Pronunciation: CAD-soo-ain meh-LIE-drihn 
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An [Aes Sedai] of the [Green Ajah].

! Physical Description

She has nearly black eyes and wears her iron gray hair in a bun. ([NS,Ch17]) Her iron gray hair is worn in a bun with many gold ornaments. ([ACoS,Ch18]) She is 5'5" and handsome with a fair complexion. (Robert Jordan's notes)

[{Image src='cadsuan2a.jpg' link='http://www.darkfriends.net/~waldo/encyc/aes_sedai/cadsuan2.jpg'}]
Cadsuane Melaidhrin by [Richard Boyé|mailto:waldo'@webspan.net?subject=EWoT%20Art]

! Points of View

See Cadsuane's [chapter points of view|Cadsuane POV].

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! Chronology (Possible Spoilers)

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! Before the Series

* Cadsuane is thought to have been born about 705 NE in [Ghealdan]. However, she was really born in [Far Madding]. ([A Crown of Swords],Glossary, [WH,Ch25])
* Cadsuane goes to the [White Tower] at age fifteen. She spends six years as novice and five as Accepted, largely because of her stubbornness and arrogance. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* Cadsuane is raised to the shawl at age twenty-six, circa 731 NE. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* Shortly after attaining the shawl, Cadsuane is taught a humbling lesson by [Norla], a toothless [wilder] in the [Black Hills]. ([WH,Ch34], [CoT,Ch23])
* In 758 NE, Cadsuane kidnaps the Amyrlin Seat, [Myriam Copan], and teaches her strength. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* In 846 NE Cadsuane is elected Sitter for the Green Ajah but she refuses to accept. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* In 862 NE Cadsuane is elected as Captain-General of the Green Ajah but again she refuses to accept. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* Despite their intense dislike for each other, when Cadsuane discovers a plot against the Amyrlin [Sereille Bagand] she brings the ringleaders to justice. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* After the death of [Sereille Bagand] in 890 NE, Cadsuane learns that the Hall is considering her for Amyrlin and she leaves the [White Tower] for ten years. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* Even though she is [Green Ajah], over the years she faces more than twenty men who can [channel|True Source], more than any four [Reds|Red Ajah]. ([ACoS,Ch18], [WH,Ch34])
* Cadsuane officially retires circa 950 NE and returns to northern [Ghealdan]. (Robert Jordan's notes)
* Cadsuane comes out of retirement for a brief period at the beginning of the [Aiel War] then disappears again. ([ACoS,Ch19])
* Cadsuane teaches [Aleis Barsalla] an embarrassing lesson when she visits [Far Madding] during the [Aiel War]. ([WH,Ch24])
* Cadsuane arrives at [The Gates of Heaven] in [Canluum]. She grills [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] then orders [Merean|Merean Redhill] and [Larelle|Larelle Tarsi] to accompany her to [Chachin]. ([NS,Ch17])
* [Larelle|Larelle Tarsi], [Merean|Merean Redhill] and Cadsuane wear their shawls in the common room of [The Gates of Heaven]. That night she checks on [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] in her room but [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] sneaks out, escaping her. ([NS,Ch18])
* Cadsuane somehow learns of the rebirth of the Dragon and that [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] and [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] are searching for him. She arranges for her eyes-and-ears to watch them. She begins researching the [Tower|White Tower] library and discovers the problem with %%ot [Callandor]%%. ([TPoD,Ch27], [WH,Ch13])

! Beginning of Series

* Cadsuane leaves her home in [Ghealdan] to help pursue and capture [Logain|Logain Ablar]. She then heads north to [Saldaea] and helps capture [Mazrim Taim]. ([ACoS,Ch19], [KoD,Ch18], Robert Jordan's notes)
* Cadsuane begins gathering trustworthy sisters when she hears of events in [Shienar]. ([WH,Ch13])

! Cairhien

* Cadsuane arrives at the [Sun Palace] and has a brief interview with [Rand|Rand alThor]. She leaves with [Merana|Merana Ambrey] and [Annoura|Annoura Larisen]. ([ACoS,Ch18])
* She quizzes [Merana|Merana Ambrey] and the other [Aes Sedai] sworn to [Rand|Rand alThor] about recent events. ([ACoS,Ch19])
* Cadsuane is in the rebel camp with [Niande|Niande Moorwyn] and [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa]. She tells [Rand|Rand alThor] he ought to leave. ([ACoS,Ch35])
* She joins [Rand|Rand alThor]'s group when the killer fog descends. She slaps him when he uses [balefire|Weaves] telling him never to do that again. After he is wounded she leads the group back to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. She learns from [Min|Min Farshaw] what [Elaida|Elaida do Avriny aRoihan]'s embassy did to him. ([ACoS,Ch36])
* She is by [Rand|Rand alThor]'s bed when he wakes. She reluctantly leaves him to the [Asha'man] at his request. ([ACoS,Ch41])
* Cadsuane visits the [Sun Palace] with [Daigian|Daigian Moseneillin] and [Kumira]. She quizzes [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] about [Rand|Rand alThor] but learns nothing new. She helps [Sorilea] with [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] and in return [Sorilea] gives her advice on how to deal with [Rand|Rand alThor]. [Sorilea] teaches her to [Travel|Weaves]. They take a water oath to teach [Rand|Rand alThor] laughter and tears, to teach him to be strong rather than hard. ([TPoD,Ch12])
* When [Rand|Rand alThor] returns to the [Sun Palace] he sends for Cadsuane but she refuses to come. He goes to see her, tries unsuccessfully to intimidate her, then asks her to be his advisor. She sets a lot of conditions and [Rand|Rand alThor] angrily starts to leave. She tells him that %%ot [Callandor]%% is flawed. ([TPoD,Ch27])
* After the explosion, [Rand|Rand alThor] sees Cadsuane walking through the [Sun Palace] with six unfamiliar [Aes Sedai]. ([TPoD,Ch29])
* Cadsuane blackmails [Flinn|Damer Flinn], [Hopwil|Eben Hopwil] and [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] for some unknown purpose. ([WH,Ch13])
* Cadsuane hears complaints from the [Sea Folk], that all the prisoner [Aes Sedai] swore to [Rand|Rand alThor], that [Damer|Damer Flinn] [Healed|Weaves] [Irgain|Irgain Fatamed], that [Caraline|Caraline Damodred] and [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] are free, and that [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] collapsed. ([WH,Ch13])
* Cadsuane leads a party of [Aes Sedai] as they [Travel|Weaves] from the [Sun Palace] to [Far Madding] in pursuit of [Rand|Rand alThor]. She leaves [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] in charge at the [Sun Palace]. ([WH,Ch23], [CoT,Prologue])

! Far Madding

* Cadsuane visits the [Hall of the Counsels]. She takes [Verin|Verin Mathwin], [Kumira], [Harine|Harine din Togara Two Winds] and [Shalon|Shalon din Togara Morning Tide] with her to meet with the Counsels. ([WH,Ch24])
* Cadsuane calls on [Rand|Rand alThor] with [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani]. She talks with [Min|Min Farshaw] and learns that [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks he needs her. Later, she confides in [Verin|Verin Mathwin]. ([WH,Ch25])
* [Alivia], [Min|Min Farshaw] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] go riding with Cadsuane. [Rand|Rand alThor] sends [Verin|Verin Mathwin] to ask Cadsuane to be his advisor. ([WH,Ch32])
* [Min|Min Farshaw] talks [Alivia] into going to Cadsuane and telling her what [Rand|Rand alThor] is up to. ([WH,Ch33])
* [Alivia], [Min|Min Farshaw] and Cadsuane drag [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] from Blue Carp Street. That night, they go with the other [Aes Sedai] and the [Asha'man] to the [Hall of the Counsels] where Cadsuane bullies them into releasing [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Lan|al'Lan Mandragoran]. ([WH,Ch34])

! Aridhol

* Cadsuane accompanies [Rand|Rand alThor] and the others from [Far Madding] to [Shadar Logoth|Aridhol (City)]. While [Rand|Rand alThor] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] cleanse the taint, Cadsuane directs the others as they defend against the [Forsaken]. She uses her [shrike|Paralis-net] to hold a shield and her [golden swallow|Paralis-net] to detect the [Forsaken] [channeling|True Source]. ([WH,Ch35])

! More

* Cadsuane and the other [Aes Sedai] and [Rand|Rand alThor] go to the [Pendaloan|Tear (Country)] estate in eastern [Tear|Tear (Country)] to recuperate. ([CoT,Ch23])
* Cadsuane hears a report from [Verin|Verin Mathwin] on the status of the [Sea Folk] and [Tear|Tear (Country)]. She talks with [Rand|Rand alThor] about strategy against the [Seanchan|Seanchan (People)], then the [Aes Sedai] report that their [Warder] have [Traveled|Weaves] from [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)]. ([CoT,Ch23])
* [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] reports to Cadsuane about the [Black Tower] bonding [Aes Sedai]. Cadsuane is disgusted. She sends [Samitsu|Samitsu Tamagowa] back to [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] to try to keep [Sashalle|Sashalle Anderly] and [Sorilea] under control. ([CoT,Ch24])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] eats lunch with [Min|Min Farshaw], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], Cadsuane, [Verin|Verin Mathwin], [Alivia] and [Loial]. Cadsuane admonishes [Rand|Rand alThor] to be polite. He finally asks her opinion of his plans. ([KoD,Ch18])
* After the [Trollocs] attack, Cadsuane browbeats [Min|Min Farshaw] about [Rand|Rand alThor]. He warns her never to threaten [Min|Min Farshaw] again. ([KoD,Ch19])
* After the battle, [Rand|Rand alThor], Cadsuane, [Alivia], [Logain|Logain Ablar] and [Min|Min Farshaw] survey the carnage. ([KoD,Ch20])
* At the bequest of the [Dragon Reborn|Rand alThor], Cadsuane sends [Merise|Merise Haindehl] and [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] to the [Salidar Aes Sedai] with the offer of bonding forty-seven [Asha'man]. ([KoD,Ch23])
* [Min|Min Farshaw], Cadsuane, [Alivia] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] accompany [Rand|Rand alThor] on his visit to the [Stone of Tear]. Cadsuane continues to manage [Rand|Rand alThor]'s manners. ([KoD,Ch21])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] [Travels|Weaves] to [Altara] with a large party of [Asha'man], [Aes Sedai], [Saldaeans|Saldaea] and [Maidens|Maidens of the Spear]. [Rand|Rand alThor] rides to the meeting with Cadsuane, [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], [Logain|Logain Ablar], [Jahar Narishma], [Donalo Sandomere] and [Min|Min Farshaw]. Cadsuane's %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%% disrupts [Semirhage]'s disguise. ([KoD,Ch27])
* [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], Cadsuane, [Logain|Logain Ablar] and [Merise|Merise Haindehl] are with [Rand|Rand alThor] when he returns the %%ot [sul'dam|Seanchan (People)]%% and %%ot [damane|Seanchan (People)]%% to [Ebou Dar]. ([TGS,Prologue])
* Cadsuane takes %%ot [Callandor]%%, the %%ot [a'dam|aDam]%% and the [sad bracelets|Sad Bracelets] copies to some retired [Aes Sedai] whom she trusts. She practices with an %%ot [a'dam|aDam]%% on herself but cannot figure out how to beat it. ([TGS,Ch14])
* Cadsuane, [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and [Alivia] report to [Rand|Rand alThor] that they have learned nothing questioning [Semirhage]. ([TGS,Ch1])
* [Merise|Merise Haindehl] questions [Semirhage] while Cadsuane and [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] watch. She puzzles over how to break [Semirhage]. Over two centuries ago Cadsuane swore she would live to see the [Last Battle|Creator]. ([TGS,Ch5])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] meets with the [Aes Sedai], [Wise Ones|Aiel], clan chiefs and [Bashere|Davram Bashere] to discuss the plan for [Arad Doman]. ([TGS,Ch7])
* Cadsuane, [Sorilea] and [Bair] interview [Semirhage]. They then go to Cadsuane's rooms and she shows them the [access key|Control Statues] and [sad bracelets|Sad Bracelets]. They start making a plan to help [Rand|Rand alThor]. ([TGS,Ch14])
* Cadsuane realizes that the problem with questioning [Semirhage] is that they are showing her respect. She spanks [Semirhage] and forces her to eat off the floor. Afterwards, she wonders again what to do about [Rand|Rand alThor]. ([TGS,Ch17])
* Cadsuane, the other [Aes Sedai] and the [Wise Ones|Aiel] check on [Rand|Rand alThor] after the attack. [Rand|Rand alThor] bans Cadsuane from his sight for failing to keep the [sad bracelets|Sad Bracelets] safe. ([TGS,Ch23])
* Cadsuane calls on [Quillin Tasil] to get up to date information on [Bandar Eban]. She keeps nearly running into [Rand|Rand alThor]. She goes to the [Wise Ones|Aiel], admits she failed with [Rand|Rand alThor], and they start planning anew. ([TGS,Ch31])
* [Cadsuane|Cadsuane Melaidhrin] [Travels|Weaves] to the [Two Rivers] to find [Tam al'Thor|Tam alThor] only to learn that he is now with [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]. ([TGS,Ch47])
* [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], [Merise|Merise Haindehl], Cadsuane, [Corele|Corele Hovian] and [Damer Flinn] watch the procession of ghosts from the city walls of [Bandar Eban]. ([TGS,Ch32])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] takes [Min|Min Farshaw], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], and [Piqor Ramshalan] with him to [Natrin's Barrow|Natrins Barrow], [Graendal]'s stronghold. He sends in [Piqor Ramshalan] to negotiate and he comes back under [Compulsion|Weaves]. [Rand|Rand alThor] uses the [access key|Control Statues] to [balefire|Weaves] the entire palace, horrifying [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and [Min|Min Farshaw], but [Piqor Ramshalan]'s [Compulsion|Weaves] is now gone. Back at [Bandar Eban], [Min|Min Farshaw] and [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] report to Cadsuane and the [Wise Ones|Aiel]. [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] demands to be part of their plans and Cadsuane tells her to locate [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]. ([TGS,Ch37])
* [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and Cadsuane are not at the manor when [Rand|Rand alThor] relocates to the [Stone of Tear]. ([TGS,Ch42])
* [Rand|Rand alThor], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara], [Narishma|Jahar Narishma] and [Naeff] ride a meeting with the [Borderlands]- representative. It turns out to be [Hurin]. When [Rand|Rand alThor] learns that they want him to come into [Far Madding] he almost destroys the entire army, but [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] stops him. He tells [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] where to find [Perrin|Perrin Aybara]. Back at the [Stone of Tear], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] reports to Cadsuane, [Min|Min Farshaw], [Merise|Merise Haindehl] and [Corele|Corele Hovian]. ([TGS,Ch44])
* Cadsuane [Travels|Weaves] to the [Jehannah Road] and brings back [Tam al'Thor|Tam alThor] to the [Stone of Tear]. ([TGS,Ch47])
* [Min|Min Farshaw] discusses her thoughts on %%ot [Callandor]%% with Cadsuane, [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and the other [Aes Sedai]. [Tam|Tam alThor] bursts in and angrily recounts his meeting with [Rand|Rand alThor]. ([TGS,Ch48])
* [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] is frantic over [Rand|Rand alThor] but [Min|Min Farshaw] knows something wonderful happened. Cadsuane sends for them with news that [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] disappeared. [Rand|Rand alThor] returns. ([ToM,Ch12])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] sends for Cadsuane and asks her to help him find someone on the [Caralain Grass]. ([ToM,Ch13])
* Cadsuane finds King [Alsalam|Alsalam Saeed Almadar] on the [Caralain Grass] and brings him to [Tear|Tear (Country)]. She and [Merise|Merise Haindehl] are keeping him company when [Rand|Rand alThor] returns from [Maradon] with [Rodel Ituralde]. ([ToM,Ch32])
* [Rand|Rand alThor] [Travels|Weaves] to [Far Madding] with [Narishma|Jahar Narishma], Cadsuane, [Merise|Merise Haindehl], [Min|Min Farshaw], [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] and others to meet with the [Borderlands] rulers. They slap him and question him on [Tellindal Tirraso]. He answers correctly and they acknowledge him as the [Dragon Reborn|Rand alThor]. He tells them to swear fealty to him or he will not take them with him to the [Last Battle|Creator]. ([ToM,Ch51])

! Field of Merrilor

* [Egwene], King [Easar|Easar Togita] from [Shienar], King [Alsalam|Alsalam Saeed Almadar] from [Arad Doman], [Elayne] from [Andor], Cadsuane, [Min], [Perrin], [Faile], [Nynaeve], King [Roedran|Roedran Analoy] from [Murandy], [Gregorin|Gregorin Panar den Lushenos] from [Illainer|Illian (Country)], King [Paitar|Paitar Neramovni Nachiman] from [Arafel], King [Darlin|Darlin Sisnera] from [Tear|Tear (Country)], Queen [Tenobia|Tenobia si Bashere Kazadi] from [Saldaea], Queen [Alliandre|Alliandre Maritha Kigarin] from [Ghealdan] and [Berelain|Berelain sur Paendrag] from [Mayene] all attend [Rand]'s meeting at the [Field of Merrilor]. ([AMoL,Ch5])
* Cadsuane smells extremely proud of [Rand] to [Perrin]. ([AMoL,Ch6])
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! Other References (Possible Spoilers)

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# In [New Spring]
## [NS,Ch17] - Cadsuane is the strongest [Aes Sedai] in the past thousand years.
## [NS,Ch17] - She kidnapped a king of [Tarabon] who could [channel|True Source]. She kidnapped the king of [Arad Doman] and queen of [Saldaea] to stop a war.
## [NS,Ch17] - After the [Aiel War] Cadsuane has two graying [Warder].
## [NS,Ch19] - [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] sneaks out of [The Gates of Heaven] because Cadsuane might have servants watching for her.
## [NS,Ch25] - [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] thinks Cadsuane is [Black Ajah].
## [NS,Epilogue] - [Moiraine|Moiraine Damodred] shares her suspicion of Cadsuane with [Siuan|Siuan Sanche].
# In [A Crown of Swords]
## [ACoS,Ch18] - Even though she is [Green Ajah] she has faced more men who can [channel|True Source] than any four [Reds|Red Ajah].
## [ACoS,Ch19] - Cadsuane helped capture both [Logain|Logain Ablar] and [Taim|Mazrim Taim]. [Logain|Logain Ablar] nearly in her backyard ([Ghealdan]) was what brought her out of retirement.
## [ACoS,Ch19] - It has been over 270 years since she took on a task she could not accomplish.
## [ACoS,Ch33] - [Rand|Rand alThor] has nightmares about Cadsuane telling him about hearing voices.
## [ACoS,Ch33] - [Rand|Rand alThor] tells [Min|Min Farshaw] he is afraid Cadsuane is right about him being mad. [Min|Min Farshaw] asks who Cadsuane is.
## [ACoS,Ch36] - Cadsuane likes [Amys] and wants to meet [Sorilea].
## [ACoS,Ch41] - [Min|Min Farshaw] has a [viewing|viewings] that Cadsuane will teach [Rand|Rand alThor] and the [Asha'man] something they need to know.
## Glossary - Men she brings to the [White Tower] to tend to live markedly longer after being [gentled|stilling] than those brought by other sisters.
# In [The Path of Daggers]
## [TPoD,Prologue] - [Verin|Verin Mathwin] questions the [Aes Sedai] prisoners three days after Cadsuane's arrival. [Verin|Verin Mathwin] wonders what Cadsuane is doing.
## [TPoD,Ch12] - There are numerous mentions of the ornaments Cadsuane wears in her hair and how careful she is with them.
## [TPoD,Ch12] - Cadsuane considered bonding [Rand|Rand alThor] herself or forcing [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani] to pass the bond to her, but [Alanna|Alanna Mosvani]'s utter lack of control over [Rand|Rand alThor] made her reconsider.
## [TPoD,Ch21] - [Rand|Rand alThor] is anxious to get back to [Cairhien|Cairhien (Country)] to deal with the [Sea Folk] and Cadsuane.
## [TPoD,Ch29] - [Rand|Rand alThor], [Min|Min Farshaw] and [Morr|Fedwin Morr] leave [Rand|Rand alThor]'s quarters to pay a call on Cadsuane just before the explosion occurs.
# In [Winters Heart]
## [WH,Prologue] - [Rand|Rand alThor] thinks Cadsuane is holding [Ailil Riatin] and [Shalon|Shalon din Togara Morning Tide] just as she is holding [Caraline Damodred] and [Darlin Sisnera].
# In [Crossroads of Twilight]
## [CoT,Ch12] - [Elayne|Elayne Trakand] receives a report that the [Aes Sedai] at [The Silver Swan] mentioned Cadsuane's name.
## [CoT,Ch18] - [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] has an agent in [Cairhien|Cairhien (City)] keeping tabs on Cadsuane. [Siuan|Siuan Sanche] thinks she might be a [Darkfriend|Darkfriends].
# In [Knife of Dreams]
## [KoD,Ch7] - [Setalle Anan] thinks Cadsuane has a %%ot [ter'angreal|Angreal]%% much like the [foxhead medallion|Foxhead Medallion].
## [KoD,Ch19] - [Loial] thinks it is strange that Cadsuane knows his mother.
## [KoD,Ch22] - [Harine|Harine din Togara Two Winds] thinks that if she could survive Cadsuane she can survive anything.
## [KoD,Ch24] - After a frustrating session with [Egwene|Egwene alVere], [Adelorna|Adelorna Bastine] thinks she would be a challenge even for Cadsuane.
## [KoD,Ch25] - When [Talmanes|Talmanes Delovinde] mentions [Rand|Rand alThor], [Mat|Matrim Cauthon] sees colors whirl then an image of [Rand|Rand alThor] talking to an [Aes Sedai] with her gray hair in a bun.
# In [The Gathering Storm]
## [TGS,Ch11] - [Melaine] praises [Aviendha]'s action putting out the fire saying no [Aes Sedai] save Cadsuane could have done it.
## [TGS,Ch15] - [Rand|Rand alThor] says he will have to use [balefire|Weaves] to destroy the [Forsaken] despite Cadsuane's warning.
## [TGS,Ch22] - [Semirhage] does not understand how Cadsuane could humiliate her so thoroughly.
## [TGS,Ch29] - [Rand|Rand alThor] found the male [access key|Control Statues] in Cadsuane's rooms and carries it with him.
## [TGS,Ch33] - [Rand|Rand alThor] can accept [Nynaeve|Nynaeve alMeara] who truly cares for him, unlike Cadsuane who only cares about the [Last Battle|Creator].
## [TGS,Ch39] - Cadsuane is not on [Verin|Verin Mathwin]'s list of [Black Ajah] members.
## [TGS,Ch47] - When [Rand|Rand alThor] learns that it was Cadsuane who brought [Tam|Tam alThor] he goes into a rage and nearly kills [Tam|Tam alThor].
# In [Towers of Midnight]
## [ToM,Ch3] - When [Egwene|Egwene alVere] asks [Rand|Rand alThor] what happened to him, he says that Cadsuane set him on the right path, but by accident.
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! Robert Jordan's Notes (Possible Spoilers)

The following is an excerpt from Robert Jordan's notes on Cadsuane. It was published for The Great Hunt, part of the publicity for the release and signing tour for Brandon Sanderson's 'The Alloy of Law' in November 2011.

%%center 
! Cadsuane Melaidhrin
%%

Cadsuane Melaidhrin was born in 705 NE in the city-state of [Far Madding]. At the age of fifteen, she went to the [White Tower]. There she spent six years as a novice and five years as Accepted. She might have moved faster as novice and Accepted - in fact almost certainly should have - but she was noted for both her stubbornness and her pride (read arrogance). At age 26, she was raised Aes Sedai and chose the [Green Ajah].

Cadsuane was very strong in the One Power; for many years she served as the gauge by which every incoming novice was judged. In the last thousand years, no one had matched her and few had come close. Certainly no one in that time had exceeded her. Not even with her full strength yet, she was, on the very day she attained the shawl, at the pinnacle of the Aes Sedai social hierarchy.

She stood about 5'5" tall and was neither slender nor stout. She was not pretty, but she was strikingly handsome with a fair complexion. She had dark eyes, which some people occasionally mistook for black, especially when she was focused on them in an unpleasant fashion. Her hair became iron-gray, and she wore it in a bun on top of her head; the bun was decorated with small dangling golden ornaments, stars and moons and birds and fish. These hair ornaments were considered something of a trademark because she had worn them for as long as anyone could remember. For many sisters, the fact that she had was just one more indication of how set in her ways she was; they thought Cadsuane would never change, could never change. Of course, this was far from true; Cadsuane was remarkably adaptable, as befits someone who survived as long as she.

Cadsuane was considered by many to be a second [Caraighan Maconar|Caraighan Maconar], although unlike [Caraighan Maconar|Caraighan Maconar], she always refused offices. She preferred the field, so to speak; adventures were her bag. It was said that Cadsuane went through more Warders than most sisters have shoes; she didn't have all that many, since she was as vulnerable to the effects of a Warder's death as anyone else. Later in life, she refused to take another Warder because she felt that at her age, bonding a Warder would not be fair to the man.

Cadsuane first refused to be raised a Sitter in 846 NE; she reportedly did so a second time as well, though even on refusal was unheard of. She refused to be raised head of the [Green Ajah] in 862 NE, another thing that was unheard of. She was said to have vanished from the Tower for ten years (from roughly 890 NE to 900 NE) when she learned that the Hall intended to raise her Amyrlin after [Sereille Bagand]. She retired to northern [Ghealdan] about twenty-five years before the [Aiel War], but came out of retirement, with her two surviving Warders, for that conflict. Soon after the [Aiel War] ended, she returned to her rustication. She claimed to have been raising roses when [Logain|Logain Ablar] appeared. His appearance drew her out of retirement again, but she was not interested in escorting him to [Tar Valon] and decided to wander a bit. Then [Mazrim Taim] rose up, and she headed for [Saldaea] as fast as she could ride.

When [Siuan Sanche] and [Moiraine Damodred] had reason to research Cadsuane because of their encounter with her shortly after reaching the shawl, they found many stories regarding Cadsuane. All of the ones that they were able to trace down turned out to be true, but in some cases the truth was more than the story. They were not able to follow or confirm all of the stories, of course.

One of the most prevalent Cadsuane stories was that she had once physically assaulted an Amyrlin Seat. Since physically assaulting any sister is a serious offense - and an Amyrlin even more so - the fact that Cadsuane apparently escaped any punishment at all, and that the tale is vague about which Amyrlin it was supposed to be, made most everyone think this story was false. It wasn't; it was the method Cadsuane used to turn [Myriam Copan] from a weak Amyrlin to a strong one in 758 NE. Myriam was thought to have gone on a two-month retreat by herself, but she had, in fact, been all but kidnaped by Cadsuane. Turning Myriam around involved, among other things, turning her upside down at least once. Although Myriam certainly had reason to keep the events of those two months secret (she was able to make a statement which seemed to deny that Cadsuane had assaulted her), it is the basis of the tale that Cadsuane once physically assaulted an Amyrlin.

Another story said that long ago she had removed a sitting king from his palace and taken him to [Tar Valon] to be gentled. In truth, Cadsuane had -a nose- for men who can channel. She faced more of them than any other sister living; she herself said more than any two Reds, maybe more than any ten. This seems to indicate at least twenty of them in that time, maybe more. She brought more of them to [Tar Valon] than any other sister. Of these, she never had to kill one, either because she could not capture him or because he was trying to escape. These men have ranged over the years from farmboys to nobles to the king of [Tarabon], but one and all, they made much better adjustments to their fate than is considered normal. They eventually died short of a normal span, but they lived considerably longer than usual. For that King of [Tarabon]: he had to be winkled out of his palace, avoiding his army, which sought to rescue him. She carried him all the way to [Tar Valon] for gentling by herself, though pursued by his army that refused to believe that he was what he was.

It was also said that she kidnaped a King of [Arad Doman] and a Queen of [Saldaea]. After she released them, a war that had seemed inevitable simply faded away. She did actually spank or switch three reigning kings and four queens, though the facts of these are hidden in rumor.

Cadsuane is alleged to have once single-handedly stopped a coup in the [White Tower]. That did happen, though no one seems to know or agree on when. The true story: Cadsuane and [Sereille Bagand] did not get on with each other. In fact, they could not stand one another. Each was the sort of woman who dominated a room - or for that matter, a city! - by simply entering, and they struck sparks at every meeting. Despite her dislike for Sereille, though, Cadsuane uncovered a plot to overthrow Sereille and crushed it. The plotters thought she would be eager to join them, but she dragged the weeping ringleaders to Sereille and made them throw themselves on Sereille's rather small mercies. Sereille was not particularly pleased to have been saved - the plot was well laid out and ready to leap off - by one she so disliked.

She had a reputation for standing [White Tower] custom on its head, twisting it as she chose, and even violating it outright, as in her frank speech about age, her direct questions and refusals to accept oblique answers, and her interference in the actions of other sisters. The same could be said of her regarding Tower law, for that matter. She had a reputation for taking direct action, even to the point of violence, slapping faces, boxing ears, and more (especially when faced with what she considered stupidity), with high as often as low, or rather, more often. She also had a reputation for not caring whether she dented somebody's pride, if she thought it necessary.

There are the usual tales expected of a Green, only more of them. Riots suppressed and wars stopped single-handedly; rulers steadied on their thrones, or pulled from them, sometimes toppled openly and sometimes more subtly (toppling rulers was something Aes Sedai had not really done much of in the last thousand years, but Cadsuane seemed in many ways a throwback). Rescuing people carried into the Blight or kidnaped by dangerous bands of [Darkfriends], breaking up murderous rings of [Darkfriends] plaguing villages and towns, and exposing of powerful [Darkfriends] who tried to kill her to protect themselves. There are dozens, even hundreds, of improbable and sometimes seemingly impossible tales.

Some of these are not so much tales about her as an impression, a belief: Cadsuane will do what she intends to do, and no one can stop her: not a king or a queen, not an Amyrlin - not even the [Dark One|ShaiTan] himself, some claimed. And when [Rand al'Thor|Rand alThor] arose to power as the [Dragon Reborn|Rand alThor], Cadsuane once again chose to take part in directing the events of the world.
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