Mesaana (meh-SAH-nah), previously known as Saine Tarasind, is one of the thirteen Forsaken who were trapped in Shayol Ghul at the end of the War of Power due to the Dragon's sealing. During the Age of Legends, Saine Tarasind worked as a teacher at Collam Daan. She later organized schools teaching the glories of the Dark One once she turned to the Shadow and took on the name Mesaana. Her strength in the power is 2(+11), making her one of the most powerful female channelers ever, only outstripped by Alivia, Semirhage, and Lanfear (prior to having the Finn feed on her).
Appearance
She is tall, just short of her middle years with big watery blue eyes and chin-length dark hair. She has a voice that sounds like chimes. [1]
She occasionally changes her appearance to that of a shadow, wearing blacks and whites and having eyes and lips of silver. [1]
History
Unlike many of the other Chosen, Saine Tarasind was not very distinguished in her profession. After being turned down for a research position at the exclusive Collam Daan university, she felt so scorned by having to settle for merely teaching other peoples' discoveries that she eventually turned to the Shadow. "Sometimes Graendal thought Mesaana had gone over to the Shadow because it offered a more interesting opportunity for research."[2]
Though as adequate a battlefield general as she was a researcher, she proved an appalling ruler. Captured regions saw their children forced to attend schools teaching praise for the Dark One. Slow learning was punished by death, and she encouraged the children to spy on and bully each other. Mesaana encouraged children to isolate and harass children who were different. She had the children form large mobs and hunt down people from institutions of higher learning. Many children betrayed their parents and families because of her. During the second half of the war she also used them to carry out executions, at times forming "courts" entirely of children. Museums and reminders of old ways were destroyed; nothing could stand in the way of the Shadow's triumph.
It is speculated by modern day Aes Sedai that although not particularly skilled or powerful, she was very capable. She trained and recruited members into the Black Ajah and acted as a "Shadow Amyrlin Seat." It was also noted that she was second only to Demandred in sheer anger due to not being in the forefront.[3]
Being one of the thirteen most powerful of the Chosen, she was summoned to attend a meeting with the Great Lord of the Dark in the Pit of Doom at Shayol Ghul. On this day Lews Therin Telamon and the Hundred Companions struck at the Bore, sealing the Chosen and the Great Lord for three thousand years. She was well over 300 years old at this time, appearing about middle age.
During the Breaking of the World, the name "Mesaana's Children" was applied to roving brigands and looters.
Activities
Release from the Bore
Mesaana appearing in her "cloak of shadows" portrait done by Seamas Gallagher
Little details of her actions after being released from the Bore in 998 NE are known. At some point, she maneuvers herself into the White Tower, but her identity and purpose remain unknown for some time. She had plans on having Rand al'Thor within her hands within a couple of months after the White Tower Delegation went to meet him.
She is present with Graendal and Semirhage during the meeting with Demandred, who tells them all of the Dark One's plan for them and to "let the Lord of Chaos Rule."
She keeps a tab on Alviarin Freidhen, often visiting her and finding out what information is going through the Amyrlin. She obviously eavesdropped on those meetings anyway, as she knows when Alviarin leaves out bits of information. She is behind any order that the Amyrlin "gives" and is the one who teaches Alviarin how to weave a gateway.
The Forsaken Mesaana
When she appears, she has a cloak of shadow around her so as not to be identified. Alviarin attempts to piece together her identity within the Tower, but ultimately fails. Mesaana informs Alviarin about the Ajah Heads that are meeting each other secretly.
Mesaana is about to punish Alviarin when Shaidar Haran intercedes and marks Alviarin and charges her to find the Black Ajah hunters. Mesaana is then punished by Shaidar Haran for ignoring the call and not participating in the Battle near Shadar Logoth. Mesaana appears to have been raped as punishment as Shaidar Haran removes his armor and burns away Mesaana's clothing and binds her arms and legs after spreading them. This imagery combined with previous mentions of Myrddraal having a voracious sexual appetite for women appears to point towards Mesaana being raped as punishment.
She attends the meeting with the other Chosen in Tel'aran'rhiod, which is made to look like the Ansaline Gardens. There she is told that Rand is not to be harmed and that Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara are to be killed if found. She is very subdued since being punished.
Mesaana Mask of Mirrors
Secret identity
Mesaana's identity is finally revealed at the conclusion of the Battle in Tel'aran'rhiod. She had been posing as Danelle, an Aes Sedai from the Brown Ajah.
Appearance as Danelle
She has big blue eyes.
Activities as Danelle
She "overlooks" the amount of men the Master in charge of Masonry lets in as workmen. They turn out to be soldiers who attack the White Tower when it splits.[4]
She stood with Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan when she deposed Siuan Sanche as Amyrlin. After Siuan is deposed, she becomes one of Elaida's close confidants.
She is soon discarded from Elaida's group and becomes an outcast even within her own Ajah. She is not heard of for some time until Towers of Midnight.
Battle in the White Tower
Mesaana by Ariel Burgess, Official Wheel of Time Artist
She is summoned to the Blight to meet with Moridin and Demandred and is forbidden by Moridin to rescue Semirhage from Rand. It is revealed by Verin Mathwin that Mesaana is indeed in the White Tower, although she does not know the guise she is hiding under. Egwene al'Vere's purge of the Black Ajah fails to reveal her, indicating that she either has fled the Tower, has found a way around the Three Oaths, or is in the Tower but not under the guise of Aes Sedai, perhaps as a servant instead. As Chosen consider Darkfriends beneath—and thus separate from—them, she could have taken the oaths and said "I am not a Darkfriend" without lying. It is unlikely she is disguised as a servant because when Alviarin summons her with the brilliant red rod, she comes quickly and wearing silk.
After stalking Egwene in the White Tower, Mesaana coordinates an aggressive attack on a meeting between Egwene, the Wise Ones, and the Sea Folk in Tel'aran'rhiod. Egwene overpowers and fractures Mesaana's mind during the confrontation. Danelle is found as a non-sentient invalid following the Tel'aran'rhiod assault on the White Tower. This is the presumed result of Egwene having mentally overpowered Mesaana, thus destroying her mind, and has led the White Tower to conclude that Mesaana had either been Danelle the entire time, or had been impersonating the original Danelle.[5] With Mesaana remaining only as a limp, mindless husk, the Tower's plans with her are unknown.
Parallels
Mesaana's use of youth to hunt down people from institutions of higher learning, betray their families, carry out executions and form "courts" comprised entirely of them, as well as the destruction of museums and reminders of "old ways", parallels China's Cultural Revolution, with Mesaana's role paralleling that of Mao Zedong.