Princess of Llyr: Elionwy (The Black Cauldron)

Princess of Llyr: Elionwy (The Black Cauldron)

Name meaning: The name Eilonwy is in fact not a historical Welsh name. Lloyd Alexander invented it himself, based on elements borrowed from actual Welsh names."Eilonwy" is most likely based on period names such as "Eilfyw" (m), "Eiludd" (m), etc. and "Euronwy" (f), "Goronwy" (m), "Llifonwy" (m), "Tegonwy" (m). Alexander may have used these names as his starting-point in inventing "Eilonwy". As the above examples show, the ending "-onwy" appears in both masculine and feminine names, so the name "Eilonwy" could be either masculine or feminine.
Eilonwy, of the Royal House of Llyr, comes from auspicious stock—the men in her family are warriors, the women enchantresses (I am of the blood of Llyr Half-Speech, the Sea King.”) As such, she wears a silver crescent-moon, her family’s crest. She also has a pendant called a bauble, a little gold sphere which can cast light and float. She is dressed peasant-style, with strawberry-blonde hair. She is stubborn, sarcastic, and smart, and reminds me of Hermione Granger. She has a hot temper, and is a fighter. She first meets Taran when she tunnels under his cell by the light of her bauble, moving a stone she knew was loose, having explored the property underground. This scene, I believe, shows the dynamic of their relationship, immediately established.
Eilonwy: I'm Princess Eilonwy. Are you a lord, or a warrior?
Taran: Uh, no. Uh...I-I-I'm an assistant pig keeper.

Taran: What does a girl know about swords, anyway?
Eilonwy: "Girl"? "Girl"? If it wasn't for this *girl*, you would still be in the Horned King's dungeon.

Eilonwy: Aren't you charming?
Gurgi: And pungent, too.