I'm on my third way through the series and I came upon something I don't understand in EotW. In chapter 40, just after Rand falls in to the garden, he tells Elayne and Gawyn that he's from the Two Rivers (page 600 of the paperback). Gawyn is surprised, but quickly hides it and then starts babbling, causing both Elayne and Rand to stare. Galad shows up before Rand has much time to wonder about it. Does anyone know if there's any significance to this?

He just recognized rand for what he was:

An Aiel.

And also, I suspect that Gawyn thought Rand looked a little like the royal family. This also was correct.

Ahh...Silly me. RJ has gotten me too deep into the habit of looking for plots; I end up missing the obvious. Thanks Nightmare.

I think it is his resemblance with his Mum (the Royal family of Andor) that causes the looks. It comes up again later when Rand rules in Andor for a while.

 

Don't think Gawyn has seen an Aiel before -- so it couldn't be that.

He's learnt about the Aiel as part of his training though so can recognise the traits - even though as can be seen through Elayne they're not always quite spot on. There's enough that he knows Rand isn't true Two Rivers stock.

It's the Aiel thing, he even tells him so at the end of the next chapter. And then Loail makes the same comment. RJ's just informing you that there's a reason he looks nothing like his father.

Their half brothers: they have connection

rand and galad are half brothers he isnt related to gawyn at all.

rand and galad are half brothers he isnt related to gawyn at all.

 

Correct.

 

Rand and Galad share Tigraine as their mother, making them half brothers.

 

Galad and Gawyn share Taringail as their father, making them half brothers.

 

Rand and Gawyn share no parents, making them unrelated.

just for clarification: thats what i meant.

It's possible he was babbling because he had recognized the Aiel in Rand, but I find that not a sufficient reason to babble.

It sounded to me as if Gawyn was not in full control of his mouth, so I thought it had to do with Rand being ta'vern starting to manifest itself, you've seen the effects on people, such as saying what they trully think when they would have rather kept their mouths shut.