Thom Merrilin first appears in the last sentence of Chapter Three: The Peddler, stepping out of the Winespring Inn as if being hurried out the door.  He quickly encounters Rand al’Thor, Perrin Aybara, Mat Cauthon, and Egwene al’Vere.  Thom is visibly irritated by being told to leave the Inn while the Village Council questioned peddler Padan Fain and comments to the youths that Fain often enjoyed carrying news of dark events, noting the man was more raven than man.  Egwene disapproves of Thom’s assessment and informs him Fain has often come to the Two Rivers and was more likely to bring positive news.  Egwene also picks up on Thom’s sarcasm and tells Thom he is not kind to make fun of them.  Thom quickly apologizes and moves to charm the group and asks Egwene to be his assistant during his performances as well as encouraging the boys to participate.

Drawn by Thom’s gleeman’s cloak a crowd starts to form in the village and begin asking Thom to tell stories, Egwene asking to hear about Lenn, who flew to the moon in the belly of an eagle made of fire.  And about Lenn’s daughter Salya who walked among the stars.  Thom notes these are old stories, from the Age before the Age of Legends.  He tells the crowd he knows many stories, of Ages long gone when men ruled the heavens and the stars and when men roamed the earth as brothers to animals.  Ages that ended in fire and others that ended in ice.  He names tales such as Mosk the Giant, with his Lance of Fire that could reach around the world, and his wars with Alsbet, the Queen of All as well as stories of Materese the Healer, Mother of the Wonderous Ind.  Thom begins juggling intricate patterns of multicolored balls and says he will also tell them of the end of the Age of Legends and of the Dragon and his attempt to free the Dark One into the world of man and the ensuing Time of Madness when Aes Sedai shattered the world.  The Trolloc Wars and the War of the Hundred Years and of other adventures of men and women such as the Siege of the Pillars of the Sky and ‘How Goodwife Karil Cured Her Husband of Snoring’.

Thom notices Moiraine Damodred and Lan Mandragoran in the crowd and abruptly stops speaking and juggling and notes that she is surely not from the Two Rivers.  He is informed by Ewin Fingar that she is a Lady and goes on to tell Thom that Moiraine is a collector of old stories of things that had happened in the Two Rivers.  Thom begs her pardon but she tells him no apologies are necessary and calls him a Master Bard.  Thom is clearly unhappy with the exchange and heads back into the inn as soon as Nynaeve and the Village council leave.

After the events of Winternight, Rand encounters Thom sitting near the foundation stones of the inn.  Thom tells Rand that he has seen Nynaeve working all night and that if anyone can save Tam al’Thor’s life it will be the Wisdom.  Thom also tells Rand that Fain is missing and likely a victim of the Trollocs who probably have used him as food.  Thom hurries off to find Nynaeve, but returns unhappily minutes later being upset that Rand did not tell him Nynaeve had already seen Tam, and snapped at Thom for interrupting her work.  As Rand begins to panic about his father Thom asks Bran al’Vere if he knew who had drawn the Dragon’s Fang on the inn door.  Bran tells Rand and Thom that it must be one of the Congars or Coplins and that it was intended for Moiraine, who is in fact an Aes Sedai.  This reminds the Mayor that stories of Aes Sedai include the ability to Heal, but he realizes that Thom was manipulating him and asks why.  Thom tells him that he is a stranger and like the Coplins didn’t want to be involved with an Aes Sedai, but tells Rand he may have no other option than to ask Moiraine for her help.  When Moiraine and Lan come to the inn Thom abruptly leaves, Lan notes to Bran that he did not see the gleeman during the fighting the night before but the Mayor tells Lan he had seen burns on the gleeman’s cloak indicating that the man had fought against the Trollocs.

Several hours later Thom surprises the group of Emond’s Fielders, Rand, Mat, Perrin, and Egwene who are leaving the village with Moiraine and Lan. Thom tells the Aes Sedai that he has never performed in Tar Valon and sees this as an opportunity to do so and chooses to join them, Moiraine allows this and the party makes a quick exit from Emond’s Field, heading north toward Watch Hill. Hunted by shadowspawn including Draghkar, which Thom claims to be a creation from the war that ended the Age of Legends, and were even worse than Trollocs and Myrddraal.  When the group nears Watch Hill after a hard night of riding Moiraine uses the One Power to wash the exhaustion from the horses and villagers before they continue north toward the town of Taren Ferry where Moiraine hopes to cross the river and evade the shadowspawn.

Entering the town of Taren Ferry the group makes its way to the ferryman, Master Hightower, and Lan pays the man to take them across the Taren despite their late-night arrival.  Thom helps Lan intimidate the man and his group of haulers to ensure they don’t try to rob the party, flourishing his knife skills to the amusement of both Moiraine and Egwene.  Once they have safely crossed the river the group is shocked when the ferry is suddenly taken by a whirlpool, something never seen on the Taren in the past.  Master Hightower and his men rush after it in an attempt to save the craft, but it is lost to the river.  Lan pays the man even more gold and leads the Emond’s Fielders and Thom away.

Moiraine uses the One Power to create a bank of heavy fog stretching miles up and down the river, a feat few Aes Sedai could manage unaided.  Thom asks why not give the group more cover in the direction of Baerlon and she replies that she is using the fog as a misdirection as the Draghkar are not very intelligent and it will more likely inform the Myrddraal that the group is hidden by the fog rather than look further.  Lan then leads the group to a small clearing where they can all rest.  Egwene notes that he had prepared the location before he and Moiraine entered the Two Rivers.  Moiraine takes Egwene to the side that evening to have a private conversation, Thom warns Rand not to be a fool when he begins to eavesdrop on the women.  Moiraine informs Egwene only a few can learn to touch the True Source and use the One Power but Egwene has been born with the ability and would begin to channel even without being taught and that she must gain an education in Tar Valon to use her ability fully, and there is a risk of death should she not, the few women who do survive often become Wisdoms.  Moiraine explains that men who are born this way are the ones the Red Ajah finds and gentles, this elicited a deep growl from Thom.  Moiraine notes that Egwene is very close to touching the Source and guides her in an exercise to make the process easier and will avoid the effects of not having a guide.  Egwene successfully creates a small flash of light in the blue stone Moiraine wears and is very excited at the prospect of becoming an Aes Sedai.  Moiraine notes that most women must study for months before being able to do what Egwene did in her first lesson and she has the potential to go far in Tar Valon, perhaps even to the Amyrlin Seat.  Later that evening Moiraine uses the One Power to wash the exhaustion from the group and Thom attempts to refuse, jerking away from the Aes Sedai, but she quells his response with a firm look and he submits to having the Power used on him.

Over the next days as the party travels toward Baelron Thom entertains them with music and stories such as Mara and the Three Foolish Kinds or one of the hundreds of tales about Anla the Wise Counselor and The Great Hunt of the Horn.  Thom attempts to intercede for the youths when they upset Moiraine with questions and does his best to keep tensions down with stories that have happy endings about joyous homecomings.  Thom goes so far as to teach the boys to juggle to pass the time.

The group arrives in Baerlon, to Thom’s amusement, the Two Rivers youths find the “city” astounding for its size.  At the gates to the town, Lan and Moiraine explain to the others that they are to use the names Master Andra and Mistress Alys while in the Baerlon.  They learn there are Children of the Light in Baerlon, claiming to be there to protect the town from The False Dragon, Logain Ablar, in Ghealdan, though Master Avin the gate guard has heard that a large battle had been fought which killed Aes Sedai.  Thom tells Rand that the man was referencing The Karaethon Cycle, The Prophecies of the Dragon when he spoke of the city of Tear and the People of the Dragon.  Thom remains with the villagers and goes to the Stag and Lion inn. Rand meets Min Farshaw and she tells him that everyone in their party is involved in the same situation, including Thom, she also tells Rand she sees images around Thom that are of a man, not Thom, juggling fire and of the White Tower.  Innkeeper Master Finch hoping the gleeman would play for the common room, Thom obliges and entertains crowds in the inn and even goes out to draw in crowds while the boys explore Baerlon. When Thom hears the boys discussing their dreams of Ba’alzamon he warns them to hold their tongues and not speak that name where others, especially the Whitecloaks, might hear them.  They give him more details about the dreams including names such as Guaire Amalason, Raolin Darksbane, Davian, Yurian Stonebow, and Logain.  Thom notes these are dangerous names as they are all men that have rocked the world over the last two thousand years.

When they return to the inn they discover Nynaeve al’Meara is in Baerlon looking for the Emond’s Field people.  Thom leaves the room with the boys and Rand tells him about some of Min’s viewings, including that Nynaeve is a part of this.  When they return to the group Thom attempts to intimidate Nynaeve after she threatens to reveal their identities, claiming to be concerned that the Whitecloaks and townspeople knew he had arrived with the group and he had no desire to be questioned by the Whitecloaks.  Thom returns to performing in the common room, telling stories of Hunters for the Horn, Blaes of Matuchin, Rogosh Eagle Eye, Lian, The Fall of Aleth-Loriel, Gaidal Cain’s Sword, and the Last Ride of Buad of Albhain.   He played songs on his harp and flute as well including The Wind that Shakes the Willow, Only One Bucket of Water, and Wild Geese on the Wing.

Once again forced to run in the night due to Whitecloaks stirring up trouble in town, Thom decides to remain with the group as he knows he is already associated with them in the town and would not be safe staying.  As they leave the town Moiraine uses the One Power to make herself appear as a giant and scares a party of Whitecloaks away allowing the party to leave.  They see fire go up in the town and Thom informs the villagers it is the Stag and Lion Inn.  Moiraine and Lan lead them to the Caemlyn Road and push hard to keep ahead of any trailing Shadowspawn, Lan’s scouting indicates at least three fists of Trollocs and as many as five Myrddraal tracking them. An advance party of Trollocs led by a Myrddraal attacks and Lan leads the boys and Thom to fight them off. Moiraine uses the One Power to envelop Trollocs in flames.  Lan engaged and killed the Myrddraal, decapitating the creature.  Thom informs the villagers that even though it was dead the body would not become inanimate until nightfall.

Moiraine leads them into an abandoned city she calls Shadar Logoth but is clearly unhappy about the need to enter the place and keeps the group in a tight formation leading them into one of the ruined buildings for shelter.  She is certain the shadowspawn will not follow them without extreme force as the ruins are a place of fear for them as well as humans.  Thom stays behind when the boys sneak off to go investigate the ruins of the ancient city.  When the boys come running back and inform Moiraine they have encountered a strange man named Mordeth the Aes Sedai tells the party of the fall of Aridhol, once one of the Ten Nations of the Second Covenant.  Aridhol was led by King Balwen Mayel, known as Balwen Ironhand.  A man named Mordeth came to the court of Aridhol during the late stages of the Trolloc Wars and counseled Balwen to become as hard as the Shadow, showing no mercy to their enemies.  Eventually, the evil wrought by this approach engulfed the nation and city of Aridhol and became so embedded in the city of Aridhol that it took physical form in a deadly soul eating fog known as Mashadar, killing the inhabitants of the city and destroying any, including shadowspawn who entered.  Mordeth was trapped within the walls of the city waiting for an unsuspecting human whose soul he could devour and use to leave and spread evil throughout the world.  Lan returns from scouting the area and announces Trollocs and Myrddraal have entered the ruins and they must flee once again.

Thom and the villagers stay close together as Moiraine and Lan attempt to lead them from the ruins safely, but they are separated by the mindless fog of Mashadar and attacked by Trollocs, scattering them into smaller parties.  Thom finds Rand and Mat and hurries them to run as they are being chased.  The trio escapes the city into the surrounding wilderness and make their way to the nearby river and find the riverboat Spray owned by Captain Bayle Domon, leaping aboard while being chased by Trollocs.  Thom spins a tale of being a treasure hunter and running afoul of shadowspawn, keeping Mat and Rand from telling too much of the truth while he and Domon bargain for secure passage to Whitebridge downriver.  Thom is unhappy that the two boys showed Domon their silver as he was sure he could have gotten passage in exchange for his services as a gleeman.  They spend the next several days onboard with Thom teaching them as though they were truly apprenticed gleemen.

Eventually arriving in the town of Whitebridge, known for its incredible bridge, a remnant of the Age of Legends made from an unknown material. The trio leaves the Spray, despite Domon pushing them to stay aboard to keep his crew light-hearted on the rest of their voyage to the city of Illian on the Sea of Storms.  Thom tries to convince Rand and Mat to stay, but the boys are determined to find the other Emond’s Fielders and Moiraine and are determined to continue to Caemlyn.  The men make their way to an inn, The Wayfarer’s Rest run by a man named Bartim, to discuss their plans on getting to Caemlyn.  Bartim informs them that there is big news and tells them the False Dragon Logain had been captured after a big battle near Lugard as he was moving his army from Ghealdan toward Tear.  They also learn that the nation of Illian has called The Great Hunt for the Horn for the first time in hundreds of years.  When Thom asks if the innkeeper had any news of strangers meeting the description of Moiraine and the others the man told him a week prior a weaselly man that appeared insane had come to the town looking for a group that matched this description.  The following day a frightening man wearing all black with his hood hiding his face began coming into the town in a mysterious fashion and was also searching for this group.  The innkeeper then asks Thom and the boys to leave his inn as though he was truly afraid.  The men recognized this as a Mryddraal and are unsure what to do next. Thom wants them to return to the Spray and go to Illian for the Great Hunt, but Rand and Mat remain adamant that they must go on to Caemlyn.  Thom splits the money they have amongst the three of them in case they get separated and then they leave the inn and Thom tells Rand and Mat that he is helping them because he had a nephew, Owyn his brother’s only child and Thom’s only living relative, who had gotten in trouble with Aes Sedai and Thom had not helped him.  Thom holds Aes Sedai accountable for Owyn’s death.  The three then hide their faces in their hoods and begin making their way to the town gates.  The Myrddraal intercepts them.  Thom shoves his bundled harp and flute into Rand’s hands and tells the two boys to make their way to an inn in Caemlyn called the Queen’s Blessing and yells at them to run for their lives, he then charges the creature with his knives out, crashing into the Myrddraal in a flash of eye-searing blue.  On their journey to Caemlyn Rand has many dreams of Thom.

When they finally arrive in the city Rand and Mat seek out the Queen’s Blessing and encounter one of Thom’s old friends, innkeeper Basel Gill who takes the boys in and tells them he doesn’t believe Thom is dead as the man had escaped many dangerous situations in the past.  Gill tells Rand that Thom had once been the Court-bard in Caemlyn and the lover of Queen Morgase Trakand of Andor, but they had fallen out after the trouble with Thom’s nephew occurred which led to the Queen ordering Thom’s execution.  Thom fled Caemlyn and took up the life of a wandering gleeman.  When the rest of the group eventually arrives at the Queen’s Blessing Mat tells Moiraine of Thom’s death and the events in Whitebridge, but she is also skeptical as Min’s viewings indicated Thom’s further involvement with the Two Rivers people and because the people in Whitebridge mentioned the gleeman, but did not speak of him dying which would have been huge news for the town.