Siuan Sanche (pronounced: SWAHN SAHN-chay) was an Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. She was born in Tear, and grew up a fisherwoman. She was formerly the Amyrlin Seat, but was deposed in a coup d'etat led by Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan, stilled, and imprisoned.[1] Her first Warder, Alric, was murdered during the White Tower coup.[1] She later was healed from stilling, regained her status (albeit as a low ranking sister) and bonded Gareth Bryne, former Captain-General of the Queen's Guards of Andor, former lover of Queen Morgase and one of the Five Great Captains, whom she also agreed to marry after the Last Battle[2]. Unfortunately, neither of them survived to marry. Her original strength in the power was 13(1), but after being stilled and healed it was reduced to 35(23).
She has been known to use the aliases "Suki" and "Mara".[3]
Appearance
She was nearly a hand taller than Moiraine Damodred[4] and was pretty, if not quite beautiful, with blue eyes and a delicate mouth.[5] She was fair-skinned with dark glossy hair to her shoulders. After being stilled, and then Healed by Nynaeve al'Meara, she had lost about twenty years from her appearance[6].
Abilities
Once Siuan was considered a very strong sister in the One Power by Aes Sedai standard, at the same level as Romanda, Lelaine and Elaida, so she was a very high ranking Aes Sedai, among the most influential sisters in the last twenty years; but after being stilled, and then Healed by Nynaeve al'Meara, she lost around 2/3 of her strength[6], becoming a low ranking Aes Sedai.
Siuan possessed the Talent of healing, a talent that remained in full even after she lost 2/3 of her strength when healed from the stilling. Like Chesmal Emry, Siuan also knew how to use the healing weave to kill directly, by using saidar to stop the heart[7].
She had the Talent of seeing ta'veren . [8]
Siuan Sanche as a sister of the Blue Ajah
History
Before she was the Amyrlin Seat, Siuan was also a very mischievous girl who had a fondness for pranks. Siuan was born in Tear of humble origin as the daughter of a fisherman, with at least eight uncles and one older sister, but was later orphaned. She was born with the spark, and was sent to Tar Valon the same day her ability was discovered. During her early years as a novice, Siuan was found to have an earthy way of speaking, to the point of almost being vulgar. The Aes Sedai worked to instil a modicum of decency. She could not read or write when she came to Tar Valon, but after much study and learning, she was able to teach novice classes on the Old Tongue. Siuan was raised to Accepted after three years as a novice. She was present at Gitara Moroso's Foretelling.[9] She was raised at the exact same time as her pillow-friend Moiraine Damodred.[10] Once she was raised, it was revealed that she had a mind for puzzles and was put in charge of the Blue Ajah's eyes-and-ears, after spending some years as the assistant of the former sister of this position, Cetalia Delarme.[11]
Activities
The Dragon Reborn
At the end of the Aiel War, in the midst of the Battle of the Shining Walls, Siuan and Moiraine were present during a Foretelling, spoken by the Keeper of the Chronicles, Gitara Moroso, forewarning the imminent birth of the Dragon Reborn.[9] As the Amyrlin Seat, Tamra Ospenya gathered certain sisters to search for the child. She and her searchers were murdered by the Black Ajah,[12] leaving only Siuan and Moiraine to continue their charge. The duo agreed to work in secret and separately, with Moiraine going out in the world while Siuan managed affairs within the White Tower.
The Amyrlin Seat
In 988 NE, when the Amyrlin Marith Jaen died after just four years of service, the Hall of the Tower decided to break the long tradition of twenty to thirty year reigns and seek a long period of stability. The Hall thought the deaths of three Amyrlins to have been from natural causes, even if some Sitters might have suspected otherwise. The Hall was deadlocked between four sisters who had worn the shawl for less than fifty years as the next Amyrlin. Seaine Herimon suggested Siuan be raised, noting the deaths of three consecutive Amyrlins after just a few years of service, as well as Siuan's qualifications in administration.[13] The Hall agreed, despite knowing this might give Siuan a two hundred and more year long reign, unless deposed or murdered. At the age of thirty, after wearing the shawl for just ten years, Siuan Sanche was raised to the Amyrlin Seat, becoming the youngest Amyrlin ever at the time.[14]
During a dispute over Murandian raids into the Andoran border, Gareth Bryne was severely upbraided by Siuan when she was the Amyrlin Seat. Years later she explained why Bryne was not allowed to interfere: the White Tower had identified a young Murandy border lord named Dulain who could one day unify all of Murandy. She didn't want Bryne's soldiers to kill him.[15] Unfortunately the young lord was killed a month later by an Andoran farmer during a sheep raid.
Meeting the Dragon Reborn
Siuan with Gareth by Ariel Burgess, Official Wheel of Time Artist
In 998 Siuan traveled to Fal Dara with an escort of no less than fourteen Aes Sedai, including Anaiya, Liandrin, Carlinya, Alanna Mosvani, and Verin Mathwin, and a fair amount of Warders.[16] During her visit she had meetings with Moiraine to discuss their search for the Dragon Reborn. She met all three ta'veren and discussed Rand with Moiraine and Verin, whom they briefly considered killing due to her deducing one of the boys was the Dragon Reborn. Siuan and Moiraine decided to trust Verin and fill her in on the situation. They decided to guide Rand to fulfill his destiny.[17] She sent all three on the quest to retrieve the Horn of Valere. Just before she left she talked to Rand. During this conversation an arrow was shot at them.[18] It was unclear at the moment who the intended target was or who the shooter was. Ingtar Shinowa later admitted to Rand, just before sacrificing himself, that he let a Gray Man into Fal Dara:
—Ingtar Shinowa
Back at the Tower
After her trip to Fal Dara, Siuan returned to the White Tower. Here she continued to orchestrate her plans to control the Dragon Reborn.[20] She received messages from Moiriane from Tear that Rand had exposed himself as the Dragon Reborn by pulling Callandor from the Heart of the Stone. After this she received no more messages which irritated her. She kept all her important documents in a small chest and used a very faint ward on it that burned the contents if anyone but her touched the chest.[21]
After Liandrin and twelve other sisters of the Black Ajah leave the tower, Siuan decides to set Egwene and Nynaeve on their trail. She decides they are among the few she can trust. Although Elayne isn't specifically included, she expects Elayne to be included, but she will be able to deny knowledge of that.[22] The result is the three girls head to Tear to stop a trap meant for Rand.
She led the Circle that Healed Mat, using a Sa'angreal to augment their combined power.[23]
At the same time she hid Min from the world as Elmindreda at the Tower. She had Leane disguise her as a noblewoman on the run from a forced marriage.[24] She also wanted Min to keep Gawyn and Galad at bay and had her befriend Logain, the gentled false Dragon who was being kept at the Tower.
Deposed
Elaida had been Siuan Sanche and Moiraine's rival since they were Accepted. Once Elaida learned that Siuan had kept knowledge of the Dragon Reborn secret, Elaida decided that she must be the one to lead and control him or he would destroy the world. Using some clever politics she had Siuan legally deposed and stilled, killing her Warder Alric in the process, taking the law to its extreme.[1] Laras, Mistress of the Kitchens in the White Tower, helped Siuan, Min Farshaw, and her former Keeper, Leane Sharif, escape out of the cells. Siuan only made it out of Tar Valon by lying (an ability gained by being stilled) about the whereabouts of Elayne Trakand and Egwene al'Vere to Gawyn Trakand, who let them pass through the gates. As they left the city, they found Logain Ablar, who joined them after Siuan offered him revenge against the Red Ajah.[1]
Siuan used revenge to fill the void that was created by the loss of saidar. She searched for where all the other Aes Sedai fled to when she was stilled, along with Min, Logain, and Leane. While in the remote village of Kore Springs in Andor, she was captured by one of the villagers for damage to property. It is here that she encountered Gareth Bryne, the local Lord, who did not recognize her. He paid for the damage in exchange for the three women (Logain has escaped beforehand) to work on Bryne's property.[25] They swore one of the most binding oaths but Siuan did not specify when she would fulfill it, showing that she still tried to hold to the Three Oaths. Logain rescued the ladies later on and they escaped to carry on with their search. After coming across an agent for the Blue Ajah eyes-and-ears, the agent revealed that the rebel Aes Sedai were meeting in a location called Sallie Daera, which is code name for Salidar.[26] The group arrived there and met with the Salidar Six. Siuan manipulated them into forming the "real Hall of the Tower" and to consider a new Amyrlin who would be young enough to be "guided" by the rest of the Aes Sedai. Siuan also fell back into her old role as the head of the Blue Ajah eyes-and-ears. Gareth arrived and Siuan was forced to honor her oath and become his servant. She seemed to hate him and always acted aggressively when talking about him or to him. This was a cover for the fact that she actually loved him, even if she didn't realize it yet.
She also pretended that she and Leane hated each other and didn't talk anymore, in an attempt to guide and manipulate the Sitters.
Siuan Sanche painting by Todd Cameron Hamilton
Joining Salidar
Upon the arrival of Nynaeve al'Meara and Elayne Trakand to Salidar, she started being trained in the World of Dreams. When she wore the bracelet that was linked to Moghedien's neck, she was able to use the One Power, proving that stilling might not be permanent.
Nynaeve al'Meara studied Siuan, Leane and Logain until she learned how to Heal stilling, but while she was able to completely Heal Logain, it only partially worked on Siuan and Leane, leaving their strength with the One Power severely reduced. Siuan rejoined the Blue Ajah, although she had relatively low standing among Aes Sedai, and had to defer to those whom she once ruled. Her strength with the One Power was reduced to roughly a third of her former capacity. Although her pride was injured, she realized its usefulness as other Aes Sedai overlooked her and forgot her substantial political abilities. The Warder bond that broke when Alric died also returned after her healing, and Siuan went through a delayed grieving process. With Egwene's help, Siuan gave tea to the Aes Sedai holding Logain's shield, rendering them unconscious and allowing him to escape. While in Salidar, Siuan ran the eyes-and-ears network for Egwene al'Vere, the Amyrlin Seat of the rebel Aes Sedai, and was teaching Egwene about being Amyrlin.
Serving Egwene
She was also devoted to serving Egwene and led her to where Myrelle Berengari and Nisao Dachen had been hiding Lan Mandragoran. The two Sisters swore an oath of fealty to Egwene and Egwene told them to obey Siuan as they would her. Siuan's estimation of Egwene had grown significantly since this and she even mentioned Egwene being a very dangerous woman.
Egwene finally uncovered the fact that Siuan was in love with Gareth Bryne. Siuan was mortified and wanted to keep the fact quiet. She traveled with Egwene to meet with various nobles along the border of Andor and Murandy and helped Egwene develop the plan that would eventually force all the Sitters in the Hall to respect and treat Egwene as a proper Amyrlin rather than just a figurehead. She also mentored Egwene on how to be a proper Amrylin, and grew to respect her. She began to work on her theory of the Too Young Sitters conspiracy bringing it foward for Egwene to dwell on.
When Egwene decided to take over from Bodewhin Cauthon in the plan to turn the harbor chains into cuendillar, Siuan was told by Egwene to keep quiet about it.
After being captured by Elaida's White Tower Aes Sedai, Egwene sought Siuan out in her dreams and told Siuan she was fine and not to come and rescue her. Siuan delivered this news to Egwene's other advisers. Lelaine then approached Siuan and told her in no uncertain terms that she was to support Lelaine for Amyrlin if Egwene did die. Siuan's experience as Amyrlin shows Lelaine that the old Amyrlin's support is important and her advice would benefit Lelaine in the Seat. Also, Siuan's role in advising Egwene is known among the Rebel Aes Sedai.
To rescue the Amyrlin
Siuan became one of Lelaine's attendants, all the while manipulating her so that Lelaine remained at odds with Romanda. Siuan continued to meet with Egwene in Tel'aran'rhiod, where she gave her the news of Halima actually being one of the Forsaken and Lelaine's reach for power while pretending to be acting in Egwene's name. She overheard Ashmanaille reporting about Elaida a'Roihan's White Tower now being able to Travel. She then sent a message to Bryne to warn him about this news.
Gareth Bryne & Suian Sanche
She was part of the group who questioned Shemerin about how she escaped the White Tower. She continued to meet with Egwene in Tel'aran'rhiod and pleaded with her to let her be rescued but to no avail. Egwene again met her in Tel'aran'rhiod and told her that both Sheriam and Moria Karentanis were Black Ajah and that they should be watched. Before Egwene could say more she suddenly disappeared from Tel'aran'rhiod. Siuan woke to find the Seanchan attacking the White Tower. She gathered Bryne and Gawyn and used the attack as an excuse to enter the White Tower to rescue Egwene. Before going Bryne agreed only to accompany Siuan if she bonded him as her Warder, which she did. After bonding, they both finally realized how much the other loved them. The group entered through the way Shemerin escaped.
During the Battle of Tar Valon, Gareth Bryne, by then Siuan's Warder, was able to prevent a Seanchan Bloodknife from killing her. The assassin stabbed Gareth with a poison needle that he did not notice, but Siuan did. She Healed him, saving his life. Siuan took this mutual lifesaving to be fulfilment of Min's viewing about them.[2]
The group found an exhausted Egwene and took her back to their camp, in fact using Vora sa'angreal Siuan is able to open a suitable gateway for all of them. But the next morning Egwene is furious with Siuan because she did not obey her order to not rescue her. So her plans to gain the Tower are gone. Nevertheless Egwene start the purge of the Black Ajah in the rebel camp and immediately after she decided to take advantage of the White Tower vulnerability after the Seanchan Raid.
Siuan was beside Egwene just as she was about to give Bryne and his army the signal to attack the White Tower when Andaya Forae arrived and asked Egwene to become the new Amyrlin Seat. Siuan advised her to be cautious as it may have been a trap but Egwene ignored her and accepted the position. Once everyone was inside the White Tower Egwene told Siuan to get all the rebel Aes Sedai to line up in ranks in front of the Sunset Gate in order to give an apology to the new Amyrlin Seat.
Back within the Tower
She was with Saerin Asnobar, who she had come to like, when Jimar Chubain informed them that Rand had entered the White Tower. Rand greeted Siuan before entering the Hall and thanked her for taking the arrow for him all those months ago in Fal Dara. He also asked her to help him with Egwene after he met with her. She walked in on Gawyn seeking advice from Bryne on his situation with Egwene. Bryne gave him a very ambiguous answer. She met with Egwene and Nynaeve about how they would lure Mesaana out of hiding. They agreed on bringing some Windfinders and Wise Ones into Tel'aran'rhiod in the hope that some of Mesaana's lackeys would pass the information on.
She was standing guard when the Black Ajah attacked in Tel'aran'rhiod and teamed up with Leane in the Battle in Tel'aran'rhiod.
The Last Battle
Min saw the viewing that Siuan and Bryne had to stay close to each other or both would die. Siuan assumed that she and Gareth survived the vision during the rescue of Egwene. In Mat's command center, the Sharans launched a surprise assault. Siuan saved Min's life by stopping the heart of a Sharan who tried to kill her. Rather than be thankful, Min berated Siuan for not following her instructions.[7] Siuan claims that she has a greater purpose, to make sure Mat does not fall in battle.
"I did stay near him, almost near as his own smallclothes, I'll have you know. We saved one another's lives because of it, so I guess the viewing was right. Are they ever wrong?"
"No. I told you that. Never. Siuan... I saw an aura around Bryne that meant you had to stay together, or the two of you would die. It hangs above you, right now. Whatever you think you did, the viewing has not been accomplished yet. It's still there."
Siuan and Min entered the burning command post to see Mat battling with a group of Gray Men trying to assassinate him and Tuon. Min killed the final Gray Man, and turned to find Siuan dead, her clothing burned from an explosion of fire that had taken her life and part of the command post[7].
Personal quotes
- "Some people just aren't worth a tear."[27]
- "It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission." [27]
- "There are times when rules can be broken." [27]
Viewings
- Min saw her lying on the floor wearing nothing, and something odd about her at the same time (fulfilled - she was stilled and demoted and thrown into the cells of the White Tower naked.[28])
- That she must also always be near Gareth otherwise one, or both may die (fulfilled[2])
Siuan from the CCG
Behind the scenes
Despite being described as having dark hair, and indeed being depicted that way in almost every source which had a visual accompaniment, Siuan was seen to have blonde hair in The Wheel of Time Collectible Card Game. This is presumably an error made by the artist, Jim Houston.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Shadow Rising, Chapter 47
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Gathering Storm, Chapter 41
- ↑ New Spring, Chapter 24
- ↑ New Spring, Chapter 1
- ↑ Crossroads of Twilight, Chapter 18
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lord of Chaos, Chapter 30
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 A Memory of Light, Chapter 37
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 5
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New Spring, Chapter 2
- ↑ New Spring, Chapter 11
- ↑ New Spring, Chapter 12
- ↑ New Spring, Chapter 18
- ↑ A Crown of Swords, Chapter 8
- ↑ Lord of Chaos, Chapter 35
- ↑ The Gathering Storm, Chapter 8
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 1
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 8
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 9
- ↑ The Great Hunt, Chapter 47
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 12
- ↑ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 17
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 14
- ↑ The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 18
- ↑ The Shadow Rising, Chapter 1
- ↑ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 1
- ↑ The Fires of Heaven, Chapter 11
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 New Spring, Chapter 6
- ↑ This is the vision of her when she is deposed as Amyrlin and then stilled (which alters her appearance) and taken as a prisoner