Lanfear

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Originally known as Mierin Eronaile, Lanfear was in a romantic relationship with Lews Therin Telamon, a powerful male channeler known as the Dragon. As he learned the extent of her ambition and pursuit of power, Lews came to believe that she loved his strength in the One Power, and not him. Mierin was furious, jealous and resentful when Lews fell in love with Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar and married her. As a researcher at the Collam Daan, Mierin discovered a new Source of power. Unlike the One Power, which is divided between male and female channelers, this new Source could be wielded by both men and women. Not realizing that it was the Dark One's dangerous True Power, Mierin and her colleagues inadvertently drilled a bore into the Dark One's prison. Though he was not freed, his influence began to seep out into the world, corrupting it. As the power of the Dark One's forces grew, Mierin reinvented herself as Lanfear, and pledged her loyalty to the Dark One in her lust for greater power. As one of his most powerful servants and unmatched within Tel'aran'rhiod, she also became known as the Daughter of the Night. She and the 12 most powerful of the Dark One's channelers joined as the Forsaken, and fought for the Dark One in the War of Power against Lews and his army of Aes Sedai. Lews led 99 male Aes Sedai in a surprise attack on Shayol Ghul, resealing the Dark One's prison and sealing Lanfear and the Forsaken with him in a timeless, dreamless sleep.

In Their Own Story

In The Great Hunt (1990), a newly-written prophecy indicates that the Forsaken known as Lanfear walks the world again, seeking a new lover. In the guise of Selene, Lanfear appears as a damsel in distress who transports Rand to another world simply so that he can "rescue" her, and she can ingratiate herself with him. In The Dragon Reborn (1991), Lanfear is all powerful in Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and visits Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon there as Selene. She impersonates Else Grinwell and appears to Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to manipulate their investigation into the Black Ajah. In The Shadow Rising (1992), Lanfear appears to Rand as Selene at the Stone of Tear, and reveals her identity as one of the Forsaken. Impressed with how he has matured, she has come to claim him. Rand shocks both of them when memories from Lews surface that tell him she loves power more than she loves him. In The Fires of Heaven (1993), the news that Rand has slept with Aviendha sends Lanfear into a murderous rage, and she destroys the Darkfriend who told her. Lanfear confronts Rand and his companions at the docks in Cairhien, killing multiple bystanders with channeled waves of fire. Just as Rand is about to die, Moiraine intervenes, pushing Lanfear and herself through a twisted redstone doorway, a powerful ter'angreal which leads to the world of the foxlike Eelfinn. The doorway melts immediately, and Moiraine and Lanfear are presumed dead. In Towers of Midnight (2010), Rand sees Lanfear in a dream. She is screaming and begs him to help her escape from torture, but then vanishes. In A Memory of Light (2013), Lanfear finally accepts that she has no hold over Rand, and that he never loved her. Consumed with a renewed hatred for Rand, she turns her attentions to Perrin.

Reader's Guide

Lanfear is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, ancient Aes Sedai who became servants of the Dark One during the so-called Age of Legends. In addition to the ability to channel the One Power, she possesses mastery of Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams. She is known for psychological torture, entering people's dreams and tormenting them. Multiple characters describe Lanfear as the most beautiful woman they have ever seen. Screen Rant called Lanfear "one of the most important villains" in the series. Michael Ahr of Den of Geek noted that Lanfear is introduced as "a manipulative temptress and one of the most beautiful women in history". In later novels, she uses her powers of disguise to become what Ahr calls "a much more complex villain". In The Dragon Reborn (1991), Rand rebuffs Lanfear's invitation to rule the world at her side in service of the Dark One, but she remains committed to getting him back. Lanfear exhibits a possessiveness of Rand and intolerance of his involvement with other women, a jealousy which drives her to attempt kill him in The Fires of Heaven (1993).

Did You Know?

• Lanfear was originally known as Mierin Eronaile, a researcher at the Collam Daan who discovered a new Source of power that turned out to be the Dark One's True Power.
• Mierin and her colleagues inadvertently drilled a bore into the Dark One's prison, allowing his influence to seep out into the world.
• Lanfear is unmatched within Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and is known for psychological torture by entering people's dreams and tormenting them.
• In The Fires of Heaven (1993), Lanfear destroys the Darkfriend who told her that Rand had slept with Aviendha, then kills multiple bystanders with channeled waves of fire.
• Moiraine Damodred pushed Lanfear and herself through a twisted redstone doorway ter'angreal to the world of the Eelfinn, and both were presumed dead after the doorway melted.