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Bonwhin Meraighdin
The last Amyrlin Seat to be raised from the Red Ajah, and indeed the reason why none have been from the Red until recently. An imperious woman who could hold a grudge, there was always an enmity between her and Artur Hawkwing. Her dangerous actions concerning him were the main reason for her eventual Stilling in FY 992. Her replacement, Deane Aryman was a very strong Amyrlin and had a lot of work to do to repair the damage done by her dangerous predecessor. In Free year 939 Bonwhin was raised as Amyrlin from the Red Ajah and Guaire Amalasan declared himself as the Dragon Reborn in Darmovan, starting the War of the Second Dragon. In the spring of 943, sisters from the White Tower accompanied Hawkwing in his defeat of Amalasan. They could barely match his strength in the One Power. He was eventually taken in the confusion resulting when Hawkwing ambushed Amalasan’s army, and as a result his army began to collapse. Hawkwing refused Bonwhin’s summons and instead sent an ultimatum. When he broke Tower law by bringing an army so close to Tar Valon, Bonwhin gave him five days lo leave. Bonwhin had the sisters that came back with him punished. The summer of 943 saw the First Siege of Tar Valon. Amalasan’s supporters led by Maculkene and Motheneos laid siege to the Tower and Bonwhin was forced to call back Hawkwing’s armies to help. She was very bitter about having to go back on her earlier decision. Bonwhin’s dilemma marked the start of the Wars of Consolidation. A year into the Wars of Consolidation, Bonwhin refused Hawkwing’s request for help in negotiations. However, she sent as many as four or five advisors to the opposing armies. Hawkwing thought that she was encouraging the leaders of other countries to attack him in the first place. It took until 954 before Hawking gave in to his wife’s request for a truce with the White Tower. He accepted an advisor, Chowin Tsao from the Green Ajah. Hawkwing then began to use Aes Sedai across the whole empire as governors and advisors; and through these Aes Sedai, Bonwhin frequently tried to manipulate Hawkwing. In 963 the Wars of Consolidation came to an end, and Hawkwing became the undisputed High King. Despite Hawkwing’s appointment as High King, relations between he and the Tower did not become any less turbulent. Around 968 Hawkwing’s second wife, Tamika, refused a summons to meet Bonwhin, or vice versa. Rumours that Tamika was a rebel Aes Sedai have never been disproven. By Autumn 974 Hawkwing dismissed all Aes Sedai from their positions, as a result of Bonwhin’a manipulative use their influence throughout his empire. Aes Sedai controlled a third of the empire in this way, and they were more likely to take orders from Bonwhin than from Hawkwing. Things went from bad to worse when, in the spring of 975, a price was put on the head of any Aes Sedai who did not refute their allegiance to Bonwhin and the Tower. Bonwhin was understandably furious. The enmity was brought to a head during the summer when Tar Valon territory invaded and the Second Siege of Tar Valon began. It lasted for nearly twenty years. After seventeen years of siege, Bonwhin was stripped of stole and staff and Stilled by the Hall of the Tower. Deane Aryman of the Blue Ajah replaced her. Artur Hawkwing died in 994, though the siege continued under Souran Maravaile. Bonwhin survived Hawkwing by two years, dying after 4 years of working as a scullery maid in the Tower kitchens. Many parallels can be drawn between Elaida and Bonwhin. They have similar personalities, are of the Red Ajah, have been made Amyrlin in the same year that a man strong in the Power has declared himself as the Dragon Reborn, have incited controversy and division in sisters, and most have caused Tar Valon to be besieged. Furthermore, Elaida sees Bonwhin as a reminder of what failure means. Here is an excerpt from the prologue of The Fires of Heaven describing the triptych in Elaida’s office: "Elaida raised her eye to the paintings. One consisted of three wooden panels depicting Bonwhin, the last Red to have been raised to Amyrlin Seat a thousand years before and the reason no Red had worn the stole since. Until Elaida. Bonwhin, tall and proud, ordering the Aes Sedai in their manipulation of Artur Hawkwing. Bonwhin, defiant, on the white walls of Tar Valon, under siege by Hawkwing’s forces and Bonwhin kneeling and humbles, before the Hall of the Tower before they stripped her of stole and staff for nearly destroying the Tower."
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