Elaine of Astolat

Elaine of Astolat, also known as Elayne of Ascolat, is a character from Arthurian legend. She is a noblewoman from the castle of Astolat who tragically dies from unrequited love for Sir Lancelot. Her story is most famously told in Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (1485), Alfred, Lord Tennyson's Idylls of the King (mid-19th century), and his poem The Lady of Shalott. It's important not to confuse her with Elaine of Corbenic, who is the mother of Galahad, also by Lancelot.

Elaine's tale begins when her father, Bernard, the lord of Astolat (a name mistakenly written as "Ascolat" by William Caxton), organizes a tournament attended by King Arthur and his knights. Sir Lancelot, who had not planned to attend, is persuaded to visit Bernard's castle before the event. While staying at her family's home, Elaine falls deeply in love with Lancelot and pleads with him to wear her token during the tournament. Though he is concerned about the presence of Queen Guinevere, Lancelot agrees, but requests to fight in disguise to avoid recognition. He asks Bernard if he can leave his own shield with him and borrow a different one. Bernard agrees and lends him the plain white shield of Sir Torre, Elaine's brother.

In the tournament, Lancelot, still in disguise, wins by defeating forty of Arthur’s knights, though he is injured in the side by Sir Bors' lance. Sir Lavaine, Elaine's other brother, helps carry him to the hermit Sir Baudwin’s cave. There, Elaine urges her father to allow her to care for the wounded Lancelot. She nurses him back to health, but when he is ready to leave, Lancelot offers to pay her for her services. Hurt and insulted, Elaine hands him back his shield, which she had been guarding, and Lancelot departs, now aware of her feelings but not returning her affection.

Heartbroken, Elaine dies ten days later. According to her final wishes, her body is placed in a small boat with a lily in one hand and a letter in the other, and sent down the river to Camelot. There, her body is discovered by King Arthur’s court, who refer to her as "the little lily maiden." Lancelot is summoned to read her letter, which reveals the story of her love for him. Ashamed, he arranges for a proper burial and pays for her lavish funeral.