Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 5

Summary

• Aviendha, a new hero introduced in The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 5, is on a mission to find the Car'a'carn or the Chief of Chiefs, who is also known as the Dragon Reborn.
• Aviendha is a skilled warrior and a member of the Maiden of the Spear, an all-female tribe of fierce Aiel fighters who serve as bodyguards to the Car'a'carn.
• Aviendha is one of the three women who are destined to become the love interests of Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn. Her relationship with Rand develops gradually throughout the series.

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books. Played by Ayoola Smart, the TV show's version of Aviendha is in a position to be as vital to the story as her book counterpart, even though the circumstances of her debut are considerably different.

Though Aviendha has only just shown up, she’s already emerged as an ally. After being freed from her cage by Marcus Rutherford's Perrin, the mysterious Aiel woman held her own against a band of Whitecloaks and decided to forces with him. Because she believes she owes him her life now, Aviendha is determined to accompany Perrin on his journey, while also looking to achieve her own goals at the same time. Apparently, it’s her job to find someone the Aiel call the “Car’a’carn,” or the “Chief of Chiefs.” What happens in the books explains Aviendha’s importance to The Wheel of Time’s overarching narrative, as well as the true nature of her mission and the identity of the Car’a’carn.

Aviendha Is Looking For The Dragon Reborn

In the books, “Dragon Reborn” is only one of many labels that describe Rand al’Thor. Another is “Car’a’carn,” a phrase used by the Aiel. The Aiel believe wholeheartedly in a prophecy that calls for the arrival of the Car’a’carn, whose fate is to be their Chief of Chiefs. For centuries, the Aiel have dwelled in a desert-like environment known as the Aiel Waste, waiting for the day that they’ll be led out of the deserts by the Car’a’carn, whom they also refer to as “He Who Comes With The Dawn.”

The Aiel will know that they’ve found the Car’a’carn when they come across a person marked with a dragon on each arm. Rand doesn’t have either mark yet, but is destined to receive both. Also, it’s worth noting that their prophecy about the Car’a’carn is not just an Aiel version of the same one that foretells the coming of the Dragon Reborn, nor is “Car’a’carn” inherently connected to the Dragon’s legacy. Unlike the Aes Sedai and so many others in Wheel of Time’s world, the Aiel are unconcerned about fighting the Dark One or the destiny of the Dragon Reborn – until they realize that he and the Car’a’carn happen to be the same person.

Aviendha Is A Maiden Of The Spear

In the episode, Aviendha displayed extraordinary skill in battle, which highlights her status as a Maiden of the Spear. Aiel culture consists of multiple clans, one of which being the Maidens of the Spear, an all-female tribe. The Maidens are comprised of the strongest and the fiercest Aiel women. Many, including Aviendha, trained for most of their lives to the distinguished clan. Those who become Maidens must be adept at hand-to-hand combat, archery, and spear fighting. Specifically, they fight with shortened spears (as seen in Aviendha’s debut episode). Additionally, women who become Maidens must “wed the Spear,” meaning they devote their lives to their warrior ways and forsake marriage.

In the books, the Maidens of the Spear act as bodyguards to Rand after he establishes himself as the Car’a’carn. This has a lot to do with the fact that the prophecy calls the Car’a’carn a person “born of a Maiden wedded to no man.” As shown in The Wheel of Time season 1, episode 7, Rand al'Thor's mother – Tigraine Mantear – was a Maiden herself. Though not an Aiel by birthright, she ed the Aiel and earned herself a place within the Maidens decades ago. For this reason, Aviendha and the Maidens spend much of their time in Rand’s company. Plus, if he dies, he cannot fulfill the prophecy of the Car’a’carn.

Avienda Is One Of Rand’s Main Love Interests

In addition to her duty as a Maiden to find Rand, she’s intertwined with his story in an entirely different way as well. Early on in the books, it was discovered through one of Min’s visions that he was bound to become romantically involved with three women, who were essentially his soulmates. Min herself is one, with the other two being Elayne Trakand and Aviendha. The books began exploring their relationship in the fourth book, The Shadow Rising, which progressed gradually from there. For a while, Aviendha tried to resist her attraction to Rand out of loyalty to her friend Elayne, whom she knew was in love with him.

Aviendha’s Role In The Wheel Of Time Is Already Different From The Books

Although Aviendha has only just appeared, her role in the story already contrasts with that of her book counterpart. Firstly, Aviendha had no place in the events depicted in season 2, which loosely follows the story of the second book, The Great Hunt. As things stand, she’s on track to Perrin in helping his friends and taking part in the highly-anticipated battle about to play out in Falme. However, the book version of Aviendha wasn’t even introduced until after this had already occurred. Debuting toward the end of the third book, The Dragon Reborn, Aviendha didn’t become a major character until the fourth installment, The Shadow Rising.

Interestingly, The Wheel Of Time has tied Aviendha to Perrin’s story. An invention of the series, this connection is rooted in a concept from the books but isn’t a relationship they share in the source material. As she called it in “Damane,” Aviendha shares “toh” with Perrin due to him saving her life. In the books, toh is part of an honor system within Aiel culture. If something happens that makes an Aiel feel indebted to someone (which can be for different reasons), that means they have toh with that person. How toh can be fulfilled depends on the act that created it in the first place.

Based on Aiel custom, the toh Aviendha has to Perrin is a life debt. He saved her, hence why she has to travel with him now in order to repay it - possibly with her life. In the books, she holds toh to both Rand and Elayne, the latter of which being one of her closest friends. Having encountered Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne before the other characters, Aviendha becomes deeply involved in their stories, particularly Elayne’s. Since The Wheel of Time has elected to pair with Perrin with Aviendha first, it remains to be seen if that relationship is still in the cards.

The Wheel of Time releases new episodes on Fridays on Amazon Prime Video.