You make good points about Demandred's future role though it should be pointed out that really introducing him this late in the game is a bad idea storywise. We should have gotten more time with him similarly to what we had from Ishmael/Moridin.
All that said, it's fairly clear Lanfear is about to return as a main antagonist. The epilogue foreshadows the first act will be hers. I still don't understand how some could be fooled by her act. We know from her own POV how much she hates Rand now... and couple this with Shaidar Haran's mention that the matter of Rand is someone else's opportunity now. Clearly, Last Chance has been given a Last Chance, and this new strategy is Moridin/Shai'tan's answer to Rand's epiphany. Rand remembered he has a heart...the Shadow threw at him Mierin the poor victim and see if her predicament will break his heart and he'll fall for the bait (and it appears she'll have to work harder... at the end of the POV, Rand remembered he should think of Mierin as Lanfear...). Lanfear giving Rand the key for the Bore.. yeah, right... She's far more likely to be Moridin's ploy to guide Rand toward the way the Shadow intends to use him alive at SG. She's charged with delivering Rand to Moridin so he can kill him, I bet. She's probably been promised her freedom if she succeeds.. and the final death if she screws up or put a foot wrong and displays even the shadow of betrayal...
I'm probably wrong about this but I didn't think the Mierin we see in Rand's dream is the Lanfear/Cyndane/Mierin we saw until now. The whole mind-trap thingie is much more than a simple compulsion of some sort. It has to be, but how? I think it takes your soul and replaces it with a hollow automaton. After she's mindtrapped, Cyndane's body believes it still has a soul but it doesn't. It just goes through the moves and accompanying thoughts as though it does. Her soul is in Shaitan's belly experiencing eternal torture.
Rand's vision of her is similar to his vision of his (step)mother in EotW. Shaitan probably let him see it, who knows for what purpose, but Mierin's plea was not an act.
All that said, it's fairly clear Lanfear is about to return as a main antagonist. The epilogue foreshadows the first act will be hers. I still don't understand how some could be fooled by her act. We know from her own POV how much she hates Rand now... and couple this with Shaidar Haran's mention that the matter of Rand is someone else's opportunity now. Clearly, Last Chance has been given a Last Chance, and this new strategy is Moridin/Shai'tan's answer to Rand's epiphany. Rand remembered he has a heart...the Shadow threw at him Mierin the poor victim and see if her predicament will break his heart and he'll fall for the bait (and it appears she'll have to work harder... at the end of the POV, Rand remembered he should think of Mierin as Lanfear...). Lanfear giving Rand the key for the Bore.. yeah, right... She's far more likely to be Moridin's ploy to guide Rand toward the way the Shadow intends to use him alive at SG. She's charged with delivering Rand to Moridin so he can kill him, I bet. She's probably been promised her freedom if she succeeds.. and the final death if she screws up or put a foot wrong and displays even the shadow of betrayal...
I'm probably wrong about this but I didn't think the Mierin we see in Rand's dream is the Lanfear/Cyndane/Mierin we saw until now. The whole mind-trap thingie is much more than a simple compulsion of some sort. It has to be, but how? I think it takes your soul and replaces it with a hollow automaton. After she's mindtrapped, Cyndane's body believes it still has a soul but it doesn't. It just goes through the moves and accompanying thoughts as though it does. Her soul is in Shaitan's belly experiencing eternal torture.
Rand's vision of her is similar to his vision of his (step)mother in EotW. Shaitan probably let him see it, who knows for what purpose, but Mierin's plea was not an act.
This message last edited by guttering flame on 16/12/2010 at 08:19:08 AM
The significance of 23 stars (TOM Spoilers)
- 14/12/2010 11:48:55 PM
4030 Views
It would be a first...
- 15/12/2010 02:46:33 AM
1797 Views
Re: It would be a first...
- 15/12/2010 04:39:17 AM
1428 Views
I think people aren't giving Egwene enough credit.
- 15/12/2010 04:59:09 AM
1460 Views
She's not bringing everyone for a discussion, but for leverage to force him to change his mind.
- 19/12/2010 09:54:49 PM
1375 Views
- 20/12/2010 01:50:39 AM
1425 Views
- 20/12/2010 01:50:39 AM
1425 Views
Re:
- 20/12/2010 04:37:24 AM
1222 Views
- 20/12/2010 04:37:24 AM
1222 Views
Sadly, the thing you reference four times isn't actually anywhere in the book.
- 29/12/2010 03:17:15 AM
1607 Views
+1
- 29/12/2010 07:10:41 AM
1343 Views
I think the Tower needs a singular leader, though you may be right.
- 29/12/2010 12:51:19 PM
1360 Views
(edited)
Re: It would be a first...
- 15/12/2010 12:43:49 PM
1841 Views
Dear lord, you wrote the Egwene haters' ultimate fantasy right there
- 19/12/2010 01:41:55 AM
1360 Views
One problematic issue...This assumes the Dark One cannot hold himself back once the Seals are broken
- 15/12/2010 07:57:53 AM
1512 Views
Err, it's the other way around
- 15/12/2010 09:00:38 AM
1413 Views
I see. It's the same thing, really, just looking at it from the opposite perspective...
- 15/12/2010 09:14:22 AM
1483 Views
Don't you know it's all about the posturing
- 15/12/2010 09:40:15 AM
1479 Views
agreed, it'd also be a terribly boring book to read if the DO was defensive
- 15/12/2010 09:56:37 AM
1451 Views
It's more that you take it out of context
- 15/12/2010 11:32:36 AM
1464 Views
So then...
- 15/12/2010 06:35:02 PM
1416 Views
The DO will be forced to act because breaking the seals is inherently an attempt to seal the bore...
- 15/12/2010 08:51:38 PM
1403 Views
While I agree overall, I think this is a case where Rand/TDR mistakes his role
- 15/12/2010 05:37:25 PM
1238 Views
I think Egwene is successful and Rand has to go to the Seanchan for female channeler assistance
- 18/12/2010 12:47:54 AM
1392 Views
Egwene's dream seems a little more personal than that
- 18/12/2010 04:55:37 AM
1208 Views
Yes
- 18/12/2010 07:57:35 AM
1220 Views
Actually, I think Tuon will capture her, and then release her. *NM*
- 18/12/2010 02:47:42 PM
662 Views
Re: It would be a first...
- 18/12/2010 02:48:40 PM
1353 Views
wow. I'm not an egwene hater but I will if the freaking idiot sitters & she are the stars
- 15/12/2010 12:02:12 PM
1361 Views
I wish
- 16/12/2010 08:29:23 PM
1329 Views
That's just it: Egwene is not only wrong, she's narratively wrong.
- 19/12/2010 11:30:35 PM
1709 Views
Man, that's the best take on Egwene I have ever read.
- 20/12/2010 12:38:07 AM
1310 Views
Re: That's just it: Egwene is not only wrong, she's narratively wrong.
- 20/12/2010 04:39:57 PM
1396 Views
Wish I'd read this sooner, 'cos I agree on several points.
- 29/12/2010 03:38:59 AM
1341 Views
Re: Wish I'd read this sooner, 'cos I agree on several points.
- 29/12/2010 07:32:49 AM
1290 Views
It seems an odd oversight, yes; I can't even recall her being Delved when the truth was revealed.
- 29/12/2010 12:40:00 PM
1326 Views
Ensure this value has at most 100 characters (it has 101).
- 29/12/2010 03:00:22 PM
3028 Views
Ah, good point; Rand might have to do the job himself.
- 29/12/2010 06:43:44 PM
1274 Views
More likely to be Flinn.
- 29/12/2010 08:18:19 PM
1330 Views
Maybe, once he knows the signs and techniques.
- 30/12/2010 03:10:27 PM
1303 Views
Not sure if Rand had seized the source yet - he wouldn't have wanted to do it in front of Ramshalan
- 30/12/2010 03:15:43 PM
1233 Views
Not only must I agree with you, but I think you've divined Egwenes ultimate destiny.
- 29/12/2010 03:41:59 AM
1348 Views