Lanfear
Encyclopedia
Lanfear (originally known as Mierin Eronaile) is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time
fantasy
series by Robert Jordan
. She is one of the Forsaken
.
for a time but that relationship ended a few years prior to the drilling of the Bore. Mierin saw her relationship with Lews Therin as a way to power. When Lews Therin broke off the relationship, Mierin became greatly upset and started to pursue him. About 50 years prior to the War of the Shadow Lews Therin married Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar. This was the breaking point for Mierin, who tried to disrupt the wedding and in the following years made several blatant public attempts and blamed Ilyena for her "losing" Lews Therin.
Mierin, together with another Aes Sedai named Beidomon, was responsible for creating the Bore into the Dark One's
prison. This resulted in the destruction of the Sharom and most parts of Collam Daan; Mierin was one of the few survivors. Despite being responsible for drilling the Bore, she was far from the first to swear loyalty to the Dark One. What separates her from her fellow Forsaken is that she chose her own name, Lanfear, which means "Daughter of the Night" in the Old Tongue, on her own, unlike others who were given their names by the ones they betrayed. She claimed Tel'aran'rhiod
as her domain and used it in many ways during the War of the Shadow, such as to strike fear in enemy commanders, to drive people insane, to cause suicides and also for outright assassinations. She was never a field commander but she served as governor, at least once, over conquered territories. People that lived in these territories often feared sleeping and the suicide rate was high.
She was one of the Forsaken caught by surprise by Lews Therin Telamon and The Hundred Companions' attack on Shayol Ghul
. As a result she was sealed deep within in a timeless, dreamless sleep, preventing her from being affected by the movement of time, unlike Aginor
and Balthamel
.
. She took on the disguise of Selene using Illusion, a weave woven from saidar. She tried to push Rand al'Thor
to seize power, mainly by seizing the Horn of Valere
. She also used her manipulations on main characters such as Mat Cauthon
, with a little success. After the Dragon Reborn followed his own path anyway, Selene left but she continued to spy on him through the World of Dreams. Lanfear assumed several other disguises throughout the series, including a novice, Else; and an obese peddler, Keille. She frequently visited Rand al'Thor privately in her true form and tried to convince him to rule the world beside her, using the two great sa'angreal, the Choedan Kal to dominate the world. She proclaimed her love for him many times, but he scorned her with his memories of her from the Age of Legends.
Behind the scenes Lanfear attempted to elicit the help of other Forsaken, namely Graendal
, Rahvin
and Sammael
to help her overwhelm the Dragon Reborn and convert him to the Shadow. Her tenuous plan had a questionable outcome but as it was reaching some sort of fruition, a Darkfriend informed her that Rand al'Thor had slept with Aviendha
, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear. This news caused Lanfear to go into a murderous rage, and after skinning the Darkfriend alive with the One Power
, she encountered Rand al'Thor and his party at the docks in Cairhien. Rand al'Thor barely stopped her from killing Egwene al'Vere
and Aviendha instantly, but they were both left severely injured. Lanfear killed many people at the Docks by channeling waves of fire. She also severely injured Lan Mandragoran
and Moiraine Damodred
, the latter who had seen a vision of her battle with Lanfear. Lanfear and Rand al'Thor eventually found themselves in a deadly duel, with Lanfear finally deciding to kill him after he swore he would never love a woman sworn to the Shadow. In the course of the battle, Lanfear declared, "if you are not mine you are dead," and overwhelmed Rand despite his efforts. Lanfear's near victory was due to Rand's inability to harm a woman, an age-dark ivory angreal bracelet she held, and her own rage, which caused her to lash out directly at Rand. On the brink of death, Rand was saved when Moiraine tackled Lanfear and physically pushed them both into a ter'angreal which cut them off from the world.
and memories she has been shown to have, make it extremely likely that she is the reincarnation of Lanfear, the most powerful of the female Forsaken
, and the only one to have been dead at the time. This is buttressed by the fact that Cyndane means "Last Chance" in the Old Tongue
.
As a result of her imprisonment by the Eelfinn Cyndane's strength in the One Power
is less than Lanfear's was (though still greater than Graendal's, a woman of great strength). However, her desire to prevent her former lover Lews Therin Telamon
(in his current incarnation as Rand
) from ever being happy with another woman has transferred intact. She is currently being controlled by Moridin by means of a mindtrap, which may be preventing her from acting on her previous notions of confronting the Dark One and the other Forsaken by acting in concert with al'Thor.
In Chapter 35 of Winter's Heart, there are instances of Cyndane's perspective where it states she was more powerful before her encounter with the Aelfinn and Eelfinn, whom Lanfear certainly met if she survived fighting Moiraine through the twisted red door ter'angreal, and mentions her intent to challenge both the Dark One and the Creator at Rand's side, which Lanfear proposed to him.
She appeared at the cleansing of saidin where she swore to kill Rand al'Thor yet again. She narrowly escaped the defenses mounted to protect him, and ended up dueling Alivia, an ex-Seanchan
of great power and nearly 400 years of training as a damane
. Despite the fact that she injured Alivia, she was repelled from the Cleansing, and saidin was successfully cleansed by the Dragon Reborn. In all Forsaken meetings, she flanks Moridin along with Moghedien
. Her hatred for Rand al'Thor is greater than ever.
, she is briefly seen by Rand in his dreams. She is screaming and calling for help, but when he tries to help her she vanishes. Rand recognizes her first as Mierin, then as Lanfear.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
. She is one of the Forsaken
Forsaken (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken are the most powerful and favored servants of the Dark One. They were formerly Aes Sedai, but became corrupted by the desire for power and immortality...
.
Age of Legends
Mierin Eronaile was a researcher in Collam Daan, V'saine; however she wasn't prominent enough to gain a third name. It is certain that she had a romance with Lews TherinLews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin Telamon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He was the Dragon of the Age of Legends. He is the most powerful, most hated, and most feared man in history, for his part in the Breaking of the World and killing his loved ones, earning him the...
for a time but that relationship ended a few years prior to the drilling of the Bore. Mierin saw her relationship with Lews Therin as a way to power. When Lews Therin broke off the relationship, Mierin became greatly upset and started to pursue him. About 50 years prior to the War of the Shadow Lews Therin married Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar. This was the breaking point for Mierin, who tried to disrupt the wedding and in the following years made several blatant public attempts and blamed Ilyena for her "losing" Lews Therin.
Mierin, together with another Aes Sedai named Beidomon, was responsible for creating the Bore into the Dark One's
Dark One
The Dark One is a fictional character in the The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. It is the main antagonist; bound to its prison at the moment of Creation and partially freed during the Age of Legends , it is the primary source of evil in the series.-Character:In The Wheel of Time books,...
prison. This resulted in the destruction of the Sharom and most parts of Collam Daan; Mierin was one of the few survivors. Despite being responsible for drilling the Bore, she was far from the first to swear loyalty to the Dark One. What separates her from her fellow Forsaken is that she chose her own name, Lanfear, which means "Daughter of the Night" in the Old Tongue, on her own, unlike others who were given their names by the ones they betrayed. She claimed Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod or the World of Dreams is a fictional reality where the reality is mutable, mentioned in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The word itself is from the in-universe language known as the Old Tongue, and literally means 'the unseen world'...
as her domain and used it in many ways during the War of the Shadow, such as to strike fear in enemy commanders, to drive people insane, to cause suicides and also for outright assassinations. She was never a field commander but she served as governor, at least once, over conquered territories. People that lived in these territories often feared sleeping and the suicide rate was high.
She was one of the Forsaken caught by surprise by Lews Therin Telamon and The Hundred Companions' attack on Shayol Ghul
Shayol Ghul
In the Wheel of Time fantasy novel series, Shayol Ghul is a mountain beyond the Great Blight in the north of the known world. It is the place in the physical world to which the Dark One's prison seems closest...
. As a result she was sealed deep within in a timeless, dreamless sleep, preventing her from being affected by the movement of time, unlike Aginor
Aginor
Aginor , originally known as Ishar Marrad Chuain, is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
and Balthamel
Balthamel
Balthamel is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
.
Third Age
Lanfear was released somewhat later than some of her peers as the seals on the Bore weakened. Naturally her first priority was to trace the Dragon Reborn, Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
. She took on the disguise of Selene using Illusion, a weave woven from saidar. She tried to push Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
to seize power, mainly by seizing the Horn of Valere
Horn of Valere
The Horn of Valere is a fictional object in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It is a horn that is able to call the heroes that are linked to it back from the grave. Sounding the Horn bonds the horn to its sounder. Until that person's death, only he can use the Horn of Valere to...
. She also used her manipulations on main characters such as Mat Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
, with a little success. After the Dragon Reborn followed his own path anyway, Selene left but she continued to spy on him through the World of Dreams. Lanfear assumed several other disguises throughout the series, including a novice, Else; and an obese peddler, Keille. She frequently visited Rand al'Thor privately in her true form and tried to convince him to rule the world beside her, using the two great sa'angreal, the Choedan Kal to dominate the world. She proclaimed her love for him many times, but he scorned her with his memories of her from the Age of Legends.
Behind the scenes Lanfear attempted to elicit the help of other Forsaken, namely Graendal
Graendal
Graendal is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.-Age of Legends:...
, Rahvin
Rahvin
Rahvin is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
and Sammael
Sammael
Sammael is one of the primary antagonists of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origins:...
to help her overwhelm the Dragon Reborn and convert him to the Shadow. Her tenuous plan had a questionable outcome but as it was reaching some sort of fruition, a Darkfriend informed her that Rand al'Thor had slept with Aviendha
Aviendha
Aviendha of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:...
, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear. This news caused Lanfear to go into a murderous rage, and after skinning the Darkfriend alive with the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
, she encountered Rand al'Thor and his party at the docks in Cairhien. Rand al'Thor barely stopped her from killing Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
and Aviendha instantly, but they were both left severely injured. Lanfear killed many people at the Docks by channeling waves of fire. She also severely injured Lan Mandragoran
Lan Mandragoran
Al'Lan Mandragoran is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lan is very similar in characterization to Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien...
and Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
, the latter who had seen a vision of her battle with Lanfear. Lanfear and Rand al'Thor eventually found themselves in a deadly duel, with Lanfear finally deciding to kill him after he swore he would never love a woman sworn to the Shadow. In the course of the battle, Lanfear declared, "if you are not mine you are dead," and overwhelmed Rand despite his efforts. Lanfear's near victory was due to Rand's inability to harm a woman, an age-dark ivory angreal bracelet she held, and her own rage, which caused her to lash out directly at Rand. On the brink of death, Rand was saved when Moiraine tackled Lanfear and physically pushed them both into a ter'angreal which cut them off from the world.
Cyndane
For several books, Lanfear was believed to be dead. Although it has not been stated directly, Cyndane's hatred for Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
and memories she has been shown to have, make it extremely likely that she is the reincarnation of Lanfear, the most powerful of the female Forsaken
Forsaken (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken are the most powerful and favored servants of the Dark One. They were formerly Aes Sedai, but became corrupted by the desire for power and immortality...
, and the only one to have been dead at the time. This is buttressed by the fact that Cyndane means "Last Chance" in the Old Tongue
Old Tongue
The Old Tongue is a fictional language from Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. It is depicted as a now-dead language, spoken only by scholars and certain nobles, but still plays a role in the plot of the books.-History:...
.
As a result of her imprisonment by the Eelfinn Cyndane's strength in the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
is less than Lanfear's was (though still greater than Graendal's, a woman of great strength). However, her desire to prevent her former lover Lews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin Telamon
Lews Therin Telamon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He was the Dragon of the Age of Legends. He is the most powerful, most hated, and most feared man in history, for his part in the Breaking of the World and killing his loved ones, earning him the...
(in his current incarnation as Rand
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
) from ever being happy with another woman has transferred intact. She is currently being controlled by Moridin by means of a mindtrap, which may be preventing her from acting on her previous notions of confronting the Dark One and the other Forsaken by acting in concert with al'Thor.
In Chapter 35 of Winter's Heart, there are instances of Cyndane's perspective where it states she was more powerful before her encounter with the Aelfinn and Eelfinn, whom Lanfear certainly met if she survived fighting Moiraine through the twisted red door ter'angreal, and mentions her intent to challenge both the Dark One and the Creator at Rand's side, which Lanfear proposed to him.
She appeared at the cleansing of saidin where she swore to kill Rand al'Thor yet again. She narrowly escaped the defenses mounted to protect him, and ended up dueling Alivia, an ex-Seanchan
Seanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
of great power and nearly 400 years of training as a damane
Damane
A damane is a character class from fantasy author Robert Jordan's best-selling Wheel of Time book series.Damane are women born with the spark or ability to channel...
. Despite the fact that she injured Alivia, she was repelled from the Cleansing, and saidin was successfully cleansed by the Dragon Reborn. In all Forsaken meetings, she flanks Moridin along with Moghedien
Moghedien
Moghedien is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.- Origin :...
. Her hatred for Rand al'Thor is greater than ever.
Mierin Eronaile
In Towers of MidnightTowers of Midnight
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson is the sequel to the novel The Gathering Storm, and the 13th book in the Wheel of Time series.The novel is the second part of A Memory of Light, Robert Jordan's projected final book...
, she is briefly seen by Rand in his dreams. She is screaming and calling for help, but when he tries to help her she vanishes. Rand recognizes her first as Mierin, then as Lanfear.