A daughter of Lord Costayne of the Three Towers, born in 28 AC and wed in her girlhood to Ser Theo Bolling, who gave her three living sons before he was arrested by Maegor's Kingsguard in 47 AC on a charge of conspiring with Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon to put her son Prince Jaehaerys on the throne. Ser Theo was beheaded the same day, and seven days later Elinor was summoned to King's Landing to be married to King Maegor with her three small children held at the altar to ensure her vows came out right — she was the youngest of the three so-called Black Brides he wed in one night for the breeding of an heir, alongside Lady Jeyne Westerling and his own niece Princess Rhaena. They said afterwards that she had scratched the king's back to bloody ribbons on their wedding night, and her sons were taken from her by morning: one to be fostered at the Eyrie, one at Highgarden, the youngest given to a wet-nurse. When in 48 AC she came pregnant of the king Queen Tyanna of the Tower swore she would bring the same labour-fruit as her sister-queens before her, and the prophecy held — the babe was born without eyes and with small wings. That same year King Maegor was found dead upon the Iron Throne with his wrists opened, whether by his own hand or by Elinor's or by the throne itself the chroniclers cannot say, and she was queen at his death and one of only two of his wives to have outlived him.
She left King's Landing under King Jaehaerys I in the robes of a penitent. She visited her two elder sons at the Eyrie and Highgarden before retiring to her father's seat with her youngest, and in 51 AC was named one of the Seven Speakers by King Jaehaerys, sent to spread the new Doctrine of Exceptionalism through the Reach in queen's raiment that grew shabbier with every league. She gave up her noble titles at the last and ended her days at the great Motherhouse of Lannisport as Mother Elinor, a black bride no more.