Nynaeve al'Meara

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Authors: Faylinn Luin and MacKiya al'Mora

Books 1 -5

General Information

Nynaeve was born in the year 974 NE, is eight years older than Egwene (TDR, Ch. 51; LoC, Ch. 48), and four years older than Rand, Mat and Perrin. As an only child, her father raised her as if she was the son he never had. Before he died, her father taught her to track as well as anyone but Tam al'Thor (TEotW, Ch. 16).

By the age of fourteen, Nynaeve was orphaned and taken under the wing of Mistress Doral Barran, the Emond's Field Wisdom at the time (TEotW, Ch. 20). She taught her all her skills, and when she died Nynaeve became the Wisdom (TEotW, Ch. 1), possibly the youngest known. Nynaeve had served as the Wisdom of Emond's Field five years prior to her departure (TDR, Ch. 28), and despite being so young for such a position (TEotW, Ch. 3), no villager was foolish enough to mention her age when arguing with her.

Nynaeve is slender with deep brown eyes, wears her long dark hair in a braid, and is barely taller than Mat's shoulder (TEotW, Ch. 3). With a short temper and sharp tongue, Nynaeve regularly gives over to fits of rage and verbal abuse and never hesitates to thwap anyone she believes has over-stepped themselves. Despite how temperamental she may be, however, Nynaeve's spirit and strong sense of duty aid her to do what she believes must be done and never allows herself room for failure.

After discovering she was what an Aes Sedai would describe as a wilder (TEotW, Ch. 21), she decided to go to Tar Valon with Egwene to train in the White Tower to learn enough of the One Power to use against Moiraine for the injustices she believed the Aes Sedai caused (TGH, Ch. 8). Once she arrived at Tar Valon, Nynaeve was tested and immediately made Accepted despite her block that prevented her from channeling unless she was angry (TGH, Ch. 28).

Nynaeve has shown herself to be nearly fearless in the face of any opponent despite how often she likes to think of herself as a coward. She will soon prove just how powerful an Aes Sedai Moiraine predicted her to be in the time to come (TEotW, Ch. 21).

Timeline

  • 974 NE-Nynaeve is born as the only child in a farm at or near Emond's Field (LoC, Ch. 48). It is not known who her parents were, just that they were farmers (TSR, Ch. 46). Her mother's name was Elnore (TGH, Ch. 23) who died early in Nynaeve's life and was raised by her father who's name is unknown.
  • 988 NE-Nynaeve is apprenticed under Doral Barran, Emond's Field's Wisdom, shortly after the death of her father (TEotW, Ch. 21).
  • 990 NE-Nynaeve channels for the first time when attempting to heal Egwene of breakbone fever. She suffers a reaction from touching the True Source a week or ten days later (TEotW, Ch. 21).
  • 993 NE-Nynaeve succeeds Mistress Barran after her death and becomes Wisdom of Emond's Field (TDR, Ch. 28).
  • 998 NE- Nynaeve is raised Accepted, having taken and passed the test upon her arrival at the White Tower. (TGH, Ch. 23)

Strengths and Talents

When learning unknowingly to channel, Nynaeve learned to tell the weather, confirming the popular assumption that all Wisdoms can predict the weather (TEotW, Ch. 1).

Moiraine deduced that Nynaeve had great potential to possibly become one of the most powerful Aes Sedai they had seen in centuries (TEotW, Ch. 21).

Moiraine tells Siuan that Nynaeve is stronger than Elayne (TGH, Ch. 4).

Becoming very strong in the One Power, Nynaeve is as strong as Moghedien and not yet at full strength (TSR, Ch. 54).

Nynaeve uses a much more complex form of Healing than current day Aes Sedai. It is more akin to the Healing used in the Age of Legends (TDR, Ch. 38).

Relationships With Other Characters

When they are thirteen, Rand and Mat steal a jug of apple brandy and Nynaeve switches them for it. (TSR, Ch. 7)

Nynaeve had tracked Moiraine Damodred to Baerlon when the Aes Sedai left Emond's Field with Rand al'Thor and several other young villagers with the firm intention of bringing them back (TEotW, Ch. 16).

Despite her obvious animosity toward Moiraine and being very protective of her fellow villagers, Nynaeve may have had another predetermining factor in her decision to accompany the small group. Though she wouldn't admit to herself until many weeks later, Nynaeve fell head over heals for Lan, Moiraine's Warder, and even confronted him about her feelings (TEotW, Ch. 48). Perhaps it was because of this that spurred Nynaeve's hatred of Moiraine, the woman bonded to the man she loved. Whatever the cause, Nynaeve leaves for Tar Valon to learn enough of the One Power to use against Moiraine for the injustices she believes the Aes Sedai caused (TGH, Ch. 8).

Egwene and Elayne both cry on Nynaeve's lap after their Accepted tests and Nynaeve promises to make the Aes Sedai pay. (TDR, Ch. 23)

Nynaeve caught Juilin and Thom off guard by thanking them for rescuing her and Elayne from Ronde Macura, an agent of the Yellow Ajah who was given orders to capture Elayne and send her back to Tar Valon (TFoH, Ch. 10)

Nynaeve soon found herself the target of Thom's knives and Luca's love, and yearned to hire the first boat they could find to get away from the menagerie (TFoH, Ch. 33).

In an unexpected encounter in Tel'aran'rhiod, Nynaeve managed to capture Moghedien using an a'dam, and while dragging her around Nynaeve helped Rand kill Rahvin by scorching him unexpectedly (TFoH, Ch. 54 and TFoH, Ch. 55).

Quotes

"Don't be a woolhead!" (Throughout the series)

-sniff- (Throughout the series)

"I'll thump him so he never forgets" (The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 3).

"The best of men are not much better than housebroken. But then, the best of them are worth the trouble of housebreaking" (The Great Hunt, Chapter 8).

"If you are finished chatting about men," Nynaeve said acidly, "perhaps we can go back to what is important?" (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 6)

"I'm fairly certain three big, hairy men can protect Elayne and me if she pulls a Seanchan army out of her pouch."(The Shadow Rising, Chapter 51)

"If you have finished blathering about men, perhaps you won't mind skipping over the new seamstress you've no doubt found." (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 52)

"What right did that green-eyed cat have to look at Lan's shoulders?" (The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 14)

Miscellaneous Information

Books 6 - 10

Lord of Chaos

While in Tel'aran'rhiod, Nynaeve manages to capture the Forsaken, Moghedien using an a'dam. She hides her prisoner's true identity from most of the Aes Sedai, calling her Marigan. The only ones that know Marigan's true identity are Elayne, Siuan, Leane, Birgitte, and Nynaeve. Elayne and Nynaeve question Marigan about the Age of Legends and have to pry information from her. However, they do puzzle out from the information that she does give various feats, such as how to make ter'angreal, how to disguise yourself (inverted weaves) and how to hide your ability to channel.

Once learning that Nynaeve and Elayne know how to travel into Tel'aran'rhiod, several Aes Sedai of Salidar insist on entering too, requiring lessons from Nynaeve and Elayne. (This leads to some chaotic events while in the World of Dreams.)

Theodrin, a young Accepted-turned-Aes Sedai by Egwene, tried to remove the "block" from Nynaeve, but without success.

Elayne and Nynaeve go into Tel'aran'rhiod to find something to help Rand and the perhaps rid the world of the scorching weather that the Dark One has caused. They both concentrate on "need" and the World of Dreams reveals a small, storage room in Ebou Dar where lies a special ter'angreal. (A shallow bowl of thick crystal with swirling clouds inside.) Elayne believes that angreal and sa'angreal were also inside that room.

Nynaeve accidentally heals Logain using air, water, fire, spirit, and earth. (Ch. 29) She also heals Siuan and Leane, although they are much weaker in the One Power that they formally had. (Ch. 30)

Once finding out about the ter'angreal that Elayne and Nynaeve saw in the World of Dreams, Egwene (Amyrlin) spends them and Juilin, Thom, Birgitte, Aviendha, Mat and the Band of the Red Hand to find it in Ebou Dar.

Aran'gar (a mysterious forsaken) frees Moghedien after the Dumai's Wells incident. (Ch. 55)

A Crown of Swords

Once Lan finds Myrelle, his new Aes Sedai bond-holder, Egwene tells him that Nynaeve is in Ebou Dar as a guest of Queen Tylin at the Tarasin Palace, and that she may deny she's in danger. Egwene creates a gateway near the city for Lan to find her. (Ch. 12)

Nynaeve and crew take a boat to Ebou Dar and encounters the Atha'an Miere, who are eagar to bargain with their prophesied "Coramoor" (Rand). Elayne tells them about the bowl that they are searching for, and the Atha'an Miere call it "the Bowl of the Winds." They insist on being apart of using the Bowl. (Ch. 13)

Once in Ebou Dar, Nynaeve and Elayne stumble upon another secret- the Kin (or the Knitting Circle). They are a group of women who were either runaways from the Tower, novices or Accepted that were not strong enough to be Aes Sedai, or wilders, that formed a society to keep them safe. The Kin join Nynaeve and friends. (Ch. 23)

Moghedien launches balefire at a boat Nynaeve is in, splits boat in two. As the boat is sinking, she completely surrenders herself and the block she had on the One Power is destroyed. Miraculously, Lan pulls her from the water and saves her life. (Ch. 31)

The Mistress of Ships (Atha'an Miere) marries Lan and Nynaeve. (Ch. 37)

They find the Bowl in the Rahad in Ebou Dar. Mat fights a dangerous Shadowspawn called a "gholam" that was hiding in the room and it escapes. Elayne finds the Bowl and also takes objects from the room that are believed to be ter'angreal and angreal. Nynaeve captures a Black Ajah sister, Ispan. Adeleas and Vandene started to interrogate her. (Ch. 38)

The Path of Daggers

Nynaeve leads the group that worked the Bowl. Linked with Elayne, Aviendha, and several Atha'an Miere women, they use the Bowl to correct the weather to what it should be- winter. The Seanchan attack after they use the Bowl. (Ch. 5)

Nynaeve heals Birgitte's crossbow would she got while fighting the Seanchan. (Ch. 20)

The party journeys to Caemlyn so that Elayne can begin her claim to the Lion Throne. (Ch. 20)

Ispan is found dead with a stake driven through her heart together with Adeleas who had her throat cut. They are poisoned with Crimsonthorn root in their tea. Vandene, Adeleas's twin sister, vows to find the killer. (Ch. 28)

Winter's Heart

Mazrim Taim shows up at Palace and presents Elayne with a "gift" from Rand -- twenty-nine Seanchan sul'dam and five damane. Nynaeve orders them to remove the a'dam and for them to be guarded at all times. (Prologue)

According to the Bargain that Nynaeve and Elayne made with the Sea Folk, Aes Sedai will teach them a few hours a day about using the One Power. (Incidentally, Nynaeve ends up teaching most of the classes.)

There is an assassination attempt on Elayne's life, which Dyelin tries to defend her. Doilin Mellar "saves" her. Nynaeve Heals Dyelin and gives Elayne herbs. (Ch. 9; Ch. 10)

Rand disguises himself using the One Power and comes to ask Nynaeve's help. He tells her he has a plan to cleanse saidin by linking with her. They must wield HUGE amount of saidin and saidar while using ter'angreal to tap the sa'angreal buried in Tremalking. Nynaeve insists on being apart of this dangerous feat, even though Lan opposes. (Ch. 11; Ch. 32)

They travel to Shadar Logoth and eventually cleanse saidin. (Ch. 35)

Crossroads of Twilight

  • There is no relevant reference to Nynaeve in Crossroads to Twilight

Miscellaneous Information

  • Nynaeve wears Lan's signet ring on a leather cord around her neck.
  • She snores. "Nynaeve's snoring sounded like cloth ripping, but in the distance" (LoC, Ch. 7)
  • When she grips her braid, it's an indication of her temper working.
  • Rand trusts Nynaeve. (WH, Ch. 35)- includes her in the powerful mission to clean saidin.)
  • Nynaeve is twenty-six years old. She has a habit of flourishing every naming day since most of the women's circle in Emond's Field felt that she was too young to be Wisdom. (Throughout the series.)
  • Nynaeve hates boats and often gets "motion" sickness on them.
  • Nynaeve likes out-spoken men.
  • She wears three rings on her right hand, one with a pale green stone, which according to Cadsuane, can detect someone channeling saidin or saidar up to three miles away. (WH, Ch. 35) She also wears a slim jeweled belt around her waist called a "well" that holds an immense amount of saidar.

Knife of Dreams

  • Nynaeve makes Lan promise to ride to Fal Moran before the Blight and to let any who wish ride with him, before dropping him off at World's End (KoD, Ch. 19).

Quotes

Anaiya Sedai to Nynaeve after yet another little rant: "Child, you have been doing very good work, but that doesn't excuse a peevish mouth" (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 7).

Nynaeve's view of what Rand needs: "What he needs is what he always needed. Somebody to box his ears once a week on general principles and keep him on the straight and narrow" (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 8).

Lan about Nynaeve's stubborness: "Might deny she's in danger. Stubborn, as if I didn't know already" (A Crown of Swords, Chapter 12).

"The light burn you!" (various places throughout the series)

Egwene to Nynaeve: "You have to remember you're Aes Sedai now. You can't go around kicking people, or boxing their ears, or thumping them with sticks" (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 39).

Nynaeve's feelings on giving the Sea Folk women lessons: "And those cursed Sea Folk! Wretched women! Wretched; wretched; wretched! If it wasn't for that bloody bargain...! The last thing I need on my hands is a couple of whining, bleating novices!" (Winter's Heart, Chapter 8)