Elayne Trakand

Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.

The youngest child and only daughter of Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor, Elayne grew up in the Royal Palace, knowing that she would one day ascend to the Lion Throne. She probably never imagined what would happen in the meanwhile, however.

Elayne's first appearance in the series is in The Eye of the World, when Rand al'Thor literally falls into the Royal Garden and makes acquaintences with Elayne, her older brothers Gawyn and Galad, and even Queen Morgase herself. For Elayne, it was love at first sight. Unfortunately, she had other things to worry about: as a daughter of House Trakand, she would eventually go to the Aes Sedai's White Tower and study there, a tradition dating back to the founding of House Trakand. However, Elayne is the first heir of Trakand in a thousand years to actually be able to channel the One Power. While at the Tower, she befriended some folk who, by coincidence, knew Rand quite well: his (former) fiancee, Egwene al'Vere, and his village's Wisdom, Nynaeve al'Meara. She also got to know Min Farshaw, who was in the Tower for "safekeeping" at the time. She went to Falme and then to Tear, and was present when Rand drew Callandor and proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn.

At this point, Elayne finally got her chance with Rand, especially when Egwene renounced him; the two worked it out in advance, though Elayne's part of the conversation did not go quite according to plan. Unfortunately, their time was limited--soon Rand and Egwene went to Rhuidean, and Elayne and Nynaeve to Tarabon. They traveled by way of a Sea Folk ship, reputedly the fastest ships available, and Elayne quickly discovered how: Sea Folk windfinders can channel. Elayne promised to keep this secret, as the Sea Folk fear Aes Sedai meddling. Sent by Mat and Rand to look after the two were Juilin Sandar and Thom Merrilin, whom Elayne soon recognized from dusty childhood memories as her mother's former lover. She has come to see Thom as a surrogate father, a role he gladly accepts.

In Tarabon they were instrumental in routing the Black Ajah and returning the Panarch Amathera to her office. On the way to Salidar, a bizarre series of events led to Birgitte Silverbow, one of the Heroes of the Horn, being ripped from Tel'aran'rhiod and expelled into the waking world to die. To save her, Elayne bonded Birgitte as her Warder, and the famed archer has been a constant companion since. The group arrived in Salidar just in time to receive the brand new Amyrlin Seat, Egwene al'Vere. Elayne went with Nynaeve, Aviendha and Mat to Tanchico, and after using the Bowl of the Winds, shepherded a large group of channelers to Caemlyn when the Seanchan invaded. She is now one of several parties jockeying for the throne in her mother's absence and supposed death. Among her other accomplishments is the rediscovery of the ability to create ter'angreal; for a short time she also used Mat as an unwilling tutor in cursing and swearing.

Elayne is one of three women who loves Rand al'Thor, and is close friends with the other two (Aviendha and Min); the three have agreed to share him, and recently Bonded him as their mutual Warder (mostly for the side effect of being able to tell what the other person is feeling). Shortly after that, she and Rand found some time together alone in a room with a bed, almost immediately demonstrating one of the downsides of the Warder bond and leading Birgitte, Min and Aviendha to get roaring drunk. According to Min's visions, she is now carrying Rand's children, twins. She is described as exceedingly beautiful, with blue eyes, red-gold hair, full plump lips, skin like silk, and other becoming feminine assets. (This description has been brought to you by Rand's point of view.)