Elaida's White Tower

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[edit] Causes of Dissent

After the Dragon Reborn declared himself in Tear, word reached the White Tower and he was acknowledged in the Hall of the Tower. Nevertheless, schemes were already moving concerning the actions of the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche.

Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, a Sitter for the Red Ajah, had been conspiring with Alviarin (among others) about the suitability of Siuan as Amyrlin Seat and some of her questionable actions concerning a man who could channel, never mind the Dragon Reborn.

Once she had gauged her support adequate, Elaida convened a meeting of selected women in the Hall of the Tower. She argued forcefully and persuasively for deposing Siuan Sanche and for herself as Amyrlin. By unanimous vote, her arguments were legally carried through the Hall.

[edit] The Coup

The deposing of the formerly Blue Ajah Amyrlin was only the beginning, however. While Elaida did adhere to the law, some saw it as an underhand manoeuvre and refused to support Elaida as Amyrlin. The motivations for this were both political and personal. Some members of the Blue Ajah (and perhaps others) attempted to free Siuan by force, which lead to the outbreak of violence.

Several sisters were killed, as per Min's viewing at the start of The Shadow Rising, and even more Warders. Elaida's side had been bolstered significantly by the presence of mercenary soldiers that she brought in secretly using the Brown Ajah sister, Danelle. Gawyn Trakand, possibly due to his loyalty to Elaida alone, and the Younglings also took part in the fighting against other Warders. It was a bloody start to Elaida's term of office that would taint her position and give many a reason to hate her.

[edit] Disasters of the White Tower

The White Tower under Elaida has made a series of mistakes, for a number of reasons. A list of some of the mistakes/disasters are listed below:

Battle of Dumai's Wells
Attack on the Black Tower
Proclamation that no one can contact the Dragon Reborn save through the White Tower.
Banning the Blue Ajah
Creating strife between the Ajahs
Punishing Sitters with manual labour
Trying to force sisters to make the names of the Ajah Heads known to the Amyrlin
Creating her own personal palace
Isolating herself at the top of the Tower

[edit] Fain's Influence

One thing that should not be forgotten is the influence Padan Fain may or may not have had on Elaida's attitude and style of governance. In Fain's words:

Unlikely Niall would have ever supported al'Thor any more than Elaida would have, but it was best not to take too much for granted with Rand bloody al'Thor. Well, he had brushed them both with what he carried from Aridhol; they might possibly trust their own mothers, but never al'Thor now. -LOC, Chapter 28

His other main victim is Pedron Niall, who certainly had hatched his own plots for world domination. Elaida's outlook was certainly more paranoid shortly after she became Amyrlin and her actions before never seemed to be outright evil, dislikable though she may be.

[edit] Alviarin's Blackmail

Alviarin Freidhen was initially Elaida's Keeper of the Chronicles, but she was also Black Ajah and used her position to advance the aims of the Shadow while Elaida remained oblivious. The Black knew every order before Elaida made it. Alviarin also kept back vital information from Elaida and used knowledge of the Ajah Heads to spread chaos and disunity in the Tower. It is also said that Alviarin had more influence than any Keeper had in history, not least with the Hall of the Tower - non-Black sisters as well as Black ones.

Later on, however, Alviarin used the knowledge of the disasters at Dumai's Wells and the Black Tower to blackmail Elaida into signing anything that she proposed Elaida sign and even had Elaida recite a catechism that Elaida should only speak and act as Alviarin decided. This hold proved to be only temporary, however, as Elaida had the Hall remove Alviarin from her position as Keeper and replace her with Tarna Feir after the Hall learned of Dumai's Wells and blamed Galina Casban for the disaster.

To a lesser extent, Elaida was also heavily influenced by Galina, the Highest of the Red Ajah at the time of the coup and another highly ranking Black sister.

[edit] Elaida's Competence

Elaida's competence in general has been brought into question because of her disastrous term in office and the circumstances under which she became Amyrlin. She is forceful and bossy, though it has been noted that other Amyrlins have been worse and still remained successful. Nevertheless, aside from the influences of Fain and the Shadow, Elaida was the one in charge and let things slide. Her stubborness is not something that is useful in times where change is being thrust upon the aging institutions of the Westlands. She also let her own pride trap her into succumbing to Alviarin's blackmail and did as Alviarin bid her, knowing the disruption that it would cause. This has to be Elaida's greatest failing.