Sir Elyan was the son of Tom and his unnamed wife, the brother of Guinevere Pendragon, and the brother-in-law of Arthur Pendragon, whom he served as a Knight of the Round Table.
Prior to his knighthood, Elyan worked as a traveling blacksmith. He served as a Knight of Camelot for roughly four years before he was impaled by an enchanted sword while rescuing Gwen from the Dark Tower. He was given a Viking funeral at the Lake of Avalon.
Biography
Early Life
Elyan's father and sister in their family home.
Little is known of Elyan's early life. He was born in Camelot to Tom and his unnamed wife, who died at some point during Elyan's childhood. He grew up alongside his sister Gwen in their childhood home, and eventually followed in their father's footsteps and became a blacksmith.
Elyan left home roughly one year before Merlin arrived in Camelot. He did not keep in contact with his family, and did not not return home when he heard of Tom's death. Consequently, Gwen had no knowledge of his whereabouts, or whether he was alive or dead (The Castle of Fyrien).
Kidnapping
Gwen and Elyan in the Castle of Fyrien.
Four years after his departure from Camelot, Elyan was kidnapped from his forge by King Cenred's men and taken to the Castle of Fyrien. There, he was reunited with Gwen and held hostage as part of a plot to kill Arthur Pendragon.
Gwen was soon released so she could lead Arthur into Cenred's trap, but Elyan spent most of his captivity in the castle dungeons. Gwen eventually rejoined him when she, Arthur, Merlin, and Morgana were captured while trying to rescue him. As they waited in their cell, Gwen and Elyan discussed Elyan's decision to leave home and his failure to write or return even after their father's death. Elyan also became aware of Gwen's romance with Arthur, which he teased her about.
The siblings were soon rescued by Arthur and Merlin, and - after a quick detour to "save" Morgana - returned to Camelot. Elyan decided to give up his travels and move back home, reopening his father's forge and taking over his job as blacksmith (The Castle of Fyrien).
Knighthood
- “Arise, Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot.”
- — Arthur Pendragon[src]
Elyan is made a Knight of Camelot.
Several months after Elyan's return, Morgause and Morgana conquered Camelot with their immortal army. Elyan presumably tried to defend his home from the invaders, but was stunned to discover that weapons were useless against them because the Cup of Life had made them immortal.
Elyan managed to avoid capture by taking refuge in Gwen's house and hid there until he was found by Arthur, Merlin, and Gwaine. He accompanied the trio the citadel and snuck down to the dungeons with Gwaine, where they saw Uther being dragged away by soldiers. They later met up with Arthur, Merlin, and Gaius in the physician's chambers and reported what they'd seen, after which Arthur ordered them to take Gaius and find refuge in the woods outside Camelot.
Elyan, Arthur, Merlin, Gaius, and Gwaine spent the next week sheltering in a cave in the Darkling Woods. They were eventually joined by Gwen and Sir Leon after they managed to escape from the city. However, they soon discovered that Morgause and Morgana had allowed the duo to escape in order to track them to Arthur's hiding place. Elyan and the others fled the cave pursued by soldiers, but were ultimately saved by the arrival of Percival and Lancelot, who blocked the path with boulders to halt Morgause's pursuit.
Arthur led the group to the Castle of the Ancient Kings, where he invited them to sit at the Round Table and outlined his plan to infiltrate the citadel and rescue his father. Elyan was among those who volunteered to accompany him, and Arthur rewarded his loyalty by knighting him alongside Gwaine, Percival, and Lancelot.
The next day, Arthur and his men snuck into the citadel while Gwen and Gaius remained behind at the Castle. Once inside, Merlin and Lancelot split off from the group to disable the warning bell while Arthur, Elyan, and the others proceeded to the dungeons. They managed to trap some of the soldiers guarding the prisoners in a cell and held their own against those that remained, though Elyan sustained a cut to his arm.
Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot
Arthur was in the process of freeing Uther from his cell when the warning bell sounded, alerting the citadel to their presence. With their escape route cut off, Arthur led the Knights in battle against the immortal army until Merlin emptied the Cup of Life, instantly destroying the immortal soldiers.
Later, Elyan accompanied the other Knights to the Castle of the Ancient Kings to escort Gwen home to Camelot (The Coming of Arthur).
The Dorocha's Attack
- “Do you know what we're going to face on the Isle of the Blessed? Do you want to tell me?”
- — Elyan to Arthur[src]
Elyan faces Morgana on the Plains of Denaria.
One year after the Fall of Camelot, Elyan was among a patrol of Knights who crossed paths with Morgana on the Plains of Denaria. When they tried to apprehend her, Morgana attacked them with her magic, killing Sirs Bertrand and Montague and rendering Elyan and Leon unconscious.
Elyan and Leon returned to the citadel and reported the incident to the court. They later attended the Feast of Samhain alongside the rest of the Knights.
The next day, Elyan accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the other Knights of the Round Table to investigate reports of strange, faceless creatures attacking Camelot's villages. They discovered that the attacks were the work of the Dorocha, ghostly voices of the dead unleashed when Morgana tore the veil between the worlds.
As the Dorocha spread through Camelot, villagers crowded into the city in search of safety and the Knights began patrolling the streets with torches. During one such patrol, Elyan saved Percival's life by using his torch to chase the Dorocha away. Percival had found three children hiding behind some barrels, and had left his own torch behind to carry them to safety.
The Knights of the Round Table later accompanied Arthur on his quest to the Isle of the Blessed, where he intended to repair the veil and banish the Dorocha. They made camp the first night at the fortress of Daobeth, where Merlin was badly injured by the Dorocha. Lancelot volunteered to take Merlin back to Camelot, and the rest of the group continued on with the quest.
On Arthur's recommendation, the Knights decided to take a shortcut through the Tunnels of Andor, which were infested with Wilddeoren. They used Gaia berries to disguise their scents from the creatures, but were forced to flee tunnels when Gwaine killed one and alerted the others to their presence.
The Knights made camp in the woods and Arthur took first watch. When Elyan got up to relieve him, he asked Arthur what would happen when they reached the Isle of the Blessed. Arthur refused to confide in him, stating that the burden was his alone, but Elyan disagreed and told Arthur that as long as they stood together, none of them would ever be alone. His words comforted Arthur, who thanked him.
After another day of traveling, the Knights were reunited with Merlin and Lancelot, the former of whom had recovered from his encounter with the Dorocha. Like the other Knights, Elyan rushed to greet them and was happy they were okay.
Elyan comforts Arthur.
The group reached the Isle of the Blessed the following morning. They crossed the lake by way of the ferryman's boat, and soon discovered that the Isle was guarded by Wyverns. Elyan, Percival, and Leon chose to remain outside to fend them off while Arthur, Merlin, Lancelot, and Gwaine proceeded on to the stone altar, where Lancelot ultimately sacrificed himself to repair the veil.
Later, back at the citadel, Elyan attended Lancelot's memorial alongside the rest of the court. He was present when a funeral pyre containing Lancelot's cloak and sword was burned in the courtyard (The Darkest Hour).
Further Adventures
Elyan and the other Knights at Arthur's coronation.
Elyan attended Arthur's birthday feast along with the rest of the court. Later, after the death of Uther, he also attended Arthur's coronation alongside his fellow Knights (The Wicked Day).
When they learned that Julius Borden was searching for the last dragon egg in existence, Elyan accompanied Merlin, Arthur, and the rest of the Knights of the Round Table on a quest to find and destroy it. During the journey, Elyan joined the others in playing a trick on Merlin wherein they pretended to eat all of the food he made, then produced one last bowl that they'd saved for him. As a result, he and the others Knights fell deathly ill when Borden poisoned their food and had to be saved by Merlin's magic (Aithusa).
Elyan took part in Arthur's ambush on King Caerleon's raiding party. He was present when Arthur tried to pressure Caerleon into signing a treaty with Camelot, and when Arthur executed him after he refused.
When Caerleon's widow, Queen Annis, consequently declared war on Camelot, Elyan accompanied the rest of Camelot's army to the battle sight. Acting as spokesman for the Knights, Elyan led them in voicing their loyalty to Arthur and their willingness to die for him, and later volunteered to serve as Camelot's champion after Arthur and Annis agreed to settle their dispute by single combat. Arthur chose to fight Caerleon's champion himself, however, and Elyan watched the duel from the ridge alongside the rest of the army (His Father's Son).
Elyan was patrolling with the other Knights when they encountered Merlin's alter ego Dragoon the Great in the Darkling Woods. Merlin was attempting to mount his horse so he could ride to Morgana's hovel and free himself from her Fomorroh's control, but due to the effects of his ageing spell did not have the strength to manage it.
Recognising him as the sorcerer supposedly responsible for Uther's death, Elyan and the others attempted to apprehend him, but were quickly defeated by his magic. Merlin gleefully mounted his horse using the fallen Knights as a staircase and went on his way (A Servant of Two Masters).
Elyan and the other Knights escorted Gwen and acting physician Merlin to Longstead, which had been stricken by a mysterious illness. Elyan defended Merlin to the John Howden, who was skeptical of his age and inexperience, but Merlin was ultimately unable to treat the villagers and soon concluded that the illness was likely magical in nature.
On the return journey to Camelot, the Knights rescued a young girl, Lamia, from bandits. Lamia soon began to exert a strange control over the Knights, causing them to act increasingly possessive of her and aggressive towards each other. She eventually singled out Elyan and kissed him, causing him to convulse and fall to the ground, and the next morning he was found unconscious in the woods, apparently suffering from the same illness as the people of Longstead.
Though Merlin tried to convince the Knights to take Elyan back to Camelot, Lamia persuaded them to shelter in her castle instead. She disappeared from the group when they arrived there, and one by one the Knights fell victim to her spell until a rescue party led by Arthur arrived and killed her. Elyan and the others were then taken back to Longstead, where Gaius treated them for their illness (Lamia).
Like the other Knights, Elyan was overjoyed when Lancelot returned to Camelot during Gwen and Arthur's wedding tourney. He was later present when Gwen was brought before the court for betraying Arthur with Lancelot (Lancelot du Lac).
Possessed by a Troubled Spirit
Elyan was on a patrol with Arthur, Merlin, and the other Knights when they came across a Druid Shrine. Merlin warned them not to disturb anything, but Elyan drank from a small well and accidentally freed the tormented spirit of a young Druid boy.
That night, after the patrol returned to Camelot, the boy appeared to Elyan while he was alone in his chambers. Elyan tried to banish the spirit by making a circle of salt at the foot of his bed, but it had no effect. The boy began to exert greater and greater influence over Elyan, causing him to behave aggressively toward Merlin during a training session and then to fight with Gwaine in the armoury, the latter of which ended with Gwaine knocking him out.
When Elyan regained consciousness in his chambers, the boy appeared and spoke to him, asking Elyan not to be angry with it. Elyan approached the boy and tried to comfort him, asking what he wanted of him. The boy replied that he wanted Elyan to bring him peace by killing the King and righting the wrong that had been done to him. Now under the spirit's power, Elyan agreed.
Elyan immediately went to Arthur's chambers and attacked him with a sword. Though caught unawares, Arthur evaded Elyan's assault until the guards arrived, forcing Elyan to flee. He was later apprehended by the other Knights and thrown in the dungeons, where the spirit appeared to him and tormented Elyan for failing him.
Though most believed that Elyan's actions were motivated by revenge for his sister's banishment, Merlin and Gaius found the circle of salt beneath his bed and concluded that he was being possessed. As such, when Agravaine advised Arthur to execute Elyan, Merlin defended Elyan and told Arthur their theory, leaving Arthur conflicted. Merlin later broke Elyan out the dungeons intending to exorcise the spirit, but the boy warned Elyan of Merlin's intentions and he consequently knocked Merlin out and escaped into the woods.
Elyan made another attempt on Arthur's life the following day. Armed with a crossbow, he killed or wounded at least three knights before ambushing Arthur in the council chambers. After his initial shot missed, Elyan abandoned the crossbow and took up a sword, engaging Arthur in a duel. Arthur defeated Elyan, but having heard him speak with the boy's voice rather than his own, he realised that Merlin was right about him being possessed and allowed Elyan to escape.
The Shrine Boy releases Elyan.
After Gaius explained how to appease the spirit, Arthur (and Merlin) returned to the Druid Shrine and summoned it. Arthur revealed that he had been the one to lead the raid on the Druid camp, and explained that his inexperience had led to him losing control of his men. He also promised that the Druids would be treated with respect in the future.
Arthur's words finally brought peace to the boy, who forgave him and released Elyan from its control. Elyan was taken back to Camelot and made a full recovery (A Herald of the New Age).
Second Fall of Camelot
- “Tell me where Arthur is... Or sample the delights of my little friend here."
"I'll tell you nothing.” - — Morgana and Elyan[src]
Elyan was among the Knights patrolling the city when Morgana and Helios launched a surprise attack on Camelot during the Feast of Beltane. They eventually retreated to the citadel, where Elyan discovered Agravaine leading Southron warriors through the castle corridors. Realising that they'd been betrayed, Elyan vowed to kill Agravaine, but was knocked unconscious by Morgana's magic.
Elyan later met up with Merlin, Arthur, and Percival in the Darkling Woods. They decided to flee Camelot and find sanctuary beyond its borders, and Merlin suggested that they go to his home village of Ealdor. However, they were found and attacked before they could do so. Elyan chose to stay behind and fend off their pursuers and was consequently captured.
Back at the citadel, Morgana interrogated Elyan to find out where Arthur was heading. When he refused to tell her anything, she used a Nathair to torture the information out of him. Elyan was rendered nearly catatonic from the pain and was later imprisoned in the dungeons with Gaius and Gwaine.
Over the next week, Elyan did his best to look after Gaius, who became deathly ill during their captivity, and Gwaine, who was being forced to fight Morgana's men for their meager food. Elyan tried to coax Gaius into eating the bread Gwaine won for them, and was upset when Gaius refused it. He left the bread with Gaius anyway, taking none for himself.
Elyan, Gaius, and Gwaine were rescued by Percival and Leon during Arthur's bid to retake Camelot. The Knights were relieved to see one another alive, and Elyan even joked about the horrors of being locked up with Gwaine when Percival asked if he was okay. He later attended Gwen's coronation alongside the rest of the court (The Sword in the Stone).
Quest to Ismere
- “At my request, Sir Elyan led a search party to the wastelands of the north. He found no trace of Gwaine or his men.”
- — Arthur Pendragon[src]
Searching for the missing Knights.
Three years after the Second Fall of Camelot, Elyan led a search party to find Gwaine and a patrol of sixty Knights who had disappeared en route to Ismere. He found no trace of the missing men, but he did hear rumours that Morgana was occupying the Fortress of Ismere. He recounted these rumours to Arthur, who concluded that she was likely holding the missing Knights prisoner.
Elyan was part of the rescue party that set out from Camelot the following day. They planned to catch Morgana by surprise by entering Ismere from the west, through Caerleon. Arthur ordered Elyan to take some men and check the ridge line for ambush, but Elyan soon returned after discovering the remains of slaughtered village. The rescue party searched for survivors and gave the villagers a proper burial before continuing on to Annis' castle, where they spent the night.
When the rescue party crossed into Ismere the next day, they were almost immediately ambushed by Morgana, Ruadan, and their Saxon allies. Elyan and the other Knights became separated from Arthur and Merlin during the battle, and were ultimately forced to abandon the mission and return to Camelot without them.
Elyan and Leon reported what had happened to Gwen and Gaius and the group concluded that they'd been betrayed. Gwen quickly deduced that the traitor was her maidservant, Sefa, who had eavesdropped on the meeting of the Round Table and who had been seen leaving the city late at night. Elyan was surprised when Gwen sentenced her to death, but Gwen later revealed that she was using Sefa as bait, hoping that her plight would lure Ruadan to Camelot.
Ruadan conjures fire to escape Elyan.
When Ruadan freed Sefa from the dungeons later that night, and Elyan and several other Knights engaged him in battle. Elyan mortally wounded him, but Ruadan used the last of his strength to conjure a large fire so he and Sefa could escape. Elyan and the others eventually tracked them the Temple of Earu, where they found Ruadan's dead body.
Later, after Arthur and Merlin returned to Camelot with the missing Knights, Elyan attended Mordred's knighthood ceremony alongside the rest of the court (Arthur's Bane).
Final Adventures
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Mordred and Elyan at the Round Table.
During a feast celebrating the third anniversary of Arthur's coronation, Elyan explained to Mordred that Arthur was always upset that day because it was also the anniversary of Uther's death. He was later present at a meeting of the Round Table, during which the doors to the council chambers began opening and closing by themselves and a chandelier crashed down on the table (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).
Elyan was among the Knights that accompanied Arthur to rescue King Rodor. Like the other Knights, Elyan was very concerned when Merlin was found unconscious next to the river they camped at, but continued on with Arthur when it was decided that they couldn't wait for Merlin to recover.
Later, when they arrived at the Tomb where Rodor was hiding, Elyan remained outside with Leon and the other Knights while Arthur and Percival accompanied Mithian inside. They were captured by Odin's men, but were soon freed by Gwaine after he and Merlin caught up to them (Another's Sorrow).
Elyan accompanied Arthur and the other Knights of the Round Table on a mission to apprehend the sorcerer Osgar. He and the other Knights teased Mordred along the way, and he later partnered with Gwaine when they decided to split up to search the Forest of Brechfa.
Gwaine and Elyan were the first to find Osgar and attempted to capture him on their own. However, Osgar fought back and used his magic to throw them into a tree, rendering them unconscious, though not before he was mortally wounded by Gwaine.
Elyan later went to Caerlanrigh with Arthur and the other Knights to answer the judgment of the Disir. Like the others, he ignored Merlin's warnings not to go armed into a sacred place and carelessly trampled the Disir's relics (The Disir).
The Dark Tower & Death
Elyan accompanied Gwen on a pilgrimage to visit their father's grave. While returning to Camelot, they and the other Knights of the Round Table, who were escorting them, were attacked by snakes conjured by Morgana. Leon and Percival quickly fell victim to the snakes' bites while Gwaine and Elyan urged Gwen to ride on without them.
When the Knights returned to Camelot, they learned that Gwen was still missing; Morgana had kidnapped her. As soon as Percival and Leon recovered, the Knights, Arthur, and Merlin set out to rescue her. They soon found Gwen's horse abandoned in the woods, as well as a trail leading east. They followed the trail until nightfall, when Merlin convinced Arthur to make camp.
Elyan was unable to sleep that night, as he blamed himself for not protecting Gwen during the attack. Arthur, who also couldn't sleep, comforted him by pointing out that his actions had saved Percival and Leon, and told him that blaming himself wouldn't do any good.
At this point, Percival and Leon awoke from identical nightmares about the Dark Tower, leading Arthur to believe that Gwen was being taken there. The group resolved to travel to the Tower themselves, and the next day began their journey by crossing the Impenetrable Forest. They spent much of the day attempting to hack through the Forest's dense foliage and eventually discovered that they were going in circles.
Elyan duels Morgana's enchanted sword.
Discouraged, the Knights made camp for the night and set out again in the morning, hoping to find their way back to the clearing they'd started from. However, Merlin convinced them that he could guide them through the Forest, and (using his magic) successfully did so.
The Knights then endured an arduous trek across the Dollares Plains to arrive at the Tower itself. They climbed a staircase to a room filled with booby traps; the flagstones on the floor reacted to pressure, setting arrows that wounded Percival in the leg.
Elyan was the first to find a way across the room by using his sword to test the stones before stepping on them. Upon reaching the doorway, he decided to continue on without waiting for the others to catch up, determined to find Gwen.
Elyan climbed another staircase and found Gwen being held captive in a room at the top of the Tower. She was being guarded by a sword that Morgana had enchanted to protect her by fighting to the death anyone who tried to rescue her. Elyan fought valiantly and eventually managed to outwit the sword by sending it sailing out the window, but was mortally wounded in the process.
Elyan's funeral at the Lake of Avalon.
Horrified, Gwen rushed to her fallen brother and gathered him in her arms. She told him that their father would be proud of him and Elyan returned the sentiment, dying seconds later.
His body was taken back to Camelot, where he was given a Viking funeral at the Lake of Avalon. The funeral was attended by the entire court (The Dark Tower).
Personality
Elyan comforts the Shrine Boy.
Elyan was a courageous, compassionate, adventurous man who followed his heart wherever it led him, though this sometimes led to him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was articulate and a natural leader, often acting as spokesman for his fellow Knights, and was counted among Arthur's most trusted warriors (The Castle of Fyrien, The Coming of Arthur, The Darkest Hour, His Father's Son).
Elyan was gentle, kindhearted, and caring. Though initially terrified by the spirit of the Shrine Boy, he was sorry when his yelling frightened the boy and comforted him with a hug. He was also the only Knight to stand up for Merlin when John Howden belittled his skills as a physician, and spent much of his time for caring for Gaius when they imprisoned together during the Second Fall of Camelot (A Herald of the New Age, Lamia, The Sword in the Stone).
Elyan was especially affectionate and demonstrative towards his sister, who he credited with raising him. He hugged her when they were reunited in the Castle of Fyrien, and later agreed to give up his life of traveling to come home and live with her. When Gwen was kidnapped and taken to the Dark Tower, Elyan blamed himself for not protecting her and gave his life to rescue her (The Castle of Fyrien, The Dark Tower).
Other facets of Elyan's personality include his cunning and loyalty. He was the only person in the city (apart from Gaius) to escape the Fall of Camelot, and when Arthur suspected that there was a traitor in the ranks, he dismissed Elyan as a suspect almost immediately. Furthermore, when a possessed Elyan attempted to kill Arthur, his peers were shocked by his actions and several attested that they couldn't imagine Elyan harming Arthur of his own volition, even taking into account Gwen's banishment (The Coming of Arthur, A Servant of Two Masters, A Herald of the New Age).
Relationships
Guinevere Pendragon
Gwen looks after Elyan.
Main article: Gwen and Elyan
Gwen and Elyan were siblings with a complex relationship. They were close growing up; according to Elyan, Gwen practically raised him, though she worried about his tendency to find trouble. In turn, Elyan was very protective of Gwen and couldn't bear the thought of her coming to harm (The Castle of Fyrien, The Dark Tower).
Their relationship became more distant after Elyan left home to travel. Gwen especially resented his failures to keep in contact and to return home after the death of their father, which left her with no way of knowing whether he was alive or dead. However, they mended their relationship when they were reunited in the Castle of Fyrien, after which Elyan chose to return home and take over their father's forge (The Castle of Fyrien).
Elyan was supportive of Gwen's relationship with Arthur, and was greatly disappointed in her when she was accused of cheating on him with Lancelot. However, Elyan was later equally upset by her banishment. He said nothing in her defense, but his behaviour became more irritable and the other Knights noted that he wasn't acting like his usual self (The Castle of Fyrien, Lancelot du Lac, A Herald of the New Age).
Gwen and Elyan were eventually reunited after the Second Fall of Camelot. Their reunion was not shown, but Elyan stood proudly alongside the rest of the court as Gwen was crowned Queen, indicating that they had patched things up (The Sword in the Stone).
When Morgana kidnapped Gwen and took her to the Dark Tower, Elyan blamed himself for not protecting her and ultimately gave his life to rescue her. His death devastated Gwen, and much of her uncharacteristic behaviour in the days that followed was attributed to her grief for him (The Dark Tower, A Lesson in Vengeance).
Tom
Tom and Elyan were father and son. Little is known about their relationship; only that Elyan chose not to keep in contact with him after leaving home. He also failed to return home when he heard of Tom's death, which became a point of contention between him and Gwen (The Castle of Fyrien).
However, though their relationship may have been strained, Elyan appeared to have truly loved his father. He stated that Tom had been a good father when he and Gwen visited his grave, and was pleased by the idea that Tom would be proud of him (The Dark Tower).
Arthur Pendragon
Elyan and Arthur in the Impenetrable Forest.
Arthur and Elyan were close friends, and eventually brothers-in-law. Elyan had a great deal of respect for Arthur. He was deeply grateful to him for risking his life to rescue him, though he was but a commoner at the time, and later repaid him by joining his quest to retake Camelot (The Castle of Fyrien, The Coming of Arthur).
As a Knight of Camelot, Elyan quickly became one of Arthur's most trusted warriors. He was supportive of Arthur's relationship with Gwen, and later sided with him when it appeared that Gwen had cheated on him with Lancelot (The Castle of Fyrien, Lancelot du Lac).
Elyan was also very perceptive when it came to Arthur's moods. He often took it upon himself to speak with Arthur when he brooded or isolated himself, and Arthur returned the favor when Elyan was upset by Gwen's kidnapping (The Darkest Hour, His Father's Son, The Dark Tower).
Arthur greatly valued Elyan's loyalty. When he suspected that there was a traitor in the ranks, he dismissed the idea that it could be Elyan almost immediately. As such, Arthur was shocked and dismayed when it appeared that Elyan was trying to kill him, and was deeply distressed by the possibility that he would have to execute him. He later risked his life to free Elyan from the spirit that was possessing him (A Servant of Two Masters, A Herald of the New Age).
Merlin
Elyan defends Merlin's skills to John Howden.
Merlin and Elyan were good friends. Merlin helped to rescue Elyan when he was taken to the Castle of Fyrien, and Elyan was one of the only Knights who didn't regularly tease or bully Merlin. He was also the only person to stand up for him when John Howden belittled his skills as a physician (The Castle of Fyrien, Lamia).
Though they were not especially close, Merlin was deeply concerned when Agravaine tried to pressure Arthur into executing Elyan after Elyan, possessed by a restless spirit, tried to kill him. Merlin risked his life to break Elyan out of jail, and later accompanied Arthur to the Druid Shrine to free Elyan of the spirit possessing him (A Herald of the New Age).
Merlin grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court. Merlin was especially upset because he had been warned that one of their group would not return, causing him to blame himself for Elyan's death (The Dark Tower).
Gwaine
Gwaine and Elyan during the Second Fall of Camelot.
Gwaine and Elyan were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Elyan found Gwaine's sense of humour annoying at times, but despite their occasional squabbles, they liked and respected one another and made and effective team (A Herald of the New Age, The Sword in the Stone, The Disir).
Gwaine and Elyan were imprisoned together during the Second Fall of Camelot. Gwaine was very concerned when Elyan was tortured nearly to the point of catatonia, and Elyan was similarly concerned when Gwaine was repeatedly forced to fight for Morgana's entertainment in exchange for food (The Sword in the Stone).
Gwaine grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Percival
Percival and Elyan
Percival and Elyan were close friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Like Gwaine, Percival could occasionally get on Elyan's nerves when he joined in on Gwaine's pranks, but despite their occasional differences, they got along well and faced many dangers together over the years.
When the Dorocha attacked Camelot and Percival had to leave his torch behind to rescue three children, Elyan risked his life to protect Percival by chasing the ghosts away with his own torch (The Darkest Hour).
When Percival, Merlin, and Arthur went on the run during the Second Fall of Camelot, Percival was delighted when they found Elyan in the Darkling Woods. Later, after Elyan was captured and held prisoner, Percival was one of the Knights who freed him from Camelot's dungeons (The Sword in the Stone).
Percival grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Leon
Elyan and Leon
Leon and Elyan were good friends and fellow Knights of the Round Table. Though there was little interaction between them, they shared many adventures over the years and liked and respected each other.
It is possible that Leon and Elyan knew each other prior to Elyan's becoming a Knight, as Elyan's mother once worked as a maid in Leon's household (The Coming of Arthur).
Leon grieved when Elyan died and attended his funeral along with the rest of the court (The Dark Tower).
Mordred
Mordred and Elyan
Mordred and Elyan were friends and fellow Knights of Camelot. Like the other Knights, Elyan treated Mordred like a younger brother and often acted as his mentor.
When Mordred was confused about Arthur's sadness on the anniversary of his coronation, Elyan explained that it was also the anniversary of Uther's death. They also sat next to each other at the Round Table (The Death Song of Uther Pendragon).
Elyan often joined the other Knights in teasing Mordred, and once played a prank on him by tricking him into riding his horse backwards, claiming that it was tradition for new Knights to do so. Later, he appeared worried when Mordred was mortally wounded by the Disir (The Disir).
Abilities
Sir Elyan, Knight of Camelot
Elyan was a skilled swordsman. He easily defeated two of Cenred's men, held his own against an army of immortal soldiers despite sustaining a wound to his arm, and went on become not only a Knight of Camelot, but one of Arthur's most trusted warriors (The Castle of Fyrien, The Coming of Arthur).
Despite his skill, however, Elyan was unable to best Arthur in a duel. When he attacked Arthur while possessed by the spirit of the Shrine Boy, Arthur not only held his own, but managed to defeat Elyan. Furthermore, he was able to do so without injuring Elyan, and despite the fact that Elyan while fighting to kill (A Herald of the New Age).
Elyan's physical prowess was supplemented by his intelligence and cunning. He was the first to figure out how to get past the booby traps in the Dark Tower, and later outwitted Morgana's enchanted sword (The Dark Tower).
In addition to combat, Elyan was a skilled blacksmith. When he was kidnapped by Cenred, he stated that he had been taken from his forge, implying that he used his blacksmithing skills to finance his travels. Elyan later reopened his father's forge and worked there until he became a Knight of Camelot (The Castle of Fyrien).
Appearances
- Series 3
- The Castle of Fyrien
- The Coming of Arthur
- Series 4
- The Darkest Hour
- The Wicked Day
- Aithusa
- His Father's Son
- A Servant of Two Masters
- Lamia
- Lancelot Du Lac
- A Herald of the New Age
- The Hunter's Heart
- The Sword in the Stone
- Series 5
- Arthur's Bane
- The Death Song of Uther Pendragon
- Another's Sorrow
- The Disir
- The Dark Tower
- A Lesson in Vengeance (Mentioned only)
- The Hollow Queen (Mentioned only)
- With All My Heart (Mentioned only)
In the Legends
Sir Elyan the White (also known as Helyan le Blanc) was a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend. His father, Bors the Younger, was also a Knight of the Round Table, and his mother, Claire, was the daughter of King Brandegoris. Claire's mother was the daughter of the Eastern Roman Emperor, making Claire the half-sister of (and Elyan nephew to) Sir Sagramore.
In the Vulgate Cycle, Elyan was born after Claire used a magic ring to trick Bors into sleeping with her; this is sometimes said to be the only time that Bors broke his vow of chastity. Bors introduced Elyan to Arthur's court when he was fifteen. He quickly became an excellent knight and an accepted member of the Round Table, and eventually became Emperor of Constantinople.
In the Post-Vulgate Cycle, Elyan was Lancelot's cousin and took the vacant seat at the Round Table left after Dragan was killed by Tristan. He helped Lancelot rescue Guinevere after their affair was exposed, and joined him in exile during their war with Arthur.
Gallery
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To view the Elyan gallery, click here.
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See Also
External Links
| Kingdom of Camelot |
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| Queen: Guinevere Pendragon Court Physician: Gaius Keeper of the Royal Library: Geoffrey of Monmouth Knights: Sir Leon • Sir Percival • Sir Brennis • Sir Cador • Sir Geraint Other Allies: Merlin • Annis • Odin • Rodor • Mithian • Godwyn • Bayard • Elena • Alined • The Diamair • Vivian • Olaf Former Allies: Morgana Pendragon † • Nimueh † • Cedric † ? • Cornelius Sigan † • Tristan de Bois † • Lady Catrina † • Edwin Muirden † • Uther Pendragon † • Agravaine de Bois †• Sefa• Mordred † |
| Series 4 Enemies |
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| The Darkest Hour: Morgana † • Morgause † • Dorocha • Cailleach • Agravaine † • Wilddeoren • Wyverns The Wicked Day: Odin • Morgana † • Agravaine † • The Gleeman † • Geldred • Dragoon the Great (indirect) Aithusa: Julius Borden † His Father's Son: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Annis • Caerleon † • Derian A Servant of Two Masters: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Fomorroh † • Merlin (indirect) The Secret Sharer: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Alator † • Orn † Lamia: Lamia † • Agravaine † Lancelot du Lac: Morgana † • Lancelot (Shade) † • Agravaine † • Dochraid A Herald of the New Age: Shrine Boy † • Elyan † (indirect) • Agravaine † The Hunter's Heart: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Helios † • Southrons The Sword in the Stone: Morgana † • Agravaine † • Helios † • Southrons • Nathair |