Difference between revisions of "Sheriam Bayanar"

Revision as of 10:38, 3 March 2010

Author: Estyrien al'Halien

SHEER-ee-ahm bae-Yahn-ahr ; suggested

General

Sheriam Sedai is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah (TGH, Ch. 23). She was Mistress of Novices under Siuan Sanche when she was the Amyrlin Seat (TPoD, Ch. 17). She is one of the Salidar Aes Sedai, (LoC, Ch. 8), not surprisingly since there are no Blue sisters under Elaida (TFoH, Prologue). Sheriam is a high ranking member of the Salidar Aes Sedai, (TFoH, Ch. 27), and is Egwene's Keeper of the Chronicles (LoC, Ch. 36).

Sheriam has hair the colour of fire and tilted pale green eyes that mark her as Saldaean. She is plump but that does not hide her high cheekbones. She has a warm smile (TGH, Ch. 18). As an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah, she wears a blue fringed shawl at formal occasions, such as the raising of a novice to Accepted (TFoH, Ch. 23). Her position as Keeper also demands that she wear a blue stole to show her Ajah and position (LoC, Ch. 36).

After Sheriam has settled down as Egwene's Keeper, we find out that she has been passing on information, albeit reluctantly, about Egwene. The unknown blackmailer is unsatisfied with the information being passed on and tortures Sheriam for more information (TPoD, Ch. 16). This presents us with a large problem; is Sheriam a member of the Black Ajah? We are lead to believe that her predicament is tied to one of Sitters and so Aran'gar is a possibility. It has also been put forward that the Black Ajah could have been involved or that a non-Black Ajah Aes Sedai is behind it, most likely to be Romanda or Lelaine. Other hints that Sheriam is Black Ajah are the gray man incident in the Tower, (TDR, Ch. 15), and the fact that Chesa, who was Sheriam's gift of a maid, (ACoS, Ch. 30), is the only maid of Egwene's not killed by Aran'gar. (TPoD, Ch. 16) For more discussion on Sheriam's predicament, visit The Wheel of Time FAQ; the link is at the bottom.

Condensed Timeline

• 979 NE: Sheriam is raised to the shawl on High Chasaline and chooses the Blue Ajah (NS, Ch. 14).
• 988 NE: Sheriam is named Mistress of Novices by Siuan Sanche (TPoD, Ch. 17).
• 999 NE: Sheriam flees from the Tower after Elaida's coup with other sisters and take eighteen novices with them. (LoC, Ch. 8).
• 999 NE: Sheriam, Anaiya, Beonin, Carlinya, Morvrin and Myrelle become the leaders of the Salidar Aes Sedai (TFoH, Ch. 27).
• 999 NE: Sheriam stands for Egwene as Amyrlin Seat and is later made her Keeper (LoC, Ch. 35; LoC, Ch. 36).
• 1000 NE: Sheriam swears fealty to Egwene (TPoD, Ch. 16).

Strengths and Talents

Sheriam is quite strong in the One Power. Myrelle is stronger than Anaiya, Beonin, Carlinya and Morvrin and Sheriam is stronger than Myrelle, which makes her the strongest of the original leaders of the Salidar Aes Sedai (LoC, Ch. 34). She is equal in strength to Kwamesa, Kiruna and Reanne (ACoS Ch. 23).

Sheriam has a debateable Talent in Healing; Egwene once tells Rand that she cannot Heal much beyond a small bruise or cut, (TSR, Ch. 34), yet she Heals Nynaeve after her Accepted test, (TGH, Ch. 23), and Elayne's hand and arm when it is a mass of blisters (TSR, Ch. 7). Sheriam can Delve in the Healing sense (TDR, Ch. 23). She has some skill in Tel'aran'rhiod, something that the Salidar Aes Sedai were eager to learn (TFoH, Ch. 50). However, she must use a ter'angreal to get there (LoC, Ch. 7). As an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah she doubtless knows the weaves of the Ajah, such as the weave to repel insects (NS, Ch. 14; Ch. 21).

Relationships with Other Characters

Sheriam is bonded to Arinvar, a Cairhienin Warder, and if she chose to bond him, she must have a good relationship with him (TFoH, Ch. 50).

Moiraine, Siuan and Sheriam were good friends during their time in the Tower together. (NS, Ch. 6) Siuan even wanted to tell Sheriam about Gitara's Foretelling and enlist her in searching for the Dragon Reborn, though Moiraine later convinced her not to. (NS, Ch. 14) However after Siuan is stilled and the Tower divided Siuan and Sheriam do not get on very well with each other; Sheriam probably blames Siuan for the split in the Tower. She doesn't even feel sympathy for the woman who gave her the title of Mistress of Novices (TPoD, Ch. 17).

Sheriam was a firm Mistress of Novices and didn't hesitate to use a switch. Novices and Accepted alike dreaded being sent to Sheriam's office. (TGH, Ch. 24) She believed in protecting novices from Aes Sedai but thinks that Accepted should learn how to fend for themselves. She refused to abuse her position of power in the Tower to let people of the hook (TDR, Ch. 23).

Her relationship with Elaida was tense even before the Tower divided. (TDR, Ch. 23) After the split, Elaida dreams of Sheriam being stilled and begging for mercy (ACoS, Prologue; ACoS, Ch. 32).

Sheriam swore fealty to Egwene out of fear that other Aes Sedai might find out about the Aes Sedai they sent to Tar Valon to spread dissent. Sheriam falls into the position of Keeper well after the oath (TPoD, Ch. 16).

Miscellaneous

• Sheriam is novice and accepted with Siuan, Moiraine, Leane, Alanna and Carlinya, (TFoH, Ch. 26; NS Ch. 3).
• Sheriam refuses to enter the three arches ter'angreal at her first attempt to become an Accepted (TGH, Ch. 23).
• Sheriam enjoys cooking and baking and is very good at it too (NS Ch. 14).
• Sheriam manages to break Theodrin's block by swapping a handsome stable boy for his twin sister (LoC, Ch. 8).
• Sheriam was part of the circle of ten Aes Sedai who Healed Mat from his connection with the Shadar Logoth dagger (TDR, Ch. 18).
• Sheriam knows that a channeler can be turned over to the Shadow by thirteen channelers and thirteen fades, a well kept secret in the Tower (TDR, Ch. 22).
• Sheriam often sounds like she is quoting something even when she is not, which annoys some people (TGH, Ch. 23). She can also make statements sound like lectures (NS Ch. 6).
• Sheriam believes that by gentling every man who can channel, the Aes Sedai are significantly reducing the number of female channelers. This has gotten her into many heated arguments. (TSR, Ch. 31)
• Min has two viewings of Sheriam in the series. The first aura is of Sheriam with a battered and bruised face (TSR, Ch. 1; TPoD, Ch. 16). The second is of silver and blue rays around her head, tinged with golden light, though Min doesn't know what it means (TFoH, Ch. 26).
• When Egwene is raised to Amyrlin Seat, Sheriam, Lelaine and Romanda fight constantly to control Egwene (ACoS, Ch. 8). However, after swearing fealty, Sheriam is content to remain Keeper (TPoD, Ch. 16).

Quotes

"Sheriam (SHEER-ee-am): An Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. The Mistress of Novices in the White Tower." (Reference: The Great Hunt Glossary)

"Sheriam had been one of biggest gossips in the Accepted's quarters. She never told what she promised to keep hidden, yet she would be unable to resist giving hints of such a juicy secret, hints that she had a secret". Moiraine about Sheriam (New Spring, Chapter 14).

"She was an enjoyable companion to pass the evening with, yet she did have a way of making casual statements sound like lectures." Moiraine about Sheriam (New Spring, Chapter 6).

"Even one of the Accepted can be called to my study. It requires more breaking of the rules than for a novice, but it has been known to happen". Sheriam to Nynaeve. (The Great Hunt, Chapter 18)

"She has a theory. She says we have culled humankind... Sheriam Sedai says that with the Red Ajah hunting down men who could channel for three thousand years, we are culling the ability to channel out of us all." Elayne to Egwene about Sheriam (The Great Hunt, Chapter 24).

"Odd now, to think that she had once gone in awe of Sheriam, and in no little fear of her displeasure. Strange as it seemed, now that she was no longer Mistress of Novices, no longer trying to tug and push Egwene to do as she wished, Sheriam actually seemed happier." Egwene about Sheriam (The Path of Daggers, Chapter 16).

"It took a long time to convince her questioner that she had already told all she knew, that she would never hold back a word, not a whisper. When she was left alone at last, it was to lie curled up and whimpering from her welts, bitterly wishing that she had never in her life spoken to a single sister in the Hall" Sheriam after her torture. (The Path of Daggers, Chapter 16).