‘The Wheel of Time’ has many characters operating in the shadows. After all, the story, at its heart, is about the light fighting against the rise of the Dark One. But perhaps the most compelling villain in the series is Liandrin Guirale.
She was never a nice character. She was ruthless and selfish, but it seemed like she would do the dirty work to keep the world safe, even if it came at a cost. But the shock landed hard when it was revealed that Liandrin had sworn allegiance to the Dark One and betrayed her Aes Sedai oath. As the story progresses, we find out her motivations, and it takes us back to her heartbreaking childhood.
Red Ajah’s Liandrin Was Always A Darkfriend
Liandrin was introduced to viewers as the harsh Red Ajah, whose mission in life is to track male channellers who claim to be the Dragon Reborn. Her aim was clear: take away their power, or in the series’ jargon, “gentle” them. She is a warrior who doesn’t back down, whether on the battlefield or back in the White Tower when she is speaking her mind. This puts her at a crossroads with Moiraine, one of the most prominent Aes Sedai. Liandrin also has a sparring of words with the Amyrlin Seat. Her motives at the time seemed murky.
Then, she tries to sway Nynaeve al’Meara to her side once she sees the young girl’s ability to channel the One Power. She is stronger than what the Aes Sedai have seen in a thousand years. Nynaeve remains a broken soul at the end of Liandrin’s manipulations.
Related: ‘The Wheel Of Time’: 7 Ajahs Of The Aes Sedai Explained
Alongside Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne, who are training to be Aes Sedai, also become the casualties in Liandrin’s dark schemes. The woman doesn’t bat an eye while putting their lives at risk and handing them over to the brutal Seanchan. It’s clear she damages everyone along the way.
Her one weak moment is when she loses her elderly and ailing son, Aludran. Lanfear takes his life in what she deems an act of mercy. This is where Liandrin’s Black Ajah status is revealed. But when and how did this happen? Didn’t Liandrin despise the Dark One to the core? Well, it was all an act.
Once that act is out in the open, she unleashes an explosive war in the White Tower. The Black Ajah stand by her and they manage to hurt the current Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, too. While some get caught, Liandrin escapes. The path takes her to where her story began – Tanchico.
Liandrin’s Tragic Backstory In ‘The Wheel of Time’ Explained
It’s easy to blame Liandrin for her choices. She has no remorse in the present day. But when we think of where she came from, it’s clear how her circumstances played a part in her greed for power and her ascension in the dark world.
Liandrin was raised in the hopeless town of Tanchico, where nothing moral ever happens, and no one has any kindness. Even little kids are marked for a life of hardship. As Liandrin became a teenager, she was married off and was abused by her husband, who was a rich old man.
In case you missed it: Top 10 Underrated Series That Will Change The Way You See The World
In ‘The Wheel of time’ Season 3, we see a young Liandrin trying to shush her baby in a dungeon, pleading with the newborn to stay quiet so as not to awaken the wrath of her husband. The terror intensifies when he arrives and orders for the noisy child to be drowned. Liandrin wails, and this triggers her burst of One Power, which kills the man and his guards. But if you think fleeing from captivity would offer some respite, it doesn’t. No one helps; in fact, she is all but invisible, till the time Ishamael arrives. Yes, one of the Forsaken.
How Ishamael Made Young Liandrin Swear The Dark Oath
Liandrin was desperately trying to find refuge for herself and her baby when Ishamael arrived. In her mind, he seemed like a saviour. For Ishamael, Liandrin was the girl with immense potential for the One Power, so he took complete advantage of her vulnerability, promising to rescue her from her horrible situation.
You might also like to read: 10 Best TV Shows Based On Mythology
It’s true that Liandrin didn’t really have a choice at that moment. She took Ishamael’s offer, swore her oath to the Dark One, and set out on a dangerous mission that she couldn’t quite comprehend back then.
Liandrin’s Journey And Endgame
If you are wondering how Liandrin managed to deceive the Aes Sedai, considering these women can’t lie, there’s a solid explanation for it. She wasn’t a part of their world when she became a member of the Black Ajah. She had no sisters, so she didn’t betray anyone’s trust.
When the time came for Liandrin to be accepted in the network of the Aes Sedai, her intentions didn’t matter. Whatever network she made later in life as a channeler was for the Dark One’s benefit; her every action was in his service.
Now that we know Liandrin was dealt a terrible fate, does that absolve her sinister journey? No. But she isn’t pure evil, either. After all, she seeks revenge on those who go after young girls. Once she is back in Tanchico, she crashes a wedding wherein a hapless girl is being married to yet another predatory old man. It’s a bloodbath that eventually spared the child bride. Liandrin wipes her memories to give the girl a fresh start in life. It’s evident that Liandrin might have dark ambitions, but her life experiences still dictate her worldview.
Considering the path Liandrin has chosen, what’s her endgame? She wants to become a Forsaken. After everything she has been through, she never wants to suffer again. She wants power, she wants to survive.
