Berelain
Encyclopedia
Berelain sur Paendrag Tanreall of House Paeron is a character in the Wheel of Time
fantasy
series by Robert Jordan
. She is the "First" (reigning monarch
) of Mayene, a small city-state
southeast of Tear
, and High Seat of House Paeron (which claims descent from Artur Hawkwing). She is described as being young, very beautiful and buxom, tall and pale with black hair and large, dark eyes.
Berelain makes her first appearance at the end of The Dragon Reborn
when she demands the appearance of Rand al'Thor to join her at supper after he proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn. At the beginning of The Shadow Rising
, she again tries to seduce Rand al'Thor
(probably in an effort to obtain political influence) with disastrous results, and then Perrin Aybara
with no apparent effect, since Perrin's heart by that time belongs to Faile Bashere
. Berelain believes that it will "amuse" her to take Perrin away from Faile.
Later in the series, Rand places Berelain in a position of stewardship over the city of Cairhien
after it is ravaged by the Shaido Aiel
. Upon re-encountering Perrin in Lord of Chaos
, Berelain renews her attempts at seducing Perrin, which results in a comedy of errors
between them and Faile, now Perrin's wife. Faile's subsequent kidnapping by the Shaido left Perrin wide open to Berelain's machinations, which might have had something to do with Perrin's resolve to rescue her back with all speed.
A viewing by Min Farshaw
indicates that Berelain will fall in love with a man in white; another is that Berelain will fall in love with the most beautiful man alive, which brings to mind Galad Damodred
, a White Cloak. Another possible (although less likely) interpretation is that Berelain will fall in love with a gai'shain Aiel.
Berelain is described as a "beautiful and willful young woman, and a skilled ruler," with shoulder-length dark hair and a penchant for scandalously-revealing clothing. Many female characters (such as Egwene al'Vere
and Faile) dislike Berelain, mainly for her flirtatious manner and lack of modesty. However, she is a top-notch ruler, highly intelligent and unquestionably devoted to her duties; Mayene's continued independence from Tear, despite that country's constant attempts to annex it, are due in no small part to her efforts. Even Faile, who despises Berelain on principle, admits that under different circumstances they might be friends.
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...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series 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...
. She is the "First" (reigning monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
) of Mayene, a small city-state
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
southeast of Tear
Tear (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Tear is one of the richest nations in the land. This comes in part from controlling the greatest port on the Sea of Storms, at the mouth of the River Erinin. A great deal of Tear's wealth comes from the oil produced on the...
, and High Seat of House Paeron (which claims descent from Artur Hawkwing). She is described as being young, very beautiful and buxom, tall and pale with black hair and large, dark eyes.
Berelain makes her first appearance at the end of The Dragon Reborn
The Dragon Reborn
The Dragon Reborn is the third book of American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1991. The unabridged audio book is read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading...
when she demands the appearance of Rand al'Thor to join her at supper after he proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn. At the beginning of The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1992...
, she again tries to seduce Rand al'Thor
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:...
(probably in an effort to obtain political influence) with disastrous results, and then Perrin Aybara
Perrin Aybara
Perrin t'Bashere Aybara, or Goldeneyes, is one of the main characters of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy The Wheel of Time. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow...
with no apparent effect, since Perrin's heart by that time belongs to Faile Bashere
Faile Bashere
Faile Bashere is a character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Life as Zarine:Zarine "Faile" ni Bashere t'Aybara is the daughter of Lord Davram Bashere, the Marshal-General to Saldaea and uncle to Queen Tenobia...
. Berelain believes that it will "amuse" her to take Perrin away from Faile.
Later in the series, Rand places Berelain in a position of stewardship over the city of 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...
after it is ravaged by the Shaido Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
. Upon re-encountering Perrin in Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1994, and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995. Lord of Chaos consists of a prologue, 55 chapters, and...
, Berelain renews her attempts at seducing Perrin, which results in a comedy of errors
Comedy of errors
A comedy of errors is a narrative work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone, in which the action usually features a series of comic instances of mistaken identity, and which typically culminates in a happy resolution of the thematic conflict.-Satire and farce:A slight variation of...
between them and Faile, now Perrin's wife. Faile's subsequent kidnapping by the Shaido left Perrin wide open to Berelain's machinations, which might have had something to do with Perrin's resolve to rescue her back with all speed.
A viewing by Min Farshaw
Min Farshaw
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.- Description :She is slender, a little taller than Moiraine , and has short dark hair that becomes curly when grown long. She has large, dark eyes...
indicates that Berelain will fall in love with a man in white; another is that Berelain will fall in love with the most beautiful man alive, which brings to mind Galad Damodred
Galad Damodred
Lord Galadedrid of House Damodred, called "Galad" for short, is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan....
, a White Cloak. Another possible (although less likely) interpretation is that Berelain will fall in love with a gai'shain Aiel.
Berelain is described as a "beautiful and willful young woman, and a skilled ruler," with shoulder-length dark hair and a penchant for scandalously-revealing clothing. Many female characters (such as 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...
and Faile) dislike Berelain, mainly for her flirtatious manner and lack of modesty. However, she is a top-notch ruler, highly intelligent and unquestionably devoted to her duties; Mayene's continued independence from Tear, despite that country's constant attempts to annex it, are due in no small part to her efforts. Even Faile, who despises Berelain on principle, admits that under different circumstances they might be friends.