First Sister Bond

General

The first sister bond is a bond amongst the Aiel, somewhat akin to the Warder bond, that links two women, or occasionally two men by use of the One Power. It is a highly ceremonial affair, in which each participant is asked a series of questions about the other, before being told to strike them. Doing so they then have toh according to Aiel values and are forever in each other's debt. Once the ceremony is complete, the weave is performed. Often, the ceremony is not finished, the participants not liking what they hear. This is especially true of men (WH, Prologue).

The questions, are:

1) What is the best you know of the other woman.

They answer, but the other is then told how little value this truly has

2) They are then asked what they find worst in each other.

They are then told how they themselves share something of that trait

3) They are asked of the most childish thing in the other woman.

4) Finally, they are asked what is their greatest jealousy of the other woman.

Quotes

"The Maidens do not dance the spears with one another even when our clans do, but the Shaarad Aiel and the Goshien Aiel have held blood feud between them over four hundred years, so Chiad and I felt our wedding pledge was not enough. We went to speak the words before the Wise Ones of our clans - she risking her life in my hold, and I in hers - to bond us as first-sisters. As is proper for first-sisters who are Maidens, we guard each other’s backs, and neither will let a man come to her without the other. I would not say we do not care for men.” (Bain, TSR, Ch. 38)

You will know anger at one another again, you will speak harsh words, but you will always remember that you have already struck her. And for no better reason than you were told to. Let those blows pass for all you might wish to give. You have toh toward one another, toh you cannot repay and will not try to, for every woman is always in her first-sister’s debt. You will be born again.” (Monaelle, to Aviendha and Elayne, Winter's Heart, Prologue).

There was something more to her, now. Now like the Warder bond, but like it in a way. Fainter, but more magnificent (Winter's Heart, Prologue).