The WoT faq mentions a very minor character as a candidate for being Mesaana in disguise in its "Who is Mesaana?" section. Just one problem. She is given only one line of type in the whole essay on who could be the scholarly Forsaken. I think I know why she isn't considered a major suspect. The key to my whole theory is the chapter "The Truth of a Viewing" in TSR. In the faq, only one passage is mentioned as proof for the possibility of ******* [Surely you didn't expect me to tell you right away?] posing as Mesaana. Its the passage [ACoS: Prologue, Lightnings, 35, P.B.] where Alviarin brushes past a certain Brown sister. It describes her as being dreamy, having no friends, and being one of the ones that assisted Elaida in the Tower Coup. That is all the evidence that is presented. Well guess what. We know considerably more about this Brown sister. Her name is Danelle, and she is mentioned a whole lot more in the WoT than people realize.

The WoT faq lists but one passage to support a "Danelle as Mesaana" theory. Well...If you remember, the passage says that Danelle was one of the ones that helped depose Siuan Sanche. But...I don't think that most people are aware that her role in the coup was mentioned TWICE in TSR. I couldn't believe that I, and apparently just about everyone else, had failed to notice it. I can tell you why I missed it, and I'd be willing to bet just about anything that everyone else missed it for the same reason I did. The chapter "Truth of a Viewing", is the one where Min, Siuan, Leane, and Logain are making their escape from the White Tower. But that's not why people don't notice the Danelle passages. Its because of something that is alluded to. Gawyn killed Hammar and Coulin. I never really payed attention to that chapter until recently because I hated the thought of Gawyn, an honorable man, killing two of his friends for a misguided cause. I am virtually certain that that is why most other people didn't notice the passage too. Be as that may, back to the subject at hand. If you've got a paperback copy of TSR handy, get it out. Turn to page 762, second paragraph. The passage reads as follows: "Today she [Siuan] was examining lists of kitchen purchases, and the mason's report on an addition to the library. The sheer number of petty peculations people thought they could slip by always amazed her. So did the number that escaped notice by the women who oversaw these matters. For instance, Laras seemed to think watching accounts was beneath her since her title has been changed officially from simple chief cook to Mistress of the Kitchens. Danelle, on the other hand, the young Brown sister who was supposed to be watching Master Jovarin, the mason, was most likely letting herself be distracted by the books the fellow kept finding for her. That was the only way to explain her failure to question the number of workmen Jovarin claimed to have hired, with the first shipments of stone from Kandor just arriving at Northharbor. He could rebuild the entire library with that many men. Danelle was simply too dreamy, even for a Brown. Perhaps a little time on a farm working penance would wake her...". Turn to page 776, fourth paragraph. "You mean the Gaidin?" Leane exclaimed. "Warders, fighting each other?" [Min speaking] "Warders, the guardsmen, everyone. It started when some men who came claiming to be masons-two or three hundred of them-tried to seize the Tower itself right after your arrest was announced." Siuan scowled. "Danelle! I should have realized there was more to it than not paying attention."

Let us examine these two passages, shall we? Danelle was in charge of overseeing the mason Jovarin. Jovarin was in charge of procuring men to add an addition to the library. Siuan, at first, thinks that Danelle isn't paying attention to what she's doing, and that Jovarin is pulling a fast one by hiring a lot more manpower than is required. She attributes this to Danell's dreaminess, a common Brown trait. But notice what she says next, "Danelle was simply too dreamy, even for a Brown." Mesaana is described as being viewed by the other Forsaken as "dreamy" in the Illustrated Guide. The next "Danelle passage" seals it. The hundreds of masons were in actuality, Elaida supporters who performed a commando type action once inside the tower. Siuan realizes her error, in effect saying, "How could I have been so blind? NO ONE is stupid enough to let someone take advantage of them by hiring that many extra men." At that point, she realizes TRULY how big of a setup the whole charade was.

Take those two passages. Look at them. Think. Why is all that stuff mentioned about Danelle? Why is she brought up again and again? Fast forward to FoH, page fourteen, paperback. Danelle again. She is one of the key members of Elaida's "cabinet". She is mentioned again on page nineteen. WHY!? Why is this one minor character mentioned in FIVE separate passages spanning FOUR books? RJ has given us every clue we need, we're just slow. Mesaana IS Danelle.