Lanfear (LAN-feer) (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.
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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 Therin 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.[1]
Mierin, together with another Aes Sedai named Beidomon, was responsible for creating the Bore into the Dark One's prison.[2] 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.[1]
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,[2] preventing her from being affected by the movement of time, unlike Aginor and Balthamel.
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'Thor. 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.
For several books, Lanfear was believed to be dead. Although it has not been stated directly, Cyndane's hatred for Rand al'Thor 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.
In Towers of Midnight, 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.
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