Anaiya Carel (pronounced: ah-NYE-yah) was an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah.[1] Evidence suggests that she was at one time the Blue Ajah First Selector.
Appearance and Personality[]
Anaiya stood about 5'6" tall and was dark haired with a homely 'blunt face'.[2] She had a warm smile. According to Moiraine, "almost everyone felt comforted, safe and special, when Anaiya smiled at them".[2] Anaiya enjoyed beautiful clothing and had a fondness for wearing lace and ruffles.[3]
She was astute politically and a first-rate organizer.[1] Likely this was one of the reasons she was included among the Salidar Six. Moiraine calls her open, honest, and "accepting of everyone" while still able to see into the heart of the matter.[2] She was not a flighty woman. Instead, she was deliberate, unflappable, and careful with her words.[4]
She is kind towards children. When in Fal Dara, she ruffles the heads of playing boys as she passes.[2] She is less formal than many Aes Sedai in other ways, asking Amalisa Jagad to call her by her first name only, while asking permission to call her merely "Amalisa".[2] Egwene thinks that she is "different from the others, more like a woman from home".[5]
Strength and Abilities[]
Anaiya was strong in the One Power by Aes Sedai standards, with a level of 15(3).[6][1] She is among the top tier of channelers among the Rebel Aes Sedai. Among the Salidar Six, she is as strong as Carlinya Sorevin, Morvrin Thakanos and Myrelle Berengari, but not as strong as Sheriam Bayanar.[7]
She had a strong ability at Healing, and was exceptionally adept at caring for the wounded.
She had an interest in lost Talents, so much so that some thought she should have been a Brown. This included Dreaming and she tested Egwene on the ability. Moiraine says Anaiya belonged in the Brown when she raises an interest in channelers among the Aiel.[2]
History[]
Anaiya was born in the year 868 NE and went to the Tower in 883 NE. After spending eight years as Novice and seven as Accepted she was raised to the shawl in the year 898 NE.[1]
She, Cabriana Mecandes and Kairen Stang were nicknamed "The Three" because they did not share any of their activities with anyone else except each other.[8] The Brown Sitter Janya Frende was another dear friend of Anaiya.
When Verin Mathwin injured herself in Tel'aran'rhiod, she went to Anaiya for Healing[9].
Anaiya was present at Moiraine Damodred's test for the shawl and Healed her afterwards. She was then the first to greet both Moiraine and Siuan Sanche to the Blue Ajah living quarters[6].
She once Healed Moiraine after Lan rode a horse to death, and nearly ran himself to death carrying Moiraine to her.[10] Moiraine liked her a lot, though Siuan preferred Lelaine.
She had a single Warder, Setagana.[11]
Activities[]
At Fal Dara[]
She was one of two representatives for the Blue Ajah sent to Fal Dara[12] as part of the Amyrlin's entourage.[2] While traveling back to the White Tower, she began lessons with Nynaeve al'Meara and Egwene al'Vere[13]. She was the first to believe that Egwene may be a Dreamer[5].
She was one of the Aes Sedai who Healed Mat from his link to the dagger from Shadar Logoth. She enclosed the dagger in a metal box [14].
She examines Mat and finds he is well although still in need of a lot of nourishment just before he leaves for Tear. She seems amused by his preparations to leave since she "knows" he can not get off the island.[15]
Rebellion[]
She was one of the original leaders of the Salidar Aes Sedai, known informally to fans as the Salidar Six, having fled the White Tower following Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan's usurpattion[16].
When Min, Siuan, Leane, and Logain arrived at Salidar, Anaiya asked Leane and Siuan several questions that only they could know the answers to, since being stilled affected their appearance [16].
While searching the Amyrlin's study in Tel'aran'rhiod for information on what Elaida has received, the Salidar Six were attacked by a stray nightmare of Trollocs. They were saved when Elayne Trakand and Siuan reminded them about the dream not being real, after which the nightmare faded away leaving only injury[17].
When a bubble of evil attacked Salidar, she took control of a link that contains Elayne, Nynaeve and Nicola Treehill to destroy all the inanimate objects that have come to life. It was during this time she observed Nicola have her first Foretelling[18].
She was with the rest of the Salidar Six in Tel'aran'rhiod, when she summoned Egwene to become Amyrlin[19].
She showed Matrim Cauthon to Nicola, who has the Talent of seeing ta'veren[20].
She was also a member of Egwene's Council. She swore an oath of fealty to Egwene. Egwene sent her on a secret meeting to meet with the group of nobles that blocked the Salidar army on the border of Andor[21].
She was with Egwene and Gareth when they surveyed the area around Tar Valon [11].
Murder[]
Anaiya and her Warder were murdered the night the Rebel Hall voted to make an alliance with the Black Tower. Nisao Dachen found them[3] and, after testing for resonance, determined they had been killed by suffocation with an air weave of saidin. [3]
Aran'gar, in the guise of Halima, had killed them to prevent them from betraying her lie of being a companion of Cabriana; and possibly with the secondary goal of discouraging the Rebel Hall from forming an alliance with the Black Tower.
Egwene was saddened at her death, not only because she liked Anaiya, but also because Anaiya was one of the few who thought Egwene might really have the talent of Dreaming. Anaiya's death meant the other Aes Sedai would be less likely to believe in Egwene's talent.
First Selector?[]
She might have been the First Selector of the Blue Ajah before she was murdered, and even if not, she was certainly someone who many Blues listened closely to. Several indications have occurred that support this idea, although there is no hard evidence for this. First and foremost, Moiraine's cryptic "I will leave the Hall to you, Anaiya" [2] suggests that Anaiya held a station of importance, and she was not a Sitter. Secondly, Lelaine Akashi was not mentioned as the First Selector until Knife of Dreams, after Anaiya's death. Thirdly, it is likely that the First Selector would be one of the Salidar Six, but she probably gave way for Sheriam (who acted as unofficial leader of the six) so as not to reveal herself. When Myrelle (secretly Captain-General of the Green) promises every Green sister behind Sheriam as a choice of Amyrlin, Anaiya seems about to say the same about the Blue sisters.[22] In short, she is the most likely First Selector for the main part of the series.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Wheel of Time Companion, Anaiya Carel
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 The Great Hunt, Chapter 4
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 20
- ↑ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 19
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Great Hunt, Chapter 12
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 New Spring, Chapter 12
- ↑ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 27
- ↑ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 23
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 21
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 22
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 16
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 2
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 11
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 18
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 30
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 26
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 7
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 14
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 34
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 38
- ↑ A Crown of Swords, Chapter 15
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 27