The Great Hunt - Chapter 20 : Saidin
Ch20
Before I Read!
Symbol Meaning: The dragon fang. When I see the dragon fang in this instance it makes me think of a bad omen or a bigger evil lurking around,like the Darkfriends trying to get the horn and dagger back from Rand’s group of an entirely different evil perhaps.
Chapter Title Meaning: Saidin is the male half of the One Power. The chapter title might be hinting at Rand learning more about saidin or to take things further he also might take Selene to the public baths to show his true feelings towards Selene.
Floatie’s Chapter Predictions:
What Just Happened? (My Chapter Notes)
Italicize quote. Floatie Thoughts.
251 - they made it into Cairhein (but not to the capital city yet)
Selene wants to take advantage of Loial since she knows he’d do anything like letting her see the Horn but Rand interferes and said no since the dagger is better protected if the chest isn’t open.
252 - Selene thinks Rand only cares about the daggers safety. She only wants to see it not hold it. Rand thinks he can close the chest when the horn is out. I don’t completely think this is a good idea to take out the horn.
What are the Prophecies of the Dragon? Related to the time when the dragon was Lews Theron before he died and was reborn as Rand?
Selene is furious when Rand questions I’d he’s about Aes Sedai once again. Rand should just give up asking her if she’s an Aes Sedai or not since it won’t get him anywhere but back in circles he’s already gone through.
“And she wrapped herself in a silent coldness that made even the morning sun seem chill.”
This makes me believe Selene is pretty mad at Rand and doesn’t want to talk to him(unless he spoke first). She's talking with Loial about books and chatting with Hurin. What a surprise she doesn’t want anything to do with Rand and is sometimes thinking of Egwene when Selene smiles. I think he misses Egwene more than he thought with Selene taunting him and causing him heartache, but at least she smiles back at him.
253 - the buildings are all made of Stone in the village. Loial and Hurin are excited like children on Christmas just to find an inn where they can finally sleep in warm beds (even though the inn is dirty and not the best company of people) ; opposed to camping. I’m betting they are all tired of camping especially Selene even if she may not want to admit it because the inn may not be up to her standards and expectations of where she would prefer to sleep; that’s probably why she argued that sleeping under the stars was better dispute it putting the group in danger.
Selene makes the excuse of “why can’t we sleep under the stars; the inn is so dirty” bit and probably thinks everyone is a Darkfriend in the village. But Rand counteracts her argument with the fact that it’s safer to sleep at the inn with Fain lurking in search of the Horn and Selene is like if he finds you it’s your job to deal with him. Selene and Hurin both foil Rand’s statement by saying, “”...if they discover you carry the Horn? Whether you want greatness or not, even farmers dream of it.”’ “‘She is right Rand,”’ Loial said. “‘I fear even farmers might want to take it.”’
Loial is ordering Rand to cover the chest with the striped blanket so everyone thinks it’s just a travel chest and the name gives the chest cracks me up, “‘My Lady’s chest of clothes.”’
254 - I believe the group has found saidin in the village, “..... a gigantic stone hand holding a crystal sphere.” “The huge ball seemed to glow white with the light of the sinking sun. It seemed to him that in the depths of the crystal, light swirling and danced in time to the song of saidin.”
Selene says the glowing sphere is dangerous but Rand thinks he can make his way to the orb. Selene is coming up with scenarios to try and keep Rand from the orb.
255
This page made me super confused when he went towards the orb of what he thinks is saidin I also expect Rand to be super confused as well.
There was a passage of quotes that resonated with me for some reason and just stood out like something similar might happen later or in another book later down the road. I also felt it has a deeper meaning with some of the things mentioned and maybe might tie into the prophecy in blood in some way. Who knows at this point.
“He released the void …and it did not go. Saidin crooned, and the light in the sphere beat like a heart. Like his heart. Loial, Hurin, Selene, they all stared at him, but they seemed oblivious to the glorious blaze from the crystal. He tried to push the void away. It held like granite; he floated in an emptiness as hard as stone. The song of saidin, the song of the sphere, he could feel them quivering along his bones.”
“Grimly, he refused to give in, reached deep inside himself… I will not….”
“‘Rand.”’ “He did not know whose voice it was.
… reached for the core of what he was…
… will not”
“‘Rand.”’ “The song filled him, filled the emptiness.
… touched stone, hot from a pitiless sun, cold from a merciless night….
… not …”
“Light filled him, blinded him.”
“‘Till shade is gone,”’ he mumbled, “‘till water is gone …”’
“Power filled him. He was one with the sphere.”
“‘.... into the Shadow with teeth bared …”’
“The Power was his. The Power was his.”
“‘... to spit in Sightblinder’s eye …”’
“Power to Break the World.
“‘... on the last day!”’ “It came out as a shout, and the void was gone. Red shied at his cry; clay crumbled under the stallion’s hoof, spilling into the pit. The big bay went to his knees. Rand leaned forward, gathering the reins, and Red scrambled to safety l, away from the edge. They were all staring at him, he saw. Selene, Loial, Hurin, all of them.” “‘What happened?”’ “The void … He touched his forehead. The void had not gone when he released it, and the glow of saidin had grown stronger, and…. He could not remember anything more. Saidin. He felt cold.” “‘Did I … do something?”’ “He frowned, trying to remember.” “‘Did I say something?”’ “‘You just sat there stiff as a statue,”’ Loial said, “‘mumbling to yourself no matter what anyone said. I couldn’t make out what you were saying, not until you shouted “day!” loud enough to wake the dead and nearly put your horse over the edge.
256 - Rand suggests that they find an inn
the village people seemed different, “...short folk—- none taller than Rand’s shoulder l, and a few as y’all as Hurin ——- with dark eyes and pale, narrow faces, and dressed in dark clothing except for a few who wore smashes of color across the chest.”
they learn the inn is called “‘The Nine Rings”
Rand terrified Selene
257 - Selene is now asking Rand to go on an excursion with her when they get to the inn. She’s like come with me Rand-yboo my beloved bf what she probably incisions and bring the Horn with you. This in particular made me feel uncomfortable because she’s trying to manipulate Rand at full force from what we’ve seen so far. I believe Selene is trying to get Rand alone with her so a) she can steal the horn and blow it herself, b) she forces Rand to accept the glory he doesn’t want by blowing the horn or c) she steals it and delivers it to either Ba’alzamon himself or possibly Fain under their skin one night. She’s such a weird character compared to who we’ve met so far.
Overall thoughts : I don’t trust Selene at all at this point since she’s always trying to always get Rand alone with her and she always asks him to bring the Horn. I’m starting to think she’s doing this to try and get him to eventually blow the Horn and accept the glory he’s been always denying and doesn’t want the glory or to blow the horn.
Let’s be clear Selene’s actions have always been sketchy but this new addition just tops the “cake” of all her fucking sketchy things she does. I’m still convinced she has other motives to gain Rand’s trust; I believe she’ll eventually convince Rand to bring the Horn and then she steals it and is on her way to deliver the Horn either to Fain or Ba’alzamon himself (seems like the likely option). I also still believe Selene could be a potential Darkfriend and her screwing Rand is the least important on her list of priorities.
Hot take : What if since Selene left the Mirror World with Rand she has to find a person to replace her body being trapped in exchange for her leaving?
What’s Next?
Future Predictions for POV Character: It’s from Rand’s POV. As of right now I believe Rand will never take the Horn with him alone with Selene for obvious reasons I listed above or somehow create a duplicate of the Horn and agree to take the fake without telling her in case she tries to do anything sketchy when they’re alone.
Also for some reason the head cannon of Selene that comes to mind is Regina George from the movie, Mean Girls. I feel they could be besties because they are both manipulative and very similar. Regina would probably kick out Karen Smith (the dumb slut) because Selene seems more knowledgeable about more things than Karen because she goes along with what Regina says and doesn’t think for herself (at this point in the movie). I also believe the word “fugly cow” would be more common place if Selene was in her group of “clicks” of the school.
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