Chapter 46 - Fal Dara

Summary

Moiraine’s party emerges from the Ogier Ways into the desolate, forested hills of Shienar, riding toward the fortified city of Fal Dara amidst signs of recent abandonment and impending war. Inside the grim, militarized city, they are greeted by Lord Agelmar and Ingtar, who warn of massive Trolloc forces gathering for a critical battle at Tarwin’s Gap, though Moiraine and Lan insist their urgent mission to find the Eye of the World in the Blight takes precedence. The group’s relief at their arrival is shattered when Ingtar brings in a ragged stranger, who is identified by Rand, Mat, and Perrin as Padan Fain, the peddler and beggar they had previously encountered in Caemlyn and who now reveals he is being forced to hunt them by the Dark One.

Characters

Rand / Rand al'Thor — Rand rides into Fal Dara, noting the starkness of the landscape and the grim military atmosphere of the city. He attempts to convince Nynaeve and Egwene to turn back, arguing it is too dangerous for them to enter the Blight, but is firmly rejected. Later, he identifies the mysterious stranger brought before the Lord as Padan Fain, recalling their past encounter in Caemlyn.
Mat — Mat travels with the group, shivering in the cold and grumbling about the lack of warmth in Shienar. He makes a joke about the city walls and later helps identify the stranger as Padan Fain, clutching the cursed dagger from Shadar Logoth in fear when Fain claims to be hunted by the Dark One.
Perrin — Perrin observes the abandoned farms and listens to Egwene’s deduction about their recent departure. He rides silently through the streets of Fal Dara and confirms the identity of the stranger as Padan Fain, nodding in agreement with Mat and Rand.
Egwene — Egwene rides through the desolate hills and into Fal Dara, shivering at the cold. She deduces how recently the local farmers fled based on their window curtains. She privately speaks to Rand about her dance with Aram.
Nynaeve — Nynaeve rides with the group, frowning at the dead landscape and agreeing with Egwene’s observation about the farmers' recent departure. She firmly rejects Rand’s suggestion that she and Egwene should stay behind, asserting her commitment to the Pattern and her refusal to show less courage than the men. She is introduced to Lord Agelmar as a non-Aes Sedai.
Moiraine / Moiraine Sedai (Aes Sedai) — Moiraine leads the group through the Ways and into Fal Dara, riding with authority and purpose. She negotiates with Lord Agelmar for passage, declining offers to help at Tarwin’s Gap to focus on the Eye of the World. She reveals she has seen the Green Man before and identifies Padan Fain as a threat to the Pattern, ordering him washed and spoken to privately.
Lan (Dai Shan, Warder) — Lan leads the group into Fal Dara, enforcing the law that hoods be removed within city walls. He meets Lord Agelmar, discussing the dire situation at Tarwin’s Gap and his obligation as a Warder. He accompanies Moiraine to confront Fain, holding his cup as he listens to the grim reports of Trolloc movements.
Loial (Ogier, Builder) — Loial mourns the lack of an Ogier grove in Shienar and explains the concept of the Green Man to Perrin. He is greeted formally by the guards and Lord Agelmar, receiving the title 'Builder.' He discusses his longing for the stedding with Agelmar and is noted by Moiraine as the key to finding the Eye of the World.
unknown — “Ta’veren.” Loial’s sigh was a rumble like thunder on the horizon. “You swirl lives around you, Rand al’Thor, you and your friends. Your fate chooses ours.” The Ogier shrugged, and suddenly a broad grin split his face. “Besides, it will be something to meet the Green Man. Elder Haman always talks about his meeting with the Green Man, and so does my father, and most of the Elders.” “So many?” Perrin said. “The stories say the Green Man is hard to find, and no one can find him twice.” “Not twice, no,” Loial agreed. “But then, I have never met him, and neither have you. He doesn’t seem to avoid Ogier quite the way he does you humans. He knows so much about trees. Even the Tree Songs.” Rand said, “The point I was trying to make is—” The Wisdom cut him off. “She says Egwene and I are part of the Pattern, too. All woven in with you three. If she is to be believed, there’s something about the way that piece of the Pattern is woven that might stop the Dark One. And I am afraid I do believe her; too much has happened not to.” “I was only trying to—” Again Nynaeve interrupted, sharply. “I know what you were trying to do.” She looked at him until he shifted uneasily in his saddle, then her face softened. “I know what you were trying to do, Rand. I have little liking for any Aes Sedai, and this one least of all, I think. I have less for going into the Blight, but least of all is the liking I have for the Father of Lies. If you boys . . . you men, can do what has to be done when you’d rather do almost anything else, why do you think I will do less? Or Egwene?” She did not appear to expect an answer. Gathering her reins, she frowned toward the Aes Sedai up ahead. “I wonder if we’re going to reach this Fal Dara place soon, or does she mean us to spend the night out in this?”
unknown — “Ta’veren.” Loial’s sigh was a rumble like thunder on the horizon. “You swirl lives around you, Rand al’Thor, you and your friends. Your fate chooses ours.” The Ogier shrugged, and suddenly a broad grin split his face. “Besides, it will be something to meet the Green Man. Elder Haman always talks about his meeting with the Green Man, and so does my father, and most of the Elders.” “So many?” Perrin said. “The stories say the Green Man is hard to find, and no one can find him twice.” “Not twice, no,” Loial agreed. “But then, I have never met him, and neither have you. He doesn’t seem to avoid Ogier quite the way he does you humans. He knows so much about trees. Even the Tree Songs.” Rand said, “The point I was trying to make is—” The Wisdom cut him off. “She says Egwene and I are part of the Pattern, too. All woven in with you three. If she is to be believed, there’s something about the way that piece of the Pattern is woven that might stop the Dark One. And I am afraid I do believe her; too much has happened not to.” “I was only trying to—” Again Nynaeve interrupted, sharply. “I know what you were trying to do.” She looked at him until he shifted uneasily in his saddle, then her face softened. “I know what you were trying to do, Rand. I have little liking for any Aes Sedai, and this one least of all, I think. I have less for going into the Blight, but least of all is the liking I have for the Father of Lies. If you boys . . . you men, can do what has to be done when you’d rather do almost anything else, why do you think I will do less? Or Egwene?” She did not appear to expect an answer. Gathering her reins, she frowned toward the Aes Sedai up ahead. “I wonder if we’re going to reach this Fal Dara place soon, or does she mean us to spend the night out in this?”
Agelmar (Lord, Lord of Fal Dara) — Lord Agelmar welcomes Moiraine and Lan to Fal Dara, offering hospitality and wine. He reveals the critical military situation, with Trollocs massing for a battle at Tarwin’s Gap that Shienar may not survive. He is skeptical of Nynaeve and Egwene’s role but is persuaded by Moiraine to allow her to travel with them to the Blight.
Ingtar — Ingtar escorts the group through the fortress to Lord Agelmar’s study. He brings news of a strange stranger entering the city and later introduces the captured Padan Fain.
Fain / Padan Fain / The peddler / The beggar / The stranger — Padan Fain is brought before Lord Agelmar, ragged and filthy. He initially whines and cries, claiming to be hunted by the Dark One, then shifts to an arrogant, oily demeanor, offering to teach Agelmar how to defeat the Shadow. Moiraine identifies him as more than human and orders him to be taken away for washing and questioning.
Aldieb — Aldieb, Moiraine’s white mare, is ridden by Moiraine into Fal Dara and is quickened in pace by her mistress at the sight of the abandoned farm.
Bela — Bela, Egwene’s shaggy brown mare, is ridden by Egwene into Fal Dara and moves close to Rand’s horse in the city streets.
Mandarb — Mandarb, Lan’s warhorse, is ridden by Lan into Fal Dara. The armored horse is led into the keep and eventually untied by grooms.
Red — Red, the bay horse lent to Rand by Master Gill, is ridden by Rand into Fal Dara and untied by a groom in the keep.