Thom Merrilin
Encyclopedia
Thomdril "Thom" Merrilin is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time
fantasy
series by Robert Jordan
.
Not much of his early life is known, although he was Bard to the young Lady Morgase of House Trakand. He helped her ascend to the throne of Andor
and became her Court Bard, and was renowned in noble circles in most nations. He and Morgase became lovers. Somewhere during this time, Thom discovered his nephew was being pursued by the Red Ajah for channeling, but he chose not to seek him out because of his duties with Morgase.
The issue of Owyn, his nephew, returned and he disappeared to help him. When he returned, Morgase was angry with him for leaving- a fight ensued, and Thom said she was a spoiled baby and tool of the White Tower. He left, barely dodging the execution block. With his talents of Court Bard, he became a gleeman and journeyed across the land, performing in inns and villages. He just so happened to be in Emond's Field on the night when Trollocs attacked and Moiraine
arrived. He went with Rand
, Mat
, Perrin
and Egwene
, fearing that they would succumb to the same fate Owyn had by following Moiraine, and felt he had to repay the failure he had made to his nephew. When the company was split up, he stayed with Rand and Mat, and seemingly sacrificed his life to protect them from a Myrddraal in Whitebridge
. He did not die, but was left with a limp. Rand later found him in Cairhien
during The Great Hunt
, and soon after Dena, Thom's lover/apprentice, was murdered by assassins employed by the King of Cairhien, Galldrian Riatin. It is implied, without being stated openly, that Galldrian's death was at the hands (or as a result of the actions of) Thom Merrilin, who did swear revenge when Galldrian's involvement in Dena's death was revealed to him.
Depressed, he drowned himself in liquor in Tar Valon
, where Mat found him after escaping from the Tower in The Dragon Reborn
. They rejoined the company in Tear
after the Fall of the Stone. Thom, along with Juilin, was asked to take care of Nynaeve
and Elayne
when they journeyed to Tanchico. They followed them on their quest until Ebou Dar, where Thom and Juilin stayed with Mat and helped him escape with Tuon
. Thom received a letter written by Moiraine before she fought Lanfear which related to her captivity in the lands beyond the tower of Ghenjie. In the penultimate novel, "The Towers of Midnight," Thom, along with Mat and Noal (who is revealed to be Jain Farstrider) rescue Moiraine and Thom bonds her and intends to wed her.
He is described as fairly old, with white hair and a long moustache. He is hot headed, but generally kind and considerate, and hates the Red Ajah. A great player of Daes Dae'mar
Thom is able to sort out what is important among the information he gathers and which is just lies. He is supposedly attracted to and linked to saving Moiraine.
It is revealed in Knife of Dreams
that Thom knows of Moiraine's fate after her battle with Lanfear
and that her rescue requires Mat's help. Most of this is made known to us in the letter that Thom received after the Blue Aes Sedai's 'death'.
Thom is highly skilled in knife combat. It is said throughout the series that he always has several knives hidden about his person. Thom's best knives were forged with the One Power, as was indicated by the flash of blue lightning when he fought the myrddraal in Whitebridge. When asked about it, Jordan replied that "Thom's best knives are very special indeed."
Using skills learned from Thom, knife fighting is a trait that is later taken up by Mat Cauthon as well.
It has also been hypothesised that Thom Merillin may be the father of Gawyn and Elayne Trakand. However, this theory was strongly refuted by the author of the series.
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...
.
Not much of his early life is known, although he was Bard to the young Lady Morgase of House Trakand. He helped her ascend to the throne of Andor
Places in the Wheel of Time series
This article is about countries, cities, towns, and other important locations in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series. With the publication in 1997 of The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time , much of the information previously available only by gathering from the...
and became her Court Bard, and was renowned in noble circles in most nations. He and Morgase became lovers. Somewhere during this time, Thom discovered his nephew was being pursued by the Red Ajah for channeling, but he chose not to seek him out because of his duties with Morgase.
The issue of Owyn, his nephew, returned and he disappeared to help him. When he returned, Morgase was angry with him for leaving- a fight ensued, and Thom said she was a spoiled baby and tool of the White Tower. He left, barely dodging the execution block. With his talents of Court Bard, he became a gleeman and journeyed across the land, performing in inns and villages. He just so happened to be in Emond's Field on the night when Trollocs attacked and Moiraine
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:...
arrived. He went with 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:...
, Mat
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
, Perrin
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...
and Egwene
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...
, fearing that they would succumb to the same fate Owyn had by following Moiraine, and felt he had to repay the failure he had made to his nephew. When the company was split up, he stayed with Rand and Mat, and seemingly sacrificed his life to protect them from a Myrddraal in Whitebridge
Places in the Wheel of Time series
This article is about countries, cities, towns, and other important locations in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series. With the publication in 1997 of The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time , much of the information previously available only by gathering from the...
. He did not die, but was left with a limp. Rand later found him in Cairhien
Places in the Wheel of Time series
This article is about countries, cities, towns, and other important locations in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series. With the publication in 1997 of The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time , much of the information previously available only by gathering from the...
during The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt
The Great Hunt is the second book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 15, 1990. The Great Hunt consists of a prologue and 50 chapters...
, and soon after Dena, Thom's lover/apprentice, was murdered by assassins employed by the King of Cairhien, Galldrian Riatin. It is implied, without being stated openly, that Galldrian's death was at the hands (or as a result of the actions of) Thom Merrilin, who did swear revenge when Galldrian's involvement in Dena's death was revealed to him.
Depressed, he drowned himself in liquor in Tar Valon
Places in the Wheel of Time series
This article is about countries, cities, towns, and other important locations in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series. With the publication in 1997 of The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time , much of the information previously available only by gathering from the...
, where Mat found him after escaping from the Tower in 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...
. They rejoined the company in Tear
Places in the Wheel of Time series
This article is about countries, cities, towns, and other important locations in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy fiction series. With the publication in 1997 of The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time , much of the information previously available only by gathering from the...
after the Fall of the Stone. Thom, along with Juilin, was asked to take care of Nynaeve
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...
and Elayne
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:...
when they journeyed to Tanchico. They followed them on their quest until Ebou Dar, where Thom and Juilin stayed with Mat and helped him escape with Tuon
Tuon
'Fortuona Athaem Devi Paendrag', formerly known as Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's popular Wheel of Time fantasy series. As the heir-designate to the Seanchan empire, she is titled the Daughter of the Nine Moons...
. Thom received a letter written by Moiraine before she fought Lanfear which related to her captivity in the lands beyond the tower of Ghenjie. In the penultimate novel, "The Towers of Midnight," Thom, along with Mat and Noal (who is revealed to be Jain Farstrider) rescue Moiraine and Thom bonds her and intends to wed her.
He is described as fairly old, with white hair and a long moustache. He is hot headed, but generally kind and considerate, and hates the Red Ajah. A great player of Daes Dae'mar
Daes Dae'mar
Daes Dae'mar is a semi-political concept that plays a prevalent role in universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, in the Old Tongue it means the Great Game. It is sometimes known as the Game of Houses. The Great Game is the political and social maneuvering of the Nobles Houses in a hope...
Thom is able to sort out what is important among the information he gathers and which is just lies. He is supposedly attracted to and linked to saving Moiraine.
It is revealed in Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
that Thom knows of Moiraine's fate after her battle with Lanfear
Lanfear
Lanfear is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.-Age of Legends:...
and that her rescue requires Mat's help. Most of this is made known to us in the letter that Thom received after the Blue Aes Sedai's 'death'.
Thom is highly skilled in knife combat. It is said throughout the series that he always has several knives hidden about his person. Thom's best knives were forged with the One Power, as was indicated by the flash of blue lightning when he fought the myrddraal in Whitebridge. When asked about it, Jordan replied that "Thom's best knives are very special indeed."
Using skills learned from Thom, knife fighting is a trait that is later taken up by Mat Cauthon as well.
It has also been hypothesised that Thom Merillin may be the father of Gawyn and Elayne Trakand. However, this theory was strongly refuted by the author of the series.