Demandred
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Demandred is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.
Almost is the story of Barid Bel Medar's life. He was born one day after Lews Therin Telamon, almost his age. He was almost handsome, other than his hawk nose. He was the second most acclaimed man of the Age of Legends, holding high offices and writing books, not quite so high or successful as Lews Therin. For this reason, he hated Lews with every ounce of his soul, more so than Sammael. He even desired Lews Therin's wife, Ilyena.
Barid Bel Medar turned out to be a great general for the Light, a gambler whose risks on the battlefield paid off. When Lews Therin Telamon became Commander of the forces of the Light, Medar could no longer contain his hatred, thinking Lews nothing more than a lucky fool. In the third year of the War of Power, he turned to the Shadow, becoming one of their best generals.
Since escaping from the seal, he has been scheming with Mesaana and Semirhage. Other than ordering the death of Rand at least once, his plans have yet to be revealed. A favorite theory among readers was that he disguises himself as Mazrim Taim, leader of the Black Tower. The theory intuitively fits: Taim knows weaves of the One Power that Rand does not; Taim is scornful of modern Aes Sedai (something all Forsaken are open about); both Demandred and Taim are second fiddle, are almost, to Rand al'Thor; and both have been seen to scheme against him. However, author Robert Jordan has assured his fans that Demandred is not masquerading as Taim. Who (and where) Demandred is, and what Taim himself is up to, are thus open for question.