Lan Mandragoran

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Lan Mandragoran

Nationality

Malkier

Affiliation

Warder

Social Status

Royalty

Family

Nynaeve al'Meara

First Appearance

The Eye of the World, Chapter 2

Author: Annouk Vinkona Ùlfanna

Pronunciation: AHL-LAN man-DRAG-or-an

Lan is the Warder of Moiraine Sedai. He follows her to the Two Rivers, where they meet three young men, who are chased by Trollocs and Myrddraal. He joins his Aes Sedai, who scoops the boys away from their village of Emond's Field on a journey to Tar Valon.

General

His full name is al'Lan Mandragoran, Lord of the Seven Towers, Lord of the Lakes, and true Blade of Malkier. The "al'" in front of his name signifies royalty. It is rarely used since he is not the crowned King of Malkier. His parents are al'Akir and el'Leanna Mandragoran (TEotW, Ch. 47). He was born the same year Malkier fell to the Blight (953 NE). He is anointed Dai Shan, "consecrated as the next King of Malkier." As an infant, he is taken from Malkier by twenty men to safety in Fal Moran, Shienar. Five of these men survive and raise him. They train him to be the best sword master of his generation. He has been raised in Shienar but in Malkieri tradition (NS, Ch. 1).

Appearance

Lan is described as having an angular face made from stony planes, weathered but unlined. His eyes are cold and blue. His shoulder-length hair is gray at the temples and held back by a thin braided leather cord, the hadori. He moves like a wolf. The Warder cloak he wears makes him seem to be melting into his surroundings (TEotW, Ch. 2).

He is as tall as Rand and “more heavily muscled, if not quite so broad across the shoulders" (TGH, Ch. 1).

Personality

Lan is extremely loyal.

Condensed Timeline

This section contains spoilers relating to the whole series. Please expand to view.

Lan's Journey

Pre-series

This section contains spoilers relating to New Spring. Please expand to view.

New Spring

This section contains spoilers relating to New Spring. Please expand to view.

During the Aiel War, Lan and Bukama participate in the Battle of the Shining Walls. Lan is in charge of a force of soldiers that includes Borderlanders and Domani. One night, Lan prepares to coordinate with Lord Emares to form a hammer and anvil attack to defeat a group of nearby Aiel. Emares does not show up, but the Aiel, rather than attacking Lan’s much smaller force, salute Lan with their spears and shout “Aan’allein,” which is Old Tongue for “One Man Alone.” The Aiel then move off. Unbeknownst to Lan King Laman Damodredhas been killed. The Aiel see the war as over and are therefore heading back to the Aiel Waste (NS, Ch. 1). Over the next days, Lan and his men follow the Aiel as they retreat to Kinslayer's Dagger (NS, Ch. 12).

With the Aiel War now over, Lan feels pulled towards Malkier. Bukama tries to convince Lan to take a year or even eight months to rest before returning to his war against the Blight, but Lan will only agree to four. He and Bukama take their leave of the other soldiers and ride south (NS, Ch. 12).

Winter passes, and in the spring, Lan and Bukama ride to Canluum in Kandor. They have some trouble entering the city as Bukama takes offense at the demeanor of a young soldier; after a fight almost breaks out, Bukama eventually apologizes and promises not to draw his sword within the city’s walls. Lan and Bukama are thereafter welcomed into the city (NS, Ch. 15).

Once inside Canluum, Lan opts not to go to the palace of Varan Marcasiev, the lord of Canluum, because he wants to avoid the ceremony that would ensue (NS, Ch. 15). They end up staying at an inn named The Blue Rose instead. One of Lan’s friends, Ryne Venamar, also happens to be staying there. They have a drink together and the serving woman, Lira, presses Lan to spend the night with her. Ryne tells Lan that Edeyn Arrel is in Chachin and has raised the Golden Crane in Lan’s name, but Lan insists that Malkier is dead. Wanting to be alone with his thoughts, he goes out to care for his horse in the stable. There, Lan reminisces about Edeyn and tries to calm his emotions. Bukama eventually joins him (NS, Ch. 16).

As Lan and Bukama leave the stable to reenter the The Blue Rose, they are attacked by six men. Because of Bukama’s oath not to draw his sword within the city, Lan orders him to go back into the stable. Lan then proceeds to kill all six of the men on his own, although he does take some injuries. Ryne thinks that Edeyn is responsible for the attack: with Lan dead, she could name herself Queen of Malkier. Lan won’t hear anything said against her, but decides to leave for Chachin the next day. He knows he has to face Edeyn and the fact that she is trying to raise Malkier from the dead (NS, Ch. 16).

The next day, Lan, Bukama, and Ryne leave for Chachin together. They ride without stopping until evening begins to fall. Along the way, they notice that a woman seems to be following them; it is Moiraine, although Lan does not yet know who she is. Lan thinks she might have been sent by Edeyn to watch him. The three men come up with a plan to find out whether Moiraine is actually following them and what she might be up to. While Bukama and Ryne ride on ahead, Lan stops to set up camp alone. He purposely leaves a trail that Moiraine can follow and then sits and practices ko’di while he waits to see if she will take the bait. Moiraine sneaks up behind him and tries to channel his sword away from him, but he is too quick for her and throws her into a nearby pond. He then pulls her out of the water and hangs blankets so that she can change in privacy. Bukama and Ryne arrive at the camp, and Lan threatens Ryne when he makes a rude comment about Moiraine. To calm Lan and Ryne, Bukama takes them aside to play sevens (NS, Ch. 19).

Later that evening, Moiraine claims “the right of a woman alone,” asking for protection on the way to Chachin (NS, Ch. 19). She offers them money in exchange, which insults Lan (NS, Ch. 20), but Bukama swears that he will see her safely to Chachin (NS, Ch. 19). Bukama is upset that Lan doesn’t do the same, despite the fact that Lan intends to honour Bukama’s oath anyway (NS, Ch. 20).

That night, as the others are settling down to sleep and Lan is taking the first shift on watch, he makes a disparaging comment about Aes Sedai. Moiraine, angered, channels a column of water from the pond onto Lan and then reveals that she is in fact an Aes Sedai. Lan purposely remains sitting where he is all night, despite the water and mud (NS, Ch. 19), in order to “let her know he would accept what she had done” (NS, Ch. 21).

The next morning, the group rides on. Moiraine insists that they stop in Manala for breakfast. At The Plowman's Blade, Lan, Bukama, and Ryne sit separately from Moiraine, and discuss her while they eat. Lan does not believe that Moiraine is really Aes Sedai and still thinks that she is watching him for Edeyn. When they notice that Moiraine has disappeared, Lan and Ryne search for her. Lan finds her inquiring after a woman named Avene Sahera. Trying to learn what Moiraine is up to, he offers to help in her search; Moiraine, however, turns him down (NS, Ch. 20).

Over the course of the next few days, the group continues to ride towards Chachin. It is an unpleasant journey for Lan: Moiraine asks incessant questions, Bukama complains constantly about Lan refusing to make a pledge to Moiraine, and every night, Moiraine devises some new torment in an attempt to make him show “remorse” for throwing her into the pond. These include flicking him with weaves of air when he tries to fall asleep, putting sand inside his clothing and boots, making ants bite him, and putting blisterleaf in his clothes. Lan settles in to endure until they reach Chachin, although he is close to his wits end (NS, Ch. 21).

They encounter bandits a number of times on the journey, but generally these are intimidated by Lan, Bukama, and Ryne. On one occasion, fifty bandits prepare to attack them, but Moiraine scares them off with the One Power. Shortly after passing through Ravinda, about two days away from Chachin, Caniedrin attempts to assassinate Lan and the others; he manages to shoot Lan with an arrow before being taken down. Afterwards, Moiraine Heals Lan (NS, Ch. 21).

Finally, the group reaches Chachin and Lan tells Moiraine that the pledge made by Bukama has now been fulfilled. Lan rides towards the Aesdaishar Palace, because he knows that Edeyn will be there if she is in the city. He is welcomed with honours and is led to his rooms by the shatayan, Mistress Romera, herself (NS, Ch. 22).

Once in his rooms, Lan is informed by Anya and Else, the serving women who have been assigned to him, that Edeyn is indeed staying in the palace. After bathing and changing, he settles in to wait. A messenger arrives from Edeyn with a verbal request for Lan’s presence, but Lan replies that he must first recover from his journey. A little while later, Edeyn sends him a written command, but he burns it (NS, Ch. 22).

Mistress Romera arrives to ask if Lan has rested enough to see Prince Brys, and then escorts him to a formal hall. There, Lan finds not only Brys but also a number of nobles dressed like Malkieri. Lan chats with Brys and his son Diryk for a short time before Brys announces that there is “someone else” Lan must now see. Brys leads him to Edeyn, who is among those in the hall, and Edeyn proceeds to shock Lan by publicly swearing fealty to him as the King of Malkier. Others seem prepared to follow suit, but Brys rescues Lan by pulling him away to a private walk. Brys apologizes, as he had not been aware that Edeyn would do such a thing. The two men speak for a time before Lan goes back to his rooms (NS, Ch. 22).

In his rooms, Lan finds Edeyn waiting for him. Because she is his carneira, in private she has a great deal of power over him. She reveals that she plans to have him marry her daughter, Iselle, and Lan is horrified at the thought. Edeyn then takes Lan to bed (NS, Ch. 22).

Using Lan’s daori, Edeyn keeps Lan confined to his rooms for the next two days. During that time, Moiraine comes to visit him and finds him practicing the sword. Because Malkier once pledged to always aid the White Tower, Moiraine demands his help. He responds that he will help her only if she tells him why the White Tower did not send aid when Malkier fell to the Blight; this is something that no Aes Sedai has ever been willing to tell him before. Moiraine confesses that the White Tower did actually send over one hundred Aes Sedai to Malkier’s aid, but that they were too late and the Tower chose to keep its failure a secret. Lan tells Moiraine that he will help her, and she asks if he will have someone watch Merean for her. Lan agrees to ask Bukama (NS, Ch. 25).

When Edeyn finally lets Lan leave his rooms, he sneaks through the palace looking for Bukama; he wants to talk to his friend about Edeyn’s dream of reclaiming Malkier. A short while later, something hits Lan and he falls down a flight of stairs. He knows that someone has used the One Power to try to kill him. As he picks himself up, a servant tells him that Bukama has been injured, and Lan hurries to his friend’s side only to learn that Bukama is already dead (NS, Ch. 26).

After Bukama’s death, Lan confronts Moiraine, who puts together that Merean is up to something. They find Merean and Ryne, who are both Darkfriends, on Brys’s private walk. Merean has tricked Iselle into bringing Brys and Diryk to her as captives. Merean reveals that it was Ryne who killed Bukama, and Lan and Ryne fight; although it is a close call, Lan wins. Meanwhile, Moiraine manages to kill Merean, although not before Merean kills Brys, Diryk, and Iselle. After everything is over, Moiraine Heals Lan from the wounds he sustained while fighting Ryne (NS, Ch. 26).

The next morning, Lan leaves the city alone, intending to ride to the Blight. Once outside of the city, he stops to light a fire and burns his daori. Moiraine finds him and asks him to be her Warder, telling him everything about her search for the Dragon Reborn. She convinces him that he can better fight the Shadow by helping her in her search, and he finally agrees. She bonds him, and then they head back to Chachin to prepare to continue the search (NS, Epilogue).

The Eye of the World

The day before Winternight in 998 NE, Lan and Moiraine arrive in Emond's Field, searching for the Dragon Reborn. They take a room in the Winespring Inn, but the villagers do not know who they really are. Moiraine tells the villagers that she is a “student of history,” although Ewin Finngar fantastically (and rightly) imagines that Lan is a Warder because of his fierce appearance. Lan stands by while Moiraine speaks to Rand, Mat Cauthon, and Ewin; the three boys are all very impressed by him. Moiraine and Lan both see a raven acting oddly, but don’t realize that it forewarns a coming Trolloc attack (TEotW, Ch. 2).

The next night, on Winternight, Trollocs attack Emond's Field and Lan helps Moiraine to defend it. Their identity as Aes Sedai and Warder are thus revealed to the villagers, many of whom are now afraid of them. After the battle, Lan searches the Trolloc corpses to determine what bands they are from (TEotW, Ch. 7).

While Moiraine Heals Tam, who has been injured, Lan and Rand speak quietly. Lan questions Rand about his sword, and Rand tells Lan about seeing a Myrddraal in the woods. After Moiraine has finished Healing Tam, Lan and Moiraine tell Rand that the Shadow is hunting for him, Mat, and Perrin Aybara. Lan and Moiraine want the three boys to accompany them to Tar Valon, where they will be safe, and Lan appears to sigh in relief when Rand agrees to go in order to save Emond’s Field from further attack (TEotW, Ch. 8).

Lan and Moiraine arrange for the group to leave that night. When it is time, Lan fetches the boys. Before they can depart, they are happened upon by both Egwene al'Vere and Thom Merrilin, who want to go with them. Lan is not pleased about either of the additions, but Moiraine tells him that it is a part of the Pattern (TEotW, Ch. 10).

Lan proceeds to lead everyone carefully out of Emond's Field (TEotW, Ch. 10), and they take to the North Road. They stop briefly near Watch Hill so that Moiraine can channel away the exhaustion felt by both the horses and the humans; Lan is the only one who does not need her help. While they are stopped, a Draghkar finds them and the group takes off again. Moiraine helps to hide the group by causing a mist to arise, and eventually they reach Taren Ferry. Lan wakes Master Hightower and convinces him, with gold, to take them across the river on his ferry (TEotW, Ch. 11).

Lan and the others cross the river on Master Hightower’s ferry, and then camp for the night in a place Lan chooses for them (TEotW, Ch. 12). Before they go to sleep, Moiraine eases all of their exhaustion again, this time including Lan. Lan keeps watch while the others sleep, and wakes them when it is time for them to leave. Over the course of the next several days, they travel towards Baerlon. They take a winding path in order to avoid pursuit, and Lan frequently takes off to scout ahead or to check their trail. In the evenings, when they stop for the night, Lan trains Rand, Mat, and Perrin to use their weapons (TEotW, Ch. 13).

After almost a week, Lan and the others reach Baerlon and go to The Stag and Lion inn (TEotW, Ch. 13). Lan goes to the common room for a while to see what news he can learn before joining Rand, Mat, and Perrin in the bathing room. He interrupts Mat telling Ara about the Trollocs and is displeased at his lack of caution. Later, they all eat dinner together in a private dining room, and Lan then returns to the common room to see what else he can learn. That night, he shares a room with Rand and Thom (TEotW, Ch. 14).

The next day, Lan and the others remain in Baerlon to rest (TEotW, Ch. 14; TEotW, Ch. 15). When Nynaeve arrives in Baerlon, having followed the group there, Lan wants to know how she managed to find them. He is impressed by her tracking skills and compliments her. When Moiraine wishes to speak with Nynaeve alone, Lan leaves as well and guards the door so that no one can enter (TEotW, Ch. 17).

The group plans to leave early the next morning, but when a Myrddraal comes to the inn, they leave that night; Nynaeve goes with them. They are stopped at the gates by Whitecloaks, and although Lan tries to talk his way past them, Moiraine must scare them using the One Power so that the group can escape. Once out of Baerlon, they take off east down the Caemlyn Road (TEotW, Ch. 17).

They follow the Caemlyn Road for two days, until finally a Myrddraal and Trollocs catch up with them. While Moiraine leads the others on, Lan falls back to assess what they are up against. When he rejoins the group, he tells Moiraine that there are three fists of Trollocs on their trail who will reach them in no more than an hour. Lan tells Moiraine that they should take cover in Shadar Logoth, but Moiraine is reluctant to do so. They ride north, trying to reach River Arinelle where they can possibly catch a boat. Soon, however, some of the Trollocs catch up and the group is forced to fight them. During the battle, Lan kills a Myrddraal, which incapacitates the Trollocs who were linked to it. The group frantically rides on again, followed by yet more Trollocs. Moiraine finally stops and causes an earthquake before channeling a wall of fire to protect the group. Because Moiraine needs to rest before she can do anything else to help the group escape, Lan presses her again to go to Shadar Logoth, and this time she agrees (TEotW, Ch. 18).

Lan leads everyone to Shadar Logoth (TEotW, Ch. 18), and once inside the ruined city, chooses a building for them to rest in. Lan carries Moiraine inside. When Rand, Mat, and Perrin take off to explore Shadar Logoth without telling anyone, Lan goes out to look for them. While he is searching for the boys, he finds Trollocs within the city and kills at least three of them. Moiraine decides that they will leave the city and head to the Arinelle, where she will weave a ward to keep the Trollocs back until the group can make rafts to cross the river with (TEotW, Ch. 19).

While leaving Shadar Logoth, Lan and Moiraine become separated from the others due to Mashadar (TEotW, Ch. 20). Once out of the city, Lan and Moiraine stop to figure out what to do. Nynaeve manages to find them and sneaks up on them; Lan is chagrined that he didn’t notice her. The three of them soon take off again, heading south in search of Rand, Mat, and Perrin (TEotW, Ch. 21).

Lan, Moiraine, and Nynaeve travel towards Whitebridge in search of the boys. At some point on the journey, Lan and Nynaeve begin to develop feelings for each other, although they do not speak of it. Lan tries to convince Nynaeve to go back to the Two Rivers, where she will be safe, but she refuses. Finally, the three of them reach Whitebridge. Moiraine can sense that two of the boys were there a short while before, and Lan can sense that there was also a Myrddraal. Lan, Moiraine, and Nynaeve stay in Whitebridge long enough to ask some questions and eat a meal, and then leave (TEotW, Ch. 28).

One night, Lan, Moiraine, and Nynaeve manage to track down Perrin and Egwene, who have been captured by Whitecloaks. Lan and Moiraine scout out the camp while Nynaeve remains behind to keep the horses quiet. Lan goes back for Nynaeve, and asks her if she can create a distraction so that Lan can get the prisoners out (TEotW, Ch. 37). Lan sneaks into the tent where Perrin and Egwene are being held and knocks out Byar, who is keeping watch over them. Lan manages to get Perrin and Egwene out of the camp and reach Moiraine; when Moiraine informs Lan that Nynaeve has yet to return, Lan wants to go find her but Moiraine stops him. When Nynaeve shows up shortly afterwards, Lan is visibly relieved. Lan then leads everyone south (TEotW, Ch. 38).

Shortly before dawn, they stop to rest. Lan speaks with Perrin; he recognizes Perrin’s now-golden eyes. Lan tells Perrin what he knows of Wolfbrothers and Elyas (TEotW, Ch. 38).

Lan and the others eventually reach Caemlyn, where they are reunited with Rand and Mat at The Queen's Blessing. When Mat tries to attack Moiraine with his ruby dagger, Lan stops him. When Moiraine sends the other Emond’s Fielders away so she can Heal Mat, Lan stays with her (TEotW, Ch. 41).

While Moiraine and the others plan what to do next, Lan keeps watch so that they will not be disturbed, joining them once night comes. They plan to take The Ways to Fal Dara, and then to enter the Blight to find the Eye of the World (TEotW, Ch. 43). The group, plus Loial, leaves The Queen’s Blessing and enters the Ways via the Caemlyn Waygate (TEotW, Ch. 44). They spend the night in the Ways, and the next day, manage to exit just before Machin Shin devours them (TEotW, Ch. 45).

Once they are out of the Ways, having exited near Fal Dara as planned, Lan and the others ride into the city. Lan is greeted warmly by the Shienaran soldiers who guard the gates. They ride to the fortress, where Ingtar greets them and leads them to Lord Agelmar. Agelmar is very happy to see them, and thinks that Lan and Moiraine have come to help in the upcoming fight at Tarwin's Gap. Agelmar updates them on recent activity along the Blight and the dire circumstances for Fal Dara. Agelmar tries to convince Lan and Moiraine to fight with him, but they cannot, and they tell Agelmar that they must instead ride to the Blight. Recognizing the importance of what they are about to do, Agelmar wants to send a hundred men with Lan and Moiraine, but they turn down his offer (TEotW, Ch. 46).

Lan and the others dine with Agelmar that night. Word is brought that a man has been caught trying to enter Fal Dara, and it turns out to be Padan Fain. When Moiraine goes to question him, Lan goes with her (TEotW, Ch. 46). While the others wait for them, Agelmar tells the Emond’s Fielders about who Lan really is (TEotW, Ch. 47).

The next morning, Lan and the others leave for the Blight. They ride all day and camp for the night near the remains of the Seven Towers of Malkier. That night, Lan and Nynave speak privately, although Rand is awake and overhears. Nynaeve confesses her feelings for Lan. She hints that she wants to marry him, but although Lan is in love with her as well, he tells her that he is not willing to make her a widow (TEotW, Ch. 48). The next morning, Rand notices that “Lan’s face was harder than ever, as if he had resumed a mask and did not intend to let it slip again.” As they ride that day, they are attacked by Shadowspawn. Lan and the others fight, and then ride onwards in an attempt to make it to the Mountains of Dhoom. Just as they are about to be overrun by Worms, they suddenly reach the Green Man’s garden (TEotW, Ch. 49).

The Green Man guides Lan and the others to the Eye of the World. There, they are attacked by Aginor and Balthamel, who have been released from Shayol Ghul. Lan tries to attack them, but he is torn between protecting Moiraine and protecting Nynaeve, and Aginor knocks him unconscious. Nynaeve, seeing this, tries to attack the Forsaken in retaliation (TEotW, Ch. 50).

Later, after Aginor, Balthamel, and Ba'alzamon have been defeated at the Eye, Lan regains consciousness and Nynaeve treats his wounds. Lan, along with Moiraine, Nynaeve, and Egwene, now know that Rand is the Dragon Reborn. While they wait for Rand to return from fighting Ba’alzamon, Lan takes Mat, Perrin, and Loial back to the Eye, where they find the Dragon banner, the Horn of Valere, and a seal of the Dark One’s prison. Lan is awed and shaken by the finding of the Horn (TEotW, Ch. 52).

They spend the night in the Green Man’s garden, but it has started to fade with the death of the Green Man. The next day, they ride back towards Shienar. Lan and Nynaeve avoid making eye contact and speaking to each other (TEotW, Ch. 53).

When they arrive back in Fal Dara, Lan and the others speak with Agelmar and tell him of the death of the Green Man and the finding of the Horn of Valere (TEotW, Ch. 53).

In the days that follow, Lan and Rand spend time together practicing the sword. Rand tells Lan that he intends to leave Fal Dara (TEotW, Ch. 53).

The Great Hunt

More than a month after their trip to the Eye of the World, Lan and Rand spar atop a tower in Fal Dara. When a solid wall of air holds Rand temporarily in place, Lan appears concerned but comments that “Strange things can happen this close to the Blight.” They talk about Rand’s heron-mark sword as well as Rand’s reason for not yet having left Fal Dara. Rand admits that it is because he hopes that Moiraine can tell him something more about what he is. Lan tells Rand that he doesn’t think Moiriane can help him any more. Finally, Lan and Rand hear trumpets and realize that the Amyrlin Seat has travelled to Fal Dara. Lan tells Rand that he should have left a week ago and leaves to go inside (TGH, Ch. 1).

After a Myrddraal and Trollocs break Padan Fain out of the Fal Dara keep, Lan goes to the dungeons. There, he finds Rand, and delivers a message from Moiraine: that Rand can leave Fal Dara whenever he wishes (TGH, Ch. 6).

Lan goes to Rand’s room to let him know that the Amyrlin has sent for him. He proceeds to pick out clothing for Rand to wear and gives Rand instructions on how to behave; he tells Rand to pay proper respect to the Amyrlin, but also to look her in the eye and not to grovel. When Rand asks why Lan is helping him, Lan responds that he is at least a little bit on Rand’s side (TGH, Ch. 7). He also wonders later if he might have been caught up by Rand’s ta’veren nature (TGH, Ch. 22). Before they leave the room, Lan presents Rand with a pin in the shape of the Red Eagle of Manetheren (TGH, Ch. 7).

Lan escorts Rand to his audience with the Amyrlin Seat. Leane, however, will not allow Lan to accompany him inside the room, as she says that Moiraine has something else for him to do. Before the door shuts between them, Rand hears Lan say, “Tai’shar Manetheren” (TGH, Ch. 8).

Lan and Moiraine are to go back to Tar Valon with Siuan. Before they leave, Lan speaks with Nynaeve, who has been avoiding him during their time in Fal Dara. Although Lan maintains that he has nothing to offer Nynaeve, he gifts her his signet ring, which is the ancient ring of the Kings of Malkier. He tells her that it will grant her guestright and help from any Borderland lord, as well as aid from any Warder. He also tells her that if she ever sends him the ring or a message that she has marked with the ring, he will come to her. He then leaves to finish preparing for the journey to Tar Valon, as they will be leaving that day (TGH, Ch. 8).

Before Rand leaves Fal Dara to search for the Horn of Valere, Lan gives Rand one last sword lesson, telling him that a time might come when he needs to use a sword form called Sheathing the Sword. This is to be used “when you must achieve a goal at all costs” and involves allowing “the sword to be sheathed in your own body” (TGH, Ch. 9).

Lan leaves Fal Dara with Moiraine and the other Aes Sedai. During the journey to Tar Valon, he and Nynaeve speak once and argue, although it is never revealed what they argue about. When they are done speaking, Nynaeve is crying and Lan stands watching her tent for a long time (TGH, Ch. 12).

Moiraine has begun to fear that Lan is drifting away from her and is no longer fully committed to her cause. She is troubled by the actions he took in preparing Rand for his meeting with Siuan, and also by his feelings for Nynaeve. She thinks that he is going to eventually ask her to release his bond (TGH, Ch. 22).

On the way to Tar Valon, Lan and Moiraine disappear (TGH, Ch. 12). They go to Adeleas and Vandene’s house in Tifan's Well in Arafel, where Moiraine proceeds to spend time researching. One night while there, Moiraine reminds Lan of how they met, and then asks him if he regrets allowing her to bond him. He replies in the negative. However, when Moiraine goes on to tell him that she has arranged for his bond to be passed to Myrelle in the event of her own death, Lan is outraged. He tells her that he plans to make sure she lives (TGH, Ch. 22).

After his conversation with Moiraine, Lan goes outside to spar with Jaem. He is too angry to focus, however, and decides to go back inside. He is just in time to save Moiraine from an attack by a Draghkar (TGH, Ch. 22).

After the attack by the Draghkar, Moiraine and Lan leave Tifan’s Well to return to Rand (TGH, Ch. 22). They reach Falme before Rand’s battle with Ba’alzamon in the sky, and help get Rand out of the city. When Rand awakens five days outside of Falme, Lan and Moiraine are with him (TGH, Ch. 49).

The Dragon Reborn

After Rand’s battle with Ba’alzamon at Falme, a group of those loyal to Rand make camp in the Mountains of Mist. Lan is among them (TDR, Ch. 1; TDR, Ch. 2).

When Leya arrives in the camp with news for Moiraine about what is happening on Almoth Plain, Lan attends their meeting. They learn about a force of five thousand Whitecloaks and that the Shadow is using Gray Men to kill young men who look like Rand. That evening, after Rand loses control of saidin and causes chaos in the camp, Lan and Moiraine join Perrin, Min, Uno, and Loial around a campfire and share some of the news Leya has brought (TDR, Ch. 3).

That night, when the camp is attacked by Shadowspawn, Lan shouts a warning to the camp and aids in its defense. He kills many Trollocs and fights a Myrddraal. After the battle, when Moiraine collapses after Healing Rand, Lan catches her and takes her away to sleep (TDR, Ch. 5).

Early the next morning, Lan wakens Perrin to tell him that Rand has disappeared. When Perrin reveals that he has been having dreams of Callandor, Lan goes at Moiraine’s direction to find out if anyone else in the camp has been having similar dreams. When Lan returns with news in the affirmative, Moiraine determines that Rand has gone to Tear. Lan, Moiraine, Perrin, and Loial plan to follow him. Before they leave, Min, who has been instructed by Moiraine to go to Tar Valon, asks Lan if he would like her to carry a message to Nynaeve. He replies that he would prefer to tell Nynaeve anything he has to tell her himself (TDR, Ch. 6).

As Lan, Moiraine, Perrin, and Loial make their way out of the mountains over the next several days, Lan spends most of his time scouting ahead. Eventually they enter Ghealdan (TDR, Ch. 7) and stop for the night in Jarra, where they learn that Rand spent the previous night there (TDR, Ch. 8).

Lan and the others travel through Ghealdan and into Altara, still trying to catch up to Rand. They cross the River Boern and pass through Sidon, Willar, Samaha, Tallan, Fyall, and several other villages until they reach Remen. Lan rides ahead and arranges rooms at an inn; he learns, while there, that an Aielman has been captured by two Hunters of the Horn. He returns to lead Moiraine, Perrin, and Loial into the town, and when they all reach the inn, he questions Orban about his story of capturing the Aielman (TDR, Ch. 33).

That night, Lan goes out to find what he can learn of Rand. While out, he comes across Perrin, who has freed Gaul and has killed several Whitecloaks in the process of defending himself. Lan wants to know if anyone saw what happened, and while Perrin admits that a woman did see the encounter, he doesn’t want Lan to hurt her. Lan decides they must leave Remen at once (TDR, Ch. 34). He hurries back to the inn with Perrin, arranges for their horses to be saddled, and finds them a ship, the Snow Goose. They depart for Illian, where they plan to catch another ship to Tear (TDR, Ch. 35).

During the trip to Illian, Lan is amused at the tension between Moiraine and Faile. He is surprised when Moiraine allows Faile to officially join their party (TDR, Ch. 41). They arrive at an inn called Easing the Badger, and while eating dinner that evening, are attacked by six Gray Men who try to assassinate Perrin. Lan helps to kill them and then searches their corpses but does not find anything. Moiraine goes out that night, but insists that Lan stay with the others. If she dies, Lan is to go to Myrelle in Tar Valon and take Perrin with him (TDR, Ch. 42). After Moiraine leaves, Lan leads the others outside to scout around. They discover Darkhound tracks, and Lan goes to warn Moiraine (TDR, Ch. 43). He kills a Darkhound that is on Moiraine’s trail, and they discover that Sammael is in Illian (TDR, Ch. 44).

Lan and Moiraine return to the inn and leave the city on horseback with Perrin, Loial, and Faile that night; Sammael, disguised as Lord Brend, has ordered that no ships be allowed to sail for Tear. They are followed by Darkhounds and must choose a place to make a stand. Moiraine balefires them, and they ride on (TDR, Ch. 44).

Lan and the others finally arrive in Tear, and stay at an inn named The Star. Lan and Moiraine go out to see what they can learn and discover that Be’lal is in Tear. They return to the inn, where Lan fetches the others so the group can convene and discuss. Moiraine intends to find a way into the Stone of Tear. She wants Lan to stay behind, but he refuses and she assents. He goes out to try to find a way into the Stone (TDR, Ch. 50).

The next day, Lan and Moiraine discover that Rand is in Tear and plan to enter the Stone that night. When Faile is caught in a trap by a dream ter’angreal that was meant for Moiraine, the two enter the Stone knowing that Be’lal will not be expecting them (TDR, Ch. 53). Lan manages to enter the Stone with Moiraine and is inside when Rand takes Callandor and the Stone falls to the Aiel (TDR, Ch. 55).

The Shadow Rising

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Lan is still in the Stone of Tear with Moiraine, Rand, and the others. He and Rand often practice the sword (TSR, Ch. 3), and Lan and Nynaeve spend a considerable amount of time together (TSR, Ch. 9).

After Rand is attacked by a bubble of evil, Lan goes with Moiraine to check on him. Moiraine is able to Heal all but Rand’s never-healing wound from Ba’alzamon. When Rand asks her if that is the wound that is prophesied to kill him, she chastises him, but Lan unexpectedly defends Rand’s desire to know his path (TSR, Ch. 3).

When the Stone of Tear is attacked by Trollocs, Lan and Moiraine help to fight them. Once the fighting is over, they find Rand, and both are concerned that he is going crazy. Lan tells Rand that the Trollocs were able to enter the Stone hidden in grain barges. When Rand nearly collapses, Lan catches him and helps him stand while Moiraine Heals him (TSR, Ch. 10).

Lan is to go to the Aiel Waste with Moiraine and Rand. Nynaeve tells Lan that she is also leaving the Stone, and when Lan mistakenly assumes that she is to go to Tar Valon, she does not correct him. On the day they are both to go their separate ways, Lan learns that Nynaeve and Elayne are actually going to Tanchico. He goes to Nynaeve’s room, where he finds her with Elayne and Egwene, and confronts her about it; he is angry and concerned because Tanchico is so dangerous. Torn between his duty to Moiraine and his love of Nynaeve, Lan hesitantly offers to go to Tanchico with Nynaeve. She refuses to let him neglect his bond to Moiraine and shows him the letter Siuan has given to her, which states that all who read it must obey the bearer. Lan and Nynaeve exchange a few words, and then Lan picks her up and kisses her thoroughly. He warns her that if she dies, he will not long outlive her, and leaves (TSR, Ch. 16).

After leaving Nynaeve, Lan finds Juilin and tasks him with watching over Nynaeve (TSR, Ch. 20). He does not tell Moiraine where he is going (TSR, Ch. 21), but later rejoins her and the others who are leaving for the Aiel Waste (TSR, Ch. 22). They leave the Stone and ride east. Although everyone is expecting a long journey to the Waste, Rand surprises Lan, Moiraine, Egwene, and Mat by announcing that he will take them via Portal Stone, as there is supposedly one located about an hour out of Tear. When Rand is uncertain how to find its exact location, Lan suggests having the Aiel scout it out (TSR, Ch. 22).

When the Portal Stone is located, Rand uses it to take them to another Portal Stone located at Chaendar, not far from Rhuidean (TSR, Ch. 22; TSR, Ch. 23). The effort brings Rand to his knees, and on the other side, Lan helps him to his feet. As everyone sorts themselves out after the trip and are greeted by the Wise Ones, Lan hands Egwene and Moiraine water to drink and then dumps more water over their heads to help them ward off heat stroke (TSR, Ch. 23).

After Rand and Mat leave for Rhuidean, Amys tells Lan to let the women speak alone and Moiraine indicates for him to obey. When Moiraine later leaves to go to Rhuidean as well, she tells the Wise Ones to keep Lan from following her (TSR, Ch. 23). They manage to keep Lan from learning Moiraine has left until almost sunset, and then convince him not to follow her, although he is very unhappy about it (TSR, Ch. 34).

When Rand and Mat return from Rhuidean seven days later, Lan sits in the Wise Ones’ tent with Rand, Mat, Egwene, Rhuarc, and the Wise Ones. Lan asks Rand if he saw Moiraine in Rhuidean. Afterwards, Lan goes back outside to continue waiting for Moiraine. When Moiraine finally returns later in the day, barely conscious after her ordeal, Lan runs to meet her and carries her to the Wise Ones. The Wise Ones will not let Lan enter the tent while they tend to her (TSR, Ch. 34).

The next day, they leave Chaendaer for Cold Rocks Hold (TSR, Ch. 36). When they camp at Imre Stand on the way, Rand and Lan swordfight (TSR, Ch. 37). They continue to practice every night of the journey. Finally, they reach Cold Rocks Hold on their twelfth day of travel and are greeted by Lian. Lan is welcomed under her roof (TSR, Ch. 48).

Lan goes with Rand and the others to Alcair Dal but does not actually enter with Rand. Moiraine cannot enter since what is to happen there is the business of Clan Chiefs and not Wise Ones; although Moiraine asks Rand to let Lan go with him in her stead, Rand tells Lan to stay with Moiraine (TSR, Ch. 57). After Rand is revealed as the true Car'a'carn, Moiraine, Egwene, Lan, Aviendha, and the Wise Ones enter Alcair Dal (TSR, Ch. 58).

The Fires of Heaven

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Lan, along with the rest of Rand’s contingent, moves into Rhuidean. While staying there, Lan and Rand continue to practice the sword (TFoH, Ch. 2).

About a month after Rand’s revelation at Alcair Dal, as Rand prepares to leave Rhuidean, Lan helps Moiraine to oversee the packing of Rhuidean’s store of ter’angreal, which she plans to take with her. When one man falls hallway through the red doorframe ter’angeral, Lan pulls him out (TFoH, Ch. 2).

That night, Moiraine goes to speak with Rand and Lan waits outside. When Darkhounds attack Rand, Rand balefires them and goes to check on Mat; Lan and Moiraine follow. Afterwards, when Moiraine wants to speak to Rand about his use of balefire, Lan is displeased when Rand puts her off. When Moiraine begs Rand to stop shutting her out and let her help him, and gives an oath not to manipulate him, Lan is shocked (TFoH, Ch. 6).

The next day, Lan leaves Rhuidean for the Westlands with Rand and the others. As they begin their journey, Lan questions Moiraine about her oath to Rand. Lan is concerned about her, as he has never seen her this worried and afraid before. Moiraine confesses that she can feel Rand drawing away from her, and that she knows he needs her guidance. Lan makes a joke about her learning humility, and Moiraine thinks to herself that Lan is changing (TFoH, Ch. 7).

Lan and Rand spend time together every day on the journey out of the Aiel Waste (TFoH, Ch. 15). At some point during the journey, Mat also speaks to Lan in order to gain some information about his newly acquired memories, although he does not tell Lan why he is asking (TFoH, Ch. 22).

Half a month after leaving Rhuidean, Lan, Rand and the others reach the town of Taien near Jangai Pass. The town has been decimated. Lan detects that someone is hiding, and they find three townspeople who tell them that the Shaido attacked Taien six days ago. Lan is concerned that Couladin may have laid a trap ahead for Rand, so Rand decides to camp and send out scouts (TFoH, Ch. 20). Lan accompanies Moiraine to check on Kadere’s wagons, which hold the ter’angreal (TFoH, Ch. 21). After the camp is attacked by Dragkhar near Jangai Pass, Lan and Moiraine go to check on Rand (TFoH, Ch. 22).

They ride through Jangai Pass and, after four days, exits into Cairhien. There, they find that the town of Selean has also been destroyed (TFoH, Ch. 23). As they rides further into Cairhien, they are occasionally attacked by small groups of mounted men; Lan thinks they might be bandits or supporters of a claimant to the Sun Throne (TFoH, Ch. 24). He takes part in defending against these groups (TFoH, Ch. 33). They continue on and pass through Eianrod, which has been abandoned due to fighting for the Sun Throne (TFoH, Ch. 31).

Finally, Lan and the others draw near to the city of Cairhien and Rand prepares to fight the Shaido. Lan goes with Rand and Moiraine to look at Kin Tovere’s telescopes, which have been mounted on tall towers (TFoH, Ch. 41).

Curious about Mat’s sudden battle acumen, Rand sends Lan to gather information the day before the battle is to take place. Lan casually asks Mat questions about how he would engage the Shaido, and Mat comes up with a plan very similar to what the clan chiefs have devised. After Mat has left, Lan and Rand converse briefly about Mat. Lan then attends a meeting between Rand, the clan chiefs, and Weiramon regarding the upcoming battle (TFoH, Ch. 42).

The next morning, Lan and Rand speak before the battle. Lan notices that Rand is wearing his sword, despite the fact that he could simply make one with saidin or kill using other weaves. When Rand responds that he doesn’t feel it is fair to fight a non-channeler using the Power, Lan deduces that Rand means to kill Couladin himself and thinks he is being foolish (TFoH, Ch. 43).

During the battle, Lan stays with Moiraine, who Heals the wounded (TFoH, Ch. 44). When the battle is won by Rand’s forces, it is Lan who tells Rand the news. When Rand collapses, the wound in his side bleeding, Lan shouts for Moiraine (TFoH, Ch. 44). Later, as Mat’s companions celebrate Mat’s defeat of Couladin, Mat sees Lan watching him (TFoH, Ch. 45).

In the days after the battle, Lan and Rand resume their sword practice (TFoH, Ch. 49).

When Lanfear attacks at the docks, Lan tries to take her down; however, the Forsaken stops him with the One Power and sends him flying. When Moiraine tackles Lanfear and the two women fall through the red doorframe ter’angreal, Rand wraps Lan up in flows of air to keep him from trying to follow them. Lan tells the others that Moiraine is dead as he can no longer feel their bond. Rand apologizes to Lan, saying that he wishes he could have saved Moiraine and that he hopes Lan will still be his friend. Lan replies that while he is still Rand’s friend, he has to leave, and tells Rand about Moiraine’s passing of his bond. Lan asks Rand to tell Nynaeve that he has found someone else, feeling that it will be better for them both to have a clean break. Lan then rides off to find Myrelle (TFoH, Ch. 53).

Lord of Chaos

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A Crown of Swords

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Later Egwene finds out that Myrelle, who joined the rebels in Salidar, hides Lan to cover up that his bond was passed against his will. Lan is almost in a state of insanity. Egwene thinks that the only one who can save him is Nynaeve. She weaves a gateway to Ebou Dar for him, so that he can join her there (ACoS, Ch. 12).

When Nynaeve takes a boat to meet with the Mistress of the Ships, she is attacked by Moghedien and nearly drowns. Lan saves her. Lan tells her that he is bonded to Myrelle. Nynaeve is furious. He says that Myrelle is lending him to Nynaeve until she can find her own Warder, but Nynaeve makes it clear that she intends to have him as a husband and as a Warder (ACoS, Ch. 31). After they reach Nesta's ship, Nynaeve and Lan get married in a Sea Folk ceremony (ACoS, Ch. 37). Because the wedding ceremony is performed by the Sea Folk, it follows Sea Folk rules. The wedding vows include the promise that if one partner must obey the other in public, the other gets to command in private. This means that while Nynaeve can give orders to Lan publically, she must obey him when they are alone. This is to address imbalances that might occur when one partner in a marriage holds a higher rank than the other (TPoD, Ch. 20).

Lan goes back to the Tarasin Palace with Nynaeve. The next day, Mat discovers that Lan and Nynaeve are married; although Mat is shocked, he congratulates Lan. Lan tells Mat that two of his Redarms were killed during Moghedien’s attack the day before, despite the fact that Nynaeve hadn’t wanted Mat to be told; Lan feels that Mat deserves to know (ACoS, Ch. 37). Nynaeve is angry when she later finds out, but Lan defends his decision (ACoS, Ch. 38).

Lan goes with Nynaeve, Elayne, Mat, and the others to find the Bowl of the Winds. On the way, he overhears Nynaeve telling Elayne about their wedding night, and although Nynaeve is embarrassed to be caught talking about it, Lan reminds her that she can say whatever she likes in public (ACoS, Ch. 38).

When they reach the Rahad and the six-story building where the Bowl of the Winds is hidden, the group is attacked by Falion Bhoda, Ispan Shefar, and a group of Darkfriends. Lan throws himself at the two Black Aes Sedai and manages to knock them to the floor before going on to attack the Darkfriends (ACoS, Ch. 38). After the fight is over and the Bowl of the Winds has been recovered, Lan, Nynaeve, and the others go back to the Tarasin Palace and prepare to leave Ebou Dar. When Mat realizes that Olver is missing, he goes to find the boy and asks Lan and Birgitte to keep Nynaeve, Elayne, and Aviendha safe until he returns. Lan responds that Nynaeve is his entire life (ACoS, Ch. 39).

The Path of Daggers

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Nynaeve is displeased about Lan’s promise to Mat that he will take care of her. She argues with him about it in their rooms, and continues the argument as they join Elayne, Aviendha, and Birgitte again, informing him in no uncertain terms that she doesn’t need to be protected. She is brought up short, however, when Lan informs her that he will die on the day she does (TPoD, Ch. 1).

After they stop to speak with Teslyn, Lan reminds Nynaeve and Elayne that they should hurry and leave the Tarasin Palace before the storm that Nynaeve feels coming actually hits (TPoD, Ch. 1).

When Aviendha weaves a gateway out of Ebou Dar, Lan, Birgitte, and Cieryl Arjuna are the first ones to go through (TPoD, Ch. 1). They scout the area, with Lan taking the north, and then see about getting all of the packhorses through the gateway. He helps Nynaeve mount her horse before they ride off towards the Kin’s farm (TPoD, Ch. 2). Lan scouts on the way, and Nynaeve insists on accompanying him (TPoD, Ch. 3).

As they near the Kin’s farm, Nynaeve sends Lan to bring Reanne to her. When the Kin at the farm panic upon seeing Aes Sedai, she sends Lan to stop some of the women who are running away (TPoD, Ch. 3).

After Nynaeve and the others use the Bowl of the Winds, Lan stays by her side. When the Seanchan attack, he Travels with everyone else to one of Elayne’s estates in Andor. Lan is second through the gateway, right behind Birgitte. While Elayne stays behind with Aviendha and Birgitte in order to unweave the gateway, preventing the Seanchan from being able to read the residue, Nynaeve and Lan lead everyone else away for their protection. Lan and Nynaeve themselves, however, then return for Elayne, Aviendha, and Birgitte (TPoD, Ch. 6). Lan removes a crossbow bolt from Birgitte’s leg so that Nynaeve can Heal her, and then they all ride five miles to join the others at Elayne’s estate (TPoD, Ch. 20).

Along with the others, Lan rides towards Caemlyn (TPoD, Ch. 20). They pass through a number of villages, including Harlon Bridge and Cullen's Crossing. Near Cullen’s Crossing, he discovers that Adeleas and Ispan have been poisoned and sends for Nynaeve and Elayne. When Vandene arrives, he moves to keep her away, but she insists on entering the room. When Nynaeve later hears Vandene grieving her sister, Lan stops her from intruding (TPoD, Ch. 28).

Finally, after more than two weeks of travel (TPoD, Ch. 20; (TPoD, Ch. 28), Lan and the others reach Caemlyn (TPoD, Ch. 28).

Winter's Heart

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Lan and the others settle into the Royal Palace in Caemlyn. Nynaeve has forbidden Lan to attend her teaching sessions with the Sea Folk (WH, Ch. 11).

Lan keeps Nynaeve in their rooms all morning, not letting her put any clothing on (WH, Ch. 11). Later that day, Lan keeps an eye on the hallways while Nynaeve and Elayne speak about Zarya and Kirstian, and then stands by as they later speak to Reanne and Alise. When Nynaeve and Elayne learn that Alivia wishes to be uncollared and have to decide whether or not to trust her, Lan tells them that they would be no better than the Seanchan if they refuse to remove the a'dam. Alise is displeased at Lan’s interjection. When Nynaeve agrees with Lan and insists that the a'dam must be removed, Lan is proud of her (WH, Ch. 10).

The next day, after Talaan tries to talk Nynaeve into taking her to the White Tower, Nynaeve tells Lan that she wants him to take her back to their rooms and not let her leave again and he laughs out loud (WH, Ch. 11).

When Rand sneaks into the Royal Palace to speak with Nynaeve, Lan is with her. Lan and Rand briefly exchange some words about their respective inability to send away the women they love. Lan recognizes that Rand is dangerous and stays on guard while Rand and Nynaeve talk. When Lan learns that Rand wants Nynaeve to help him cleanse saidin, Lan is concerned about the danger it will pose to Nynaeve. When Nynaeve announces that she will help but that she wants to go with Rand now, neither Lan nor Rand is happy (WH, Ch. 11). When Aviendha, Elayne, and Min join them and Rand confesses that he is in love with all three women, Lan is startled (WH, Ch. 12).

Lan and Nynaeve leave the Royal Palace with Rand and Min early the next morning. Alivia goes with them as well (WH, Ch. 12). They go to Far Madding to locate the rogue Asha'man who tried to kill Rand in Cairhien. They stay at The Crown of Maredo inn. After Rand encounters Kisman and Rochaid in the city and Rochaid is killed, he goes back to The Crown of Maredo and gives Lan an account of what happened (WH, Ch. 22). The group moves to The Counsel's Head inn in case the other Asha’man have figured out where they are staying. Eventually, the small group in Far Madding is joined by Cadsuane, Verin, Alanna, and others (WH, Ch. 23).

Lan and Rand continue searching for the remaining rogue Asha’man, but are not having any luck. Over a cup of wine at The Counsel's Head, Rand tells Lan that he wishes to leave Far Madding. They talk about how Nynaeve, Min, and Alivia are out riding with Cadsuane; Nynaeve has ordered Lan not to tell Rand where she is, but because Rand actually already knows, Lan tells him that Nynaeve and Min hope to smooth the path over between Rand and Cadsuane. Lan also informs Rand that Nynaeve is making a sacrifice for him, as Cadsuane does not treat her very well, and that Rand should remember that (WH, Ch. 32).

After Rand receives a letter informing him that Torval and Gedwyn are staying on Blue Carp Street, he, Lan, and Nynaeve come up with a plan, although Lan and Rand both admit that the letter is likely a trap. They go to Zeram’s shop, where the two Asha'man are renting a room, and Nynaeve uses her well to lift Lan and Rand to the roof. Once on the roof, they use a trapdoor to get inside the building. They find that Torval and Gedwyn are inside, but already dead, and that they have obviously been killed by Fain. They find Fain and Toram Riatin further inside the building. Lan battles and kills Toram, although he is injured in the process. When Fain runs away, Lan and Rand climb back to the roof of the building, where Lan slips. Rand catches him by the wrist before he falls to the street, but struggles to hold him up. Lan tells him to let go, and Rand refuses but then loses his grip and they both go over the edge (WH, Ch. 33). Lan breaks his arm in the fall, and both he and Rand are arrested by guards and put in the cells (WH, Ch. 34; WH, Ch. 35).

Cadsuane manages to secure Lan and Rand's release, and Nynaeve Heals Lan. The group then leaves Far Madding and Travels to near Shadar Logoth. Lan scouts the nearby forest with Nethan and Bassane, and spends the cleansing of saidin helping to protect Nynaeve and Rand (WH, Ch. 35).

After saidin has been cleansed, Lan rushes to Nynaeve’s side (WH, Ch. 35).

Crossroads of Twilight

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Knife of Dreams

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The Gathering Storm

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Towers of Midnight

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A Memory of Light

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After a number of encounters against the Trollocs, over half of Lan’s men are dead; there are only around six thousand left, and many men close to him are gone. They were briefly able to take control of Tarwin’s Gap, but are slowly being pushed back towards Shienar. Finally, Lan instructs his men to retreat fully out of Tarwin’s Gap, and then to charge at the Shadowspawn. It will be the end of Lan’s forces, but he has Kaisel give the order anyway. He knows it is time to make a final stand, and hopes to reduce the number of Trollocs that will reach the southlands as drastically as possible. As they prepare to die, Lan tells Bulen that he is proud of him, and sends a burst of love through the bond to Nynaeve (AMoL, Ch. 6).

Suddenly, backup arrives: a hundred thousand Borderlanders ride through gateways, accompanied by a number of channelers, saving Lan’s forces (AMoL, Ch. 6). Once the day has been saved, Lan learns that Agelmar and all of the Borderlander monarchs have come to join him. Their job is to help Lan hold Tarwin’s Gap as long as possible, and they have all decided to fight beneath Malkier’s banner (AMoL, Ch. 7).

Over the next days, the Borderlander forces fight in shifts, with Lan often taking extra shifts. Bulen is killed after the second day, and Lan ties his body across Mandarb to bring back to camp. On the way back to camp, he begins a rousing remembrance among his soldiers of all the good men who have died. Back in camp, Lan asks Narishma to weave a gateway to somewhere cold. Narishma sends him to the top of a mountain, and Lan stores Bulen’s body there so that he can be given a proper burial later. According to tradition, Lan takes Bulen’s hadori with him and will return it to the body for burial when the Last Battle is done. He wraps it around the hilt of his sword (AMoL, Ch. 9).

When Lan returns to Shienar, there is an earthquake as cracks in the Pattern are reflected in the land. Worried about how tired everyone is becoming from the fighting, he goes to find Agelmar. Agelmar is planning to retreat, and Lan argues against it, not wanting to abandon Malkier. Agelmar tells him that it is selfish to be so ready to die when his men need him. Agelmar further insists that they can do more damage by delaying and retreating, and Lan realizes that Agelmar is right. A signal comes that backup is needed, and Lan goes back to the battle (AMoL, Ch. 9).

After almost a week of fighting, Lan’s forces are attacked by two dozen Dreadlords. Lan tells Agelmar to retreat, and then orders Narishma to go to Elayne for backup to cover the retreat (AMoL, Ch. 10). As they move further south into Shienar, they burn the land to keep the Trollocs from easily finding sustenance (AMoL, Ch. 11).

Rand visits the Borderlander army and meets with Lan. Rand gives him two crowns, one modeled after the historical crown of Malkier and one for Nynaeve. Rand does what he can to help them but is almost defeated by Dreadlords and must leave (AMoL, Ch. 11).

Elayne orders Lan and the Borderlanders to burn an evacuated Fal Dara, Ankor Dail, and Fal Moran in order to keep them from being used by the Shadow. They continue to fight as they retreat; during one battle, Lan fights and kills two Myrddraal at once. On another occasion, they are attacked by M’Hael (AMoL, Ch. 16). Despite the dire circumstances, Lan has begun to dream of reclaiming Malkier with Nynaeve after the Last Battle (AMoL, Ch. 18).

Lord Baldhere speaks to Lan about mistakes that Agelmar has been making. Lan defends Agelmar, who is exhausted, but also promises to keep an eye out. He goes to look at Agelmar’s plans, and Agelmar finds him there. The Great Captain confesses to having made mistakes, but reminds Lan that he is only human. He tells Lan to either relieve him or trust him, and Lan says he trusts him (AMoL, Ch. 18).

When Agelmar sends two separate units to fulfill a task that only requires one, Lan begins to put together that Agelmar is indeed making mistakes (AMoL, Ch. 25; AMoL, Ch. 28). He speaks with Baldhere, and they realize that Agelmar is directing the war in a way that is “Good enough to avoid suspicion, but not good enough to win.” Lan goes to confront Agelmar, gathering men with him as he goes. As he heads towards the command tent, he intercepts a messenger with an order from Agelmar. The order is to have the Kandori archers in the east withdraw, which will lead to disaster. Lan gives the messenger alternate orders to deliver instead, as he has higher authority than Agelmar over the Borderlander army (AMoL, Ch. 28).

Lan reaches Agelmar and questions him about his plans. Suddenly, a messenger arrives to announce that a huge force of Shadowspawn has appeared from the east. Lan puts together that the Shadowspawn were expecting a way in there, given that Agelmar had ordered the eastern Kandori arches to withdraw. He relives Agelmar of duty and arrests him, laying out all of Agelmar’s dangerous and nonsensical orders. When Agelmar realizes that he’s doomed the Borderlander army, he tries to kill himself, but Lan commands him to act like the soldier he is. Lan determines that Agelmar has been put under compulsion, and Agelmar confesses that he’s uknowingly sent Tenobia and her forces to die. Lan hurries off to try to save her, but it is too late (AMoL, Ch. 29). Lan loses two-thirds of his forces in the ensuing massacre. Once Elayne has won her battle in Cairhien, she sends Logain and his Asha’man to help get the Borderlanders out of Shienar (AMoL, Ch. 32).

Once all of the armies join forces at Merrilor for their final stand, Lan leads a force of cavalry against the Shadowspawn. Mat sends Lan to help Tam and his men, and then to help Arganda (AMoL, Ch. 37).

As the battle reaches its crescendo, Mat joins all of his forces together. He needs to know if there are Healed soldiers in Mayene who are able to return to battle, and Lan offers to check for him. While doing so, he is given a package that Berelain has sent through a gateway: the foxhead medallion ter’angreal Mat had lent to Galad (AMoL, Ch. 37).

Armed with the medallion, Lan goes to attack Demandred. There is a force of Trollocs between him and the Forsaken, but Tam sees what Lan is trying to do and orders the Two Rivers arches to fire flaming arrows at the Trollocs. Lan is able to break through, reach Demandred, and engage him in a sword fight. Although Demandred is impressed by Lan's skill, Demandred is better and gloats that Lan cannot win. Lan, however, announces that he is not there to win, but rather to kill Demandred. He allows Demandred to strike at him and uses the opening to plunge his sword into Demandred's throat, killing the Forsaken. As Lan falls into unconsciousness from his own wounds, he sends his love to Nynaeve through the bond (AMoL, Ch. 37).

Lan soon regains consciousness and cuts Demandred’s head from his body to hold it up in the air. Mat and the Borderlanders ride towards Lan and manage to reach him just as Lan begins to fall unconscious again. Narishma Heals him back to consciousness, and then Mat and Narishma get away from Demandred’s forces (AMoL, Ch. 39).

After the Last Battle has been won, Lan joins Nynaeve in the camp outside Shayol Ghul. She runs to meet him when she feels him arrive, and they hold each other. Later, Lan and Nynaeve watch over Rand as his unconscious body grows weaker. They are both wearing the crowns that Rand had made for them. When Rand's body dies, Lan comforts Nynaeve (AMoL, Epilogue).

Relationships with Other Characters

Nynaeve

They meet each other when Rand, Mat, and Perrin are taken from Emond's Field to Tar Valon by Moiraine. Slowly he falls in love with her but he doesn't want to admit it because he wants her to be happy with a man who isn't doomed to die fighting the Shadow. He tries to shake her off, make a clean cut but she is persistent. Until she proposes to him, he still tries to get her to find another husband. Needless to say, they get married.

Moiraine

He meets Moiraine by chance in Kandor when they are traveling the same road and she claims the "right of a woman alone" after being thrown in a pond by Lan because she tried to sneak up on him (NS, Ch. 19). Through what happens in "New Spring," they discover their common goal: to fight against the Shadow. Moiraine convinces him that he can more effectively fight the Shadow at her side, rather than going to the Blight to avenge a country that doesn't exist anymore. She bonds him (NS, Epilogue). Until Moiraine's death, he remains by her side. However, he starts to feel conflicted between his loyalty to Moiraine and his love of Nynaeve. Moiraine notices that he is changing and begins to question his loyalty (TGH, Ch. 22; TFoH, Ch. 7). Between Rand and Nynaeve, Moiraine fears that her bond with Land is weakening (TSR, Ch. 21). Since a Warder does not survive the breaking of the bond upon the death of his Aes Sedai, she arranges that in case of her death the bond is passed to Myrelle until she can then pass it to Nynaeve. She doesn't want him to waste his life either avenging her or taking up his useless quest in the Blight. When Lan finds out, he is not happy about it. He feels like a pet dog that is being passed around (TGH, Ch. 22).

Bukama

One of the Malkieri that saved and raised the infant Lan. He's the last one to survive out of the twenty that carried Lan to safety (NS, Ch. 1). He is killed in New Spring by another Malkieri who is supposedly Lan's childhood friend but is also a Darkfriend (NS, Ch. 26).

Rand

Lan turns out to be a valuable advisor to Rand. He not only teaches him the use of the sword but also how to behave and dress to fit in with royalty (TEotW, Ch. 53; TGH, Ch. 1, Ch. 7, Ch. 8; TSR, Ch. 37, Ch. 48; TFoH, Ch. 49). Lan doesn't approve of Moiraine swearing fealty to Rand (TFoH, Ch. 7). Lan thinks that Rand shouldn't concentrate on the Seanchan now that Tarmon Gai'don is so near. He should assemble the Borderlanders and ride north because that's where Tarmon Gai'don will be (KoD, Ch. 20).

Miscellaneous

This section contains spoilers relating to New Spring. Please expand to view.

During her Accepted Test, Nynaeve sees a reality in which she and Lan are married and rule Malkier. They have three children (TGH, Ch. 23).
Rides a "deep-chested dark stallion" named Mandarb, which means "blade" in the Old Tongue (TDR, Ch. 35).
His favourite colours for a woman to wear are green, blue, and white (TSR, Ch. 21).

Quotes

Quotes by Lan

"Death comes sooner or later to everyone unless they serve the Dark One, and only fools are willing to pay that price." (The Eye of the World, Chapter 7)

"The Wheel weaves us all into the Pattern as it wills. You have less freedom about it than most, but by the Light, you can still face it on your feet." (to Rand; The Great Hunt, Chapter 7)

"I will hate the man you choose because he is not me, and love him if he makes you smile. No woman deserves the sure knowledge of widow's black as her bride price, you least of all." (to Nynaeve; The Great Hunt, Chapter 48)

"What could not be changed must be endured." (New Spring, Chapter 1)

"Death came for every man eventually, and seldom where and when he expected." (New Spring, Chapter 1)

"He had two things, he said, a sword that would not break and a war that would not end." (Moiraine about Lan; The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 7)

This section contains spoilers relating to Winter's Heart. Please expand to view.

This section contains spoilers relating to A Memory of Light. Please expand to view.

Quotes about Lan

"Aan'allein was what the Aiel called Lan. One Man, it meant in the Old Tongue, or Man Alone, or the Man Who is an Entire People; exact translations from the Old Tongue were often difficult. The Aiel had a great deal of respect for Lan, the man who would not give up his war with the Shadow, the enemy that had destroyed his nation." (Nynaeve; TFoH, Ch. 14).

This section contains spoilers relating to Knife of Dreams. Please expand to view.

This section contains spoilers relating to A Memory of Light. Please expand to view.

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