I'm hoping someone can answer a simple question for me. Once I finished ToM, I began a re-read. I'm in the middle of Path of Daggers, and in it, Perrin is speaking with the Wise Ones in their tent. They offer him something to drink, and his cup is gold, while everyone else uses silver. He states the oddity, and that there must be meaning, but as far as I can remember, it is never explained. Does anyone know if there is a specific reason, are the Wise Ones simply honoring him as their battle leader, or is there more to it?

 

Thanks all!

Eris

Good question!

 

But no, sorry I don't have an explanation for it and so far I haven't seen an answer here on DM.

 

I hope someone does come up with an answer though, because now you have me curious. lol.

 

BTW: Welcome to Dragonmount!

Aww, thanks! I've been coming here for a long time, and thought it was finally time to register and join in. It will be nice to interact with people who love the series as much as I do!

 

Eris

From a brief run through IdealSeek here doesn't seem to be any particular symbolism attached to golden cups among the Aiel. They're mentioned a handful of times... the Forsaken use them, some others; Sevanna drinks from a golden goblet in Malden, but that's probably just greed. Most goblets described being used by Aiel, e.g. those used by Rand and the clan chiefs in Rhuidean, are silver.

 

Possibly they meant to honor him, but I doubt we'll ever get a clearer understanding than he did then.

It's never explained. The chances are the Aiel didn't even notice and Perrin is just imagining things.

Maybe they wanted to know which cup had the wine and which ones the water - so they had it poured into the golden cup. More likely, being Aiel, they just didn't bother.

I'd bet there's a lot less to it than you seem to be looking for. I'd bet your hearing hoofbeats and thinking Zebras instead of horsies.

 

They probably gave him a golden cup simply because he has golden eyes, maybe as some sort of joke, and your lack of understanding why or how could be blaimed on the fact that Aiel humor is different and difficult for us wetlanders to understand.

The reason might relate to any of these::

-They considering him a "near" brother to Rand

-The position the Two Rivers people gave him

-His golden eyes

Or perhaps to something else than these