But why call the Dark One "Him who will Destroy"? So far in the prophecy, he's refered to as "the Great Lord" and "Glorious One" (or something like that). Wouldn't they stick to one theme with names for him?

One thing I didn't include was this quotefrom Brandon about the possible fight between Light and Shadow prophecy:

Ty Margheim: Are the prophecies competing a la The Belgariad (by David Eddings), or are they complementary?

 

Brandon Sanderson: Not competing like The Belgariad, and certainly not intelligent like in The Belgariad.

 

BRANDON SANDERSON: Some may be interpreted wrong, others may be recorded wrong, but there is not a this/that nature to them.

 

Footnote: The questioner is probably referring to the dark/light prophecies, as this makes the best comparison for Eddings. Brandon is saying that they will all be fulfilled, whether dark or light. (The Seanchan prophecies are another matter altogether, and Brandon was hinting at this in his last tweet; there is good reason to believe that the Seanchan prophecies have been corrupted.)

So, that means the Foretelling--unlike Dreaming--will come true. It's only the different, or twisted, perspective of the Shadow that makes it so ambiguous.

I think the one of Moiraine is awesome. Very cool lines and use of dark colors!

Oh, ye of little faith. There shall be an epic throwdown between Moiraine & Lanfear. There is unfinished business between those two...

 

I'm in the camp that says Lanfear is NOT going to help Rand, and that her begging Rand to rescue her is a ploy. Moridin has her mindtrap, so she cannot do anything without him knowing about it. Her reaching out to Rand the way she did, I don't think Moridin would allow that unless he's using her as bait. That's what I think is going on. And I think if Moiraine were to find out about Lanfear's attempt to get Rand to help her, she'd say: "Don't EVER trust Lanfear. She is still the same person she was" And now she has the Dark One's champion pulling her strings directly. No way is she going to turn away from the Shadow. I'd believe that Moridin would turn to the Light before Lanfear does.

Metal Head, this isn't the theory blog. :P But I agree with you.

Happy birthday, Dragonmount! I've been around since nearly the beginning! It's been a great fourteen years!

Millon, I was under the assumption that Machin Shin was a product of the taint on saidin, therefore, it's part of the Shadow. That's something that sounds interesting, so I might look into it further.

Elder Haman, I think the Power will be lost eventually (see my post about the sul'dam and damane relationship), but not right after the Last Battle. Looking at prophecies and Foretellings, the White Tower still exists after the battle is complete. There wouldn't be a White Tower if the Power completely disappeared.

78Warlock, I thought it was pretty clear that the oddity of Aviendha's babies is that they touch the True Source at all times--even when asleep.

Thanks guys! I was a bit hesitant to take over after Despothera because he did set the bar so high. I'm glad I'm at least keeping up!

Dudley, I like that theory. We do know that Dark Prophecy, like the Light Prophecy, doesn't always come true. It could be based on a different weaving of the Pattern. Interesting!

I think I'm going to agree with Metal Head. Bravo, Mashiara, for pondering such an original topic.

Thanks, Gwenifer! :)

Metal Head does have good points. But if the Pattern would accept either decision from Perrin, that brings up an interesting line of speculation. What would have changed--I mean drastic things--if Perrin had gone to the Waste instead of back home?

His family was already dead, so he wasn't really needed to save them. That wouldn't have changed.

The Whitecloaks would have helped the Two Rivers folk from the Trollocs, eventually. The Whitecloaks are messed up--most of them--but they do fight for the Light--most of them. So, the Two Rivers could have been saved, I think, if Perrin hadn't gone.

He still would have had Faile following him. No change there.

Lord of the Two Rivers... I think that plays an important part in Perrin's storyline throughout the rest of the series. I also think there will be a great reason for him joining with Galad's Whitecloaks. Perrin's own ta'veren tug pulled the Whitecloaks to him. I think they'll be needed. ... However, he could have had Rand send him back to the Two Rivers at another time, to check on things. He could have become their Lord then. All the rest would follow after that.

So maybe things could have still worked out if Perrin went to the Waste.

@snowball - Well of COURSE you like where I'm at. You look like a bonafide metal-head yourself!

 

I'm really going to miss the Theory-blog comment-ers when there's no more theories to share. *SIGH*

I've heard that many things within the series will be left unanswered. I think we'll still have plenty to theorize about after A Memory of Light.

Since the ter'angreal was made specifically to show the Aiel their past, I don't think it was made in the Age of Legends. I think it's more likely the elderly Aes Sedai shown in Rhuidean were the ones who created it. The whole point of it was to show the Aiel their forgotten roots since someone who wasn't Aiel wouldn't see anything if they went inside--said Robert Jordan in the interview quoted.

When Rand had his epiphany, he realized he had a second chance. I don't necessarily think that means the future--especially things we know are set in stone--can be changed. He just realized there was a reason to try his hardest, to try and right the wrongs he caused in the past. Whatever happens, he has love, and that's enough to get him through the rough times.

I LOVE that drawing of Egwene in Tel'aran'rhiod. It's so cute!

I think there is evidence on both sides. As I pointed out in the blog, personally, I feel there is more evidence pointing to the visions being the factual future. But, the big counter argument is that the ter'angreal seems alive. If it has knowldge and thought, then it must be showing the visions for a reason--not just to torment Aviendha.

Even if Aviendha doesn't bear Rand's children, the Aiel are still floundering for a purpose after the Last Battle. If it's not Padra who takes the first step, another will.

Wow, everyone.

I totally agree that it's much better if they suggest a "possible future," but one of the theories on time travel is that you can't change anything, ever. In that "possible future," she saw the vision in the glass columns; she tried to warn her children about the dangers; her children, and their offspring, still made mistakes and had a slightly different perspective about what it means to be Aiel. There's a saying that goes something like this: "You often meet your destiny on the road you took to avoid it."

Also, some things are set in stone, like Min's viewings. That must mean the Pattern is already woven, or else, what is she seeing? She doesn't see possible futures--except in the case of Egwene and Gawyn.

That being said, I like to point out both sides of an argument. It's not harmful to keep an open mind and try to examine the stories from another angle. :)

I could see your point, if it wasn't brought up again in Towers of Midnight. During the battle at Maradon, Rand is said--from an outside source--to be "a storm of Light" (Towers of Midnight, Chapter 32, "A Storm of Light"). Also, during this scene, a darkfriend plucks out his eyes and says, "That Light eats at my mind, like rats feasting on a corpse. It burns at my thoughts. It killed me. That light killed me" (same chapter). So, Rand certainly has Light inside him at this point in the story. It seems likely he had it all along, but wasn't able to access it because of all the negative and Shadow-influenced emotions inside him.

Hey, Mashiara!! Let's have a Padan Fain theory next! He's my favorite literary lunatic, so let's show him some love!

I'll see what I can do. :)

Maybe it's a dumb question, but was it actually confirmed that the Eye was a pool of saidin? Could it be the pool of Light instead, Moiraine being wrong one more time?

 

There's one thing that bothers me: mysterious statements concerning the DO blinding the Eye and the Eye serving Rand. What does it mean? I know Ishy could lie, but the pool of saidin seems too unimportant for such serious statements - unless the Eye was made to protect the Seals and the Shadow was aware of that. Perhaps "blinding the Eye" meant in fact acting to the detriment of Rand, not the Pattern or the Creator directly, as without the Eye Rand would have stayed blind - and he actually was blind anyway, for a time.

This interview with Robert Jordan talks about Aginor's desire to channel the Eye of the World. Jordan's reply seems to fit in with the Eye being a pool of saidin.

Those quotes by Ba'alzamon lead me to believe that the Eye was definitely more than just saidin. It could be protecting the seals, as Aielyn said in the comments two weeks ago. It could be that Rand used it for the wrong purpose. It did destroy the Shadowspawn army and bring an end to the crazy weather--for a time--so maybe the actual channeling didn't matter, only the fact that it was used.

@Philip in Richmond

That's a good point. She could be trying to mislead Agelmar. But, there's no reason for it. Agelmar, like most Borderlanders, respects and honors Aes Sedai. He wouldn't have pried into her affairs at all. So, there was no point in mislead him.

@pandemonium

I agree, refilling the Eye is a stretch. But I did want to throw it out there because it's been discussed before.

@jack of shadows

I agree that those veins were probably there for awhile, though no from birth. I think that it's the effect of the connection with the Creator through the Eye that gave Rand a sort of immunity. But, iIs it Nynaeve's increased ability that finally revealed the veins, or did they appear suddenly because Rand accepted Lews Therin's memories?

The forward of The Gathering Storm says, "Mr. Jordan did write this ending himself before he passed away, and I have read it. And it is fantastic." Brandon Sanderson is also a fan of the series, and I'd say he's a good judge about the conclusion. If he thinks it's "fantastic," then I bet we will all agree.

Lews Therin makes sense. After the epiphany and accepting Lews Therin's--and all his past lives--memories, Rand's mind seems free from madness. That connection also gave him so much knowledge from the Age of Legends and beyond.

But I also think Snowball could be right. This series has gone on for 22 years. It's understandable that plots have shifted from what was originally planned.

Err, why do you think the sword is Callandor? The Rhuidean quote is:

 

"A crystal sword—perhaps an object of the Power, perhaps only an ornament; he had no way of telling"

 

Rand knew Callandor by the time he was in Rhuidean, there would be no confusion over this - he would recognize the sword that is not a sword.

He's only viewing the scene through the eyes of Jonai, his ancestor. Rand would recognize it, but the Aielman wouldn't.

There's one detail you missed. In The Eye of the World the voice is ITALICIZED, but in Lord of Chaos when the Dark One speaks its voice is simply ALL CAPS. I always took that as more evidence that in EotW it was not the same voice, but the other deity, the Creator.

 

Also, I assumed the reason the Forsaken felt ecstasy (as well as pain) at being spoken to by the Dark One wasn't because its voice was inherently nice to listen to, but because they were sworn to the Shadow and worship evil, its voice has that effect. Maybe Light-sided people would just feel agonized at having that voice in their skull.

You are absolutely right! I can't believe I left off the italics! From that, I would gather the thought is coming from inside Rand. Italics in a novel mean the words are internal thoughts. That would lead me to believe it's Lews Therin, or some other form of the Dragon's Soul, or that the Creator is INSIDE Rand and speaks through him...

So, the Creator does want to "slay the Eye of the World" and kill time? If that's the case, the Dark One wants the same thing. Are they working together?

Due to many references, especially by Ba'alzamon, that refer to the Eye as an object, not a location, and Moiraine's description of the actual pool of saidin, I think we can say for certain the Eye is the pool of saidin. When Rand and co. show up at the Green Man's place, Moiraine says, "We have come to see the Eye of the World" (The Eye of the World, Chapter 49, "The Dark One Stirs"). They are already with the Green Man, in his little habitat, so why would Moiraine say they want to see the Eye if they are already at the Eye? Also, Ba'alzamon says, "Did they tell you the Eye of the World would serve you?” (The Eye of the World, Chapter 14, "The Stag and Lion"). I don't think a location could fit all those descriptions.

How sure was Lews Therin that he would be reborn as the next Age's Hero? It seems all the inhabitants of the world realize time is circular, but I don't think Lews Therin would assume his soul would be reborn and save humanity. Ishamael insisted it was always he and the Dragon fighting, but even the other Forsaken didn't listen to his philosophical ideas. I bet Lews Therin assumed, when he was reborn again, that he'd be just a regular person, normal and not destined for anything great. That may be one of the reasons Rand has so much trouble reconciling with his past memories.

As far as the seals go, I think Lews Therin knew it would be harder to get the alignment right without saidar too, but he was so set on saving the world, he went ahead anyway. There could be no way to anticipate the backlash of the taint. He went in with the mindset of winning and just failed horribly.

Very interesting, Aielyn! I like that theory. I think it makes sense, from the knowledge we have in the books.

As for Aginor getting young, here's an interview that answers that.

"I asked him about Aginor getting younger at the end of The Eye of the World, and he said 'no, he doesn't get younger, he dies'. So I actually looked up the reference and read it to him. He said 'oh, that,' and then went on to explain that it is actually the True Power, not the saidin from the Eye, that rejuvenates him. He did describe the saidin in the Eye as a 'mother-lode', however, I didn't think to ask him what he meant by that until I was in the car going home. I instead asked him whether the True Power was the source of the Forsaken's immortality. He said: yes."