Obviously, forcible turning to the Shadow is more complicated than that; such a PoV would be interesting, but the authors may equal to writing it.


Actually, we have both Nynaeve and Perrin citing the same logic stated in Fels note, independently of both it and Rand: That the damaged/destroyed remnants of the old Seals must be removed before a new permanent Seal can be affixed. I do not know how it could be made more obvious, short of every character introducing themselves to each other with "Hi, I am Plot D'vice; the damaged remnants of the old Seals must be removed before a permanent one can be applied."


Rand is not talking about wildly dashing off to destroy the Seals as soon as the thought occurred to him (if that were his intent, he would have already done so without informing Egwene or anyone.) He told Egwene he does yet have all the answers when informing her of his plan, and that he (rightly) desires her aid and counsel in finding them. Unfortunately, Egwene is too Hell-bent on preventing the Seals destruction (even though she was among the first to discover they are gradually failing anyway) to consider the other parts of their conversation. I might be more sympathetic to her view if she had ventured even a crude notion of an alternative, but the sum total of her position is "Rand MUST not destroy the Seals, because it would loose the DO on the world." As if that will not inevitably happen whatever they do or do not do.

Egwene has decided her Dream means Rand must be opposed at all costs, and will not be dissuaded, so if she figures out its ACTUAL meaning it will probably be at the last minute or after the fact. As things stand, her role in what they must do together consists of marshalling the Westlands soldiers and channelers for the Last Battle, to which she will then be little more than a speed bump. Obviously, as a major character, she will ultimately prove more than just a speed bump, but whether positively or negatively is yet to be seen.