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Graendal knew Aran'gar was distracted malekithe Send a noteboard - 23/09/2010 07:10:52 AM

I think its pretty clear that Aran'gar was holding saidin if she gasped. It's a recurrent reaction we've seen when a channeler is suddenly shielded and loses their connection with the Source.

I also don't think that strength is a primary determinant here. Graendal is immensely skilled. Aran'gar was facing the window and unprepared. We know that channelers can shield one another if they are of equal strength. IMO Graendal is stronger or equal to her and overwhelmed her with sheer speed and surprise. Whether she used the angreal is difficult say, but the author usually mentions if a channeler pulls through one.

We also don't know whether she shielded Delana and Aran'gar at the exact same time, or did it quickly and sequentially. She's certainly fast enough to pull off two shields that look like a single weaving.

Anyway, I don't find it a big stretch for a female Forsaken to shield a male. I think it's been a well established fact that the females are close to the males in strength, and Graendal is near to the top of all channeling strengths.

If it was that easy for Graendal to incapacitate Balthamel (and an Aes Sedai at the same time), then the Moghediens, Mesaanas, Asmodeans etc. of this world would not have existed for very long.

Not to mention what more powerful channelers than Graendal (Ishamael, Cyndane, Lanfear etc) could have done to them.

I mean, Rand himself said that just shielding two normal Aes Sedai is no trifling matter of the Power, let alone shielding a Forsaken and an Aes Sedai at the same time.

Anyway, I just question what this would imply for the ability of weaker members of the Forsaken to survive for any length of time.


But it is that easy. It's been made clear on several occasions that the Forsaken are at maximum readiness while they're around each other. Even very powerful Forsaken like Sammael, Lanfear and Rahvin fill themselves to the brim with the One Power when they're around each other. They prepare counter weaves and hold them in place and watch each other intently. It only takes one slip, and I do believe Aran'gar may be the first true example of this that we've seen in the series. She did the worst thing possible - she allowed herself to be distracted by Rand, turned away and allowed Graendal to be placed behind her. Such a small thing is all that was needed for Graendal to have the upper hand, and ultimately led to Aran'gar's downfall. I do think that many Forsaken fell in such a casual manner, which is why channelers like the Forsaken survived. They never ever let their guard down. It must be very stressful.

If they're ready around each other, then none of these Forsaken can take each other on, but even Rahvin alluded to the danger of having Lanfear behind him. He could very easily have died in that scene had Lanfear not wished to speak with him. He didn't even know she was there until she spoke. Aran'gar is the end-point of what I've always suspected would happen to someone like that if they became too comfortable around Graendal.


Graendal saw that Aran'gar was distracted, her back was turned to her, that alone was enough for Graendal to think she could shield Aran'gar.

It would be like two swordsmen who are nearly identical in skill, but if one of then turns their back to the other then he is going to get himself killed.

I agree that usually the Chosen are all filled with the Power and on alert around each other normally because they know what will happen if they don't pay attention. In this case Aran'gar had no idea what Rand was doing and was totally focused on him. Also she had no good reason to believe that Graendal would go against her, if anything she might think that Graendal would link with her to oppose Rand or bail with her.

I feel that Aran'gar was either not holding the source (to keep a low profile so Rand wouldn't wonder why someone was holding onto Saidin very strongly when no one should be doing that in Natrin's Barrow) and she gasped because she saw Graendal weav a gateway and then she immediately tried to seize the source & found out she'd been shielded OR she was holding onto the source, but not to her full capacity as she had no intention of confronting Rand nor making a beacon of Saidin for him to see.

Either way Graendal realized Aran'gar was distracted by Rand and that was enough for her to shield her. As for Delana she probably was not even holding the source before Graendal wove the gateway because she knew Graendal would see her holding it and be suspicious of why she dared to in front of her.
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Towers of Midnight : Prologue discussion - 21/09/2010 04:38:40 AM 9464 Views
Me Too! Guess who is alive!! - 21/09/2010 04:44:40 AM 2769 Views
A dove, that's weird - 21/09/2010 03:19:10 PM 2603 Views
Re: A dove, that's weird - 21/09/2010 03:26:39 PM 2524 Views
Yes, that's the point - 21/09/2010 11:49:00 PM 2351 Views
It did feel a bit deus ex machina - 22/09/2010 12:03:05 AM 2486 Views
Fain is as creepy as ever - 21/09/2010 05:06:35 AM 2613 Views
You all can go to heck (and find me a link!) *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:10:47 AM 1561 Views
Re: You all can go to heck (and find me a link!) - 21/09/2010 05:14:26 AM 2705 Views
It's D/L on B&N now *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:15:44 AM 1472 Views
Anyone find the audiobook version? *NM* - 21/09/2010 10:20:22 AM 1417 Views
I love the borderlanders - 21/09/2010 05:25:29 AM 2547 Views
Best scene of the prologue *NM* - 21/09/2010 03:28:28 PM 1497 Views
Could somebody post a link to where they got it? I want to go to a site where I can download now *NM* - 21/09/2010 05:39:13 AM 1536 Views
I posted some links here - 21/09/2010 06:04:38 AM 2432 Views
My quick summary - 21/09/2010 06:02:41 AM 3235 Views
Whoa, whoa, whoa. - 23/09/2010 02:59:37 AM 2276 Views
It's good, but... Perrin. Ugh. - 21/09/2010 07:37:43 AM 2580 Views
Awesome! - 21/09/2010 09:00:45 AM 2371 Views
Regarding Graendal - 21/09/2010 10:12:42 AM 2868 Views
Some things... - 21/09/2010 01:18:10 PM 2496 Views
I'm glad. Being right is a good feeling - 21/09/2010 04:12:08 PM 2392 Views
a very weak angreal - 21/09/2010 04:55:15 PM 2416 Views
Even a weak angreal - 21/09/2010 05:47:26 PM 2362 Views
The Angreal Elayne mentions made her 2x as strong as Nynaeve - 21/09/2010 06:04:21 PM 2235 Views
The laughter in Perrin's Dream - 21/09/2010 02:24:14 PM 2462 Views
Probably Slayer - 21/09/2010 04:29:41 PM 2370 Views
Re: Probably Slayer - 21/09/2010 04:39:36 PM 2189 Views
Audio Book - 21/09/2010 06:39:54 PM 2284 Views
Not even Ishamael could shield another male Forsaken and an Aes Sedai at the same time... - 21/09/2010 06:46:42 PM 2516 Views
It's different (I think?) but I'm certainly no expert and I'm sure someone else will reply - 21/09/2010 06:57:18 PM 2393 Views
OK, I haven't read the scene, so I don't know if Arangar was holding saidin at the time or not - 21/09/2010 07:00:23 PM 2207 Views
Re: OK, I haven't read the scene, so I don't know if Arangar was holding saidin at the time or not. - 21/09/2010 07:11:42 PM 2301 Views
Thanks. Was Arangar channeling at the time? - 21/09/2010 07:13:53 PM 2294 Views
I think so, yes. - 21/09/2010 07:15:44 PM 2238 Views
I don't think so actually - 21/09/2010 07:57:42 PM 2361 Views
I don't think Aran'gar was channeling - 21/09/2010 11:00:22 PM 2280 Views
I don't think she even closed her Gateway. It think it was BF'd *NM* - 21/09/2010 11:52:01 PM 1253 Views
no she wasn't *NM* - 21/09/2010 10:25:13 PM 1376 Views
nope, no power - 23/09/2010 03:05:30 AM 2189 Views
So here's what happens... - 21/09/2010 07:15:03 PM 2694 Views
Thanks. A few comments... - 21/09/2010 07:27:33 PM 2207 Views
I don't rule out the angreal... - 21/09/2010 07:32:40 PM 2148 Views
Elayne's weakest angreal doubles her strength. Graendal x2 can easily shield Cyndane+Moggy, so... - 21/09/2010 07:35:06 PM 2323 Views
Graendal's seemed much weaker... - 21/09/2010 07:52:20 PM 2161 Views
Elayne also called the x2 turtle angreal "weak"... - 21/09/2010 08:00:01 PM 2209 Views
and we know it wasn't enough to overwhlem Verin's circle - 21/09/2010 08:02:13 PM 2039 Views
I disasgree. There is no evidence that Aran'gar was holding saidin at the time - 21/09/2010 07:42:23 PM 2191 Views
Then why did she gasp at the shield? She couldn't have known what Graendal was weaving. - 21/09/2010 07:52:49 PM 2188 Views
because she was surprised that Graendal would put a shield on her in the first place - 21/09/2010 07:58:45 PM 2219 Views
How did she know there was a shield? - 21/09/2010 09:16:59 PM 2153 Views
Fact: Graendal cannot shield a male Forsaken and an Aes Sedai if they are holding the Source... - 21/09/2010 09:28:17 PM 2140 Views
Who said "they"? - 21/09/2010 09:55:28 PM 2149 Views
I really don't think you have to be holding the source to know you've been shielded - 21/09/2010 10:29:20 PM 2063 Views
Provide evidence? - 21/09/2010 10:36:36 PM 2155 Views
Thanks, but like I said, they were both wrapped in air. That's enough for Aran'gar to wonder - 21/09/2010 10:44:17 PM 2054 Views
They gasped before Graendal wove Air... - 21/09/2010 11:13:48 PM 2114 Views
Alright, you win *NM* - 22/09/2010 02:51:26 AM 1314 Views
*NM* - 22/09/2010 03:06:22 AM 1149 Views
Siuan was distracted by a number of other things going on, not to mention how suspect - 22/09/2010 02:43:36 PM 2010 Views
And Aran'gar was fully focussed on Graendal? - 22/09/2010 03:02:16 PM 2277 Views
More so than Siuan was on Elaida when they were shielded. - 22/09/2010 03:33:15 PM 3060 Views
So? - 22/09/2010 03:48:11 PM 1965 Views
It doesn't matter. There are more Shieldings that go unnoticed when not holding the Source - 22/09/2010 03:55:48 PM 2050 Views
Nice catches! - 22/09/2010 04:06:52 PM 2209 Views
we don't know that - 22/09/2010 02:35:50 PM 2113 Views
Huh? - 22/09/2010 03:03:52 PM 2049 Views
Give over, Darius... there's plenty of evidence... - 22/09/2010 03:45:11 PM 2087 Views
Give over what? There is no hard evidence that Aran'gar wouldn't notice a shield put on her - 22/09/2010 05:00:11 PM 1981 Views
What rot... (also, Egwene and Rand) - 22/09/2010 05:21:08 PM 2128 Views
take a pill Fionwe ... no need to go batshit on me for having an opinion. - 22/09/2010 05:38:21 PM 2083 Views
Re: take a pill Fionwe ... no need to go batshit on me for having an opinion. - 22/09/2010 05:45:05 PM 2235 Views
if it was JUST one shield ... but she's shielding an AS and weaving a Gateway too! - 22/09/2010 05:48:52 PM 4141 Views
Well... - 22/09/2010 07:00:26 PM 2125 Views
She says... - 22/09/2010 07:04:32 PM 2141 Views
no one is arguing that - 22/09/2010 07:09:17 PM 2114 Views
Er... - 22/09/2010 07:19:09 PM 2058 Views
I'm contending that it's possible Aran'gar snesed she'd been shielded - 22/09/2010 07:20:48 PM 2874 Views
Re: I'm contending that it's possible Aran'gar snesed she'd been shielded - 22/09/2010 07:26:52 PM 2854 Views
Again, I just find that option completely unlikely since Graendals angreal isn't all that strong - 22/09/2010 07:39:02 PM 2151 Views
You've made a long list of channelers "incompetant" and "untrained". Enough. - 23/09/2010 01:53:25 AM 2188 Views
Re: You've made a long list of channelers "incompetant" and "untrained". Enough. - 23/09/2010 03:42:31 PM 2105 Views
- 23/09/2010 03:54:02 PM 2096 Views
Re: . The evidence is that no channeled is that strong! - 23/09/2010 04:04:02 PM 2198 Views
Really? - 23/09/2010 06:11:00 PM 2173 Views
Re: Really? - 23/09/2010 09:56:09 PM 2044 Views
That's my point *NM* - 24/09/2010 12:20:45 AM 1304 Views
Dear God! The sheer amount of replies here just blew my mind, and my window (jk). *NM* - 24/09/2010 07:28:14 PM 1355 Views
Y o u' r e h u r t i n g m y s c r o l l b a r *NM* - 24/09/2010 11:30:27 PM 1299 Views
Re: She says... - 22/09/2010 07:12:48 PM 2108 Views
Exactly. - 23/09/2010 01:54:05 AM 2070 Views
The way it reads she is holding open a Gateway, then slams shields on both - 22/09/2010 07:08:17 PM 2074 Views
Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 05:46:19 PM 2214 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 05:53:05 PM 2067 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 22/09/2010 07:03:02 PM 2050 Views
Nope - 22/09/2010 07:19:30 PM 1949 Views
Re: Nope - 23/09/2010 02:06:35 AM 2094 Views
Toveine! Now THAT is a good catch, fionwe! - 23/09/2010 07:57:05 AM 2208 Views
Sidious pointed it out, actually. But thanks! - 23/09/2010 03:55:29 PM 2107 Views
And you ignore all the evidence in the series that definitively makes it impossible for Graendal to - 23/09/2010 03:57:49 PM 1993 Views
Well... - 23/09/2010 04:31:27 PM 2171 Views
According to Fionwe she isn't using the angreal - 24/09/2010 11:18:30 PM 2369 Views
Re: According to Fionwe she isn't using the angreal - 25/09/2010 09:38:41 AM 2185 Views
Re: Continue being irrational then... - 24/09/2010 03:20:49 AM 2306 Views
Oh come on.. be real - 22/09/2010 05:39:51 PM 2042 Views
see that's an argument that makes more sense to me - 22/09/2010 05:47:17 PM 2130 Views
Re: How did she know there was a shield? - 24/09/2010 04:42:25 AM 2061 Views
You'[re missing the part about the bonds of air as well - 21/09/2010 11:06:04 PM 2073 Views
No. The sequence was shield-gasp-tie off shield-wrap in Air. *NM* - 21/09/2010 11:14:41 PM 1337 Views
We have seen people holding the source caught off guard by a shield *NM* - 22/09/2010 12:10:48 AM 1299 Views
Well, exactly! - 22/09/2010 02:01:12 AM 2118 Views
What I think happened - 22/09/2010 09:19:57 AM 2088 Views
It's not the male/female issue. It's a Forsaken vs Forsaken issue... - 22/09/2010 10:06:47 AM 2043 Views
Re: It's not the male/female issue. It's a Forsaken vs Forsaken issue... - 22/09/2010 01:31:52 PM 2184 Views
Fair point. - 22/09/2010 02:07:05 PM 2156 Views
I think it also bears mentioning that ... - 22/09/2010 04:17:17 PM 2117 Views
Graendal knew Aran'gar was distracted - 23/09/2010 07:10:52 AM 2093 Views
About shielding a channeler holding the Source... - 22/09/2010 05:51:34 PM 3163 Views
Re: About shielding a channeler holding the Source... - 22/09/2010 07:04:37 PM 3573 Views
The angreal makes this an unnecessary debate... - 22/09/2010 07:09:20 PM 2068 Views
she never shielded them - 22/09/2010 07:22:29 PM 2061 Views
True...But it made her strong enough to easily overcome both... - 22/09/2010 07:28:12 PM 2019 Views
This I can believe ... it's just problematic since the angreal isn't mentioned - 22/09/2010 07:51:19 PM 2110 Views
Re: This I can believe ... it's just problematic since the angreal isn't mentioned - 22/09/2010 07:54:18 PM 2054 Views
LMAO... nice! - 22/09/2010 08:24:20 PM 2056 Views
I think we need to place Aran'gar lower too.. - 22/09/2010 07:10:29 PM 2166 Views
A lot of unsubstantiated assumptions there... - 22/09/2010 07:13:51 PM 1987 Views
I would agree - 22/09/2010 07:22:50 PM 2193 Views
Re: I would agree - 22/09/2010 07:25:46 PM 2026 Views
Re: A lot of unsubstantiated assumptions there... - 23/09/2010 03:03:26 AM 2061 Views
Mostly agree - 22/09/2010 07:23:53 PM 2082 Views
Re: Mostly agree - 22/09/2010 07:28:42 PM 2035 Views
I am starting to believe that RJ didn't think quite so literally - 22/09/2010 08:07:45 PM 2100 Views
Not sure if you agreed with this before, but I reached this point awhile ago bwahaha - 22/09/2010 08:53:42 PM 2101 Views
I've been on this side for a good long while - 22/09/2010 09:40:43 PM 2214 Views
*NM* - 28/09/2010 11:54:54 PM 1269 Views
Well there is one thing to consider about this - 21/09/2010 07:32:44 PM 2342 Views
So there are 6 Forsaken left. - 21/09/2010 10:23:22 PM 2330 Views
For the record - 21/09/2010 10:53:16 PM 2249 Views
She opened two Gateways, IIRC - 21/09/2010 11:58:29 PM 2112 Views
Re: She opened two Gateways, IIRC - 22/09/2010 02:21:47 AM 2179 Views
Wait...so NO ONE has wanted to discuss the Sapphic scene at Graendal's place? - 22/09/2010 03:48:36 AM 2285 Views
yes, totally Lesbian. *NM* - 22/09/2010 03:04:16 PM 1318 Views
No, the other L word. "LesbiAHNS?" *NM* - 22/09/2010 04:18:55 PM 1455 Views
Yes, it was totally lesbian. - 22/09/2010 07:09:19 PM 2083 Views
No, not at all. Aran'gar is still a dude at heart. I think. *NM* - 22/09/2010 08:18:55 PM 1297 Views
I tend to agree - 23/09/2010 05:42:52 PM 2101 Views
Lady parts + Lady parts = Lesbian sex - 24/09/2010 11:24:36 PM 2728 Views
Yes, but its still a little off - 25/09/2010 09:40:16 AM 2135 Views
Transgender is a little convoluted I suppose - 25/09/2010 04:41:33 PM 2309 Views
Re: Transgender is a little convoluted I suppose - 25/09/2010 05:25:10 PM 2192 Views
What does Graendal think of Rand? - 22/09/2010 02:00:28 PM 2278 Views
She was really surprised and scared. - 22/09/2010 02:11:28 PM 2233 Views
I take it you haven't read the Prologue. - 22/09/2010 02:16:49 PM 2126 Views
Quite a bit... - 22/09/2010 02:31:14 PM 2263 Views
Agreed, she's been worrying about him since the begining - 22/09/2010 03:18:48 PM 2359 Views
Thanks for the answers *NM* - 22/09/2010 05:46:05 PM 1280 Views
Second best prologue ever... - 22/09/2010 06:24:44 PM 2519 Views
It's my favorite ever. Only one dark spot tarnished it. - 22/09/2010 07:18:12 PM 2121 Views
Yeah, tEotW is the best... - 22/09/2010 08:22:12 PM 2194 Views
Aran'gar is a tool - 22/09/2010 07:31:36 PM 2363 Views
Yes. s/He was. - 22/09/2010 08:59:16 PM 2144 Views
Shadow invading Kandor and Lan riding trough it. CONNECTION? - 22/09/2010 08:36:05 PM 2329 Views
- 23/09/2010 04:47:11 PM 2216 Views
Nice prologue, but not superb, IMO - 23/09/2010 05:45:41 PM 2267 Views
Re: Nice prologue, but not superb, IMO - 23/09/2010 09:54:33 PM 2201 Views
I believe that Sanderson concocted the entire Graendal/Rand/Balefire part - 23/09/2010 10:24:46 PM 2877 Views
I had a similar thought, but... - 23/09/2010 10:40:58 PM 2198 Views
Probably not Sanderson - 23/09/2010 11:11:54 PM 2201 Views
No way - 24/09/2010 07:14:35 AM 2111 Views
I agree. *NM* - 25/09/2010 09:42:46 AM 1313 Views
A few nits - 12/10/2010 10:21:27 AM 2134 Views
Canadian Download site - 29/09/2010 12:05:12 AM 2693 Views

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