Meri
Author: Kyria d'Oreyn A similar entry appears in the Wheel of Time Companion confirming the information available in the main story arc.
Contents
General
Meri is one of Egwene's maids. Romanda picked her out among the refugees and gave her to Egwene as a present. In actuality she is a spy for Romanda. She has a pinched nose, a permanently down-turned mouth, sharp dark eyes and wears her black hair in tight coils over her ears (ACoS, Ch. 11).
Despite her stern appearance and a "face like a headman's" her manner is perfectly respectful. Meri is trying to perform her duties as well as she can, but her flat tone makes her sound insincere. Egwene can never make out what exactly Meri is thinking behind that dour-faced gloom (ACoS, Ch. 10; Ch. 11).
Timeline
- Romanda decides that Egwene needs another servant and finds Meri among the refugees in the villages. Egwene thinks that so many maids are unreasonable when she cannot see the soldiers paid halfway to Tar Valon (ACoS, Ch. 8).
- She dresses Egwene in the morning and brings her breakfast (ACoS, Ch. 11).
- She is still sleeping in the tent she shares with Chesa and Selame when Egwene meets with Siuan (TPoD, Ch. 15).
- Chesa reports to Egwene that Meri has run off, much to her distress. In fact Aran'gar killed and disposed of her in the snow (TPoD, Ch. 16).
Miscellaneous
- She shares a tent with Chesa and Selame (ACoS, Ch. 8).
- She favors embroidered velvet (ACoS, Ch. 10).
- She always wears unrelieved dark gray dresses (ACoS, Ch. 11).
- Even though Egwene is a little irritated by Meri's ways, she thinks it would not make sense to send her away. Romanda would only find a new spy and Meri would be starving on the streets again (ACoS, Ch. 11).
Quotes
"Meri arrived with her breakfast on a tray as Theodrin and Faolain departed, and when Egwene thanked her for the rose-petal pomander, she said, 'I had a few spare moments, Mother.' By her expression, that could have been an accusation that Egwene worked her too hard, or that she herself did not work hard enough. Not a pleasant spice for the stewed fruit. For that matter, the woman's face might sour the mint tea and turn the warm crusty bun hard as a rock." (Egwene on Meri; A Crown of Swords, Chapter 11)
