Sheriam Bayanar

Estyrien al'Halien

General Information

Sheriam Sedai is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. (Reference: TGH Chapter 23) She was Mistress of Novices under Siuan Sanche when she was the Amyrlin Seat (Reference: TPoD Chapter 17). She is one of the Salidar Aes Sedai, (Reference: Loc Chapter 8), not surprisingly since there are no Blue sisters under Elaida. (Reference; TFoH Prologue) Sheriam is a high ranking member of the Salidar Aes Sedai, (Reference: TFoH Chapter 27), and is Egwene's Keeper of the Chronicles. (Reference; LoC Chapter 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. (Reference: TGH Chapter 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. (Reference: TGH Chapter 23) Her position as Keeper also demands that she wear a blue stole to show her Ajah and position. (Reference: LoC Chapter 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. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 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 grey man incident in the Tower, (Reference: TDR Chapter 15), and the fact that Chesa, who was Sheriam's gift of a maid, (Reference: ACoS Chapter 10), is the only maid of Egwene's not killed by Aran'gar. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 30) 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. (Reference: NS Chapter 14)
• 988 NE: Sheriam is named Mistress of Novices by Siuan Sanche. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 17)
• 999 NE: Sheriam flees from the Tower after Elaida's coup with other sisters and take 18 novices with them. (Reference: LoC Chapter 8)
• 999 NE: Sheriam, Anaiya, Beonin, Carlinya, Morvrin and Myrelle become the leaders of the Salidar Aes Sedai. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 27)
• 999 NE: Sheriam stands for Egwene as Amyrlin Seat and is later made her Keeper. (Reference: LoC Chapters 35 and 36)
• 1000 NE: Sheriam swears fealty to Egwene. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 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. (Reference: LoC Chapter 34) She is equal in strength to Kwamesa, Kiruna and Reanne. (Reference: ACoS Chapter 23)

Sheriam has a debateable Talent in Healing; Egwene once tells Rand that she cannot Heal much beyond a small bruise or cut, (Reference: TSR Chapter 34), yet she Heals Nynaeve after her accepted test, (Reference: TGH Chapter 23), and Elayne's hand and arm when it is a mass of blisters. (Reference: TSR Chapter 7). Sheriam can Delve in the Healing sense. (Reference: TDR Chapter 23) She has some skill in Tel'aran'rhiod, something that the Salidar Aes Sedai were eager to learn. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 50) However, she must use a ter'angreal to get there. (Reference: LoC 7) As an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah she doubtless knows the weaves of the Ajah, such as the weave to repel insects. (Reference: NS Chapters 14 and 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. (Reference: TFoH Chapter 27)

Moiraine, Siuan and Sheriam were good friends during their time in the Tower together. (Reference: NS Chapter 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. (Reference: NS Chapter 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 Chapter 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. (Reference: TGH Chapter 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. (Reference: TDR Chapter 23)

Her relationship with Elaida was tense even before the Tower divided. (Reference: TDR Chapter 23) After the split, Elaida dreams of Sheriam being stilled and begging for mercy. (References: ACoS Prologue and Chapter 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. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 16)

Miscellaneous Information

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

Quotes

"Sheriam (SHEER-ee-am): An Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. The Mistress of Novices in the White Tower." (Reference: TGH 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. (Reference: NS 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. (Reference: NS 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. (Reference: TGH 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. (Reference: TGH 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. (Reference: TPoD 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. (Reference: TPoD Chapter 16)