Table of Contents

Unmasking the Frenzy: Who is the Girl in the Frenzied Flame Ending of Elden Ring?

The Frenzied Flame ending in Elden Ring is undoubtedly one of the most impactful and controversial conclusions to FromSoftware’s epic. At its climax, after the player has embraced the Three Fingers and become the Lord of Frenzied Flame, a familiar figure appears: Melina. However, she is not the companion who guided you across the Lands Between. She’s fueled by righteous fury and burning with a singular purpose: to deliver Destined Death to the Tarnished who has embraced chaos. Therefore, the girl in the Frenzied Flame ending is indeed Melina, but a Melina transformed by betrayal and driven by vengeance.

Melina: More Than Just a Maiden

Throughout the majority of the game, Melina acts as the player’s Finger Maiden, guiding them towards the Erdtree and the path of becoming Elden Lord. She offers level-ups, provides vital lore, and serves as a constant presence. We know from her dialogue that she was “born at the foot of the Erdtree,” and that her mother resides within it, heavily implying that Queen Marika is indeed her mother, making her a demi-god.

Her most notable physical feature is her closed left eye, a feature she shares with Ranni the Witch, albeit with each having a different eye concealed. This is theorized by some to be the physical manifestation of a lost Great Rune, with Melina’s being associated with a claw mark. In fact, this theory posits that, when a demigod is stripped of their Great Rune, they lose a part of their soul, manifesting as a wounded or closed eye, marked with what took it from them.

The Betrayal and its Consequences

The turning point comes when the player chooses to seek the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers beneath Leyndell. By embracing the Frenzied Flame, the Tarnished essentially rejects the Greater Will’s order and chooses to burn the world in chaotic fire. This act is seen by Melina as a profound betrayal. She explicitly states that the player is “no longer fit” to be guided. If you inherit the Frenzied Flame before Melina burns herself at the Forge of the Giants, she will abandon you entirely.

However, even if you let her burn the Erdtree and only afterwards embrace the Flame, she will appear at the end. This moment is what solidifies her role in the Frenzied Flame ending. She appears as a spectral figure, her closed eye now open, revealing a dusky, dark blue eye that some players associate with the Gloam-Eyed Queen. This transformation signifies a shift in her purpose. No longer a guide, she is now a hunter, a bringer of death sworn to avenge the world consumed by the Frenzied Flame. Her final words are a chilling promise of future vengeance. This chilling end suggests that Melina, one way or another, is far from done influencing the fate of the Lands Between.

The Gloam-Eyed Queen Connection

The opening of Melina’s eye and the revealed color raise questions about her true identity. One popular theory connects her to the Gloam-Eyed Queen, a powerful figure from the Lands Between’s past who commanded the Godslayer’s Greatsword, a weapon imbued with the power of Destined Death. The Gloam-Eyed Queen was defeated by Maliketh the Black Blade, who sealed away Destined Death.

The connection stems from the eye color revealed during the Frenzied Flame ending and Melina’s stated intention to deliver Destined Death. Some speculate that Melina is either the Gloam-Eyed Queen reborn or a fragment of her essence. This connection is not explicitly confirmed in the game, but the evidence is compelling enough to fuel ongoing speculation and debate within the community. This also opens the door to the theory that perhaps Melina was not truly “born” at the foot of the Erdtree as she claims. She might have been reborn there, as a fragment of the Gloam-Eyed Queen.

Why Does She Want to Kill You?

Simply put, the Tarnished, as the Lord of Frenzied Flame, represents the ultimate destructive force. The Frenzied Flame seeks to undo all things, to bring about a return to a primordial state of chaos. Melina, who has dedicated herself to preserving the Golden Order, views this as an unacceptable outcome. Her desire for vengeance is not simply personal. It’s a reaction to the Tarnished’s choice to embrace a force that threatens the entire world. It’s about saving the world, even if it means sacrificing the person she once aided.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Melina evil in the Frenzied Flame ending? Melina is not inherently evil. She is driven by a sense of duty and a desire to protect the world from the destructive power of the Frenzied Flame. Her actions are born from a righteous anger and a commitment to her own values. Whether that makes her an antagonist depends on one’s perspective.
Can you prevent Melina from wanting to kill you? No, if you embrace the Frenzied Flame and trigger the ending, Melina’s vow of vengeance is unavoidable. The only way to avoid it is to pursue a different ending. There is one exception though: if you use Miquella’s Needle to rid yourself of the Frenzied Flame, then you have a chance to get one of the other endings instead.
Does removing the Frenzied Flame bring back Melina? If you accept the Frenzied Flame before burning the Erdtree, do not quell it, and get its ending, she will appear in short cutscene, promising to kill you. If you manage to rid yourself of the flame, it is suggested you can avoid her vengeance.
What is the significance of Melina’s open eye? The open eye, revealing a dusky blue color, symbolizes a shift in her character and purpose. It potentially connects her to the Gloam-Eyed Queen and the power of Destined Death, signifying her transformation from a guide to an avenger.
Is Melina the daughter of Radagon or Godfrey? Melina’s parentage is tied explicitly to Queen Marika. The game does not specify whether Radagon or Godfrey is her father, leaving her origins shrouded in mystery.
Are Melina and Ranni the same person? No, Melina and Ranni are distinct characters with different motivations and goals. While they share the similarity of a closed eye, their stories and roles in the narrative are separate. However, they both possess considerable knowledge of the inner workings of the Lands Between.
What is Melina’s connection to the Erdtree? Melina states that she was born at the foot of the Erdtree and that her mother is within it, suggesting a deep connection to the Erdtree’s lifecycle and Queen Marika’s role as its vessel.
What happens to Melina if you burn the Erdtree yourself? If you choose to burn the Erdtree yourself, Melina will still offer to sacrifice herself. However, because you did not rely on her to burn the Erdtree in the first place, she never appears in the final cutscene to promise vengeance on the Tarnished.
Is the Frenzied Flame the “bad” ending? Whether it’s the “bad” ending is subjective. It’s certainly the most destructive, resulting in the complete annihilation of the Lands Between. However, some players may view it as a necessary reset, a way to break free from the cycle of the Golden Order.
What is the purpose of Destined Death? Destined Death is the power to permanently kill gods and demigods. It was sealed away by Maliketh but is wielded by weapons like the Godslayer’s Greatsword. If Melina seeks to deliver Destined Death, it implies she intends to permanently destroy the Tarnished, now the Lord of Frenzied Flame.
Why does Melina call the Tarnished “no longer fit?” She sees the Tarnished’s embrace of the Frenzied Flame as a betrayal of their original purpose – to become Elden Lord and restore order. The Frenzied Flame seeks to destroy all order, making the Tarnished unfit to fulfill their initial destiny.
Does Melina’s dialogue change if you have the Frenzied Flame? Yes, her dialogue becomes colder and more distant. She expresses disappointment and disapproval, foreshadowing her eventual vow of vengeance.
Is Melina a Finger Maiden? Melina is not technically a Finger Maiden, but will act as such for the Tarnished to aid them on their journey.
Is the tattoo on Melina’s eye the frenzied flame symbol? Melina’s tattoo is the frenzied flame symbol. They are different characters with different names, but in this game nothing is as it seems, multiple times characters have tricked us or pretended to be something they are not.
Does Ranni love the tarnished? In the Age of the Stars ending, Ranni refers to the Tarnished as her “lord” and her “dear consort”, showing that she has not just acknowledged them as being Elden Lord, but also fully acknowledged their own spouse by her side.

Continuing the Discussion

The ambiguity surrounding Melina’s true identity and motivations is a testament to the depth and complexity of Elden Ring’s narrative. She remains one of the most fascinating and enigmatic characters in the game. Understanding her role in the Frenzied Flame ending requires piecing together fragments of lore and considering the many different theories that surround her.

If you’re interested in learning more about game narratives and the art of storytelling in video games, visit the Games Learning Society website: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The Games Learning Society explores how games can be used as tools for learning and understanding complex subjects. Their research contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between games and education.

Who is the girl in the Frenzied Flame ending?