Gaidal Cain
From A Wheel of Time Wiki
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Gaidal Cain is one of the Heroes of the Horn who is re-spun into the pattern periodically by the Wheel, or appears when summoned by Horn of Valere.
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[edit] Background
Gaidal Cain, being bound to the Wheel of Time, is periodically spun back into the pattern. His incarnations take various forms, all of which share common themes. Most notably, he fights with two swords, and stories of him also include Birgitte Silverbow, his fated lover. Though not always the case, many of his incarnations become stories and legends told by later generations. Between incarnations, he resides in Tel'aran'rhiod with Birgitte, and presumably with other Heroes of The Horn. His appearances are usually limited to appearing out of sight of, or behind, visitors to the dream world, in order to reprimand Birgitte for disobeying the precepts that forbid meddling in the physical world.
[edit] Appearance
Most information on Gaidal's appearance comes from experiences in Tel'aran'rhiod, and it is unknown how closely that form matches his incarnation in the physical world. Some tales called him beautiful, at times as beautiful as Birgitte. In contrast, more recent witnesses described Gaidal as an ugly, "lump-faced" man, being surprisingly short of height. In both legend and Tel'aran'rhiod, he is seen carrying two swords. He has a swarthy build.
[edit] Birgitte Silverbow
Gaidal is romantically linked with Birgitte Silverbow when he is spun out by the wheel. At first meeting, the two usually do not get along well, with emotions ranging from dislike to hatred. Over time, they invariably become attracted to each other, often falling in love.
Outside of legend, in Tel'aran'rhiod , Gaidal and Birgitte are also romantically involved, though the details of the relationship are not clear.
[edit] Horn Summoning
Gaidal Cain was summoned by Matrim Cauthon after Mat blew the Horn of Valere. He was summoned from the grave along with the other Heroes of the Horn to repel the invading Seanchan out of Falme.
[edit] Theories on Current Whereabouts
In The Fires of Heaven, Birgitte tells Nynaeve that Gaidal Cain has been missing from Tel'aran'rhiod for some time, and claims that he has been spun back into the world. In response, several fan theories have attempted to determine the current identity of Gaidal Cain. A few of the more famous ones are as follows:
- Gaidal will be the as-yet-unborn child of Elayne Trakand and Rand al'Thor.
- Mat's ten-year-old orphan ward, the famously ugly but curiously charming Olver, is Gaidal.
- Robert Jordan stated that Olver is not Gaidal Cain.
- Gaidal Cain simply hasn't appeared yet.
- He won't appear.
- Or, if he does appear, he will be a youth or infant, and also somewhat irrelevant.
