Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the
Wheel of Time fantasy series by
Robert Jordan.
Moiraine has large, dark eyes and dark hair hanging in ringlets. A delicate gold chain fastened in her hair supports a small, sparkling blue stone in the middle of her forehead. When she was young she was impetuous and hot-tempered, but after years of being
Aes Sedai she has learned self-control.
Robert Jordan describes her as being about 5' or 5'2".Rand, Mat and Perrin all described her as one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen. Indeed, when Perrin walks in on her wearing nothing but a towel, he is absolutely astonished by how beautiful she is.
Moiraine Damodred was born in Cairhien and, as niece to King Laman, spent a lot of time in the Sun Palace. At 16, however, she discovered without guidance that she possessed the
spark to channel, and left for the
White Tower to become an
Aes Sedai. As a novice, she became friends (and for a time, lovers [
1]) with a young woman named
Siuan Sanche. Both were quick learners, passed all rituals on their first attempts, and attained the shawl in six years; they were also both among the strongest channelers of their day, until recently.
Both Moiraine and Siuan were Accepted in 978 NE, during the Battle of the Blood Snow. On this day, the
Aiel War came right up to the banks of the River Erinin, outside
Tar Valon itself, where her uncle Laman had retreated with the remainder of his Cairhienin forces. During the battle, the two attended the
Amyrlin, Tamra Ospenya, and her
Keeper of the Chronicles, Gitara Moroso. That day, Moroso, who had the Foretelling, was possessed by such a strong vision that, after managing to yell out its contents, she died. What she Foretold was that, at that very moment, on the slopes of Dragonmount not far away, the
Dragon had been reborn.
Moiraine and Siuan made a pact soon after: that they would find the Dragon Reborn and guide him, knowing that he was the only one who could save the world from the
Dark One, but that others would fear him and try to hinder him--if not kill him outright. The Dragon Reborn, though necessary, was not the most celebrated of saviors.
Nineteen years of searching later, Moiraine was an Aes Sedai of the
Blue Ajah; traveling in the Borderlands, she had picked up a
Warder,
Lan Mandragoran, last king of
Malkier. The two of them journeyed to the town of
Emond's Field in the Two Rivers region of
Andor, as Moiraine had narrowed her search to three boys in the area. Her suspicions were confirmed when, on Winternight,
Trollocs invaded the Two Rivers region. She and Lan planned to lead the three boysplus a few hangers-on in the persons of
Thom Merrilin,
Egwene al'Vere and
Nynaeve al'Meara, to the safety of the White Tower; but the
Shadow had picked up their scent, and they were derailed. Their journey took them to
Shienar and the
Eye of the World, where Rand channeled consciously for the first time. Soon after, Moiraine knew she'd found the Dragon Reborn.
She sent word immediately to Siuan, who by this time was Amyrlin Seat, and the two of them (with the unexpected help of Brown Ajah member
Verin Mathwin) confronted Rand with his destiny. From there on out, Moiraine left Rand's side as little as possible. The only time she left his side was during the events leading up to the Stone of Tear, where Rand snuck away and fled to
Tear, to see if he could draw the sword
Callandor and fulfill prophecy, or if he was only a
False Dragon. Despite his success, Rand resented what he saw as interference and manipulation on Moiraine's part; though she seemed to be trying to help him, Aes Sedai are used to getting what they want, and keeping their plans to themselves. Finally, after Rand's journey to Rhuidean in the
Aiel Waste and his announcement that he was the
Car'a'carn, the two managed to form a sort of compromise, with Rand agreeing to listen if Moiraine agreed to merely advise.
Unfortunately, their cooperation was short-lived. Just before setting out for the city of Caemlyn to confront the Forsaken
Rahvin, Moiraine gave Rand two letters: one for himself and another for Thom Merrilin. Then she took Rand, Mat, Egwene,
Aviendha, and Lan to the docks of
Cairhien. Unexpectedly, the Forsaken
Lanfear emerged, enraged at the news that her beloved Lews Therin had taken a lover besides her; Rand, though he knew he faced death, could not bring himself to harm a woman. Moiraine took matters into her own hands. The twisted redstone doorway
ter'angreal from
Rhuidean was present nearby, and Moiraine shoved Lanfear through it, ending the assault but also ending their lives: neither she nor Lanfear ever re-emerged from the doorway (which immediately caught on fire and began to melt), and Lan reported that he could not feel her through the Warder bond any longer. Because she had altered her bond so that Lan would belong to another Aes Sedai instead of try to avenge her, Lan left immediately to seek out
Myrelle Sedai of the
Green Ajah.
Rand's letter revealed more of the story. While at Tear, Moiraine had entered the redstone doorway's partner, one that allowed her to ask three questions and receive three true answers (as opposed to the Rhuidean doorway, which Mat used to gain three favors). Furthermore, in Rhuidean, she had seen in the traditional Aiel testing
ter'angreal that if they were not all at the Cairhien docks that day and Lanfear not defeated, Rand would be doomed. She had altered her bond to Lan, written her letters, and made peace with her fate. The letter added a few more warnings and encouragements, but there was nothing in it to suggest she would ever return. Lady Moiraine Damodred Aes Sedai, of the Blue Ajah, had been woven out of the Pattern.
Later series events, however, have drawn Moiraine's supposed fate into question. Lanfear, presumed dead as well, has reappeared in the form of
Cyndane, whose name means "Last Chance" in the
Old Tongue. The Great Lord of the Dark is well-known for resurrecting his favorite followers, but it is not known if this happened to Cyndane; it is possible that she escaped in her own right. Also, one of
Egwene al'Vere's Dreamed visions linked
Thom Merrilin to Moiraine in some way—specifically, she saw him drawing a distinctive piece of Moiraine's jewelry from a fire. The romantic tension between Moiraine and Thom has also gone unresolved. Adding fuel to the fire, one of
Min Farshaw's viewings suggests that, without Moiraine's help, Rand is doomed to failure. Finally, the contents of her letter to Thom has been revealed in
Knife of Dreams: she is alive, but trapped in a tower that has no door. Thom, Mat and series newcomer Noal Charin have vowed to rescue her, but what role she will play in the final book of the series remains to be seen.
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Moiraine's World
