The Forsaken: Lanfear

Lanfear

What We Know of Lanfear

name: Mierin Eronaile

occupation: worked at the Collam Daan

aka: Daughter of the Night

Mierin was one of the most beautiful women of her time. Tall and lithe, with pale skin and flowing midnight hair, she was usually seen wearing white gowns, a silver belt, and jewelry in moon and star motifs. She was a member of the scientific team that discovered the Dark One's prison and drilled into the Bore, thereby releasing him from his cell.

It is also known that Mierin had some sort of intimate relationship with Lews Therin Telamon, but could not lure him away from his love. Rebuked, Mierin turned to the Dark One, choosing her own name: Lanfear. She continued her attempts to turn Lews Therin to her and the Lord of the Dark.

The most powerful female among the Chosen, Lanfear nearly matched Ishamael in his strength in the One Power. As one of the Dark One's governors, Lanfear used dreams and the realm of Tel'aran'rhiod to torment and kill her enemies. And while she was not as proficient in the realm of dreams as Moghedien, she claimed that ream as her own.

Upon awakening from the Bore, Lanfear once more began her quest to win or destroy Lews Therin, attempting to seduce the Dragon Reborn, Rand al'Thor. Assuming the identity of the lady Selene, she and Asmodean plotted against the young man. She was apparently killed by Moiraine Sedai in Caemlyn when both fell through the door ter'angreal.

Clues from the Text

[TGH: 7, Blood Calls Blood, 90]

Lanfear. In the Old Tongue, Daughter of the Night. Nowhere was her real name recorded, but that was the name she had taken for herself, unlike most of the Forsaken, who had been named by those they betrayed. Some said she had really been the most powerful of the Forsaken, next to Ishamael, the Betrayer of Hope, but had kept her powers hidden.

--Moiraine Damodred Sedai

[TGH: 16, In the Mirror of Darkness, 213]

She was all in white, her dress divided for riding and belted in silver, and her boots, peeking out from under her hems, were tooled in silver, too. Even her saddle was white, and silver-mounted... She was tall, for one thing; a hand talled and she could almost look [Rand] in the eyes. For another, she was beautiful, ivory-pale skin contrasting sharply with long, night-dark hair and black eyes.

[TDR: 20, Visitations, 175]

For the first time he studied her, able now to see more than her beauty. She was almost as tall as he was, slender and, he suspected from the way she moved, strong. He was not sure of her age--a year or two older than he, or maybe as much as ten--but her cheeks were smooth. Her necklace of smooth white stones and woven silver matched her wide belt, but she did not wear a Great Serpent ring... There was an air about her--a self-confidence, a surety in her own power to match any queen's, and something more--that he associated with Aes Sedai.

--Rand al'Thor

[TDR: 25, Questions, 241]

A woman turned to face her at the foot of the ramp... All in silver and white silk, she sparked feelings Egwene never felt before. She was taller, more beautiful by far, and the look in her black eyes made Egwene feel small, scrawny, and noe to clean.

[TSR: 9, Decisions, 128]

The air rippled around Lanfear, and she changed. She was--older than he, certainly, but older was not the right word. More mature. Riper. Even more beautiful, if that was possible. A lush blossom in full flower compared to a bud. Even knowing what she was, she made his mouth go dry, his throat tighten.

--Rand al'Thor

The Chosen Speak

[TDR: 36, Daughter of the Night, 342]

"Dreams were always mine, to use and walk."

--Lanfear

[TFoH: Prologue, The First Sparks Fall, 24]

Most men would have felt their mouths go dry with desire.

--Rahvin

[TFoH: Prologue, The First Sparks Fall, 25]

"You were never one for attacking openly, were you? Not as bad as Moghedien, perhaps, but you did always favor the flanks and the rear. I will trust you this time, enough to hear you out. As long as you are under my eye." Who trusted Lanfear behind him deserved the knife he might well find in his back. Not that she was so very trustworthy even when watched; her temper was uncertain at best.

--Rahvin

[FoH: Prologue, The First Sparks Fall, 27]

"If this Rand al'Thor really is Lews Therin Telamon reborn,... I am surprised you haven't tried to snuggle him into your bed, Lanfear. Or would it be so easy? I seem to remember Lews Therin led you by the nose, not the other way around. Squelched your little tantrums. Sent you running to fetch his wine, in a manner of speaking... You were so obsessed with him you'd have stretched out at his feet if he said 'rug.'"

--Graendal