Egwene al'Vere
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Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.
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[edit] Character
The youngest of five daughters, Egwene grew up in Emond's Field alongside Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, Perrin Aybara and Nynaeve al'Meara. Though friends with all of them, she was particularly close with 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.
[edit] Winternight
However, Winternight changed her life. When Trollocs invaded the Two Rivers region, Rand, Mat and Perrin were spirited away by Moiraine Damodred (Sedai) Aes Sedai apparently for their own protection; Egwene went with them. Moiraine, however, had an agenda: she had discovered that Egwene had the spark and could learn to channel. It was Moiraine's intent to bring her to Tar Valon to train. When Nynaeve chased after them, Moiraine decided to include her as well.
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.
[edit] Tar Valon
After the events at the Eye of the World, Egwene and Nynaeve were brought to Tar Valon 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. Egwene, always strong-spirited, hated being a damane more than anything. 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 out the Black Ajah. While they had been 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.
[edit] 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 Aiel Wise Ones how to be a Dreamer. Although Aes Sedai know much more about saidar than the Wise Ones, the Wise Ones are more knowledgable concerning Tel'aran'rhiod. Becoming an informal apprentice to the Wise Ones, she also took to heart ji'e'toh, the honor code of the Aiel. They have since viewed her as a sort of honorary Aiel, saying that she has "too much honor" to be among Aes Sedai. The Wise Ones distrust the Aes Sedai, but seem to make an exception for Egwene, whom they all respect and - if it is possible - like.
[edit] Amyrlin Seat
After the Tar Valon-Salidar split, she was chosen by the Hall of the Salidar Tower-in-Exile to become their Amyrlin Seat, 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.
She has raised an army with the help of Gareth Bryne, the brilliant general who used to be in service of Queen Morgase of Andor (mother of Elayne Trakand and, nominally, ruler of the Two Rivers). Egwene is leading her sisters and army to war against Elaida.
[edit] Betrayal
When Egwene made her most recent appearance, she was camped outside Tar Valon and, after breaking the White Tower's supposedly impregnable defenses, was captured. Her Keeper is Sheriam Bayanar of the Blue, but she is mainly advised by Siuan Sanche. Unfortunately, she is 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 can "cure." She is now one of Egwene's most trusted attendants.
Recently it is revealed that she was taken by the White Tower Aes Sedai, having been betrayed by someone from the Salidar Aes Sedai, and has - at least in the eyes of the sisters in the Tower - had her status reduced back to 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.
[edit] Love and Power
Egwene and Rand severed their romantic ties in The Shadow Rising. However, they remain good friends and she is perhaps the only person in existence who can go head-to-head with the 'new' steel-hearted Rand - not to mention Nynaeve. She is described as incredibly beautiful, with large brown eyes and dark hair. Egwene is enamored of Gawyn Trakand, Elayne's older brother. Gawyn does not realize that Egwene is the leader of the forces he is ordered to fight.
Egwene is also one of the most powerful channelers discovered by the White Tower in more than a thousand years; with only Elayne Trakand of the Green Ajah, Wise One's apprentice Aviendha and Windfinder's apprentice Metarra as her equals and among women only the Forsaken, Nynaeve al'Meara of the Yellow Ajah, former damane Alivia, Sharina Melloy - a sixty-seven year old grandmother, and one or two Wise Ones, Windfinders, or Seanchan damane stand above her in terms of raw power.
