh-eating tree makes a short appearance in ''The King of the Murgos''. It's described as having golden leaves, colorful blossoms, and rich-looking purple fruit. It extrudes a sweet smell that makes one regard the tree with affection. All this to lure prey to the range of its tendrils. According to Ce'Nedra, the tree feeds on the agony of its victims as much as on their flesh.

* AristocratTeam: Most of the Companions have artistocratic background such as a berserker who is an earl, a thief and spy who is a prince, a knight, a princess, and a sorceress who is a SecretlyWealthy noblewoman. The sequel series is added with a noblewoman who works in espionage, and an emperor of a continent.

* ArrangedMarriage: Garion and Ce'Nedra, ''centuries before they're born''. Note to the Tolnedran Empire: Signing a marriage contract for 'when the lost heir of Riva returns', when you don't really believe that day will ever come, [[SuddenlySignificantRule can and will come back to bite you]].

* ArtisticLicense: In regards to armor, at least the full plate worn by Mimbrate knights. Eddings gets it's protective abilities more or less correct, without exaggertion, but defaults to popular misconception in regards to its weight; a medieval knight in full field plate carried less weight over his whole body than a modern infantry soldier carries on his back. The misconception arises because people confuse tournament armor worn for jousting matches--armor that was so heavy a knight had to be lifted by a winch onto his horse--with field plate worn in actual combat. Eddings's reasons may stem from believing the misconception (many do) or just finding it amusing to have the culturally dunderheadeed Mimbrates wearing armor so heavy they can barely move.

** Garion and Torak both become enormous for the final battle. Polgara does it herself earlier.

** Ce'Nedra also shows tendencies of this after Geran is kidnapped, although she's [[TheChick not nearly as capable of inflicting mayhem]], it's not for lack of willingness.

* SingleLineOfDescent: Garion's family is this, and it's intentional on the part of the Prophecy of Light. The {{prequel}}s mention that there are other male children in the line, but only the firstborn can be the heir which fits the hints given in the main books: at the start of ''The Mallorean'', the first prophecy information they get about what's going to happen mentions that the "seed" of the Rivan King has to be protected at all costs from falling to the hands of the Child of Dark because there will never be another. The "seed" is Garion's first-born child, a son. [[spoiler:It's revealed at the very end of ''The Mallorean'' that Garion will only ever have a single son, but thanks to Ce'Nedra's Dryad heritage he'll end up with many daughters, none of which matter to the Prophecy because only Garion's son is the Orb's inheritor.]]

!!''The Belgariad'' provides examples of the following tropes:

* MeddlingParents: Polgara to Garion. Somewhat justified considering Garion's importance, but Polgara tends to take it to the extremes, inserting herself into every aspect of his life even after he has married and has long had any need of her advice or assistance.

* MeetTheNewBoss: {{Invoked|Trope}} in Nyissa. Belgarath comments that at least this system has the advantage that the people doesn't have to adapt to the new ruler's quirks.