The Two Rivers

The Two Rivers

---

On the western border of Andor (south of Baerlon) is the region known as The Two Rivers. The area is located between the upper reaches of the River Manetherendrelle---called the White River in the Two Rivers and nowadays considered impassable at any point---and the River Taren, a smaller tributary. To the west are the Sand Hills and the Mountains of Mist, and to the east lies the Waterwood, a dangerous swamp. These obstacles make The Two Rivers an extremely isolated region of Andor; the only reasonable way into or out of the area is by crossing the Taren at Taren Ferry. The Two Rivers region contains four villages, which from north to south are: Taren Ferry, Watch Hill, Emond's Field, and Deven Ride, though the denizens of the last three barely consider Taren Ferry part of the Two Rivers at all, and think of its people as untrustworthy. The people of Taren Ferry call the other villages the "lower villages" and consider them simple. Andoran soldiers and tax collectors have not been seen in the Two Rivers for many generations, and in fact, most inhabitants of the region do not even realize that they are part of any county at all.

After Rand al'Thor proclaimed himself the Dragon Reborn, however, the isolation of the Two Rivers ended. The collapse of the nations of Tarabon and Arad Doman, due mostly to his presence, brought huge numbers of refugees across the Mountains of Mist and into the Two Rivers, disturbing the local culture and quickly "modernizing" the agricultural backwater. Even worse, Padan Fain brought Whitecloaks and Trollocs to the region, attempting to draw al'Thor out. Instead, Perrin Aybara returned, and, in light of his defense and leadership, was unanimously (and unwillingly) selected Lord of the Two Rivers, the region's first noble in hundreds of years. Because his wife, Faile ni'Bashere t'Aybara, is second in line to the throne of Saldaea (currently held by her cousin, Queen Tenobia Kazadi), the Two Rivers may soon rise from obscurity to political importance. Due to the lack of reliable news from this relatively isolated location, many outside the Two Rivers think that there is a revolt in the Two Rivers, following the Trolloc invasion.

There are many, striking resemblances to The Shire (also an area located between two rivers) in The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit (notably, famous tobacco from an obscure place). Some suggest that this is Jordan's nod to J.R.R. Tolkien.

Many Aes Sedai have recently visited the Two Rivers, and have commented on how the "old blood runs strong" in the Two Rivers. This is demonstrated by the three ta'veren from Emond's Field, the large number of native girls and women who are natural born channelers and/or who can be taught to channel, and men who can be taught (40). Taren Ferry is considered a disappointment in this area, as there has been too much mixing of blood with the outside world.

The Two Rivers is home to many of the major characters of the Wheel of Time series, all from Emond's Field: