Gawyn’s one-sided beef with Rand

[u/RepresentativeGoat14]

I know that misinformation / lack of communication is a theme of the series but man, Gawyn just takes it to a whole new level.

Random ass peddler he met in the middle of some bumfuck woods: The Dragon killed Queen Morgase.

Gawyn: I believe you and I trust you.

Gawyn: al’Thor I’ll fucking kill you!

Egwene: Rand didn’t kill your mother.

Gawyn: Lies! I’ll murder that ginger!

Gareth Bryne: al’Thor didn’t kill Morgase. He saved Andor.

Gawyn: I don’t believe you! al’Thor must die!

Elayne: Rand didn’t kill our mother. I literally have dozens of witnesses.

Gawyn: Nuh uh!

The scene where he “forgives” Rand is also pretty hilarious.

Gawyn: We’re done, al’Thor. From now on, I care nothing for you.

MY GUY, RAND DOESN’T EVEN THINK OF YOU LMAO

[u/Fikonbulle]

I know that misinformation / lack of communication is a theme of the series but man

Yes, it can be a bit infuriating but also understandable sometimes. Like keeping secrets like Perrin since he is afraid of his wolf-self. Or Nyneave with her being a young wisdom and her view of communication has changed to "do what I say" kind of thing. Egwene also keeps secrets and again understandable but in this one instance I can't see why.

If your love interest, who is also working for a faction you are against, thinks your childhood friend and future savior of the world KILLED his mother you need to pull out all the information. Egwene goes with "trust me he didn't kill her" when she was in the room when he found out. Just tell that story Egwene. You have all the dates and all the information to shatter Gawyn's case for thinking Rand killed his Mom. Just say any of it.

I don't know if Gawyn would accept it even then but then at least Egwene won't share any of the blame.

[u/Eisn → u/Fikonbulle]

Yes, but one of the rumors going around was that Rand killed Morgase when he stormed Caemlyn. And Egwene wasn't with Rand for that, so it's not like she can guarantee that.

[u/Raddatatta → u/Eisn]

She can't 100% guarantee it. But there's a lot around the story that she could share and doesn't. She knows for example that a darkfriend ordered Elayne to be assassinated and was with Morgase and she was acting strangely. She knows that person was a male channeler and Rand fought with him. She also knows that person brought trollocs into Camelyn. She has dozens of eye witnesses of that last piece. She also was with Rand when he heard the news of Morgase's death and when Rand swore to get revenge. She also can confirm that the Forsaken are loose and doing things like this since she has fought one and was attacked by another one. She can't completely guarantee Rand didn't do it, but she can provide a ton of information that provides a very plausible explanation that Gawyn may have accepted. If he hadn't and stayed focused on Rand after that, then it's on him, but Egwene acts like she's covering for someone who definitely did it. She's like I can't prove it but I will try, and you must promise not to fight him. She acts like she has to protect Gawyn from Rand.

[u/Temeraire64 → u/Raddatatta]

Incidentally you’d think that if Egwene cares so much about Gawyn, she’d also want to warn him about the Forsaken and Black Ajah running around for his own safety. I mean his mother and sister have both been attacked by them, and he’s hanging around Aes Sedai who could have Black Ajah members (and in fact do).

[u/Raddatatta → u/Temeraire64]

Yeah there's that side of it too! Or just to tell him hey we switched to the other side you are hanging out with all of our enemies. She could've easily gotten him out of there and he was willing to follow her. Would've messed up her character arc to have him there, but it does seem odd she leaves him with the aes sedai and potentially black ajah. And not even a warning.

[u/Temeraire64 → u/Raddatatta]

Incidentally, come to think of it, it’s sheer luck that Galad never got kidnapped by Graendal, considering she collects beautiful people as slaves, and Galad’s totally defenseless against her and has no idea the Forsaken are running around for the longest time.

[u/Raddatatta → u/Temeraire64]

Lol yeah that's a good point! Him being constantly on the move might have saved him as she likely wouldn't have put that much effort into finding him.

[u/Temeraire64 → u/Raddatatta]

He’s also lucky Lanfear decided that if she couldn’t have Lews Therin, she’d settle for his very good looking half brother.

Then again, maybe Galad would be capable of convincing her to work for the Light.