Future of Rand and Aviendha in TOM

[A Trite Pun]

All right, so this topic is kind of irrelevant, but whatever, sue me...

OK, i know that WOT is for the most part PG-13, and in fact, when I first read TFoH (around age 13), I totally missed what happened between Rand and Aviendha in the far snows of Seanchan (funnily enough, on my first re-read at age 15, i totally went what the f***?...no pun intended  ;) )

My question is this, it's pretty evident that Aviendha will get pregnant in TOM of AMoL, and having read all of Brandon's other books (except Alcatraz for obvious reasons  ;D), I'm a little worried about his experience writing intimate scenes.  Judging by the rest of WOT, there will probably be such a scene, and I sincerely hope it isnt corny or stupid, since Aviendha is my favorite of Rand's trio...actually the other two should have just been killed off but oh well...

I think the Rand/Aviendha relationship is the most intimate and real, and I reallllly would be pissed if it gets screwed up.

[mossman87]

What is your problem with Min?  I find her quite pleasant.

[Jon Paul]

I think the Rand/Aviendha relationship is the most intimate and real, and I reallllly would be pissed if it gets screwed up.

 

I disagree with that.  I think that his relationship with Min is the most intimate and real, it is Min who has kept him propped up for the last 6 books.  Min has been the force around Rand that has kept him stable for so long.  Avi' is of course a very close second.. but matters of the Pattern has kept them a part, and she has not be as integral to Rand as Min has.  I wont even get started on Elayne.. his relationship with Elayne for me is the most.. well.. it's void of anything for me.  I don't see the supposed love that exists there.

 

With Min and Avi' his relationship has had real time to develop.  With Min, she was with him at a very crucial point in his story.  The events after Falme.  She kept him company during that time, she talked with him and laughed with him.  These moments left a lasting impression on Rand, he always compared Elayne or Avi' or any woman for that matter with his time spent with Min.  His love and relationship with Min has had the most solid foundations.  The argument can be made for Avi as well of course.  But again, she has not been as integral to Rand's core as Min has been.

 

With Elayne.. I would say his actual time with Elayne, adding up altogether, consists of less than one weeks worth.  There has been no real development.  There has been no real relationship.

 

Now, as for Brandon's writing.. I wont worry too much.  And do not forget RJ left a lot of notes behind ;)!

[Shard]

Yeah I agree Min has been the rock for Rand's sanity.

 

I don't think we were ever going to get more racier then what we have seen previously with RJ. The Fade to black is favored technique it seems and Brandon will have characters admit they've had sex so it's not like he's going to hide it.

[imBored]

If your at all worried about Brandon being able to write it, read Warbreaker. He uses the fade to black thing, as mentioned above, but it is actually pretty similar to the whole Rand and Aviendha. If you haven't read Warbreaker, it is absolutely phenomenal. Ending is more mind blowing that Mistborn (imo).

[Majsju]

 

 

With Elayne.. I would say his actual time with Elayne, adding up altogether, consists of less than one weeks worth.  There has been no real development.  There has been no real relationship.

 

 

 

Rand kills Ishamael on Saven 9, Elayne leaves for Tanchico on Amadaine 1. So it is nearly three weeks in Tear.

[A Trite Pun]

I read Warbreaker, and I loved it for its intrigue, politics, and magical system...however...the relationship between the God King and the girl (forget her name) was so fake and artificial, it might as well have been the arranged marriage everyone was so afraid of in the book.

But whatever, I'll reserve judgment until TOM comes, and even if that is screwed up, I won't mind too much since I feel Brandon is a better writer than RJ, especially of women.  (and yes i know i just committed blasphemy, please nobody kill me  ;D)

[Jon Paul]

Rand kills Ishamael on Saven 9, Elayne leaves for Tanchico on Amadaine 1. So it is nearly three weeks in Tear.

 

How much of that time was filled with direct interaction?  How often were they around one another?  I thought it was quite evident that Elayne was too busy "questioning" Darkriends?  They spent 4 days I believe in intimate (not just sexul) company.

[yoniy0]

Siri, it was, I think. I liked reading her PoVs.

 

According to TSR-Decisions, it's only been 3 days that Rand and Elayne spent in the Stone as a couple. Still, he did daydream about her for half of TEoTW and all of TGH-TDR. And since then. I agree that he doesn't really know her all that well, but that doesn't mean he isn't in love with her.

[Jon Paul]

According to TSR-Decisions, it's only been 3 days that Rand and Elayne spent in the Stone as a couple. Still, he did daydream about her for half of TEoTW and all of TGH-TDR. And since then. I agree that he doesn't really know her all that well, but that doesn't mean he isn't in love with her.

 

I do not doubt that Rand enjoyed the idea of Elayne.  But even this, not enough for true love.  Obsession yes, not love.  I just cannot see it there.

[yoniy0]

Jon Paul, it's not the love a couple shares after 50 years of marriage, but for us to criticize what they feel for each other is overdoing it, I think. How long does it take one to fall in love? I don't think love can be measured like that.

[Achala]

I have to agree that the Rand-Elayne story seems less convincing than the other two, but I think that's primarily due to the fact that they both have, unlike the other two, very definite goals that do not allow for much time to be spent on relationship nurturing. Elayne, unlike Aviendha and Min, has had a throne to win for the last four books, as well as Tower training/Black Ajah hunting/general Aes Sedai business to deal with. I think of all Rand's women, she's the most taxed.

Yes, learning to be a Wise One is demanding, but you can't deny that it's not exactly the same as becoming Queen of Andor PLUS juggling AS business. And Min has no loyalty other than Rand, no other calling or duty.

In short, the reason we don't see much of Rand-Elayne is because Elayne's got work that keeps her away, while the other two have, so far, managed to find a place near him, at least more often than she has.

[Farydeh]

I would love to see more of Rands relationship with Aviendha. Its been a long time since I've read books 1 to 10 but I just remember that Min had forced herself on Rand, manipulated him in a certain way and that's why I don't really like her relationship with Rand. When I read bits about her and Rand I always wonder where's Aviendha? I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me but I cant get rid of the feeling that Min forced herself on Rand. With Aviendha its more natural.

 

 

[Majsju]

Siri, it was, I think. I liked reading her PoVs.

 

According to TSR-Decisions, it's only been 3 days that Rand and Elayne spent in the Stone as a couple. Still, he did daydream about her for half of TEoTW and all of TGH-TDR. And since then. I agree that he doesn't really know her all that well, but that doesn't mean he isn't in love with her.

 

Three days as a couple , yes. But it would take a couple of days before that to reach that point, even with RJs Instant-Love.

[yoniy0]

Well they both fancied each other when they first met, and have been thinking of one another all that time before they met again (Elayne saw Rand again at Falme, but he was unconscious). When Egwene broke things off with him, Elayne made her move, as you'll remember.

[Knobs Mahoney]

I would love to see more of Rands relationship with Aviendha. Its been a long time since I've read books 1 to 10 but I just remember that Min had forced herself on Rand, manipulated him in a certain way and that's why I don't really like her relationship with Rand. When I read bits about her and Rand I always wonder where's Aviendha? I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me but I cant get rid of the feeling that Min forced herself on Rand. With Aviendha its more natural.

 

 

 

Not going to go into gory details...but it's phenomenally difficult for a woman to "force herself" on a man.

 

I'll leave it at that.

[The Dirty Landry]

Its pretty obvious that he is probably more in love with Min, because he always describes how he feels comfortable around her more than anybody else (including Avi and Elayne). I believe his relationship in Avi just because RJ led up to it pretty well in TSR and FoH. Min has had 6 books with him, Avi 2, but Elayne has had the equivalent of like 5 chapters with him.

[Achala]

If you ask me, Rand deserved that bit of 'manipulation' that he got. Telling a woman she's not a woman? Really. Not the classiest move.

[Crael123]

Jon Paul, it's not the love a couple shares after 50 years of marriage, but for us to criticize what they feel for each other is overdoing it, I think. How long does it take one to fall in love? I don't think love can be measured like that.

 

love at first sight is real. iv had it. but i dont think rand and elayne had the same expirience i did..

[Random Man]

Back to topic...

 

I'm not really sure there will be much of Rand and Avi in ToM. First of all, how much time passed between Avi leaving for Rhuidean and Rand in VoG? I don't think it was enough time for Avi to make the trip to Rhuidean and back (estimated by the WO to be a few weeks) so unless something happens to make her cut her meditative time short by Traveling, it's going to be awhile before she's chronologically back on the same page as everyone else, esp. as much of the book will be Mat and Perrin getting back in sync with Rand and Egwene. By that point, I have a feeling things are going to hit the fan and events are going to be moving pel-mel toward TG. They'll probably get maybe one night together (where she gets pregnant as Min foretold) but I wouldn't expect a whole lot of relationship development beyond where they already are. There just isn't time.

 

If they do get their night together, I'm going to say it'll happen in Rhuidean. Something happens forcing Rand to go to Rhuidean after she goes through the columns (maybe he needs her for something important), and he waits for her in their old rooms. When she returns from the columns, they're momentarily swept away by nostalgia, yada yada. The location for them to conceive would have symbolic importance in their relationship.

[yoniy0]

According to 'The Chronology of The Wheel of Time' by Steven Cooper, Aviendha left for Rhuidean on Saven-1/May-11, and Rand had his epiphany on the top of Dragonmount on Saven-23/Jun-02. She could've had enough time, but just barely.

 

EDIT: As with most TGS entries, these two are marked by Steven with (?), so the dates aren't set in stone.

[csarmi]

Actually, she should be back by now.

[Luckers]

Actually, she should be back by now.

 

Perhaps. She might still be in transit--remember, she travelled from Cold Rocks on foot, and could have spent upwards of ten days in the ter'angreal. And that's ignoring the possibility of problems along the way--say plans by Graendal to hurt Rand, as per Moridin's orders.

[yoniy0]

Yes. I think we should also recognize that once she leaves Rhuidean, she isn't bound to return to Rand. If she thinks she's better needed in another place, she's free to go there.

[deathgate]

Rand hit it off with Min first in Baerlon and although he wasn't in love they were good friends and he was always glad to see her and even thought about her when away from her. She did force herself on him because of her viewing but I believe she already had feelings for him. He certainly needs her by the time she "forces" herself and I believe he would be insane without her.

 

Don't forget the scenes in Caemlyn when Rand feel off the wall and Elayne was very intrigued with him and Rand was tongue tied. After breaking up with Egwene Elayne is the first girl / woman that Rand falls for. It does seem the least loving of the three but I think some just don't like Elaine and let that color how they think Rand should feel.

 

Aviendha is the last of the three he meets and while Rand is tied in knots don't forget Aviendha, like Min, sees her future in Rhuidean and knows she will be with Rand. Their's is the most interesting because of their culture clash.

 

There certainly seems to be some forcing by the wheel in his relationships and I can't wait to see why and how the three aid him in the last two books.