Chapter 35 - The Importance of Dyelin

Summary

Elayne al'Vere grants safe conduct to Luan Norwelyn, Arathelle Renshar, and four other nobles who have encamped south of Caemlyn, though she resents the implication that she might detain them. She confides in Dyelin Warde about her pregnancy-induced mood swings, receiving sincere praise for her suitability as queen and watching Dyelin decline the throne in favor of continuity. Following daily midwife checks and a lavish meal, Elayne meets the nobles in the Grand Hall amid tense exchanges with the provocative Ellorien Traemane. Luan proposes a truce to face the Borderlanders massing nearby, prompting Dyelin to announce Taravin's support for Trakand. Elayne justifies allowing the Borderlanders passage as an Aes Sedai to avoid a losing war and deflects questions about the Black Tower. Abelle Pendar and Luan Norwelyn declare for Trakand, followed by Arathelle, Pelivar, and Aemlyn, securing Elayne eleven Houses and effectively winning the throne. Ellorien departs coldly, vowing only to ride behind Andor's lion at Tarmon Gai'don, leaving Elayne to reflect on the messy reality of her victory as thunder rolls toward the Last Battle.

Characters

• Elayne al'Vere / Elayne Trakand — Grants safe conduct to encamped nobles with icy politeness, secures eleven Houses for the throne through diplomatic maneuvering, and endures pregnancy checks while reflecting on the messy reality of her victory.
• Dyelin Warde — Declines the throne in favor of continuity, announces Taravin's support for Trakand, and watches Elayne secure her position with quiet approval.
• Hanselle Renshar — Delivers the nobles' request for safe conduct and departs after receiving a curt but formal grant.
• Reene Harfor — Reports on palace spies and leaks, then announces the arrival of the visiting lords and ladies.
• Luan Norwelyn — Proposes a truce to face the Borderlanders and ultimately declares his House's support for Trakand.
• Arathelle Renshar — Arrives with the other nobles, masks disappointment at Danine's absence, and later pledges her House to Trakand.
• Pelivar Coelan — Walks with Arathelle's group and announces his support for Trakand alongside the others.
• Aemlyn Carand — Arrives in the Grand Hall, drinks thoughtfully during negotiations, and pledges her House to Trakand.
• Ellorien Traemane — Provokes Elayne with cold remarks about the throne, refuses a truce, and departs vowing only to ride behind Andor's lion at Tarmon Gai'don.
• Abelle Pendar — Questions Elayne's policy toward the Black Tower and unexpectedly declares his House for Trakand.
• Sylvase Caeren — Converses with Conail and Catalyn in the Grand Hall, representing her house among the gathered nobles.
• Conail — Stands for Trakand, colors easily when reprimanded, and is kept from fighting by Dyelin's earlier orders.
• Catalyn — Demands to bite back at Ellorien's provocations but is restrained by Dyelin's drily pointed analogy about oxen and goads.
• Branlet — Stands apart from his allies, listens closely to the negotiations, and remains loyal to Trakand.
• Perival Mantear — Calmly restrains Branlet when he grows angry, demonstrates level-headedness during the tense meeting, and pledges support for Trakand.
• Lir Baryn — Smoothly claims loyalty to Elayne while secretly harboring contempt, fights mercenaries repeatedly to prove his worth, and stands apart from Karind.
• Karind Anshar — Stands stoically apart from Lir, returns Ellorien's spiteful stare without ruffling, and has already declared her house's support for Trakand.
• Melfane Dawlish — Performs daily pregnancy checks including weighing and urine analysis, offers advice on reading to the unborn babies, and laughs at the notion of a male midwife.
• Essande — Assists with Elayne's daily routines, dresses her for the meeting, and joins the serving staff in the Grand Hall.
• Caseille — Leads the Guardswomen to the Grand Hall, notes shifting corridors without complaint, and stands guard at the doors.
• Birgitte Silverbow — Drinks heavily to dull grief over Gaidal, reads history to Elayne's unborn children, and senses the nobles' true intentions through their bond.
• Halwin Norry — Reports on supplies, arsons, and death warrants, warns about Sylvase's trustworthiness, and agrees to bribe her servants as spies.