Swirling Colors

For the past several books, the three ta’veren see swirling colors whenever they think about each other – the earliest instance I have found with some quick research on Encyclopaedia WoT is Ch. 1 of WH when Perrin sees color swirls when he thinks of Rand. The swirls finally escalate to full blown images at the culmination of the cleansing of saidin, when both Mat and Perrin know from the swirls that Rand is causing the surge in the OP – at that time, Perrin even sees Rand and Nynaeve sitting facing each other as they cleanse the True Source (CoT Ch. 8 – Whirlpools of Color).

While Mat and Perrin have been trying to suppress these images, in tGS Rand finally puts them to use. He uses the vision he has of Perrin to help him figure out where Perrin is when Nynaeve asks him. I believe this is some foreshadowing of the color whirls greater relevance to come in the finale of the series. If the ta’veren quit ignoring the color swirls (as Rand has by the end of tGS – in Ch. 47 he is even able to see both Mat and Perrin simultaneously) they should be able to use it advantageously to coordinate their actions and this could be crucial to winning the Last Battle.

Tarmon Gai'don could take place at several different locations over a span of hundreds of miles – we will probably see Rand at Shayol Ghul, someone with armies at Tarwin’s Gap, and maybe other places along the Blightborder or even scattered throughout Randland. If the ta’veren are able to see each other in their minds via the color swirls, they could carefully coordinate events simultaneously at all of these locations. This could be a key advantage in holding back the Dark One’s forces at the Last Battle.

One thing that should also be interesting is what will happen when any of the ta’veren are actually in a room together. On directly seeing each other, will they also simultaneously see color swirl images? This sounds like it would be a very dizzying effect, to say the least. Perhaps they will be completely aware of each other, almost as if they were bonded. In any case, it is unlikely all three will be together any time soon, with Mat off to rescue Moiraine from the Tower of Ghenjei and Perrin doing who knows what.

So what is causing these color swirls? It seems to be a completely unique phenomenon. TheTwo Rivers boys seem to be hiding it from everyone around them, so we haven’t been able to get any third party opinion on the matter to let us know if this has ever happened historically, but I’m inclined to say it has not. For one thing, no one had ever heard of having three people be this strongly ta’veren at the same time, much less three tied together in the way that these are. And in that lies the key to their cause. The color swirls are likely a result of the interaction of the three’s ta’veren pulls on each other. Each is a main thread pulling the entire shape of the pattern, and in turn these three main threads pull on each other. Perhaps their threads are twisting them closer and closer together and the swirls are a side effect of this – they are literally able to see each other through the pattern. Could this be related to the Karaethon prophecy: “He shall hold a blade of light in his hands, and the three shall be one”?

Quote of the Day:

“As the Seanchan reached out the hand, Mat slashed it with the ruby-hilted dagger … Every bit of his exposed flesh was black as putrid pitch and looked ready to burst at a touch. Mat licked his lips and swallowed. Even Turak stared, openmouthed. ‘You see,’ Ingtar said softly. ‘We are no easy meat.’” tGH Ch. 45

Body Swap

“If you would live, you must die.” –KoD,Ch. 18

The Aelfinn tell Rand that in order to win the last battle and survive, he must die. Further, the Karaethon cycle states:

“Twice and twice shall he be marked,
twice to live and twice to die.” tGH, Ch. 26

This indicates that Rand will live twice, meaning he’ll live again after his death. This presents the possibility that despite all of the prophecies and foreshadowing that Rand has to die at the last battle he will somehow be able to survive. But how?

With an ever-strengthening connection to Moridin, the theory that the two will somehow swap bodies has become ever more popular. The reasons for the likelihood of this happening have been well explained elsewhere, so instead I will discuss how the actual body swap will occur – with a twist.

Many theorize that Rand and Moridin will swap bodies, then Rand or Alivia will kill Moridin (who is now in Rand’s body). I, however, believe that Rand will allow himself to be killed, but then through their connection he and Moridin will fight a battle of wills for control of Moridin’s body while Rand’s body is left an empty shell. This is indicated by Egwene’s dream:

“Logain, laughing, stepped across something on the ground and mounted a black stone; when she looked down, she thought it was Rand’s body he had stepped over, laid out on a funeral bier with his hands crossed at his breast, but when she touched his face, it broke apart like a paper puppet.” ACoS Ch10

The image of Rand’s face breaking like a paper puppet indicates that his body has become an empty shell and that it is no longer really him. Further, we have Min’s viewing:

“I saw you and another man. I couldn't make out either face, but I knew one was you. You touched, and seemed to merge into one another, and....one of you dies, and one doesn't.” ACoS, Ch. 33

This very nicely parallels the section of the Dark Prophecy in tGH about Slayer:

“One did live, and one did die, but both are.” tGH, Ch. 7

This indicates that Rand and Moridin will merge like Luc and Isam, and that one will live on in the body and the other will die, driven out.

Finally, there are many dreams and viewings of Rand from all different parts of the series that, when taken together, paint quite a picture:

“Three women standing over a funeral bier with you on it, black rock wet with blood…” tEotW, Ch. 15 (Min's viewing)

"The lion sword, the dedicated spear, she who sees beyond. Three on the boat, and he who is dead yet lives. The great battle done, but the world not done with battle. The land divided by the return, and the guardians balance the servants. The future teeters on the edge of a blade." LoC Ch. 14 (Nicola’s foretelling)

"Melaine and Bair dreamed of you on a boat with three women whose faces they could not see, and a scale tilting first one way then the other.” LoC, Ch.19

“A man lay dying in a narrow bed, and it was important that he not die, yet outside a funeral pyre was being built, and voices raised songs of joy and sadness.” ACoS, Ch. 10 (Egwene's dream)

As Rand and Moridin battle internally for Moridin’s body (which itself will be on the brink of death due to the internal struggle), Rand’s old body will be placed on a funeral pyre. The tilting scale seen by the Dreamwalkers represents this internal battle for Moridin's body, as does Nicola's foretelling that the future teeters on the edge of a blade - if Moridin's soul manages to hold onto the body instead of Rand, he could still unleash chaos on the world, but if Rand wins the Light will be able to hold on. For all purposes, the world will believe him dead, but he will live out his days in the body of his former nemesis.

Quote of the day:

"The Light shine on you, and the Creator shelter you. The last embrace of the mother welcome you home."

-Shienaran burial ceremony

Once for Mourning, Once for Birth

“Twice dawns the day when his blood is shed.
Once for mourning, once for birth.
Red on black, the Dragon's blood stains the rock of Shayol Ghul.
In the Pit of Doom shall his blood free men from the Shadow.” tGH, Ch. 26

The Karaethon Cycle states that there will be two dawns during Tarmon Gai’don. This likely indicates either an eclipse (which occur during significant events in the mythologies of many cultures) or the sun being blotted out for a time by either Dragonmount erupting, the Dark One’s evil black and silver storm, or for any number of other reasons.

However, the prophecy goes on to say “once for mourning, once for birth.” The mourning is obvious – many are going to die in the battle, almost certainly including Rand. But the reference to birth is less clear. When the prophecy first appears very early in the series in tGH, it seems that birth refers simply to the birth of a new age or some other figurative meaning. However, now that Elayne is pregnant with Rand’s children, it could have a more literal meaning.

Elayne becomes pregnant on the 12^th day of Saban. By the end of tGS, it is approximately the 23^rd of Saven, or about 4½ months later. This means she’s about halfway through her pregnancy. With the last battle being two books away, it is entirely possible that she will give birth during Tarmon Gai’don. This would nicely fit the prophecy with one of the “dawns” being for the birth of her twins.

Further, she may give birth at Shayol Ghul itself. Now, why on earth would Elayne be at the last battle if she’s about to go into labor? We have already seen her ridiculous reliance on Min’s viewing that her children will be healthy to mean that harm cannot befall her until she has given birth, particularly in KoD. Birgitte says that through the bond she never even feels Elayne be afraid even during her kidnapping by members of the Black Ajah. This sets a precedent for her to perhaps feel safe even during the last battle. She even might be safe, considering that Aviendha has given her the dagger ter’angreal in KoD that prevents her from being seen by creatures of the Dark One and maybe even the Dark One himself.

Evidence for Elayne giving birth at Shayol Ghul could be in the same prophecy: “Red on black, the Dragon’s blood stains the rocks of Shayol Ghul” could be referring to Rand’s blood being spilled via his unhealing wounds or many Aiel being killed on the front lines of the battle, but it could mean Elayne giving birth on Shayol Ghul as the children would be Rand’s blood. This would nicely parallel Rand’s birth on Dragonmount during a battle.

Finally, Elayne’s children being born during Tarmon Gai’don would be very fitting if they turn out to be reincarnations of the two sibling Heroes of the Horn Shivan the Hunter and Calian the Chooser.

“Shivan the Hunter behind his black mask. He was said to herald the end of Ages, the destruction of what had been and the birth of what was to be, he and his sister Calian, called the Chooser, who rode red-masked at his side.” ACoS, Ch. 21

Shivan is clearly a reference to the Hindu god Shiva. Fittingly, in some traditions Shiva had three mothers, and in some forms is depicted as an archer (i.e. a hunter). He is also sometimes called the Destroyer. Calian is likely a reference to the Hindu goddess Kali, the goddess of time and change. The colors of Shivan and Calian’s masks would also fit with the red and black of the prophecy as well as fitting a color theme which is becoming more and more associated with Rand as the books progress. If Shivan and Calian are indeed Elayne’s twins, what better way for their coming to herald the end of Ages than for them to be born at the Last Battle?

Quote of the Day:

Mat did not know what to say or do. Without thinking, he spat on his palm and offered his hand as if sealing a bargain on a horse. "Your customs are ... earthy," Tuon said in a dry voice, but she spat on her own palm and clasped his hand.

-CoT, Ch. 3