I strongly suspect that the last person in the circle to take out Dark Rand 2.0 will be Narishma, because he seems to have his own connection to Callandor after drawing it out of the Heart of the Stone. His dark complexion also makes him a perfect candidate for satisfying Egwene's dream of a dark young man wielding a very shiny object (A Crown of Swords).

That dream of Egwene's is very interesting and, as per usual, very cryptic:

A man lay dying in a narrow bed, and it was important he not die, yet outside a funeral pyre was being built, and voices raised songs of joy and sadness. A dark young man held an object in his hand that shone so brightly that she couldn’t see what it was.

But back to Narishma. The prophecy Rand quotes in TSR (I think) implies that he will probably have a BIG part to play in all this:

Into the heart he thrusts his sword,

into the heart to hold their hearts.

Who draws it out shall follow after,

what hand can grasp that fearful blade?

One of my favorites is the idea of an eclipse happening. This would be somewhat out of left field (in a good way) and would tie in fairly well with a lot of prophecies. The only problem I really see with it is it's harder to directly associate Rand with the eclipse ending. Why does the Dark One need to do an eclipse when he can shut the sun out with cloud cover every day

What about the fact that Rand is now followed around by sunlight?

"Gather your Apples quickly. My presence will hold him off for a time , i think, and whatever you take now should be safe from his touch." TOM, Apples First

At first I didn't think too much about it, but then i thought, what if it isn't just Rand's Presence, what if it is also the sunlight which is holding the Dark One at bay. I been wondering why the Dark One had blanketed the sky in clouds, maybe to make people miserable. But what if the name DARK ONE, is more than just a metaphor? What if he becomes stronger in the absence of light, not just metaphorically, but actual light too.

Since the DO has covered the sky in clouds, the affect he has had on the world has increased. I will admit that this could just be due to Tarmon Gaidon looming closer, but what if it is from the lack on ambient light?

"That Light....That terrible light." Ituralde glanced at Bashere,

"I cannot watch it," Torkumen muttered. "I cannot! Great Lord, where is your protection?......."I'm not sure he was talking about the battle, Voegler," Bashere said. TOM, A Storm of Light

If Torkumen couldn't see the Battle, what light was he talking about?

I think at the last battle, the DO will have to eclipse the sun to nullify Rand's sunlight, to empower himself and his forces.

Just wanted to add my 2 cents.

going back to what you said about both Callandor's being balefire-proof, and going along with the bodyswap thing- when Morridin & Rand's balefire touched and gave them whatever it is where they can see into each other randomly- could that have something to do with it? I may have muddled the facts up on that.

Sorry all, no soul swap, no evil Rand 2.0. None of these theories follows Jordan's writting style.

When all seems lost, thing will go wrong, Rand will realize that he has to die to kill Moridin, thus they will help him die.

The day that dawns twice will be literal. Time will have been destroyed, or close to, and Rand's sacrifice will save mankind, the day will dawn a second time giving them victory.

"I WILL TAKE NO PART. ONLY THE CHOSEN ONE CAN DO WHAT MUST BE DONE, IF HE WILL." Eye of the World, Against the Shadow

What must be done? Sacrifice,ppl, sacrifice.

Couldn't agree more!!!

Absolutely correct about RJ's writing style, and the day dawning twice in a literal sense... also couldn't agree more. The second dawn will signify a new beginning. I go with the theory that Rand will succeed in his plan to actually kill the DO, not just seal him back up. Therefore the second dawn will be heralding a new, unprecedented, Age.

I've never seen anyone make the connection (or more importantly refute; maybe because it seems too obvious) that "the dragon's blood stains the rock of Shayol Ghul" being the seanchan. They are the "Blood of the Dragon" Just wondering why that is out by turn of hand. Also, I seem to remember that RJ said he wrote the first and last scenes first. Given the cyclical nature of WOT, could we not see Rand killing Elayne (Ileyna) while Damodred (Morridan) gloats?

Oh BTW I'm now a fan of this blog. I'll be reading it from here on out.

Thanks for sharing this theory. I have felt for a long time that Mordin is the anti-dragon. In the cycles where the dragon serves the shadow he would be the champion of the light. I also believe that Mordin is the only person, chosen or otherwise, who really understands the true implications of what will happen if the dark one is freed. If thw wheel of time is broken so will all reality be broken with it. Only a totally insane person would willingly go along with that plan.

At the last battle Fain will also be there... A new evil that is growing as powerful, if not more powerful than the dark one. What if the dark one is actually destroyed by Rand and Mordin and in his place Fain is sealed away as the new dark One?

Grrr I was looking for this quote online for 15 minutes before I gave up, I think it was Teddy Roosevelt who said something along the lines of "Stand for what you believe in with every fiber of your being and defend your views with all your strength, and be willing to change your mind just as quickly the next day". When I present a theory on this blog, I will always view it as a potential truth or outcome in the series, I'll never put up a theory that at least part of me doesn't believe in. That being said, I might and probably will at times post a theory the next week which is completely contradictory of the one I presented a week before. I'ts not my desire to have as many people agree with me as I can, the main thing I want is to stimulate thought and debate over the intricacies of the incredible series that is the Wheel of Time, so often the theory that I choose to go with won't always be the strongest one or most popular one, but one of the more provocative ones.

I see what some of you are saying about Robert Jordan's writing style not going along with the body swap thing, I think a fair amount of people, even those who think the Body Swap will happen, don't like the theory because of this idea. However as Luckers points out in his post about the theory, there is a precedent for soul/body manipulation throughout the series, and the swap or merge is even hinted at in the very first book. It just doesn't feel like we're done with Dark Rand yet, the Forsaken and all of the forces of Shadow have always had this strange confidence that the Dark One would gain control of Rand, and it would be high art if we found out that this could still happen even after the huge moment in Veins of Gold, at the end of The Gathering Storm.

Agrajag, great points about the whole sunlight following Rand thing, and about The Dark One being more than a metaphor. I can see how an eclipse could happen, but maybe it's not the only way Shai'tan can counter Rand's sunlight. Jnlehew, that's exactly what caused the link between Rand and Moridin, or at least thats what The Rand/Moridin Link theory lines out. Whether or not Rand dies is a topic of much consternation, I encourage anyone who has any thoughts on this subject to visit the forums to talk about it, specifically this thread.

This has certainly given me food for thought. I do love the idea of a dark callandor. I can picture the epic showdown - Rand v.s. Morridin. A sword of shining light meeting a sword of pure darkness with huge amounts of the OP and TP laying waste to the continent as they duel. An epic showdown for an epic series.

Not entirely won over on the body-swap theory. It might just be because I'm not a fan of the idea (though I do see the reasoning behind it) but in any event, it's clear their connection is going to play an important role in the last battle.

As for the day dawning twice; I've never been entirely sure what to make of that passage. I've read ever so many theories and each have a ring of credibility. I think we'll have to wait and see on that one.

The dark Rand idea is very interesting. Ever since the circle of 13 channelers+myrddraal trick was mentioned, I've longed to read a scene where it was put into action. Though it wasn't until ToM that we actually (knowingly) saw evidence of it being used. Wouldn't it be interesting if this trick were used on Rand himself? Though I'm not entirely sure if that could happen now he has access to the true power? Another point for debate perhaps.

Another interesting read Despothera. Keep them coming! :-)

I don't think there is any chance of there being a "dark callandor" - there is no evidence Moridin would be channeling the one power, and we've seen no indication channelers of the true power need any augmenting tools to channel more of it (since it's granted by the dark one).

One thing though: Moridin/Isha'mael has been pretty much non-stop alive for countless turns of the wheel. He's the Dark One's champion as far as we know. We have yet to truly see him in action channeling - just that he's a master manipulator and quite adept. If there was truly a confrontation involving a direct power struggle, I imagine Moridin would be able to operate on the scale Rand just showed in his "storm of light".

In other words: I think Moridin could wipe out 100,000+ army of the light - by himself. I just doubt we'll ever see him in direct-mass combat.

...

The "Dragon's blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul" is one of the biggest herrings in the series.

Let's see, we've got:

Rand's blood

- In death

- In his wounds breaking open

- In simply the fact that Rand gets bloodied there

Aiel Blood

Elayne's child birth taking place there

Many other possible stretches...

...

I think Rand will be reborn as you've said, whether through T'A'R or some other mechanism. He is the "Lord of the Morning", "Lord of the Dawn", "He who comes with the Dawn", and many other connections.

He's definitely making it the day of 2 dawns :)

treejoe it says in ToM when rand some of his followers go to meet some kings and queens of the borderlands,that they met in a stedding where the OP could not be used.the kings and queens slapped him according to one of there prophecies to see his mental state.(crazy kill him,sane join him).cadsuane was there with an angreal that stored power,but it seems they would of lost to the kings and queens.rand wasn't worried because he was holding on to the true source.not sure but i think he has used it before.and maybe i remember something about rand having the specks in his eyes like morridin but not as often.if this is a power granted by the darkone then why is rand able to use it.

One would assume that the DO granted it to Rand with the intention of starting him on a path to the Shadow. It is stated that the TP is more addictive than the OP. Rand's mental state at time made him vulnerable and the DO would have seen an opportunity there.

Rand has used the True Power before, he used it to break free from Semhirage's domination band, and to kill her and Elza.

When Rand met with the Borderland rulers, I'm pretty sure that he was NOT holding the TP. Remember this was AFTER Veins of Gold, therefore he was calm and relaxed, not on edge like he was during the first attempted meeting.

Also after Veins of Gold, I don't think that Rand would try and channel the TP (he wouldn't see it as worth the risk,) or that the Dark One would even grant him permission in the first place, now that he's stable, merged with LTT and in the right state of mind to fight for the Light.

"to test him," tenobia said."or so we decided,once paitar told us of the prophecy." "you dont know how close you came to doom,"Rand said softly."if i had come to you but a short time earlier,i'd have returned those slaps with balefire." "inside the guardian?"tenobia sniffed disdainfully. "the guardian blocks the one power,"rand whispered."the one power only" what does he mean by that? cadsuane thought,frowning. what does that mean. does rand think he can still use the tp? you would think lews therin would tell him he can't. is the true power the same as the true source ?

'The dividing force of the universe, which turns the Wheel of Time. It is divided into a male half (saidin) and a female half (saidar), which work at the same time with and against each other. Only a man can draw on saidin, only a woman on saidar. Since the beginning of the Time of Madness, saidin has been tainted by the Dark One's touch.' EotW Glossary

The True Power comes directly from the Dark One.

And I believe that the Guardian only blocks the One Power. It blocks saidin and saidar seperately, not the Power as a whole, therefore it probably doesn't block the True Power. Also I doubt Rand would have said that if he couldn't still sense the TP.

Hmm no editing option, that sucks...

Sorry the above Gossary entry was defining the True Source.

I mostly agree with Despothera...

There are just a couple of things I think that need to be included. First is that I don't know if Rand and Moridin switching bodies would actually put Rand in Lanfear's control. He'll be channeling the one power. Couldn't he attack Lanfear with the true source? And if Moridin has an "anti-thesis" of Callandor, then wouldn't Moridin be by himself anyway? I think it more likely that they will switch bodies, and then the shock will cause Moridin to lose control, making him a captive of Alivia and Nyneave. Rand will then continue with whatever it is he's doing, Alivia will take Moridin to a safe location, and Rand will be open to attack from 13 channelers using myrddraal. (You know it's going to happen. It's just been waiting to happen since we first learned about it in book 3.)Rand will fall to the shadow, causing the chaos. The memory of light will be him remembering how he used to feel, and he will ask Alivia to help him commit suicide.

And I totally agree with the idea of pulling Rand out of T'A'R. It makes the Birgitte story-line have a purpose. Finally. But I don't think it will be strictly Nyneave. This is T'A'R. Perrin and Egwene will probably be involved too.

You're all welcome to call me crazy. But it makes sense to me.

Once resurrected, he turns things back to how they should be very quickly, brings Sunlight to Shayol Ghul through pure willpower, and seals the Dark One away for another turning of the Wheel.

This provoked some thought for me, due to the short written by RJ entitled "Assault on Shayol Ghul" (I thought I read this on this site previously and tried to provide a link, but was unable to find it.)I'm operating on the assumption that RJ didn't release anything that wasn't cannon. In that short, which was presented as a fragment of a historical document from the first or second age, we learn that the reason the seals on the Dark One's prison have weakened is that the schism between the female and male Aes Sedai occurred before the male half of the source was tainted; that, in fact the female Aes Sedai refused to participate with the plan to patch the Bore, but instead favored a more aggressive plan involving the Choedan Kal. As a result of their non-participation, the seals on the Bore were inherently flawed, and thus, have weakened in the Fourth Age. A thread that I haven't observed here is the possibility which I see shaping up from moments in LOC, TGS, and TOM that Rand will put the original plan in place again, and try to win over Egwene to the idea. Perrin's comment near the conclusion of TOM about the need to clear away bad work before you can repair a break seems to allude to an attempt to pursue this course, although Perrin himself wouldn't understand the reason the seals have weakened. Everyone else is mortified by Rand's announcement that he will destroy the remaining seals, but Perrin seems to understand the need.

I had assumed Rand gained the use of TP through the linkage he has with Moridin. As Moridin is granted use of the true power, and if he and Rand are "One" then that would in turn allow Rand to have access as well. Or so I had rationed. Thus Rand would actually had not been granted use from the DO but had gained the ability only due to his odd connection with Moridin.