Lan & Nynaeve

[Wonga]

I know this is probably a bit late for all you people who have been reading the series for ages, but I only just started, so...

 

Am I the only one thoroughly peeved by this relationship?

 

From the beginning I've loathed Nynaeve and Lan has always been my favourite, but even with that I could have dealt with the relationship if it hadn't been so sudden.

 

Excepting a few minor hints all I see is the pair suddenly proclaiming their undying love for each other. What happened to the build up? A little background?

 

And lets add to that the fact that I really don't see Lan as 'the marrying type.' It really just doesn't happen for me.

[Taishar Manetheren]

You dont believe in love at first sight?

besides they are both wierd enough to find things in the other to love that will look odd for a normal person...

[Luckers]

I thought Lan an Nynaeve's love apparent from the moment you first see them together. The fact that it took eight books to actually bring them together is a feat of brilliant writting.

[Guest Majsju]

Yeah, it didn't take very long before it became quite obvious that something was going on between Lan and Nynaeve.

[Taz]

Its right there from EOTW. Moiraine sees it as well and knows its going to fundamentally change her relationship with Lan because she feels his conflict of interest.

 

I love Lan & Nynaeve, all the build-up was fantastic. They've had a lot of obstacles put in their way and I think their love story is the best in the series. I think they really suit each other and that sea-folk custom that Nynaeve now has to stick too makes me howl ... and her braid might survive all that tugging!

[Guest cwestervelt]

Nothing sudden about it at all. That's part of why Nynaeve was so miffed about not being able to sneak up on Lan and Moiraine after Shadar Logoth in The Eye of the World. It is already in The Great Hunt that Moiraine starts wondering when Lan will ask to be released from his bond. It's in the lead up to her telling Lan about the transfer from her to Myrelle.

[DemandredFO]

Besides over the books Nyneave grows on you and it is very similar to Farimir and Eoywn's story for anyone who has read LOTR. They, like Lan and Nyneave do not have much but they marry. I mean look at Egwene and Gawyn or Faile and Perrin.

[liatildina]

I apologize if I'm not posting this correctly. I'm still not sure about all the quotes, and when I'm supposed to do what because this is all new to me, but Lan and Nynaeve, the best love story in the entire series. Lan is the sexiest character in wheel world. He is brave, confident, smart, sad, mature, silent, loyal and good with that sword. Nynaeve has no fear, especially of Moiraine. She left with Rand and crew on their adventure to watch over them, because she is first and always their Wisdom. She is brave, mature, smart, sassy, confident, loyal, and good with that braid. I wait for their story line and it's never enough. From the beginning Nynaeve could make Lan laugh, and for that skill alone he fell in love with her.

[Wonga]

Perhaps I should have been clearer, I meant in the first book.

 

I first noticed the affection after Shadar Logoth, when Nynaeve was pissed about being noticed.

 

I saw Nynaeve being annoyed at being spotted, then Lan hesitating when they freed Perrin and Egwene. The next I know they're in the blight and announcing how much they love each other.

 

Maybe I'm just dense, there just seemed to be nothing before that. It seemed like RJ has thought 'oh, I need a relationship! Those two will do!'

 

I'll take your word for it about her growing on me...

 

(Bolds are edits.)

[Kadere]

It starts the second they meet at the Stag and Lion. She starts smiling when Lan is amazed that she followed their trail.

[Luckers]

Yup.

[liatildina]

and don't forget when she made him laugh, I just can't remember exactly what they were doing at the time, creating chaos somehow.

[RobertAlexWillis]

Indeed.

 

Besides, their marriage has improved Nynaeve immensely.

[liatildina]

Yea no doubt, and I think Lan gets a kick out of it too.

[I Am The Storm]

did someone actually just refer to Nynaeve as mature? I can't believe my eyes. From the beginning of the series Egwene and Nyn have acted like spoiled little kids, pouting and wining when they dont get everything they want, as well as acting like supreme rulers of the universe. Where do they get off thinking they know more than Rand/Mat/Perrin? That has been my biggest problem with the series. Someone just needs to put them in their place, Nynaeve especially.

[liatildina]

yep, mature and brave that is Nynaeve. Yea she can be a pain, just like Rand/Mat/Perrin can be a pain.

 

Let's not forget she tamed Lan. She might have dropped him off at the edge of the world but when you are a supreme ruler of the universe you tend to do things like that.

 

Don't forget she's a Wisdom, youngest one they have ever had at the Two Rivers, smart too.

[RobertAlexWillis]

Dropping Lan off at World's End is the only thing Nynaeve did that ever made me think, "I could love that woman." It was pure genius.

[liatildina]

You gotta save the ones you love and that woman is a fighter, how else could she save Lan from himself. That's why she is always following Rand around. I think in the end she is the one that will throw Lewis out of that home of his in Rand's head, and I still say she'll try and knit him a hand too.

[RJJT86]

Wow, hold on one second. Nobody "tamed" Lan. He is untamable. He's a lion who restrains himself, and if anyone, I repeat anyone tried to restrain him, they'd find their neck ripped out. That's who he is.

 

He may have willingly married Nynaeve, but don't think for a second that makes him tame. Not to mention that even after he married her, always longed to return to his fight. Even after he married her, even after he pledged his love, after he gave her his signet, after everything between them, his first love was his war against the shadow.

 

So what if she dropped him off at the edge of the world. That doesn't make her smart and in fact I thought it was rather childish of her, granted I liked her next idea to go and get him an army to fight for him. I'm pretty sure he thought he was going to hold Tarwin's Gap on his own, but that's just his stubborn pride and stubborn guilt (admirable qualities in thier own right).

 

Anyways end of the story is, yes in book one the development of thier relationship was a bit pushed. But I think at the same time it flowed well. I seriously doubt that RJ sat down and said I need a relationship. I'm pretty sure he just needed the mutual feelings established before the second book. And while I don't have my books with me I will say that I don't remember undying love being pledged up in the blight or the borderlands. I do remember the scene in Tear where he says, he'll be there to save her anytime. That would be the undying love pledge scene if ever there was one. Anywho I think it does take a long time to develop their relationship over several books worth of literature, so I'd say it's a decent one as stories go.

[Wonga]

O.k 'undying love' was a bit strong, perhaps strong affections!? I mean suddenly, practically out of nowhere Lan is announcing he would be jealous of whoever she married.

 

I still get the impression I'm not going to start liking Nynaeve any time soon.

[Taishar Manetheren]

I dont understand the problem here.

the first book was mostly from Rand's pov so there could be things we didnt see.

Rand at least knew about their love, when they got married Mat was so stunned he didnt know what to say.

[aznprince001]

I read the prolougue book new spring. and it said that lan had a relationship with the another woman. and i believe it was Malkeri law that your first love will control you like a dog until she gives the "leash" to your new wife. I've not seen the 1st love give Lan over to Nynaeve yet so their not exactly married in Malkieri law. Anyone else who read New Spring correct me if im wrong.

[OzzieAlThor]

If Nynave is mature, Mat's celibate.

 

*tugs braid*

 

As previously stated, Egwene and Nynave assume because they are women, men are fools.

 

*tugs braid*

 

Sorry if it's not endearing to have 2 women act like you're a fool because you don't have breasts and an Aes Sedai ring.

 

*tugs braid*

 

Women in this series in general are quite sexist. You don't see the guys going on about how women are frail and silly every 2nd paragraph do ya?

 

Egwene and Nynave *tugs braid* both need 1 things to keep them for going nuts about the stupidity of men.

 

THEIR men.

 

(*doesn't tug braid*

[RJJT86]

I read the prolougue book new spring. and it said that lan had a relationship with the another woman. and i believe it was Malkeri law that your first love will control you like a dog until she gives the "leash" to your new wife. I've not seen the 1st love give Lan over to Nynaeve yet so their not exactly married in Malkieri law. Anyone else who read New Spring correct me if im wrong.

 

They have a word for the "first love" in Malkier but I don't have New Spring with me here. She ended up dying in New Spring so she couldn't give the "leash" to Nynaeve. Oh and by the way the leash is symbolic (the hair cut on the day they are given the hadori is braided and given to their "first love" which is symbolic of their ownership of the person), and no it's not necessarily controlled like a dog, but it does denote ownership, and usually an older woman is given the braid. So really there is no way that they could be married under Malkier law, but I'm sure that they would be married under it considering that stuff happens, and if another man's first love had died before passing on the braid to the man's wife there would have been some contingency.

[RJJT86]

If Nynave is mature' date=' Mat's celibate.

 

[i']*tugs braid*[/i]

 

As previously stated, Egwene and Nynave assume because they are women, men are fools.

 

*tugs braid*

 

Sorry if it's not endearing to have 2 women act like you're a fool because you don't have breasts and an Aes Sedai ring.

 

*tugs braid*

 

Women in this series in general are quite sexist. You don't see the guys going on about how women are frail and silly every 2nd paragraph do ya?

 

Egwene and Nynave *tugs braid* both need 1 things to keep them for going nuts about the stupidity of men.

 

THEIR men.

 

(*doesn't tug braid*

 

I'll agree that Nynaeve is indeed that way, but Egwene just wants her man. She doesn't need him to keep from going nuts over his stupidity. And I'll say this for Nynaeve, since her marriage to Lan she very often has less to say on the stupidity of men. However that issue seems to have passed to Min, who does it more playfully than anything else. Cadsuane who's kind of a feminine canine over the whole issue. Elayne who's of course going nuts mentally and emotionally because she pregnant, and Aviendha, who we haven't had a whole lot of POV from lately.