The Great Hunt - Chapter 18 : To the White Tower

 

Ch18  

 (Moraine,Verin and Liandrin did not board the River Queen)

Before I Read!

Symbol Meaning: it’s the Aes Sedai symbol. I believe the group will meet new Aes Sedai we haven’t met yet and maybe some with abilities we haven’t seen yet besides channeling, and of course more Aes Sedai political drama at The White Tower. 

Chapter Title Meaning: To the White Tower  makes me believe the group on the Queen’s Blessing will reach the White Tower to learn how to be Aes Sedai and learn how to better control their channeling. 

Floatie’s Chapter Predictions:

What Just Happened? (My Chapter Notes)

Italicize quote.  Floatie Thoughts.

-?Egwene, and Nynaeve are both on the River Queen to get to  the White Tower which is located in Tar Valon. 

228 “‘’They say we’ll reach Tar Valon today. The light help me, but I’ll be glad to put foot on land again even if it is in Tar Valon.”’ “The ship lurched with wind and current, and Nynaeve swallowed.” “‘I’ll never step on a boat again,”’ she said breathlessly.  

• Oh god, Egwene had another dream and was like the others but different somehow. I’m thinking she’s sensing the danger Rand is in will deal with Fain. 

229 “I won’t risk Rand. If I did right, I’d tell them, but Moiraine knows, and Che hasn’t said anything. And it’s Rand! I can’t. “ “‘I don’t know what to do.”’

Quotation marks The boy is far away, child, and there’s nothing we can do until we know more. I will see you testing you myself once we reach the White Tower, child. Aaagh! She knows there is something in these dreams. I can tell she does. I like the woman, Nynaeve; I do. But she won’t tell me what I want to know. And I can’t tell her everything. Maybe if I could….

-It seems  something is in common with all of Egwene’s dreams, they all deal with Ba’alzamon in some way. 

230  “‘The man in the mask again?”’ Egwene nodded. “Somehow, she was sure it was better not to tell Anaiya Sedai about him [Ba’alzamon]. She could not imagine why, but she was sure. Three times the man whose eyes were fire had been in her dreams each time when she dreamed a dream that convinced her Rand was in danger. He always wore a mask across his face; sometimes she could see his eyes, and sometimes she could only see fire where they should be.” “‘He laughed at me. It was so… contemptuous. As though I were a puppy he was going to have to push out of his way with his foot. It frightens me. He frightens me.”’ “‘Are you sure it has anything to do with the other dreams, with Rand? Sometimes a dream is just a dream.”’ 

-The Amyrlin is trying to teach Nynaeve a lesson while on the boat. 

“Egwene sat, but Nynaeve began trying to push herself to her feet.” “‘I think I will go on deck.”’ “‘I said sit!”’ “The Amyrlin’s voice cracked like a whip, but Nynaeve kept rising, wavering. She still had both hands on the bed, but she was almost upright. Egwene held herself ready to catch her when she fell. Closing her eyes, Nynaeve slowly lowered herself back to the bed.” “‘Perhaps I will stay. It is no doubt windy up there.”’ The Amyrlin barked a laugh. “‘They told me you had a temper in you like a fisher-bird with a bone in its throat. (May add more) 

• The amyrlin thinks Nynaeve deserves to be one of the accepted based on her ability and she’ll learn a lot in the White Tower. The amyrlin also believes in giving people what they deserve. 

231 “‘I’d rather one of Warner’s taught me how to use a sword,”’ Nynaeve growled. “She swallowed convulsively , and opened her eyes. “ “‘There is someone I’d like to use it on.”’ “Egwene looked at her sharply; did Nynaeve mean the Amyrlin ——-which was stupid, and dangerous besides ——- or Lan? She snapped at Egwene every time Lan was mentioned.” “‘A sword?”’ the Amyrlin said. “‘I never thought swords were much use——- even if you have the skill, child, there are always men who have as much, and a deal more strength——- but if you want a sword… “‘ “She held up her hand——- Egwene gasped, and even Nynaeve l’s eyes bulged——- and there was a sword in it. (May add more) 

-Nynaeve has a temper problem with the Amyrlin, “‘If I must learn all this,”’ Nynaeve broke in stiffly, “‘I would as soon learn something useful. All this——this…”Make the stir, Nynaeve. Light the candle, Nynaeve. Now put it out. Light it again.” Paah!”’ “Egwene closed her eyes for the moment. Please, Nynaeve. Please keep a check on your temper. She bit her lip to keep from saying it out loud. The Amyrlin was silent for a moment.” “‘Useful, she said at last.”’ “‘Something useful. You wanted a sword. Suppose a man came at me with a sword. What would I do? Something useful, you can be sure. This, I think.”’

• I believe Nynaeve is using the One Power,“For an instant, Egwene thought she saw a glow around the woman at the other end of her bed. Then the air seemed to thicken; nothing changed that Egwene could see l, but she could surely feel it. She tried to lift her arm; it did not budge any more than if she were buried to her neck in thick jelly. Nothing could move except her head.” 

232 -Egwene made the Amyrlin’s head rebound from the wall, “Suddenly the Amyrlin flew backwards so hard her head rebounded from the wall, and there she stayed , as if something were pressing against her. Egwene stared, her mouth dry. This isn’t happening. It isn’t. (May add more) 

-Nynaeve learns really quickly and slammed her back against the wall. Then the Amyrlin cut her off From the true source.  And she's basically telling her that there's a lot that she doesn't know, and when she's fully trained no single woman will be able to cut her off. Basically it will take multiple women working together to shield her.

She was demanding to be let down. When the amyrlin didn't do it, she slammed her against the wall using air.  So using the same method that the Amyrlin used against her, but also using it with force and velocity.

-Nynaeve learns really quickly and slammed her back against the wall. Then the Amyrlin cut her off From the true source.  And she's basically telling her that there's a lot that she doesn't know, and when she's fully trained no single woman will be able to cut her off. Basically it will take multiple women working together to shield her.

She was demanding to be let down. When the amyrlin didn't do it, she slammed her against the wall using air.  So using the same method that the Amyrlin used against her, but also using it with force and velocity.

233 - This shows the Amyrlin wants to send her to The Mistress but isn’t because she feels it’s not what she deserves and I beg to differ, “‘If you had a hair less potential than you do,child, I would send you to the Mistress of Novices and tell her to keep you for the rest of your life. But you will get what you deserve.”’

“‘Are you both ready to learn?”’ “‘Yes, Mother,”’ Egwene said quickly. “The Amyrlin raised an eyebrow at Nynaeve. After a moment, Nynaeve said in a tight voice,” “‘Yes, Mother.”’ “Egwene heaved a sigh of relief.” 

• Another perfect example of how much Nynaeve hates the Aes Sedai, “”Nynaeve bounded to her feet and threw her pillow at the closing door.” “‘That ——- that vile, contemptible, miserable—— hag! The Light burn her! I’d like to feed her to the fish! I’d like to dose her with things that would turn her green for the rest of her life! I don’t care if she’s old enough to be my mother, if I had her in Emond’s Field, she wouldn’t sit down comfortably for…..”’ “Her teeth ground so loudly that Egwene jumped. Letting the flame die, Egwene put her eyes firmly on her lap.” The symbol green reminds me of Wicked  when Elphaba doesn’t believe anything will be better unless she becomes Wicked to fight back and feel Nynaeve will have a similar experience like when Elphaba was born green and I believe in this scene Nynaeve is also portraying how the Witch hunters acted towards Elphaba using nasty names like that to describe her and the evil things she did with reason that she wasn’t able to defend her actions. 

234  - Nynaeve has the hardest time with the lessons on the boat because she dislikes all Aes Sedai even if they’re trying to do something as simple as try to give her a lesson on the way to the White Tower. 

“Nynaeve turned to look down at her.” “‘It was not your fault,”’ she repeated, sounding unconvinced l. “‘But if you ever breathe one word, I’ll —— I’ll…”’ - this made my heart ache for Nynaeve because she probably makes her feel it is her fault. I just couldn’t help but go off on a tangent, this reminds me when I read Wicked  in particular when Elphaba tries to do good like sew the wings to the monkeys and allowing them to fly (creating Chistery- the first and head of the winged monkeys and Elphaba taught him to talk but can only mimic what others say) and thinks she’s doing good but it’s really the total opposite she later figures out and wants to be Wicked. She vows to never do another good deed  unless it benefits her like when she turned Fiyero into the Scarecrow because she loved him so he couldn’t die. I feel Nynaeve will go down a similar road like Elphaba. 

“‘Light, , I did not think anything tasted worse than raw sheepstongue root. I’ll remember that, the next time you act like a goose, so watch yourself.”’ 

“A dark glob of something that glistened like grease and smelled vile had suddenly appeared and, while the Amyrlin held Nynaeve with the Power, had been forced into the Wisdom’s mouth.  The Amyrlin had even held her nose to make her swallow. And Nynaeve remembered things, if she had seen them  done once. Egwene did not think there was any way of stopping her if she took it into her mind to do it; for all her own success in making a fame dance, she could never have held the Amyrlin against a wall.” “‘At least being on the ship isn’t making you sick anymore.”’  WTF is going on 

• I wonder why they say, “....things would be different in the White Tower; harder, though they would not say how.” What do they mean by “different and harder”? 

235 - Egwene and Nynaeve both go to see what the the man was saying on top deck and turns out he was dating there’s Tar Valon or something along those lines. 

The island of Tar Valon puts a wonderful image in my mind and Egwene is linking Rand to Dragonmount, “The island was so big it looked more as if the river split in two than contained a bit of land. Bridges that seemed to be made of lace arched from either bank to the island, crossing marshy ground as well as the river. The walls of the city, the Shining Walls of Tar Valon, glistened white as the sun broke through the clouds. And on the west bank, it’s broken top leaking a thin wisp of smoke, Dragonmount reared black against the sky, one mountain standing among flat lands and rolling hills. Dragonmount, where the Dragon has died. Dragonmount, made by the Dragon’s dying. Egwene wished she did not think of Rand when she looked at the mountain. A man channeling. Light, help him.”’

“The White Flame banner set workers scurrying along the already busy wharf.” - this makes me believe that once the crew saw the banner they then decided to help them first because the Amyrlin was with them. 

• Egwene and Nynaeve think that everyone has forgotten they are there since the people are only greeting the Amyrlin and I believe the people assume Egwene and Nynaeve are the Amyrlin’s property. “The Amyrlin came on deck before the shore lines were tied off, but dockworkers ran a gangplank aboard as soon as she appeared. Leane walked ar her side, flame-tipped staff in hand, and the other Aes Sedai on the ship followed them ashore. None of them so much as gleamed at Egwene or Nynaeve. On the wharf a delegation greeted the Amyrlin—-shawled Aes Sedai, bowing formally, kissing the Amyrlin’s ring. The wharfs bustled, between ships unloading and the Amyrlin Seat arriving; soldiers formed up on disembarking, men set booms for cargo; trumpet flourishes rang from the walls, competing with cheers from the onlookers.” 

• The Amyrlin seems like a big deal everywhere she goes and is the center of attention. 

236 “....Egwene made her way dejectedly down the gangplank and through the tarry smell that hung over the wharf. All that talk about wanting us here, and now they don’t seem to care.” - this makes me believe that in Tar Valon the men have power over the women since they weren’t willing to help them

• “Some structures did not look like buildings at all, but like gigantic waves breaking, or huge shells, or fanciful, wind sculpted cliffs. Right in front of the arch lay a broad square further on.” - this description painted a wonderful image in my mind. 

• I believe the tower higher than the others and as white as the Shining Walls must be the White Tower. 

• I believe the White Tower will be an ordinary looking building to ward off evil forces in their church like setting compared to the dark one. 

237 “The Aes Sedai was a little plump, with a warm smile, and one of the oldest appearing women Egwene had ever seen. Her plumpness could not hide high cheekbones, her eyes had a tilt to them and were the clearest, palest green, and her hair was almost the color of fire. “  - this makes me think something is up even though she’s an Aes Sedai. 

• the women is Sheriam (the Mistress of Novices) came to meet them to go to the Tower and Nynaeve expresses how the Amyrlin has said she’s one of the Accepted. 

“And no more than eight or nine of those will be raised to the Accepted.” - that’s not very many 

• I don’t understand what Sheriam meant by Break under the strain. 

238 “‘I told you I spoke with the Amyrlin. Rest your worries for your friend. Novice training is hard, but not that hard. That is for the first few weeks of being one of the Accepted.”’ “Nynaeve’s mouth fell open; Egwene thought the Wisdom’s eyes were going to come right out of her head.” “‘To catch the few who might have slipped through novice training when they should not have. We cannot risk having one of our number——a full Aes Sedai who will break under the stress of the world outside.”’ “The Aes Sedai fathered them both up, an arm around the shoulders of each. Nynaeve hardly seemed to realize where she was going.” “‘Come,”’ Sheriam said, “‘I will see you settled in your rooms. The White Tower awaits.”’ - this makes me think Nynaeve will be one of the few that doesn’t make it to the Accepted level but I believe Egwene will. Nynaeve barely remembered where she was going making me think she really doesn’t want to go to the White Tower or she may think she’s too good to be an Aes Sedai, this May go in hand with how much she dislikes Aes Sedai as a whole, or she accidentally gets mad at some point and accidentally expresses flat out how much she dislikes Aes Sedai during a lesson if Nynaeve gets that far. 

What’s Next?

Future Predictions for POV Character: It’s from Egwene’s PoV.  I’m very surprised Nynaeve is so set on being one of the Accepted based on how much she dislikes Aes Sedai let alone wanting to become one. I won’t be surprised if Nynaeve drops out. 

What's next?

I think when they get to the White Tower Nynaeve will cause a rift with the Aes Sedai and will be kicked out and will need to find a different route to control her powers and believe Nynaeve will argue her way to let the Aes Sedai to let her train in the White Tower or she may not want to even enter the White Tower since it’s basically where all the Aes Sedai are. 

I think Nynaeve will drop out of the White Tower training at this point, well maybe not right away. 

I have mixed feelings towards the White Tower; I trust it but yet I don’t since it’s run by the Aes Sedai. 

I sort of don’t completely trust Sheriam; she’s pretty sketchy looking and it seems she appeared out of nowhere saying she’s been waiting for them especially now knowing she’s an Aes Sedai. I’m sorry Sheriam if you’re offended oh well!