if she used the One Power than that plot thread wouldn't have been dragged out for a decade and wouldn't have included some of the most boring (Wet Things) chapters in all of the books.

I couldn't have said that better myself

I also had the thought after reading a few of the arguments on this thread, that why wouldn't Elayne make Dylin the regant until after the last battle? The major houses already supported her, Dylin made clear she didn't want the throne and I am positive that Elayne could have benifitted from some more time training her talents as Aes Sedai. I think it was also mentioned she could be Andor's ambassador to the Dragon Reborn. It would be far easier for her to take power from a willing step down of Dylin, again avoiding a civil warand that would have given her the time to meet and make nice with the houses that Morgase upset.

Additionally the fact that she would be supported by the White Tower fully after it was whole would have held great sway. As Aes Sedai Elayne has hundreds of yeras in front of her - there should have been no rush to jump into a war for the throne.

On a second note - Back to her use of the power during the the civil war that she managed to NOT avoid... defending her soilders on the wall (mentioned by someone earlier) and causing greif to the sieging armies (also mentioned earlier) why not? it is not in oppisition of the oaths. (Sheilds of Air, storms and other inconveiences in the enemy camps, nightly raids to destory the supply lines/moral etc.) I realize soemone also mentoned that this may lead to armies of channelers taking up arms wherever they choose.... well as I understand most channelers don't hit the ground running (1 in 4 survives being born with the spark, and less then 1% of the population has the spark at that = .25% of the population) - and I'm pretty sure regardless of the affilliation, one of the larger groups (White Tower, Black Tower, Seanchan) would look at scooping them up pretty quickly.

Quite simply, the strong survive and rise to the top - and its the measure of respect that they choose to keep when the get there. You don't get to be the King/Queen or even President/Prime Minister for being a nice guy. If you have the big stick, you need to use it soemtimes. I'm not saying she needs to be a tyrant, but it wouldn't hurt her if she set down challangers... Hard and fast.

Agreed with the use of gateways. As for the rest it has been brought up many times but she could not be seen to use foreign soldiers or Rand's armies as she would not have even had Dyelin's support let alone the rest of Andor.

 

TPoD Ch28

“You’ve come to accept the throne from the Dragon Reborn, then?”

 

“I claim the throne by my own right, Dyelin, with my own hand. The Lion Throne is no bauble to be accepted from a man.” Dyelin nodded, as at self-evident truth. Which it was, to any Andoran. “How do you stand, Dyelin? With Trakand, or against?

 

If she had said yes to accepting the throne from the DR the answer would have been against.

 

We also have the POV from Bashere when he tells Gaul why they can't use foreign soldiers.

As a supporter of Rand I still think Elayne would have saved Caemlyn from the seige had she let his armies maintain a pressence (if even only for a short term of say 6-8 months) to give herself time to develope a force capable of holding her claim for the throne. Andor was not a conqured nation, and dispite his wording, Rand really wasn't giving it to her - he liberated it from one of the forsaken and made clear he had no intent of maintaing a power base there. I am positive he told Dylen the very same thing. She could have came to the city and began petitioning the noble houses - informing them that she is recalling the remainder of the queens guard, that the imposter Gaebril had indeed been Ravhin (of forsaken fame) and that she was alive and well and preparing Andor for the pending last battle.

Additionally.... I don't see the difference between the mercanaries that she has HIRED to defend the city (and her claim) draining the royal coffers, and the armies supported by Rand defending her position with out incurring as great a cost. Not to mention the aid of an experienced General in establishing a plan of action for a schedualed with drawl that would leave the city in the rightful queens proper hands. Indeed soem of the houses may be "upset" with the idea of less then a years occupation of foreign soliders on there home soil, but the surly wouldn't have raised arms aginst. and being a little "upset" is certainly better then civil war.

as far as using the power goes - yeah I may have forgot about her being preggars and not being able to channel thing - but if she was less hasty in sending the dragonsworn away it would have been a moot point.

However, I do agree it was not a good time for her petty political squabbles. Given that she IS the daughter of the previous queen, you'd think she'd be able to negotiate a "Queen Regent" type title with an agreement to hold a proper contest after TG. Would probably have to give some concessions, like some influential advisers from some strong houses, but it'd still have saved a lot of time.

 

Never would have happened. Morgase had her strongest supporters tortured by Rahvin's compulsion. Having been out of Andor for quite some time, she has not been the face of Andor. I doubt the any house would trust the daughter of Morgase enough to accept the role of influential underling just like that

They would only have to attend her in company with several Aes Sedai (Who by way of the 3 oaths cannot lie) and have revealed that Morgase was a pawn of one of the forsaken. The houses must be beginning to accept the fact that 1) the Dragon is Reborn, 2) the Forsaken are free, and 3) Tarmon Gaidon is close.

It is crazy to have the largest country on the continant in the middle of a Cival War - over slights the last queen (while under the influence of Ravhin) made in the few months prior to her dissappearance. Bearing in mind that she was a good queen by all accounts prior to the arrival of Ravhin. the only big challange should be the people. the Houses that are rebelling need to be set down quickly, and like it or not Rand's forces or the one power are the quickest/most effective way. Its easier to ask forgiviness or apoligise for mistakes after. Elayne should have pleanty of time after the LB - even if she does swear on the oath rod, she could potentially live to be 200-300 years old, without the rod she could hypothetically be queen for 500-600 years - she'll have lots of time to make up for the small transgression in taking power in a difficult situation. She has the tools she just need s to use them. (Egwene wouldn't think twice about it :D)

I'm in the middle of my re-read of KoD and (as painful as it is) I'm reading Elayne's chapters and asking myself, why she woulden't use the power to defend her position, (or her warder). Simply, this close to TG wouldn't it be in the best interest of all if she secured the rule of Andor (or even just Caemlyn) quickly and decisively.

Now I'm not saying she should use the one power as a weapon, and annihilate the contenders for the throne, but use some "Aes Sedai" intimidation. Flex the muscle a little bit and stop politicing so much. Fear is a great motivatior espicially for the mercenaries that seem to be figting on both side of the conflict. The ones that are on her side would be emboldened that they have the support of Aes Sedai, and the one power, and the aggressors would be intimidated by the fact that they may have to march into the wrath of angry sisters. (with the rumors of all the power fought battles since Cairhein fell to Rand, and the Seanchan in the west, Arymilla's mercenaries would be hard to push aginst that) and the other houses would be forced to go to her, like it or not. She could work out how to pacify them after the Last Battle.

And that brings me to my second point... she has free and easy access to Rand's armies (Aeil, and Bashere early on in the conflict) WTF was she thinking sending them all out of Caemlyn?? yes, foreign armies are not preferred, but if they are supporting the rightful queen during her rise, get over it!! if she wanted to send them away - trickle them out, as you train your own army. Then there would be NO REBELLION, no LONG and drawn out storyline waiting for the rest of the series to catch up to her. She could then have focused on the stash of Ter'angreal from Ebo Dar, and her original directive... catching the Black Ajah. The rebel houses would be reluctant, but would not try and fight a war they couldn't win, and the people would be left in a safer position... when the people are safe, and fed - they are not going to rebel.

Ultimatley the way I see it is like... You are going to bulild a house, you have a shed full of power tools, but you are only going to use a hammer and hand saw. It can be done, but why not use the tools you have?

Well thats my 2 cents...