What does Rand do afterwards?

[Eht Slat Meit]

Look I'm a firm believe in the institution of marriage and believe pre-marital sex to be a grave sin, etc., however lets be serious! When has Rand ever shown any inclination to wait for marriage ? His future children evidence nothing towards being married!

 

Eh, my belief system isn't quite as restrictive as that, so in my view, one doesn't have to be married to have all the same ties and commitments of a family and children. If he gets an ending that allows him any freedom, he may not get married, but he'll still be pretty busy.

[mdwells1]

I believe that Rand will return to the Aiel Waste, to the city he saved, Rhuidean. The Aiel were the only people who readily accepted him. Everyone else tried to undermind, push, prod, and manipulate him into doing what they wanted. The Aiel have followed him, he has trusted them beyond all others, and he feel's a kindred spirit to them and the struggles that have had to go through. Also, I believe that is why the Jenn Aiel and the Aes Sedai were given the task of building Rhuidean in the first place. When the Aes Sedai at the end of the AoL predicted that the Dragon would rise again, they also foresaw the creation of Rhuidean as his "kingdom".

 

Since Rand created the lake at Rhuidean it has been commented that more and more Aiel have been flocking to the location, inhabiting the dwellings and turning it into a real city.

 

Also, it seems to be the only "nuetral" place in Randland. In the Two River's he would live under the Authority of Elayne (and Possibly Perrin if he leaves Perrin as Steward and doesn't claim his right as ruler of the Two River's as granted by Elayne). In Tar Valon he would be under Egwene's authority. He has mad Darlin King of Tear. Perrin and Faile may end up ruling Saldaea, where he would live under their Authority. And it seem's pretty clear to me that he would never consider living anywhere that is controled by the Seanchan Empire. And the Black Tower, while he founded it, it has become clear that most of the members have no loyalty to Rand, and only have loyalty to Taim or Logain, and it appears that Logain is going to take power in the BT.

[b3arz3rg3r]

He's not married to them, he's bonded to them. And seeing as how Rand is likely to die at some point in the story that will be a safe way for him to escape his relationships with Avi' and Elayne. Lets be honest, those two amount to nothing more than breeding stock for the Wheel to spawn many little mini-Dragons. Now he can ride into the sunset, in his own battered body, and live happily ever after with Min in a farm in the Black Hills where one day an arrogant little novice from the Black Tower will stumble across him and be taught a lesson or two .

 

He may not be married to them, but iirc, he's destined to have at least 6 kids by them. That ties him up for the next 15 years at least, unless he's the WoT answer to deadbeat daddyhood. Breeders? Ugh. RJ has more class than that.

 

Rand won't be a parent to either Elayne's or Aviendha's children. There's no way he could keep his survival a secret if he was being a good daddy. He won't be a stranger and he might assume the role of a favourite uncle, but he won't be their father, atleast not until they are responsible enough to keep his identity a secret. It's different for Min because she isn't a public figure like Elayne and Aviendha are.

[Eht Slat Meit]

Rand won't be a parent to either Elayne's or Aviendha's children. There's no way he could keep his survival a secret if he was being a good daddy. He won't be a stranger and he might assume the role of a favourite uncle, but he won't be their father, atleast not until they are responsible enough to keep his identity a secret. It's different for Min because she isn't a public figure like Elayne and Aviendha are.

 

How many people actually know it's specifically the -Dragon Reborn- that is the father of Elayne's twins? I mean, she's been taking pains to cover the fact, and I can't see it coming up around the dinner table. "Hey kids, you know how there used to be these prophecies about the Dragon breaking the world into pieces, and in general being responsible for a lot of death and misery? Yeah, that was me. Your daddy's real name is RandaLL T, but you can call him Big D, wink wink nudge nudge."

 

Nah, there's no reason they'd have to be suspicious of him. As you say, it's not like he'd be a stable parent figure (mother's a queen/wise one/whatever anyway), but that doesn't preclude him being there or require him to be relegated to a lesser role.

[b3arz3rg3r]

Rand won't be a parent to either Elayne's or Aviendha's children. There's no way he could keep his survival a secret if he was being a good daddy. He won't be a stranger and he might assume the role of a favourite uncle, but he won't be their father, atleast not until they are responsible enough to keep his identity a secret. It's different for Min because she isn't a public figure like Elayne and Aviendha are.

 

How many people actually know it's specifically the -Dragon Reborn- that is the father of Elayne's twins? I mean, she's been taking pains to cover the fact, and I can't see it coming up around the dinner table. "Hey kids, you know how there used to be these prophecies about the Dragon breaking the world into pieces, and in general being responsible for a lot of death and misery? Yeah, that was me. Your daddy's real name is RandaLL T, but you can call him Big D, wink wink nudge nudge."

 

Nah, there's no reason they'd have to be suspicious of him. As you say, it's not like he'd be a stable parent figure (mother's a queen/wise one/whatever anyway), but that doesn't preclude him being there or require him to be relegated to a lesser role.

 

Rand being the father of Elayne's children is one of the worst kept secrets ever. The Aiel Wise Ones, the Emondsfield group, Dobraine, Dyelin, Lan, Gawyn and Morgase just of the top of my head all know about it. And it's really not all that hard to figure out you know. Any of the Aiel who knows that the Elayne and Aviendha adopted each others as first sisters could easily guess it and Aiel gossip just as any other folk. Also Rand never making it a secret that he only kept Andor and Cairhien for Elayne is rather suspicious. And it isn't a secret in Tear that Elayne and Rand kept making out when they were both there.

You think that many people can keep a secret? I wouldn't go so far as to say that the only way two people can keep a secret is for one of them to be dead, but this isn't two this is closer to dozens who already know and should Elayne and Rand be seen meeting at Merilor that number will only increase.

[David Selig]

Why would Elayne want to keep the fact that Rand is the dad secret after the LB? The danger for them from that would be over - no point trying to hurt the Dragon Reborn through his kids since he's already done his mission. There's too many people who know the truth already to keep it a secret long term, and there's plenty of political benefits to be had from announcing the truth (unless Rand destroys half the world in the process of saving it or something like that).

[b3arz3rg3r]

Why would Elayne want to keep the fact that Rand is the dad secret after the LB? The danger for them from that would be over - no point trying to hurt the Dragon Reborn through his kids since he's already done his mission. There's too many people who know the truth already to keep it a secret long term, and there's plenty of political benefits to be had from announcing the truth (unless Rand destroys half the world in the process of saving it or something like that).

 

I was just arguing why Rand couldn't be a father to his children with Elayne or Aviendha if he wants to have any peace at all and not get dragged back again onto the political stage. As long as Rand remains dead to the public no one will care that he is their father I agree. Well, not unless Elayne or one of her children starts a war for conquest with Rand as their justification

[Entreri]

He has 3 beautiful women and lots of hot Aiel women...

 

He will be do what Tebow is supposedly not doing.

[Randommer]

I've never bought the whole 'he buys a farm with Min' thing either, cos I really don't see him ditching his kids like that. In fact, in Avi's ter'angreal trip, the fact that his kids had never even seen him made me pretty convinced that Rand must be dead or very, very far away.

 

Maybe pre-VoG he would have thought they were better off without him, but post-VoG Rand, who also now remembers being a father, isn't very likely to think that way. The only way I could see him going with the Ogier or something is if it's direly necessary. Otherwise I'm calling character shenanigans.

[Eht Slat Meit]

Why would Elayne want to keep the fact that Rand is the dad secret after the LB? The danger for them from that would be over - no point trying to hurt the Dragon Reborn through his kids since he's already done his mission. There's too many people who know the truth already to keep it a secret long term, and there's plenty of political benefits to be had from announcing the truth (unless Rand destroys half the world in the process of saving it or something like that).

 

In a world where the greatest threat has been vanquished and become just a memory, new ties are forged; politicians come out to play.

 

Answer? Sun Throne politics. If the Dragon is seen as anything heroic (which is questionable), claiming Rand as the father could be seen by Elayne's competitors as a means of ensuring that she retains the throne that she and they know they want, not just for herself but for her children. That makes the kids even more of a target than they normally would be, because a Dragon seen as a hero rather than the source of misery that he was foretold to be, and actually became, is quite possibly one whose lineage should be held in esteem.

 

And therefore a more serious threat than that of simple succession.

[Ryrin]

Rand won't be a parent to either Elayne's or Aviendha's children. There's no way he could keep his survival a secret if he was being a good daddy. He won't be a stranger and he might assume the role of a favourite uncle, but he won't be their father, atleast not until they are responsible enough to keep his identity a secret. It's different for Min because she isn't a public figure like Elayne and Aviendha are.

 

How many people actually know it's specifically the -Dragon Reborn- that is the father of Elayne's twins? I mean, she's been taking pains to cover the fact, and I can't see it coming up around the dinner table. "Hey kids, you know how there used to be these prophecies about the Dragon breaking the world into pieces, and in general being responsible for a lot of death and misery? Yeah, that was me. Your daddy's real name is RandaLL T, but you can call him Big D, wink wink nudge nudge."

 

Nah, there's no reason they'd have to be suspicious of him. As you say, it's not like he'd be a stable parent figure (mother's a queen/wise one/whatever anyway), but that doesn't preclude him being there or require him to be relegated to a lesser role.

 

Rand being the father of Elayne's children is one of the worst kept secrets ever. The Aiel Wise Ones, the Emondsfield group, Dobraine, Dyelin, Lan, Gawyn and Morgase just of the top of my head all know about it. And it's really not all that hard to figure out you know. Any of the Aiel who knows that the Elayne and Aviendha adopted each others as first sisters could easily guess it and Aiel gossip just as any other folk. Also Rand never making it a secret that he only kept Andor and Cairhien for Elayne is rather suspicious. And it isn't a secret in Tear that Elayne and Rand kept making out when they were both there.

You think that many people can keep a secret? I wouldn't go so far as to say that the only way two people can keep a secret is for one of them to be dead, but this isn't two this is closer to dozens who already know and should Elayne and Rand be seen meeting at Merilor that number will only increase.

 

 

Aviendha even said "she (Elayne) will get with child from this."