Siuan Sanche
Author: Atarah al'Norahn
SWAHN SAHN-chay
Contents
General
Siuan Sanche was born in Tear to a poor fisherman in the year 958 NE. Little of her life before joining the White Tower, where she was sent at the first sign of the ability to channel, is known. Of medium height with blue eyes, fair skin, and a strong face, Siuan is considered to be a handsome woman (TGH, Ch. 4).
While she was Accepted, both Siuan and Moiraine were present when Gitara Moroso foretold that the Dragon had been Reborn (TGH, Ch. 8).
Siuan was raised to Aes Sedai shortly after the end of the Aiel War, which ended in 978 NE, and chose the Blue as her Ajah. While still a newer sister, working for the Blue eyes and ears, she discovered that the Black Ajah was attempting-and succeeding-to kill off the searchers that were sent after the Dragon Reborn by Tamra Ospenya. She traveled to Canluum, where she met up with Moiraine. Together, they managed to foil the plans of the Black Ajah; what they were doing was killing off every man who showed the potential to channel (NS).
Siuan was raised to the Amyrlin Seat at the age of thirty, in the year 988 NE (LoC, Ch. 35).
One of Siuan's talents is the ability to see ta'veren (TGH, Ch. 5). However, she is not very skilled in healing. (ACoS, Ch. 12) Before being stilled, Siuan was equal in strength to Romanda and Lelaine (ACoS, Ch. 9).
Condensed Timeline
- 958-Siuan is born.
- 973-976(???)-Siuan goes to the White Tower to train as a novice.
- 979-Siuan bonds Alric as her Warder (TSR, Ch. 47).
- 988-Siuan is raised to the Amyrlin Seat (LoC, Ch. 35).
- 998-Siuan is stilled (TSR, Ch. 47).
The Gathering Storm Timeline
- Siuan worries that Lelaine is getting to much influence (TGS, Ch. 8)
- She tells Lelaine that she saw Marelenda and Romanda talking, in order to distract Lelaine. She wonders if she was ever manipulated like she is doing with Lelaine(TGS, Ch. 8)
- Lelaine offers to pay off the debtr to Byrne as suian's position reflects badly on Aes Sedai dignity. Suian puts her off by saying they should have someone supervising him(TGS, Ch. 8)
- She tells Egwene about Halima, saidin being clean and the offer to bond Ashaman (TGS, Ch. 8)
- She tells Egwene where the angreal storeroom is (TGS, Ch. 8)
- Siuan realises that as Aes Sedai she doesn't have to do her own laundry (TGS, Ch. 18)
- She thinks Tiana is slacking by not having the novices at their chores (TGS, Ch. 18)
- When Siuan learns Elaida has Traveling, she sends a novice to let Gareth know. She realises Beonin must have given her the secret (TGS, Ch. 18)
- Sharina lets her know Lelaine deliberately let slip the knowledge about Elaida (TGS, Ch. 18)
- Siuan tries to persuade Egwene to return (TGS, Ch. 38)
- Siuan tells Egwene that Gawyn is in the camp and eaily reads her response (TGS, Ch. 38)
- Siuan warns Egwene about stretching herself to thin, Egwene considers that this may have been one of Siuan's mistakes (TGS, Ch. 38)
- She tells Egwene that Egwene has fulfilled her potential, or at least some of it (TGS, Ch. 38)
- Siuan is talking to Egwene when the Seanchan attack (TGS, Ch. 39)
- Siuan realises the Seanchan are attacking (TGS, Ch. 40)
- Siuan says they should rescue Egwene. Gareth refuses. He follows her rather than returning to his guard post (TGS, Ch. 40)
- Gareth agrees to go with her on condition that she bond him and another condition that he doesn't reveal. Siuan bonds Gareth. He fetches Bela (TGS, Ch. 40)
- Suian's skill in healing is not the best but she is able to Heal three men anyway(TGS, Ch. 41)
- A bloodknife attacks Siuan but gareth kills him. Siuan heals him because of Min's vision(TGS, Ch. 41)
- Siuan cautions Egwene against accepting the offer to be Amyrlin, but Egwene says it is what they wanted. (TGS, Ch. 43)
Towers of Midnight Timeline
- Siuan is at the White Tower when Rand shows up to speak with the Amyrlin. She wonders how me made it into the city without being seen. She also ponders on the fact that Egwene is the Amyrlin now and not her even though she thought she would be the one. Rand enters and walks over to her. He speaks to her about change and about Egwene.(ToM, Ch. 3)
- Siuan walks in on Bryne and Gawyn having a conversation about Elayne. She questions Bryne's knowledge of women and tells Gawyn to stop telling Egwene what to do.(ToM, Ch. 22)
- Siuan makes a soup and they eat it. Nynaeve, Egwene, and Siuan then talk about the changes in Rand. After that the conversation turns to the death of the sisters in the White Tower. They have a plan to try and catch Mesaana and it involves meeting with the Aiel, Windfinders, and Aes Sedai and luring her out. Siuan has been training people on how to use Tel'aran'rhiod and they have leant the Windfinders dream ter'angreal so they can meet them in Tel'aran'rhiod.(ToM, Ch. 33)
- Siuan waits in Tel'aran'rhiod during the meeting to see if anyone is going to eavesdrop. They are attacked and she notifies Egwene that the Black sisters are attacking and not eavesdropping.(ToM, Ch. 36)
- Siuan participates in the battle with the Black sisters and sticks with Leane.(ToM, Ch. 37)
Relationships with Other Characters
As a novice in the White Tower, Siuan was close friends with Moiraine, Leane, and Sheriam, all of whom got into quite a bit of trouble around this point of their lives (TFoH, Ch. 26). One incident that Siuan recalls is arguing too vehemently with Anaiya, her history teacher, for which she received two months of kitchen duty. (TFoH, Ch. 26)
Siuan's closest friend is/was Moiraine Damodred, also Aes Sedai of the Blue Ajah. She is also close to Leane, who was her Keeper of the Chronicles while she was still Amyrlin Seat. Before she became Amyrlin, aside from Moiraine, Siuan's closest friends were Delana, whom she was novice and Accepted with, and Lelaine (LoC, Ch. 30). Though she has many close friends, there are also people with whom she shares a mutual dislike, such as Anaiya (TFoH, Ch. 27).
Siuan's Warder, Alric, was bonded to her around the year of 979 NE, and was tall and slender, with gray hair. He was killed when Siuan was taken captive by Elaida. To this date, she still feels the pain of his death (ACoS, Ch. 12).
While she was Amyrlin, Siuan was, of course, much higher in rank than any other Aes Sedai; this has a lot to say about her relationship with all of the Sisters, as they had to defer to her. However, after her stilling, she is at the very bottom of the ladder, and openly degraded by some. Even after Nynaeve Heals her (LoC, Ch. 30), she is still lower down on the scale due to the fact that she is much weaker in the One Power.
While Egwene is Amyrlin Seat, Siuan concentrates her efforts to helping her. While at first they didn't seem to be the best of friends, it seems that now they get along well, and also work well together.
Siuan trusts Gareth Bryne completely when he gives his word. She is shocked to realize that she is annoyed that he never tries to kiss her (KoD, Ch. 3).
Suian wishes she could be a little more green with Gareth (TGS, Ch. 18)
Sharina tells her she can see how hard she is working to support Egwene (TGS, Ch. 18)
Suian thinks Gareth will make an excellent warder(TGS, Ch. 43)
Miscellaneous
- Before her stilling, Min had a viewing of Siuan being stilled. In the viewing, Siuan was lying naked on the floor; aside from her being in only her skin, there was something else odd about the image, but Min had no idea what it was (TSR, Ch. 1).
- Min also has a viewing that Siuan and Gareth Bryne must stay close to each other, or else die (TFoH, Ch. 28).
Quotes
"A man is the easiest animal to put on a leash, and the hardest to keep leashed." (The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 18).
"When there are fish heads and blood in the water, you don't need to see the silverpike to know they are there." (The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 13).
"Fish Guts!" (Throughout the books)
"Whether or not what you do has the effect you want, it will have at least three you never expected, and one of those usually unpleasant."
"Do not trouble trouble till trouble troubles you." (The Shadow Rising, Chapter 17).
“You may end up being the best Amyrlin this world has known this side of Artur Hawkwing's reign (The Gathering Storm, Chapter 38).
“With this, I'm strong enough for travelling” - Siuan on Vora's sa'angreal(The Gathering Storm, Chapter 41)
“Moiraine herself wouldn't recognise me with this face”(The Gathering Storm, Chapter 41)