The colour flashes

[ROB_88]

i did a search and i can't believe noone had brought this up before.

in the later books we see that whenever one of the Ta'veren thinks or hear the name of one of the other two, they get a sudden flash of colour before there eyes, sometimes showing what the other one is up too.

it seems especially present with Perrin since he is in the company of the Prophet of the Dragon who can't stop talking about Rand for five minutes.

 

can anyone explain why and what those flashes are?

 

and if they are all three together at one place, maybe doing battleplans for TG, will the colour flashes be constant?

[GrandpaG]

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but it's still interesting.

 

1. It hasn't always happened.

2. It has happened more frequently recently.

3. The intensity and clarity are building.

 

This seems to be a "growing" phenomenon.  As time goes on, the boys are experiencing it more and more.  They are able to understand more of it, too.  It definitely appears to be a mental link between the three of them that has not yet fully developed.  Given time and practice, I see them in the future being able to communicate telepathically on demand.  Just one old guy's opinion.  ;)

[Kaznen]

As far as I know Mat is the only one who figured out the other two could see him when they thought of him.

 

Why Perrin thinks of why he can see Mat is unknown but seeing Rand has obvious reasons.

 

And Rand thinks it is just a Mega Ta'veren quirk that has just devoleped.

[sleddog116]

I think it could be that having three incredibly strong taveren in the world at one time might have something to do with it.

 

Taveren have the latent 'ability' (though they really have no control over it) to basically change the Pattern around them - is it possible that the threads of these three taveren are somehow twisting around each other and causing some sort of link?  Are the three threads becoming braided into a single thread?

[Nateku]

I think it might relate back to the fact that they grew up together as best friends. Their threads and such probably became pretty close while they were growing up, so they might have some ta'veren connection. The colors are appearing because they are far away from each other, so the Pattern is maybe...I dunno, trying to keep them together by letting them know what the others are up to.

 

 

That do be my theory. ^_^

 

[Jethro]

Its a representation of the "tripod" mentioned by the Fade in EotW just before it fights Thom. One falls, and the others go with him-Perrin and Mat are tied to Rand, and they can feel it. Mat physically cant say he wants to leave at some points, whereas Perrin feels Rands need for him even over great distances. It signifies their importance to each other, and while it confirms to the characters as well as us that they need each other, it isnt really to do with anything we didnt already know about. I see it as part of the buildup for Tarmon Gaidon; as time progresses signs like this show the characters that their fates are leading towards a time where they are all going to be important to one anothers success.

[Babalu]

I always just thought the flashes meant that the last battle was coming soon and that they needed to join back together sooner rather than later.

[Jethro]

I think its the connection between them telling them they need to hook up. The thing that makes me think there is some sort of actual link between them is Im sure Moiraine or Verin commented that they were linked somehow, three Ta'veren from the same village, and since I first read that part I looked for signs of that connection. The first I can remember was Mat trying to say he wanted to leave and notbeing able to say it. I gather that the connection did indeed grow stronger in time until these swirling colors occur, yet it has nothing to do with the Power. I suspect that it is the Pattern itself that formed this connection.

 

Forgive me for stating my previous post as fact, I know some people are irritated by that so I just thought I'd clarify that I was merely stating my own view on it.

[Kaznen]

I believe it is the tripod theory and they need to get back together message their getting from the pattern.

 

But I still stand by my earlier statement that Mat is the only one who has it figured out.

[Generic Aelfinn #2]

anyone remember the first instance of the swirling colors appearing?