Who is Tarah? Kaladin's wife?

[+eveorjoy she/her]

I haven't seen this theory in the forums, so I thought I would bring it up here.

 

Way of Kings, Page 874

 

"'...I let Tien die, I failed my spearmen, the slaves I tried to rescue, Tarah...' He hadn't thought of her in some time. His failure with her had been different from the others, but a failure was nonetheless."

 

Page 880

 

"What would have happened to him, if Tarah hadn't coaxed him out of his single-minded dedication? Would he have burned himself out, as she'd claimed?"

 

So who is Tarah?

 

Facts:

 

- A woman from Kaladin's past who came into his life after he took up the spear. Likely after Tien died, because he wasn't dedicated until after that event.

 

- Someone Kaladin failed, but in a different way than the others. Likely she isn't dead, because all the others died.

 

- She helped Kaladin enjoy more in life than the spear.

 

Kaladin's history with Laral shows he is attracted to women. Kaladin describes Tarah as coaxing him, which sounds like something someone would do with flirting.

 

So if she didn't die, how would he have failed her?

 

Could he have been engaged or even married to her and failed to fulfill his obligation because he was sold into slavery?

 

Maybe Kaladin's heart is already taken.

Edited December 14, 2013 by eveorjoy

[Shardbearer he/him]

I'd eat my (chocolate) hat if Tarah isn't still alive and doesn't show up in WoR or the next book.

[Colby Jack he/him]

Knowing Kaladin's luck, she's probably some gorgeous woman who's married to some fart old enough to be her grandpa.

Edited December 14, 2013 by mrwerd

[+eveorjoy she/her]

Knowing Kaladin's luck, she's probably some gorgeous woman who's married to some fart old enough to be her grandpa.

 

I hope Tarah wasn't Laral number two. However, I think Laral was the unlucky one when she married Roshone.

Edited December 14, 2013 by eveorjoy

[Gamma Fiend he/him]

I'd eat my (chocolate) hat if Tarah isn't still alive and doesn't show up in WoR or the next book.

Kurk, we got another one for you!

[don_karma_II he/him]

Tarah is Jasnah...

[ADIMORTIS he/him]

Tarah is Galladon in Elantrian disguise trying to find Hoid...

[+eveorjoy she/her]

Tarah is Jasnah...

 

I bet the Jasdin or Kalanah shippers wish she was.

[Aether he/him]

Hey, I'm all in for a Bridge Four-way with Kaladin, Jasnah, Shallan and Tarah.

[Natans he/him]

Ka

 

Hey, I'm all in for a Bridge Four-way with Kaladin, Jasnah, Shallan and Tarah.

 

 What !!! Kaladin and 3 woman ? I didn't know that he are a womanizer =)

 

I bet that Tarah are in the Amaram army, a scribe or such, and when litle Amaram show up Kaladin will have a surprise

Edited December 14, 2013 by Natans

[cem he/him]

I bet thta Tarah are in the Amaram army, a scribe or such, and when litle Amaram show up Kaladin will have a surprise

I completely agree. In fact, I'm going to say that she is the scribe Kaladin uses to write his letter to his parents to tell about Tien's death and that's how they met. You guys can quote me when this comes true.

[The Rooster he/him]

I figured she was a camp follower of Amaram's army with a heart of gold

[king of nowhere]

technically, there's no need for it to have been flirting. maybe she was just a friend. maybe she just talked to him a few times. if kaladin hasn't tought about her in a while, i doubt he was in love.

 

On the other hand, the way stories go, if the hero failed a woman in the past, it's almost certainly a love interest. so who knows.

 

EDIT: but again, in sotries normally the guy who saves the world also find his girl in the process. or man, in case of a female protagonist. one would think that saving the world would leave one pretty busy and with no time to pursue romantic relations, but it's never the case. so kaladin shouldn't have ties in his past, he should be free for whoever comes to him, maybe shallan or maybe someone we never heard about.

Edited December 14, 2013 by king of nowhere

[Aethling he/him]

All the joking comments aside, this is actually a good question.  She was probably a romantic/semi-romantic interest at some point.  Maybe she helped him overcome his grief over losing his brother.  The question of his "failure" has the potential for being an even bigger world-changing event than who she is.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Aethling

[+eveorjoy she/her]

technically, there's no need for it to have been flirting. maybe she was just a friend. maybe she just talked to him a few times. if kaladin hasn't tought about her in a while, i doubt he was in love.

 

On the other hand, the way stories go, if the hero failed a woman in the past, it's almost certainly a love interest. so who knows.

 

EDIT: but again, in sotries normally the guy who saves the world also find his girl in the process. or man, in case of a female protagonist. one would think that saving the world would leave one pretty busy and with no time to pursue romantic relations, but it's never the case. so kaladin shouldn't have ties in his past, he should be free for whoever comes to him, maybe shallan or maybe someone we never heard about.

 

It may not have been flirting or it may have been. Still, how did he fail her? I doubt it would have had the same weight as the people who died because of his failure unless it was something really big. Failing a commitment to her could be as important. I doubt merely failing to pay a debt or something like that would have weighted as much as his other failures.

 

He might not have thought of her for sometime because he believed, and still believes, his chance with her is gone because of his slave brand.

 

Page 98 says: "They'd taken his freedom, his family, his friends, and--most dear of all--his dreams."

 

What were Kaladin's dreams? Could they have been dreams of a family life with Tarah? Maybe not, but really after Tien's death we know very little of Kaladin's life--until he defeats the shardbearer and is sold into slavery of course.

 

I just think it is funny how fans keep shipping Kaladin with two lighteyed women (even I have considered the pairing of him with Jasnah, though she is too old for him) when he has a deep aversion to lighteyes.

 

He could end up with one of the heroines, but isn't that what always happens in these kind of stories, the heroes pair up. What if Sanderson threw us a curve ball and made Kaladin unavailable because he was already married?

 

Maybe Tarah and Kaladin weren't together maybe they were. However, Tarah will play an important part later, somehow otherwise she would not have been mentioned at all.

Edited December 14, 2013 by eveorjoy

[+eveorjoy she/her]

All the joking comments aside, this is actually a good question.  She was probably a romantic/semi-romantic interest at some point.  Maybe she helped him overcome his grief over losing his brother.  The question of his "failure" has the potential for being an even bigger world-changing event than who she is.

 

Very true. It's just interesting to speculate. They may not have been an item, but something important happened between them, something Kaladin regrets as mush as those he let die.

[Kurkistan he/him]

Kurk, we got another one for you!

 

So many oaths to record... 

[Shardbearer he/him]

 

EDIT: but again, in sotries normally the guy who saves the world also find his girl in the process. or man, in case of a female protagonist. one would think that saving the world would leave one pretty busy and with no time to pursue romantic relations, but it's never the case. so kaladin shouldn't have ties in his past, he should be free for whoever comes to him, maybe shallan or maybe someone we never heard about.

Heh. You should read the Dresden Files.

[Gloom he/him]

I have a feeling that Tarah isn't someone that Kaladin failed through his own actions. I believe she was someone he intended to help in some manner prior to getting branded a slave. His being branded of course prevented him from honoring his word to Tarah, thus in his mind he failed her. In reality, he may still be able to help her as intended in the next book or two.

[+eveorjoy she/her]

I have a feeling that Tarah isn't someone that Kaladin failed through his own actions. I believe she was someone he intended to help in some manner prior to getting branded a slave. His being branded of course prevented him from honoring his word to Tarah, thus in his mind he failed her. In reality, he may still be able to help her as intended in the next book or two.

 

True, perhaps. But how did she "coax" him away from being obsessed with the spear? The reason I think she could be a love interest is Sanderson using the word "coaxed" instead of "persuade" They mean close to the same thing, but coaxing suggests persuasion through friendly means. Maybe it is nothing, but it could be something. .

[Aether he/him]

You're right to pay attention to his wording though. Brandon does that.

[Natans he/him]

True, perhaps. But how did she "coax" him away from being obsessed with the spear? The reason I think she could be a love interest is Sanderson using the word "coaxed" instead of "persuade" They mean close to the same thing, but coaxing suggests persuasion through friendly means. Maybe it is nothing, but it could be something. .

 

Well, she Said something like this to Kaladin.

 

"Hey Cap, I mean Squadleader, how about you put aside thats spear and come chat with me *wink wink"  

 

*Kaladin look at a beutiful woman *wink wink* him and think with himself well waht could turn wrong*

 

After tha is just routine love story (shy boy mets nice gal) promises, etc, and Amaram sending Kaladin to hell in earth =)

 

PS: The Stormfather knows that ln real life *wink wink* works 99% of time with men=) 

 

PSS:

Edited December 15, 2013 by Natans

[+eveorjoy she/her]

Well, she Said something like this to Kaladin.

 

"Hey Cap, how about you put aside thats spear and come chat with me *wink wink"  

 

*Kaladin look at a beutiful woman *wink wink* him and think with himself well at could turn wrong*

 

After tha is just routine love story (shy boy mets nice gal) promises, etc, and Amaram sending Kaladin to hell in earth =)

 

PS: The Stormfather knows that ln real life *wink wink* works 99% of time with men=) 

 

I agree with all of this except her calling him "Cap." Before Dalinar promoting him, the highest rank Kaladin achieved was squadleader. He was the youngest squadleader ever, but that is still way below Captain. I wonder if he is the youngest Captain ever?

 

Regardless, Kaladin and Tarah must have been pretty serious if his failure with her involved love. I don't think he would consider it as serious of a failure as those who died because of him if it wasn't serious. In fact, if he were married to Tarah and got her pregnant, it would be as serious as death.

 

Isn't speculating fun?

[Auri Garvel Xel'iathi he/him]

If Tarah was a love interest though, with the added possibility of being married or having a kid, I think Kaladin would be more keen to escape to fulfill his ongoing responsibilities/commitment? Or at the very least provide for their needs? The story might be deeper or be something completely different than what we expect from a traditional love story.

Having said that, I'm not against the idea that Kaladin had some sort of life after Tien. I sort of like the idea of him having a girlfriend. I like the idea that Tarah is a dark eyes even better.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Auri Garvel Xel'iathi

[+eveorjoy she/her]

If Tarah was a love interest though, with the added possibility of being married or having a kid, I think Kaladin would be more keen to escape to fulfill his ongoing responsibilities/commitment? Or at the very least provide for their needs? The story might be deeper or be something completely different than what we expect from a traditional love story.

Having said that, I'm not against the idea that Kaladin had some sort of life after Tien. I sort of like the idea of him having a girlfriend. I like the idea that Tarah is a dark eyes even better.

 

Page 49-- Kaladin speaking to a slave in the wagon with him.

 

"Ten times" Kaladin whispered. "Ten escape attempts in eight months, fleeing from five different masters. And how many of them worked?"

 

Maybe that is the reason he tried to escape so often.

 

Still, Tarah is more likely a former fiancee, than wife or mother of his child. Hopefully we will read more about her in WOR.