A figure in Arthurian legend, Elaine was the figure of unrequited love later solemnized in Alfred Tennyson's poem The Lady of Shalott
Also referred to varyingly as Elaine the White and Elaine the Fair, she is the daughter of Bernard of Astolat.
Legend
ed: note that as with most legends there are subtle differences as told by different authors in different generations, what follows is the general story, though details may vary in other tellings
Her story beings in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, when her father Bernard organizes a jousting tournament which is attended by King Arthur and his knights. While Lancelot was not originally planning to attend, he was convinced otherwise and ended up visiting Bernard and his two sons prior to the tournament.
While Lancelot was in her family's household, Elaine became enamoured with him and begged him to wear her token at the coming tournament. Explaining that Guinevere would be at the tournament, he conceded to wear the token but that he would have to fight in disguise so as not to be recognised. He then asks Bernard if he can leave his recognizable shield with him, and borrow a more anonymous looking one. Bernard agrees and lends him the plain-white shield of Torre, Elaine's brother.
Lancelot goes on to win the jousting tournament still in disguise, though he is so badly injured he has to be carried off the field to the hermit Baudwin's cave. Elaine then urges her father to let her bring the wounded Lancelot to her chambers, where she nurses him. When Lancelot is well, he makes ready to leave, and offers to pay Elaine for her services; insulted, Elaine brings him down his shield she had been guarding, and a wary Lancelot leaves the castle, aware of her feelings for him.
Eleven days later, Elaine dies of heartbreak. As per her instructions, her body is placed in a small boat, clutching a lily in one hand, and her final letter in the other. She then floats down the river to Camelot where she is discovered by King Arthur's court. They summon Lancelot and read him the contents of the letter, after which he explains what had happened.
Elaine in Art
Elaine has captured the minds of many artists, becoming one of the most recognizable tertiary characters from the Arthurian legends. A brief list of those who have captured her in art would include Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Holman Hunt, John William Waterhouse, Howard Pyle, Elizabeth Siddal, and H.J. Ford
Modern Culture
Celtic singer Heather Dale wrote the song Lily Maid, which is the supposed contents of her 'suicide note' set into a ballad
Some have theorized that Tolkien's character of Éowyn in his compilation of The Lord of the Rings, is based around the archetype created by Elaine