— An Aes Sedai telling the prophecy of the one who will lead the Aiel
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| Setting: Rhuidean |
Summary[]
- Point of view: Rand al'Thor Setting: Rhuidean
Rand enters the glass columns ter'angreal in Rhuidean. He wonders what the ter'angreal really does. Rand notices Muradin a few paces ahead, staring off into the distance with his mouth quivering. Rand wonders why they did not see Muradin before if they were so close behind him. Rand takes another step.
First vision[]
Rand feels himself seeing through another man's eyes. He sees an unfogged Rhuidean in the distance with only a few structures started. He realizes that he is in the body of Mandein, a young, 40 year old Aiel sept chief. Rand feels his consciousness merge with Mandein's. Mandein sees the glass columns and a huge tree in the middle of the city. He sees the Jenn Aiel come out of Rhuidean carrying two palanquins. Mandein's wife, Sealdre, tells him he must agree to do as the Jenn Aiel ask. Sealdre's dreams said the septs whose chiefs do not agree will die off and be forgotten. Mandein knows that the Wise Ones' dreams are true when they are sure. He and a small escort of warriors approach Rhuidean, leaving the rest with Sealdre. He tells his escort to stop and unveils. Approaching Rhuidean alone, he sees many other sept chiefs approach also. The situation is tense since many of the septs are at war with the others and a small fight could become a furious melee.
He sees the Jenn Aiel lower two palanquins holding two ancient Aes Sedai. He meets Dermon who introduces the ancient Aes Sedai Mordaine and Narisse. They speak for Rhuidean and the Jenn Aiel. Mandein asks Dermon why they were summoned. Dermon asks why the Aiel do not carry swords. But Mandein can only say that it is forbidden, since he doesn't know why. The Aes Sedai both comment sadly that the Aiel don't know, but must know. Again, Mandein asks what the purpose is. Dermon answers that potential Aiel leaders must come to Rhuidean to relearn the history of the Aiel and why swords are forbidden.
Charendin, another sept chief, steps forward and asks whether they want to select the One who leads the Aiel. One of the Aes Sedai clarifies that he who will lead the Aiel will come later; she then speaks the lines of the Prophecy of Rhuidean.[1] Charendin is skeptical and thinks the Aes Sedai seek to control the Aiel, but the Aes Sedai rebut him sharply and point out that their days are numbered and they will soon die. Even the Jenn Aiel will soon die off and be no more. That is why the chiefs among the Aiel must come to Rhuidean to learn and remember the history of the Aiel. Mandein asks a final question - why do the Jenn build Rhuidean when they know they are doomed? Dermon replies only that it is their purpose to build Rhuidean, as they had searched for it for many years. Mandein acknowledges the Jenn as Aiel and, remembering his wife's words, agrees to enter Rhuidean unarmed.
Rand returns to himself. He tries to make sense of what he saw, but is confused if the Jenn were Aiel or not. They looked and dressed like Aiel, but had no veils and carried no weapons. He seems to be significantly deeper into the columns than he was before and Muradin is closer. Muradin is now frowning heavily. Rand steps forward again.
Second vision[]
- Point of view: Rhodric Setting: South of Kinslayer's Dagger
Rand is now Rhodric, a young Aiel who is not yet 20 years old. Rhodric stands among the hills south of a mountain range near the Spine of the World.[2] He watches Aiel dig wells below him, overseen by his greatfather Jeordam. The land is parched and finding water is difficult. He remembers that the world used to be much greener and hopes the rains will come again soon. He sees Garam, son of the chief of the nearby town, approach and speaks with him. They are the first people to allow the Aiel access to water without fighting.
Garam reports to Jeordam that the Jenn Aiel are moving east across the Spine of the World. The Aiel follow and guard the Jenn Aiel, but Rhodric doesn't really know why. Four Aes Sedai have joined the Jenn recently and they make Garam uneasy. The Aes Sedai make Rhodric uneasy too, because stories say the Aiel failed the Aes Sedai in some way without detailing how. Garam suggests they kill the Aes Sedai before they destroy the world again, but Jeordam is unmoved. Garam speaks of his father's Aes Sedai advisor and plans to leave these hills and that the rivers will flow again soon; she says that they will build a great city beside one of the rivers.[3] Garam notes that the Spine is also called the Dragonwall and Jeordam replies that it is a fitting name. Rhodric knows the Aiel are secretly called the People of the Dragon, but does not know what it means.
Rand realizes he was seeing a time from before the Aiel went to the Three-fold Land. The glass columns are brighter than ever. He is closer yet to Muradin who seems to be struggling to continue on. Rand moves forward.
Third vision[]
Jeordam is eighteen and does not believe the stories of the Breaking. There are fewer than two thousand Aiel and many more Jenn Aiel. Jeordam knows it is his duty to protect the Jenn. Some Jenn have come to ask for help. One of the Jenn argue with Jeordam, saying that they are the only true Aiel and that he has abandoned the Way. Jeordam retorts that he is Aiel because he has never held a sword. A pretty woman named Morin stops the arguing and Jeordam takes them to his father Lewin. Morin explains that men who traded with them later took back the goods and stole more besides. Some Jenn were killed and women were carried off, including Morin's young daughter. Lewin promises to get their women back and offers the Jenn the opportunity to go with him on the rescue, but they must be willing to defend themselves and thus will never be allowed back into the Jenn. All the men, except the one who argued with Jeordam, take Lewin's proffered spears. Morin takes one also, surprising everyone. She will recover her daughter herself.
Morin has trouble with her spear due to her dress. So, Jeordam asks her to stay behind and let them rescue her daughter. She refuses and Jeordam recommends wearing clothes like his cadin'sor instead. He shortens the spear for her, making her the first Maiden of the Spear. She fumes that her husband will not do anything to get their daughter back, speaking only of the Way of the Leaf. All he cares about are the three Trees of Life and finding a place of safety to plant them.[4] Morin tells Jeordam that she dreamed of him and that he will make a fine father. Jeordam realizes the shorter spears are quicker and more agile giving them an advantage over swordsmen. Eventually, the short spear becomes the standard weapon for all Aiel.
Lights flash through the glass columns now, blindingly bright. Rand is almost next to Muradin who has teeth bared and is snarling. Rand knows the glass columns are showing him the lost history of the Aiel. Each step takes him further back in time. He moves inexorably forward.
Fourth vision[]
The land is hot and dry with constant dusty winds, requiring them to wear dustveils. Lewin is thirsty since they're permitted water only at mealtimes. He remembers when the land was wetter and less harsh. Lewin, Gearan, Luca, Charlin, and Alijha spy down upon a bandit camp. Lewin recalls the belongings of his sister Maigran and Charlin's sister Colline strewn about the wagons. He recalls the other Aiel mourning, but already picking up and moving on. Lewin's greatfather Adan only seemed concerned about keeping the Aiel people alive and keeping faith with the absent Aes Sedai, instead of saving any individual Aiel including his granddaughter. Adan probably would have stopped the boys' rescue plan if he had known.
The boys bumble into the camp, nearly waking the bandits. Lewin finds Maigran in a catatonic shock and Colline trembling under a blanket. The traumatized girls will not run. A bearded bandit wakes, nudges the other bandits, and threatens to carve Lewin like a pig. They edge toward the boys like easy prey. Charlin tackles the bearded bandit to the ground while another raises a sword. Lewin finds himself cracking the bandit's skull with a kettle. A braided bandit approaches with a sword, while Lewin scuttles away and claws at a random stick. Lewin jabs him away, but is appalled to see a spear skewering the bandit instead. Dazed, Lewin realizes they've killed all the bandits. Charlin whines in pain and dies from a blade deep in his belly. Scared and confused, the others seek guidance and Lewin says they must return. They scramble for anything useful like cookpots, knives, and especially metals. Alijha rationalizes that the stolen goods came from others like them anyways. But Lewin stops Alijha from gathering swords, telling him the Way prohibits swords. Swords are weapons made only for killing men, but spears can put food in the pots. The group trudges back with Charlin's corpse on a makeshift stretcher of spears and cloth.
Adan, Colline's mother Nerrine, and Lewin's mother Saralin meet them outside the camp. Adan interrogates them, growing furious when Maigran says Lewin killed the bandits. Lewin justifies it, but Adan yells that there is never a reason to kill anyone. Instead, they must accept and endure every hardship as a test of their faithfulness. Adan disowns them from the Da'shain Aiel. As Lewin pleads with his mother, she tells him to hide his face... she used to have a son with that face, but doesn't want to see it on a killer. The dusty wind picks up again, as Lewin veils his face and insists he is still Aiel.
Rand tries to make sense of what he just saw. Lewin was Aiel but did not carry any weapons and did not know how to use them. Rand is now almost abreast of Muradin who is snarling and sweating heavily. Rand continues moving forward.
Visions[]
For more detailed summary of the visions see the page Visions of Rhuidean.
Characters[]
- Rand al'Thor
- Muradin
- Mandein
- Sealdre
- Dermon
- Mordaine
- Narisse
- Charendin
- Rhodric
- Jeordam
- Garam
- Lewin
- Morin
- Luca
- Gearan
- Charlin
- Alijha
- Maigran
- Colline
- Adan
- Nerrine
- Saralin
Referenced[]
Groups[]
- Aiel
- Jenn Aiel
- Tuatha'an - as the Lost Ones
- Aes Sedai
- Da'shain Aiel
Referenced[]
Places[]
Notes
- ↑ These two Aes Sedai, Mordaine and Narisse, are the origin of the Prophecy of Rhuidean.
- ↑ Due to the proximity of the Spine of the World, the mountain range is likely Kinslayer's Dagger.
- ↑ This city would eventually become Cairhien.
- ↑ The place of safety the Jenn would eventually find is Rhuidean, as implied by Dermon in the first memory. The perpetual fog surrounding the city keeps it safe and the Aiel are forbidden to fight there. The Jenn would plant Avendesora, presumably the one surviving tree of the three, in the middle of the city as seen by Mandein.