Oh yeah! Mat vs Gawyn and Galad was probably the best. I loved Coulin Gaidin's little speech after!

What are some of the best fight scenes (small scale, not battles) in the series. I just came across a really good one, although its more of an execution than a fight. In Winters Heart, Chapter 22 "Out of Thin Air," emo-Rand (hair dyed black) stalks Rochaid through Far Madding, but is tricked. Emo-Rand, unarmed, stops Rochaid from drawing his sword, punches him, dodges a surprise attack from Kisman, and uses Kisman's attack to kill Rochaid. Good ol' sheepherder.

If Elayne gets a hold of the Two Rivers, this is the sequence of events that will occur:

Elayne: This was never yours in the first place, it was always Andors

Bran Al'Vere: But we've never seen a Queen's Guard nor a taxman... where were you when we defended "your realm" against Trollocs?

Elayne: Birgitte...

*THWACK* (Arrow through the skull)

Elayne: Oh how tiresome, I weary of these peasants *sniff*, I shall give them to the Amyrlin Seat, my pillow friend of white-dressed years!

Egwene: Thank you, daughter. As the Amyrlin I see you had to kill my father, that is okay though, I now know that duty comes before anything else. The White Tower MUST be whole! Give the Two Rivers to the Red Ajah, it can be their new thing, besides more man-hating.

Elayne: Your welcome, mother.

Following these events, the Two Rivers will go through a manocide, in which only the Women's Circle, headed by Red Ajah, will remain.

I've tried to pronounce the names as correctly as possible (knowing that RJ hated mispronunciations). However, he also makes fun of often in the books, especially when rumours are discussed, i.e., the different names used to describe the Seanchan (I don't have a list of the misspelled Seanchan names present). Also, within Randland, there are obviously different accents and jargon, and likely people of different lands would use different pronunciations for certain words and names. So RJ's hatred for our mispronouncing his beloved characters is simply ironic in my opinion. I would theorize that he made up crazy names like Nynaeve, Egwene, and Aiel just to cause us pain in our tongues while RJ sat comfortably in a barcalounger with a snifter of brandy smoking a corncob pipe.

Why would Galad need to channel? He's already ultimate to a fault. Also, he's a hit with the ladies. All these facts are conclusive that Galad cannot channel!

Also, in case you didn't notice, I was being a bit sarcastic. But I highly doubt that Galad can channel, there is no proof whatsoever of him being able to. If he could channel, he probably would have taken his own life by now because it would be "the right thing to do." ...stupid Galad.

I still don't think Lan's ta'veren, his army will be used by Rand someway, whether directly or as a diversion, and thus is likely the result of Rand pulling in whatever he needs. If we looked at any person who seems to be very lucky or able to do significant things such as Lan does, we would have to believe that Padan Fain is ta'veren. I mean, Fain survived the Dark One's touch, the Shadar Logoth taint, Mashadar (which he even seems able to control now), and although not being able to channel, has survived in fights against Rand and others, and is able to kill Myrddraal. But I don't think there is any reason to call Padan Fain a ta'veren. I think people are fishing for justifications.

I think I agree with Agitel. In the WOT universe, some people appear to be luckier than others, although some instances of Lan's "battle luck" I think are actually just instances of his skills. As for the Prince's fall, that could be the Prince's luck, or any number of things.

I can't remember if it says this anywhere in the books, but I don't know if some people can be ta'veren for a short period of time (such as a few years). If that's the case, it could be possible that some people are not born ta'veren - although Rand most likely was.

Also, events working in favour towards Lan and Moiraine may be part of Rand's ta'vereness, but keep in mind that the Pattern has been setting up for Rand's birth/reign for centuries. As Rand hasn't yet drawn Moiraine and Lan to him, events working in their favour likely come from the intuitive Pattern.

Another thing to keep in mind is Siuan's ability to see ta'veren. As Siuan would have seen Lan sometime between New Spring and Eye of the World, if Lan indeed was ta'veren, likely Siuan would have told Moiraine, and it seems that Moiraine wouldn't have kept that from us/Rand/Lan. Although who's to say with Aes Sedai?

Intentional or not (although I agree, RJ has a history of intentional little bits throughout the series), I still think its great! Personally, I believe author intent is separate from the effect of the work in all literature; yes, RJ has huge sway over his universe, but the work itself is separate from the author... but that discussion could go on forever.

And Zidel, nice bit with the White Tower! However, I suppose that because the Island has never been "penetrated" by an army, I suppose it's still a virgin? I suppose this statement is somewhat false, but I think this is a spoiler-free zone isn't it?

Hey all, I noticed this a while back, and there is a good chance that it is coincidental, and maybe it's because I'm an art student that I see more into this than I should, but doesn't the Island of Tar Valon and its surrounding landscape greatly resemble female genitalia?

Now before you excuse this idea as craziness, I think it makes sense symbolically to have an city ruled by the greatest world power - the White Tower - made up entirely of women that reside on an Island resembling a vagina? In a sense, it is the ultimate symbol of female power. And indeed, the world bends knee to Tar Valon...

Thoughts?