Nynaeve al'Meara

Lore & Background

Nynaeve al'Meara is the Wisdom of Emond's Field in The Eye of the World. After a Trolloc attack, 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.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the White Tower's highest corridors, but Nynaeve heard only the ragged breathing of the man before her. His eyes were clouded with the madness that had claimed so many, a darkness she alone could push back. She did not ask for permission; she simply placed her hands on his forehead and willed the Light to flow through her. The air crackled, not with the gentle hum of a novice's practice, but with the raw, thunderous power of a storm breaking. 'You will not die,' she commanded, her voice trembling with rage and love, as the darkness in him shattered like glass under a hammer.

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 forced journey to Tar Valon to save Lan, her eventual acceptance of the Yellow Ajah shawl, and her marriage to Lan in a secret ceremony that defies Aes Sedai law. 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.

Did You Know?

• Nynaeve al'Meara is the Wisdom, or healer, of Emond's Field in The Eye of the World.
• She and Egwene al'Vere become Aes Sedai novices in The Great Hunt.
• Nynaeve and fellow novice Elayne Trakand escape capture by the Seanchan in Falme.
• Her skill with healing leads her to join the Yellow Ajah of the Aes Sedai.
• She marries the Warder Lan Mandragoran, King of Malkier.