Elayne’s Epic Journey in Wheel of Time Season 3 That Book Fans Never Saw Coming!

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Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 3, episode 8

In the final episode of The Wheel of Time season 3, Elayne Trakand’s narrative took an intriguing turn, one that mirrors her book counterpart perfectly. If Amazon’s The Wheel of Time stays faithful to Robert Jordan’s novels, Elayne will persist alongside Nynaeve al’Meara in their mission to foil Moghedien’s schemes. Moghedien aims to utilize the Domination Bands, a powerful artifact similar to the male a’dam, which can potentially control the Dragon Reborn himself.

At present, there hasn’t been any official announcement about the direction the series might go in, considering that The Wheel of Time season 4 has not yet been commissioned, and no details have been shared regarding which book from the series a potential continuation would be based on. However, the events of the The Wheel of Time season 3 finale do provide some hints, and one clue in particular suggests that the TV show might have a unique take on the daughter-heir of Andor. Frankly, it’s an idea I believe the books could have delved into more deeply.

The Wheel Of Time Sets Up Elayne & Thom To Go To Caemlyn In Season 4

Elayne Has Been Told That A Forsaken Has Infiltrated Her Mother’s Court

In the final episode of season 3, Elayne mentions “Lord Gaebril,” who is said to be the queen’s consort in the kingdom of Andor and has supposedly been influential in her life for years. This remark sparks Thom Merrilin, with evident familiarity with Queen Morgase Trakand and the royal court, to question the existence of such a person. As Thom rightfully suggests, “Lord Gaebril” is actually one of the Forsaken, since only they possess the strength in the One Power to manipulate thoughts and memories of others.

Thom’s statement holds validity, for indeed, Rahvin of the Forsaken has sneakily found his way into Andor’s court, posing as Morgase’s lover and a mentor to Elayne under the influence of Compulsion. The show doesn’t explicitly reveal if Elayne acknowledged Thom’s warning as truth, but given the bond they share, it’s challenging to envision her dismissing it casually or ignoring it altogether. After all, Thom emphatically warned that Morgase’s life was under threat. Even if Elayne finds it difficult to accept the idea that the “Lord Gaebril” she is familiar with is a disguise, it would be sensible for her to investigate personally to verify this.

It’s unlikely that Thom wasn’t with them at the end of the episode. He had merely asked Elayne to return home, without mentioning his own return. However, given his plan to sacrifice himself for her, it seems probable that he would join her. Earlier in the season, Thom showed reluctance about getting involved in their issues, but his strong feelings for Elayne appear to have shifted his priorities significantly.

How Elayne Going To Caemlyn Now Would Change The Wheel Of Time Books

Elayne Has To Plenty To Do In The Next Story, And None Of It Involves Fighting Rahvin

Changing Caemlyn’s destination beyond Tanchico following her journey would significantly alter Elayne’s character arc in the series, as the books portray Elayne continuing alongside Nynaeve after the events of “The Shadow Rising,” eventually leaving Tanchico with Nynaeve in “The Fires of Heaven.” The initial plan was for them to return to the White Tower, but this changed when it was revealed that Elaida had deposed Siuan Sanche and seized control. Instead, they decide to head towards Salidar to join forces with the Aes Sedai rebellion formed in response to Elaida’s coup.

The storyline saw several significant events unfold, among them Nynaeve encountering Birgitte Silverbow, an ancient warrior and ally of the Heroes of the Horn, in Tel’aran’rhiod as they chased Moghedien. When Birgitte attempted to shield them from Moghedien, the Forsaken retaliated by pulling her out of Tel’aran’rhiod. To prevent Birgitte’s death, Elayne felt compelled to bind her as her Warder, a decision that ultimately made Birgitte Silverbow a recurring character in the series and both a trusted advisor and protector for Elayne.

Indeed, it all unfolds from the narrative set forth in “The Shadow Rising,” where Elayne and Nynaeve’s mission was to acquire the Domination Bands. With Moghedien holding a fragment of it at the season finale, the stage is set for their pursuit of Moghedien in “The Fires of Heaven” as part of the storyline for season 4. However, Thom’s ominous words to Elayne cast doubt on this trajectory, providing her with a solid rationale to separate from Nynaeve and embark upon her own journey. If the show decides to follow this route, it could potentially disrupt the Birgitte Silverbow storyline and eliminate one of the key characters in the Moghedien saga.

The Wheel Of Time Season 4’s Rahvin Story Is The Perfect Fit For Elayne

Elayne Should Be Involved In The Fight Against Rahvin

In The Fires of Heaven, shifting Elayne’s narrative might involve sacrificing some aspects of her story. However, the benefits could outweigh this sacrifice, particularly if it manages to transfer key elements such as her encounter with Birgitte Silverbow in Tel’aran’rhiod to Caemlyn. Given the rich storytelling possibilities tied to Elayne’s connection to the Rahvin plotline in The Fires of Heaven, this change could prove intriguing and engaging for readers.

As a devoted reader, I can’t help but anticipate Elayne’s potential role in the upcoming events, given what transpired in the novel where Morgase was dethroned, Rahvin seized power, and Rand ultimately vanquished the villain. Interestingly, Elayne was nowhere near these happenings. However, having foreknowledge of this time around, there’s a strong possibility she’ll be present and active. This could provide her with some pivotal character moments, such as challenging Rahvin to break his Compulsion over her mother, attempting to rescue her from his control, and perhaps persuading her brothers to align with her cause. It’s an exciting prospect!

Additionally, there’s the intriguing aspect of Thom’s enigmatic history within “The Wheel of Time”. In the novel “The Shadow Rising“, it was heavily suggested that Thom covertly murdered Taringail Damodred, who was Elayne’s father and Morgase’s husband. However, this information was never disclosed to Elayne. If they both remain in Caemlyn together while working to uncover Rahvin’s deception, it seems inevitable that the truth about Thom will eventually be unearthed.

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2025-05-02 03:19