Lanfear
Lanfear is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy novel series by American author Robert Jordan, and its television adaptation. She is introduced as the mysterious Selene in the 1990 novel The Great Hunt, and is later revealed to be Lanfear, one of the Forsaken, ancient servants of the malevolent Dark One. In the series, Lanfear is obsessed with Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, her lover from 3,000 years prior who had ultimately spurned her, before imprisoning her with the other Forsaken for the intervening millennia.
Lanfear is portrayed by Natasha O'Keeffe in the Wheel of Time television series adaptation, first appearing in the September 2023 episode "Strangers and Friends".
Novels
Lanfear is introduced as the mysterious Selene in the 1990 novel The Great Hunt, and is later revealed to be Lanfear, one of the Forsaken, ancient servants of the malevolent Dark One. In the series, Lanfear is obsessed with Rand al'Thor, the reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, her lover from 3,000 years prior who had ultimately spurned her, before imprisoning her with the other Forsaken for the intervening millennia.Description
Screen Rant called Lanfear "one of the most important villains" in the series. She is one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, ancient Aes Sedai who became servants of the Dark One during the so-called Age of Legends. In addition to the ability to channel the One Power, she possesses mastery of Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams. She is known for psychological torture, entering people's dreams and tormenting them. Multiple characters describe Lanfear as the most beautiful woman they have ever seen.Originally known as Mierin Eronaile, Lanfear was in a romantic relationship with Lews Therin Telamon, a powerful male channeler known as the Dragon. As he learned the extent of her ambition and pursuit of power, Lews came to believe that she loved his strength in the One Power, and not him. Mierin was furious, jealous and resentful when Lews fell in love with Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar and married her. As a researcher at the Collam Daan, Mierin discovered a new Source of power. Unlike the One Power, which is divided between male and female channelers, this new Source could be wielded by both men and women. Not realizing that it was the Dark One's dangerous True Power, Mierin and her colleagues inadvertently drilled a bore into the Dark One's prison. Though he was not freed, his influence began to seep out into the world, corrupting it.
As the power of the Dark One's forces grew, Mierin reinvented herself as Lanfear, and pledged her loyalty to the Dark One in her lust for greater power. As one of his most powerful servants and unmatched within Tel'aran'rhiod, she also became known as the Daughter of the Night. She and the 12 most powerful of the Dark One's channelers joined as the Forsaken, and fought for the Dark One in the War of Power against Lews and his army of Aes Sedai. Lews led 99 male Aes Sedai in a surprise attack on Shayol Ghul, resealing the Dark One's prison and sealing Lanfear and the Forsaken with him in a timeless, dreamless sleep. Three thousand years later, the Seven Seals of the Dark One's prison have weakened, and the Forsaken begin to reenter the world, presenting a new threat and paving the way for their master.
Michael Ahr of Den of Geek noted that Lanfear is introduced as "a manipulative temptress and one of the most beautiful women in history". In the guise of Selene, Lanfear appears in The Great Hunt as a damsel in distress who transports Rand to another world simply so that he can "rescue" her, and she can ingratiate herself with him. In later novels, she uses her powers of disguise to become what Ahr calls "a much more complex villain". In The Dragon Reborn, Rand rebuffs Lanfear's invitation to rule the world at her side in service of the Dark One, but she remains committed to getting him back. Lanfear exhibits a possessiveness of Rand and intolerance of his involvement with other women, a jealousy which drives her to attempt kill him in The Fires of Heaven.
''The Great Hunt'' (1990)
In The Great Hunt, a newly-written prophecy indicates that the Forsaken known as Lanfear walks the world again, seeking a new lover. Moiraine Damodred is concerned because 3,000 years before, Lanfear was the lover of the Dragon, Lews Therin Telamon, the male channeler of immense power responsible for the Breaking of the World. Moiraine is one of the few people aware that Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, the reincarnation of Lews, and therefore a likely draw for Lanfear. Rand is in pursuit of the Darkfriend Padan Fain, who has stolen the Horn of Valere, when he is transported to a distorted, alternate world by a Portal Stone. He and his companions come upon the mysterious Selene and rescue her from an attack by a strange beast called a grolm. She leads Rand and his party to another Portal Stone, encouraging him to channel to activate it. He reluctantly does so, returning them to the real world. Rand retrieves the Horn, and Selene suggests he keep it for himself, and she will stay with him forever. She is annoyed when he declines, saying the Horn does not belong to him. Selene continues to praise him and encourage him to seek glory, ultimately disappearing in Cairhien. Later in Falme, Min Farshaw finds an unconscious Rand, who has killed the Forsaken Ba'alzamon but allowed himself to be grievously wounded to do so. Selene appears and says to Min, "Lews Therin was and is mine, girl. Tend him well for me until I come for him."''The Dragon Reborn'' (1991)
Lanfear is all powerful in Tel'aran'rhiod, the World of Dreams, and visits Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon there as Selene in The Dragon Reborn. Perrin dismisses her talk of pursuing glory for himself. Later, she is surprised to see him in the dream realm, having entered on his own, but as a wolfbrother he has power there as well. Lanfear warns Mat that he is important, and that the Aes Sedai will try to use him. She assures him she is not Aes Sedai or a follower of Ba'alzamon, and he needs to trust her if he wants to survive. Lanfear impersonates Else Grinwell and appears to Egwene al'Vere, Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to manipulate their investigation into the Black Ajah. In Tel'aran'rhiod, Perrin witnesses a meeting of Darkfriends, summoned there by Ba'alzamon, who is annoyed with their lack of progress. Selene reveals herself as Lanfear and confirms her loyalty to the Dark One, as she and Ba'alzamon criticize each other's plans and accomplishments.''The Shadow Rising'' (1992)
Lanfear appears to Rand as Selene at the Stone of Tear in The Shadow Rising, and reveals her identity as one of the Forsaken. Impressed with how he has matured, she has come to claim him. Rand shocks both of them when memories from Lews surface that tell him she loves power more than she loves him. She has shielded him from being able to channel in her presence, but lays out her plans for him. The Forsaken Asmodean has agreed to teach him, before other Forsaken can come to destroy him. They fear that the Dark One will place Rand above them. Shadowspawn attack the Stone of Tear, including deadly, eyeless Fades; humanoid monster Trollocs; and Gray Men assassins. Lanfear reminds Rand of the power of the crystal sword Callandor while mocking his lack of training. Using the sword to generate a lightning storm, Rand destroys all of the remaining Shadowspawn at once. Rand travels to declare himself the prophesied messiah of the Aiel known as Car'a'carn, the "Chief of Chiefs", unknowingly accompanied by Lanfear and Asmodean in disguise as the peddler Keille Shaogi and the gleeman Jasin Natael. Lanfear is shocked when, in a confrontation with Asmodean, Rand severs Asmodean's connection with the Dark One. Rand's memories of Lanfear's backstory as the Aes Sedai researcher Mierin Eronaile in the Age of Legends are triggered. Mierin and several other Aes Sedai attempted to access what they believed was a new, untapped source of power, which turned out to be the essence of the Dark One. They inadvertently drilled what became known as the Bore into his prison, weakening the seals and allowing his influence to begin to seep out. In the present, Asmodean, shielded by Lanfear from using his full power, commits to training Rand.''The Fires of Heaven'' (1993)
In The Fires of Heaven, Lanfear meets with the Forsaken Graendal, Rahvin and Sammael to discuss what can be done to bring Rand over to the Shadow. Subsequently, the news that Rand has slept with Aviendha, an Aiel Maiden of the Spear, sends Lanfear into a murderous rage, and she destroys the Darkfriend who told her. Lanfear confronts Rand and his companions at the docks in Cairhien, killing multiple bystanders with channeled waves of fire. Rand prevents her from killing Egwene and Aviendha, but they are badly injured, as are Moiraine and her Warder, Lan Mandragoran. Face to face with Rand, Lanfear finally decides to kill him when he swears he will never love a woman sworn to the Shadow. She declares, "If you are not mine you are dead", and overwhelms him thanks to an angreal bracelet, Rand's inability to harm a woman, and her own rage. Just as Rand is about to die, Moiraine intervenes, pushing Lanfear and herself through a twisted redstone doorway, a powerful ter'angreal which leads to the world of the foxlike Eelfinn. The doorway melts immediately, and Moiraine and Lanfear are presumed dead.''Towers of Midnight'' (2010)
In Towers of Midnight, Rand sees Lanfear in a dream. She is screaming and begs him to help her escape from torture, but then vanishes.''A Memory of Light'' (2013)
In A Memory of Light, Lanfear finally accepts that she has no hold over Rand, and that he never loved her. Consumed with a renewed hatred for Rand, she turns her attentions to Perrin. She helps him in his hunt of the creature Slayer, and other endeavors. She ultimately lays a weave of Compulsion on him, compelling him to kill Moiraine while Lanfear kills Nynaeve, giving Lanfear the opportunity to seize Callandor and kill Rand with it. Perrin, however, is able to circumvent the Compulsion and snap Lanfear's neck.Brandon Sanderson, the co-author of the last three novels in the series after Jordan's 2007 death, said in 2023 that Lanfear survives this encounter. She allows herself to be presumed dead to avoid any repercussions from the victorious forces of the Light.