Elayne Trakand is a character in The Wheel of Time television series, first appearing in season 2. She is portrayed by Ceara Coveney.[1]
Elayne is the Daughter-Heir of Andor sent to train as a novice of the White Tower.[2]
History[]
Early Life[]
Elayne was born and raised in Caemlyn, the capital of Andor. She is the daughter of Queen Morgase, and has two older brothers, Galad and Gawyn.[3][4] As only a woman can rule Andor, Elayne was raised as the queendom's Daughter-Heir despite being the youngest of Morgase's children.[5] She spent six summers at the White Tower as a girl, allowing her to familiarize herself with many Aes Sedai and Tower customs.[6]
Season 2[]
Elayne arrives at the White Tower to officially enroll as a novice. As wealthy royalty, she brings a huge collection of belongings, with servants and even other novices helping her unload. Egwene arrives, as she is staying in the room nearby, and questions what is going on. At first, Elayne asks her to help out with unloading her things. However, they soon turn this into a more amicable conversation, and Elayne expresses her hope that she and Egwene can become friends.
Egwene is giving a tour of the Tower to Elayne, but learns that the Daughter-Heir is acquainted with the Tower well enough that she does not truly need this. Sheriam, the Mistress of Novices, also appears and is furious that Elayne could bring all her belongings to the Tower. She asks for the servant's name that allowed it to happen, but Elayne chooses to be switched over the shoulder for months instead of giving the woman up. Later, Egwene expresses her anxieties about her progress compared to Nynaeve. Elayne recognizes that Egwene is jealous and encourages her to get over it.[6]
Elayne later tries to console Egwene after Sheriam reports that Nynaeve died in the Arches while testing to become Accepted. Egwene brushes her off, saying she does not even know Elayne. The pair later go together to the Accepted testing room. While Egwene tries to open the Arches with the One Power to save Nynaeve, Elayne informs her that people have tried to enter them in search of another countless times, which has never worked. The pair end up going to sleep by the Arches, and see a distraught Nynaeve belatedly return from her test.[7]
Egwene and Elayne are cleaning up together and chatting after Nynaeve has been raised to Accepted. Later, they talk together in Elayne's room when Nynaeve enters, dismissing the Daughter-Heir so she can speak privately to her friend. Elayne follows them down when Egwene and Nynaeve go to search for Perrin Aybara and Loial, friends of theirs who have reportedly been captured at Falme. Elayne makes her presence known to them, admitting that she was following the others. However, when they meet with Liandrin, the Red sister considers the Daughter-Heir's presence a "complication", and uses the One Power to knock them back against the wall violently.[8]
Along with Nynaeve and Egwene, Elayne is delivered to a party of Seanchan led by High Lady Suroth. In a moment of pity, however, Liandrin channels just enough to burn the ropes binding their wrists, allowing them to flee. Elayne and Nynaeve escape, though Egwene is captured. Unwilling to abandon their friend, Elayne and Nynaeve sneak into the city of Falme. They are quickly noticed by the warder Basan, who takes them to shelter before Seanchan patrols spot them. There they meet Ryma, the sole survivor of a group of Aes Sedai who were in Falme at the time of the Seanchan's initial invasion. Ryma has acquired a Seanchan a'dam; while attempting to investigate it, Nynaeve inadvertently channels too much of the One Power and draws Seanchan to their location. Elayne and Nynaeve can only watch as the Seanchan take Ryma.
They resolve to rescue Egwene and devise a plan, collaring the sul'dam Seta and forcing her to pretend to be damane so they can get to the kennels without being stopped. This plan is scuppered by a simultaneous Whitecloak attack. In the resulting chaos, Elayne is shot through the leg by a Whitecloak crossbow. Nynaeve is unable to break her block to heal. The pair eventually makes it to the top of a tower where Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, is fighting the Forsaken Ishamael. Once Ishamael is defeated, Elayne heals Rand's wounds.
Season 3[]
Elayne returns to Tar Valon alongside a freed Egwene, Nynaeve, and Rand, as well as their friends Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon, Loial, Aviendha, Bain, and Chiad. During the journey, she strikes up a close friendship with Aviendha. Afforded one last night of freedom before returning to her novice duties, Elayne and Aviendha enjoy a rooftop rendezvous; the lovers remain ignorant as their friends are attacked by a bubble of evil conjured by the Forsaken Lanfear. In the morning, Elayne and Aviendha are parted. She returns to the White Tower.
Not long after her return, her mother, Queen Morgase, comes to Tar Valon to demand information on Elayne's whereabouts, accompanied by her consort Lord Gaebril and Elayne's brothers Gawyn and Galad. Morgase intends to take Elayne home from the Tower. The Amyrlin Seat assigns Elayne and Nynaeve to hunt out members of the Black Ajah in the White Tower, as they are the only two she can be certain are not members. To facilitate this, Elayne will go through the Arches as soon as possible, thus sealing her in the Tower. She makes one final plea to her mother, pointing out that she wants to earn her throne when she enters it, just like Morgase did.
Newly Accepted, Elayne takes part in the questioning of two Black sisters, Amico Nagoyin and Joiya Byir, hoping to learn the whereabouts of a larger group led by Liandrin. When Nynaeve discovers a marking underneath the bed where Liandrin's son died, Elayne is able to link it to a custom in Tanchico. She notices that neither Amico nor Joiya mentioned any of the several artefacts stolen by the fleeing Black Ajah, one of which she recognises as resembling an a'dam. The pair are attacked by a grey man; Elayne channels enough to push the grey man out of the room, and when they make it to the corridor he has been stabbed. Unsure of who to trust, they resolve to leave for Tanchico at the earliest opportunity. Elayne doesn't tell her brothers to keep their departure secret, but despite this, they are joined by Mat Cauthon and Min Farshaw.
They find passage on a Sea Folk ship, the condition of which is that they spend the journey in the hold. Elayne passes the time reading about Tanchico and sharing her newfound information with the others, to Mat's chagrin. When she spots Windbiter's Finger out of the hold window, Elayne realises that something is up. Mat heads up to the deck despite the agreement, and Elayne and Nynaeve follow him; after apologising to Coine din Jubai Wild Winds, they are permitted to sleep on the deck, due to the severity of Nynaeve's seasickness. Elayne wakes in the night to see Jorin din Jubai White Wing, the Wavefinder, Channelling. She wonders why the Sea Folk don't go to the White Tower, but promises to keep their channelling a secret. That night, while Egwene is visiting the dreams of her friends, she sees Elayne dreaming of being a Wavefinder herself, free in the sea, with Aviendha beside her.
Physical Appearance[]
Elayne has long, loose strawberry blonde hair. Now she wears the white gown of an Accepted and the Great Serpent ring without a gemstone, befitting her new position.
Abilities[]
Alanna Mosvani notes that Elayne is far stronger in the One Power than most recent novices. While not as strong a channeler as Nynaeve, she appears to be just as powerful as Egwene. She is also a particularly inventive channeler and has found several uses for new weaves, even as a novice, like the creation of beer. Although she was injured in the final battle with Ishamael at Falme, Elayne was able to Heal Rand al'Thor from a mortal wound on her first try.
Elayne also demonstrates broad general knowledge of the history of the Westlands and of the White Tower.
Appearances[]
Elayne Trakand appears in the following episodes:
| The Wheel of Time appearances | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 2 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Season 3 episodes | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Quotes[]
Changes from the book series[]
Elayne is an adaptation of the character of the same name 
(book spoilers!) from the book series.
- First appearance - Elayne's first appearance slightly deviates from the book series, as she is first introduced in the first book The Eye of the World
(book spoilers!) in Caemlyn, but first appears in the White Tower in season 2. Additionally, Elayne enrolled as a novice before Egwene or Nynaeve in the book series, but in the show, she joins the White Tower months after them.
Trivia[]
- Showrunner Rafe Judkins said that Elayne is one of his favorite characters.[9]
- Rafe Judkins teased that his favorite character that first appears in season 2 starts with "El", which likely indicated Elayne.
- Prior to her casting being confirmed, there was fan speculation/concern that she would be cut or combined into another character, and showrunner Rafe Judkins confirmed multiple times that she would appear and would not be combined.[10]
Gallery[]
Season 2 images[]
Season 3 images[]
[]
| Characters |
|---|
        Padan Fain • Liandrin Guirale • Alanna Mosvani • Logain Ablar • Maksim • Ihvon • Min Farshaw • Loial • Siuan Sanche • Leane Sharif • Ishamael • Verin Mathwin • Lanfear • Anvaere Damodred • Dain Bornhald • Aviendha • Gitara Moroso • Moghedien • Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan • Faile Bashere • Season 1 characters • Season 2 characters • Season 3 characters • see all |
References[]
- ↑ NYCC virtual panel, October 8, 2021, stated by Rafe Judkins.
- ↑ NYCC panel, October 7, 2022, stated by Ceara Coveney.
- ↑ Amazon MGM Studios Press Release: The Wheel of Time Announces Additional New Cast for Season Three. 18 Dec 2024.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 5: Damane.
- ↑ Elayne character profile on Amazon Prime for Season 2 of The Wheel of Time.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 2: Strangers and Friends.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 3: What Might Be.
- ↑ The Wheel of Time, season 2 episode 4: Daughter of the Night.
- ↑ In response to a fan, Rafe Judkins stated stated that Elayne, Aviendha, and Min are "three of [his] favorites." March 22, 2020.
- ↑ When asked if Elayne, Aviendha, and Min would be combined, Judkins stated on Instagram that he's "not going to combing huge characters like that." When someone said they "can't wait" to see Elayne, Aviendha, and Min, Judkins replied "Me either", again indicating that they will all appear. March 22, 2020.