Mesaana

Mesaana (meh-SAH-nah) (originally known as Saine Tarasind) is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.

Origin

Very little is known about Mesaana's life before swearing allegiance to the Dark One. She is described as dreamy, with large blue eyes and dark hair. She has a voice like silver chimes and is taller than most women. She frequently disguises her ability to channel and appears just short of her middle years. Unlike the other Forsaken, Saine Tarasind was not the best in her profession. She applied for a research position at the Collam Daan, the epicenter of research into the One Power at that time. She was refused the position she wanted and instead found herself teaching at the center.

Age of Legends

During the War of Power, Mesaana was an administrator of conquered territories. Described as a brutal and efficient governor, what set her apart from the other Chosen during the War was that she founded many schools for children in conquered territories. These schools were designed to immerse children in the teachings of the Dark One, in the hope of making them faithful servants. The children were taught to spy on each other and on their parents, and to report any illegal activity. Mobs of these children burned down museums, libraries and research facilities—anything that detracted from the Dark One. People of all ages were tried before courts entirely made of children, then executed. After Lews Therin Telamon sealed the Chosen and the Dark One in the Bore, the children grew into rampant mobs; they were often called "Mesaana's Children" by the survivors of the Breaking, and it was said that they seemed to be in a race with the male Aes Sedai, trying to break and loot the world faster than the deranged men.

Third Age

Mesaana now controls the Black Ajah in the White Tower, where she resides as one of the Brown Ajah. Whenever one of the members of the Black Ajah reports to her, she appears cloaked in an illusion that hides her identity, except Alviarin, the Keeper, has seen a part of her dress: Dark bronze with black scrollwork. Other than helping Be'lal set up the trap for Rand al'Thor in Tear, she has kept a relatively low profile. However, she has been active in controlling Alviarin, the former Keeper of the Chronicles in the White Tower and was probably responsible for the kidnapping of Rand al'Thor by representatives of the White Tower. It is said that Mesaana, Demandred and Semirhage have been working together since the War of Power. Perhaps not coincidentally, they are three of the Chosen who have retained their modern power and authority the longest.

Mesaana was reprimanded by the mysterious Myrddraal Shaidar Haran in the presence of Alviarin, for failing to answer the summons to kill Rand while the Choedan Kal were being used to cleanse saidin. Any changes in her status as a result of this punishment are as yet undetermined.

Identity

During the events of The Gathering Storm, Egwene al'Vere learns of the identities of almost every member of the Black Ajah - including the knowledge that Mesaana remained within the White Tower - from Verin Mathwin, a Black sister who found a loophole in her oaths to the Dark One. Verin's actions saw Egwene begin a purge of the Black Ajah within the rebel Aes Sedai, though she was unable to prevent the Black Ajah within the loyalist faction from escaping. It is discovered in Towers of Midnight that Mesaana had assumed the identity of Danelle, an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. How she circumvented the three oaths (which were forced to be resworn by every Aes Sedai in the tower) is unknown though possibilities are discussed in the book.

Fate

During the events of Towers of Midnight, Egwene al'Vere devises a plan to lure Mesaana out of hiding. By setting up a meeting in Tel'aran'rhiod with sisters and Aiel wise ones, Egwene plans to uncover all the Black Ajah Sisters that escaped notice from events of The Gathering Storm and ultimately Mesaana herself. The plan leads Mesaana and members of the Black Ajah, including Katerine Alruddin and Alviarin Friedhen, to attack the group. Neither side is able to leave the Tel'aran'rhiod due to the relocation of the dreamspike by Perrin Aybara. With the assistance of Nyneave and the Aiel Dreamwalkers, Egwene is able to kill a number of Black Ajah sisters, including Katerine (who is disguised as Mesaana by the Forsaken herself). This leads however to Mesaana sneaking an a'dam ring around Egwene's neck. Though Egwene is initially overcome with fear and despair, she settles herself mentally and breaks the a'dam (by imagining it not to be there through her control over the World of Dreams). She exerts her will over Mesaana causing the Forsaken's mind to break down.