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Meidani Eschede
Mey-da-knee
Nationality:
Arafelan
Year of Birth:
949 NE
Gender:
Female
Hair Color:
Dark Gold
Eye Color:
Blue
Other Names:
None
Article Author:
Daraus Sedai
Page Contents
Basic Information
Actions During the Story (Spoilers)
Character Summaries (Spoilers)
Basic Information
Appearance
Meidani is a pretty woman, with dark golden wavy hair, blue eyes and a full mouth. She is tall, about 5’8” and slender, with a bosom that might have been average on another woman, but that seemed ample on Meidani's slender body. She often dresses in very fine silk gowns, tightly fitted to emphasize her bosom and richly embroidered along with many jewels; however, when she is seen in her own quarters, she is dressed quite plainly in a simple gown that de-emphasized her bosom and without a hint of jewelry.
Personality
Meidani clearly loves to travel and seems to feel that justice and support should be available to the common people as well as the nobles/wealthy and has spent years traveling throughout the Westlands adjudicating disputes that may otherwise have been ignored. She is not seen as a strong negotiator or mediator because Meidani was quite stubborn and would dig in her heels if negotiations or mediation were not progressing as she wished. Regardless of this she has received many gifts of thanks from the people she has helped over the years.
Having been put in an impossible position Meidani is seen as having a rather difficult time maintaining Aes Sedai composure, but she remains steadfast and despite being on the verge of collapsing under the pressure of her situation she manages to persevere. There are hints that Meidani is quick witted, or at least thinks well on her feet, enough to shift from reporting about Atuan to Yukiri to random points of international law seamlessly to ensure their conversation does not seem out of place. She is also quite mentally tough, managing to keep herself on-task throughout the shifting situation in the Tower and dealing with an immense amount of pressure from all sides.
Spoilers Below!!!
Actions During the Story
Actions Before the Story
Not much is known of Meidani's behavior prior to the story other than that she came to the Tower in 967 NE at the age of 18 and spent 8 years as a Novice and 7 years as an Accepted. She was raised to the Shawl in 982 NE and chose the Gray Ajah. During this time, Meidani spent some time as a pillow-friend with Elaida do'Avriny a'Roihan, but Elaida broke off the relationship when she became an Accepted.
New Spring
Meidani was Accepted from 975-982 NE and was one of the Accepted sent by Tamra Ospena to collect names of children born at the end of the Aiel War. She and Brendas were seen riding off toward the Sunset Gate along with Siuan and Moiraine.
Actions Between the Books
During the years between New Spring and The Dragon Reborn, Meidani has traveled across the continent extensively bringing legal aid to commoners throughout the Westlands.
Eye of the World
Meidani is not present during this book.
The Great Hunt
Meidani is not present during this book.
The Dragon Reborn
Meidani is not present during this book.
The Shadow Rising
Meidani was not in the Tower at the time of the Schism, one of the reasons she was chosen as part of the Fifth Column (Ferrets) when she arrived in Salidar. Presumably Meidani hears of the deposing of Siuan and Raising of Elaida during the events of TSR and heads to Salidar to join the rebellion. Meidani believes that Elaida will be a disaster for the Tower and that deposing Siuan was a miscarriage of justice, but most Sisters in the Tower assume her past as Elaida’s pillow friend coupled with resentment that Siuan outpaced her as a Novice and Accepted are the reasons Meidani returned to the Tower after the coup.
Fires of Heaven
The Salidar Six (Sheriam, Myrelle, Anaiya, Carlinya, Beonin, Morvrin) conceive of and gather the Fifth Column/Ferrets to be sent to the Tower after Siuan and Leane come to Tar Valon with Logain Ablar and begin to spread the story of Logain being set up by the Red Ajah as a False Dragon.
Lord of Chaos
Meidani and the other nine leave Salidar prior to Egwene joining the Rebels and travel back to Tar Valon under the guise of obeying the summons for all Sisters to return to Tar Valon. She is not seen or heard from during the events of this book.
A Crown of Swords
Meidani likely arrives in the Tower around this time and begins her mission to undermine Elaida and the Red Ajah. But she is never mentioned directly in the book.
Path of Daggers
Although still not named directly, we know all ten ferrets are actively working to spread the rumors within the Tower about Logain during this timeframe. Around this time Meidani has also begun making overtures to Elaida, through Alviarin, to rekindle their past friendship/romance. Alviarin has kept this from happening and Meidani assumes Elaida is not interested in reliving a relationship more than 30 years in the past.
Along with eight other members of the “Ferrets/Fifth Column” Meidani was revealed to the Black Ajah Hunters Pevara and Seaine by Zerah Dacan in The Path of Daggers Chapter 26, The Extra Bit, although none were named during the scene.
Winter's Heart
Meidani is never mentioned directly in Winter’s Heart, but at this time all ten ferrets are forced to take a fourth Oath to obey the Black Ajah Hunters. She is then set to research Aes Sedai for signs they may be part of the Black. Given the extensive timeline overlap between PoD, WH and CoT much of what Meidani is doing during this time is elaborated on when she appears in CoT.
Meidani is first named on-page during the Prologue of the book, being seen reporting to Yukiri in the common areas of the Tower giving a report on Atuan Larisett, who had been revealed as Black Ajah by Talene Minly. She has been tasked with researching the woman’s activities outside of the Tower, but finds that she has little to work with as Atuan has not left the Tower for anything aside from personal matters for the last 10 years, thus leaving no records for Meidani to find without becoming obvious and risking exposure for all the Hunters.
Yukiri recalls Meidani’s friendship with Elaida and commands Meidani to do everything she can to restart the friendship. Meidani admits that she has already made several attempts and has been rebuffed by Alviarin. Yukiri tells Meidani that Alviarin has left the Tower suddenly and to try again with Elaida. Yukiri realizes that Meidani understands the increased risk this puts her under, but she seems resolved to her situation. She is then sent to watch the corridor along with Bernaile while Seaine and Yukiri discuss the too-young Sitter situation and Ajah Head conspiracy.
Crossroads of Twilight
Beonin, after returning to the Tower, reports to Elaida the names and purpose of the 10 Ferrets, including Meidani. Elaida responds by summoning Meidani to dinner in order to toy with her and potentially get her to divulge Rebel plans.
Meidani quickly becomes a nightly dinner companion to The Amyrlin, despite knowing that Beonin betrayed her to Elaida. Meidani is dressed suitably to attend a ball, but is visibly nervous, fidgeting and trembling slightly and then practically running from the room when asked to excuse Elaida and Tarna. Elaida goes on to tell Tarna about her past with Meidani and that she has plans to make Meidani beg for mercy and accept anything Elaida chooses to do to her once she has been exposed.
Knife of Dreams
Meidani’s most significant role in the series takes place throughout The Gathering Storm. Starting with Meidani being present while Egwene is serving dinner for Elaida. Egwene recognizes her name as one of the ferrets and wonders what she is doing dressed so finely and having dinner with Elaida when she knew Elaida was aware of her being a spy. Elaida is toying with Meidani at this point, forcing her to research punishments for traitors. Elaida further mocks her for being slow witted and wonders why Meidani was ever raised to Aes Sedai. Meidani talks about the Seanchan rumors and Elaida waives them away as inconsequential and changes the topic to mention implementing an official Fourth Oath, fealty to the Amyrlin.
Egwene then spills soup, enraging Elaida and forcing Meidani to help clean up, Egwene tells Meidani to summon her for a private lesson. Meidani herself realizes that her Aes Sedai calm has been shattered by her recent experiences, but she is not truly broken and shows she still has spirit.
Several weeks later Meidani finally summons Egwene for a lesson. Egwene is immediately struck by the homey feel of Meidani’s quarters describing a very different person than she expected after what she witnessed while serving Elaida:
“These rooms, however, hinted at a woman who loved to travel. … The sitting room was like a museum dedicated to one person's journeys. An Altaran marriage knife, set with four twinkling rubies, hung beside a small Cairhienin banner and a Shienar sword. Each had a small plaque explaining its significance. … Who would have thought that the cowering woman of the dinner a few weeks back would have such a proud collection?”
Egwene works to gain Meidani’s support and eventually discovers that Meidani has been forced to take a fourth Oath and then Egwene teaches Meidani the weaves for Traveling and they go to meet the Black Ajah Hunters. Seaine, Yukiri, Doesine and Saerin are less than pleased to see Egwene walk in with Meidani but eventually they accept Egwene to a degree and Meidani starts to regain some of her spirit and truly sees Egwene as Amyrlin.
Meidani is last mentioned on-page in The Gathering Storm, Chapter Thirty-Nine, A Visit from Verin Sedai where she reveals to Egwene that the fourth Oath had been removed from the Ferrets and that Nicola has proven herself to be on the side of the Light via the Oath Rod she then takes Verin’s body and the poisoned tea from Egwene’s rooms via Traveling/Gateway.
The Gathering Storm
Meidani is not present during this book.
Towers of Midnight
Meidani is not present during this book.
A Memory of Light
Character Summaries
Special Abilities
Meidani is in the higher tiers of Aes Sedai Strength at level 17 (5). Her strength in the Power is likely an additional reason she was selected by the Salidar Six to infiltrate the Tower as she stands high enough in the hierarchy to be able to influence other Sisters, within the Gray Ajah only Yukiri (level 14) of the Loyalist Sisters, the duplicitous Beonin (level 16) and Kwamesa (level 16) of the Rebel Sisters are confirmed to stand above Meidani, Merana and Tamaile each equal Meidani at level 17. Meidani shows a considerable amount of skill with Traveling, as she learns the Weave from Egwene after a single demonstration and is later seen using it while also lifting Verin’s body.
Notable Possessions
Meidani is never associated with an object of the Power, but her rooms have many interesting, if mundane, possessions collected during her travels:
Maps hung within delicate frames, centered on the walls like prized pieces of art
A pair of Aiel spears hung on either side of one map
A map of the Sea Folk islands
A small collection of Sea Folk earrings and painted shells carefully framed and displayed, notable for not being the more common porcelain collectables most people would have from the Sea Folk Islands
An Altaran marriage knife, set with four twinkling rubies
A small Cairhienin banner
A Shienar sword
A rug purchased on the closed docks of Shara, it was of strange design, woven from what seemed to be tiny, dyed reeds, with tufts of an exotic gray fur trimming the edges. The pattern depicted exotic creatures with long necks
A curious chair made from woven wicker boughs, crafted to look like a growing thicket of branches that just happened to take the shape of a chair
Legacy
Meidani is an instrumental part of uncovering the Black Ajah as well as the reunification of the Tower under Egwene. While she is a side player, her role is quite pivotal. She is one of the handful of Aes Sedai that come to respect and accept Egwene as the true Amyrlin through Egwene’s personal effort rather than being forced by “convention”.
Meidani is never seen on page after she removes Verin’s body from Egwene’s rooms just prior to the Seanchan raid on the Tower but given that her name is not listed amongst the dead/captured after the Seanchan raid it can be assumed that she went on to fight in the Last Battle. Meidani’s ultimate fate is unknown, but if she did survive the Last Battle she would be one of the highest ranking Aes Sedai left alive and given her key role in uncovering the Black and returning unity to the Tower it is likely that she would eventually take on a leadership role within the Tower.
In Other Media
No announcement regarding Meidani’s character has been made for the upcoming Wheel of Time TV series being produced by Amazon Studios. It is unlikely the character would make an appearance until later seasons given her timeline in the books, although she could appear earlier if producers choose to expand the character or combine her role with another Aes Sedai to simplify the TV adaptation.
