Welcome back to my re-read, recap, and reaction to Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. This post will only have spoilers through the current chapter.
You can find my previous chapter recaps HERE.
Chapter 14: Meetings
NOTE: The following chapter summary comes from wot.fandom.com
Point of view: Nynaeve al’Meara
Nynaeve appears in the Heart of the Stone as she enters Tel’aran’rhiod. She calls to Birgitte, who appears but without Gaidal Cain this time. Birgitte believes Gaidal may have been born in to the real world again, which means she will be also within a few years. Birgitte is trying to keep an eye on the Forsaken in Tel’aran’rhiod and reporting to Nynaeve or Elayne. There has been no sign of Moghedien, the spider, since Nynaeve fought her in Tanchico. She may be avoiding Tel’aran’rhiod or she may be able to hide from Birgitte. Nynaeve wants to tell Egwene and the Wise Ones about Birgitte and what she has found, but Birgitte says she must hold to her promise to not tell anyone.
Egwene arrives while Nynaeve is viewing herself in provocative dresses in a mirror, startling her. Nynaeve informs Egwene and Melaine that they are in Sienda. Nynaeve tells about the strange message from Ronde Macura and that she tried to drug her and Elayne, then feels guilty over not admitting that they were drugged. Egwene tells of the Aiel heading for Jangai Pass, following Couladin and the Shaido. She also reveals that Rand is ordering around Moiraine and that she obeys. Despite Nynaeve’s dislike for Moiraine, she is indignant that Rand is doing that. Melaine upbraids Nynaeve for taking unnecessary risks in Tel’aran’rhiod. Nynaeve refuses to stop, so Melaine announces that, “Aan’allein will die on the day he learns that you are dead.” Melaine then changes her into the clothes of a little Aiel girl and then she and Egwene disappear.
REACTION
Gaidal Cain is reborn and somewhere out in the world as a newborn. Let’s keep an eye out for newborn babies.
Usually every chapter has a key point, and the key point in this one is that Nynaeve and Elayne have Birgitte working for them as a Forsaken scout. That’s a pretty amazing use for her, actually, given that she’s dead and just hanging out in the World of Dreams. It also indicates she is going to become an increasingly larger part of the story going forward. (Keep in mind she met Perrin once in the Dream, too.) The most interesting Forsaken news – though not surprising – is that they’re all spying on each other. I guess it’s also interesting that Semirhage gets special mention for being frightening. In a world where ancient demons walk among the living, she’s the scary one. I suspect that means we’re going to meet her in the story sometime soon.
Lanfear is with Rand.
Rahvin is in Caemlyn
Sammael is in Illian
Moghedien was in Tanchico, but her current whereabouts are unknown.
Graendal was mentioned as being in Arad Doman, I think, a while back.
Demandred and Semirhage are still unknowns.
In addition to the new info re: Birgitte, the theme of this chapter is Nynaeve’s growing insecurity. We see that in her worrying over Moghedien, then we see that in her fashion show in front of the stand mirror while she thinks about Lan, and we see that in her lying to Egwene in the details surrounding the forkroot drugging, and we see that in her big show of bravado at the end of the chapter re: hunting the Forsaken. I don’t really mind the lying re: Ronde Macura bit, given that she is also trying to protect Egwene’s lie about being a full Aes Sedai in front of Melaine. However on the whole Nynaeve seems to be spiraling a little bit. Her personality is to deal with the world by taking the reigns, and she’s finding that the world is – for now – too big for her to do that.
For all of Nynaeve’s faults, and insecurities, she gives really good advice concerning Rand. She suggests that someone makes it their full time job to remind him of himself and that he is only human. Melaine does not seem to know what to make of Nynaeve, but she takes that advice in and gives it weight. It will be interesting to see if the Wise Ones start doing more of that.
Of course, the first thing she does after giving good advice is to put her insecurity back on display by a show of bravado. It is pretty clear that her bravado is born out of jealousy over Melaine, who she considers to be beautiful, being close to Lan. “Yeah, I have been hunting the Forsaken in the World of Dreams, so what?” should probably have been, “I have reliable information that I cannot share with you.”
“Aan’allein will die on the day he learns that you are dead.”
That’s such a great line from Joran. It’s effective both for Nynaeve and the reader. It’s also a clear indicator that Melaine likely picked up on Nynaeve’s insecurities and wanted to address them.
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