The Aiel didn't cause the civil war- or they contributed, but that was 20 years ago. We're talking about Rand if he hadn't gotten the Aiel vs. Rand, He Who Comes With Dawn.

If Rand tried to take Cairhein without the Aiel, it would've come down to Tear vs. Cairhein- not a good way to get the loyalty.

The other thing was that Rand needed a group he could be sure of- the various lords and ladies were always scheming, but (other than the Shaido), the Aiel have been completely loyal- and the Shaido didn't do any scheming other than their fake Car'a'carn.

The Aiel are bodyguards, policemen, and a huge army that resonates with memories of the Aiel War. They're intimidating, and numerous. They allow Rand to wander away from Cairhein for a while, confident that the laws he's changed and people he's put in power will stay that way.



They're definitely not as relevant as they were back in the middle of the series, but they form the core of Rand's support- and it's a pretty gigantic core.


Thought experiment: Without the Aiel, would the lords of Tear and Cairhein have been so amenable? Would his policies and laws stayed in place as easy? Or would any joker with an army think he could easily take down the "False Dragon?"