During my studies I have pondered many questions, one of the Tower of Ghenjei and the realms beyond included, and I have decided to devote some time to the afore mentioned topic, as it is a somewhat popular one, however small my ponderings on it were. At any rate, I have compiled information from documents both within the Tower and without, and have put it together with a few of my own theories and ideas. I hope this helps any who are also searching for more information.

Beyond the redstone doorway, kept in the Great Holding in the Stone of Tear and decorated with three wavy lines, lies the realm of the Eelfinn. (Eelfinn sounds to be something related to eels, which are snake-like, so there's a certain logic in saying that the Eelfinn are the Snakes.) The Eelfinn are a human-like race, but have serpentine features that clearly identify them as something other than human. They feed off a person's emotions and experiences, and apparently "savor" ta'veren, which we learn from the documented experiences of Matrim Cauthon. The Eelfinn can read the Pattern, enabling them to answer three questions about past, present or future upon request. The answers are often crypti and difficult to understad If the questions are deemed frivolous, the Eelfinn punish for it, and do not answer the questions. They demand their own price for their services, and the questor must deem this price worthy for their questions and information.

Beyond the redstone doorway decorated with triangles, point down, lies the realm of the Aelfinn. While this doorway was once kept in the Aiel city of Rhuidean, it was destroyed in the battle between Lanfear and Moiraine Damodred Aes Sedai in Cairhien, en route to Tar Valon. The Aelfinn, like the Eelfinn, appear to be human-like, however the Aelfinn have vulpine features that distinguish them as a completely different race. They can touch and affect the weaving of the Pattern upon request, thus performing something akin to "granting three wishes." Like the Eelfinn, they punish for frivolousness, and demand prices in return for their services.

Both races speak a harsh, archaic dialect of the Old Tongue, requiring a translator to comprehend their speech. They appear to be human-like, but are very inhuman, bordering on evil. While they are not *evil* in the strictest sense of the word, they are amoral, which is as bad -- or worse -- from a human point of view. We see them as dangerous and evil, though their intentions may not be so.

There are two know entrances to each realm, and one entrance is common between them: the Tower of Ghenjei. It is very difficult, but not inpossible, to enter here. To our knowledge, only Isam Mandragoran has ever been able to enter. He entered in Tel'aran'rhiod, which we learn through the documented experinces of Perrin Aybara, is more dangerous than entering in the waking world, although we are also told that neither is a good idea to begin with.

Entrance more than once into the Tower of Ghenjei is possible, else how would Isam be able to frequent it? The entrance is physically difficult as well as the negotiations with the A/Eelfinn. We have no documented knwledge of the actual negotiations, and until we do, it will not be further discussed. The question as to how exactly you enter when there are no visible doors will also remain idle, as we have no answers for these questions as of yet. There may be other entrances, but they are unknown to us at this point in time.

It is said that the Firsts of Mayene could only cross the threshold once. If they had its twin, could they have re-entered the Eelfinn realm after entering the Aelfinn realm? Or perhaps entry into the Tower of Ghenjei itself is necessary for unlimited crossings into the A/Eelfinn realms? It is my own theory that entrance into the Tower of Ghenjei is necessary for unlimited access to these worlds, but once in the Tower, you must make some demands and offer a price.

In dealing with the A/Eelfinn, one must remember the children's game Snakes and Foxes. Children play this game because they don't realize that you have to cheat to win. The same applies to dealing with the A/Eelfinn: you have to cheat to get what you want. While lying is not an option for Aes Sedai, the Light knows they can bandy words with anyone. Trick the into something they don't want to do. Blackmail is always an entertaining option, as well as trapping them in oaths they can't get out of. (A pity the Oath Rod couldn't be used on them, mmm?) Also remember the little rhyme:
"Courage to strengthen, fire to blind,
Music to dazzle, iron to bind."
These items may be useful in your dealings as well.

We learn from Matrim Cauthon's documented experiences that there were "three tall silvery spires, curving in toward each other so that their points all aimed at the same spot." As Maihgread Sedai related in her essay on the same subject, these spires may have some relation to the ring ter'angreal kept here in the Tower as well as the similar one in Rhuidean. The ter'angreal here in the Tower feeds off a novice's emotions and experinces, similar to the way the Eelfinn feed off a person's emotions and experiences. The Rhuidean rings show three variations of the future and affect the choices the entering apprentice will make when faced with that particular event, much like the Aelfinn's ability to touch and affect the weaving of the Pattern. No one knows exactly where these women go during their experiences, but it has been speculated that they go to the A/Eelfinn realms.

There are other questions: How, when and of what was the Tower of Ghenjei created? Where, when and why were the doorway ter'angreal made? Are these relics of the Age of Legends, or an older Age? Are they, in fact, ter'angreal, or could they be something related to Portal Stones? Why can't they be toppled? (I think that it's for the same reason that Portal Stones can't be moved, but I have no proof, and we still do not know the reason for that.) Was the cause of the Aelfinn doorway melting that there was so much Power being channeled during the entry, or was it because of the angreal in Lanfear's hands crossing the threshold? (Both are likely, and perhaps it was for both reasons.) We may never know the answer to these questions, but they give us something to think about on a rainy day.

As Maihgread Sedai also stated in her essay, the A/Eelfinn remain a mystery, but perhaps this uncovers a bit more until we have direct contact with them.