Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron

Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron
Biographical Information
Nationality	Mayener
Current status	Alive
Physical description
Gender	Female
Hair	Long, black
Eyes	Big, dark
Chronological and political information
First mentioned	TGH 9
First appeared	TDR 53
Last appeared	AMOL 37
Affiliation	Perrin Aybara
Occupation	First of Mayene
Title	First of Mayene, Blessed of the Light, Defender of the Waves, High Seat of House Paeron
Rank	Lady

Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron, Blessed of the Light, Defender of the Waves, High Seat of House Paeron, is the First of Mayene.

Appearance

She is a beautiful, tall, pale woman with long black hair, and has large, dark eyes. She wears the Diadem of the First, a golden hawk in flight.

History

Berelain claims to be a descendent and heir of Artur Hawkwing, through his grandson Tyrn sur Paendrag Mashera. In Mayene it is claimed that Tyrn evaded the assassination attempt that killed his mother and was raised in secrecy in Mayene for his own safety. The Firsts of Mayene claim an unbroken line of succession from Tyrn and his daughter Miselle, and through him to Hawkwing. This claim is not taken seriously outside of Mayene.

Berelain Sur Paendrag fan art done by John Seamas Gallagher

Activities

Chasing Perrin

Berelain brings a note to Moiraine the day after Rand takes Callandor. The note claims possession of "Lews Therin" but leaves him in the care of Moiraine. It is signed "Lanfear".

Berelain tries to seduce Rand al'Thor in an effort to obtain political influence, ends with disastrous results; she then goes after Perrin Aybara with no better apparent effect. When Mat tries to charm her she ignores him since she views him as being too much like herself. She does earn the enmity of Faile Bashere, a woman interested in Perrin, however; Berelain believes that it will "amuse" her to take Perrin away from Faile.

Later, 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, Berelain renews her attempts at seducing Perrin which results in interpersonal problems with Faile, now his wife. Faile's subsequent kidnapping by the Shaido has thrown this entire dynamic into even greater chaos. She later neglects her duties in Cairhien but gets a stern reminder from Rhuarc who treats her as a daughter. When Rand is captured by the White Tower Aes Sedai she not only sends men to Rand's aid but she uncovers evidence linking Colavaere Saighan to both Lord Maringil and Meilan Mendiana's murders when she makes her move for the Sun Throne.

Berelain, First of Mayene

While Rand is missing, Colavaere is crowned Queen and takes Berelain's Aes Sedai adviser Annoura Larisen for her own and makes Berelain a lady in waiting with Faile. When Rand returns to Cairhien he relieves her of her stewardship and tries to send her back to Mayene due to her reputation being damaged by Colavaere. She instead accompanies Perrin into Ghealdan to track down Masema Dagar.

Ghealdan

Perrin sends her to meet with Queen Alliandre Maritha Kigarin. She brings Alliandre back to camp and helps Faile pressure her into keeping her oath of fealty to Perrin by staying with the army. While out hunting with Faile and Alliandre, the group is attacked by the Shaido Aiel. All of the group are captured except Berelain, who manages to escape and send word to Perrin.

While Faile is in captivity, Berelain at first tries to offer a truce to Perrin in regards to her advances, but his reaction infuriates her. She then allows rumors to be spread that he is succumbing to her advances around the camp, further aggravating the situation. Nevertheless, she is instrumental in discovering Masema's collusion with the Seanchan and offers to use her gold and jewels to ransom the Shaido's prisoners, including Faile. She goes with Perrin to So Habor, where they collect grain for their troops. She accompanies him back to camp and witnesses him cleave a Shaido prisoners hand off, when he is looking for answers on his missing wife.

Berelain wearing the Diadem of the First (from a Japanese translation book cover)

Plan to rescue Faile

She is present when Galina Casban is brought before Perrin and questioned. Galina asks to be slapped so she can claim she was beaten by brigands, with which Berelain complies. She later goes with Perrin when he makes his deal with the Seanchan.

She is present at the meeting with Perrin and Tylee Khirgan, who is informing Perrin on a rebellious group of Whitecloaks moving north not too far from camp, when the Pattern ripples. While traveling back through Ghealdan, after the Battle of Malden, she is with Perrin when they find land that appears to have been affected by the Blight. Later she attends a meeting with Perrin to decide where the army should now go. A decision is made to send a scouting force to Cairhien to start looking for Rand.

Faile confronts Berelain about the rumors of her bedding Perrin while Faile was captive. At first Faile issues a challenge but on further discussion they decide to be seen around camp as friends to help dissuade the rumors.

Meeting the man in White

Berelain is present during the second parley between Perrin and Galadedrid Damodred and seems to be as taken with him as he of her. She is walking through the camp when a bubble of evil erupts causing all the weapons to attack their owners. Faile rescues her when she throws dirt onto the dagger that is attacking her, causing it to become inanimate again. Faile saving Berelain's life seems to have finally quelled all rumors of Perrin's alleged infidelity with her. Berelain keeps asking Perrin if she can negotiate with Galad and blushes when she sees him at Perrin's trial.

File:Berelain o0.png

The First of Mayene

Berelain is present when Perrin creates Mah'alleinir and then declares to his followers his acceptance at becoming their Lord and leader. Perrin then gives the command for his army to Travel back to where the Whitecloaks have set up their camp. Berelain is concerned that Perrin is planning to ambush the Whitecloaks and Faile reassures her that Perrin is not like that. Berelain admits that she has finally given up on Perrin and set her sights on Galad, hence her concern for the Whitecloaks.

Perrin sends her, Alliandre, and Faile to the back of his army when his force starts attacking the Trollocs which were about to ambush the Whitecloaks. This helps alleviate her fears on Perrin attacking the Whitecloaks. After the battle, the three ladies help cut bandages to the injured. Berelain admits to Faile the reason she tried to seduce Perrin was so she had a tie to the Dragon Reborn through one of his good friends. She attends Morgase and Martyn Tallanvor's wedding with Galad. She Travels through with Perrin and the rest of his huge force to the Field of Merrilor to prepare for the Last Battle.

Viewing

A viewing by Min Farshaw indicates that she will fall in love with a man in white. This, combined with a viewing of two most beautiful people falling in love, seems to indicate that she will marry Galad Damodred.

Parallels

Berelain could be a reference to the name Elaine, which was the name of several different women in Arthurian legend—particularly Elaine of Astolat, who died of unrequited love for Lancelot. Her surname, Paendrag, derives from the name of Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father.

Berelain could also be based upon Eva Perón, the famous Argentinian woman who became a hero to her people, and came from humble upbringings (akin to how Berelain is leader of the smallest of nations).