OTOH, the fact we only know that detail from a single mention in New Spring suggests it may have been overlooked by TJ and the artist. As I said, it's quite possible they chose a blue cloak so people would think it's Moiraine and thus disguise the fact it's actually Egwene, since whether Egwene will or won't agree to work with Rand is not something we're "supposed" to know going into the novel as it's the cliffhanger of the last one after all.

But the odds are slim it's not Moiraine. She "deserves" that spot, far more than Egwene does. It's been her life quest to find Rand and bring the guy alive to that very spot on that very day, it's very logical Rand would ask her to come with him over asking Egwene. We don't know what goes on outside, but it may not be the wisest choice to pick the political leader of the Aes Sedai on whose person rests the fate of perhaps precarious and certainly very recent alliances to go to the Pit of Doom in what would be seen as a likely suicide mission.

It might be "cute" if this was Egwene, but it doesn't seem very coherent with her role as Amyrlin Seat.

Also think of the strong emotional moment this creates, to see these two women who for the whole series have had diametrally opposed views about Rand, have opposed one another some time very bitterly, have even been rivals for Lan for a while, but both always meant to be there for Rand until the moment we're seing now be at last working together "as one".

This would have had some power if this was Rand and Egwene alone, but Nynaeve doesn't fit in the picture then, and it's never been a theme for Egwene that she meant to be at Rand's side to the end. Help him yes, but Egwene has never considered her place might be with him at the very end.


I still think Egwene is with Perrin at this time, waiting for the moment Mat will sound the Horn of Valere so the dead can be wards "against the fall of the Long Night", which by the look of the sun and moon is about to begin, as Rand enters the Pit of Doom. There seems to be some temporary merging of TAR and the real world when the Horn is sounded.

With Moiraine and Nynaeve with Rand, it seems virtually certain Egwene too has a role in the endgame, like for sure Mat and Perrin do - she'd be the only main character (the ones from the first scenes in EF) not involved otherwise - but I doubt it's at Rand's side.