Difference between revisions of "Arathelle Renshar"

Revision as of 14:02, 2 April 2009

Author: Atarah al'Norahn

General

Arathelle Renshar is the High Seat of the Andoran House Renshar, one of the strongest Houses in Andor; Arathelle is more powerful than any Andoran noble save for Dyelin, Elayne and Luan (LoC, Ch. 41).

The sign of House Renshar is three Golden Hounds (KoD, Ch. 35).

When she was young, Arathelle was a beautiful, fine-boned woman. Now, her face is creased and her brown hair is thickly threaded with gray (TPoD, Ch. 17; KoD, Ch. 35).

Egwene thinks that Arathelle's gaze sticks as hard as any Warder's (TPoD, Ch. 17).

Timeline

• On orders from Gaebril/Rahvin, Morgase exiles Arathelle and several other Andoran nobles who were loyal to her (TFoH, Ch. 19).

• Reene Harfor tells Rand that Arathelle Renshar arrived in Caemlyn the day before with a large retinue. She has not yet been to the palace (LoC, Ch. 28).

• Rand meets with Aemlyn, Arathelle, Dyelin, Ellorien, Luan and Pelivar. They doubt that Elayne is actually alive and on her way to Caemlyn (LoC, Ch. 41).

• Gareth Bryne tells Egwene that there is an army north of them, made up of Andorans and Murandians. Pelivar is leading it, and Arathelle is with him. Bryne thinks that they mean to keep Egwene and the rebel Aes Sedai out of Andor. Egwene tells him to arrange a meeting with them (TPoD, Ch. 15).

• Siuan tells Egwene that Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar are on their way to the meeting with the Salidar Aes Sedai (TPoD, Ch. 16).

• Arathelle, Pelivar, Aemlyn and Culhan from Andor, and Donel, Cian, Paitr and Segan from Murandy, are introduced to Egwene by Sheriam (TPoD, Ch. 17). Arathelle speaks for the Andorans, telling Egwene and the Sitters that they are there to make sure that there is not a war between Aes Sedai on Andoran soil (TPoD, Ch. 17).

• When Egwene tells the Andoran and Murandian nobles that the novice book is now open to any woman, Arathelle blinks in surprise (TPoD, Ch. 17).

• Egwene sees Arathelle speaking to Romanda (TPoD, Ch. 18).

• After Egwene makes her announcement about the Salidar army staying in Murandy for a month, Talmanes tells her that she has changed the border between Andor and Murandy; the Andoran nobles will stay where they are until the Salidar Aes Sedai leave, and after a month of them being there, the maps will begin to show that part of Murandy as belonging to Andor. Egwene begins to notice that the Murandian nobles are deferring to the Andoran nobles in an attempt to befriend them (TPoD, Ch. 18).

• Arathelle inquires of Egwene whether the novice book is truly open, frowning as she does so (TPoD, Ch. 18).

• Birgitte tells Elayne and Dyelin that Arathelle crossed the border between Murandy and Andor five days ago. Aemlyn and Pelivar have also crossed the border, but the three are not together. Dyelin tells Elayne that they might be moving back to their estates, and that if they keep moving further apart, they will know for certain. Elayne hopes that they are indeed going to their estates, and that they will not ride towards Caemlyn. Dyelin tells Elayne that if they begin moving towards Caemlyn, then they are hoping that Luan, Abelle and/or Ellorien will be joining them. Elayne says that they must find a way to stop them from reaching Caemlyn (CoT, Ch. 14).

• Abelle, Aemlyn, Arathelle, Ellorien, Luan and Pelivar have close to sixty thousand men between them, located in two camps a few leagues away from the Black Tower; Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar are in one camp, and Abelle, Ellorien and Luan in the other. Dyelin has visited them, trying to learn their intentions. Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar tried once again to convince Dyelin to lay a claim to the Lion Throne, but were less adamant about it; Dyelin tells Elayne that she thinks she has almost convinced them that she will never announce a claim. Dyelin has left some of the Kin behind to watch the camps (KoD, Ch. 17).

• Shortly after Elayne's capture by the Black Ajah, the Kinswomen left behind to report on the actions within the camps inform Birgitte and Dyelin that Abelle, Aemlyn, Arathelle, Ellorien, Luan and Pelivar are moving towards Caemlyn. Dyelin fears that Ellorien has convinced the others to support her for the throne. Birgitte decides that they will deal with them after Elayne has been rescued (KoD, Ch. 32).

• Abelle, Aemlyn, Arathelle, Ellorien, Luan and Pelivar move camp to a mile south of Low Caemlyn. Arathelle's grandson, Hanselle, is sent to Elayne to ask for safe conduct into the city. Elayne grants it, but wonders what they want; Birgitte suggests that they wish to ask for help in moving against the Borderlanders, and that the only thing that is for certain is that they are not coming to throw their support behind Elayne (KoD, Ch. 35).

• The six High Seats arrive at the palace; Elayne meets with them in the Grand Hall. Branlet, Catalyn, Conail, Dyelin, Lir, Karind, Perival and Sylvase are there as well. Arathelle walks in with Aemlyn and Pelivar; Abelle, Ellorien and Luan are together, with two paces between the two groups, suggesting that there is dissention between them. The group speaks about the Borderlanders, with Elayne telling them that they are no threat but instead have received her permission to move through Andor peacefully, and about the Black Tower. When Abelle and Luan declare that their Houses stand for Trakand, Dyelin manages to talk Arathelle, Pelivar and Aemlyn into declaring for Trakand, as well, though Ellorien refuses. Elayne invites her new support to join her in her apartments to dine (KoD, Ch. 35).

Relationships

During the Succession, Arathelle supported Morgase for the throne. Later, on orders from Gaebril/Rahvin, Morgase has her exiled from Caemlyn, and thus she no longer wants a Trakand on the throne (TFoH, Ch. 19; TPoD, Ch. 28; CoT, Ch. 14).

Arathelle supports Dyelin for the throne, and has declared her support for her. Elayne thinks to herself that Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar seem willing to try to force Dyelin onto the throne (TPoD, Ch. 28; CoT, Ch. 14). Arathelle lets a touch of disappointment cross her face when she learns that Dyelin has sent out proclamations of Taravin's support for Trakand, making it official that Dyelin will not lay her own claim to the throne (KoD, Ch. 35).

Arathelle is often mentioned and seen with Aemlyn and Pelivar (TPoD, Ch. 17; Ch. 28; KoD, Ch. 17; Ch. 35). They stay in the same camp near Caemlyn and enter the royal palace together when they meet with Elayne. All three of them declare for Trakand only because of Dyelin (KoD, Ch. 35).

While Arathelle stays in one camp with Aemlyn and Pelivar, Abelle, Ellorien and Luan also stay together. There seems to be some dissention between the two groups. Arathelle seems to be slightly annoyed by Ellorien; when Ellorien snidely tells Elayne that she had expected Elayne to be sitting on the Lion Throne when they arrived to speak with her, Arathelle rolls her eyes as if hearing something she has heard often before (KoD, Ch. 35).

Arathelle eventually declares her support for House Trakand, but it is only because of Dyelin's urging; Elayne thinks to herself that she might eventually earn the trust of Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar, but that for now, they support her because of Dyelin (KoD, Ch. 35).

Elenia Sarand hopes that Arathelle might support her for the throne (CoT, Ch. 15). She thinks that Aemlyn, Arathelle, Ellorien and Pelivar will surely support her once Elayne and Dyelin are out of the way because of their grievances against Trakand (KoD, Ch. 17).

Aviendha seems to think of Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar as enemies (CoT, Ch. 14).

Hanselle Renshar is her grandson (KoD, Ch. 35).

Miscellaneous

• Morgase learns that Arathelle is among the nobles who have not knelt to Rand (LoC, Ch. 9).

• As Morgase is preparing to leave Caemlyn, she thinks to herself that she will go to Pelivar or Arathelle, once she reasons out how she can explain away their exiles (TFoH, Ch. 19).

• During the meeting between the Andoran/Murandian nobles and the Salidar Aes Sedai, Arathelle, Aemlyn and Pelivar seem to think that Egwene is just mouthing the words the Sitters have put on her tongue (TPoD, Ch. 17).

• Egwene tells the Sitters that Arathelle and Pelivar obviously doubt that they are who they say they are -- the Tower in exile -- or they would not have had the courage to tell the Aes Sedai that they could go no further (TPoD, Ch. 19).

• Dyelin tells Elayne that her biggest worries at the moment are Aemlyn, Arathelle and Pelivar, who support Dyelin for the throne, and that Ellorien and/or Luan might join them (TPoD, Ch. 28).

• Elayne hopes that having the Borderland armies moving through Andor will force Arathelle, Luan and Pelivar to declare for her (WH, Ch. 27).

• Arathelle ranks above Pelivar, Aemlyn, Ellorien and Abelle, but below Luan (KoD, Ch. 35).

Quotes

"'We are here precisely because we do not want to become entangled in the White Tower's affairs.' Arathelle's voice held tones of authority, unsurprising in the High Seat of a powerful House. There was no hint of the diffidence that might have been expected, even from a powerful High Seat, facing so many sisters, not to mention the Amyrlin Seat. 'If all we've heard is true, then at best, allowing you to pass through Andor unhindered may seem like giving aid, or even alliance, in the eyes of the White Tower. Failure to oppose you might mean learning what the grape learns in the winepress.'" (Arathelle to Egwene and the Sitters; The Path of Daggers, Chapter 17)

"'As I was saying. That is the worst we fear, if the tales are true. And also if they are not. Aes Sedai may be gathering secretly in Andor, with Tower Guards. Aes Sedai with an army are ready to enter Andor. Often enough the White Tower has seemed to aim at one target, only for the rest of us to learn later it was aiming at another all along. I can hardly imagine even the White Tower going this far, but if ever there was a target you might twist yourselves into a knot for, it's the Black Tower.' Arathelle shivered slightly, and Egwene did not think it was the cold. 'A battle between Aes Sedai might ruin the land for miles around. That battle might ruin half of Andor.'" (Arathelle to Egwene and the Sitters; The Path of Daggers, Capter 17)