Nynaeve al'Meara
A storm of fury and healing who refuses to let anyone die on her watch.
Nynaeve al'Meara is the Wisdom, or healer, of Emond's Field in The Eye of the World. After a Trolloc attack on her village, she tracks her friends and joins their journey, learning along the way that she can channel the One Power. She and Egwene al'Vere become Aes Sedai novices in The Great Hunt, but are lured away to Falme by the treacherous Liandrin Guirale. Nynaeve and fellow novice Elayne Trakand escape capture by the Seanchan, and eventually manage to rescue a captive Egwene. One of the most powerful channelers of her time, Nynaeve's skill with healing leads her to join the Yellow Ajah of the Aes Sedai. She eventually discovers methods for healing those who have been severed from the One Power. She marries the Warder Lan Mandragoran, King of Malkier.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Aes Sedai of the Yellow Ajah
- Former title
- Wisdom of Emond's Field
Reader's Guide
Nynaeve al'Meara begins as the stubborn, temperamental Wisdom of Emond's Field, defined by her fierce protectiveness over her village. Her character arc is a transformation from an outsider who despises Aes Sedai rules to one of their most powerful members, all while retaining her unique identity. She embodies the struggle between tradition and necessity, often breaking protocols because she prioritizes results over procedure. Her primary power lies in her extraordinary talent for Healing, surpassing even the greatest healers of the Yellow Ajah.
Uniquely, she is one of the few who can cleanse male channelers of the Dark One's taint on saidin, a discovery that alters the course of history. She wields the One Power with explosive force, often lacking the finesse of others but making up for it with sheer volume and willpower. Defining moments include her capture of the Forsaken Moghedien with an a'dam, her joining of the Yellow Ajah through her gift for Healing, and her Healing of Siuan Sanche, Leane Sharif and Logain Ablar, restoring their ability to channel.
Her growth involves learning to temper her anger without losing her strength, ultimately becoming a pillar of stability for the forces fighting the Last Battle.
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