For those who need a refresher on bits and pieces as they move through the series.

[Amylia Lerato]

I was most of the way through fires of heaven when I took a break for school. I then returned but my library only had lord of chaos as an audiobook and not the fires of heaven. I decided to just move on to the next one. It's a tad sacraligious but here we are.
There is a few bits I've either forgot or missed, and I dont think I'm the only one in this situation. This thread will obviously have ALOT of spoilers, just a reminder to use the spoiler tags appropriately.
My questions:

Spoiler: Questions for begining of lord of chaos

Where did Rand get all of the men who might be able to channel? who the heck is Elaida? I remember something vaguely happening to Lan, what was it? And since when did Rand have a thing for Aviendha, wasn't he super in love with Elayne five seconds ago?

 

[Toral Delvar]

Spoiler

We first see them at the start of Lord Of Chaos - He puts out a call at the end of Fires of Heaven, and despite thousands of years of fear of men channeling, he pulls what he needs to him. Later, they start going out and actively recruiting
Elaida is Morgase' former adviser, we first see her in book one when Rand meets Morgase, and she left for Tar Valon around the same time as Elayne left to be a novice. She is one of the strongest Aes Sedai, though not particularly old. She overthrew Siuan in the Shadow Rising
Rand had a thing for Aviendha pretty early, he liked how she seemed honest to him. She also liked him, but tried to deny it as she had promised to watch over him for Elayne.