Contents
Chapter 53
Overview
Emond’s Field strains under siege as supplies dwindle and Perrin drives himself past exhaustion. Loial and Gaul return, confirming the Waygate is sealed but thousands of Trollocs remain. In the wolf dream, Perrin scouts, wounds Slayer, and suspects Luc. Accepting dire stakes, Perrin sends for help via Caemlyn and marries Faile before she departs.
Summary
At the Winespring Inn, Emond’s Field faces shortages while the Women’s Circle rations quietly. Exhausted Perrin confers with village leaders on weapons and defenses as Whitecloaks hover mistrustfully outside. A dying stranger arrives, gasping that “we are coming,” stoking unease.
On the western stakes, Loial staggers in carrying a wounded Gaul. They report sealing the Waygate days earlier but estimate several thousand Trollocs and many Myrddraal already inside the Two Rivers. Lord Luc arrives boasting trophies and dismisses their count; Perrin distrusts him.
Urged to sleep, Perrin enters the wolf dream. Ominous visions of Egwene, Mat, and Rand flicker in the sky. He scouts the land, finding hundreds of cookfire sites encircling Emond’s Field—evidence of thousands of Trollocs. Deven Ride and Watch Hill are besieged but not yet assaulted; Taren Ferry is half-burned, yet the ferry remains intact and signs show refugees fled north.
At the river, Slayer ambushes Perrin, but Perrin waits him out, looses an arrow into Slayer’s chest, and the man fades away. Waking, Perrin hears Luc fleeing, injured, and orders Luc seized if he returns, suspecting a link between Luc and Slayer.
Seeing neighboring villages trapped and time short, Perrin asks Faile to ride for Caemlyn to plead for the Queen’s Guards, with Bain and Chiad as escort. Faile demands marriage as her price. Before the Women’s Circle, with Loial, Aram, Bain, and Chiad witnessing, Perrin and Faile wed, committing to each other on the eve of peril.
Who Appears
- Perrin AybaraLeads Emond’s Field’s defense; scouts in the wolf dream, wounds Slayer; suspects Luc; plans appeal to Caemlyn; marries Faile.
- Faile (Zarine) BashereInsists Perrin rest; agrees to carry a message to Caemlyn but demands marriage first; weds Perrin.
- LoialReturns carrying Gaul; confirms the Waygate is sealed; reports thousands of Trollocs; records events.
- GaulAiel warrior, wounded in the thigh; helped seal the Waygate; estimates several thousand Trollocs present.
- Lord LucBoasts of trophies and downplays Trolloc numbers; later flees wounded, heightening Perrin’s suspicion he is Slayer.
- SlayerAssassin in the wolf dream; ambushes Perrin at Taren Ferry; is shot and fades, linking to Luc’s sudden injury.
- Marin al’VereHosts leaders at the inn; helps manage rationing; guides the wedding preparations.
- Daise CongarWomen’s Circle authority; enforces customs; oversees rationing and Gaul’s care; officiates at the wedding.
- Tam al’ThorAdvises on defense; trains villagers with swords; counsels Perrin to rest.
- Abell CauthonAdvises Perrin; lightly wounded; helps track supplies and weapons.
- Bran al’VereMayor; organizes council business; urges Perrin to sleep.
- Cenn BuieComplains during council; provides village context amid shortages.
- Dannil LewinLeads Companions guarding Perrin; escorts and relays messages.
- TomasWarder on west defenses; alerts Perrin to movement; supports Perrin resting.
- Bain and ChiadMaidens aiding Gaul; agree to escort Faile toward Taren Ferry.
- AramFormer Tinker shadowing Perrin with a sword; witnesses the wedding.
- Jaret ByarWhitecloak officer delivering the dying messenger; hostile toward Perrin.