Persoanlly I would like everything to happen the same except.......Lan actually dies! I think it would bring full circle what he taught Rand on that tower in Fal Dara, the whole sheathing the sword concept. Because lets face it, we read the entire books knowing Lan would die....then when he survives its abit like buhhh?

"There will come a time when you must achieve a goal at all costs. It may come in attack or in defense. And the only way will be to allow the sword to be sheathed in your own body.... when the price is worth the gain, and there is no other choice left to you. That is called Sheathing the Sword. Remember it." -LM

I think defeating one of the Forsaken gravitates enough to this.