I wonder if the new improved Rand still suffers from the channeling sickness. I mean at Dragonmount Rand worried that the sickness might cripple him completely if he had to take hold of the power again. And yet unless he kept hold of the power constantly, even during the destruction of the CK, then he obviously must have embraced the source again (to travel down from the peak of Dragonmount). I wonder if his new "light-aura" has cured him, or atleast reduced the symptoms to some degree.

Another question is Rand's twin wounds. I mean it looked like his mere presence now opposes the energies of the DO. Not only that, but it seemed that just by being there, Rand healed Almen of his hip damage. If he can do that to others, why could the aura not heal the evil wounds? Or even regenerate his hand. I mean the apples growing instantly was a sort of instant-growth of a sort. Maybe Rand will grow a new hand.

Another question that originally worried me after reading Jasons review and the mention that Rand would meet Egwene was the foolishness of going all alone to Tar Valon and potentially risking his life. I wonder if this new light-aura is also capable of protecting him to some degree so that he would not be instantly defeated if a circle of 13 tried to shield/sever him. Or is he trusting for the AS to be so flummoxed by his new aura that he thinks they won't try anything. I certainly hope he has something more subtle planned than just walking into the city and openly introducing himself as the Dragon Reborn.

It was interesting seeing the apples instantly bloom. I wonder what exactly caused this. Rand claimed that his presence could now hold the DO at bay. I could see several explanations for the apples.

1)Rand now remembers the song or something like that and actively caused the Apples to grow. Granted, he did not actually sing, or have any of the other things we saw in the Rhuidean vision, but maybe after his epiphany he knows some superiour version that does not require any elaborate rituals.

2)Rand did not do anything actively, but his new light-aura caused the apples to grow. However ta'veren has always been said to be about merely altering chance, whereas this was a clearcut miracle. So this would not be ta'veren then but rather some totally unique power.

3)Rand was not actually responsible for the apples at all, except indirectly. His presence there freed that area from the touch of the Dark One for a few moments, and the pattern instantly sensed the opportunity to fix some of the damage and not only reversed the damage but actually went way overboard by giving a massive harvest.

Sorta like the speculation about Hinderstap, where people think that the DO causes the madness, and then the pattern performs miracle resurrections to try to undo the damage once the night is over and the DO's power weakens.

I think perhaps that this is the most likely outcome. Rand drove the DO away, and the pattern instantly jumped at the chance to finally start trying to fix things and get things on the proper course now that the DO could not interfere.