| “ | I would like to build a garden. After all of this… I think the world needs more gardens. | ” |
–Elain to Feyre, A Court of Wings and Ruin | ||
Elain is Feyre's second-eldest sister who lived with Nesta, Feyre, and their father at the beginning of A Court of Thorns and Roses.
Appearance
Elain has golden-brown hair, like her sisters Feyre and Nesta. She also has rich brown eyes like her father. In A Court of Mist and Fury is said that she had delicate, pale legs and small breasts. Feyre comments that her appearance is 'lovely' and the most beautiful of the three.
Personality
Elain is gentle and kind. She is a bit ignorant in the sense she doesn't solve problems herself—e.g Feyre's family is starving but only Feyre does anything about it—but does not mean any harm so no one gets angry with her. Elain is naive, peaceful, and wants to live a happy life.
Moreover, Elain can arguably be considered the 'softest' of her three sisters. She bought Feyre some paints when she had some money leftover—this, and her love of gardening evince a more nurturing personality.
However, Elain can also be very headstrong, primarily with her love life and independence. She is very resistant of accepting the bond between her and Lucien, stating that she belongs to no one but herself and does not need a male to be complete. She refuses to submit to the future the Cauldron has chosen for her and would rather choose her own fate, whoever or whatever that may be.
History
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Elain lives with her father and two sisters, Nesta and Feyre. During this time, Elain mostly tends to her small garden near the front yard of their house. Nesta hopes for Elain to get a good, wealthy husband to save them from poverty. After Feyre leaves with Tamlin, her remaining family is provided for by him.
A Court of Mist and Fury
Elain gets engaged to Graysen, a human man who's father is notorious for his Fae-despising ways. She receives an iron ring as a symbol of their engagement. Feyre returns to the family's new manor with her new friends, her family having regained their wealth thanks to Tamlin's largess. Elain is clearly uncomfortable with the Fae but welcomes them anyway, even if her wedding it's only five months away. Later in the book, she is Made into a Fae by Hybern, upon which Lucien discovers that he is her mate.
A Court of Wings and Ruin
In the series' third installment, Elain speaks of seeing things that at the beginning make no sense. But later, as the story advances, she is decreed as a Seer.
Where Nesta, while having been submerged in the Cauldron, has stolen some of its power, the Cauldron itself chose to grant Elain some magic as a gift for her seemingly never-ending kindness.
When Elain goes to Lord Nolan's residence—along with Feyre, Rhysand, Mor, and Nesta—to ask for sanctuary for any humans that will be evacuating their homes once the wall comes down, she reunites with Graysen, her human fiancé. However, Lord Noland reveals that he knows of Elain's turning and of her matehood with Lucien, a High Lord's son, thanks to Jurian having told him. Elain, still in love with Graysen, had wanted to return to him, but he rejects her. He demands that Elain take off her iron ring, but she refuses, and Graysen roars at her. Rhys steps in and demands that he let her keep the ring. Graysen becomes unpleasant and declares to Elain that he will not marry her—and that while he will take in whatever people are seeking sanctuary, will not accept her among them. Elain, clearly upset, says nothing, but Nesta steps forward and slaps Graysen in the face, saying that he never deserved her.
Elain and Azriel develop what can be assumed to be a friendship, though the details of their relationship as of yet remain ambiguous. It is with Azriel's coveted blade, Truth-Teller, that Elain drives through the King of Hybern's neck before Nesta delivers the final blow and rips his head off (we stan).
At the end of the book, Elain asks Lucien to accompany them back to the Night Court, to which he instantly agrees.
Relationships
Feyre
Elain is kind to her sister and grateful for when she provided for the family during hard times. In ACOMAF, Elain welcomes Feyre and her friends into her home, even though she knows that they are Fae.
Nesta
Elain is on good terms with her sister, Nesta. Nesta is overly protective of Elain and worries about her sanity before she is proclaimed a Seer. It goes without saying that Nesta has a soft spot for Elain—she is even able to reason with Nesta and can persuade her to do things that no one else can.
Lucien
At the end of ACOMAF, Lucien claims to be Elain's mate after she is Made into a Fae and the mating bond snaps into place. However, she is taken to the Night Court by Rhysand and company before she has a chance to respond.
In ACOWAR, Elain meets and has a proper conversation with Lucien whilst at the Night Court. After falling into depression, she talks to Lucien about her engagement and how Graysen's betrayal impacted her family. By the end of the book, Elain is seen asking Lucien to stay at the Night Court. However, in ACOFAS and the sneak peak for ACOTAR #4, Elain appears to have returned to avoiding Lucien at all costs.
Azriel
During ACOWAR, Elain and Azriel become intimate friends. He gardens with her and risks his life to rescue her from the King of Hybern. He even lends her "Truth-Teller", which he has never let anyone borrow in his 500+ years of life. This leads some to suspect a romantic relationship forming later on.
In ACOFAS, there appears to be even more hints towards a potential romance between the two. During dinner, Elain goes extremely still while she carries in a tray of potatoes, her throat bobbing, as she sees Azriel walk into the room. After giving him a quick greeting as he takes the tray from her, telling her to sit as he'll take care of it, she rushes into the kitchen to clean herself up despite Feyre reasoning there to be no real need for it since they're surrounded by family. Elain also gives Azriel a powder as a Solstice present, meant to treat the headaches he supposedly gets from his friends all the time. This causes Azriel to laugh with a joy Feyre has never heard before, thanking Elain and saying the gift will be invaluable. The pair spend Solstice night together in the sitting room as Elain explains to him her plans for expanding the garden.
Trivia
- The name, Elain, is of Welsh origin. It means "fawn" in Welsh. [1]
Appearances
- A Court of Thorns and Roses (first appearance)
- A Court of Mist and Fury
- Wings and Embers (mentioned)
- A Court of Wings and Ruin
- A Court of Frost and Starlight