Min Farshaw
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Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw is one of the main characters of The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.
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[edit] Description
She is slender, a little taller than Moiraine (who Jordan has said to be about 5'2"), and has short hair. She has large, dark eyes.
[edit] Origins
Min grew up in Baerlon, under the patronage of a father who did not curb her tomboyish tendencies, and (after he died), by a trio of aunts who failed miserably at making a "proper woman" out of her. Her personality is encapsulated by her name: "Elmindreda" is a character in a book who fawns and sighs over men, which is why Min likes to go by the diminutive version.
[edit] Viewings
She met Rand al'Thor at Baerlon, around the same time Nynaeve al'Meara first caught up with and was caught up by the group, and managed to unnerve Rand thoroughly: not only was she a very attractive woman whose hair is cut short like a boy's and wears men's clothing, but she also has oracular visions. Min is privy to flashes of visual insight she calls "viewings"--for instance, whenever she sees Rand, Mat Cauthon or Perrin Aybara, she sees him surrounded by a vast, trackless darkness, while countless thousands of fireflies dart in and out, trying to fill the void; when two or more of them stand near each other, the fireflies get stronger. The symbolism of this viewing is relatively obvious, but most of them are much harder for her to decode in the beginning.
- Why does Mat evoke a banner with a red eagle? (The Red Eagle is the emblem of Manetheren.)
- Why does Perrin have both a hawk and a falcon stooping on his shoulder? (Berelain, represented by the hawk, and Faile, represented by the falcon, both seek to capture his regard.)
- Why is Rand pouring water on sand? (In The Shadow Rising, Rand causes the dry fountains of Rhuidean to flow again.)
- Whose heavy golden ring floats above Nynaeve's hand? (Lan, who eventually marries Nynaeve, owns a heavy golden ring that is the ring of the kings of Malkier.)
- Why is a white flame connected with Egwene? (The white flame is the Flame of Tar Valon and the Amyrlin Seat's symbol. Egwene is eventually named Amyrlin of the rebel Aes Sedai.)
Whether she knows the meaning or not, however, they always come true... And there are a lot of them. (It should be pointed out that all of these viewings had been explained by the end of Lord of Chaos; there are more whose meanings are as yet unclear.)
Viewings are always thicker around those who can channel, or are connected with channelers. However, Min's ability itself has nothing to do with the One Power; Aes Sedai have tested that theory extensively, which contributes to Min's general dislike for the organization. It should also be pointed out that, according to series author Robert Jordan, Min's viewings always regard the future. With this in mind, viewings like Lan Mandragoran's (who "has seven ruined towers around his head, and a babe in a cradle holding a sword...") which seem at first glance to be connected to his past, become far more unclear.
[edit] Falme, and the Truth of a Viewing
After the Eye of the World, Moiraine Sedai summoned Min to the White Tower for safekeeping, something the free-spirited Min did not appreciate at all. She went with Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve to Falme, and stayed with Rand and the Shienarans that winter, while the novices travelled back to the Tower with Mat; but when Rand disappeared one morning, heading for Tear, Moiraine remanded Min to the Tower as well. Min arrived just in time for the coup against the Amyrlin Siuan Sanche, and she later helped Siuan, Leane, and now-gentled former False Dragon Logain Ablar to escape to Salidar, where she was reacquainted with Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve. Min later was sent to Caemlyn with the Salidar embassy to meet Rand; she has been at his side ever since. The reason for this was not immediately obvious to anyone but her.
[edit] Love at First Sight
One vision Min had upon first meeting Rand was one that she was able to interpret quickly, although she did not tell him of it at the time: that she would fall in love with the Dragon Reborn. And not just her; two other women would love him as well. The face of one of the other women she later recognized: a friend she had made in the White Tower, a novice named Elayne Trakand. The two agreed to share him later, a decision made easier by their strong friendship. The other she did not recognize; it turned out to be the Aiel woman Aviendha, who ironically had promised to Elayne to keep anyone from getting their hands on Rand. Struggle against it though she might, Min did fall in love with Rand, becoming the second of his women to become his lover (after Aviendha), and she now plays an important role in his life: she is one of the few people in the world who can get him to smile, and certainly the only one he keeps nearby (Elayne and Aviendha being busy in Caemlyn). He has tried to send her away, citing the danger in staying near him (for instance, a rogue Asha'man attack aimed at him summarily melted a quarter of the Sun Palace in Cairhien), but she has steadfastly refused. She also reports any viewings she has that might help him... if only she knew what most of them meant.
Recently Min, Elayne and Aviendha have jointly Bonded to Rand as Warders and Aes Sedai do, something previously unheard of (and necessarily done in secret). It was at that time she also revealed that Elayne would become pregnant with twins and that Rand would be the father, and that Aviendha would later have his quadruplets (Min couldn't see if she herself would have any children with Rand, however). It was also revealed at that time that she is incapable of masking the emotions she senses from Rand through the bond . She was also present when Rand and Nynaeve were using the Choedan Kal to cleanse saidin of the Taint.
