Abell Cauthon

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Author: Estella Sharina Agadis

General

Abell Cauthon is a man from Emond's Field in the Two Rivers. He is married to Natti Cauthon, and they are reported to have two daughters and a son. The two daughters are named Bodewhin and Eldrin, and the son is named Matrim.

Abell looks like an older, graying version of his son, who is long-limbed with a wiry body, and brown hair and eyes, though Abell's eyes are much more serious than those belonging to his son. He is not thickened by his age, and he has an agile step (TEoTW, Ch. 1; TGH, Ch. 3; TSR, Ch. 31).

He is the best horsetrader in the Two Rivers, and although he never does anything dishonest, no one ever takes advantage of him, because he takes his time to think about things from all sides (TDR, Ch. 19).

Timeline

  • Mat mentions to Rand that his father didn't believe him when he said that he had seen a strange man dressed in black who scared him. This conversation happens on the day before Bel Tine (TEoTW, Ch. 1).
  • The day after, when Rand comes to Emond's Field with the injured Tam, he sees that Abell's house has been burned, so that only the foundation stones are left, together with a pile of ash and timber. Even the chimney is toppled (TEoTW, Ch. 7).
  • While Moiraine is Healing Tam, Lan tells Rand that when the Trollocs came to Emond's Field, they struck first at the forge, and then the blacksmith's house, before they continued with Master Cauthon's house. Rand doesn't quite believe him, but later, when he is talking to the Mayor, Bran al'Vere confirms that Abell's house flared up. He finds it odd, as Abell's house is nearly in the middle of the village, though he doesn't think more about it (TEoTW, Ch. 8).
  • The next time Abell is mentioned is after Mat has been Healed in The White Tower. When he wakes up, he remembers some things he is sure must be dreams, and some things he is sure is for real, like him talking with his father. As he sits down to eat, Mat thinks about how Abell is the best horsetrader at home, and how he never gets fooled by anyone else; not even people from Taren Ferry (TDR, Ch. 19). A little while later, he is visited by Selene (Lanfear in disguise), and she tells him that his father came to Tar Valon together with Tam al'Thor to find Mat, and the Amyrlin Seat sent them back without letting them know if the boys were still alive or not. (TDR, Ch. 20) When the Amyrlin visits Mat afterwards, he tries to trick her into telling him about his father, and she tells him, after a little hesitation. She explains that she sent him home with enough gold for the trip, and that if Mat wishes to send him a letter, she will make sure that Abell receives it (TDR, Ch. 20).
  • After Mat wins two silver marks each from Galad and Gawyn, Gawyn tries to compliment him on his use with the quarterstaff, but Mat says that he's not as good as Abell, who wins the quarterstaff-competition almost every year (TDR, Ch. 24).
  • After Perrin has come home to Emond's Field, Marin al'Vere tells him that Abell and Tam managed to escape when the Whitecloaks arrested Abell's family and the Luhhan's, and that they are hiding somewhere in the Westwood. Her husband says that Padan Fain has offered two hundred pieces of gold for Tam and Abell. The Whitecloaks have also burned Abell's house (TSR, Ch. 29).
  • When Perrin asks Bran al'Vere where he can find Tam and Abell, he explains that they move about in the Westwood. When they come to the lightning-split oak on the outskirts of Emond's Field, Perrin thinks that if Tam and Abell haven't been able to bring out the prisoners from the Whitecloak camp, then the task can't be very easy (TSR, Ch. 30).
  • As Faile, Perrin, the Aiel and Loial are in the old sickhouse with the Aes Sedai, Tam and Abell show up with seven rabbits, bows in their hands and two-day beards. Abell wants to know if his son is all right, and Perrin tells him that Mat spends his time dicing and kissing the girls. Perrin takes them outside to talk, and before they leave the sickhouse, Abell gives Alanna Sedai his rabbits.
  • The older men joke a little about Perrin's beard, but they don't say anything about his eyes. Abell asks if his beard is good for straining soup, and when he hears that Faile likes it, he gives Perrin some advice when it comes to dealing with women. When Perrin wants to know if they sleep in the sickhouse, Abell says that a man cannot sleep under that same roof as Aes Sedai. Tam tells Perrin that they had planned to stay there, but the Aes Sedai were there first, and that the Warders might have killed them if not for the Women's Circle. Abell adds that they show too much interest in the boys, and that he knows that they are ta'veren. He also tells Perrin that he's spoken to a peddler who said there were Aiel west of the Spine of the World, but that he didn't believe it at that time.
  • Abell then tells Perrin that he and Tam went to the White Tower to look for the three boys the previous year, but that the Keeper had them on a boat down the river, their pockets stuffed with gold, as soon as she could. Abell doesn't like the idea of the Tower using Mat.
  • Suddenly, all three of them discovers a raven, but before Perrin can shoot it, the two older men have already killed it, and they are busy searching for more ravens. They tell Perrin that they've found lots of dead animals, most not even skinned, but killed by a man, because Abell's found footprints.
  • Perrin wants to know how difficult it will be to free the prisoners, and Abell says that he once came close enough to see his wife, but that one of the Whitecloaks managed to shoot him. When Perrin demands to know why no one has done anything to fight the Whitecloaks, Abell explain that most people are caught between being afraid of the Whitecloaks and the Trollocs (TSR, Ch. 31).
  • The morning when they are going to rescue the prisoners, Tam and Abell are eating breakfast in the sickhouse, and they are surprised when Verin Sedai says that she is coming with them to Watch Hill.
  • Perrin tries to use Master Cauthon's advice about women with some luck. Abell, as the horsetrader he is, takes a look at Verin, Tomas and Loial's horses. It is, without a doubt, Abell who has chosen the horses that he and Tam are riding. Abell says that it'll take them most of the day to reach Watch Hill, and that it will take less time to go by the North Road, but that they are more likely to meet Whitecloaks there. Master Cauthon is stunned when he realises that if Andoran soldiers are sent to the Two Rivers to help kill the Trollocs, they will most likely attack the Whitecloaks as well, and start a war (TSR, Ch. 32).
  • They arrive at the al'Seen place before the sun has reached its full height. Abell and Tam have been there before and know that they are welcome there, and that the people on the farm will not gossip. When Perrin tries to talk to the people on the farm about going up against the Whitecloaks, they hesitate, and Perrin asks if they believe that the Luhhan and Abell families are Darkfriends. Abell stares at all the people, daring them to say that they do believe so, but no one reacts (TSR, Ch. 33).
  • Abell and Tam's only concern when Perrin, the party, and the young men are on their way to Watch Hill is that all the men and boys know how to use a bow, and how to stay on their horse. When they arrive at Watch Hill, the two older men know about a thicket that gives them a good view of the Whitecloak camp. Abell shows Perrin where the prisoners are being held. Perrin realises that the two men haven't called him 'lad' since they left the al'Seen farm, nor that they have given any orders since then.
  • When Abell is reunited with his family after the rescue, he is trying to hug them all at the same time. Perrin gives him orders to bring them to safety, and he calls Abell by his first name, not Master Cauthon, but Abell says nothing to that. Abell and Tam are supposed to bring the rescued prisoners to an abandoned farm of which they know (TSR, Ch. 33).
  • The next time Perrin sees Abell is when he is telling some of the boys in the village about Rand and Mat, and Abell and Tam are slipping into the inn. He then tells the story of his friends that he told to their fathers (TSR, Ch. 43).
  • In the first 'real' battle against the Trollocs, Abell gets the shepherds safely into Emond's Field (TSR, Ch. 44).
  • The night before the final battle, Abell is in the Winespring Inn, helping Perrin to go over plans. Perrin is irritated by the bandage on Abell's head, but the Aes Sedai will only Heal those with the worst injuries, so as to conserve their strength. Abell answers a question that Perrin has asked before, about how many weapons they have ready for battle. Everything that can possibly be made into a weapon has been (TSR, Ch. 53).
  • As the final battle is about to start, Abell has the command over the men with bows. He is ready to send his men wherever they are needed (TSR, Ch. 56).
  • When Perrin tells Faile that he is leaving the Two Rivers to go to Caemlyn, he mentions that he has spoken to Abell, and that he and Tam will help her when it comes to handling the Mayors (LoC, Prologue).

Relationships

He is married to Natti Cauthon.

Even though he thinks his son is acting immature, he still loves him, and he would do anything to keep Mat out of danger.

Abell and Tam are good friends and they trust each other. Tam has saved his life (TSR, Ch. 31).

While in Tear, Mat hears rumours about Whitecloaks in the Two Rivers, and he wonders if he should be concerned or not, because everyone likes Abell, even the Coplins and Congars (TDR, Ch. 13).

Miscellaneous

  • Abell Cauthon is the best horsetrader in the Two Rivers (TDR, Ch. 19).
  • Master Cauthon has won the quarterstaff competition in Emond's Field every year as long as Mat can remember, except for a few times when Tam did (TDR, Ch. 24).

Quotes

"Only way to handle that sort," Abell said, nodding. "Let her think she's running things. That way, when it's important, and you say different, by the time she gets over the shock of it, you'll have matters arranged as you want, and it will be too late for her to badger you about changing it." (Abell about handling women, The Shadow Rising, Chapter 31).

"Don't let it eat you inside, boy," Abell said softly. "Hate can grow till it burns everything else out of you." (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 31).

"War," Abell muttered. "What we have is bad enough, but you are talking war." (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 32).