Weekly Topic: The Dark Mercenary

[Barid Bel Medar]

A particularly prominent Darkfriend; all the more intriguing that he has no power beyond any regular human. 

 

We first hear of the mercenary in aCoS where he is working for Toram Riaitin in Haddon Mirk who we know is advised by Padan Fain. 

Min has a viewing that prophecies that he will kidnap, rape and kill in the future. 

 

He plays no real role in that chapter, and before we continue on to his list of offences, let's first look back at his past. 

 

He has served as a mercenary for as long as we are made aware of his history. He saw - and probably participated - in the looting of Cairhien in the Aiel War [PoD:28]

 

Fast forward 20 years to the present - he has presumably been serving as a mercenary for the time - and he joins up with "Lord Gaebril's" White Lions. Which is of course Rhavin's division created in Andor while he controlled Morgase. Since avinhe is a Darkfriend, and not only an unsavoury man, it is likely Rhavin himself picked up Hanlon's services. 

 

The White Lions cause chaos in East Andor and West Cairhienin after the civil war breaks out thanks to Rand and Thom. So his first actions as a Darkfriend actually working against the Light is facilitating this chaos, which Mat clears up, but leaves it's mark on both nations which Elayne and Rand must remedy later in the plot as they come into their respective power. 

 

After Rhavin's defeat and later the defeat of the remnants of the White Lions, he makes his way to Riatin's camp with some of his "fellows" in rebellion against Rand's rule of Cairhien. There are no specifics mentioned, but the rebels harass Rand's rule and cause further chaos. No doubt Hanlon also serves to keep the rebellion alive on orders from the Dark One. 

It is at this time Padan Fain also comes to Riatin. Considering their respective loyalties, it is doubtful that Hanlon and Fain are in collusion - Fain's head is wanted by the Shadow. In fact, Hanlon probably doesn't even know about Fain, or else he would have likely attempted to assassinate him.

 

Nonetheless - while there are no obvious effects - it might be interesting to note this interaction, as Fain's power to corrupt is well known, and it took Riatin over. 

 

After the rebels flee from the Bubble of Evil, Hanlon escapes to Andor. In his PoV in PoD: 28, he thinks to himself that he is under Moghedien's orders, not Moridin's, which sees him in Andor and to Millie Skane. 

 

How long he has been under Moghedien's orders - presumably sometime after Rhavin's death - is unclear. What sent him to Riatin - Moghedien, another Darkfriend  or his own mercenary nature- is unclear, but is something interesting to note. 

 

As the scene plays out, he has Jachim Carradin murdered and is now in collusion with Skane - who is ordered by Moridin - where she offers him Elayne as a prize. 

 

*As a note, at this point Moghedien is mindtrapped and under Moridin's control. Several of Moghedien's Black Ajah are now under Millie Skane. It is reasonable to conclude that Moghedien called in Hanlon either by Moridin's wishes, or her suggestion to Moridin. 

 

He is enlisted in the Andorian army - which likely caused him to assume the alias Dollian Mellar, since his name may be associated with Rhavin's White Lions - and rises to prominence when he "saves" Elayne from the assassins. 

 

Most probably a ploy to gain her favour and trust - which it does. Still, it is worth noting the callousness of the plan, the assassins being recruited specifically to die. 

 

He then becomes Captain of the Royal Guard, where he is recieved with ill-favour. He is in collusion with various mercenary captains, who meet with Elayne and demand better pay etc... 

 

Elayne begins to wisen up to Hanlon's true nature, and has Hark investigate him, since all of her previous spies have been killed - presumably by Hanlon himself or at least the Darkfriends. 

 

Elayne then follows the trail to Full Moon Street, where conflict with the Black Ajah ensues, and she is captured. 

 

While Hanlon is absent from this until his capture later in the book, it is worth noting that the mercenaries that he was in collusion with - at least one of them - betray Caemlyn's gates to Arymilla's forces which results in Caemlyn fully invaded. It would be reasonable to say that Hanlon had the Mercenaries act when Elayne was captured - thus causing the full-fledged battle that ensues. This may be Hanlon's own doing, the mercenaries are not confirmed as Darkfriends, but they are friends of Hanlon, and have been slighted by Elayne. 

 

In any case, the rescue ensues and Hanlon is captured, much to the delight of the Guardswomen, who beat him thoroughly. 

 

However, his days are not over. Elayne recruits Sylvase's torturer, a darkfriend himself, to question the other Darkfriends. 

 

A proposition which can't- and didn't - go well. While Elayne is trying out her acting skills - the torturer releases Hanlon and co. which puts her in a tight spot. 

 

*Note: The timing is very convenient, it suggests that there was an informant. Or perhaps it was simply coincidence. 

 

Hanlon manages to bag himself a foxhead medallion and assassinates two of the shielded black Ajah and stabs Elayne before making his escape. 

 

It may also be interesting to note that this is what caused Elayne's "revision" of her stance on Min's viewing, realising that her children being born doesn't mean they will be born in safe hands, or Elayne would be in safe hands. 

 

We next see Hanlon when he pops up again as a mercenary posing as refugees from Caemlyn and kidnaps Elayne, killing Birgitte causing chaos amongst Andor's armies - and the entire forces of the Light.

 

Hanlon reveals he has a plan - from the DO itself - to cut out the children and take them to Shayol Ghul, leaving Hanlon with Elayne as a "reward". The plan is never realised, but we see him in league with the Dreadlords and there is obviously some plot with the children which has been brewing.

 

She is saved when Birgitte finally puts an end to Hanlon's life as a restored Hero of the Horn, and Elayne escapes yet again to lead Andor to victory. 

 

I would like to go back a bit to Caemlyn's invasion - where Mellar isn't present, but his hand is. It is Millie Skane and Moghedien's Black Ajah who facilitate the invasion of Caemlyn. It is reasonable to assume that as Captain of the Guard, Hanlon put the Darkfriends - which fought against Rhavin - in a position to betray Andor and hold the Waygate. 

 

SO, there are a few conclusion's I have made when looking at Hanlon's part in the series. 

 

1. Hanlon, often seen as one of the more competent Darkfriends, seems to me to be rather incompetent. He manages to stay alive and harass people by fleeing when his plans have been thwarted, and his rescue from imprisonment by the grace of another Darkfriend. 

 

While he fails, he still manages to cause a great deal of damage, even if the overall plan was a failure. So he is almost competent unintentionally. 

 

2. His arc in particular shows the depth of the Shadow's network from Rhavin, to Riatin, to Moghedien, Skane and Moridin and the Darkfriends, the "sleeper" darkfriends in Caemlyn. 

 

It really shows the plague the Shadow has created with comparatively few actual supporters. A net of Darkfriends manage to cause chaos on such a wide scale using "ordinary" people. 

 

 

[David Selig]

 It has to be noted that Elayne suspected him right after the staged assassination attempt. So it didn't really work as intended since it was a bit too much with the thrown sword and all.

 

A few times his survival really stretched plausibility. There was no reason not to hang him on the spot once he was arrested or at most after a few days of questioning. Yet he stayed arrested for months for no discernible reason. The way he manage to sneak up on a channeller holding saidar twice without being heard is quite contrived. The fact that five times the men send to follow him died mysteriously yet he wasn't put to the question really stretches plausibility too.

[Barid Bel Medar]

Speaking of which, the staged assassination turned out to be a bad idea. 

 

Elayne would have been killed if they let the assassins do their job. 

 

Of course, there is the idea that the Shadow wanted Elayne alive so the fight for the Throne would continue, but even had she died the succession wouldn't have been ended, and even if it had, Arymilla as Queen under the Shadow's control seems to be a far better outcome. 

 

I guess the Shadow could have underestimated Elayne. I would have thought they would see her as the biggest threat in Andor  - a powerful Aes Sedai with ties to the Amyrlin and the Dragon Reborn in charge of Andor. 

[Durinax]

Speaking of which, the staged assassination turned out to be a bad idea. 

 

Elayne would have been killed if they let the assassins do their job. 

 

Of course, there is the idea that the Shadow wanted Elayne alive so the fight for the Throne would continue, but even had she died the succession wouldn't have been ended, and even if it had, Arymilla as Queen under the Shadow's control seems to be a far better outcome. 

 

I guess the Shadow could have underestimated Elayne. I would have thought they would see her as the biggest threat in Andor  - a powerful Aes Sedai with ties to the Amyrlin and the Dragon Reborn in charge of Andor. 

if elayne had died Dylin would have declared.

[Barid Bel Medar]

if elayne had died Dylin would have declared.

 

 

 

 

 

Dylin was in the room with Elayne, presumably she would have died with Elayne. 

[clutzyninja]

Speaking of which, the staged assassination turned out to be a bad idea. 

 

Elayne would have been killed if they let the assassins do their job. 

 

Of course, there is the idea that the Shadow wanted Elayne alive so the fight for the Throne would continue, but even had she died the succession wouldn't have been ended, and even if it had, Arymilla as Queen under the Shadow's control seems to be a far better outcome. 

 

I guess the Shadow could have underestimated Elayne. I would have thought they would see her as the biggest threat in Andor  - a powerful Aes Sedai with ties to the Amyrlin and the Dragon Reborn in charge of Andor. 

Maybe they figured threat or not, Elayne would never be able to reunite Andor and get them back in the game before the Last Battle.

[Barid Bel Medar]

Which is exactly what I'm saying. A poor decision. They should be making it as hard as possible, not "should be alright." 

[wotfan4472]

Hence my votes :D

[Maleshub]

Hanlon is the most "cold-blooded" and sadistic DF I've read in AMoL, excepting Fain. He is messed up from the neck up. Hanlon is about "survival and pleasure." He's cut down to the two basic primal instincts and everything he does is centered around those. 

 

He was extremely competent in the tasks he was assigned to. He did his part for Rahvin, till the latter died. He caused chaos in Cairhien, till the bubble ended that one. He infiltrated Elayne's bodyguards, and recruited DF's in the Queen's Guards (the ones that killed the Waygate guards). He survived Elayne's  prison; and still managed to play a presumptive role in the destruction of Caemlyn. And he managed to find Elayne during the Last Battle and capture her. Only a miracle saved Ms. Al'Thor from death at his hands. So, he's more competent that Be'lal and Asmodean, at least! 

 

I still hate reading him in the books; and wish he wasn't there. WoT would have been interesting of Fain and Hanlon had met a GRRM-esque death prior to AMoL.