4.3: Miscellaneous Prophecies
From The Eye of the World
[TEOTW: 26, Whitebridge, 327]
The prophecy of the Horn of Valere:
In the last, lorn fight
'gainst the fall of long night,
the mountains stand guard,
and the dead shall be ward,
for the grave is no bar to my call.
Translation: The Heroes of the Horn will fight against the Shadow at the Last Battle.
[TEOTW: 40, The Web Tightens, 514]
Foretelling by Elaida:
This I Foretell...and swear under the Light that I can say no clearer. From this day Andor marches toward pain and division. The Shadow has yet to darken to its blackest, and I cannot see if the Light will come after. Where the world has wept one tear, it will weep thousands....This, too, I Foretell. Pain and division come to the whole world, and this man [Rand] stands at the heart of it.
It's all pretty much occurred as she said.
[TEOTW: Glossary, Dragon Reborn, 662]
...the prophecies say the Dragon Reborn will bring a new Breaking to the world...
Fulfillment in progress. He hasn't broken it much literally, but he is doing so in a figurative sense.
[TEOTW: Glossary, Far Dareis Mai, 663]
...it is prophesied that a child born of a Maiden will unite the clans and return to the Aiel to [sic.] the greatness they knew during the Age of Legends.
Rand was born of a Maiden, has united the clans (besides the Shaido), and the "greatness of the AOL" is coming to pass - the Aiel are very famous in the lands Rand holds.
From The Dragon Reborn
[TDR: 22, The Price of the Ring, 196-212]
Egwene's Accepted Test:
NOTE: This is not straight prophecy. The Acceptatron (tm David Chapman) ter'angreal seems to be a blend of the Rings of Rhuidean, or what the Portal Stone did to Rand and Co. on their trip to Falme in TGH (shows myriad possible futures), and memories taken from the testee's own mind, their own fears and hopes and so forth. In other words, some elements are "real", others are totally made up, and some are a mix of the two. For instance, Nynaeve's test put her back in a Two Rivers where a horrible woman named Malena had become Wisdom and was poisoning people, which Perrin's storyline later shows never actually happened, but a completely random bit of information from another part of her test (that her AS advisor as queen of Malkier was named Sharina) turns out to have a basis in fact - Nynaeve is floored to learn a "novice" named Sharina Melloy is with the Rebel camp [WH: 10, A Plan Succeeds, 237-238].
The Sharina thing could be just a huge coincidence (though Nynaeve doesn't think so), but Egwene's test gets put here in the prophecy section because hers was additionally an anomaly. The dream ring ter'angreal was in the room when Eg did her test, resonating with the Acceptatron, and as a result her made-up scenarios seemed to be a lot closer to prophecy than Nynaeve's were. Certainly it provided her with true information that she could not possibly have known or guessed independently - that a channeler can be forcibly turned to the Shadow, for example.
So, what happened during Egwene's Accepted test? She sees herself married to Rand with a daughter, in the ruins of the Caemlyn Palace with a half-mad Rand begging her to kill him, and as the Amyrlin Seat (more on that one in a second).
Well, the first one obviously never happened and never will; it was strictly a "might-have-been" kind of thing. The Caemlyn Palace scene might be a little closer to some possible future event, but it's not likely to play out exactly that way, since Rand has cleansed the taint from saidin. The third one, however, is worth examining in detail. (Note that each scenario in Eg's test is more prophetic than the last, as the resonance with the dream ring ter-angreal gets worse, so logically the last one is the closest to reality, though still distorted.)
Here are the relevant bits from the third scenario, and which are true, which are false or distorted, and which might not have happened yet:
- Egwene as the Amyrlin Seat: true, and fulfilled.
- Egwene as AS/Amyrlin without having held the Oath Rod: true, and fulfilled. It should be noted that she also sees herself as Ageless, which she cannot be unless she has has sworn on the OR (see section 2.3.03). This is an example of Egwene's own expectations and preconceptions influencing the test.
- Beldeine as Eg's Keeper: not currently true, but possibly true in the future (see Gabriel Wright's theory at the end of section 1.2.2).
- "Something called 'The Great Purge'": Almost certainly true, and refers to the upcoming Black Ajah Purge brewing in the Tower.
- Rand in chains and being gentled in the Tower: Maybe an averted possible future - Rand was almost taken back to the Tower as a prisoner in LOC - or possibly contains elements of something still to come; the second half of Min's vision (about women who can channel hurting Rand) has yet to be fulfilled.
- Being captured by Elaida: true, and probably fulfilled as of the end of COT (unless it's the BA who have Eg).
- The 13 + 13 trick being used on Egwene: This one is uncertain; it may be prophecy, or Egwene may have unconsciously incorporated it into the scene after Sheriam explained it to her. Of course, Sheriam only explained it to her because the Rand from the previous Caemlyn scene had told Egwene about it, so... Possibly the fulfillment of Egwene's later Dreams about having her head on a chopping block, or the one about Gawyn swinging a door shut on her.
- A Red/Black sister named Gyldan, "Elaida's closest confidante": Has never appeared anywhere other than the test, so she is probably completely imaginary (though you never know; Beldeine showed up eventually.)
- Elaida as Black Ajah: Though Elaida certainly is Eg's "bitterest enemy", this is false (see section 1.5.3).
- Elaida usurping the Amyrlin Seat: true and fulfilled.
- "'Light,' she muttered, 'there's no other way short of starting a war inside the White Tower. And I may do that anyway.'": Yep.
From The Shadow Rising
[TSR: 1, Seeds of Shadow, 29]
Elaida's first Foretelling:
The very first thing Elaida had ever Foretold, while still an Accepted - and had known enough even then to keep to herself - was that the Royal line of Andor would be the key to defeating the Dark One in the Last Battle. She had attached herself to Morgase as soon as it was clear Morgase would succeed to the throne...
Elaida interpreted this Foretelling as meaning that somebody from Morgase's line would be crucial to defeating the DO. However, since the timing of the Foretelling is not certain, it may refer to the previous Royal line of Andor, Mordrellen's line. Rand, of course, is Mordrellen's grandson, through Tigraine, and Rand is certainly key to defeating the DO. If Elaida's interpretation is correct, the Foretelling could refer to Elayne and/or Gawyn.
[TSR: 15, Into the Doorway, 177]
The Aelfinn's answers to Mat's third question (What is the fate which he must go to Rhuidean to meet?):
To marry the Daughter of the Nine moons.
To die and live again, and live once more a part of what was.
To give up half the light of the world to save the world.
Well, he's half-married to the Daughter. He's died and lived again, and the memories he got from the Foxes count as "living once more a part of what was". In light of other prophecies, "give up half the light of the world" probably refers to sacrificing an eyeball.
[TSR: 19, The Wavedancer, 220-221]
Jendai Prophecy of the Coramoor:
He can wield the One Power ... and he holds the Sword That Cannot Be Touched. The Aiel have come over the Dragonwall to his call. ... The Stone of Tear has fallen, and war breaks over the nations of the land. Those who once ruled have returned, and been driven back for the first time. ... The White Tower shall be broken by his name, and Aes Sedai shall kneel to wash his feet and dry them with their hair.
All of this has happened except for the icky foot-washing bit. Perhaps that's just a figurative way of saying "Aes Sedai will serve him"? Note that foot-washing occurs during the Amyrlin-raising ceremony.
[TSR: 23, Beyond the Stone, 270]
Wise One Dream (Moiraine, Melaine, and Seana in conversation on Chaendaer):
We did not see Egwene or Mat Cauthon at all. It was no more than an even chance that the young man who calls himself Rand al'Thor would come. If he did not, it was certain that he would die, and the Aiel too. Yet he has come, and if he survives Rhuidean, some of the Aiel at least will survive. This we know. If you (Moiraine) had not come, he would have died. If Aan'allein had not come, you would have died. If you did not go through the rings...
Translation: If Rand hadn't gone to Rhuidean, and gained the Aiel Instant Army, he would have died, and the Aiel would have died out, too. Since Rand survived Rhuidean, some portion of the Aiel will survive. If Moiraine hadn't gone, then Rand would have been killed by Lanfear at the Cairhien docks. There was no on-screen moment where Lan saved Moiraine, but maybe it happened during one of the Shadowspawn attacks. What would have happened if Moiraine hadn't gone through the rings?
[TSR: 25, The Road to the Spear, 285-286]
Prophecy of Rhuidean:
The stone that never falls will fall to announce his coming. Of the blood, but not raised by the blood, he will come from Rhuidean at dawn, and tie you together with bonds you cannot break. He will take you back and he will destroy you.
Rand is of Aiel blood, but not raised by the Aiel. He came from Rhuidean at dawn. I'm uncertain what the "bonds you cannot break" are, maybe the bonds of history. He "took them back," revealing their history, and he is in the process of destroying them. There has already been a split between the Aiel who follow Rand and those that don't, and the latter are fraying apart. There are also those who succumb to the "bleakness." Finally, there are all the Aiel who are getting killed in battle.
[TSR: 24, Rhuidean, 281-282]
Mat's wishes to the Foxes:
Holes in memory filled/a way to be free of Aes Sedai and the Power/Away and back to Rhuidean
He got all three, although not exactly in the way he expected.
From The Fires of Heaven
[TFOH: Prologue, The First Sparks Fall, 20]
Elaida in conversation:
"Or do any of you believe he [Rand] will go willingly to his prophesied death to save the world?"
Prophecy at least appears to say that Rand will die.
From Lord of Chaos
[LOC: 14, Dreams and Nightmares, 255]
Nicola's Foretelling:
"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 out the servants. The future teeters on the edge of a blade."
The sword, spear, and seeress are clearly Elayne, Aviendha, and Min. Are they the "three on the boat"? Probably, and the wording ties in with the King Arthur funereal imagery of one of Min's visions, and the WOs' boat dream. The "he who is dead yet lives" bit refers to Rand, echoing the answer he got from the Snakes ("To live, you must die."). The "great battle" line could refer to the Last Battle, perhaps saying that even after TG, the struggle between the Light and Shadow continues, or that there will be more fighting afterwards, or maybe there'll be a big battle BEFORE TG. The land divided by the return refers to the Seanchan invasion (Randland is rapidly becoming divided into Rand-controlled areas and Seanchan-controlled areas). The guardians and the servants are the Asha'man and the Aes Sedai. The last line is just metaphorical melodramatics - this war is crucial, duh.
[LOC: 19, Matters of Toh, 312]
Wise Ones Dreams:
"Melaine and Bair dreamed of you [Rand] on a boat with three women whose faces they could not see and a scale tilting first one way and then the other. Melaine and Amys dreamed of a man standing by your side with a dagger to your throat, but you did not see him. Bair and Amys dreamed of you cutting the wetlands in two with a sword. All three had this dream, which makes it especially significant. Rain, coming from a bowl. There are snares and pitfalls around the bowl. If the right hands pick it up, they will find a treasure perhaps as great as the bowl. If the wrong hands, the world is doomed. The key to finding the bowl is to find the one who is no longer."
The women in the boat echo the boat imagery from Nicola's foretelling, and are probably El, Min, and Avi. The scale indicates that everything seems up in the air now. Rand might win, the Shadow might, who knows? The unseen man with a dagger clearly means that there is a big threat to Rand right under his nose, which he is not seeing. This could be Taim. Some people have suggested that it should be taken more literally, and that the unseen guy is a Gray Man. Furthermore, it could be Dashiva, who Rand trusted more than Taim and who turned out to be Osan'gar.
The cutting of the wetlands could indicate how Randland is polarizing into pro- and anti-Dragon factions, or it could refer to Rand's semi-successful campaign against the Seanchan in Ebou Dar. He halted their advance into his territory, but he failed to remove them from most of the territory they already controlled. This would tie in with Nicola's Foretelling of "the land divided by the return."
The rain from a bowl, of course, is the Bowl of the Winds. The "treasure" may be the stockpile of OP objects of which the Bowl was part; note that while the good guys got a lot of those things, Sammael's raiding party may have gotten away with a few things as well, such as the Oath Rod he gave to Sevanna. Obviously it would have been a bad thing if either Sammael or Moridin (who sent Moggy to find the stash) had gotten their hands on all of the booty.
Rich Boyé alternately suggests that the "treasure" referred to is actually the Kin; certainly a thousand channelers in "the wrong hands" (in this case, the Seanchan, most likely) would be very bad.
The key to finding the one who is no longer is to find the bowl. The single person most instrumental in finding the bowl was Setalle Anan - she led El and Ny to the Kin, who eventually led them and Mat to the bowl. So, the question is "no longer what?" Evidence suggests the answer is "no longer Aes Sedai" (see section 2.2.4).
[LOC: 26, Connecting Lines, 373]
Rand's three questions to the Aelfinn (the Snakes):
"He [Rand] knew he had a chance to live, if a seemingly impossible one. If you would live, you must die."
Rand thinks about the Aelfinn's answer again in [WH: 25, Bonds, 483]:
"He had been told by those he had to believe. To live, you must die."
The only other specific information we have about Rand's encounter with the Finn is his comment to Mat that the Snakes never mentioned Rhuidean to him [TSR: 24, Rhuidean, 274]. So we're never told explicitly what the questions are, but over the course of the books since TSR they can be logically deduced:
- Q: How do I cleanse saidin?
A: [Something about the Choedan Kal, perhaps, or Shadar Logoth, or both.] - Q: How do I survive [or is there a way for me to survive] Tarmon Gai'don?
A: "To live, you must die." - Q: Should I go home to the Two Rivers? [to protect it from Fain]
A: [Apparently, "No."]
The second answer has a number of possible meanings. Maybe it means "if you would live future lives, you must die (physically) in this one" (cf. LTT's wanting to die for good, never be spun out again.[LOC: 18, A Taste of Solitude, 299]). Or, Rand will die, but will get resurrected. Or, one of Rand and LTT will die and one will not. Or, Rand will seemingly die, but won't really.
From A Crown of Swords
[ACOS: Prologue, Lightnings, 26]
Elaida's Foretelling #2:
The White Tower will be whole again, except for remnants cast out and scorned, whole and stronger than ever. Rand al'Thor will face the Amyrlin Seat and know her anger. The Black Tower will be rent in blood and fire, and sisters will walk its grounds."
One of the AS factions will be triumphant, eventually. Either Elaida or Egwene is going to get pissed at Rand. (That's not surprising, the way he's treated the AS.) It's probably Egwene, since Elaida has a definite air of doom about her. This "know her anger" could tie in with Eg's dream about confronting Rand. The Asha'man will either undergo a split (followers of Taim and followers of Logain/Rand?), or will be destroyed (depending on how one defines "rend"). There are currently Sisters walking the grounds of the Black Tower - the members of Elaida's task force who have been captured and bonded.
[ACOS: 34, Ta'veren, 538]
Jendai Prophecy, pt 2:
Rand: "That is what the Jendai Prophecy says. The Sea Folk will serve the Coramoor."
Harine: "The Jendai prophecy says you will bring us to glory, and all the sea of the world will be ours. As we give to you, you must give to us."
Self-explanatory.
From Winter's Heart
[WH: 14, What a Veil Hides, 327]
In the chapter where we first meet her, Tuon regrets having punished Lidya, one of her damane, for "reading her fortune", and thinks to herself:
Only luck had kept anyone from overhearing Lidya's cryptic words. Everyone knew that damane could foretell the future, and if any of the Blood had heard, they would all have been chattering behind their hands about her fate.
Whatever that fortune was, it seems to have upset Tuon a great deal. So what could Lidya have told her?
Judging from Tuon's subsequent behavior for the rest of WH, it seemed most likely that Lidya's fortune had something to do with Mat. Why else would she show such interest in him? Remember, the first time she meets him [WH: 17, Pink Ribbons, 367], he's covered in mud and throwing a tantrum (or starting to, anyway) - certainly not the most stellar of first impressions - and he's Tylin's common-born boytoy, to boot.
What's in that resumé to make Tuon, the heir to the Seanchan Empire, feel the need to follow Mat around and spy on him? And then declare, when she discovers he's leaving, that she "cannot allow that" [WH: 31, What the Aelfinn Said, 584]? And then smile when Mat announces that he's kidnapping her (after proclaiming her his wife, no less) [ibid., 588-590]?
Of course, she could be smiling because she's considering all the not-so-nice things that will happen to him for kidnapping the Daughter of the Nine Moons. But she seemed to be actually enjoying herself while fighting him a few moments before. And then there's the unusual amount of interest she shows in his ring and ashanderei. Perhaps Tuon's fortune mentioned them in some way; note it's after Tuon examines his ring at their first meeting that she offers to buy him, and later she seems upset that he's not wearing it [COT: 3, A Fan of Colors, 140].
We get a big clue about Lidya's prophecy in that same scene, when Tuon asks Mat if he remembers Hawkwing's face - which, of course, he does. Though I suppose this could be, as Ryan Ward suggests, "just some crazy-ass Seanchan thing. Y'know, 'Do you remember what Hawkwing's face looked like?' could be something like 'Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?'", but it's really doubtful it's just a coincidence, even given that Mat is ta'veren. So maybe part of Lidya's prophecy said that Tuon would marry a man who remembers Hawkwing's face.
There's also some indirect evidence that part of Tuon's fortune had to do with Tuon's ability to channel. When Egeanin reveals to Mat (and Tuon, and everyone else in the room) that sul'dam can channel, Tuon's reaction is remarkably stoic; her face is "a dark mask, unreadable" [COT: 29, Something Flickers, 644]. As Brian Cuocci comments, "The very idea should have been so shocking, or at least surprising, that even [one of] the Blood couldn't control her face perfectly. Assuming RJ did this on purpose, Tuon must have already known or suspected that she could channel. The obvious guess is that this is one of the predictions made by her fortune-telling damane... That'd surely be scandalous enough for Tuon to get mad and have her punished."
From Crossroads of Twilight
[COT: 17, Secrets, 431]
Nicola's Foretelling #2:
[Tiana (Mistress of Novices), to Egwene]: "Ever since we found out she has the Foretelling, she's been Foretelling two or three times a day, to hear her tell it. [...] battles with the Seanchan or the Asha'man, an Amyrlin imprisoned, the Dragon Reborn doing nine impossible things, visions that might be Tarmon Gai'don or a bilious stomach..."
Well, we have numerous indications that a battle between the Tower and Seanchan is imminent; the battle with Asha'man is interesting, indicating that perhaps the proposed treaty with the Black Tower will blow up in everyone's faces. The "Amyrlin imprisoned" part occurred at the end of COT, when Egwene was betrayed and captured [COT: 30, What the Oath Rod Can Do, 677-678]. The part about the Dragon Reborn and Tarmon Gai'don is too vague to tell us anything useful.
