– Aes Sedai marry as seldom as Wisdoms. Few men can live with so much power in a wife, dimming them by her radiance whether she wishes to or not. – Some men are strong enough. I know one such.
One of the things I find so appealing about Lan/Nynaeve is that he sees this hot mess of a woman, who is both brave and stubborn to the point of getting in her own way, clever and talented but also not so much the type to step on toes as to stomp all over them, passionate to heal but also ready to punch someone, and says, “Light, she is so beautiful.”
He sees all of her faults and weaknesses, and doesn’t love her in spite of them, but because they make her who she is. She needs to be angry in order to channel? He’s ready to piss her off. She needs backup because her stubborness put her in a corner? He’s with her until the end.
Would that all of us will find someone to love us that deeply and fully
While stuck at home recovering from covid, I’ve been listening to an EotW reread. It’s particularly delightful as they face-palm their way through all the Lan/Nynaeve stuff they completely missed the first time (*everyone* misses it the first time).
It really is all there, when you reread it.
From the first time he realizes she’s something special:
And she realizes she appreciates his approval:
The point where (IMHO) he really starts to fall for her:
He says her name for the first time, with just a hint of hesitation after:
He wants to keep her safe:
She recognizes that she trusts him:
And wants his approval:
By that point, when she may be in danger he is almost ready to disobey Moiraine to find her:
(Love how he catches her arm here)
And she’s happy that he’s pleased to see her:
And yet after that we’re still surprised as if “I should have known you would be a king” and “you are as beautiful as a sunrise….I will hate the man you choose because he is not me” came out of nowhere.
I just love this scene so much. It was definitely needed, to flesh out the relationship that was much more subtle in building in the books. It’s sweet, it’s funny, it’s two people connecting on a personal level in a really lovely way.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You didn’t” *squee!*
The intimate moment of sharing private rituals, two very guarded people letting their walls down for a moment.
Lan giving Nynaeve the translation of her parent’s final words, followed by Zoe Robbin’s wonderful acting that conveyed without words just how meaningful that was.
And finally an exchange of realization that each holds the other with regard.
Ugh, just so beautiful. Best scene in a great episode.
