Among the most popular and enduring characters in Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series is Perrin Aybara: blacksmith, Wolfbrother, and Steward of the Dragon. Perrin is a beloved character because of his strength and leadership, and because of his parallels to some heroes from various myths throughout time.
Whether you’re a longtime fan who wants to take a nostalgic dive into the history of some of the best characters in the series or a newcomer to the Wheel of Time, here is everything you ever wanted to know about Perrin Aybara, one of the prophesied saviors to stand up against the Dark One.
*Warning: The following article contains spoilers for The Wheel of Time series.*
Who is Perrin Aybara?
Perrin seems like a natural hero, despite his gentle nature. He is described in the books as tall and muscular, with an intimidating stature, and bearded, with a head of thick, curly brown hair and brown eyes. Because he is so strong physically, he had to learn from a young age how to control his strength and think before acting to avoid harming others, either purposefully or inadvertently. As a result, Perrin is slow to anger and, to his advantage, logical, careful, and calculating. Based on these qualities, he makes for a good leader. He is also a Wolfbrother.
Perrin grew up the eldest of four children on a farm near his extended family, and was a shy child. When he was 12, he was apprenticed to a blacksmith named Haral Luhhan, some distance from his family's farm, which meant he was only able to return home and visit on holidays. He was a good blacksmith, until he was brought on a journey to fight against the Dark One.
Perrin’s Significant Relationships
Perrin first meets his future wife when an intriguing young woman calling herself Mandarb appears at his forge. Her true name is Zarine Bashere, as it's soon revealed, and she is a runaway. Eventually, she adopts the name Faile, which means falcon. Perrin takes notice of this, as he has received a prophecy that he will encounter a falcon and a hawk in his future. Perrin's relationship with Faile deepens as they travel to Tear; by the time she follows him to Two River, they are deeply in love. Faile is there for Perrin through good times and tragedy, and she supports him in becoming the unofficial Lord of Two Rivers. They marry but are separated from each other in the ensuing violence and war. The lengths that Perrin will go to to rescue his wife bring out a more brutal side to the normally gentle leader.
Other significant relationships for Perrin are with his mentor Elyas Machera, a fellow Wolfbrother, and Berelain sur Paendrag Paeron, a rival symbolized as the hawk in the prophecy about his future. At first, Perrin doesn't care for Berelain, who competes against Perrin for Faile's affections. Yet after Perrin rescues Faile and feels secure in their relationship, he is able to come to view Berelain with some respect.
What happens when Perrin becomes a Wolfbrother?
Not long after Perrin meets Elyas, he begins to sense the presence of the nearby wolves. Because they readily accept him, he is transformed into a Wolfbrother. This process involves a permanent physical change to his eyes, which become yellow, and the receiving of supernatural abilities. Certain people are born with the potential for becoming Wolfkin, but they can only become a Wolfbrother or Wolfsister when the wolves accept them.
With Perrin's transformation, he is given the name Young Bull, meant to symbolize both his strength and his more vulnerable and caring side. In addition, he is given the psychic ability to communicate with his wolf brethren and, along with a heightened sense of smell, know how far away he is from any of them at any given time. As a Wolfbrother, he is also gifted with prophetic dreams, which predict the future with startling accuracy, and the power to enter the Dreamworld in the flesh.
Perrin's Weapons
Although Perrin tends toward peace, there are times when he must pick up his weapons and fight. His first weapon of choice is an axe, which was specially commissioned when he still worked in Haral Luhhan's forge. The axe was never paid for by its commissioner, and the unusual curved blade and spike called out to Perrin, who used to practice self defense with it. Haral Luhhan gifted the axe to Perrin, since he seemed to have an affinity for it. But the weapon often made people uneasy. When Perrin finds himself wary of the axe, his mentor Elyas encourages him to see this caution as a benefit, forcing him to use the axe more wisely than a man who might feel comfortable slinging it about. Perrin takes his first life with the axe when he is attacked encountering the Children of the Light.
Perrin's other prized weapon is a standard blacksmith's hammer, which he views as the opposite of the axe. While the axe only cuts down, a hammer is used to build things, a quality that people respect. Perrin eventually abandons his axe when he feels as though he is too quick to use it. As a result, he relies more on the hammer, seeing it not simply as a weapon but a powerful reminder he can either build things up or destroy them. Perrin eventually leaves behind his old hammer and forges a new, magical hammer that is better meant to serve the leader he has become.
Important Wheel of Time Prophecies
Perrin is referenced in a number of prophecies, including the Prophecies of the Dragon, which says: "When the Wolf King carries the hammer, thus are the final days known." He is also referred to in the Prophecies of the Shadow: "...the last days of the Fallen Blacksmith’s pride shall come. Yea, and the Broken Wolf, the one whom Death has known, shall fall and be consumed by the Midnight Towers. And his destruction shall bring fear and sorrow to the hearts of men, and shall shake their very will itself."
What was the inspiration for Perrin Aybara?
Many fans of the series have pointed out that Perrin bears a resemblance to the Norse god Thor, as they are both strong and powerful, with long hair and beards, and they both carry hammers. But Perrin also shares striking similarities with the Slavic war god Perun, who also has a beard and carries both an axe and a hammer into battle. Their names are even pronounced very similarly.
The Best Perrin Aybara Quotes
"Weep for the dead later. Now we care for the living." — The Shadow Rising
"Have you ever tried to think what it must be like to be someone else? If you could see through these golden eyes of mine, you'd find the world a different place." — Towers of Midnight
"Rand is the one who's supposed to go mad, and here I am, talking to an axe!" — The Shadow Rising
"It's just a weave." — Towers of Midnight
