Eben Hopwil

From Tar Valon Library
Jump to: navigation, search

Author: Kyria d'Oreyn

General

Eben Hopwil was an Asha'man loyal to Rand. It is never mentioned where he came from, but he was probably from Andor or perhaps Cairhien, because he was one of the first to be tested for the ability to channel. He was skinny with a blotchy face, a big nose, and large ears (LoC, Ch. 3; Ch. 11). He was just 16, according to Rand (TPoD, Ch. 13), and would never be called handsome (WH, Ch. 13).

He was one of the four men remaining from the very first testing, and would soon have accompanied Taim on his recruiting trips (LoC, Ch. 11). When we see him next at Dumai's Wells, he had already risen to the rank of a Dedicated with the sword pin decorating his collar (ACoS, Ch. 7). Sometime after conquering Illian, Rand promoted him to full Asha'man, because he wore the Dragon pin before fighting against the Seanchan (TPoD, Ch. 13).

It is often described that even though he was still young, he had seen more horror than most men three times his age and was no longer "dewy-eyed" (TPoD, Ch. 13).

He died during the battle at Shadar Logoth at the hands of Aran'gar (WH, Ch. 35).

Timeline

First Appearances

  • He went to the Black Tower according to the amnesty Rand announced, hoping to learn from him. Any man being able to or wanting to learn to channel is under Rand's protection (TFoH, Ch. 56; LoC, Ch. 3).
  • He was pulling up water from a well when Rand brought Taim to test the men on the farm. When he saw the Maidens of the Spear accompanying Rand, he dropped his bucket with a yell. He stayed at the back, white-faced, while Rand introduced Taim to them and told him to pick one to test (LoC, Ch. 3).
  • When Rand visited what is to become the Black Tower, Taim was training Damer Flinn, Jur Grady, Fedwin Morr, and Hopwil among others (Eben was picking up stones with a weave of Air). They were the only ones remaining from the first testing. Taim said he would take Grady, Hopwil, or Morr with him when he went recruiting (LoC, Ch. 11).
  • He was among the crowd when Rand made his speech naming them Asha'man and gave the sword and dragon pins to Taim (LoC, Ch. 42).

Dumai's Wells and Conquering Illian

  • He was among the Asha'man to rescue Rand at Dumai's Wells. He was one of the few for whom Rand could attach a name to the face (LoC, Ch. 55).
  • Rand took him along to Caemlyn, even though Rand soon started thinking he should simply have sent Fedwin Morr with a letter. The Asha'man disguised as prisoners and the Maidens escorted them to where Bael and Bashere were. That night, Rand took them to Semaradrid and Weiramon (ACoS, Ch. 7).
  • He and Adley were on their way to Illian with Rand's army and destroyed the first palisades as soon as they arrived. Fedwin Morr came to visit them every night, as he was supposed to do, most likely exchanging words from Bashere. Flinn, Narishma, and Dashiva knew nothing of these undertakings (ACoS, Ch. 41).
  • He looked eager to conquer Illian alongside the other Asha'man and the army. When they were done, they waited in the throne room of the King's Palace for Rand to return from chasing Sammael (ACoS, Ch. 41).

Fighting the Seanchan

  • Hopwil went scouting in Amador and found the Seanchan there, waiting. He encountered a patrol and had to kill the sul'dam and damane. Rand assured him that his news was good and destroying the patrol was the right thing to do, otherwise they would have killed Eben (TPoD, Ch. 13).
  • Rand took Eben, Corlan Dashiva, Lord Gregorin, and Demetre Marcolin with him to the meeting with Eagan Padros, the leader of the soldiers loyal to "Lord Brend"/Sammael. He studied the woodline intently, when rustling was heard from there, prepared to save Rand from a possible ambush (TPoD, Ch. 13).
  • He was present when Torval arrived with a letter from Taim. After their meeting was over, Rand had Eben ride to the nobles with orders (TPoD, Ch. 14).
  • After Traveling to Illian with Rand and the others, Eben served him mulled wine in his tent, because he had left his servants behind, before searching across the Plains of Maredo to gather the rest of Rand's forces (TPoD, Ch. 21).
  • He helped Flinn Heal the wounded after the skirmishes with the Seanchan (TPoD, Ch. 22).
  • He and the other Asha'man held gateways for Rand's army to prepare another battle against the Seanchan on the other side. He fought alongside the Defenders against the Seanchan in the woods (TPoD, Ch. 24).
  • Dashiva, Flinn, Hopwil, and Morr accompanied Rand when he went to meet Cadsuane. They were instructed to use the Power to overawe the Green sister, but Rand quickly noticed this did not work and sent them outside (TPoD, Ch. 27).

To Far Madding and the Cleansing of saidin

  • Flinn, Narishma, and Hopwil's presence in the Sun Palace a day after the attack on Rand made people nervous (WH, Prologue).
  • He was present when Cadsuane confronted the Counsels of Far Madding to make them release Rand (WH, Ch. 34).
  • During the cleansing of saidin, he linked with Nesune, Beldeine, and Daigian. He was not pleased that he was not given control of their circle. When Aran'gar appeared, he was shocked to feel her channel saidin and threw himself at her, resulting in his death. Later, we see Daigian cradling his dead body and weeping over him (WH, Ch. 35).

Relationships

Eben's loyalty was to Rand from the beginning (LoC, Ch. 3). Rand trusted him, otherwise he would not have ordered him and Adley to accompany his army to Illian (ACoS, Ch. 41). He also told Min, Elayne, and Aviendha that they could probably trust him (WH, Ch. 12).

The first time, he, Jonan, and Fedwin saw Maidens of the Spear, they could not decide whether to goggle at "these exotic creatures they had only read about" or to run before "the murderous Aiel" killed them. Later, they were not afraid of them anymore and even made jokes to counter theirs (ACoS, Ch. 7).

Being one of Taim's men, Torval was contemptuous of the Asha'man with Rand. He mocked Hopwil whenever he saw a chance (TPoD, Ch. 14).

Cairhienin nobles avoided him and the others because they could channel (TPoD, Ch. 27).

He was grim and stone-faced the first time he met Cadsuane, as far as we can tell (his features might also have been affected by holding saidin). She, however, was not at all impressed by any man in a black coat and asked whether one of them would start to juggle or eat fire, as she had always loved gleemen's performances. Although he was outraged by that comment, he was eager to be out of her way (TPoD, Ch. 27).

Daigian bonded Eben as her first Warder and was very proud of him (WH, Ch. 13). They were very affectionate of each other. Eben even thought he might come to love her with time (WH, Ch. 35). After his death, Daigian bears with the pain better than Merise expected, because even though she stays in her room too much, she keeps her weeping private (CoT, Ch. 23).

Samitsu thinks to herself that she has become accustomed to Damer, Jahar, and Eben, because they were "safely bonded and tamed," as she put it (CoT, Prologue]).

Flinn and Narishma grieve the loss of Eben, although they never mention his name (CoT, Ch. 23). Narishma is very adamant that he be remembered for his sacrifice (KoD, Ch. 23).

Nynaeve offers to Heal Daigian of the pain of Eben's death, but Daigian refuses (TGS, Ch. 7).

Miscellaneous

  • Hopwil claimed to be 20 when he came to be tested for the ability to channel. Rand would have sent him home because of his age if the White Tower did not take novices sometimes even younger than him (LoC, Ch. 3).
  • Even though he was weaker than Fedwin Morr, he was still strong enough to make a gateway of useful size (ACoS, Ch. 7; TPoD, Ch. 22).
  • Rand noted Hopwil gazing unfocused into the distance, wearing a frown; Eben might be having hallucinations or hearing voices, like Rand does, or he was still traumatized because he had to kill women. He said burning them to ash did not bother him, but Rand knew he was lying and had to learn (TPoD, Ch. 13).
  • He once said he would laugh a year for joy when he became a full Asha'man. When the Dragon pin was his, however, he showed no emotion when accompanying Rand (TPoD, Ch. 13).
  • When Rand silently mentioned cleansing saidin, his face shone with sudden hope (TPoD, Ch. 14). He was very excited when Rand was about to carry out his plan (WH, Ch. 35).
  • After the new deserters (Hopwil being among them) were announced, Logain's men couldn't understand their reasoning. Donalo Sandomere, who was present at Dumai's Wells, said he had rarely seen men more content as Flinn, Narishma, and Hopwil after Rand had chosen them to accompany him (WH, Prologue).
  • He could ignore simple cold, but had his troubles when the wind was whipping about (WH, Ch. 35).
  • He had learned that battles were far more fun to read about than to be part of (WH, Ch. 35).
  • When Jahar and Merise put Rand's offer of bonding Asha'man before the rebel Hall, Jahar noted that a man or maybe "that Forsaken who killed Eben" tried to listen in (KoD, Ch. 23).

Quotes

The four Aes Sedai who had come through right after Cadsuane were waiting on their horses at one side of the... clearing... with three Warders. At least, Shalon was sure that Ihvon was the fiery Alanna’s Warder, and Tomas was stout little Verin’s, but she also was sure she had seen the very young man who stayed so close to plump Daigian’s side wearing an Asha’man’s black coat. Surely he could not be a Warder. Could he? Eben was just a boy. Yet when the woman gazed at him, her usual puffed-up pride seemed to swell further. (Shalon din Togara; Winter's Heart, Chapter 23)

What did irk him was that he had not been given control of the circle. Of course, Jahar had not, but he figured Merise amused herself by making Jahar balance a cookie on his nose. Damer had been given control of that circle, though. Just because the man had a few years on him — well, more than a few; he was older than Eben’s da — was no reason for Cadsuane to look at him as if he were a — (Eben about circles, before Aran'gar appeared; Winter's Heart, Chapter 35)

"Eben was linked with his Daigian and Beldeine, with Daigian controlling the link, so when they found themselves facing one of the Forsaken, all he could do was should, ‘She’s channelling saidin,’ and attack her with his sword. And despite what she did to him, ruined as he was, he managed to hang on to life, hang on to saidin, long enough for Daigian to drive her off. So you remember his name! Eben Hopwil. He fought for his Aes Sedai long after he should have been dead!" (Narishma to the rebel Hall; Knife of Dreams, Chapter 23)

Retrieved from "http://45.79.183.105/index.php?title=Eben_Hopwil&oldid=76038"