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2.5.3: Who is the Daughter of the Nine Moons? How will Mat meet her?

Who is the DotNM?

Mat's fate: "To marry the Daughter of the Nine Moons!"

Daughter of the Nine Moons probably indicates the heir to the throne of the Seanchan. This is most likely Tuon, the second daughter of the Seanchan Empress who is mentioned by High Lord Turak in Falme. [TGH: 34, The Wheel Weaves, 420]. It has been pointed out that (at least as of TGH) there is no set heir, and so the DotNM may be the Empress herself, or one of her daughters (besides Tuon). An outside runner is Berelain, who is supposedly descended from Hawkwing and thus "of the Blood," literally. Part of that theory is that "half the light of the world" refers to Mayene being a great supplier of lamp oil.

In Ebou Dar in [LoC: 52, Weaves of the Power, 641], Mat runs into a Seanchan guy who recognizes the name "Daughter of the Nine Moons." This makes it pretty clear that the Daughter of the Nine Moons refers to somebody Seanchan. The epilogue makes further clarification [LoC: Epilogue, The Answer, 697]: "Perhaps the Return would come soon, and the Daughter of the Nine Moons with it." The Daughter is maybe a leader of the Return. It has been suggested that the Seanchan themselves don't know who the DotNM is, and that the Return will reveal her identity to them. (I gather this theory is that the DotNM is some sort of messiah figure for the Seanchan, or something like that.) Chances are that Mat is going to meet her RSN, since he's trapped in a town that has just been invaded by the Seanchan.

How will Mat meet the DotNM?

There's been a lot of speculation about how Mat will fall into the Daughter's clutches, er, arms. A lot of it has centered around Mat's signet ring (see section 2.1.1), which has birds (maybe ravens?) and moons (maybe nine?) on it, and his spear, which has ravens on it. However, these links are kind of tenuous, and anyway, Mat left his spear behind in the Tarasin Palace. However, Mat has more than the ring to point him out to the Seanchan as somebody to pay attention to.

Donald Crankshaw explains:

Has anyone else noticed that Mat still had Tylin's note when the building fell on him? I didn't notice until a couple of days ago when re-reading a few of my favorite scenes from ACOS. At the beginning of the chapter "A Note from the Palace" (there's even a chapter named after the note), Mat's wearing a green coat. After reading the note: "'The Queen thinks I need new clothes,' Mat said, stuffing the note into his coat pocket." [ACOS: 37, A Note from the Palace, 583]. We know Mat's still wearing the coat later; we're practically hit over the head with it. At the FCA (Female Channelers Anonymous) meeting in [ACOS: 39, Promises to Keep, 605]: "He himself was still in his muck, with his dusty green coat hanging open and the silver foxhead caught in the neck of his half-undone shirt." And finally, just before the building fell on him, "[He was] hoping none of the Seanchan would think he was one of Tylin's soldiers. He should never have worn a green coat." [ACOS: 39, Promises to Keep, 622]

Now I knew that Mat was wearing the Ring o' the Nine Moons when he was buried under the rubble, but I hadn't really figured out how the Seanchan, whom I'm certain will be the ones to find him, would connect him with the palace. I was pretty sure he had to go back, that's where he left his ashanderei, but I didn't know how. I wonder what the Seanchan will make of that note.

Here's a copy of it, just because I have nothing better to do:

Mat, my sweet,

I am having your things moved to my apartments. So much more convenient. By the time you return, Riselle will be in your old rooms to look after young Olver. He seems to enjoy her company.

I have seamstresses coming to measure you. I will enjoy watching that. You must wear shorter coats. And new breeches, of course. You have a delightful bottom. Duckling, who is this Daughter of the Nine Moons I made you think of? I have thought of several delicious ways to make you tell me.

Tylin

Let's see, it mentions Olver, Riselle (I don't think she's really important), Tylin (this would not have been enough to indicate that it's the Queen rather than some other Tylin-- except that the letter has her seal), Mat's name, enough details to give a pretty good idea what Tylin and Mat's relationship is, and, oh yeah, the Daughter of the Nine Moons. You know, suddenly this note seems pretty significant.

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