Ailil Riatin

From Tar Valon Library
Jump to: navigation, search

A similar entry appears in the Wheel of Time Companion confirming the information available in the main story arc.


Author: Leora Oldessroth

General

Ailil is Cairhienin noblewoman of House Riatin (TPoD, Ch. 21). She is slim and has large dark eyes (TPoD, Ch. 21). She is young but not exactly pretty (TPoD, Ch. 21). She is tall for a Cairhien woman (TPoD, Ch. 22). Everything about her is dignified and precise (TPoD, Ch. 22).

Ailil has a brother named Toram (TPoD, Ch. 21). She dislikes him intensely (WH, Ch. 13).

The sigil of House Riatin is Five Stars (TGH, Ch. 9). House Riatin has a long-standing alliance with House Maravin (TPoD, Ch. 21).

Timeline

  • Rand summons Ailil and her men to help him fight the Seanchan; he summons her in person because he does not want her helping her brother Toram claim the Sun Throne of Cairhien, which Rand intends for Elayne (TPoD, Ch. 21).
  • Ailil does not want to be in thick of the fighting and protests her inclusion to Rand; he refuses to let her leave (TPoD, Ch. 22).
  • Ailil does not join in the fighting herself although she consults with her Lance-captain, Denharad, after the battle (TPoD, Ch. 23).
  • Ailil is with Rand when he is injured fighting the Seanchan; she tells Anaiyella that they cannot simply run away as Rand can still hear them. Rand thinks that Ailil might be drawing her belt-knife to kill him when Rand's forces show up (TPoD, Ch. 23).
  • Afterwards, Ailil stays very close to Rand and even has her tent pitched near his when they stop for the night (TPoD, Ch. 24).
  • After the last battle with the Seanchan, Rand travels with Ailil back to the Sun Palace; Dobraine places her in apartments with trustworthy servants to watch over her as her brother Toram has vanished (TPoD, Ch. 27).
  • When Rand is searching the Sun Palace after the explosion, he comes across Ailil and Shalon both coming out of Ailil's rooms; he ties and gags them both and shields Shalon and leaves them hidden underneath Ailil's bed ({[tpod|29}}).
  • When Rand is informed the day after the explosion that Ailil and Shalon are missing, he states his belief that Cadsuane has probably taken charge of them (WH, Prologue).
  • Cadsuane is indeed keeping Ailil and Shalon as "guests" and having them questioned by Bera and Kiruna because Cadsuane suspects that Ailil and Shalon knew more about the attack then they were admitting (WH, Ch. 13).
  • Bera and Kiruna question Ailil for days and have her howling, but she refuses to say why she and Shalon were together or why they were bound (WH, Ch. 13).
  • Verin finally gets Ailil to admit that she and Shalon are pillow-friends; Ailil first approached Shalon in the hopes that she would find out what Shalon wanted with Rand. The two had meetings which led to friendships which led to them becoming pillow-friends; Verin suspects it was out of loneliness (WH, Ch. 13).
  • Each woman had a reason to hide the relationship -- Ailil because Cairhienin are so straight-laced and Shalon because her husband might divorce her if he found out (WH, Ch. 13; Ch. 23).
  • Cadsuane orders Ailil returned to her apartments with apologies and assurances that her secret will be kept if Ailil keeps Cadsuane informed of her brother's activities (WH, Ch. 13).
  • Ailil is approached by lords and ladies who represent most of the strength of House Riatin after her brother disappears; they want her to become the High Seat of House Riatin. Cadsuane tells Ailil she cannot assume the High Seat because her brother is not confirmed dead and because "most" of the strength of House Riatin is not "all" (CoT, Prologue).
  • Ailil has forsworn her claim to the Sun Throne in favor of Elayne and would be willing to swear fealty to Rand if she was asked to (CoT, Prologue).
  • Ailil is one of the nobles present when Elayne strips Arymilla, Elenia, and Naean of their titles, but is not quick enough to claim one of them. Elayne however intends to give her some land as a reward for her loyalty (ToM, Ch. 50)

Quotes

Ailil could smile warmly while she calculated where to plant the knife in your ribs. (Rand's thoughts about Ailil; The Path of Daggers, Chapter 21)

"My Lord Dragon," Ailil said, "I must make one more protest against my inclusion in this...expedition." Her voice was coolly neutral, if not exactly unfriendly. "I will send my retainers where you command and when, but I have no desire at all to be in the thick of a battle." (Ailil to Rand; The Path of Daggers, Chapter 22)

"Return the Lady Ailil to her apartments with apologies for her treatment, Verin. Give her very...tenuous...assurances that her confidences will be kept. Be sure she is aware just how tenuous. And suggest strongly that she might wish to keep me abreast of anything she hears concerning her brother." (Cadsuane to Verin; Winter's Heart, Chapter 13)