Well, you can be born with the ability to channel, but it not manifest itself until later in life - what if being ta'veren were like that?
Clearly, he was already the Dragon when he was born (hence the ability to Foretell of his birth), but if the Pattern isn't sentient (as RJ says), then it wasn't determined when he would need to become ta'veren until Moiraine showed up on his doorstep.
WoT If... Rand Was Ta'veren From Birth?
in Theory Blog
Posted
Well, you can be born with the ability to channel, but it not manifest itself until later in life - what if being ta'veren were like that?
Clearly, he was already the Dragon when he was born (hence the ability to Foretell of his birth), but if the Pattern isn't sentient (as RJ says), then it wasn't determined when he would need to become ta'veren until Moiraine showed up on his doorstep.
Just a thought.