Cadsuane Melaidhrin
Encyclopedia
Cadsuane Melaidhrin is a fictional character in The Wheel of Time
series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan
.
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. 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.
. 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. 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. 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.
in Cairhien
shortly after the Battle of Dumai's Wells. 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. 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. 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.
. Rand eventually asks her to become his advisor and she tells him how. 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. 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. 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.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
.
Description
Cadsuane is an Aes SedaiAes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
of the Green Ajah
Green Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Green Ajah is one of the seven acknowledged Ajahs within the Aes Sedai.-Characteristics:...
. 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
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
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. 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
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
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
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
, Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
and Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Personality:Nynaeve's personality often runs a gamut of emotions, meek at times before more experienced women but also able to stand up and run down others. While she will deny it, Nynaeve is...
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.
Early life
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. 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 AjahRed Ajah
An Ajah is a sub-organization within the Aes Sedai of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series. The Red Ajah is strongly dedicated to preventing another Breaking of the World.-Organization:Its leader is known as the Highest...
. 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
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
who thought that Cadsuane might be Black Ajah. 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
Logain Ablar
Logain Ablar is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.-False Dragon:Logain Ablar was a False Dragon who could channel the One Power. He proclaimed himself shortly before the events of Winternight in the Two Rivers...
when he was troubling Ghealdan. She then helped to capture Mazrim Taim
Mazrim Taim
Mazrim Taim is a character in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy series.-Description:Taim is described as having black hair, above average in height with a dark face, tilted eyes, hooked nose and high cheekbones...
as she could not face going back to her garden or the White Tower because she still wanted adventure. 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
Amyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
, 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.
Meeting Rand
Cadsuane first meets Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
in Cairhien
Cairhien
Cairhien is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels. Cairhien is located in the east central part of The Westlands, on the east it borders with the Spine of the World. The sign of Cairhien is a golden sun rising on a field of deep blue...
shortly after the Battle of Dumai's Wells. 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. 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
Elaida a'Roihan
Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan is an antagonist in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Background:The youngest daughter of a minor House in the north of Murandy, Elaida was the first novice to be raised to Accepted in only three years. She was raised to the shawl after Siuan Sanche and...
had done to him. 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.
Rand's Advisor
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 MathwinVerin Mathwin
Verin Mathwin is a fictional character in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.-Description:Verin is an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. Verin has grayed hair and is considered to be one of the oldest Aes Sedai alive; likely over 200 years old...
. Rand eventually asks her to become his advisor and she tells him how. 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. 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
Semirhage
Semirhage is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan...
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. 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.