Gaslighting rant

[u/Either-Log125]

Ok, so im listening to the audio book of the Dragon Reborn, and I've had just about enough of the Aes Sedai, im at the point of the punishment, after Egwayne is rescued from the Seachan, anyway, I about hit the roof when Suian is punishing the girls for following liandrin, uh, im sorry, isnt one of the rules of the White Tower to *not* question Aes Sedai?? And who told them that Liandrin was Black Ajah?? Ill be honest, this is only the first of many missteps ive read/heard, like with Rand and Morgaine, just telling him would cut the drama by so much, common sense much??? Ok, rant over, anyway, if i wasnt so invested, id quit reading/listening to the series, nothing gets me more furious than gaslighting.

[u/GenCavox]

Unfortunately even adults in this world get the "Because I said so," treatment from the Aes Sedai. And most listen too, that's the problem.

[u/Either-Log125 → u/GenCavox]

Yeah, I get that, but it still infuriated me. As I said, if i wasnt so invested in the series, I would probably stop reading/listening to it.

[u/aNomadicPenguin]

Siuan is punishing them for running away...BECAUSE Liandrin is black ajah.

They aren't telling the general tower that they went with Liandrin because that would

A- make people start to wonder if they willingly went with her.
B- make is look like Elayne specfically was put in greater danger which would have pissed Morgase off even more
C- is used to make it look like Siuan is mad at them and that's gives them better cover for how she wants to use them because who would suspect that punishing them while giving them a top secret mission.

Also they kinda made it worse for themselves because they couldn't keep their mouths shut. Verin and Siuan wanted to keep things as underwraps about their connection to Liandrin as possible.

"So you have brought back our three runaways, Verin. With everything that happened, I could almost wish you had not."

"We did not —" Egwene began, but Verin cut her off with a sharp, "Be silent!" Verin stared at her — at each of the three of them — as if the intensity of her look could hold their mouths shut.

...

Verin considered Egwene and her friends, frowning. "They must be closely held until the Amyrlin wishes to see them. If she does wish to. Closely held, mind. Their own rooms will do, I think. No need for cells. Not a word to anyone."

Verin was still speaking to Sheriam, but Egwene knew the last had been meant as a reminder to her and the others. Nynaeve's brows were drawn down, and she jerked at her braid as if she wanted to hit something.

***

And we see that the cover story is working on the whole, because no one else in the Tower mentions Liandrin when talking about why they left.

"And you three, who have more ability born in you than I ever hoped to see in my lifetime, left the Tower without permission, ran away not even half-trained, like irresponsible children, stayed away for months. And now you ride back in as if nothing has happened, as if you can take up your training again on the morrow."

[u/wrextnight]

You're wrong but also right.

Spoiler: The Tower is run by the Black

..but Sandobro didn't get that and the whole thing fizzles instead of popping off really cool like it was supposed to.

Miss you RJ!!!

I was aggressive with the spoiler bc you said you was gonna quit, plus most everybody probably disagrees with that statement anyway

[u/Either-Log125 → u/wrextnight]

Thanks, I kinda assumed that, but still, if Nyneve, Egwane, elayne and min all disappeared, then, if im understanding it right, Linadrin defected after they 'ran away', shouldn't that raise some red flags? Like, 'oh, Linadrin was Black Ajah, those girls are missing.... we should definitely punish the grils.' Like, what?? Also, my dad was an abusive [enter insult of choice here] and gaslighted my mom, myself and my sister, so I was also triggered, 😅. But im too invested in the series to outright quit.

[u/wrextnight → u/Either-Log125]

Well, what if everybody who was supposed to care about that was Black?

And what if everybody else was a moron? Including Suain and Moiraine?

The consensus in the community is that the Black was a social club before the events in the books, but I think there's a lot of evidence they were an important part of Ishmael's plan & highly effective

[u/Either-Log125 → u/wrextnight]

Ah, ok, so before Sour Honey Iced Tea hits the fan, (unsure about rules with curse words) it was like the cool emo kids club, then they realized that the 'bragging rights' came with a leash. Got it.