Egwene al'Vere
Encyclopedia
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time
fantasy
series by Robert Jordan
.
Egwene is frequently described as wanting to learn everything, as fast as possible; she often chafes against the restrictions her teachers put on her, even those set for her own safety. While the other characters resist power and responsibility, Egwene seeks them out. Moiraine Damodred
has made note of Egwene's social intuition; while she may not understand the private or secret machinations going on around her, she is often (at least) aware that they are happening—a strong contrast to the other Two Rivers characters in the series, who tend to take everything around them at face value. She is occasionally portrayed as being so sure of herself that it sometimes comes off as arrogant. In a generally misandrous world, she is probably one of the most vehemently sexist amongst the main characters in the series. Finally, she is, like many of the main characters, highly intuitive with the One Power
, having personally re-discovered the weaves for Gateways and the creation of cuendillar.
, Mat Cauthon
, Perrin Aybara
and Nynaeve al'Meara
. Though friends with all of them, she was particularly close to Rand, whom (it was assumed by all and sundry) she would marry when they both came of age. She was also apprentice Wisdom to Nynaeve.
region, Rand, Mat and Perrin were spirited away by Moiraine Damodred
, Aes Sedai
of the Blue Ajah, apparently for their own protection. Egwene went with them, although Moiraine and Lan did not want her to at first. Moiraine eventually agreed, however; she had discovered that Egwene had the spark and could learn to channel. It was then Moiraine's intent to bring her to Tar Valon
to train. When Nynaeve chased after them, Moiraine decided to include her as well. Egwene rode Bela, Rand and Tam's trusty mare.
On the journey to Shienar and the Eye of the World
, Egwene and Perrin were separated from the rest of the party. She was present when Perrin met Elyas Machera and learned of his Wolfbrother heritage, and she is one of very few characters who knows the truth of his golden eyes and occasional bouts of wolfish behavior. At his request, she has kept this secret.
where, along with Min Farshaw
(previously introduced to them by Moiraine at Baerlon), they met Elayne Trakand
. Over the course of their training they were tricked into following Liandrin Sedai, a Red sister who turned out to be Black. She led them through the Ways and into Falme, where Egwene was given to the Seanchan
to become a damane
. Nynaeve and Elayne (who had avoided capture) managed to break her out, and Egwene's strength in the One Power was drastically heightened by the rigors of her damane duties, but to this day she cannot stand the idea of being collared again.
Verin Sedai
brought them back to the Tower after the events at Falme. Egwene was discovered to be a Dreamer, one who could easily enter Tel'aran'rhiod
, the World of Dreams, while sleeping. Besides exploring this new facet of her life, Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve were charged with a secret task: to hunt the Black Ajah. While they were away, Liandrin and twelve other Black sisters had fled the Tower after stealing many ter'angreal and killing a number of sisters and other Tower personnel. The three girls set out for Tear
to find them, and were in the Stone of Tear when Rand al'Thor drew Callandor and proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn.
Wise Ones how to be a Dreamer. Although Aes Sedai know much more about saidar than the Wise Ones, the Wise Ones are more knowledgeable concerning Tel'aran'rhiod (The Aes Sedai hadn't had a 'Dreamer' for almost five hundred years, while the Aiel had four at the time). Becoming an informal apprentice to Amys, Melaine and Bair, the three Dreamwalkers in question, she also took to heart ji'e'toh, the honor code of the Aiel. So devoted was Egwene to this code that, upon being summoned away by the White Tower, she confessed her sins and falsehoods to the Wise Ones for no more reason than that honor required her to. While the Wise Ones extracted her penance in a largely corporeal fashion, they have since come to view Egwene as a sort of honorary Aiel, saying that she has "too much honor" to be among Aes Sedai, whom they consider largely untrustworthy.
, in opposition of Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, who sat in the White Tower. Elaida has Foretold that the White Tower will be reunited under the Amyrlin Seat, stronger than ever. Although she believes the Foretelling refers to herself, it is becoming quite clear that the Tower will meet this prophecy under Egwene's reign. Nisao of the Yellow Ajah states that Egwene will "become one of the great Amyrlins" and that "She will be the longest sitting Amyrlin in history...None will ever live long enough to top her unless she chooses to step down early"
The Salidar Hall cited her as a fresh face who had not been involved in the Breaking of the Tower, and strong in the One Power. In reality, certain members of the Hall wanted mostly to use her as a puppet. Egwene took former Amyrlin Siuan Sanche
as her advisor and has been slowly breaking the Salidar Hall of the idea that she can be controlled, especially when she taught them Travelling, a Talent she had rediscovered without any guidance or assistance whatsoever aside from a remark of Moghedien
's (of which the other Sisters are unaware). Egwene's strong personality and persistent intelligence have allowed her to deftly manipulate the Hall into giving her war-time authority. Although only 18 at the time, she has proven herself to be as clever an Amyrlin as there ever was.
Egwene was still only an Accepted before her raising to the Amyrlin Seat, never having been raised to Aes Sedai and, as a result of that, never having been part of an Ajah. She was raised Aes Sedai by her ascension to the Amyrlin, the law stating that the Amyrlin is Aes Sedai.
She has raised an army with the help of Gareth Bryne, the brilliant general who used to be in the service of Queen Morgase of Andor (mother of Elayne Trakand
and, nominally, ruler of the Two Rivers). Egwene is leading the sisters and army to war against Elaida.
During her time in Salidar, her Keeper was Sheriam Bayanar of the Blue, but she has been mainly advised by Siuan Sanche. Unfortunately, she was unknowingly at the mercy of Halima Saranov, also known as Aran'gar
. This Forsaken
, a man's soul reincarnated in a woman's body and thus employing saidin, has been orchestrating a subtle Power-wrought mental and psychological attack on Egwene for several months, afflicting her with headaches that only Halima's massages could "cure." She became one of Egwene's most trusted attendants, but has since fled Salidar.
the city. Tar Valon is entirely on an island in the midst of the River Erinin, and may thus be supplied by water, with secure harbors at either end of the island. This makes a successful siege by an army with no naval support almost impossible. To breach the Shining Walls, Egwene, along with Leane Sharif, turned the harbor chains and posts from iron
into fused cuendillar, forcing Tar Valon to either slowly starve or breach its walls. During this exercise, though, she was betrayed, captured, and taken into custody in the White Tower.
In the White Tower, she has - at least in the eyes of the sisters in the Tower - been reduced to a novice. She notices that many among the Tower are at each other's throats and plans to exploit that from within, viewing herself as an agent rather than a prisoner. Her refusal to treat the Tower Aes Sedai with the deference and courtesy expected of a novice leads to repeated corporal punishment, which she takes in stride. She speaks to Siuan via her Dreams and reports to her that no one is to plan a rescue and calls the Salidar Hall to order when last call sounds.
As Egwene is forced to be a captive novice among Elaida's group she does her best to cause disturbance among the White Tower Aes Sedai and still remain the Amyrlin
she is meant to be. Her method of doing so is very simple: she speaks the truth and is often punished for it. She then uses the Aiel code of ethics (ji'e'toh) she learned during her time there by accepting the nearly constant punishments (another Aiel teaching of accepting pain) and continuing to show the unbending dignity befitting the Amyrlin
, patiently watching the seeds she plants grow. This plan has brought respect from the novices and Accepted, as well as the captive former king of Illian, and has even forced many sisters nominally loyal to Elaida to view her in a new light.
Meidani introduced her to the Black Ajah hunters, and Egwene has a discussion with them, ending with Egwene charging the Black Ajah hunters to shift focus, to mend the rift between the Towers, like she had encouraged sitters from the various ajahs to do.
However, during her second meeting, she and Elaida have a verbal war with each other, which Elaida, upon realizes she is losing, tries to back off. Egwene insults her, and Elaida denounces her as a darkfriend, throwing her in a tiny cell, denying her execution. During this time, Egwene has several visits with Siuan in Tel'aran'rhiod. She finally is released after Silviana is thrown in the cells in her place after Silviana denounces Egwene's treatment and Elaida in the hall. Egwene sends Saerin, who has gained a new respect for her, to prevent Silviana's execution, whilst she returns to her rooms, and meets Verin.
Verin reveals to her that she swore Oaths to the Dark One and joined the Black Ajah, but that it was partially in an effort to study them and gather information to defeat them. She gives Egwene a long list of known Black Ajah members she has uncovered and informs her that the Forsaken Mesaana
is also stationed in the Tower. Verin then dies from self-inflicted poison, freeing herself from her oath to the Dark One, but redeeming herself in Egwene's eyes.
Before Egwene can do much with this new information, the Seanchan raid the Tower in search of marath'damane. Using a sa'angreal and a group of linked novices, she nearly single-handedly defeats the invaders and saves most of the Aes Sedai. She is so exhausted after the fight that she is unable to resist when Siuan, Gawyn and Bryne arrive and take her back to the rebels camp, believing her to be in danger.
Back among the Sisters that are supporting her, Egwene decides that she must now use this window of opportunity to reclaim her Seat in the Tower by force. But first, she swears the three Aes Sedai Oaths on an Oath Rod she bought from the Tower, and then proceeds to expose and execute most of the Black Ajah sisters identified by Verin among the rebels, starting with Sheriam and Moria (some twenty other Black Sisters escape the camp).
When the Salidar army arrives at Tar Valon for the assault that evening, they are met with peaceful emissaries from the Tower who inform Egwene that Elaida was taken in the raid, and that they have chosen Egwene to be their Amyrlin as well. Egwene accepts and is raised, proceeding to free Silviana and chastise the Hall for their incompetence. She then raises Silviana as Keeper, a reward for being the only one in the Tower to resist Elaida openly and because she is of the Red Ajah, thus mending some of the Tower's segregation among the Ajahs.
Egwene then proceeds to reunite the White Tower under her rule, remove the Black Ajah sisters still in the White Tower (most of whom have also escaped) and prepare for the Last Battle.
in her quest to try and unite all women who can channel. Each group agrees to send two apprentices/novices to be trained under the other. With the help of Verin's book and the confessions of other Black Ajah, Egwene knows that Mesaana
is hiding in the White Tower and proceeds to use herself as bait to try and lure her out. Her plans works and while in Te'aran'rhiod, Egwene manages to "break" the Forsaken's mind, basically killing her. Upon waking, she discovers Gawyn
is dying as a result of stopping Seanchan assassins. She bonds him as her Warder.
interests with each other wane as they each begin to pursue their own interests and destinies. With mutual feelings, Egwene and Rand formally sever their romantic relationship in The Shadow Rising
, unbeknownst to Rand allowing at the same time Elayne to court Rand. After going to the White Tower, Egwene becomes enamored of Gawyn Trakand
, Elayne's older brother. For a short time in Lord of Chaos
, Egwene and Gawyn are able to be with each other in Cairhien, where Egwene tries to find proof for Gawyn that Rand had not killed his mother, Morgase Trakand. At Dumai's Wells, Gawyn vows to Rand that he will see him dead for killing his mother. On the trip back from Dumai's Wells, Gawyn is denied re-entry to Tar Valon. Because of this, he is not in Tar Valon at the time Egwene becomes a prisoner in the White Tower. Ironically, Gawyn does not know that he is aligned with the Aes Sedai faction that is opposed to Egwene's Rebel Aes Sedai.
Egwene is one of the most powerful channelers discovered by the White Tower in more than a thousand years. Those stronger or equal to her in the One Power, or even near her, make up a short list: Nynaeve al'Meara
of the Yellow Ajah; Elayne Trakand
of the Green Ajah; Aiel Wise Ones Aviendha
, Tamela and Viendre; former damane Alivia; Sharina Melloy (a sixty-seven year old grandmother, now a novice); and Sea Folk Windfinder's apprentices Talaan and Metarra, along with several other Aiel Wise Ones. These may be the only women alive other than the Forsaken
that have the same general strength in the One Power as Egwene.
She is also the first Aes Sedai that has the Talent of Dreaming since Corianin Nedeal, who died approximately 475 years prior to the events of the series. It is later learned that the Forsaken also have this ability as well as four Aiel Wise Ones. Egwene demonstrates enough skill as a Dreamer to break out of an illusion orchestrated by Moghedien in the World of Dreams. Moghedien is considered, arguably with Lanfear, as the most talented of all in the World of Dreams. On her summons to Salidar, Egwene discovers the ability to travel via the World of Dreams and later adapts that knowledge, combined with tidbits from the captured Moghedien, to rediscover the lost Talents of Travelling and Skimming. Noted as rare for women, she also has exceptional ability with weaving the Power Earth, as well as good strength with Air, Water, Fire and Spirit. She independently rediscovers the ability to create cuendillar and displays extraordinary affinity for this Talent when she uses it to great effect on the harbor chain in Tar Valon in Crossroads of Twilight
just before she is captured.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series by Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
.
Description
She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon as she began to consider herself an Aes Sedai, she adopted Moiraine's loose style. She's very short, around 5' or 5'1".Egwene is frequently described as wanting to learn everything, as fast as possible; she often chafes against the restrictions her teachers put on her, even those set for her own safety. While the other characters resist power and responsibility, Egwene seeks them out. Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
has made note of Egwene's social intuition; while she may not understand the private or secret machinations going on around her, she is often (at least) aware that they are happening—a strong contrast to the other Two Rivers characters in the series, who tend to take everything around them at face value. She is occasionally portrayed as being so sure of herself that it sometimes comes off as arrogant. In a generally misandrous world, she is probably one of the most vehemently sexist amongst the main characters in the series. Finally, she is, like many of the main characters, highly intuitive with the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
, having personally re-discovered the weaves for Gateways and the creation of cuendillar.
Beginnings
The youngest of five daughters, Egwene grew up in Emond's Field alongside Rand al'ThorRand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, Mat Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
, Perrin Aybara
Perrin Aybara
Perrin t'Bashere Aybara, or Goldeneyes, is one of the main characters of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy The Wheel of Time. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow...
and Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Personality:Nynaeve's personality often runs a gamut of emotions, meek at times before more experienced women but also able to stand up and run down others. While she will deny it, Nynaeve is...
. Though friends with all of them, she was particularly close to Rand, whom (it was assumed by all and sundry) she would marry when they both came of age. She was also apprentice Wisdom to Nynaeve.
Winternight
Her life changed during Winternight. When Trollocs invaded the Two RiversTwo Rivers
Two Rivers may refer to:In the United States*Two Rivers, Alaska*Two Rivers, California*Two Rivers, California, former name of Dos Rios, California*Two Rivers Township, Morrison County, Minnesota*Two Rivers, Wisconsin*Two Rivers , Wisconsin...
region, Rand, Mat and Perrin were spirited away by Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred
Moiraine Damodred is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah and is the niece of King Laman Damodred of Cairhien.-Description:...
, Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
of the Blue Ajah, apparently for their own protection. Egwene went with them, although Moiraine and Lan did not want her to at first. Moiraine eventually agreed, however; she had discovered that Egwene had the spark and could learn to channel. It was then Moiraine's intent to bring her to Tar Valon
Tar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
to train. When Nynaeve chased after them, Moiraine decided to include her as well. Egwene rode Bela, Rand and Tam's trusty mare.
On the journey to Shienar and the Eye of the World
The Eye of the World
The Eye of the World is the first book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on January 15, 1990. The unabridged audio book is read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading...
, Egwene and Perrin were separated from the rest of the party. She was present when Perrin met Elyas Machera and learned of his Wolfbrother heritage, and she is one of very few characters who knows the truth of his golden eyes and occasional bouts of wolfish behavior. At his request, she has kept this secret.
Tar Valon
After the events at the Eye of the World, Egwene and Nynaeve were brought to Tar ValonTar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
where, along with Min Farshaw
Min Farshaw
Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.- Description :She is slender, a little taller than Moiraine , and has short dark hair that becomes curly when grown long. She has large, dark eyes...
(previously introduced to them by Moiraine at Baerlon), they met Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
. Over the course of their training they were tricked into following Liandrin Sedai, a Red sister who turned out to be Black. She led them through the Ways and into Falme, where Egwene was given to the Seanchan
Seanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
to become a damane
Damane
A damane is a character class from fantasy author Robert Jordan's best-selling Wheel of Time book series.Damane are women born with the spark or ability to channel...
. Nynaeve and Elayne (who had avoided capture) managed to break her out, and Egwene's strength in the One Power was drastically heightened by the rigors of her damane duties, but to this day she cannot stand the idea of being collared again.
Verin Sedai
Verin Mathwin
Verin Mathwin is a fictional character in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.-Description:Verin is an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah. Verin has grayed hair and is considered to be one of the oldest Aes Sedai alive; likely over 200 years old...
brought them back to the Tower after the events at Falme. Egwene was discovered to be a Dreamer, one who could easily enter Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod
Tel'aran'rhiod or the World of Dreams is a fictional reality where the reality is mutable, mentioned in the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The word itself is from the in-universe language known as the Old Tongue, and literally means 'the unseen world'...
, the World of Dreams, while sleeping. Besides exploring this new facet of her life, Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve were charged with a secret task: to hunt the Black Ajah. While they were away, Liandrin and twelve other Black sisters had fled the Tower after stealing many ter'angreal and killing a number of sisters and other Tower personnel. The three girls set out for Tear
Tear (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Tear is one of the richest nations in the land. This comes in part from controlling the greatest port on the Sea of Storms, at the mouth of the River Erinin. A great deal of Tear's wealth comes from the oil produced on the...
to find them, and were in the Stone of Tear when Rand al'Thor drew Callandor and proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn.
Aiel
After the Stone of Tear, Egwene parted ways with Elayne and Nynaeve and chose to follow Rand to the Waste, so she could learn from the AielAiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
Wise Ones how to be a Dreamer. Although Aes Sedai know much more about saidar than the Wise Ones, the Wise Ones are more knowledgeable concerning Tel'aran'rhiod (The Aes Sedai hadn't had a 'Dreamer' for almost five hundred years, while the Aiel had four at the time). Becoming an informal apprentice to Amys, Melaine and Bair, the three Dreamwalkers in question, she also took to heart ji'e'toh, the honor code of the Aiel. So devoted was Egwene to this code that, upon being summoned away by the White Tower, she confessed her sins and falsehoods to the Wise Ones for no more reason than that honor required her to. While the Wise Ones extracted her penance in a largely corporeal fashion, they have since come to view Egwene as a sort of honorary Aiel, saying that she has "too much honor" to be among Aes Sedai, whom they consider largely untrustworthy.
Amyrlin Seat
After the Tar Valon-Salidar split, she was chosen by the Hall of the Salidar Tower-in-Exile to become their Amyrlin SeatAmyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
, in opposition of Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, who sat in the White Tower. Elaida has Foretold that the White Tower will be reunited under the Amyrlin Seat, stronger than ever. Although she believes the Foretelling refers to herself, it is becoming quite clear that the Tower will meet this prophecy under Egwene's reign. Nisao of the Yellow Ajah states that Egwene will "become one of the great Amyrlins" and that "She will be the longest sitting Amyrlin in history...None will ever live long enough to top her unless she chooses to step down early"
The Salidar Hall cited her as a fresh face who had not been involved in the Breaking of the Tower, and strong in the One Power. In reality, certain members of the Hall wanted mostly to use her as a puppet. Egwene took former Amyrlin Siuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche
Siuan Sanche is a character of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.The sharp-tongued daughter of a fisherman from Tear, Siuan Sanche joined the White Tower at the same time as Moiraine Damodred...
as her advisor and has been slowly breaking the Salidar Hall of the idea that she can be controlled, especially when she taught them Travelling, a Talent she had rediscovered without any guidance or assistance whatsoever aside from a remark of Moghedien
Moghedien
Moghedien is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.- Origin :...
's (of which the other Sisters are unaware). Egwene's strong personality and persistent intelligence have allowed her to deftly manipulate the Hall into giving her war-time authority. Although only 18 at the time, she has proven herself to be as clever an Amyrlin as there ever was.
Egwene was still only an Accepted before her raising to the Amyrlin Seat, never having been raised to Aes Sedai and, as a result of that, never having been part of an Ajah. She was raised Aes Sedai by her ascension to the Amyrlin, the law stating that the Amyrlin is Aes Sedai.
She has raised an army with the help of Gareth Bryne, the brilliant general who used to be in the service of Queen Morgase of Andor (mother of Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
and, nominally, ruler of the Two Rivers). Egwene is leading the sisters and army to war against Elaida.
During her time in Salidar, her Keeper was Sheriam Bayanar of the Blue, but she has been mainly advised by Siuan Sanche. Unfortunately, she was unknowingly at the mercy of Halima Saranov, also known as Aran'gar
Balthamel
Balthamel is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. He is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
. This Forsaken
Forsaken (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken are the most powerful and favored servants of the Dark One. They were formerly Aes Sedai, but became corrupted by the desire for power and immortality...
, a man's soul reincarnated in a woman's body and thus employing saidin, has been orchestrating a subtle Power-wrought mental and psychological attack on Egwene for several months, afflicting her with headaches that only Halima's massages could "cure." She became one of Egwene's most trusted attendants, but has since fled Salidar.
Betrayal
Egwene was camped outside Tar Valon, her army besiegingSiege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
the city. Tar Valon is entirely on an island in the midst of the River Erinin, and may thus be supplied by water, with secure harbors at either end of the island. This makes a successful siege by an army with no naval support almost impossible. To breach the Shining Walls, Egwene, along with Leane Sharif, turned the harbor chains and posts from iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
into fused cuendillar, forcing Tar Valon to either slowly starve or breach its walls. During this exercise, though, she was betrayed, captured, and taken into custody in the White Tower.
In the White Tower, she has - at least in the eyes of the sisters in the Tower - been reduced to a novice. She notices that many among the Tower are at each other's throats and plans to exploit that from within, viewing herself as an agent rather than a prisoner. Her refusal to treat the Tower Aes Sedai with the deference and courtesy expected of a novice leads to repeated corporal punishment, which she takes in stride. She speaks to Siuan via her Dreams and reports to her that no one is to plan a rescue and calls the Salidar Hall to order when last call sounds.
As Egwene is forced to be a captive novice among Elaida's group she does her best to cause disturbance among the White Tower Aes Sedai and still remain the Amyrlin
Amyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
she is meant to be. Her method of doing so is very simple: she speaks the truth and is often punished for it. She then uses the Aiel code of ethics (ji'e'toh) she learned during her time there by accepting the nearly constant punishments (another Aiel teaching of accepting pain) and continuing to show the unbending dignity befitting the Amyrlin
Amyrlin Seat
The Amyrlin Seat is a fictional title from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.The Amyrlin Seat, or Amyrlin as it is often shortened to, is the leader of the Aes Sedai in Tar Valon. The term can also refer to the actual seat upon which the Amyrlin sits...
, patiently watching the seeds she plants grow. This plan has brought respect from the novices and Accepted, as well as the captive former king of Illian, and has even forced many sisters nominally loyal to Elaida to view her in a new light.
The Gathering Storm
During her first visit to serve Elaida, Egwene overhears Elaida's discussion with Meidani regarding the addition of a fourth oath forcing obedience to the Amyrlin. Outraged by such a thing, Egwene spills soup and, while Elaida screams for servants, asks Meidani to send for her. Afterwards, while being beaten, she comes to a tacit understanding with Silviana. Silviana does her duty, whilst Egwene, despite whatever punishments she receives, will try to hold the Tower together, realizing that Elaida would unseat herself gradually.Meidani introduced her to the Black Ajah hunters, and Egwene has a discussion with them, ending with Egwene charging the Black Ajah hunters to shift focus, to mend the rift between the Towers, like she had encouraged sitters from the various ajahs to do.
However, during her second meeting, she and Elaida have a verbal war with each other, which Elaida, upon realizes she is losing, tries to back off. Egwene insults her, and Elaida denounces her as a darkfriend, throwing her in a tiny cell, denying her execution. During this time, Egwene has several visits with Siuan in Tel'aran'rhiod. She finally is released after Silviana is thrown in the cells in her place after Silviana denounces Egwene's treatment and Elaida in the hall. Egwene sends Saerin, who has gained a new respect for her, to prevent Silviana's execution, whilst she returns to her rooms, and meets Verin.
Verin reveals to her that she swore Oaths to the Dark One and joined the Black Ajah, but that it was partially in an effort to study them and gather information to defeat them. She gives Egwene a long list of known Black Ajah members she has uncovered and informs her that the Forsaken Mesaana
Mesaana
Mesaana is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
is also stationed in the Tower. Verin then dies from self-inflicted poison, freeing herself from her oath to the Dark One, but redeeming herself in Egwene's eyes.
Before Egwene can do much with this new information, the Seanchan raid the Tower in search of marath'damane. Using a sa'angreal and a group of linked novices, she nearly single-handedly defeats the invaders and saves most of the Aes Sedai. She is so exhausted after the fight that she is unable to resist when Siuan, Gawyn and Bryne arrive and take her back to the rebels camp, believing her to be in danger.
Back among the Sisters that are supporting her, Egwene decides that she must now use this window of opportunity to reclaim her Seat in the Tower by force. But first, she swears the three Aes Sedai Oaths on an Oath Rod she bought from the Tower, and then proceeds to expose and execute most of the Black Ajah sisters identified by Verin among the rebels, starting with Sheriam and Moria (some twenty other Black Sisters escape the camp).
When the Salidar army arrives at Tar Valon for the assault that evening, they are met with peaceful emissaries from the Tower who inform Egwene that Elaida was taken in the raid, and that they have chosen Egwene to be their Amyrlin as well. Egwene accepts and is raised, proceeding to free Silviana and chastise the Hall for their incompetence. She then raises Silviana as Keeper, a reward for being the only one in the Tower to resist Elaida openly and because she is of the Red Ajah, thus mending some of the Tower's segregation among the Ajahs.
Egwene then proceeds to reunite the White Tower under her rule, remove the Black Ajah sisters still in the White Tower (most of whom have also escaped) and prepare for the Last Battle.
Towers of Midnight
Egwene continues to heal the Tower. Rand comes to her and explains that he plans on destroying the Seals on the Dark One's Prison and will need her help to Reseal it. This causes her to reach out to the Rulers of the nations in hopes of stopping Rand. She also forms an (uneasy) alliance between Aes Sedai, Wise Ones and the Atha'an MiereAtha'an Miere
The Atha'an Miere are a fictional group of people in Robert Jordan's series of fantasy novels, The Wheel of Time.The Atha'an Miere, called the Sea Folk by commoners, are a group of people with complex customs that live on ships and on islands in the Sea of Storms. They only showed up on the...
in her quest to try and unite all women who can channel. Each group agrees to send two apprentices/novices to be trained under the other. With the help of Verin's book and the confessions of other Black Ajah, Egwene knows that Mesaana
Mesaana
Mesaana is one of the primary antagonists of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She is one of the Forsaken.-Origin:...
is hiding in the White Tower and proceeds to use herself as bait to try and lure her out. Her plans works and while in Te'aran'rhiod, Egwene manages to "break" the Forsaken's mind, basically killing her. Upon waking, she discovers Gawyn
Gawyn Trakand
Gawyn Trakand is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lord Gawyn of House Trakand is the son of Taringail and Queen Morgase, as well as the brother of Elayne and half-brother to Galad Damodred...
is dying as a result of stopping Seanchan assassins. She bonds him as her Warder.
Love and Power
In their hometown of Emond's Field, the townsfolk widely understood that Egwene and Rand would be married to each other, though they were never formally betrothed. After leaving Emond's Field, however, their romanticRomantic love
Romance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
interests with each other wane as they each begin to pursue their own interests and destinies. With mutual feelings, Egwene and Rand formally sever their romantic relationship in The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising
The Shadow Rising is the fourth book in American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1992...
, unbeknownst to Rand allowing at the same time Elayne to court Rand. After going to the White Tower, Egwene becomes enamored of Gawyn Trakand
Gawyn Trakand
Gawyn Trakand is a fictional character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Lord Gawyn of House Trakand is the son of Taringail and Queen Morgase, as well as the brother of Elayne and half-brother to Galad Damodred...
, Elayne's older brother. For a short time in Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1994, and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995. Lord of Chaos consists of a prologue, 55 chapters, and...
, Egwene and Gawyn are able to be with each other in Cairhien, where Egwene tries to find proof for Gawyn that Rand had not killed his mother, Morgase Trakand. At Dumai's Wells, Gawyn vows to Rand that he will see him dead for killing his mother. On the trip back from Dumai's Wells, Gawyn is denied re-entry to Tar Valon. Because of this, he is not in Tar Valon at the time Egwene becomes a prisoner in the White Tower. Ironically, Gawyn does not know that he is aligned with the Aes Sedai faction that is opposed to Egwene's Rebel Aes Sedai.
Egwene is one of the most powerful channelers discovered by the White Tower in more than a thousand years. Those stronger or equal to her in the One Power, or even near her, make up a short list: Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara
Nynaeve al'Meara is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Personality:Nynaeve's personality often runs a gamut of emotions, meek at times before more experienced women but also able to stand up and run down others. While she will deny it, Nynaeve is...
of the Yellow Ajah; Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
of the Green Ajah; Aiel Wise Ones Aviendha
Aviendha
Aviendha of the Nine Valleys sept of the Taardad Aiel is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:...
, Tamela and Viendre; former damane Alivia; Sharina Melloy (a sixty-seven year old grandmother, now a novice); and Sea Folk Windfinder's apprentices Talaan and Metarra, along with several other Aiel Wise Ones. These may be the only women alive other than the Forsaken
Forsaken (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time fantasy series, the Forsaken are the most powerful and favored servants of the Dark One. They were formerly Aes Sedai, but became corrupted by the desire for power and immortality...
that have the same general strength in the One Power as Egwene.
She is also the first Aes Sedai that has the Talent of Dreaming since Corianin Nedeal, who died approximately 475 years prior to the events of the series. It is later learned that the Forsaken also have this ability as well as four Aiel Wise Ones. Egwene demonstrates enough skill as a Dreamer to break out of an illusion orchestrated by Moghedien in the World of Dreams. Moghedien is considered, arguably with Lanfear, as the most talented of all in the World of Dreams. On her summons to Salidar, Egwene discovers the ability to travel via the World of Dreams and later adapts that knowledge, combined with tidbits from the captured Moghedien, to rediscover the lost Talents of Travelling and Skimming. Noted as rare for women, she also has exceptional ability with weaving the Power Earth, as well as good strength with Air, Water, Fire and Spirit. She independently rediscovers the ability to create cuendillar and displays extraordinary affinity for this Talent when she uses it to great effect on the harbor chain in Tar Valon in Crossroads of Twilight
Crossroads of Twilight
Crossroads of Twilight is the tenth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on January 7, 2003...
just before she is captured.