At the end of Book 1, when Rand is
struggling with the One Power from the Eye
in Tarwains Gap he screams ......
" Light, help me!!! "
and a booming voice in his head in all CAPS
( just like the Dark One's voice is typed
in later books ) says .......
" I WILL TAKE NO PART,
ONLY THE CHOOSEN ONE CAN DO WHAT MUST BE DONE,
IF HE WILL"
and then the stairs to Ishmeal appear.
Was this "The CREATOR" ????
sure looks that way to me.......
btw: I think Mazrim Taim is actually Sammual in desguise.