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Lanfear
Lanfear's original name was Mierin Eronaile. Unlike the other Forsaken, Lanfear chose her own name, which means "Daughter of the Night" in the Old Tongue. Mierin was extremely beautiful, possibly the most beautiful woman of any Age. She also became the most powerful female Forsaken, and the second most powerful over all, topped only by Ishamael. Mierin worked at Collam Daan, the primary center for research into the One Power. Although Aes Sedai of the time could do things that are undreamt of by today's Aes Sedai, Mierin and her colleagues chafed at the limitations placed on their powers by the division between saidin and saidar. The team of researchers Mierin led believed that they had discovered a source of power that could be wielded by either sex. What they had actually discovered, though, was a section of the Pattern where the "wall" of the Dark One's prison had become dangerously thin. Although she believed that they were helping mankind with their work, Mierin led the group responsible for drilling the Bore, the hole in the Dark One's prison. All available evidence suggests that Mierin was unaware of the effect that her actions would have on the future of the world. Mierin and Lews Therin Telamon had once been in a serious relationship. It eventually became clear to Lews Therin that Mierin did not love him so much as she loved being associated with him (and his considerable power). When he left her and married Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar, Mierin became increasingly, and dangerously, obsessed with Lews Therin. Or, more specifically, she became obsessed with reclaiming the man that she felt had been stolen from her. It is most likely that Mierin's love (and hatred) for Lews Therin drove her to swear to the Shadow. Lanfear never led any of the Shadow's armies, but she did serve as the governor of many conquered territories. The suicide rate was considerable in all Shadow-controlled regions, but in Lanfear's territories it was above average. Her great skill in Tel'aran'rhiod allowed her to further the Shadow's cause without ever entering a battle. Her methods ranged from inciting entire cities to riot against the established authority to tormenting or assassinating an individual using the victim's own dreams against him. Suffice to say, those governed by Lanfear did not sleep easily. Since her release... Since being released from her prison, Lanfear has stalked Rand al'Thor in much the same way she did Lews Therin thousands of years earlier. She has actually lent al'Thor aid on a number of different occasions, most notably when she shielded the male Forsaken Asmodean and set him to teach Rand to wield saidin safely. Her allegiance to the Shadow remains as strong as it ever was, despite this fact. After a struggle with Moiraine Sedai which resulted in both women falling through a doorway ter'angreal, Lanfear was presumed dead. For a strong supporter of the Dark One, though, death is not necessarily a permanent state. At recent gatherings of the surviving Forsaken, Moridin has been accompanied by two women who, despite the fact that they can channel, appear to be his servants. He possesses mind-traps belonging to both women. One is Moghedien, the other is a woman named Cyndane. Cyndane is a small, buxom woman with blue eyes and silver hair. Although Cyndane looks nothing like Lanfear and is considerably weaker in the Power than she was, it is most likely that Cyndane is, in fact, Lanfear reincarnated. Cyndane means "last chance" in the Old Tongue.
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