Rand/Sulin brother/sister?

[GrandpaG]

I think she was probably thinking about him the way some of the maidens do...some think he's a brother, some think he's a son.  She can't actually be his sister.

 

When she puts the cadinsor back on after Rand has been kidnapped, she says "the Aes Sedai have taken my first-brother" and the glossary says that a first-sister/first brother has the same mother and that that is more important than having the same dad.  At first, I thought well maybe Sulin's dad was also Rand's dad.

 

Now I don't know for sure.  Not important.  Just perplexing.  Every time I re-read, I stumble onto new stuff to perplex me.  ::)

[Kaznen]

If Rand was born in the waste he wouldhave been a member of the Tardaad clan, I believe Sulin is Goshien, but certainlly not Tardaad.

[mb]

Sulin's tribe is not identified.

 

Maidens calling Rand brother or son, I think both terms come from the maidens feeling closely related to Rand; not necessarily having a blood relation.

 

[GrandpaG]

Because Sulin is described as being quite old, I immediately dismissed the idea that she was Tigraine's daughter.  Then I thought, well maybe Rand's dad could have been Sulin's dad?  Is it common knowledge among the Aiel as to who Rand's real dad was?  How would Sulin know?

 

I think it has more to do with him being the son of a maiden than actual blood relation, so I agree with mb.

[WWWwombat]

Rand's dad was Janduin.  It is probably relatively common knowledge among the Aiel by now.

[BrainFireBob]

I believe, GG, that the Maiden's reactions reveal whether or not they themselves have had children.

 

Maidens who have relinquished their children are probably the ones who have de facto adopted him, making the treatment he receives, and some of those who die, far more poignant.

 

The ones that accept him as a brother are probably the ones who did not have children- he is kin to their sisters though, as close as possible. A maiden honorarily, you might say.

[GrandpaG]

That makes sense.

 

It just shocked me when I read it (for the 5th time).  It really didn't make sense that they could be blood kin, but strange things occur in the land of fantasy, eh?  :)

[crazyfool]

I thought that first-brother/sister was something you are born into but you can also adopt one another as first brother/sister. For instance Elayne and Aviendha. So maby Sulin just feels very protective over Rand and views him as a long lost first brother.

[42Bonzo88]

    Janduin, Tigraine, Sulin, Kevin Bacon, Rand. Something like that. ;D