That makes a great deal of sense. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 15/01/2013 07:47:03 AM
I could easily see RJ writing out the 'ride into the sunset' bit many books back with intention to flush it out or rewrite it and Sanderson not wanting to touch it even if RJ would have rewritten it to be a bit more logical. Like how the supreme commander of the shadow, a guy with obscene knowledge and power who previously brought down Hawkwing's empire pretty much on his own and has a rap sheet worse than Hitler would be left alone unguarded while still breathing. Or that on finding his missing body a hue and cry of epic proportions wouldn't be raised. Cadsuane could probably paper over things with a 'he is dead and his body was cremated, you know I can't lie' but the whole idea of Moridin being unguarded was a stretch.
Overall, while I loved the book and series, that scene was a touch clumsy and I'd rather assume BS had a working copy of it he didn't want to screw with more than the absolute minimum and that RJ wrote it casually assuming he'd iron out the wrinkles when the time came. Or If RJ's notes had said 'only the 3 know, but Cadsuane guesses' I's bet on BS feeling obliged to keep it that way, for the final scene.
Overall, while I loved the book and series, that scene was a touch clumsy and I'd rather assume BS had a working copy of it he didn't want to screw with more than the absolute minimum and that RJ wrote it casually assuming he'd iron out the wrinkles when the time came. Or If RJ's notes had said 'only the 3 know, but Cadsuane guesses' I's bet on BS feeling obliged to keep it that way, for the final scene.
I believe RJ is on record that he had the final scene envisioned from the start, but it is in the nature of such things to jot down outlines without filling in all the details even when they are already decided. Once the small by pivotal details are decided the author is unlikely to forget them—but if he dies before he can record them in their entirety that gives his successors real problems. The same thing happened over and over throughout HoME, and that was assembled by Professor Tolkiens SON, not just an up-and-coming fan and author his wife and publisher tapped to finish his work.
It is also hard to imagine the Lights Eternal Champion abandoning his unborn children (wonder what LTT would think of that idea, since he slew the only children he ever had.) It was one thing when he seemed likely to die, but CHOOSING to leave them? All that crap about "I cannot inflict the pain of losing me on my lovers" suddenly turns to "later, hoes..."? No way.