Cadsuane Melaidhrin is a fictional character in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.
Contents |
Cadsuane is an Aes Sedai of the Green Ajah. She has nearly black eyes and wears her iron gray hair in a bun with many gold ornaments. The ornaments in her hair are angreal and ter'angreal. These include one that tells her the direction of somebody channeling the One Power be it the male or female half, one that senses a man's ability to channel, one that stores a small amount of saidar, one that goes cool when a woman embraces saidar and one that gives her the ability to disrupt an illusion when in close proximity to it. These items had been earned through trials set for her by a wilder in the Black Hills[1]. When she went into retirement, Cadsuane had a legendary status amongst the other Aes Sedai. Many believed her to be dead at the time Rand declared himself to be the Dragon Reborn. Her ability to channel was the strongest of any woman in the last 1000 years until Egwene al'Vere, Elayne Trakand and Nynaeve al'Meara were discovered. At the time she meets Rand she is almost 300 years old and the oldest (known) living Aes Sedai. She is said to have had more Warders than most Aes Sedai have had shoes[2].
Cadsuane was born in Far Madding in roughly 705NE. When raised to the shawl, she chose the Green Ajah. Shortly after this, she encountered a wilder called Norla, who taught her a humbling lesson and set her tasks to gain the ornaments that she now wears in her hair[3]. Over the following years she faced more than twenty men with the ability to channel saidin, which is more than any 4 members of the Red Ajah[4]. Also remarkable is that the men she captured tended to live longer after being gentled than those who were captured by other Aes Sedai. During the Aiel War, she came out of a 25 year retirement, during which most thought her dead, with two warders. At the end of the war she encountered a newly raised Moiraine Damodred who thought that Cadsuane might be Black Ajah[5]. Cadsuane somehow discovered the Dragon had been reborn, and started to research in the Tower Library, where she discovered the flaw of Callandor. Before Rand declared himself she helped to capture Logain Ablar when he was troubling Ghealdan. She then helped to capture Mazrim Taim as she could not face going back to her garden or the White Tower because she still wanted adventure[2]. She was interested in getting another warder but did not think it fair on the man due to her age. During the time before meeting Rand she refused a place as a Sitter in the Hall twice, even though it was unprecedented to refuse once. She also refused the position of Captain-General (leader) of the Green Ajah, and when the Tower thought of raising her to the Amyrlin Seat, she left for 10 years to make it impossible. Once she discovers that the Dragon has been Reborn she begins gathering sisters she thinks that she can trust, these include Corele Hovian of the Yellow Ajah, Merise Haindehl of the Green Ajah and Daigian Moseneillin of the White Ajah.
Cadsuane first meets Rand al'Thor in Cairhien shortly after the Battle of Dumai's Wells[6]. Her first meeting is brief, because Rand was being short with her and then Cadsuane leaves with the two Aes Sedai at the meeting to interview them thoroughly. Later, Rand is meeting with the Rebels including Lady Caraline Damodred and High Lord Darlin Sisnera[7]. When the meeting is attacked, she slaps Rand for using Balefire and later after having Rand healed, Min tells her what the embassy sent by Elaida a'Roihan had done to him[8]. Cadsuane continues to interview the other Aes Sedai associated with Rand and she shows her intentions by agreeing to a water oath with Sorilea to teach Rand laughter and tears, to teach him to be strong rather than hard[9].
Cadsuane continues to follow Rand as he travels around. She has a group of Aes Sedai with her the whole time. During this she confides in only Verin Mathwin[10]. Rand eventually asks her to become his advisor and she tells him how[11]. While Rand is cleaning the taint from saidin at Shadar Logoth, Cadsuane directs the defense of him against the Forsaken. She uses her ter'angreal to hold a shield and to detect channeling by the Forsaken[12]. After this, she continues to follow Rand and to act as his advisor, often admonishing his manners (though his rudeness is usually in response to her constant threats and insults). She accompanies him to his meeting with the Seanchan where Semirhage attacks Rand. One of Cadsuane's ornaments helps to break the illusion that Semirhage was using to pretend to be the Daughter of the Nine Moons[13]. She fails to understand that, despite her intentions of aiding the Dragon Reborn, her condescending attitude towards Rand and her constant attempts to push him in the direction she wants him to go heightened his emotional detachment and suspicion. After Elza, a member of the Black Ajah, steals the male a'dam from her room and Semirhage uses it on Rand, he exiles Cadsuane from his presence. She continues to follow him with the intention of teaching him to laugh and cry again. She brings Rand's father, Tam, to meet him, driving Rand on the journey in which he rediscovers his ability to laugh and cry and drives the voice of Lews Therin Telamon from his head, but not before nearly deciding to destroy time itself.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||