Aspen Leger is a main character and love interest in The Selection, The Elite and The One. He was previously America Singer's secret boyfriend. After America was picked for the Selection, he was drafted into the army where he earned top honors in his class, and was then promoted to be a member of the Royal Guard at the palace. In The Heir, he becomes a General. He is married to Lucy.
Biography
Aspen spent his childhood with America's older brother, Kota. She said they always played rough, so she stayed away. When Kota moved into his own apartment in Carolina, Aspen helped unload his stuff with America. Their eyes met when they unloaded a box, and they fell in love. America later said that they kept purposely touching each other, and then saying quiet sorry's to each other. On America's birthday, he cornered her and gave her a card saying to meet him in their tree house at midnight. This was past Illéa's curfew, so they had to sneak around. At midnight, she saw him climbing up into the tree house and she went in after him. While in there, they both started talking about how they felt about each other and they were both relieved and happy that they felt the same way.
For the next two years, they started having secret meetings in the tree house.
The Selection
Aspen told America he couldn't bear it if she didn't try out for the Selection and that it would haunt him forever. She grudgingly accepted and entered the competition. When America took her selection form to the provincial office, she heard from his mother, Lena, that Aspen was saving up to marry someone. America was so excited and happy about it that she gave a big smile to the camera when getting her photo taken.
That night when they were meeting, America set a huge dinner out for Aspen. Since he was a Six, they didn't get as much as Fives did. He then said that everything was wrong, that he was supposed to be the one providing for her, not the other way around. He then added that they couldn't see each other anymore, because he couldn't provide for her. She protested, but Aspen left a heartbroken America soon after. He appeared again when America was being sent off to the palace, but she tried to ignore him, convincing herself that she was "done with his games."
Once America was at the palace, as one of the Selected, Aspen saw her there. He was chosen to be a guard at the palace. Aspen and America claimed to Prince Maxon that they were just friends that knew each other.
The Elite
Aspen and America began a secret relationship at the castle, even though it was against the rules for America to do so, as she was in the Selection. America was not sure who to choose, him or Maxon. Though, at the end of The Elite, she believed that she was going to be kicked out of the competition.
When Marlee is caned, Aspen thinks he has proved the thought that Maxon was a cruel person,but little did he know that Maxon was doing it only because the other option would be death.This is one of the ways Aspen's hatred for Maxon grew.
The One
Somewhere between the middle to end of the book, he catches America and Maxon making out on his bed with only their underwear on. He is shocked by this, but doesn't say anything. When America tries to explain to Aspen what had happened, Maxon catches them together. Maxon sends Aspen away harshly, and decides that America is no longer his choice for his bride, but when the rebel attack occurs, he saves America and shows that he never stopped having feelings for her.
At some point during The One, Aspen fell in love with Lucy, and Lucy fell in love with him. Aspen attempted to tell America, but she thought he was telling her he loved her So she wouldn't let him finish several times telling her that in reality he loved Lucy. In the end of the book, Aspen and Lucy kiss in front of America, so she finally realizes and happily accepts their relationship.
The Heir
Aspen becomes a general somewhere in between The One and this book,and seems to have a pretty good relationship with Eadlyn Schreave, who can depend on him to do many things for her. General Leger, as everyone calls him, is friendly with King Maxon Schreave, and has respected him ever since The One. Eadlyn also finds out that he and Lucy were struggling to have a baby even after many failed attempts.
The Crown
Aspen becomes very reliable to Eadlyn and gives her advice during and after running her first board meeting. He also defends her against harsh words in other failed tries to have a nice conversation,and sometimes updates her on important events.
Features
America claimed that Aspen was "the most attractive guy in town." Not too tall and not too thin, Aspen has black hair, green eyes, and a mysterious smile. Some of the Selected and maids think fondly of him for his looks and for being a gentleman. He could've been claimed as the heartthrob for the Six girls in Carolina. Kriss Ambers, one of the six Elites, thought Aspen was funny. Celeste Newsome, another Elite, also stated that Aspen was attractive.
In The Heir, Eadlyn stated that his looks improve as he ages, because she saw a marriage photo of Aspen and Lucy and he hasn't changed much since then.
Relationships
America was Aspen’s first love. The two were dating in secret for two years until America was Selected. Just before that, Aspen dumps her, because he feels he cannot provide to her as a Six. He was then drafted and became a soldier in the palace. It was forbidden for a Selected to have a relationship with anyone other than the prince, so that is why during The Selection, The Elite and most parts of The One, Aspen is America's "Secret Love". Towards the end of The One he falls in love with Lucy, America’s maid, and she also falls in love with him.
America Singer
Her first love was Aspen and after flirting for some time, they began to meet in secret. They started dating after America's 15th birthday. Aspen worked in her party where he gave her a card and told her to meet him after curfew in their tree house. America, being a caste higher, was prepared to marry down, but soon before the Selection, he broke things up with her. He did convince her to enter the Selection, and much to his dismay, she was chosen. At the palace, Aspen had been chosen as a guard. He told America he loved her, and he, himself, would wait forever for her. They began to meet privately and continued so throughout the Selection. She wanted to break things off, however, when she realized she was only using him as a safety blanket. In America's wedding, Aspen walked America down the aisle and gave her to Maxon, as the two men became good friends.
Lucy
America sees Aspen, toward the end of The One, embrace and kiss her maid and she is happy for them. Aspen and Lucy had planned to get married not too long after Maxon and America did, but when her dad got sick, everything was put on hold. He eventually recovered, but even after that Aspen was afraid that Lucy would change her mind, like America had. However, they were so right for each other and they finally did get married, to America's utmost happiness. Aspen felt a bit overwhelmed to be married, so Maxon proposed that him and Lucy should find their own home outside of the palace, a gift from the royal couple, something that Aspen happily accepts.
In The Heir, he and Lucy struggle to have children, but with years of treatments, several miscarriages, and three failed adoptions, they decide to let it go and be a childless couple, but Lucy still couldn't believe she'd never be a mother and that makes her sad
Quotes
- “Underneath whatever uniform they put on me, I’m still a kid from Carolina, and that’s not going away.” — Aspen Leger to Lucy's father
- “America Singer, one day you will fall asleep in my arms every night. And you'll wake up to my kisses every morning.” — Aspen Leger to America Singer
- "There weren't words wide enough to hold what I felt for her." — Aspen Leger about America Singer
- "I felt it. Those threads that bound us together were still there. Perhaps they had frayed from the strain of the Selection, but they were holding." — Aspen Leger
- “Sometimes I feel like Maxon and I are in our own version of the Selection. It’s just him and me, and one of us will get you in the end; and I can’t decide who’s worse off. Maxon doesn’t exactly know we’re competing, so he might not be able to try as hard. But then, I have to hide, so it’s not like I can give you everything he can. It’s not really a fair fight either way.” — Aspen Leger to America Singer
- “You have to. You have to be safe, for so many people. And . . . I need you to do something for me.” — Aspen Leger to America Singer
- “I do have a tendency for heroics, don’t I?” — Aspen Leger
- “You’ll always have a piece of my heart, Mer, but I’m not in love with you anymore. I think sometimes that you still need me or want me, but I don’t know if that’s right. You deserve better than me being with you because I feel obligated.” — Aspen Leger to America Singer
- “Now that you’re here, everything’s right.” — Aspen Leger to Lucy
- "Sometimes I feel like we're a knot. Too tangled to be taken apart." — Aspen to America
- "I love you America Singer. It's just the way it is. The sky is blue, the sun is bright and Aspen endlessly loves America." — Aspen to America
- "I think a part of me always will (love America). I can’t shake the urge to fight for her, to rescue her. I don’t know if it’s romantic love, but I know it’s there. And I know that when the prince marries her, which I’m sure he will now, I won’t take it well. Because it’s hard to watch something you wanted disappear. [...] But I also know that if she wanted to be with me again, I’d spend every day looking back at this moment and wondering ‘what if?’ about you. It took years for her to have that effect on me. It took weeks for you." — Aspen to Lucy
- "That’s the only kind of love I’ve ever understood. When you love someone, you sacrifice. And I refused to let anyone do it for me. [...] I wanted to be the hero. America and I would argue all the time about it. She was ready to go down a caste for me, but I couldn’t let her. I wanted to do all the giving, all the providing, all the protecting. To find that I’ve somehow done that by doing nothing at all. [...] And you probably have no idea you’ve done the same thing for me. [...] Every day you say something or do something that challenges me, changes me. You think you walk, Lucy? I think you fly. You see yourself in a uniform? I see you in a cape. You’re a hero, of the quietest but most genuine nature. That’s why you can’t give up. Heroes don’t give up. [...] You’ve made me better. And I want to be better for you. I want to be better with you." — Aspen to Lucy
- "Everything I am is yours. And I promise you: tomorrow morning, come hell or high water, I will make this right." — Aspen to Lucy
- “I love you, Lucy. You take care of me, I take care of you?” — Aspen to Lucy
Trivia
- Aspen's birthday is July 19, according to Kiera Cass. His star sign is Cancer.
- Being born in the month of July, his birthstone is Ruby.
- Aspen is the eldest in his family, with six siblings: Beckner, Kamber, Celia, Reed, Jemmy, and Ivy.
- There is a novella from Aspen's point of view called The Guard.
- A bonus scene, narrating his relationship with Lucy in her point of view, is included in the Barnes & Noble edition of The One, sold only in USA. It can also be read here.
- Aspen and his family were neighbors with America and her family.
- Prior to the caste system, the Leger family name was Huntington.
- Kiera Cass said that "originally, Clarkson was supposed to die. Maxon would die, too. Amberly would live and she would adopt America because she always wanted a daughter. America would eventually choose Aspen and they would become king and queen, which I was fine with because I think Aspen would be great leader, I thought he would've done a great job. But I realized that Maxon was the harder choice for America. In order for Maxon to even have a chance, he had to be alive. I know it's a lot to take in, but it happens the way it happens, on paper."
- He walked America down the aisle at her wedding.
- Kiera Cass said in her Journal Inspiration week day 2 that Zac Efron reminds her of Aspen, but there are some moments that Zac reminds her of Maxon.
- He taught Ahren and Kaden how to use a saber.
- While Carter had a broken leg he taught Kile how to ride a bike.
Gallery
