#and?

imagine my shock at finding out people hate Egwene after the last books had me in tears during her struggles and then her speech about reunification

So I've been thinking about it and I think what really speaks to me about her character is that she isn't The Chosen One, but kind of finds ways to work towards being "A Chosen One". She's not the Wisdom, she isn't the Dragon Reborn and she isn't even ta'veren. She isn't ordained but she went out into the world and ordained herself. And I love that about her so much. She's from a small town where the highest ranking position of influence/power is currently occupied by a woman not that much older than she is so the odds of becoming the Wisdom are low and she doesn't necessarily dream of settling down to have babies but that's where the ceiling is for her until Moiraine comes to town and tells her that the ceiling is actually much higher than she ever even dreamed before - so Egwene charges out into the world to find the limits.

That damn thing holds so much symbolism between these two. It sticks to her bare skin when she knows she has to go. He takes good care of it, and has for many years. She knows the smell of the leather cleaner/conditioner he uses, and it's a memory that's nostalgic/comforting for her. It almost seems like he knows this (??) -- (girl u wrote it, lmao) because when she's away, and he knows she's someplace she doesn't want to be, she comes back to his home, and he's cleaned the couch, and it smells so familiar and and and (UGGGH)